bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Porous media properties of reticulated shape memory polymer foams and mock embolic coils for aneurysm treatment
Authors: Muschenborn Andrea D , Ortega Jason M , Szafron Jason M , Szafron David J , Maitland Duncan J 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Background
Shape memory polymer (SMP) foams are being investigated as an alternative aneurysm treatment method to embolic coils. The goal of both techniques is the reduction of blood flow into the aneurysm and the subsequent formation of a stable thrombus, which prevents future aneurysm rupture. The purpose of this study is to experimentally determine the parameters, permeability and form factor, which are related to the flow resistance imposed by both media when subjected to a pressure gradient.

Methods
The porous media properties—permeability and form factor—of SMP foams and mock embolic coils (MECs) were measured with a pressure gradient method by means of an in vitro closed flow loop. We implemented the Forchheimer-Hazen-Dupuit-Darcy equation to calculate these properties. Mechanically-reticulated SMP foams were fabricated with average cell sizes of 0.7E-3 and 1.1E-3 m, while the MECs were arranged with volumetric packing densities of 11-28%.

Results
The permeability of the SMP foams was an order of magnitude lower than that of the MECs. The form factor differed by up to two orders of magnitude and was higher for the SMP foams in all cases. The maximum flow rate of all samples tested was within the inertial laminar flow regime, with Reynolds numbers ranging between 1 and 35.

Conclusions
The SMP foams impose a greater resistance to fluid flow compared to MECs, which is a result of increased viscous and inertial losses. These results suggest that aneurysms treated with SMP foam will have flow conditions more favorable for blood stasis than those treated with embolic coils having packing densities ≤ 28%.
EEG feature comparison and classification of simple and compound limb motor imagery
Authors: Yi Weibo , Qiu Shuang , Qi Hongzhi , Zhang Lixin , Wan Baikun , Ming Dong 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Background
Motor imagery can elicit brain oscillations in Rolandic mu rhythm and central beta rhythm, both originating in the sensorimotor cortex. In contrast with simple limb motor imagery, less work was reported about compound limb motor imagery which involves several parts of limbs. The goal of this study was to investigate the differences of the EEG patterns between simple limb motor imagery and compound limb motor imagery, and discuss the separability of multiple types of mental tasks.

Methods
Ten subjects participated in the experiment involving three tasks of simple limb motor imagery (left hand, right hand, feet), three tasks of compound limb motor imagery (both hands, left hand combined with right foot, right hand combined with left foot) and rest state. Event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP), power spectral entropy (PSE) and spatial distribution coefficient were adopted to analyze these seven EEG patterns. Then three algorithms of modified multi-class common spatial patterns (CSP) were used for feature extraction and classification was implemented by support vector machine (SVM).

Results
The induced event-related desynchronization (ERD) affects more components within both alpha and beta bands resulting in more broad ERD bands at electrode positions C3, Cz and C4 during left/right hand combined with contralateral foot imagery, whose PSE values are significant higher than that of simple limb motor imagery. From the topographical distribution, simultaneous imagination of upper limb and contralateral lower limb certainly contributes to the activation of more areas on cerebral cortex. Classification result shows that multi-class stationary Tikhonov regularized CSP (Multi-sTRCSP) outperforms other two multi-class CSP methods, with the highest accuracy of 84% and mean accuracy of 70%.

