bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of circulating eosinophil count and adrenal gland function in California sea lions naturally exposed to domoic acid
Authors: Gulland Frances M. D. , Hall Ailsa J. , Greig Denise J. , Frame Elizabeth R. , Colegrove Kathleen M. , Booth Rebecca K. N. , Wasser Sam K. , Scott-Moncrieff J. Catharine R. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Objective—To determine the effect of natural exposure to domoic acid (DA) on eosinophil counts and adrenal gland function in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).
Design—Cross-sectional prospective study.
Animals—39 California sea lions.
Procedures—Adult female sea lions admitted to a rehabilitation hospital during 2009 were classified into 1 of 3 groups (acute DA toxicosis, chronic DA toxicosis, or no DA exposure) on the basis of clinical signs, DA concentration in urine or feces, and hippocampal morphology. Endoparasite burden, eosinophil count, and serum cortisol and plasma ACTH concentrations were determined for each sea lion. For a subset of 8 sea lions, fecal glucocorticoid concentration after IM administration of cosyntropin was determined.
Results—Sea lions exposed to DA (acute DA toxicosis, n = 11; chronic DA toxicosis, 19) had higher eosinophil counts and lower serum cortisol concentrations, compared with values for sea lions with no DA exposure (9). Eosinophil count was not associated with endoparasite burden. Serum cortisol concentration was associated with plasma ACTH concentrations in sea lions from the no DA exposure group but not in sea lions in the acute or chronic DA toxicosis groups. Following cosyntropin injection, fecal glucocorticoid concentrations increased in all sea lions evaluated except 1.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In adult sea lions, eosinophilia may be a cost-effective biomarker for DA exposure and may reflect alterations in hypothalamic, pituitary gland, or adrenal gland function. Domoic acid exposure may have subtle health effects on marine animals in addition to induction of neurologic signs.
Maternal prenatal state anxiety symptoms and birth weight: A pilot study
Authors: Azar Rima , Singer Samahra 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Many women suffer from new or worsening anxiety during pregnancy. In this pilot study, we investigated the effect of timing and severity of prenatal state anxiety symptoms on reduced birth weight. We hypothesized that: (1) Women with state anxiety symptoms during mid-gestation would deliver newborns with lower birth weight in comparison to participants with symptoms in early gestation and (2) compared to women with lower anxiety symptoms (< 50th percentile), women with medium-to-high state anxiety symptoms (> 50th percentile) would have lower birth weight offspring. The sample consisted of the first 30 pregnant women who agreed to participate in this pilot study. We assessed anxiety symptoms, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory during early and mid-gestation. We obtained birth weight from clinical charts. A hierarchical multiple regression showed that, after controlling for covariates, state anxiety symptoms in mid-gestation were associated with lower infant birth weight [F(9, 7) = 20.30, p<.001]. However, birth weight did not differ as a function of the severity of maternal state anxiety [F(1, 23)=.14, p=.71 and F(1, 24)=1.76, p=.20., respectively]. Clearly, our pilot data need replication. Once statistical significance is established with larger samples, it will be informative to examine the clinical significance of those findings.
Experimental and numerical analysis of stress wave propagation in polymers and the role of interfaces in armour systems
Authors: Gorwade Chandragupt , Ashcroft Ian , Silberschmidt Vadim , Hughes Foz , Swallowe Gerry 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Advanced polymeric materials are finding an increasing range of industrial and defence applications. These materials have the potential to improve combat survivability, whilst reducing the cost and weight of armour systems. In this paper the results from a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) test of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) sample involving multiple stress waves is discussed with aid of a finite element model of the test. It is seen that the phenomenon of impedance mismatch at interfaces plays an important role in the levels of stress and deformation seen in the sample. A multi-layer armour system is then investigated using the finite element model. This case study illustrates the role of impedance mismatch and interface engineering in the design and optimisation of armour solutions.
