bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance and gene expression study of human hepatic stellate cells in HBV related-hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liao Rui , Wu Han , Yi Yong , Wang Jia-Xing , Cai Xiao-Yan , He Hong-Wei , Cheng Yun-Feng , Zhou Jian , Fan Jia , Sun Jian , Qiu Shuang-Jian 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Peritumoral activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are versatile myofibroblast-like cells closely related with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. So far, comprehensive comparison of gene expression of human HSCs during hepatocarcinogenesis is scanty. Therefore, we identified the phenotypic and genomic characteristics of peritumoral HSCs to explore the valuable information on the prognosis and therapeutic targets of HBV related HCC.

Methods
A tissue microarray containing 224 HBV related HCC patients was used to evaluate the expression of phenotype markers of HSCs including α-SMA, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), desmin, vinculin and vimentin. HSCs and cancer associated myofibroblasts (CAMFs) were isolated from normal, peritumoral human livers and cancer tissues, respectively. Flow cytometry and gene microarray analysis were performed to evaluate the phenotypic changes and gene expression in HCC, respectively.

Results
Peritumoral α-SMA positive HSCs showed the prognostic value in time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) of HCC patients, especially in early recurrence and AFP-normal HCC patients. Expression of GFAP positive HSCs cell lines LX-2 was significantly decreased after stimulation with tumor conditioned medium. Compared with quiescent HSCs, peritumoral HSCs and intratumoral CAMFs expressed considerable up- and down-regulated genes associated with biological process, cellular component, molecular function and signaling pathways involved in fibrogenesis, inflammation and progress of cancer.

Conclusions
Peritumoral activated HSCs displayed prognostic value in HBV related-HCC, and their genomic characteristics could present rational biomarkers for HCC risk and promising therapeutic targets.
Developmental potential of human oocytes matured in vitro followed by vitrification and activation
Authors: Imesch Patrick , Scheiner David , Xie Min , Fink Daniel , Macas Erwin , Dubey Raghvendra , Imthurn Bruno 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) and cryopreservation at the time of routine ovarian tissue freezing may be offered to cancer patients as an additional option for fertility preservation. This study aimed to investigate the developmental capacity of oocytes isolated from unstimulated ovaries.

Methods
Immature oocytes (n = 63) from seven consenting premenopausal patients were analysed. Oocytes were collected during routine laparoscopic examination with biopsy of an ovary (cystic adnexal mass, n = 3; cervical adenocarcinoma, n = 2) or oophorectomy (sex reassignment surgery, n = 2) without previous stimulation of the ovaries. The stage of the patient’s menstrual cycle was not considered. Oocytes in all visible antral follicles were aspirated from ovaries, cultured in IVM medium and vitrified at the MII stage before being kept in liquid nitrogen for at least one month. After warming, oocytes were subjected to parthenogenetic activation by chemical stimulus. Their further development was recorded at intervals of 24 hours for up to 6 days of culture.

Results
61.9% of oocytes matured in vitro within 48 hours. The survival rate after vitrification and warming was 61.5%. A total of 75% of surviving oocytes were able to respond to artificial activation, 44.4% of the parthenotes developed to early embryonic stage. However, only 1 in 18 (5.6%) of the resulting embryos reached blastocyst stage.

Conclusions
Oocytes matured in vitro from unstimulated ovaries seem to have limited developmental potential after cryopreservation and artificial activation. Although the outcome of IVM for non-stimulated oocytes is poor, it is currently the only chance besides cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for women for whom ovarian stimulation is not possible due to life circumstances. Based on our preliminary results, we suggest that the use of cryopreserved ovaries for fertility preservation in women with cancer warrants further investigation.
Did the 2007 welfare reforms for low income parents in Australia increase welfare exits?
Authors: Fok Yin King , McVicar Duncan 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
This paper examines the impacts of recent Australian welfare to work reforms for low-income parents of school-aged children who had been in receipt of Parenting Payment – the main welfare payment for this group – for at least one year. Specifically, the reforms introduced a requirement to engage in at least 15 hours of work-related activity per week from the youngest child’s seventh birthday. As was the case for similar reforms introduced by US states in the 1990s, these reforms had large, statistically significant and positive impacts on the hazard rates for exiting the welfare payment. Two thirds of these exits were exits from welfare altogether and one third were exits to other welfare payments.