Conclusions
The work implies that there exist the separable differences between simple limb motor imagery and compound limb motor imagery, which can be utilized to build a multimodal classification paradigm in motor imagery based brain-computer interface (BCI) systems.
Myocardial Infarction - Stress PRevention INTervention (MI-SPRINT) to reduce the incidence of posttraumatic stress after acute myocardial infarction through trauma-focused psychological counseling: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Meister Rebecca , Princip Mary , Schmid Jean-Paul , Schnyder Ulrich , Barth Jürgen , Znoj Hansjörg , Herbert Claudia , von Känel Roland 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundPosttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may occur in patients after exposure to a life-threatening illness. About one out of six patients develop clinically relevant levels of PTSD symptoms after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Symptoms of PTSD are associated with impaired quality of life and increase the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. The main hypothesis of the MI-SPRINT study is that trauma-focused psychological counseling is more effective than non-trauma focused counseling in preventing posttraumatic stress after acute MI.Methods/DesignThe study is a single-center, randomized controlled psychological trial with two active intervention arms. The sample consists of 426 patients aged 18 years or older who are at 'high risk’ to develop clinically relevant posttraumatic stress symptoms. 'High risk’ patients are identified with three single-item questions with a numeric rating scale (0 to 10) asking about 'pain during MI’, 'fear of dying until admission’ and/or 'worrying and feeling helpless when being told about having MI’. Exclusion criteria are emergency heart surgery, severe comorbidities, current severe depression, disorientation, cognitive impairment and suicidal ideation. Patients will be randomly allocated to a single 45-minute counseling session targeting either specific MI-triggered traumatic reactions (that is, theverumintervention) or the general role of psychosocial stress in coronary heart disease (that is, the control intervention). The session will take place in the coronary care unit within 48 hours, by the bedside, after patients have reached stable circulatory conditions. Each patient will additionally receive an illustrated information booklet as study material. Sociodemographic factors, psychosocial and medical data, and cardiometabolic risk factors will be assessed during hospitalization. The primary outcome is the interviewer-rated posttraumatic stress level at three-month follow-up, which is hypothesized to be at least 20% lower in theverumgroup than in the control group using thet-test. Secondary outcomes are posttraumatic stress levels at 12-month follow-up, and psychosocial functioning and cardiometabolic risk factors at both follow-up assessments.DiscussionIf theverumintervention proves to be effective, the study will be the first to show that a brief trauma-focused psychological intervention delivered within a somatic health care setting can reduce the incidence of posttraumatic stress in acute MI patients.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01781247
Transcriptome signatures in Helicobacter pylori-infected mucosa identifies acidic mammalian chitinase loss as a corpus atrophy marker
Authors: Nookaew Intawat , Thorell Kaisa , Worah Kuntal , Wang Shugui , Hibberd Martin Lloyd , Sjövall Henrik , Pettersson Sven , Nielsen Jens , Lundin Samuel B 
Published: October 2013

Abstract

Background
The majority of gastric cancer cases are believed to be caused by chronic infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, and atrophic corpus gastritis is a predisposing condition to gastric cancer development. We aimed to increase understanding of the molecular details of atrophy by performing a global transcriptome analysis of stomach tissue.

Methods
Biopsies from patients with different stages of H. pylori infection were taken from both the antrum and corpus mucosa and analyzed on microarrays. The stages included patients without current H. pylori infection, H. pylori-infected without corpus atrophy and patients with current or past H. pylori-infection with corpus-predominant atrophic gastritis.

Results
Using clustering and integrated analysis, we found firm evidence for antralization of the corpus mucosa of atrophy patients. This antralization harbored gain of gastrin expression, as well as loss of expression of corpus-related genes, such as genes associated with acid production, energy metabolism and blood clotting. The analyses provided detailed molecular evidence for simultaneous intestinal metaplasia (IM) and spasmolytic polypeptide expressing metaplasia (SPEM) in atrophic corpus tissue. Finally, acidic mammalian chitinase, a chitin-degrading enzyme produced by chief cells, was shown to be strongly down-regulated in corpus atrophy.

