bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Autonomic Arousal During Actigraphically Estimated Waking and Sleep in Male Veterans With PTSD
Authors: Bertram Franziska , Jamison Andrea L. , Slightam Cindie , Kim Sunyoung , Roth Heidi L. , Roth Walton T. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractPhysiological hyperarousal is manifested acutely by increased heart rate, decreased respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and increased skin conductance level and variability. Yet it is uncertain to what extent such activation occurs with the symptomatic hyperarousal of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We compared 56 male veterans with current PTSD to 54 males who never had PTSD. Subjects wore ambulatory devices that recorded electrocardiograms, finger skin conductance, and wrist movement while in their normal environments. Wrist movement was monitored to estimate sleep and waking periods. Heart rate, but not the other variables, was elevated in subjects with PTSD equally during waking and during actigraphic sleep (effect sizes, Cohen's d, ranged from 0.63 to 0.89). The length of the sleep periods and estimated sleep fragmentation did not differ between groups. Group heart rate differences could not be explained by differences in body activity, PTSD hyperarousal symptom scores, depression, physical fitness, or antidepressant use.
Self‐Monitoring of Reexperiencing Symptoms: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Brown Amanda Joelle , Bollini Annie M. , Craighead Linda W. , Astin Millie C. , Norrholm Seth Davin , Bradley Bekh 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe efficacy of a brief intervention to self‐monitor reexperiencing symptoms was evaluated in 137 U.S. combat veterans with PTSD who were enrolled in 5‐week psychoeducation groups at a large Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Groups were randomized to psychoeducation alone (Education Control, n = 50) or psychoeducation plus intrusion monitoring (Education + Monitoring, n = 87). Education + Monitoring participants were asked to make a daily record of the number and content of nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive trauma‐related thoughts, and physiological and emotional reactions to triggers. Avoidance symptoms were reduced in both conditions (η2 = .093), with no additional benefit from intrusion monitoring (η2 = .001). Compliance with intrusion monitoring was markedly low, which complicated the interpretation of the study findings. Even though intrusion monitoring has a strong theoretical foundation and may be an efficient and cost‐effective alternative to more structured treatments for PTSD, the effect of intrusion monitoring will not be clearly understood until higher compliance can be achieved. Future work in this area should address barriers to compliance and investigate strategies for enhancing motivation to engage in self‐monitoring.
From Betrayal to the Bottle: Investigating Possible Pathways From Trauma to Problematic Substance Use
Authors: Delker Brianna C. , Freyd Jennifer J. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractResearch in both community and clinical settings has found that exposure to cumulative interpersonal trauma predicts substance use problems. Less is known about betrayal as a dimension of trauma exposure that predicts substance use, and about the behavioral and psychological pathways that explain the relation between trauma and substance use. In a sample of 362 young adults, this study evaluated three intervening pathways between betrayal trauma exposure prior to age 18 years and problematic substance use: (a) substance use to cope with negative affect, (b) difficulty discerning and/or heeding risk, and (c) self‐destructiveness. In addition, exposure to trauma low in betrayal (e.g., earthquake) was included in the model. Bootstrap tests of indirect effects revealed that betrayal trauma prior to age 18 years was associated with problematic substance use via posttraumatic stress and two intervening pathways: difficulty discerning/heeding risk (β = .07, p < .001), and self‐destructiveness (β = .12, p < .001). Exposure to lower betrayal trauma was not associated with posttraumatic stress or problematic substance use. Results contribute to a trauma‐informed understanding of substance use that persists despite potentially harmful consequences.
