bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nrf2 defense pathway: Experimental evidence for its protective role in epilepsy
Authors: Mazzuferi Manuela , Kumar Gaurav , van Eyll Jonathan , Danis Benedicte , Foerch Patrik , Kaminski Rafal M. 
Published: May 2013

ObjectiveEpigenetic mechanisms involved in transcriptional regulation of multiple molecular pathways are potentially attractive therapeutic interventions for epilepsy, because single target therapies are unlikely to provide both anticonvulsant and disease‐modifying effects.MethodsA selection of epilepsy‐related gene expression data sets were retrieved using NextBio software and imported to Ingenuity Pathway Analysis for transcription factor enrichment analysis. Nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)—a transcription factor that promotes the expression of numerous antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective proteins—was identified as a candidate for confirmation of mRNA expression in hippocampal tissue from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and in mice following pilocarpine‐induced status epilepticus (SE). Human Nrf2 was overexpressed via an adeno‐associated virus (AAV) vector after the onset of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS) in the animals. At the end of a 5‐week continuous monitoring period for SRS, quantitative immunohistochemistry using neuronal (neuronal‐specific nuclear protein), astrocytic (glial fibrillary acidic protein), and microglial (ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1) markers was performed.ResultsA significant increase in Nrf2 mRNA expression was observed in human epileptic hippocampal tissue. Nrf2 expression levels increased progressively in mice, reaching a peak at 72 hours after SE, and then declined. Similar expression patterns were observed for 3 Nrf2‐regulated genes: HO‐1, NQO1, and mGST. Remarkably, mice injected with AAV Nrf2 displayed significantly fewer generalized seizures, with profound reduction in microglia activation. Hippocampal neurons were preserved, whereas the number of astrocytes was unchanged.InterpretationThese findings extend the potential of Nrf2‐based therapies to epilepsy and add to the rapidly accumulating evidence from other neurodegenerative and inflammatory disease models. Ann Neurol 2013;74:560–568
γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptors that contain the δ subunit promote memory and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus
Authors: Whissell Paul D. , Rosenzweig Shira , Lecker Irene , Wang Dian‐Shi , Wojtowicz J. Martin , Orser Beverley A. 
Published: May 2013

ObjectiveExtrasynaptic γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptors that contain the δ subunit (δGABAA receptors) are highly expressed in the dentate gyrus (DG) subfield of the hippocampus, where they generate a tonic conductance that regulates neuronal activity. GABAA receptor‐dependent signaling regulates memory and also facilitates postnatal neurogenesis in the adult DG; however, the role of the δGABAA receptors in these processes is unclear. Accordingly, we sought to determine whether δGABAA receptors regulate memory behaviors, as well as neurogenesis in the DG.MethodsMemory and neurogenesis were studied in wild‐type (WT) mice and transgenic mice that lacked δGABAA receptors (Gabrd−/−). To pharmacologically increase δGABAA receptor activity, mice were treated with the δGABAA receptor‐preferring agonist 4,5,6,7‐tetrahydroisoxazolo(5,4‐c)pyridin‐3‐ol (THIP). Behavioral assays including recognition memory, contextual discrimination, and fear extinction were used. Neurogenesis was studied by measuring the proliferation, survival, migration, maturation, and dendritic complexity of adult‐born neurons in the DG.ResultsGabrd−/− mice exhibited impaired recognition memory and contextual discrimination relative to WT mice. Fear extinction was also impaired in Gabrd−/− mice, although the acquisition of fear memory was enhanced. Neurogenesis was disrupted in Gabrd−/− mice as the migration, maturation, and dendritic development of adult‐born neurons were impaired. Long‐term treatment with THIP facilitated learning and neurogenesis in WT but not Gabrd−/− mice.InterpretationδGABAA receptors promote the performance of certain DG‐dependent memory behaviors and facilitate neurogenesis. Furthermore, δGABAA receptors can be pharmacologically targeted to enhance these processes. Ann Neurol 2013;74:611–621
Maleic anhydride‐grafted‐polybutadiene as a controlled defibrillating and dispersing agent for short aramid fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composite with improved mechanical properties
Authors: Shibulal G. S. , Naskar Kinsuk 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTThe reinforcing effect of resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL) coated short aramid fiber on an ester‐based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was investigated on the basis of mechanical properties. Short fibers having different fiber length were used for the reinforcement. The exceptionally high Young's modulus and low strain modulus indicate the reinforcing effect of this fiber on to the TPU matrix. It has been observed that fibers of 3 mm length at 10 phr loading and 6 mm length even at a loading of 5 phr start to exhibit severe fibrillation: the longitudinal splitting of fiber having larger diameter into thinner fibrils during processing. Fibrillation favorably affects the mechanical bonding with the matrix because of the