Conclusions
Transcriptome analysis revealed several gene groups which are related to development of corpus atrophy, some of which were increased also in H. pylori-infected non-atrophic patients. Furthermore, loss of acidic chitinase expression is a promising marker for corpus atrophy.
HIV Infection is associated with compositional and functional shifts in the rectal mucosal microbiota
Authors: McHardy Ian H , Li Xiaoxiao , Tong Maomeng , Ruegger Paul , Jacobs Jonathan , Borneman James , Anton Peter , Braun Jonathan 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundRegardless of infection route, the intestine is the primary site for HIV-1 infection establishment and results in significant mucosal CD4+ T lymphocyte depletion, induces an inflammatory state that propagates viral dissemination, facilitates microbial translocation, and fosters establishment of one of the largest HIV reservoirs. Here we test the prediction that HIV infection modifies the composition and function of the mucosal commensal microbiota.ResultsRectal mucosal microbiota were collected from human subjects using a sponge-based sampling methodology. Samples were collected from 20 HIV-positive men not receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART), 20 HIV-positive men on cART and 20 healthy, HIV-negative men. Microbial composition of samples was analyzed using barcoded 16S Illumina deep sequencing (85,900 reads per sample after processing). Microbial metagenomic information for the samples was imputed using the bioinformatic tools PICRUST and HUMAnN. Microbial composition and imputed function in HIV-positive individuals not receiving cART was significantly different from HIV-negative individuals. Genera includingRoseburia,Coprococcus,Ruminococcus,Eubacterium,AlistipesandLachnospirawere depleted in HIV-infected subjects not receiving cART, whileFusobacteria,Anaerococcus,PeptostreptococcusandPorphyromonaswere significantly enriched. HIV-positive subjects receiving cART exhibited similar depletion and enrichment for these genera, but were of intermediate magnitude and did not achieve statistical significance. Imputed metagenomic functions, including amino acid metabolism, vitamin biosynthesis, and siderophore biosynthesis differed significantly between healthy controls and HIV-infected subjects not receiving cART.ConclusionsHIV infection was associated with rectal mucosal changes in microbiota composition and imputed function that cART failed to completely reverse. HIV infection was associated with depletion of some commensal species and enrichment of a few opportunistic pathogens. Many imputed metagenomic functions differed between samples from HIV-negative and HIV-positive subjects not receiving cART, possibly reflecting mucosal metabolic changes associated with HIV infection. Such functional pathways may represent novel interventional targets for HIV therapy if normalizing the microbial composition or functional activity of the microbiota proves therapeutically useful.
The colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) receptor (c-fms protooncogene product) and its ligand
Authors: Rettenmier CARL W. , Roussel Martine F. , Sherr Charles J. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
Alterations in genes that function in normal growth and development have been linked to malignant cell transformation. The mononuclear phagocyte colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1 or M-CSF) is a polypeptide growth factor synthesized by mesenchymal cells, which stimulates the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of haematopoietic cells of the monocyte-macrophage series. Multiple forms of soluble CSF-1 are produced by proteolytic cleavage of membrane-bound precursors, some of which are stably expressed at the cell surface. The c-fms proto-oncogene encodes the CSF-1 receptor, which is composed of an extracellular ligand-binding domain linked by a single membrane-spanning segment to a cytoplasmic tyrosine-specific protein kinase domain. Whereas the tyrosine kinase activity of the normal receptor is stimulated by CSF-1, mutations in the c-fms gene can constitutively activate the kinase to provide growth-stimulatory signals in the absence of the ligand. Oncogenic activation of the c-fms gene product appears to involve removal of a negative regulatory tyrosine residue near the carboxyl terminus of the receptor and one or more additional mutations that may simulate a conformational change induced by CSF-1 binding. Expression of the human c-fms gene in mouse NIH-3T3 cells confers a CSF-1 stimulated growth phenotype, indicating that receptor transduction is sufficient