bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inflammation in arterial diseases
Authors: Carbone Federico , Montecucco Fabrizio 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe pathophysiology of some inflammatory arterial diseases (such as vasculitis, atherogenesis and aneurysms) has been widely investigated in the last decades. Among different soluble molecules, proinflammatory cytokines (such as TNF‐α, IL‐1 and IL‐6) were shown to trigger critical pathways regulating these arterial diseases. Together with these cytokines, chemokines were also associated with endothelial dysfunction and intima injury in arterial diseases. Recently, autoantibodies have been also described to pathophysiologically influence not only autoimmune vasculitis but also atherogenesis and more in general vascular inflammation. These soluble mediators actively trigger inflammatory functions of leukocytes and vascular cells. For instance, B and T lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils were shown to actively participate in inflammatory processes within the arterial wall in vasculitis, atherogenesis and aneurysms. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of pathophysiology and treatments targeting arterial inflammation in these diseases. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(1):18–28, 2015
Aquaporin‐5 is expressed in adipocytes with implications in adipose differentiation
Authors: Madeira Ana , Mósca Andreia F. , Moura Teresa F. , Soveral Graça 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAquaporins (AQPs) are membrane channels widely distributed in nature. Typically, multiple isoforms are expressed in a single tissue. The adipose tissue is no exception where several AQP members have been identified. The importance of overlapped AQPs expression is unclear, yet interisoforms interactions might be required for key cellular functions. Recently, AQP5 was described as a regulator of other AQP isoforms. Therefore, we hypothesized for a role of AQP5 in adipocyte biology. Gene expression analysis revealed the presence of AQP5 in both 3T3‐L1 fibroblasts and adipocytes, being more abundant in the later. AQP5 depletion impaired adipocyte differentiation, which was confirmed by decreased expression of specific differentiation markers. By overexpressing the human AQP5 in mature adipocytes it was possible to ascertain its role as a water channel in a gain‐of‐function scenario. To our knowledge, this is the first time that AQP5 is reported on adipose tissue. Our data revealed AQP5 as a new player in adipose tissue biology. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(1):54–60, 2015
DONATIONS TO THE NEEDY: CORRELATES OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DESTITUTE
Authors: Bryan James H. , Davenport Michael 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThe New York Times' 100 Neediest Cases were analyzed for a variety of factors that might be expected to affect the number of contributions to the needy. Indices of psychological disturbance and of moral transgression in such cases were negatively associated with the number of contributors. The presence of physical illness, however, was positively associated with number of contributions.
AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF WORD ASSOCIATIONS OF NEGRO COLLEGE STUDENTS1,2
Authors: Belcher Leon H. , Campbell Joel T. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTTwo word association lists of 50 words were each administered to 50 Negro college students. Forty‐one words were taken from the Kent‐Rosanoff list, 29 from the Palermo‐Jenkins list, and 30 were words used in analogy items of the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Comparisons with previous normative studies showed generally similar results. The present study did result in slightly smaller proportions of matching from class primary responses to noun, pronoun, and adverb stimulus words, and of opposite responses to “opposite‐evoking stimuli.” A number of the responses indicated reading difficulty or misunderstanding of the word.
TRANSFORMATIONS WHICH RENDER CURVES PARALLEL1
Authors: Levine Michael V. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTEight examples are given to indicate the desirability of having a general theory treating sets of curves which can be transformed into parallel curves. With this theory it is shown that a set of curves can be rendered parallel if and only if every pair of functions in the completion of a particular group associated with the curves is uncrossed. Under general conditions any two transformations rendering a set of curves parallel are related by a linear transformation. Methods for calculating transformations are proposed. Several structural properties of sets of curves which can be rendered parallel are proven.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS: MODEL INCONSISTENCY AND ITS EFFECT ON SELF‐SACRIFICE1
Authors: Bryan James H. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThis experiment was designed to assess the effects of model inconsistency upon children's altruistic behavior. Thirty‐eight boys and 53 girls were exposed to a model (M) who, when provided the opportunity to donate gift certificates to the needy, either did so (practiced charity) or refused to do so (modeled greed), In addition, within each of these two treatments, subjects (Ss) heard M either exhort charity, preach greed, or maintain a “neutral” conversation. Ss were then left alone and were provided the opportunity to donate gift certificates won while playing a bowling game. While the amount donated was not significantly related to the treatments, the number of donors were. Children imitated the M's actions but were not affected by the exhortations. Inconsistency in words and deeds did not affect subsequent emission of the altruistic behavior.
CRITERION SCALING OF QUESTIONNAIRE ITEMS FOR REGRESSION ANALYSIS1,2
Authors: Beaton Albert E. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTCriterion scaling is a technique for scaling questionnaire item responses so as to maximize their correlation with an external criterion. The correlation between the criterion and the scaled item is equal to the correlation ratio or η coefficient. The results of rescaling the ninth grade questionnaire of the “Equal Educational Opportunity Survey” is presented and compared to the subjective scaling used in the Report. Criterion scaling increased all correlations but the change is not substantial enough to change the interpretation of the Report.