Facile Synthesis and Solid‐State Properties of Liquid‐Crystalline Polypeptides Bearing Biphenyl Mesogens and Alkyl Tails
Authors: Yuan Qiulin , Liu Dan , Deng Yong , Ling Ying , Tang Haoyu 
Published: October 2014

A series of liquid‐crystalline 4‐alkyloxybiphenyl‐poly(γ‐propyl‐l‐glutamate) conjugates (PPLGn‐g‐BPCm, n = 10, 54, 110, and 274, m = 4, 6, and 12) with end‐on biphenyl mesogens and variable alkyl tails is synthesized via a facile copper‐mediated alkyne–azide [2+3] 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition. 1H NMR and FTIR analyses reveal a quantitative conjugation efficiency for each sample. Variable‐temperature FTIR results indicate an irreversible α‐helical to β‐sheet transition of the PPLG10‐g‐BPC6 in the solid state, whereas PPLGn‐g‐BPCm samples with a longer main‐chain length (n ≥ 54) only adopt an α‐helical conformation in the temperature range between 25 and 200 °C. DSC, polarized optical microscopy (POM), and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) results collectively reveal that the PPLGn‐g‐BPCm samples undergo a reversible crystalline to liquid‐crystalline phase transition depending on the main‐/side‐chain lengths. The PPLGn‐g‐BPCm (n ≥ 54, m ≤ 6) samples form highly stable smectic (SmC or SmE) phases with a calculated tilt angle of 73–90°.
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Synthesis of High‐Molecular‐Weight Brush Polymers via RAFT Polymerization within the Micellar Nanoreactor of a PEG‐Based Macromonomer
Authors: Li Na , Liu Weiwei , Xu Lijian , Xu Jianxiong , Du Jingjing 
Published: October 2014

The RAFT polymerization of an amphipathic PEG‐based macromonomer (mPEG‐g‐S) in water is performed. It is found that the polymerization proceeds via a micellar polymerization process. The polymerization kinetics, polymer chain extension, and polymer particle evolution of RAFT micellar polymerization are evaluated. It is demonstrated that the polymerization possesses a fast rate and high monomer conversion due to locally concentrating and orienting the hydrophobic polymerizing groups within the micellar nanoreactor. Moreover, the RAFT micellar polymerization is under good control since the polydispersity index (PDI) value of the synthesized brush copolymer is below 1.3 in most cases, even under polymerization conditions with the ratio of RAFT agent to macromonomer at 1:400. Polymerization leads to the formation of a completely grafted brush copolymer, and the as‐synthesized brush copolymer will self‐assemble into spherical particles during the polymerization process. This strategy is anticipated to be an efficient way for the controlled synthesis of completely grafted brush polymers with high molecular weights and their corresponding self‐assembled particles.
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Enhancement of Anhydrous Proton Conductivity of Poly(vinylphosphonic acid)–Poly(2,5‐benzimidazole) Membranes via In Situ Polymerization
Authors: Sen Unal , Usta Hakan , Acar Oktay , Citir Murat , Canlier Ali , Bozkurt Ayhan , Ata Ali 
Published: October 2014

Polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) are synthesized via in situ polymerization of vinylphosphonic acid (VPA) within a poly(2,5‐benzimidazole) (ABPBI) matrix. The characterization of the membranes is carried out by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for the interpolymer interactions, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for the thermal properties, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the morphological properties. The physicochemical characterizations suggest the complexation between ABPBI and PVPA and the formation of homogeneous polymer blends. Proton conductivities in the anhydrous state (150 °C) measured by using impedance spectroscopy are considerable, at up to 0.001 and 0.002 S cm−1 for (1:1) and (1:2) molar ratios, respectively. These conductivities indicate significant improvements (>1000×) over the physically blended samples. The results shown here demonstrate the great potential of in situ preparation for the realization of new PEM materials in future high‐temperature and non‐humidified polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) applications.