JEL

I38, J22
Wind tunnel testing and numerical simulation on aerodynamic performance of a three-bladed Savonius wind turbine
Authors: Morshed Khandakar Niaz , Rahman Mosfequr , Molina Gustavo , Ahmed Mahbub 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
The purpose of this research work is to investigate experimentally and computationally the feasibility of improving the performance of the vertical-axis Savonius wind turbine. The authors first performed a series of wind tunnel investigations on semi-cylindrical three-bladed Savonius rotor scale models with different overlap ratios and without overlap. These experiments were conducted in front of a low-speed subsonic wind tunnel at different Reynolds numbers. Pressures around the concave and convex surfaces of each blade, as well as the static torque for the rotor models, were measured. Using these experimental data, the authors calculated aerodynamic characteristics such as drag coefficients, static torque coefficients, and power coefficients. The authors then performed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using the commercial CFD software FLUENT and GAMBIT to analyze the static rotor aerodynamics of those models. The experimental and computational results were then compared for verification. Three different models with different overlap ratios were designed and fabricated for the current study to find the effect of overlap ratios. The results from the experimental part of the research show a significant effect of overlap ratio and Reynolds number on the improvement of aerodynamic performance of the Savonius wind turbine. At higher Reynolds number, the turbine model without overlap ratio gives better aerodynamic coefficients, and at lower Reynolds number, the model with moderate overlap ratio gives better results.
Neuroprotective effects of D-Ala2GIP on Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in an APP/PS1 mouse model
Authors: Faivre Emilie , Hölscher Christian 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). An impairment of insulin signaling as well as a desensitization of its receptor has been found in AD brains. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) normalises insulin signaling by facilitating insulin release. GIP directly modulates neurotransmitter release, LTP formation, and protects synapses from the detrimental effects of beta-amyloid fragments on LTP formation, and cell proliferation of progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus. Here we investigate the potential therapeutic property of the new long lasting incretin hormone analogue D-Ala2GIP on key symptoms found in a mouse model of Alzheimer' disease (APPswe/PS1detaE9).

Methods
D-Ala2GIP was injected for 21 days at 25 nmol/kg ip once daily in APP/PS1 male mice and wild type (WT) littermates aged 6 or 12 months of age. Amyloid plaque load, inflammation biomarkers, synaptic plasticity in the brain (LTP), and memory were measured.

Results
D-Ala2GIP improved memory in WT mice and rescued the cognitive decline of 12 months old APP/PS1 mice in two different memory tasks. Furthermore, deterioration of synaptic function in the dentate gyrus and cortex was prevented in 12 months old APP/PS1 mice. D-Ala2GIP facilitated synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 and WT mice and reduced the number of amyloid plaques in the cortex of D-Ala2GIP injected APP/PS1 mice. The inflammatory response in microglia was also reduced.

Conclusion
The results demonstrate that D-Ala2GIP has neuroprotective properties on key hallmarks found in AD. This finding shows that novel GIP analogues have the potential as a novel therapeutic for AD.
REVIEWS
Authors: Weiner Nathaniel 
Published: April 2013