DEGREES AND DIMENSIONS OF SOCIAL INTERACTION IN TRIBAL GROUPINGS: A SOCIOMETRIC STUDY
Authors: Irvine S. H. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThis study reports the results of administering an inventory of 15 sociometric questions to 11 groups of students, 274 in all, in primary, secondary, teacher‐training and mine youth schools on the Copperbelt of Zambia. Choices made were analysed with tribal identification as a classification within class groupings and over all respondents. Two conclusions emerge. First, tribal identity represents a significant category for social interaction within institutionalised groups when social distance is pronounced. Second, the inventory's dimensions, when subjected to factor analysis based on the tribal groupings of the respondents, lay on three axes. They were hypothesised as leadership within an institutionalised system, social acceptance by peers, and ethnic identity. The results, when discussed with reference to other work in social distance, suggest modifications of current theory.
ON THE INTERPRETATION OF STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Centra John A. , Linn Robert L. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to explore further the relationships between student perceived college environment as measured by Pace's College and University Environment Scales (CUES) and objective institutional characteristics. CUES scores for 75 colleges (administered in 1965) were related to college mean scores of 1964 entering freshmen on SAT‐V and SAT‐M, sex composition of students in attendance, religious affiliation, and size of entering class.Although multiple correlations were all relatively high (particularly the .80 for the Propriety scale), there remained substantial variance on the five CUES scales that was not predictable from the set of five institutional characteristics. Comparing colleges with CUES scores that were much larger than predicted to colleges with CUES scores that were much smaller than predicted in stepwise regression analyses revealed systematic differences on two CUES scales: Scholarship and Practicality. For the Scholarship scale the systematic differences were geographical, with Northeastern colleges scoring lower than predicted. A “frame of reference” hypothesis is advanced as one possible explanation for systematic differences found.
STYLISTIC FACTORS IN LEARNING AND RETENTION
Authors: McKenna Virgil V. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThe purposes of this investigation were, first, to determine the extent of individual consistency in the tendencies to err either by omission or commission in tasks requiring learning and retention, and, secondly, to determine the relationship between any such consistent tendencies and relevant cognitive, personality, and ability variables.A battery of 26 tests from which 86 variables were generated was administered to 147 college students, 70 men and 77 women, by individual and group testing. Information concerning scholastic ability and achievement, as well as control measures of socioeconomic status and seating position in the testing room, were included in the analysis. The 86 variables were intercorrelated, and 44 were factor analyzed by the method of principal components. Thirteen obtained factors were rotated to oblique simple structure by the Promax method plus three visual rotations. Loadings for the remaining 42 variables were determined by extension methods. Thirteen first order factors and four second order were then cast into a Schmid‐Leiman hierarchical solution.Four first order factors were interpreted as representing error styles in learning and retention. The clearest stylistic factor obtained at this level, Factor V, was characterized by omission tendencies in span memory for primarily numerical stimuli. Other stylistic factors were interpreted as commission tendencies in connected discourse, Factor IV; omission tendencies
The relationship between Cd‐induced autophagy and lysosomal activation in WRL‐68 cells
Authors: Meng Su‐Fang , Mao Wei‐Ping , Wang Fang , Liu Xiao‐Qian , Shao Luan‐Luan 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis study shows that Cd induces autophagy in the human's embryonic normal liver cell line (WRL‐68). The expression of LC3B‐II and the mature cathepsin L were analyzed by Western blotting. The autophagosomes and lysosomes were directly visualized by electron microscopy and confocal microscopy analysis in Cd‐exposed WRL‐68 cells. In this study, we first found that autophagy induced the activation of lysosomal function in WRL‐68 cells. The lysosomal activation was markedly decreased when the cells were co‐treated with 3‐MA (an inhibitor of autophagy). Secondly, we provided the evidence that the activation of lysosomal function depended on autophagosome–lysosome fusion. The colocalization of lysosome‐associated membrane protein‐2 (LAMP2) and GFP‐LC3 was significantly reduced, when they were treated with thapsigargin (an inhibitor of autophagosome–lysosome fusion). We demonstrated that deletion or blockage of the autophagosome–lysosome fusion process effectively diminished lysosomal activation, which suggests that lysosomal activation occurring in the course of autophagy is dependent on autophagosome–lysosome fusion. Thirdly, we provided evidence that the activation of lysosomal function was associated with lysosomal acid. We investigated the relationship between autophagosome–lysosome fusion and pH in acidic compartments by visualizing fusion process in WRL‐68 cells. This suggests that increasing pH in acidic compartments in WRL‐68 cells inhibits the autophagosome–lysosome fusion. Finally, we found that the activation of lysosomal function was associated with Ca2+ stores and the intracellular Ca2+ channels or pumps were possibly pH‐dependent. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of cylindrospermopsin on the phagocytic cells of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)
Authors: Sieroslawska Anna , Rymuszka Anna , Adaszek Łukasz 
Published: January 2015