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Free‐breathing combined three‐dimensional phase sensitive late gadolinium enhancement and T1 mapping for myocardial tissue characterization
Authors: Weingärtner Sebastian , Akçakaya Mehmet , Roujol Sébastien , Basha Tamer , Tschabrunn Cory , Berg Sophie , Anter Elad , Nezafat Reza 
Published: October 2014

PurposeTo develop a novel MR sequence for combined three‐dimensional (3D) phase‐sensitive (PS) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and T1 mapping to allow for simultaneous assessment of focal and diffuse myocardial fibrosis.MethodsIn the proposed sequence, four 3D imaging volumes are acquired with different T1 weightings using a combined saturation and inversion preparation, after administration of a gadolinium contrast agent. One image is acquired fully sampled with the inversion time selected to null the healthy myocardial signal (the LGE image). The other three images are three‐fold under‐sampled and reconstructed using compressed sensing. An acquisition scheme with two interleaved imaging cycles and joint navigator‐gating of those cycles ensures spatial registration of the imaging volumes. T1 maps are generated using all four imaging volumes. The signal‐polarity in the LGE image is restored using supplementary information from the T1 fit to generate PS‐LGE images. The accuracy of the proposed method was assessed with respect to a inversion‐recovery spin‐echo sequence. In vivo T1 maps and LGE images were acquired with the proposed sequence and quantitatively compared with 2D multislice Modified Look‐Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) T1 maps. Exemplary images in a patient with focal scar were compared with conventional LGE imaging.ResultsThe deviation of the proposed method and the spin‐echo reference was < 11 ms in phantom for T1 times between 250 and 600 ms, regardless of the inversion time selected in the LGE image. There was no significant difference in the in vivo T1 times of the proposed sequence and the 2D MOLLI technique (myocardium: 292 ± 75 ms versus 310 ± 49 ms, blood‐pools: 191 ± 75 ms versus 182.0 ± 33). The LGE images showed proper nulling of the healthy myocardium in all subjects and clear depiction of scar in the patient.ConclusionThe proposed sequence enables simultaneous acquisition of 3D PS‐LGE images and spatially registered 3D T1 maps in a single scan. Magn Reson Med 74:1032–1041, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI in mouse tumors at 11.7 T: comparison of three contrast agents with different molecular weights to assess the early effects of combretastatin A4
Authors: Fruytier A.‐C. , Magat J. , Neveu M.‐A. , Karroum O. , Bouzin C. , Feron O. , Jordan B. , Cron G. O. , Gallez B. 
Published: October 2014

Dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE)‐MRI is useful to assess the early effects of drugs acting on tumor vasculature, namely anti‐angiogenic and vascular disrupting agents. Ultra‐high‐field MRI allows higher‐resolution scanning for DCE‐MRI while maintaining an adequate signal‐to‐noise ratio. However, increases in susceptibility effects, combined with decreases in longitudinal relaxivity of gadolinium‐based contrast agents (GdCAs), make DCE‐MRI more challenging at high field. The aim of this work was to explore the feasibility of using DCE‐MRI at 11.7 T to assess the tumor hemodynamics of mice. Three GdCAs possessing different molecular weights (gadoterate: 560 Da, 0.29 mmol Gd/kg; p846: 3.5 kDa, 0.10 mmol Gd/kg; and p792: 6.47 kDa, 0.15 mmol Gd/kg) were compared to see the influence of the molecular weight in the highlight of the biologic effects induced by combretastatin A4 (CA4).Mice bearing transplantable liver tumor (TLT) hepatocarcinoma were divided into two groups (n = 5–6 per group and per GdCA): a treated group receiving 100 mg/kg CA4, and a control group receiving vehicle. The mice were imaged at 11.7 T with a T1‐weighted FLASH sequence 2 h after the treatment. Individual arterial input functions (AIFs) were computed using phase imaging. These AIFs were used in the Extended Tofts Model to determine Ktrans and vp values. A separate immunohistochemistry study was performed to assess the vascular perfusion and the vascular density.Phase imaging was used successfully to measure the AIF for the three GdCAs. In control groups, an inverse relationship between the molecular weight of the GdCA and Ktrans and vp values was observed. Ktrans was significantly decreased in the treated group compared with the control group for each GdCA.DCE‐MRI at 11.7 T is feasible to assess tumor hemodynamics in mice. With Ktrans, the three GdCAs were able to track the early vascular effects induced by CA4 treatment. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MOLLI and AIR T1 mapping pulse sequences yield different myocardial T1 and ECV measurements
Authors: Hong KyungPyo , Kim Daniel 
Published: October 2014