Change in snow strength caused by rain
Authors: Ito Yoichi , Matsushita Hiroki , Hirashima Hiroyuki , Ito Yasuhiko , Noro Tomoyuki 
Published: September 2012

AbstractRain-on-snow events can cause wet snow avalanches. Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the change in snow strength with increasing water content through rainwater percolation. Snowpack was artificially prepared consisting of a thin ice layer and fine compacted snow, and rainfall (2mmh–1) was artificially applied 22–25.5 and 49–52 hours after the snowpack was formed. Snow hardness was measured with a push–pull force gauge to indicate the snow strength before and after each rain-on-snow event. After the first rainfall, the upper half of the snowpack became wet and a rapid decrease in snow hardness was observed. After the second rainfall the rainwater penetrated the ice layer, high water content was observed above the ice layer but the hardness exceeded that estimated from an empirical relationship between hardness and water content. Micrographs of the snow particles suggest that the delay in grain coarsening observed near the wetting front induces the harder than estimated snow condition.
An Australian Tertiary Referral Center Experience of the Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Maliyasena Videshinie A. , Hopkins Peter M. A. , Thomson Bruce M. , Dunning John , Wall Douglas A. , Ng Benjamin J. , McNeil Keith D. , Mullany Daniel , Kermeen Fiona D. 
Published: September 2012

The objective of this study was to report the outcome of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery performed for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) at a single tertiary center. The prospective study consisted of 35 patients with surgically amenable CTEPH undergoing PEA between September 2004 and September 2010. The main outcome measures were Functional (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class, 6‐Minute Walk Distance), hemodynamic (echocardiography, right heart catheterization, and cardiac MRI), and outcome data (morbidity and mortality). Following PEA, there were significant improvements in NYHA class (pre 2.9±0.7 vs. post 1.3±0.5, P < 0.0001), right ventricular systolic pressure (pre 77.4±24.8 mmHg vs. post 45.1±24.9 mmHg, P = 0.0005), 6‐Minute Walk Distance (pre 419.6±109.4 m vs. post 521.6±83.5 m, P = 0.0017), mean pulmonary artery pressure (pre 41.8±15.3 mmHg vs. post 24.7±8.8 mmHg, P = 0.0006), and cardiac MRI indices (end diastolic volume pre 213.8±49.2 mL vs. post 148.1±34.5 mL, P < 0.0001; ejection fraction pre 40.7±9.8 mL vs. post 48.1±8.9 mL, P = 0.0069). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 258.77±26.16 min, with a mean circulatory arrest time of 43.83 ±28.78 min, a mean ventilation time of 4.7±7.93 days (range 0.2–32.7), and a mean intensive care unit stay of 7.22±8.71 days (range 1.1–33.8). Complications included reperfusion lung injury (20%), persistent pulmonary hypertension (17.1%), slow respiratory wean (25.7%), pericardial effusion (11.4%), and cardiac tamponade (5.7%). 1‐year mortality post‐procedure was 11.4%. Pulmonary endarterectomy can be performed safely with relatively low mortality.
The Impact of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension‐Targeted Therapy on Survival in Chinese Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Zeng Wei‐Jie , Sun Yun‐Juan , Gu Qing , Xiong Chang‐Ming , Li Jian‐Jun , He Jian‐Guo 
Published: September 2012

The survival rates of Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) and familial pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) on conventional therapy at 1 and 3 years were 68.0% and 38.9%, respectively. Our aim was to update recent knowledge on the demographics, clinical course, hemodynamic features, disease management, and survival of adult patients with IPAH. This retrospective and observational study was conducted at the largest tertiary referral center in China. Ninety patients with IPAH who underwent initial evaluation at Fu Wai Hospital from January 2006 through November 2009 were retrospectively enrolled. The primary outcome was death. Statistical analyses used included independent sample t test, nonparametric test, Kaplan‐Meier method, and Cox proportional hazards analysis. Of the 90 patients enrolled, the median age was 32 years with female predominance. The median interval from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 14 months. Patients exhibited severe exercise limitation and hemodynamic abnormalities at diagnosis. Only 10.6% had a positive vasoreactivity test, while calcium channel blockers were given to 22.2% of patients. Fifty‐nine patients (65.6%) received PAH‐targeted therapies during follow‐up. Our survival rates of 84.1%, 73.7%, and 70.6% at 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐years compared favorably with predicted survival based on the National Institutes of Health equation which showed 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐years survival rates of 67.7%, 55.9%, and 47%, respectively. For the patients receiving conventional therapy solely, the 1‐ and 3‐years survival rates were 67.0% and 49.3%, respectively. Younger age, lower body mass index, presence of pericardial effusion, and absence of PAH‐targeted therapy were independently associated with mortality. We concluded that patients with IPAH were still diagnosed too late, and while survival rates have improved in the modern treatment era, there is still room for improvement.