AbstractCylindrospermopsin is a cyanotoxin with cytotoxic activity. It is released into water during and after cyanobacterial water blooms and thus poses a threat to the health of fish. There is very little information available concerning the effects of the toxin on fish immune cells. In this study, we assessed the potential impact of cylindrospermopsin on the basic functions of phagocytic cells from common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), including phagocytosis, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species production, and the structure of microfilaments and selected cytokine expression. Phagocytic cells, isolated from fish head kidneys, were exposed to the toxin at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 or 1 µg ml−1, for up to 24 h. Cytotoxicity, detected by lactate dehydrogenase release, was observed at the highest studied concentration. A decrease in phagocytic activity and changes in actin cytoskeletal structures were observed after the cell exposure to the toxin at 0.5 and 1 µg ml−1. Moreover, at all tested concentrations, cylindrospermopsin increased the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. It also evidently influenced the expression of genes of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1β and tumour necrosis factor‐α and, to a minor extent, anti‐inflammatory transforming growth factor‐β, but had no effects on interleukin‐10. The results indicated that the cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin is able to modify basic features of carp phagocytic cells, which might result in adverse consequences for fish health. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An automated multidimensional thin film stretching device for the generation of anisotropic polymeric micro‐ and nanoparticles
Authors: Meyer Randall A. , Meyer Randall S. , Green Jordan J. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAnisotropic polymeric particles are of growing interest for biomaterials applications due to their unique properties. These include the ability for these particles to evade nonspecific cellular uptake and to have enhanced targeted cellular uptake and interaction. One of the most widely used methods for generating anisotropic polymeric particles is the thin film stretching procedure. Despite its theoretical simplicity, this procedure, as it has been implemented to date, can be difficult due to the inconsistent nature of the manual operation of machinery used to stretch the film. We have constructed an automated thin film stretcher for control over biomaterials via thin film stretching in 1D and 2D and as a result, have enabled precise generation of anisotropic polymeric particles. We demonstrate that this device can be utilized to produce anisotropic biodegradable particles of different size, shape, and material consistency. Furthermore, we show that this machine has enabled the scaled up and rapid production of anisotropic polymeric particles, including polymeric microparticles that mimic the shape of red blood cells. Further application of this automated thin film stretching device could allow for significant impact to diverse biomaterial and biomedical applications such as biomimetic particles for immunoengineering and long‐circulating particles for controlled release of drugs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2747–2757, 2015.
In vitro neurite guidance effects induced by polylysine pinstripe micropatterns with polylysine background
Authors: Joo Sunghoon , Kang Kyungtae , Nam Yoonkey 
Published: January 2015

AbstractEngineered culture substrates with chemical neurite guidance cues have been used for studying the mechanism of axon pathfinding at cellular level. In this study, we designed a novel poly‐l‐lysine (PLL) micropattern (“pinstripe micropattern”) to investigate how the same biomolecules with slightly different surface concentration can affect in vitro neuronal growth. The pinstripe micropattern was fabricated by stamping PLL on a PLL‐coated glass coverslip, which resulted in denser PLL lines and a less‐dense PLL background. There were two effects of the substrate on cultured primary hippocampal neuron: neurite initiation and growth cone turning. Although the whole surface was permissive for neurite outgrowth, we observed that the growth direction of neurites had a strong tendency to follow the stamped PLL line patterns with PLL background. However, the micropattern did not affect the spreading of cell body on the substrate. According to these investigations, we concluded that the PLL pinstripe pattern with PLL background, which had the step difference of polylysine concentrations, would be very useful for designing novel cell assays for the investigation of neurite guidance mechanisms, and suggested it as a new design method for controlling the direction of neurite growth on in vitro neural network. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2731–2739, 2015.
Influence of ceramic disk material, surface hemispheres, and SBF volume on in vitro mineralization
Authors: Urquia Edreira Eva R. , Wolke Joop G. C. , Jansen John A. , van den Beucken Jeroen J. J. P. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractCalcium phosphate ceramics are the main mineral constituents of bone and teeth and have therefore been extensively investigated for bone regenerative applications. In the current study, the effect of disk material, surface geometry, and SBF volume on mineralization capacity was investigated. Hemispherical concavities were created on the surfaces of disks made of different materials (i.e., hydroxyapatite (HA), β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP), biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and titanium (Ti)) which were sintered at 1200 °C. Mineralization of CaP was assessed on disk surfaces after immersion of the samples in different volumes of simulated body fluid (SBF) up to 14 days by means of calcium assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study showed that different SBF volumes have different effects on mineralization, with an optimum material/liquid ratio of 5 mL of SBF per cm2. Additionally, at this volume, apparent differences based on disk material became obvious. Evidently, surface hemispherical concavities acted as initiator areas for nucleation and crystal growth. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2740–2746, 2015.
