bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polyplatinayne/polyoxometalate composite Langmuir‐Blodgett films: Preparation, structural characterization, and potential optoelectronic applications
Authors: Liu Li , Qiao Ling‐Xiang , Liu Shi‐Zhong , Cui Dong‐Mei , Zhang Chun‐Mei , Zhou Zheng‐Ji , Du Zu‐Liang , Wong Wai‐Yeung 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA new family of organometallic/inorganic composite Langmuir‐Blodgett (LB) films consisting of rigid‐rod polyplatinayne polymer ([Pt‐T(OMe‐Fl)T]∞ or [Pt‐T(F‐Fl)T]∞, where the triplet bonds are abbreviated by T, and fluorene ring by Fl) as the π‐conjugated organometallic molecule, polyoxometalate (POM, POM = K3PMo12O40, H3PW12O40, or H6P2W18O62) of the Keggin and Dawson structures as the inorganic component, and dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODA) or a mixture of octadecanoic acid (OA) and docosanoic acid (DA) as the auxiliary film‐forming agent were prepared and characterized by π–A isotherms, UV–Vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence spectra, atomic force microscopy imaging, scanning tunneling microscopy, and low‐angle X‐ray diffraction. Our experimental results indicate that steady, even, and ordered Langmuir and LB films are formed in pure water and polyoxometalate subphases. It was shown that the POM molecules are probably embedded inside the polyplatinayne molecules in the LB film structure and they can quench the luminescence of the Pt polyyne. These Pt‐polyyne based LB films display interesting electric conductivity behavior. [Pt‐T(OMe‐Fl)T]∞/DODA/HPW12 monolayer film shows a good electrical conductivity, and the tunneling current amounts to ±100 nA when the voltage is set at ±8 V. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3193–3206, 2008
Use of fluorinated maleimide and telechelic bismaleimide for original hydrophobic and oleophobic polymerized networks
Authors: Soules Aurélien , Pozos Vázquez Cuauhtémoc , Améduri Bruno , Joly‐Duhamel Christine , Essahli Mohamed , Boutevin Bernard 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe syntheses of original fluorinated maleimide and telechelic bismaleimide bearing C6F13 and C6F12 groups, respectively, and their use as reactive additives in photopolymerizable formulations of telechelic poly(propylene glycol) bismaleimide (PPGBMI) are presented. Fluorinated maleimide was synthetized in five steps in 63% overall yield from C6F13C2H4I precursor, whereas the fluorinated bismaleimide was prepared in six steps in 14% overall yield from IC6F12I. These latter led to fluorinated azido and diazido intermediates that were reduced into the fluorinated amine and diamines in two steps. The condensation of amine and diamine onto maleic anhydride offered an amic acid and a diamic acid, which were subsequently cyclized into fluorinated maleimide and bismaleimide. Formulations of telechelic PPGBMI containing a low concentration of these fluorinated maleimide and bismaleimide were UV cured and the surface properties of the resulting films were investigated. A deep modification of the surface properties was noted when the monomaleimide was used. In all the cases, a selective enrichment of the fluorinated monomer at the film surface was observed. The dependence of the surface properties on the fluorinated maleimide and bismaleimide concentrations were also studied, and showed an asymptotic behavior of the contact angle with only 1.5 wt % of fluorinated maleimide additive, whatever the conditions. This monomaleimide led to better hydrophobic and oleophobic properties of the resulting material than that containing the telechelic one. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3214–3228, 2008
Solid mechanochemical preparation of core‐shell SiO2 particles and their improvement on the mechanical properties of PVC composites
Authors: Ying Xiong , Guangshun Chen , Shaoyun Guo 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn this article, a solid mechanochemical route to prepare core‐shell structured particles was introduced. X‐ray photoelectron spectrum, transmission electron microscope and dissolving experimental results indicated the formation of [(inorganic particle)/(elastomer)] core‐shell structured particles. The thermal stable experiments showed that untreated SiO2 can cause dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and discoloration of PVC/SiO2 composites and the formation of core‐shell structured SiO2 particles will improve the thermal stability of PVC/SiO2 composites. The mechanical properties and rheological results showed that the formation of core‐shell structured SiO2 particles can both improve the mechanical and processing properties of PVC/SiO2 composite. ACR in PVC/(SiO2‐PMMA‐ACR) composites acted not only as toughener for PVC matrix but also as cushion breaker if the content of ACR is enough. Meanwhile compared with other SiO2 particles the formation of core‐shell structured SiO2 particles can decrease the apparent viscosity, increase the critical shear rate and improve the appearance of extrudes of PVC/SiO2 composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 938–948, 2008
Compact image stabilization system using camera posture information