The Renin‐Angiotensin System and Right Ventricular Structure and Function: The MESA‐Right Ventricle Study
Authors: Ventetuolo Corey E. , Lima Joao A. C. , Barr R. Graham , Bristow Michael R. , Bagiella Emilia , Chahal Harjit , Kizer Jorge R. , Lederer David J. , Bluemke David A. , Kawut Steven M. 
Published: September 2012

The pulmonary vasculature is an important site of renin‐angiotensin metabolism. While angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (collectively AIABs) have a role in left ventricular (LV) disease, the impact of AIABs on right ventricular (RV) function is unknown. AIAB use was determined by medication inventory during the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis baseline examination. RV measures were obtained via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The relationship between AIAB use and RV measures was assessed using multivariable linear regression, stratified by race/ethnicity, and adjusted for multiple covariates. AIAB use was associated with lower RV mass (−0.7 g, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.3 to −0.1, P=0.03) in African Americans (N=1012) after adjustment for multiple covariates including LV mass. Among Caucasians (N=1591), AIAB use was associated with larger RV end‐diastolic volume (3.7 mL, 95% CI 0.7–6.8, P=0.02) after adjustment for LV volume. No significant associations were seen between AIAB use and other RV measures or in Hispanic or Chinese American participants. AIAB use was associated with RV morphology in a race‐specific and LV‐independent manner, suggesting the renin‐angiotensin system may play a unique role in RV structure and function. The use of AIABs in those with RV dysfunction warrants further study.
Molecular Regulation of Ghrelin Expression by Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 In Rat Pancreatic AR42J Cell Line
Authors: Lao Kah-Meng , Lim Wyi-Sian , Ng Di-Lin , Tengku-Muhammad Tengku-Sifzizul , Choo Quok-Cheong , Chew Choy-Hoong 
Published: September 2012

Ghrelin is a 28 amino acid peptide endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretatgogue receptor (GHS-R) that functions to stimulate growth hormone, regulate inflammation, appetite and energy balance. However, the regulation of ghrelin expression by pro-inflammatory cytokines during inflammation process has never been investigated systematically. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of major pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 on ghrelin expression using AR42J rat pancreatic cell line as model system. The cells were treated with different concentrations of the cytokines for 24 hours. Real-Time RT-PCR, Western blot and densitometry analysis were carried out to quantify ghrelin mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Although TNF-α and IL-6 stimulation resulted in a general down-regulatory pattern in both mRNA and protein expression of ghrelin, stimulation with 5 ng/ml of TNF-α and IL-6 slightly induced the expression of ghrelin expression. However, higher doses of the cytokines ranging from 10-50 ng/ml suppressed the ghrelin expression in a dose-dependant manner. These results indicate that ghrelin in AR42J pancreatic cell line is regulated by the pro-inflammatory cytokines and that the dosages of the cytokines play an important factor in the regulation of the expression.
Antibiotic‐Releasing Silk Biomaterials for Infection Prevention and Treatment
Authors: Pritchard Eleanor M. , Valentin Thomas , Panilaitis Bruce , Omenetto Fiorenzo , Kaplan David L. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractEffective treatment of infections in avascular and necrotic tissues can be challenging due to limited penetration into the target tissue and systemic toxicities. Controlled‐release polymer implants have the potential to achieve the high local concentrations needed while also minimizing systemic exposure. Silk biomaterials possess unique characteristics for antibiotic delivery, including biocompatibility, tunable biodegradation, stabilizing effects, water‐based processing, and diverse material formats. The functional release of antibiotics spanning a range of chemical properties from different material formats of silk (films, microspheres, hydrogels, coatings) is reported. The release of penicillin and ampicillin from bulk‐loaded silk films, drug‐loaded silk microspheres suspended in silk hydrogels and bulk‐loaded silk hydrogels is investigated and the in vivo efficacy of the ampicillin‐releasing silk hydrogels is demonstrated in a murine infected‐wound model. Silk sponges with nanofilm coatings are loaded with gentamicin and cefazolin, and release is sustained for 5 and 3 days, respectively. The capability of silk antibiotic carriers to sequester, stabilize, and then release bioactive antibiotics represents a major advantage over implants and pumps based on liquid drug reservoirs, where instability at room or body temperature is limiting. The present studies demonstrate that silk biomaterials represent a novel, customizable antibiotic platform for focal delivery of antibiotics using a range of material formats (injectable to implantable).