Both post‐contrast myocardial T1 and extracellular volume (ECV) have been reported to be associated with diffuse interstitial fibrosis. Recently, the cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) field is recognizing that post‐contrast myocardial T1 is sensitive to several confounders and migrating towards ECV as a measure of collagen volume fraction. Several recent studies using widely available Modified Look‐Locker Inversion‐recovery (MOLLI) have reported ECV cutoff values to distinguish between normal and diseased myocardium. It is unclear if these cutoff values are translatable to different T1 mapping pulse sequences such as arrhythmia‐insensitive‐rapid (AIR) cardiac T1 mapping, which was recently developed to rapidly image patients with cardiac rhythm disorders. We sought to evaluate, in well‐controlled canine and pig experiments, the relative accuracy and precision, as well as intra‐ and inter‐observer variability in data analysis, of ECV measured with AIR as compared with MOLLI.In 16 dogs, as expected, the mean T1 was significantly different (p < 0.001) between MOLLI (891 ± 373 ms) and AIR (1071 ± 503 ms), but, surprisingly, the mean ECV between MOLLI (21.8 ± 2.1%) and AIR (19.6 ± 2.4%) was also significantly different (p < 0.001). Both intra‐ and inter‐observer agreements in T1 calculations were higher for MOLLI than AIR, but intra‐ and inter‐observer agreements in ECV calculations were similar between MOLLI and AIR. In six pigs, the coefficient of repeatability (CR), as defined by the Bland–Altman analysis, in T1 calculation was considerably lower for MOLLI (32.5 ms) than AIR (82.3 ms), and the CR in ECV calculation was also lower for MOLLI (1.8%) than AIR (4.5%).In conclusion, this study shows that MOLLI and AIR yield significantly different T1 and ECV values in large animals and that MOLLI yields higher precision than AIR. Findings from this study suggest that CMR researchers must consider the specific pulse sequence when translating published ECV cutoff values into their own studies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanism of tumour vascularization in experimental lung metastases
Authors: Szabo Vanessza , Bugyik Edina , Dezso Katalin , Ecker Nora , Nagy Peter , Timar Jozsef , Tovari Jozsef , Laszlo Viktoria , Bridgeman Victoria L , Wan Elaine , Frentzas Sophia , Vermeulen Peter B , Reynolds Andrew R , Dome Balazs , Paku Sandor 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe appearance of lung metastases is associated with poor outcome and the management of patients with secondary pulmonary tumours remains a clinical challenge. We examined the vascularization process of lung metastasis in six different preclinical models and found that the tumours incorporated the pre‐existing alveolar capillaries (ie vessel co‐option). During the initial phase of vessel co‐option, the incorporated capillaries were still sheathed by pneumocytes, but these incorporated vessels subsequently underwent different fates dependent on the model. In five of the models examined (B16, HT1080, HT25, C26, and MAT B‐III), the tumour cells gradually stripped the pneumocytes from the vessels. These dissected pneumocytes underwent fragmentation, but the incorporated microvessels survived. In the sixth model (C38), the tumour cells failed to invade the alveolar walls. Instead, they induced the development of vascularized desmoplastic tissue columns. Finally, we examined the process of arterialization in lung metastases and found that they became arterialized when their diameter grew to exceed 5 mm. In conclusion, our data show that lung metastases can vascularize by co‐opting the pulmonary microvasculature. This is likely to have important clinical implications, especially with respect to anti‐angiogenic therapies. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Macrophages from the synovium of active rheumatoid arthritis exhibit an activin A‐dependent pro‐inflammatory profile
Authors: Soler Palacios Blanca , Estrada‐Capetillo Lizbeth , Izquierdo Elena , Criado Gabriel , Nieto Concha , Municio Cristina , González‐Alvaro Isidoro , Sánchez‐Mateos Paloma , Pablos Jose Luis , Corbí Angel L , Puig‐Kröger Amaya 
Published: October 2014

AbstractRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease whose pathogenesis and severity correlates with the presence of macrophage‐derived pro‐inflammatory cytokines within the inflamed synovium. Macrophage‐derived cytokines fuel the pathological processes in RA and are targets of clinically successful therapies. However, although macrophage polarization determines cytokine production, the polarization state of macrophages in RA joints remains poorly defined. To dissect the molecular basis for the tissue‐damaging effects of macrophages in RA joints, we undertook the phenotypic and transcriptomic characterization of ex vivo isolated CD14+ RA synovial fluid (RA‐SF) macrophages. Flow cytometry and gene profiling indicated that RA‐SF macrophages express pro‐inflammatory polarization markers (MMP12, EGLN3, CCR2), lack expression of markers associated with homeostatic and