Authors: Miyauchi Ryo , Shiroma Naoji , Matsuno Fumitoshi 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA teleoperated robot that works in unstructured environments such as disaster sites is mainly controlled based on images obtained from cameras mounted on the robot. Because the robot runs on rough terrains, the images from the mounted camera are nonsteady ones. These nonsteady images will make it difficult for the operator to understand the surrounding information and will cause the camera motion sickness. We have developed an image stabilization system using camera posture information for a mobile robot that moves on uneven terrains. Because the camera posture information is detected by a three‐dimensional‐motion sensor separately from the camera image, this system works even in bad light condition environments and is robust for light condition changes. The wide‐field‐of‐view images obtained by the fish‐eye‐lens camera are used to handle a large‐amplitude disturbance. The sphere mapping and the image shifting of a region of © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mixed‐effects Poisson regression analysis of adverse event reports: The relationship between antidepressants and suicide
Authors: Gibbons Robert D. , Segawa Eisuke , Karabatsos George , Amatya Anup K. , Bhaumik Dulal K. , Brown C. Hendricks , Kapur Kush , Marcus Sue M. , Hur Kwan , Mann J. John 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA new statistical methodology is developed for the analysis of spontaneous adverse event (AE) reports from post‐marketing drug surveillance data. The method involves both empirical Bayes (EB) and fully Bayes estimation of rate multipliers for each drug within a class of drugs, for a particular AE, based on a mixed‐effects Poisson regression model. Both parametric and semiparametric models for the random‐effect distribution are examined. The method is applied to data from Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) on the relationship between antidepressants and suicide. We obtain point estimates and 95 per cent confidence (posterior) intervals for the rate multiplier for each drug (e.g. antidepressants), which can be used to determine whether a particular drug has an increased risk of association with a particular AE (e.g. suicide). Confidence (posterior) intervals that do not include 1.0 provide evidence for either significant protective or harmful associations of the drug and the adverse effect. We also examine EB, parametric Bayes, and semiparametric Bayes estimators of the rate multipliers and associated confidence (posterior) intervals. Results of our analysis of the FDA AERS data revealed that newer antidepressants are associated with lower rates of suicide adverse event reports compared with older antidepressants. We recommend improvements to the existing AERS system, which are likely to improve its public health value as an early warning system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Initial Resection of Potentially Viable Tissue is not Optimal Treatment for Grades II–IV Pancreatic Injuries
Authors: Vane Dennis W. , Kiankhooy Armin , Sartorelli Kennith H. , Vane Jerrie L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPurposeThis study was designed to ascertain the optimal therapy and diagnostics for children with pancreatic injury.MethodsFrom January 1, 2001 to January 1, 2007, all children (newborn to 17 years) who presented to this Level I trauma center with demonstrated pancreatic injury were prospectively entered into the TRACS IV system and reviewed for injury type, diagnostics, therapy, demographics, and outcome.ResultsFourteen children sustained grade II or higher pancreatic injury during this period. CT scan was performed for diagnosis in all cases. There were 11 boys and 3 girls, and mean age was 6.9 (range, 2–16) years. There were five grade II injuries, four grade III injuries, four grade IV injuries, and one grade V injury. All grade II injuries were treated successfully nonoperatively with observation. The nine grade III–IV injuries all underwent operative external drainage without pancreatectomy or stent placement. The single grade V injury died of multiple associated injuries after operative intervention. No pseudocysts developed in these children. All children have normal pancreatic function, and all except one have normal anatomy on follow‐up scans. Early exploration and drainage directly reduces length of stay.ConclusionGrade II pancreatic injuries do not require routine surgical exploration in children. Grade III and IV injuries in this series were treated with expeditious drainage of the pancreatic bed and did not require routine pancreatectomy or endoscopic stint placement as some have recommended. Early drainage shortens hospital stay, and outcomes from this therapy are excellent. Pancreatic resection of exocrine defunctionalized segments of pancreas may be performed safely electively after acute injury if necessary, but anecdotal information from this series indicates that too may not be necessary. Grade V injuries often are accompanied by multiple other organ injuries and are associated with a significant mortality rate. A multi‐institutional investigation is warranted to reassess optimal therapy for pancreatic injury in children.
