bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enrichment of poly(butyl methacrylate) and its graft copolymer of polybutadiene on the surface of polypropylene blend
Authors: Chen Hanjia , Shi Xuhua , Zhu Yafei , Zhang Yi , Xu Jiarui 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe enrichment and diffusion of poly (butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) and its graft copolymer of polybutadiene on the surface of polypropylene (PP) blends were investigated using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR), contact angle measurements (CDA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It has been found that the selective aggregation of the PBMA and its copolymers on the surface of blends is mainly affected by the content, molecular weight, and the segregated domains. Lower content and higher surface energy die are in favor of the enrichment of additives on the surface of PP. PBMA with higher molecular weight has lower diffusivity and bigger phase domains, which results in its lower enrichment on the surface of PP blend film. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Role of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II in development of vascular dysfunction in diabetic rats with hypertension
Authors: Yousif Mariam H. M. , Akhtar Saghir , Walther Thomas , Benter Ibrahim F. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe examined the influence of chronic treatment with KN‐93 (an inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), 5 mg/kg given every other day for 4 weeks) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), urine protein and vascular reactivity in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Treatment with KN‐93 did not cause any significant changes in body weight, blood glucose or MAP in any of the groups studied. However, diabetes‐induced elevations in urine volume and protein were significantly attenuated in KN‐93‐treated animals. KN‐93‐mediated decrease in urine volume and protein was more pronounced in SHR compared to WKY rats. The increased vascular responsiveness to endothelin‐1 and angiotensin II in isolated carotid arteries from STZ‐treated WKY (D‐WKY) and SHR (D‐SHR) was normalized by chronic treatment with KN‐93. Furthermore, chronic treatment with KN‐93 significantly prevented the development of diabetes‐induced endothelial dysfunction as impaired endothelium‐mediated vascular relaxation to carbachol and histamine under diabetic conditions was reversed by parallel treatment with the inhibitor. These results suggest that signal transduction involving CaMKII contributes to the development of abnormal vascular reactivity and renal dysfunction during simultaneous occurrence of hypertension and diabetes. We conclude that inhibition of CaMKII‐mediated signalling could be an effective way to antagonize the elevated activities of injury‐promoting factors in diabetic patients with hypertension. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Self‐Assembly of N2‐Modified Guanosine Derivatives: Formation of Discrete G‐Octamers
Authors: Martić Sanela , Liu Xiangyang , Wang Suning , Wu Gang 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn the presence of Na+ ions, two N2‐modified guanosine derivatives, N2‐(4‐n‐butylphenyl)‐2′,3′,5′‐O‐triacetylguanosine (G1) and N2‐(4‐pyrenylphenyl)‐2′,3′,5′‐O‐triacetylguanosine (G2), are found to self‐associate into discrete octamers that contain two G‐quartets and a central ion. In each octamer, all eight guanosine molecules are in a syn conformation and the two G‐quartets are stacked in a tail‐to‐tail fashion. On the basis of NMR spectroscopic evidence, we hypothesize that the π–π‐stacking interaction between the N2‐side arms (phenyl in G1 and pyrenyl in G2) can considerably stabilize the octamer structure. For G1, we have used NMR spectroscopic saturation‐transfer experiments to monitor the kinetic ligand exchange process between monomers and octamers in CD3CN. The results show that the activation energy (Ea) of the ligand exchange process is 31 ±5 kJ mol−1. An Eyring analysis of the saturation transfer data yields the enthalpy and entropy of activation for the transition state: ΔH≠=29 ±5 kJ mol−1 and ΔS≠=−151 ±10 J mol−1 K−1. These results are consistent with an associative mechanism for ligand exchange.