for fibroblasts to respond to a haematopoietic growth factor. In contrast, the v-fms oncogene induces factor-independent growth and tumorigenicity in factor-dependent myeloid cell lines, and contributes to the development of proliferative disorders of multiple haematopoietic lineages when introduced into murine bone marrow progenitors. Aberrant expression of an endogenous c-fms gene secondary to pro viral insertion and transcriptional activation has also been implicated in virus-induced myeloblastic leukaemia in mice. The c-fms and CSF-1 genes have been mapped on the long arm of human chromosome 5, a region that frequently undergoes interstitial deletions in certain haematopoietic disorders including acute myelogenous leukaemia. The study of CSF-1 and its receptor should provide information concerning the role of tyrosine kinases in regulating the normal growth and differentiation of haematopoietic cells and in contributing to their malignant transformation.
Structure and function of Fc receptors on macrophages and lymphocytes
Authors: Mellman Ira , Koch Terry , Healey Glenn , Hunziker Walter , Lewis Victoria , Plutner HeleN , Miettinen Heini , Vaux David , Moore Kevin , Stuart Susan 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
Cell surface receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin confer on most cells of the immune system the ability to communicate with the humoral antibody response. These Fc receptors are known to be particularly important for the function of various effector cells, such as macrophages, since they are involved in mediating a variety of activities including endocytosis, antibodydependent cellular cytotoxicity, and triggering the release of potent inflammatory agents. Over the past few years, a considerable amount has been learned about the structure and functions of the Fc receptors expressed by murine and human cells, due to the availability of specific anti-receptor antibodies and the isolation of Fc receptor cDNA clones. In general, these receptors are transmembrane proteins whose extracellular domains contain two immunoglobulin-like regions and are thus members of the immunoglobulin gene family. Their domain structure consists of a glycosylated extracellular domain, a single membrane-spanning segment, and a relatively long cytoplasmic domain. The cytoplasmic tails exhibit a surprising degree of variation in length and amino acid sequence. This review summarizes some recent information concerning the structure and expression of the Fc receptors found on murine and human macrophages and lymphocytes. Particular attention is paid to the functional activities of these receptors, and the possible relationship between receptor function and receptor structure.
C3 receptors on macrophages
Authors: Law S. K. Alex 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
The complement receptors on macrophage are responsible for their binding and ingestion of opsonized targets. The two established receptors are CR1, which recognizes C3b, and CR3, which recognizes iC3b, the natural product of C3b from cleavage by the complement control protein factor I and its cofactors. CR1 belongs to a group of proteins that contain a structural element characterized by its size of 60-65 amino acids, and four conservatively positioned cysteines, which engage in a self-contained 1-3, 2-4 disulphide arrangement. This structural unit is called SCR (short consensus repeat) and is found in the complement proteins Clr, Cls, C2, factor B, factor H, C4BP, DAF, MCP and CR2, each of which interacts with some cleavage products of C3 and/or C4. CR1 has 30 SCR units accounting for its entire extracellular structure. It has a transmembrane segment and a small cytoplasmic domain. CR3 is a heterodimer containing an aand ß subunit held together by non-covalent forces. The ß subunit is also found in the two leukocyte antigens, LFA-1 and p150,95, which have α subunits distinct from that of CR3. The ß subunit contains 56 cysteine residues, 42 of which lie in a span of 256 residues immediately adjacent to the transmembrane segment. It shares extensive sequence homology with subunits of membrane protein complexes that bind fibronectin and vitronectin, implicating that they all belong to an extended set of surface adhesion molecules not restricted to the immune system. p150,95 is also expressed on macrophages and it has iC3b binding activity. It also shares some functional properties with CR3 as an ahesion surface molecule.
Macrophage lipoprotein receptors
Authors: Fogelman Alan M. , Lenten Brian J. van , Warden Craig , Haberland Margaret E. , Edwards Peter A. 
Published: October 2013