Ultracompact Asymmetric Mach–Zehnder Interferometers with High Visibility Constructed from Exciton Polariton Waveguides of Organic Dye Nanofibers
Authors: Takazawa Ken , Inoue Jun‐ichi , Mitsuishi Kazutaka , Kuroda Takashi 
Published: September 2012

AbstractManipulation of light using subwavelength waveguides is a key technology in the development of miniaturized photonic circuits, which possess various advantages over their electronic counterparts. The novel approach presented for such waveguiding involves the propagation of exciton polaritons (EPs), which are quasi‐particles formed by strong exciton–photon coupling, along organic dye nanofibers. A self‐assembled nanofiber of thiacyanine (TC) with a width of ≈200 nm propagates the EPs created by an optical excitation over a submillimeter‐scale distance and passes through a bend with a micrometer‐scale radius with low bending loss. To demonstrate the remarkable potential of EP‐based miniaturized photonic circuits, asymmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometers (AMZIs) are fabricated with TC nanofibers by micromanipulation. The AMZIs with a footprint of ≈20 μm × 20 μm exhibit a visibility of nearly unity and function as channel drop filters with the considerably high extinction ratio of up to ≈15 dB. Such high‐performance and ultracompact channel drop filters operating in the visible wavelength region have rarely been developed with other waveguide technologies. The coherent properties of the EPs in the nanofibers are investigated using time‐resolved experiments. The coherent properties provide useful information for designing EP‐based photonic circuits and for understanding EP dynamics in a nanofiber.
Large‐scale optimization strategies for pressure swing adsorption cycle synthesis
Authors: Dowling Alexander W. , Vetukuri Sree R. R. , Biegler Lorenz T. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractPressure swing adsorption (PSA) is an efficient method for gas separation and is a potential candidate for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture from power plants. However, few PSA cycles have been designed for this purpose; the optimal design and operation of PSA cycles for CO2 capture, as well as other systems, remains a very challenging task. In this study, we present a systematic optimization‐based formulation for the synthesis and design of novel PSA cycles for CO2 capture in IGCC power plants, which can simultaneously produce hydrogen (H2) and CO2 at high purity and high recovery. Here, we apply a superstructure‐based approach to simultaneously determine optimal cycle configurations and design parameters for PSA units. This approach combines automatic differentiation, efficient ODE solvers for the state and sensitivity equations of the PSA model, and state of the art nonlinear programming solvers. Three optimization models are proposed, and two PSA case studies are considered. The first case study considers a binary separation of H2 and CO2 at high purity, where specific energy is minimized, whereas the second case study considers a larger five component separation. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 58: 3777–3791, 2012
Ultrasmooth metallic films with buried nanostructures for backside reflection‐mode plasmonic biosensing
Authors: Lindquist N.C. , Johnson T.W. , Jose J. , Otto L.M. , Oh S.‐H. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractA new plasmonic device architecture based on ultrasmooth metallic surfaces with buried plasmonic nanostructures is presented. Using template‐stripping techniques, ultrathin gold films with less than 5 Å surface roughness are optically coupled to an arbitrary arrangement of buried metallic gratings, rings, and nanodots. As a prototypical example, linear plasmonic gratings buried under an ultrasmooth 20 nm thick gold surface for biosensing are presented. The optical illumination and collection are completely decoupled from the microfluidic delivery of liquid samples due to the backside, reflection‐mode geometry. This allows for sensing with opaque or highly scattering liquids. With the buried nanostructure design, high sensitivity and decoupled backside (reflective) optical access are maintained, as with traditional prism‐based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors. In addition, the benefits offered by nanoplasmonic sensors such as spectral tunability and high‐resolution, wide‐field SPR imaging with normal‐incidence epi‐illumination that is simple to construct and align are gained as well. Beyond sensing, the buried plasmonic nanostructures with ultrasmooth metallic surfaces can benefit nanophotonic waveguides, surface‐enhanced spectroscopy, nanolithography, and optical trapping.