An electrically conductive 3D scaffold based on a nonwoven web of poly(l‐lactic acid) and conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)
Authors: Niu Xufeng , Rouabhia Mahmoud , Chiffot Nicolas , King Martin W. , Zhang Ze 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis study was to demonstrate that an extremely thin coating of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on nonwoven microfibrous poly(l‐lactic acid) (PLLA) web is of sufficient electrical conductivity and stability in aqueous environment to sustain electrical stimulation (ES) to cultured human skin fibroblasts. The PEDOT imparted the web a surface resistivity of approximately 0.1 KΩ/square without altering the web morphology. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated that the surface chemistry of the PLLA/PEDOT is characteristic of both PLLA and PEDOT. The PEDOT‐coated web also showed higher hydrophilicity, lower glass transition temperature and unchanged fiber crystallinity and thermal stability compared with the PLLA web. The addition of PEDOT to the web marginally increased the web's tensile strength and lowered the elongation. An electrical stability test showed that the PLLA/PEDOT structure was more stable than a polypyrrole treated PLLA fabric, showing only a slow deterioration in conductivity when exposed to culture medium. The cytotoxicity test showed that the PLLA/PEDOT scaffold was not cytotoxic and supported human dermal fibroblast adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Preliminary ES experiments have demonstrated that this conductive web mediated effective ES to fibroblasts. Therefore, this new conductive biodegradable scaffold may be used to electrically modulate cellular activity and tissue regeneration. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2635–2644, 2015.
A ferulic acid (FA)‐eluting system for biodegradable magnesium stent: Cells response of HUVECs
Authors: Zhang Erlin , Shen Feng 
Published: January 2015

AbstractA new drug‐eluting system was designed for biodegradable magnesium stents, in which ferulic acid (FA) was used as drug due to its promotion function to endothelial cells and PHBHHx as drug delivery due to its biodegradability and biocompatibility. A 5 and 10% FA were added in PHBHHx to prepare FA containing PHBHHX films. The cell adhesion, spreading and proliferation on these films was investigated in order to assess cell response of HUVECs. It was also found that FA enhanced the adhesion, spreading and proliferation of HUVECs in a dose‐dependent manner. Cell viability after H2O2 injury and NO production of HUVECs were also studied. The results indicated that FA effectively inhibited H2O2‐induced injury and promotes NO production. It was also shown that alkali treatment improved the cell adhesion, spreading and proliferation while the treatment reduces the FA release and in turn reduces the inhibition on H2O2‐induced injury and NO production. However, alkali treatment itself had no influence on the H2O2 induced injure and NO production. The tensile shear strength between the FA containing coating and Mg substrate was also tested. All results demonstrated that FA containing PHBHHx films exhibited strong promotion to the endothelialization and could be a choice for surface modification of magnesium stent. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2758–2769, 2015.
Human periosteum cell osteogenic differentiation enhanced by ionic silicon release from porous amorphous silica fibrous scaffolds
Authors: Odatsu Tetsurou , Azimaie Taha , Velten Megan F. , Vu Michael , Lyles Mark B. , Kim Harry K. , Aswath Pranesh B. , Varanasi Venu G. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractCurrent synthetic grafts for bone defect filling in the sinus can support new bone formation but lack the ability to stimulate or enhance osteogenic healing. To promote such healing, osteoblast progenitors such as human periosteum cells must undergo osteogenic differentiation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that degradation of porous amorphous silica fibrous (PASF) scaffolds can enhance human periosteum cell osteogenic differentiation. Two types of PASF were prepared and evaluated according to their densities (PASF99, PASF98) with 99 and 98% porosity, respectively. Silicon (Si) ions were observed to rapidly release from both scaffolds within 24 hin vitro. PASF99 Si ion release rate was estimated to be nearly double that of PASF98 scaffolds. Mechanical tests revealed a lower compressive strength in PASF99 as compared with PASF98. Osteogenic expression analysis showed that PASF99 scaffolds enhanced the expression of activating transcription factor 4, alkaline phosphatase, and collagen (Col(I)α1, Col(I)α2). Scanning electron microscopy showed cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) ingress into both scaffolds within 16 days and the formation of Ca‐P precipitates within 85 days. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that PASF scaffolds enhance human periosteum cell osteogenic differentiation by releasing ionic Si, and structurally supporting cellular and ECM ingress. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2797–2806, 2015.