large surface area as well as surface irregularities provided by the fibrillated fiber. However, fibrillation adversely affects the fiber dispersion by enhancing the fiber aggregation. This leads to a greater disturbance in the strain hardening behavior of the TPU matrix and subsequently reducing the tensile strength and elongation at break especially at high fiber loading. Therefore, to control the degree of fibrillation a pre‐treatment has been applied on the aramid fiber surface with maleic anhydride‐grafted‐polybutadiene (PB‐g‐MA) prior to mixing it with the TPU matrix. A good quality of fiber dispersion with improved tensile strength and elongation at break has been achieved even with 6 mm short fiber at a loading of 10 phr with the treatment of only 5 phr of PB‐g‐MA. The tensile fractured surface morphological analyses of PB‐g‐MA coated fiber filled TPU composite strongly advocate these results. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2205–2216, 2013
Temperature dependence of hydrogen bond in Fe‐OCAP/polyurethane blends
Authors: Ti Yang , Chen Dajun 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTFourier transform infrared (FTIR) thermal analysis was utilized to study the temperature dependence of hydrogen bond in Fe‐octacarboxyl acid phthalocyanine (Fe‐OCAP)/polyurethane (PU) blends. Two regions in the FTIR spectra were concerned to investigate the difference of the degree of hydrogen bond in the samples: the NH stretching region (3210–3460 cm−1) and carbonyl stretching region (1680–1760 cm−1). It was found that the average strength of hydrogen bond in the modified samples was stronger than that in pure PU. With increasing Fe‐OCAP content, the hydrogen bonded NH and carbonyl groups were increased, while with increasing temperature they decreased. The equilibrium between free and hydrogen bonded carbonyl groups was discussed. The dissociation enthalpy for hydrogen bonded carbonyl of the samples was increased with increasing Fe‐OCAP content. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2265–2271, 2013
New evidences of accelerating degradation of polyethylene by starch
Authors: Liu Xingxun , Yu Long , Xie Fengwei , Petinakis Eustathios , Sangwan Parveen , Shen Shirley , Dean Katherine , Ammala Anne , Wong‐Holmes Susan 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTAn investigation into the effects of starch on both, UV photo‐oxidative degradation and biodegradation, of HDPE was focused on the interface between HDPE and starch using Synchrotron‐FTIR microscope (SFTIR‐M) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). Carbonyl group detection by FTIR was conducted to evaluate the effect of degradation following exposure to UV photo‐oxidative degradation. The results showed that the concentration of carbonyl groups on the interface were higher, suggesting the role of starch in accelerating the UV photo‐oxidative degradation of HDPE. The interface between HDPE and starch was further observed under SEM to study the morphological changes after UV photo‐oxidative degradation and biodegradation. Micro‐cracking was observed on the interface between starch and HDPE after UV photo‐oxidative degradation. Tensile testing after UV exposure showed that the variation rate of elongation was higher for the samples containing starch. Starch, an easily biodegradable material, can also act as initial source of nutrients for micro‐organisms (bacteria, fungi, and algae) in the blend materials thus enhancing their biodegradability. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2282–2287, 2013
Fabrication of electrically conductive polymer composites for bipolar plate by two‐step compression molding technique
Authors: Li Kwi Chol , Zhang Kun , Wu Guozhang 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTElectrically conductive polymer composites for bipolar plate were fabricated by two‐step compression molding technique. Raw materials consisted of natural graphite flakes (G), expanded graphite (EG), carbon black (CB), and phenol resin (PF). The G/EG/CB/PF composites were first compressed at a temperature lower than curing point (100°C) and then cured at a high temperature above curing point (150°C) and high pressure (10 MPa). Results showed that G and EG are oriented in the direction parallel to the composite plate surface. CB is dispersed not only in the phenol resin matrix but also in the packing and porous space of G and EG. The addition of EG and CB significantly increases number of the electrical channels and thus enhances the electrical conductivity of the composite. Under optimal conditions, electrical conductivity and flexural strength of the composite were 2.80 × 104 S/m and 55 MPa, respectively, suggesting that the dipolar plates prepared by two‐step compression molding technique are adequate to meet the requirement of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2296–2302, 2013
Influence of molecular weight and rheological behavior on electrospinning cellulose nanofibers from ionic liquids