SOMEDAY ALL THE ADULTS WILL DIE! PUNK GRAPHICS 1971–1984, CURATED BY JOHAN KUGELBERG AND JOHN SAVAGE Hayward Gallery Project Space, Southbank Centre, London, 14 September–4 November 2012
PUNK: AN AESTHETIC, JOHAN KUGELBERG AND JOHN SAVAGE (EDS), ESSAYS BY WILLIAM GIBSONW,
LINDER STERLING AND GEE VAUCHER (2012) New York: Rizzoli, 352 pp., ISBN 9780847836628, h/bk, £35.00
Influence of Test Machine Control Method on Apparent Performance of ASTM C1550 Fiber Reinforced Concrete Panels
Authors: Bernard E. S. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe ASTM C1550 round panel test is used to assess the post-crack performance of fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) and fiber reinforced shotcrete (FRS) and has become firmly established as the most repeatable means of post-crack performance assessment available for these materials. When the test method was first published, two methods of test machine control were permitted: displacement control, in which the displacement of the loading actuator is used as the control parameter in the test, and strain control, in which the central deflection of the specimen is used as the controlling parameter. Both these methods of control, however, require expensive testing machines, with the result that some operators have used cheaper open-loop machines to test ASTM C1550 round panels. Doubts have arisen among specifiers of FRC and FRS in tunneling and mining projects as to whether specimens tested using open-loop machines result in the same apparent performance as would be expected using displacement- or strain-controlled testing machines. This investigation has established that under certain circumstances, an open-loop testing machine can produce results for ASTM C1550 panels that are similar to results obtained using a strain- or displacement-controlled testing machine. It was also found that the measurement of specimen deflection on the underside of the panel is problematic at large deformations and can lead to substantial variations in apparent performance.
Crystal structure of bis(acetonitrile-κN)-tetrakis-μ-(p-nitrobenzoato- κ2O:O')copper(II) – (Cu–Cu), Cu2(p-NO2C6H4COO)4(CH3CN)2, C16H11CuN3O8
Authors: Song Shu-Tao , Cui Jun-Yan , Li Zhen , Nie Feng-Mei 
Published: April 2013