‘Non‐neuronopathic’ Gaucher disease reconsidered. Prevalence of neurological manifestations in a Dutch cohort of type I Gaucher disease patients and a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Biegstraaten M. , van Schaik I. N. , Aerts J. M. F. G. , Hollak C. E. M. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryGaucher disease is a lysosomal storage disorder, which is classically divided into three types. Type I Gaucher disease is differentiated from types II and III disease by the absence of nervous system involvement. However, an increasing number of reports has emerged on neurological manifestations in patients with type I Gaucher disease. Whether a strict division in three different phenotypes is still valid has been the subject of debate. The main objective of this study was to provide scientific arguments whether a distinction between type I (non‐neuronopathic) and types II and III (neuronopathic) Gaucher disease should be maintained. We investigated retrospectively a large Dutch cohort of type I Gaucher disease patients for the prevalence of neurological manifestations and provide an overview of the literature on this topic. A diagnosis of a neurological disease was made 34 times in 75 patients. Forty‐five patients reported at least one neurological symptom during the median follow‐up time of 11 years. The literature search revealed 86 studies in which type I Gaucher disease patients or carriers of a glucocerebrosidase mutation were described with a neurological disease or a condition which is known to be associated with neurological disease. In conclusion, the term non‐neuronopathic Gaucher disease does not seem to be an appropriate characterization of type I Gaucher disease. However, the neurological signs and symptoms in type I Gaucher disease are of a totally different kind from and, in the majority of cases, of much less severity than the signs and symptoms associated with types II and III disease Therefore, type I disease should be classified as a separate phenotype.
Variability within cotton cultivars for yield, fibre quality and physiological traits
Authors: TOKATLIDIS I. S. , TSIKRIKONI C. , TSIALTAS J. T. , LITHOURGIDIS A. S. , BEBELI P. J. 
Published: April 2008

SUMMARYSelection within elite cotton cultivars is ineffective; it is believed that they are genetically homogeneous. Research in other crops, however, has verified significant intra-cultivar variation based either on phenotypic differentiation or molecular analysis techniques. The present study primarily investigated possible intra-cultivar variation for seedcotton yield. Honeycomb selection within three elite cotton cultivars, on the basis of single-plant seedcotton yield and under the ultra-low density of 1·2 plants/m2, was performed. From each cultivar, six selfed (hand-pollinated) plants were selected and seed of each selected plant constituted a separate line. The 18 first generation lines were evaluated in three locations at a density of 1·2 plants/m2. Within each line, the 10 selfed plants which yielded the highest were selected. Mixed seed from these selected plants constituted the respective second generation line. Offspring performance of the 18 second generation lines was also tested in three locations at a density of 1·2 plants/m2. The results were indicative of intra-cultivar variation, since significant differentiation between lines of each cultivar was found for seedcotton yield per plant, averaged across two years and three locations. Additionally, significant intra-cultivar variation was found for fibre quality properties (length and micronaire, but not strength and uniformity) averaged across two years in a single location, as well as for physiological traits (leaf carbon isotope discrimination, ash content and K concentration) averaged across two years and three locations. In comparison with the original cultivars the second generation lines had higher seedcotton yields supporting the existence of exploitable genetic variation. The conclusion was that honeycomb selection in the absence of competition could be an effective technique in breeders' seed treatment in order to avoid gradual degeneration and beneficially exploit any latent or newly developed genetic variation.