anti‐inflammatory polarization (IGF1, HTR2B) and exhibit a transcriptomic profile that resembles the activin A‐dependent gene signature of pro‐inflammatory in vitro‐generated macrophages. In fact, high levels of Smad‐activating activin A were found in RA‐SF and, accordingly, the Smad signalling pathway was activated in ex vivo‐isolated RA‐SF macrophages. In vitro experiments on monocytes and macrophages indicated that RA‐SF promoted the acquisition of pro‐inflammatory markers (INHBA, MMP12, EGLN3, CCR2) but led to a significant reduction in the expression of genes associated with homeostasis and inflammation resolution (FOLR2, SERPINB2, IGF1, CD36), thus confirming the pro‐inflammatory polarization ability of RA‐SF. Importantly, the macrophage‐polarizing ability of RA‐SF was inhibited by an anti‐activin A‐neutralizing antibody, thus demonstrating that activin A mediates the pro‐inflammatory macrophage‐polarizing ability of RA‐SF. Moreover, and in line with these findings, multicolour immunofluorescence evidenced that macrophages within RA synovial membranes (RA‐SM) also express pro‐inflammatory polarization markers whose expression is activin A‐dependent. Altogether, our results demonstrate that macrophages from RA synovial fluids and membranes exhibit an MMP12+ EGLN3+ CCR2+ pro‐inflammatory polarization state whose acquisition is partly dependent on activin A from the synovial fluid. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A comment on continuous spin representations of the Poincaré group and perturbative string theory
Authors: Font A. , Quevedo F. , Theisen S. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractWe make a simple observation that the massless continuous spin representations of the Poincaré group are not present in perturbative string theory constructions. This represents one of the very few model‐independent low‐energy consequences of these models.
Effect of resistant starch structure on short‐chain fatty acids production by human gut microbiota fermentation in vitro
Authors: Zhou Zhongkai , Cao Xiaohong , Zhou Julia Y. H. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractResistant starch (RS) from uncooked and cooked high amylose starch (HAS) was used to investigate the effect of RS structure on the production of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) using a static anaerobic in vitro system. The pH value of culture correlated well to the production of total SCFA after the fermentation (R2 = 0.969). Most importantly, fermentation of RS from thermally treated starch under no moisture condition produced the highest concentration of SCFA and the greatest ratios of butyrate/acetate and butyrate/total SCFA, followed by the fermentation of RS from uncooked HAS. FTIR analysis suggests that all the RS exhibited a relatively higher organized structure compared to its corresponding original starch. The analysis of molecular structure by HPLC showed that the most pronounced difference in molecular composition of RS between the group favoring greater butyrate production and the group supporting a lower butyrate production was that larger molecules (amylopectin fraction) still existed in the former group but not in the latter group. Thus, it can be concluded that RS structure, in particular molecular structure is one of the key factors manipulating SCFA production in amount and proportion.
Starch digestibility and predicted glycaemic index (pGI) in starchy foods consumed in Mexico
Authors: Sáyago‐Ayerdi Sonia G. , Tovar Juscelino , Zamora‐Gasga Victor M. , Bello‐Pérez Luis A. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractDifferent starchy foods are frequently consumed in the Mexican diet. Some of them were developed by Pre‐Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations. Until today, common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), tortillas made with maize (Zea mays) and related maize‐based products are some of the main staple foods. Additionally, wheat‐based foods are also important starch sources, incorporated in different dishes. This review deals with the in vitro digestibility of the starch fraction in foods commonly consumed in Mexico, paying attention to the addition of unconventional, natural raw materials, such as flour and starch from unripe banana, mango dietary fibre and common legumes. These ingredients enhance potential health‐beneficial properties of the diet in cases of non‐communicable diseases, particularly those related to obesity and glycaemic homeostasis. Since Mexico is among the countries with greatest indices of overweight and obesity, this paper reviews the in vitro starch availability features, including predicted GI, of various Mexican foods. Attention is also paid to the effect of cold storage conditions on starch digestibility. As an example, starch digestibility in blue maize tortillas (58%) is lower than in white tortillas (70–89%) and a maize tortilla/boiled bean composite dish ranks as a food with low predicted GI (pGI = 51).