Abstract C16H11CuN3O8, tetragonal, I41/a (no. 88), a = 17.1139(2) Å, c = 25.5803(5) Å, V = 7492.1 Å3, Z = 16, Rgt(F) = 0.0409, wRref(F2) = 0.1261, T = 296 K.
Polyaniline–Si Nanoparticle Nanocapsules as a Dual Photovoltaic Sensitizer
Authors: Maximenko Yulia , Elhalawany Noha , Mantey Kevin , Yamani Zain , Yau Siu-Tung , Nayfeh Munir H. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTWe examine the optical and structural properties of polyaniline–silicon nanoparticle capsules — a novel organic/inorganic material. The Si particles absorb UV/blue efficiently and green moderately, while polyaniline (PANI) in its green emeraldine state absorbs UV and red/IR efficiently, effectively providing absorption over a wide range of the solar spectrum. The capsules are produced by miniemulsion of aniline monomers in the presence of Si nanoparticles. Thin films of the capsules were formed on a variety of substrates. We use high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HTEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to record the structural properties. We also monitor the optical properties of the Si core and the PANI shell using fluorescence microscopy under UV and visible irradiation. Upon on-off cycles of UV irradiation and visible light, the red core switches reversibly between bright and dark states while PANI switches reversibly between emeraldine green and pernigraniline violet states. The results are analyzed in terms of excitonic excitation, charge separation, and transport between the core and the shell, which is useful for photovoltaic applications.
Heavy-to-light hole intersubband absorption in the valence band of GaAs/AlAs heterostructures
Authors: Hossain M. I. , Ikonic Z. , Watson J. , Shao J. , Harrison P. , Manfra M. J. , Malis O. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTWe performed a thorough investigation of mid-infrared heavy-to-light hole intersubband absorption in the valence band of p-doped GaAs quantum wells with AlAs barriers. For the p-type doping a high-purity solid carbon source was used. The experimental results are compared with theoretical simulations. The inclusion of layer inter-diffusion well reproduces the transition energies. We estimate a 6-10 Å inter-diffusion length that is consistent with electron microscopy measurements. A careful analysis of our results provides valuable information for further design of emitters and detectors based on hole intersubband transitions in the valence band.
Engineering the morphology and optical properties of InP-based InAsSb/InGaAs nanostructures via Sb exposure and graded growth techniques
Authors: Lei W. , Tan H.H. , Jagadish C. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTTwo growth techniques - antimony exposure and graded growth, were proposed to achieve the control over the morphology and optical properties of self-assembled InAsSb/InGaAs/InP nanostructures. By exposing the surface of InGaAs buffer layer to trimethylantimony precursor before the growth of InAsSb nanostructures, the surface/interface energy in the system is reduced, while the strain energy in the system is enhanced. This leads to a change of island shape from dot structure to wire structure. By using a higher initial mole fraction of trimethylantimony precursor during the graded growth of InAsSb, more Sb can be incorporated into the InAsSb islands despite the same Sb mole fraction averaged over the graded growth. This also results in a shape change from dot to wire structure. As a result of their shape change, photoluminescence from the InAsSb nanostructures shows different polarization characteristics.
SANS/WANS Time-resolving Neutron Scattering Studiesof Polymer Phase Transitions Using NIMROD
Authors: Mitchell Geoffrey Robert , Bowron Daniel , Mateus Artur , Bartolo Paulo , Gkourmpis Thomas , Phomphrai Khamphee , Lopez Daniel , Davis Fred 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTWe use new neutron scattering instrumentation to follow in a single quantitative time-resolving experiment, the three key scales of structural development which accompany the crystallisation of synthetic polymers. These length scales span 3 orders of magnitude of the scattering vector. The study of polymer crystallisation dates back to the pioneering experiments of Keller and others who discovered the chain-folded nature of the thin lamellae crystals which are normally found in synthetic polymers. The inherent connectivity of polymers makes their crystallisation a multiscale transformation. Much understanding has developed over the intervening fifty years but the process has remained something of a mystery. There are three key length scales. The chain folded lamellar thickness is ∼ 10nm, the crystal unit cell is ∼ 1nm and the detail of the chain conformation is ∼ 0.1nm. In previous work these length scales have been addressed using different instrumention or were coupled using compromised geometries. More recently researchers have attempted to exploit coupled time-resolved small-angle and wide-angle x-ray experiments. These turned out to be challenging experiments much related to the challenge of placing the scattering intensity on an absolute scale. However, they did stimulate the possibility of new phenomena in the very early stages of crystallisation. Although there is now considerable doubt on such experiments, they drew attention to the basic question as to the process of crystallisation in long chain molecules. We have used NIMROD on the second target station at ISIS to follow all three length scales in a time-resolving manner for poly(e-caprolactone). The technique can provide a single set of data from 0.01 to 100Å-1 on the same vertical scale. We present the results using a multiple scale model of the crystallisation process in polymers to analyse the results.
Radiation damages on mesoporous silica thin films and bulk materials