Historical deforestation patterns and the conservation value of church forests in the northern Ethiopian highlands
Authors: Aerts Raf , Pankhurst Richard , Van Overtveld Koen , November Eva , Hermy Martin , Muys Bart 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMountain forest plants have a limited capacity for migration because altitudinal gradients usually set strict limits to plant species’ ranges and often present physical barriers against dispersal. Innate ‘islands’ of biodiversity, mountain forests are therefore particularly vulnerable to the effects of climatic change and habitat fragmentation, both key drivers of global species loss. Conservation of these ecosystems must for that reason rely on protecting not only large fragments but also small habitat patches and relictual vegetation along a wide altitudinal range.When large fragments in such ecosystems are no longer available, small fragments become an environmental priority. Striking examples of small mountain forest fragments are the church forests of the northern Ethiopian highlands. In a landscape dominated by degraded semiarid savanna, sacred groves represent the majority of all remaining patches of Afromontane forest. Previous studies in the region only covered few fragments and could not adequately estimate the conservation value of these forests. For that reason, we digitized 394 church forests in an area of half a million hectares by systematically scanning high spatial resolution satellite images (pixel resolution 0.8 m) in eight blocks in the northern highlands and calculated area, density, shape, isolation and configuration metrics. Forest cover is only 0.2%, much lower than usually estimated in the literature (4%). Fragment shape and spatial configuration in the north and northeast of the surveyed area (irregular forests on northwestern slopes with churches near the forest edge) are consistent with forest conservation after fragmentation, while forests in the south and west (regular round forests surrounding a central church) indicate conservation prior to widespread deforestation. Fragments are small throughout the region (2.5 +- 0.2 ha) and need expansion, but known vegetation differences between church forests related to the two different historical fragmentation processes call for different strategies for forest conservation and restoration.
A system for generating transcription regulatory networks with combinatorial control of transcription
Authors: Roy Sushmita , Werner-Washburne Margaret , Lane Terran 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
Summary: We have developed a new software system, REgulatory Network generator with COmbinatorial control (RENCO), for automatic generation of differential equations describing pre-transcriptional combinatorics in artificial regulatory networks. RENCO has the following benefits: (a) it explicitly models protein–protein interactions among transcription factors, (b) it captures combinatorial control of transcription factors on target genes and (c) it produces output in Systems Biology Markup Language (SBML) format, which allows these equations to be directly imported into existing simulators. Explicit modeling of the protein interactions allows RENCO to incorporate greater mechanistic detail of the transcription machinery compared to existing models and can provide a better assessment of algorithms for regulatory network inference.
Availability: RENCO is a C++ command line program, available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/renco/
Contact: terran@cs.unm.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Differential Regulation of the Expression of Two High-Affinity Sulfate Transporters, SULTR1.1 and SULTR1.2, in Arabidopsis
Authors: Rouached Hatem , Wirtz Markus , Alary Remi , Hell Rüdiger , Arpat A. Bulak , Davidian Jean-Claude , Fourcroy Pierre , Berthomieu Pierre 
Published: April 2008

Abstract
The molecular mechanisms regulating the initial uptake of inorganic sulfate in plants are still largely unknown. The current model for the regulation of sulfate uptake and assimilation attributes positive and negative regulatory roles to O-acetyl-serine (O-acetyl-Ser) and glutathione, respectively. This model seems to suffer from exceptions and it has not yet been clearly validated whether intracellular O-acetyl-Ser and glutathione levels have impacts on regulation. The transcript level of the two high-affinity sulfate transporters SULTR1.1 and SULTR1.2 responsible for sulfate uptake from the soil solution was compared to the intracellular contents of O-acetyl-Ser, glutathione, and sulfate in roots of plants submitted to a wide diversity of experimental conditions. SULTR1.1 and SULTR1.2 were differentially expressed and neither of the genes was regulated in accordance with the current model. The SULTR1.1 transcript level was mainly altered in response to the sulfur-related treatments. Split-root experiments show that the expression of SULTR1.1 is locally regulated in response to sulfate starvation. In contrast, accumulation of SULTR1.2 transcripts appeared to be mainly related to metabolic demand and is controlled by photoperiod. On the basis of the new molecular insights provided in this study, we suggest that the expression of the two transporters depends on different regulatory networks. We hypothesize that interplay between SULTR1.1 and SULTR1.2 transporters could be an important mechanism to regulate sulfate content in the roots.