Racial and ethnic differences in breast cancer survival
Authors: Curtis Elana , Quale Chris , Haggstrom David , Smith‐Bindman Rebecca 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.The reasons for race/ethnicity (R/E) differences in breast cancer survival have been difficult to disentangle.METHODS.Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare data were used to identify 41,020 women aged ≥68 years with incident breast cancer between 1994–1999 including African American (2479), Hispanic (1172), Asian/Pacific Island (1086), and white women (35,878). A Cox proportional hazards model assessed overall and stage‐specific (0/I, II/III, and IV) R/E differences in breast cancer survival after adjusting for mammography screening, tumor characteristics at diagnosis, biologic markers, treatment, comorbidity, and demographics.RESULTS.African American women had worse survival than white women, although controlling for predictor variables reduced this difference among all stage breast cancer (hazards ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.97–1.20). Adjustment for predictors reduced, but did not eliminate, disparities in the analysis limited to women diagnosed with stage II/III disease (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10–1.54). Screening mammography, tumor characteristics at diagnosis, biologic markers, and treatment each produced a similar reduction in HRs for women with stage II/III cancers. Asian and Pacific Island women had better survival than white women before and after accounting for all predictors (adjusted all stages HR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.47–0.79]; adjusted stage II/III HR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.47–0.79]). Hispanic women had better survival than white women in all and stage II/III analysis (all stage HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75–1.04) and stage II/III analysis (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75–1.04), although these findings did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference in survival by R/E noted among women diagnosed with stage IV disease.CONCLUSIONS.Predictor variables contribute to, but do not fully explain, R/E differences in breast cancer survival for elderly American women. Future analyses should further investigate the role of biology, demographics, and disparities in quality of care. Cancer 2008. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Predicting snow density using meteorological data
Authors: Meløysund Vivian , Leira Bernt , Høiseth Karl V. , Lisø Kim Robert 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper presents a simple method for predicting snow density by use of weather data. Six hundred and eight snow density (bulk weight density) measurements from the period 1967–1986 are used in a multiple regression analysis. The measurements are performed at 105 sites in the Ås area situated in Akershus County in southeast Norway. The area has a relatively stable winter climate. Weather data from an observing station with three registrations a day are used in the analyses. The distance between the measurement sites and the meteorological station varied between 0.6 and 14 km. A clear correlation is found between the observed climate and the measured snow density. A multiple regression equation is developed with a coefficient of determination equal to 70% and a standard deviation equal to 24 kgm−3. Snow density values suggested in the Norwegian code NS 3491‐3 is in most cases overestimated. Expressions given in an annex to the international regulations for snow loading on roofs (ISO 4355) are less applicable to prescribing snow density for climate studied in this investigation. Still, they can be used as simple and rough estimates. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Precursors of cardiorespiratory events in infants detected by home memory monitor
Authors: Hunt Carl E. , Corwin Michael J. , Lister George , Weese‐Mayer Debra E. , Ward Sally L. Davidson , Tinsley Larry R. , Neuman Michael R. , Willinger Marian , Ramanathan Rangasamy , Rybin Denis ,   and the Collaborative Home Infant Monitoring Evaluation (CHIME) Study Group
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn 1,079 infants monitored for >700,000 hr at home for apnea or bradycardia, we found an association between infants having multiple events exceeding conventional or a priori defined more extreme thresholds and less favorable developmental outcome at 1 year of age than infants with few or no events. If it is necessary to prevent such events to minimize risk for developmental morbidity, there is reason to determine whether there are disturbances in advance of the apnea or bradycardia that herald their onset. In the 85 infants with at least 1 extreme event and 1 conventional event, we hypothesized that apnea and bradycardia do not occur de novo but rather are preceded by cardiorespiratory and hemoglobin O2 saturation changes. We compared recorded time intervals preceding these events, and we analyzed three preceding time intervals for each conventional and extreme event, and each non‐event recording: Time‐2 hr: up to 2 hr before; Time‐1 hr: up to 1 hr before; and Time‐75 sec: the 75 sec immediately preceding each event. O2 saturation progressively decreased preceding both conventional and extreme events, and progressive increases occurred in heart and breathing rate variability. Duration of respiratory pauses and of periodic breathing progressively increased preceding conventional events, respiratory rate variability increased immediately preceding conventional events and at 1 hr preceding extreme events, and O2 saturation decreased immediately preceding both conventional and extreme events. Thus, conventional and extreme events do not occur de novo but rather are preceded by autonomic instability of the cardiorespiratory system. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:87–98. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transient Photoinduced Absorption in Ultrathin As-grown Nanocrystalline Silicon Films
Authors: Lioudakis Emmanouil , Othonos Andreas , Lioutas Ch B , Vouroutzis N 
Published: November 2007

Abstract
We have studied ultrafast carrier dynamics in nanocrystalline silicon films with thickness of a few nanometers where boundary-related states and quantum confinement play an important role. Transient non-degenerated photoinduced absorption measurements have been employed to investigate the effects of grain boundaries and quantum confinement on the relaxation dynamics of photogenerated carriers. An observed long initial rise of the photoinduced absorption for the thicker films agrees well with the existence of boundary-related states acting as fast traps. With decreasing the thickness of material, the relaxation dynamics become faster since the density of boundary-related states increases. Furthermore, probing with longer wavelengths we are able to time-resolve optical paths with faster relaxations. This fact is strongly correlated with probing in different points of the first Brillouin zone of the band structure of these materials.
Aluminum ions inhibit phospholipase D in a microtubule‐dependent manner
Authors: Pejchar Přemysl , Pleskot Roman , Schwarzerová Kateřina , Martinec Jan , Valentová Olga , Novotná Zuzana 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAluminum is a highly cytotoxic metal to plants, but the molecular base and the primary target of Al toxicity are still unknown. The most important physiological consequence of Al toxicity is a cessation of root growth and changes in root morphology suggesting a role of the root cytoskeleton as a target structure. The important role of phospholipid degrading enzyme phospholipase D in regulation of cytoskeleton remodelling in both animal and plant organisms is now evident. Both the phospholipid pathway and the cytoskeleton are influenced by Al3+, but their relationship with Al stress remains to be explored. Therefore, we tested the possibility that Al stress could be sensed by plants through microtubules in close interaction with phospholipases. We have shown that Al3+ reduced the formation of phosphatidic acid in vivo, inhibited activity of phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate‐dependent phospholipase D in vitro and that the phosphatidic acid production is modified by microtubule dynamics.
Topical problems of gold metallogeny
Authors: Safonov Yu.G. , Popov V.V. , Volkov A.V. , Zlobina T.M. , Chaplygin I.V. 
Published: November 2007

Abstract
Siberian geologists in general and Academician V.A. Kuznetsov in particular made a considerable contribution to metallogeny. To follow them, we consider regularities of location and formation of gold deposits. Analysis of topical problems of gold metallogeny reflects general problems of state-of-the-art metallogeny. The analysis is based on concepts of geologic-genetic types of gold deposits and metallogenic specialization of geodynamic-geotectonic regimes and settings. The types of endogenic-polygenic gold ore and gold-bearing deposits restricted to certain settings — among which, in addition to traditional ones, intracratonic basins have been established — are characterized by depressions and heterochronous areas of rift and plume tectonomagmatic activity.
Identification of theDiadegmaspecies (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) attacking the diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella(Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)
Authors: Azidah A.A. , Fitton M.G. , Quicke D.L.J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe species ofDiadegmathat attackPlutella xylostella(Linnaeus) are revised. Following a morphometric study involving principal components and discriminant analyses, seven distinct morphospecies are recognized. One species is described as new:D. novaezealandiaefrom New Zealand.Diadegma mollipla(Holmgren) is the name for the species from sub-Saharan Africa and some Indian Ocean and South Atlantic islands.Diadegma varunaGuptasyn. nov.andD. niponicaKusigematisyn. nov.are both synonymized withD. fenestrale(Holmgren).Diadegma xylostellaeKusigemati is strongly presumed to be a synonym ofD. semiclausum(Hellén). An illustrated identification key is provided and each species is described in a standard way.
Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of different geographic populations of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)
Authors: Reineke A. , Karlovsky P. , Zebitz C.P.W. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar Linnaeus, is one of the most serious insect pests of palaearctic and nearctic hardwood forests. We used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to detect genetic diversity within and among gypsy moth populations. Five AFLP primer combinations were used on 98 L. dispar samples from different parts of Europe, Asia and North America, detecting a total of 481 polymorphic and 58 monomorphic fragments. Genetic similarities based on these data were calculated and cluster analysis was performed to graphically display groupings between isolates. Lymantria dispar individuals from close geographical areas of Europe were mostly grouped together in cluster analysis resulting in the formation of subgroups corresponding to the origin of the samples. Supporting this observation, clustering of individuals from 22 neighbouring populations in southern Germany agreed well with the region they originated from. Thus, AFLP analysis revealed the existence of a certain degree of genetic variability between European gypsy moth populations that could be explained by the accumulation of polymorphisms resulting from both historical population bottlenecks and the adaptation to different environmental conditions. The results of this study therefore demonstrate that AFLP analysis is a sensitive technique for distinguishing genotypes from different geographic origins as well as from neighbouring local populations and provides sufficient molecular markers for future characterization of the gypsy moth genome.
Cytotaxonomic studies of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)
Authors: Baldanza F. , Gaudio L. , Viggiani G. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA cytotaxonomic study was carried out on 13 species of Encarsia Förster, known to parasitize aleyrodids and diaspidids. The chromosomes varied greatly both in number and morphology, with E. protransvena Viggiani having the lowest chromosome number (2n = 6) and E. asterobemisiae Viggiani & Mazzone the highest (2n = 20). The most common chromosome number was 2n = 10. C-banding, G-banding and silver staining for nucleolar organizer regions (NOR) provided the possibility of distinguishing between karyotypes with the same chromosome number and morphology and to identify all the pairs of homologues in a diploid set for advanced cytogenetic studies. The karyotype of Coccophagus lycimnia (Walker) was also examined. The chromosome data suggested that in Encarsia, karyotype differentiation has mainly occurred through a series of centric fusions, although other rearrangements may also have been significant. The importance of karyological data in systematic studies and in the identification of biotypes and cryptic species of economic interest is outlined.
Analysis of long-term light-trap data for Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Australia: the effect of climate and crop host plants
Authors: Maelzer D.A. , Zalucki M.P. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractRegression analyses of a long series of light-trap catches at Narrabri, Australia, were used to describe the seasonal dynamics of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). The size of the second generation was significantly related to the size of the first generation, to winter rainfall, which had a positive effect, and to spring rainfall which had a negative effect. These variables accounted for up to 96% of the variation in size of the second generation from year to year. Rainfall and crop hosts were also important for the size of the third generation. The area and tonnage of many potential host crops were significantly correlated with winter rain. When winter rain was omitted from the analysis, the sizes of both the second and third generations could be expressed as a function of the size of the previous generation and of the areas planted to lucerne, sorghum and maize. Lucerne and maize always had positive coefficients and sorghum a negative one. We extended our analysis to catches of H. punctigera (Wallengren), which declines in abundance after the second generation. Winter rain had a positive effect on the sizes of the second and third generations, and rain in spring or early summer had a negative effect. Only the area grown to lucerne had a positive effect on abundance. Forecasts of pest levels from a few months to a few weeks in advance are discussed, along with the improved understanding of the seasonal dynamics of both species and the significance of crops in the management of insecticide resistance for H. armigera.