Influence of monosodium glutamate additive on the morphology and permeability characteristics of polyamide dialysis membranes
Authors: Shakaib M. , Ahmed Iqbal , Yunus Rosli M. , Idris Ani , Hussain A. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractMembranes were prepared with dope solutions of various concentrations of polyamide and monosodium glutamate (MSG) additive for dialysis applications. The results show that the membranes with higher MSG concentrations had higher water uptakes and porosities. The membranes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy techniques and evaluated in terms of the permeability of solutes, such as urea and creatinine. The cross‐sectional structure of the membranes prepared without MSG additive or with a low MSG concentration were dense, and their surfaces consisted of large‐sized nodule aggregates. The permeation of solutes was less through these membranes. When the amount of additive in the membrane solution was sufficient, macrovoids were seen in the SEM images, and the sizes of nodules were small, which caused an increase in the diffusive permeability of solutes. The surfaces of the membranes with higher MSG concentrations were found to be smooth; this could be useful for the dialysis process. The contact angles of these membranes were also lower; this indicated that this additive improved the hydrophilicity of the membranes. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Thermal stability of novolac cured with polyborosilazane
Authors: Guo Zibin , Li Hao , Han Weijian , Zhao Tong 
Published: September 2012

AbstractTo improve the thermal stability of phenolic resins, silicon‐ and boron‐containing phenolic resin (SBPR) was synthesized from novolac‐type phenolic resin using polyborosilazane (PBSZ) as curing agent, which can react with novolac resin at room temperature. The curing mechanism was studied by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermal and morphological properties of SBPR were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) respectively. TG results showed that the thermal properties of SBPR were much better than the corresponding novolac resin cured with hexamethylenetetramine, both for the initial decomposition temperatures (Td) and residual weight at 900°C. The SEM and EDX results showed that the SBPR hybrids after oxidation were covered with SiO2 glass coatings, which improved the thermo‐oxidative resistance of SBPR. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Gene expression profiling for mechanistic understanding of cellular aggregation in mammalian cell perfusion cultures
Authors: Liu Meile , Goudar Chetan T. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAggregation of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells cultivated in perfusion mode for manufacturing recombinant proteins was characterized. The potential impact of cultivation time on cell aggregation for an aggregating culture (cell line A) was studied by comparing expression profiles of 84 genes in the extracellular adhesion molecules (ECM) pathway by qRT‐PCR from 9 and 25 day shake flask samples and 80 and 94 day bioreactor samples. Significant up‐regulation of THBS2 (4.4‐ to 6.9‐fold) was seen in both the 25 day shake flask and 80 and 94 day bioreactor samples compared to the 9 day shake flask while NCAM1 was down‐regulated 5.1‐ to 8.9‐fold in the 80 and 94 day bioreactor samples. Subsequent comparisons were made between cell line A and a non‐aggregating culture (cell line B). A 65 day perfusion bioreactor sample from cell line B served as the control for 80 and 94 day samples from four different perfusion bioreactors for cell line A. Of the 84 genes in the ECM pathway, four (COL1A1, COL4A1, THBS2, and VCAN) were consistently up‐regulated in cell line A while two (NCAM1 and THBS1) were consistently down‐regulated. The magnitudes of differential gene expression were much higher when cell lines were compared (4.1‐ to 44.6‐fold) than when early and late cell line B samples were compared (4.4‐ to 6.9‐fold) indicating greater variability between aggregating and non‐aggregating cell lines. Based on the differential gene expression results, two mechanistic models were proposed for aggregation of BHK cells in perfusion cultures. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 483–490. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.