A reinvestigation into the taxonomic status of Riccia himalayensis and Riccia discolor based on scanning electron microscopic and chemotaxonomical studies
Authors: Mondal Amal Kumar 
Published: April 2008

Riccia himalayensis St. (Ms.) Kashyap is a common species found in the Himalayas from the foot of the mountains to an altitude of 2743 m. Ricciadiscolor Lehm. et Lindb. on the other hand, is the common and most widely distributed monsoon species, that has been reported from both the western and eastern Himalayas, as well as from the plains of Assam, west Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, south India, etc. Dispute still exists regarding the taxonomic status of R. himalayensis, which is considered a synonym of R. discolor by some taxonomists, according to whom R. himalayensis has no specific status. This has led to a lot of errors in interpreting R. discolor. On the other hand many authors have considered R. himalayensis to be a composite species of R. discolor, R. billardieri and R. gangetica.The present investigation was aimed to reinvestigate the taxonomic status of R. himalayensis and R. discolor based on morphological analysis of thallus and spore surface by light microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies and biochemical analyses of the protein profile by SDS‐PAGE. Results reveal that although the two species share certain common morphological features, they are two distinct species chemotaxonomically.
Formulation of long‐acting nifedipine tablets influences the heart rate and sympathetic nervous system response in hypertensive patients
Authors: Brown Morris J. , Toal Corey B. 
Published: April 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies are usually carried out separately with theoretical linking or interpretations.• The pharmacokinetics of short‐ vs. long‐acting formulations of nifedipine is well known, but the pharmacokinetics of different once‐a‐day formulations of nifedipine is generally not well known by the practising physician. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • This study provides practical patient‐based information linking pharmacokinetics to pharmacodynamics in one of the target populations of patients, those with hypertension, who might receive the two different drugs.AIMSThe haemodynamic responses to nifedipine vary between short‐ and long‐acting formulations. However, the latter have not been compared despite marked differences in their constitution. Our 1‐month randomized, crossover study was designed to compare the 30‐mg osmotic, constant‐release nifedipine gastrointestinal therapeutic system (N‐GITS) with an encapsulated mini‐tablet Coracten XL.METHODSForty‐four hypertensive patients aged 63 ± 7 years were studied. The formulation was changed on day 15 and (for a single dose) day 30. At days 0, 14, 15, 29 and 30, patients were monitored for 6 h after dosing, during which blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and plasma levels of norepinephrine (NE) and nifedipine were measured. The primary outcome was the difference in plasma NE between formulations at the time of peak nifedipine level.RESULTSSystolic BP decreased rapidly after the first dose of Coracten, achieving nadir at 5 h. HR rose by 1.2 ± 8.8 beats min−1. After N‐GITS HR fell by 2.4 ± 7.7 beats min−1 (P = 0.159). Plasma NE was higher in the Coracten‐ (480 ± 38.3 pg ml−1) than N‐GITS‐treated patients (343 ± 75.0 pg ml−1) at the time of peak nifedipine concentrations (4 and 5 h, respectively) and their change from baseline was significantly (P = 0.0046) different. A similar difference between the drugs was seen again at days 15 and 30, at 5 h after switching formulations.CONCLUSIONSThis study suggests that two different formulations of once‐daily nifedipine result in different BP and plasma NE responses, and that switching between formulations causes opposite effects upon the sympathetic nervous response to falling BP.