Authors: Deschanels X. , Dourdain S. , Rey C. , Toquer G. , Grandjean A. , Pellet-Rostaing S. , Dugne O. , Grygiel C. , Duval F. , Serruys Y. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTMesoporous silicas are highly potential materials for applications in the nuclear field like separation, recycling or nuclear wastes confinement. In this work, the effects of the radiation damage on the mesoporous network were investigated by XRR (X-Rays Reflectivity) and nitrogen adsorption isotherm on respectively mesoporous organized thin films (SBA) and disordered bulk mesoporous materials (Vycor glass). The article attempts to answer the question of the existence of a relationship between the rigidity of the mesoporous silica network, and the behavior of silica materials under irradiation.
Effect of high temperature heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of third generation SiC fibers
Authors: Gosset Dominique , Jankowiak Aurélien , Vandenberghe Thierry , Maxel Maud , Colin Christian , Lochet Nicolas , Luneville Laurence 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTSiC fibers (High Nicalon S -HNS and Tyranno SA3 -Ty-SA3) submitted to heat treatments in neutral atmosphere up to 1900°C were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and TEM observations then submitted to tensile tests up to 1800°C. The microstructural changes in both materials were determined by XRD using a modified Hall-Williamson method introducing an anisotropy parameter taking into account the high density of planar defects of the SiC-3C structure. HNS fibers exhibit significant modifications in the CDD size which drastically increases from 24 nm to 70 nm in the range 1600°C to 1800°C and in the microstrains which decrease from 0.0015 to 0.0005 between 1750°C to 1850°C. Concerning the Ty-SA3 fibers, no evolution of CDD size and microstrains has been observed. The mechanical properties of single fibers were investigated after the heat treatments showing decreases in the tensile strength reaching up to 20% for Tyranno SA3 and 50% for High Nicalon S. The Weibull moduli were also significantly affected. These results are correlated to the fiber structural and microstructural evolutions.
Insertion effect of the 3-nm-thick Co(Pt) layer on AlN preferred orientation and residual stress in the c-axis textured AlN film
Authors: Harumoto Takashi , Muraishi Shinji , Shi Ji , Nakamura Yoshio , Ishiguro Takashi 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTThe effect of the continuously inserted 3-nm-thick Co(Pt) layer on the preferred orientation of AlN film is investigated, and highly c-axis textured AlN film has been obtained. According to high resolution transmission electron microscope observations, the preferred orientation of sputter-deposited AlN film is improved from polycrystalline to (001) texture at the interface between AlN and Co(Pt)(111). The texture of AlN films are also examined using an x-ray diffractometer equipped with a two dimensional positive sensitive detector. The x-ray rocking curve full width at half maximum of 002AlN of (001) textured AlN with the Co(Pt) layer is 2.7°, and the residual stress of such specimen is 1.6 GPa in tensile stress.
STM Study of Self-assembly of Quantum Dot Formed by Selective Laser Heating
Authors: Yang Haeyeon , Clegg Casey M. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTScanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) was used to examine the morphologies of selfassembled InGaAs quantum dots (QDs). In order to induce the self-assembly, unlike the conventional Stranski-Krastanov (S-K) growth method, spatial thermal modulations in nanoscale were created in-situ on strained-but-flat InGaAs surfaces in a Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) growth reactor by applying interferential irradiations of laser pulses (IILP). As-irradiated surfaces were examined using an attached ultra-high vacuum (UHV) STM. STM images indicate that the irradiation of 7 nano second laser pulse induces self-assembly of QDs. The average size of laser-induced QDs is smaller while their density is larger than that of QDs formed by annealing strained but flat epilayers conventionally. Furthermore, the dot density is modulated sinusoidally with a periodicity commensurate with that of the interference, which suggests that the placement of QDs can be controlled on the scale of the optical wavelength used. QD volume analysis suggests that dots grow faster laterally than vertically so that dots become flattened as they get larger.
Fabrication of Nanostructures of Low-Resistivity Silicon Wafer with High-Aspect-Ratio Using Carbon Nanotube Probe of Scanning Tunneling Microscope
Authors: Matsumuro Akihito , Takagi Makoto 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTVarious nanostructures with high-aspect-ratio formed in a low-resistivity silicon wafer by the nano-processing using a carbon nanotube (CNT) probe of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) have been investigated. The multi-wall CNT probes were obtained with our original pulling-method from CNT dispersion liquid. Nanostructures of point configurations (pit and mound) and line configurations were obtained at the constant tunneling current of 0.1 nA by controlling the bias voltages up to 10 V, processing times up to 300 s and scanning speeds of probe up to 480 nm/s for a line configuration. The aspect-ratio of the pit configuration fabricated at the bias voltage of 3 V increased about 6 times in proportion to the increase in processing time. Remarkable influence of the bias voltage on the configurations indicated that there exists a threshold bias voltage for the transition from the pit configuration to the mound one between 3 V and 5 V, and the aspect ratio of all nanostructures fabricated by the CNT probe were larger than those by a conventional tungsten probe. Finally, cross-sectional TEM observations were also applied to clarify the difference in the formation mechanisms between the pit configuration and the mound configuration. The TEM image of the pit configuration showed neither dislocations nor remarkable strains existed, but in the case of the mound shape TEM analysis indicated the existence of single crystalline silicon region solidified with atomic defects under the mound configuration. Therefore the drastic change of the configurations was attributed to the changes of the atomic-scale microstructures by applying the bias voltages.