ABSTRACT
Macrophages possess a number of surface receptors that are capable of mediating the internalization of lipoproteins. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor of human monocyte macrophages recognizes apolipoprotein B-100 and apolipoprotein E and is rapidly regulated in response to changes in intracellular cholesterol levels. In contrast, in J774 macrophages LDL receptor regulation is defective and LDL can cause massive cholesterol accumulation. The ß migrating very low density lipoprotein (ß-VLDL) receptor is poorly regulated by cellular cholesterol concentrations, readily recognizes apolipoprotein E, poorly recognizes apolipoprotein B-100, and is immunologically related to the LDL receptor. The scavenger receptor (acetyl-LDL receptor) appears to have a molecular weight of 250 000 and is not regulated by cellular cholesterol levels. This receptor recognizes LDL that has been chemically or biologically altered. LDL complexes can also enter macrophages and cause cholesterol accumulation. Examples of such complexes are LDL-dextran sulphate complexes, LDL-proteoglycan aggregates, LDL-mast cell granule complexes, LDL-heparin-fibronectin-denatured collagen complexes, and LDL-antibody complexes. The entry of lipoprotein into macrophages by a pathway that is poorly regulated or is not regulated by cellular cholesterol concentrations appears to be a prerequisite for the formation of arterial foam cells.
Making a scene: The female punk narrative in Lou Adler’s Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains and Susan Seidelman’s Smithereens
Authors: Weaver Jimmy 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
This article will examine the ‘female punk narrative’ found in the American cinema of the 1980s. Although a largely unexplored trend, several American narrative films of this period centre on a young, economically marginalized female protagonist who navigates the punk subculture in search of economic, artistic and personal fulfilment. The punk heroine rarely meets any of these goals and often incurs great personal damage along the way. These narratives, with their emphasis on female subjectivity and themes of unattained personal fulfilment, bring to mind the ‘women’s pictures’ and melodramas of the 1950s. This observation raises the question of whether these female punk films are at all transgressive or are simply traditional narratives dressed up in Mohawks and ripped stockings (much like how punk music of the 1970s and 1980s is often castigated for being pop music in disguise as something transgressive). A close reading of Lou Adler’s Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1982), a major studio production, and Susan Seidelman’s Smithereens (1982), an independent feature, will address this question. These films’ differing materialist backgrounds, as well as the presence of punk ‘star personas’ will be addressed. The writings of Richard Dyer, Claire Monk and Dick Hedbridge, along with references to Desperate Teenage Lovedolls (Markey, 1984), Times Square (Moyle, 1980), Breaking Glass (Gibson, 1980) and Light of Day (Schrader, 1987) will supplement the discussion,
Poly Styrene interview
Authors: Ogg Alex 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
A few years ago Punk & Post-Punk editor Alex Ogg interviewed Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex for an American fanzine, which led to subsequent correspondence and meetings. What emerged from those discussions was a woman whose intelligence and sense of perspective was illuminating, despite openly acknowledged bouts of mental illness that led some in the media to ridiculue her. What she had to say also directly related to the female experience of punk from one of its most celebrated exponents, and in particular the way her public image was spun by her one-time manager and boyfriend, whose manipulation extended to the financial arrangements of the band.
Genetically Engineered Transvestites Reveal Novel Mating Genes in Budding Yeast
Authors: Huberman Lori B , Murray Andrew W 
Published: October 2013

AbstractHaploid budding yeast has two mating types, defined by the alleles of the MAT locus, MATa and MATα. Two haploid cells of opposite mating types mate by signaling to each other using reciprocal pheromones and receptors, polarizing and growing toward each other, and eventually fusing to form a single diploid cell. The pheromones and receptors are necessary and sufficient to define a mating type, but other mating-type-specific proteins make mating more efficient. We examined the role of these proteins by genetically engineering “transvestite” cells that swap the pheromone, pheromone receptor, and pheromone processing factors of one mating type for another. These cells mate with each other, but their mating is inefficient. By characterizing their mating defects and examining their transcriptomes, we found Afb1 (a-factor barrier), a novel MATα-specific protein that interferes with a-factor, the pheromone secreted by MATa cells. Strong pheromone secretion is essential for efficient mating, and the weak mating of transvestites can be improved by boosting their pheromone production. Synthetic biology can characterize the factors that control efficiency in biological processes. In yeast, selection for increased mating efficiency is likely to have continually boosted pheromone levels and the ability to discriminate between partners who make more and less pheromone. This discrimination comes at a cost: weak mating in situations where all potential partners make less pheromone.