β‐arrestins and heterotrimeric G‐proteins: collaborators and competitors in signal transduction
Authors: DeFea K 
Published: November 2007

G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs), also known as seven transmembrane receptors (7‐TMRs), are the largest protein receptor superfamily in the body. These receptors and their ligands direct a diverse array of physiological responses, and hence have broad relevance to numerous diseases. As a result, they have generated considerable interest in the pharmaceutical industry as drug targets. Recently, GPCRs have been demonstrated to elicit signals through interaction with the scaffolding proteins, β‐arrestins‐1 and 2, independent of heterotrimeric G‐protein coupling. This review discusses several known G‐protein‐independent, β‐arrestin‐dependent pathways and their potential physiological and pharmacological significance. The emergence of G‐protein‐independent signalling changes the way in which GPCR signalling is evaluated, from a cell biological to a pharmaceutical perspective and raises the possibility for the development of pathway specific therapeutics.British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)153, S298–S309; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707508; published online 26 November 2007
Differential effects of glucose on agonist‐induced relaxations in human mesenteric and subcutaneous arteries
Authors: MacKenzie A , Cooper E J , Dowell F J 
Published: November 2007

Background and purpose:Acute periods of hyperglycaemia are strongly associated with vascular disorder, yet the specific effects of high glucose on human blood vessel function are not fully understood. In this study we (1) characterized the endothelial‐dependent relaxation of two similarly sized but anatomically distinct human arteries to two different agonists and (2) determined how these responses are modified by acute exposure to high glucose.Experimental approach:Ring segments of human mesenteric and subcutaneous arteries were mounted in a wire myograph. Relaxations to acetylcholine and bradykinin were determined in a control (5 mM) and high glucose (20 mM) environment over a 2 and 6 h incubation period.Key results:Bradykinin‐induced relaxation in both sets of vessels was mediated entirely by EDHF whilst that generated by acetylcholine, though principally generated by EDHF, also had contribution from prostacyclin and possibly nitric oxide in mesenteric and subcutaneous vessels, respectively. A 2‐h incubation of high glucose impaired bradykinin‐induced relaxation of subcutaneous vessels whilst, in contrast, the relaxation generated by bradykinin in mesenteric vessels was enhanced at the same time point. High glucose significantly augmented the relaxation generated by acetylcholine in mesenteric and subcutaneous vessels at a 2 and 6 h incubation point, respectively.Conclusions and implications:Short periods of high glucose exert a variable influence on endothelial function in human isolated blood vessels that is dependent on factors of time, agonist‐used and vessel studied. This has implications for how we view the effects of acute hyperglycaemia found in patients with diabetes mellitus as well as other conditions.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, 480–487; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707592; published online 26 November 2007
Multiple period-doubling bifurcation route to chaos in periodically pulsed Murali-Lakshmanan-Chua circuit-controlling and synchronization of chaos
Authors: Parthasarathy S. , Manikandakumar K. 
Published: November 2007

We consider a simple nonautonomous dissipative nonlinear electronic circuit consisting of Chua’s diode as the only nonlinear element, which exhibit a typical period doubling bifurcation route to chaotic oscillations. In this paper, we show that the effect of additional periodic pulses in this Murali-Lakshmanan-Chua (MLC) circuit results in novel multiple-period-doubling bifurcation behavior, prior to the onset of chaos, by using both numerical and some experimental simulations. In the chaotic regime, this circuit exhibits a rich variety of dynamical behavior including enlarged periodic windows, attractor crises, distinctly modified bifurcation structures, and so on. For certain types of periodic pulses, this circuit also admits transcritical bifurcations preceding the onset of multiple-period-doubling bifurcations. We have characterized our numerical simulation results by using Lyapunov exponents, correlation dimension, and power spectrum, which are found to be in good agreement with the experimental observations. Further controlling and synchronization of chaos in this periodically pulsed MLC circuit have been achieved by using suitable methods. We have also shown that the chaotic attractor becomes more complicated and their corresponding return maps are no longer simple for large n-periodic pulses. The above study also indicates that one can generate any desired n-period-doubling bifurcation behavior by applying n-periodic pulses to a chaotic system.
This article is being retracted effective 14 September 2010.