Authors: Härdelin Linda , Perzon Erik , Hagström Bengt , Walkenström Pernilla , Gatenholm Paul 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTDissolving pulp was depolymerized with 2.5M HCl into cellulose fractions with decreasing molecular weight relative to acid treatment time. The cellulose fractions were dissolved at various concentrations in the ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate (EmimAc) with co‐solvent DMSO at ratio 1 : 1 (w/w) and electrospun. Size exclusion chromatography was used to evaluate the molecular weight distributions and the rheological properties were characterized with a cone‐and‐plate rheometer. Scanning electron microscope was used to evaluate the fiber morphology, and thereby spinnability. Zero shear viscosity as a function of cellulose concentration show that all the solutions in this study are in the entangled semi‐dilute regime; where the polymer concentration is large enough for significant overlap necessary for chain entanglement. However, within the intervals studied, neither cellulose concentration nor molecular weight seems to be decisive for if a solution can be electrospun into fibers or not. It is rather the viscosity of the solution that is decisive for electrospinnability, even though the solution is in the entangled semi‐dilute regime. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2303–2310, 2013
Preventive Detention of Sex Offenders: The American Experience versus International Human Rights Norms
Authors: Janus Eric S. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTNearly two decades after the birth of American Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) laws and the tolerant review of their legitimacy by American courts, European courts and international bodies are beginning to develop a jurisprudence of their own with regard to preventive detention. Applying international human rights norms, these bodies have been significantly less tolerant of preventive detention, looking not only at their design but also at their implementation. Simultaneously, American courts are showing the beginnings of a second look at SVP laws, inspired and informed not by promises about the future implementation of newly passed SVP laws, but rather by the sorry record of two decades of implementation. This article examines an American SVP scheme as it has been implemented over 20 years, contrasts the international perspective, and offers some speculation about the path of reform for American SVP schemes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The clinical utility of below‐the‐ankle angioplasty using “transmetatarsal artery access” in complex cases of CLI
Authors: Palena Luis Mariano , Brocco Enrico , Manzi Marco 
Published: May 2013

ObjectivesTo appraise clinical results of foot arteries recanalization using percutaneous retrograde transmetatarsal arteries access followed by retrograde recanalization of foot and tibial vessels.BackgroundArterial revascularization by means of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a mainstay in the management of patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Nonetheless, when employing standard approaches, success rate remain suboptimal. We report the clinical results of foot arteries recanalization through transmetatarsal artery access.MethodsFrom September 2011 to November 2012, 38 patients (28 men; mean age 73.2 ± 11.4 years) underwent transmetatarsal artery access after antegrade recanalization failure, followed by retrograde recanalization of the foot and tibial vessels. The primary end point was TcPO2improvement. The secondary end point was limb salvage rate, amputation‐free survival rate and radiation exposure.ResultsTechnical success (ability to deliver the balloon across the lesion and inflate it at nominal pressure) was achieved in 33 (86.84%) of cases, with <50% residual stenosis and no complications. Failures were because of spasm or no true lumen re‐entry. During follow‐up (mean 6.7 ± 2.3 months/range 1–14) clinical improvement was observed in the patients having technical success, with TcPO2increasing, from 10.3 ± 7.6 to 50.7 ± 8.2 mm Hg, avoiding major amputations. Amputation‐free survival rate calculated by Kaplan–Meier analysis was 81.5% at 12 months. Radiation exposition was major than in patients treated by antegrade way (45.5 ± 56.1 vs. 52.5 ± 11.5 min of fluoroscopy and 69.1 ± 83.2 vs. 94 ± 26.5 Gym2of X‐ray dose;P < 0.001).ConclusionTransmetatarsal artery access appears feasible and beneficial in cases with a failed antegrade recanalization and unsuitable for retrograde pedal/plantar access. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Population‐based cancer registries for quality‐of‐life research
Authors: Thong Melissa S. Y. , Mols Floortje , Stein Kevin D. , Smith Tenbroeck , Coebergh Jan‐Willem W. , van de Poll‐Franse Lonneke V. 
Published: May 2013

BACKGROUNDWith the increasing number and diversity of cancer survivors, studies of survivors' physical, emotional, and social health and well being are of growing importance. Population‐based cancer registries, which collect data on incident cases, can play an important role in quality‐of‐life (QoL) studies. In this review, the authors provide an overview of QoL studies that have used cancer registry data in this emerging area of research.METHODSPublication databases were searched for relevant peer‐reviewed original articles published between 2001 and mid‐2011. Inclusion criteria were articles published in English that used cancer registries as the sampling frame and/or that used registry data in analyses with QoL data. All included articles were assessed on the quality of information provided, cancer registry procedures, and study design.RESULTSIn total, 173 articles from 13 countries were reviewed, and a large proportion were from the United States (n = 72) and Europe (n = 70). Fourteen different malignancies were studied, and the most frequent were breast cancer. Most studies focused on adult survivors, and only 4 focused on the elderly (aged >70 years). Of the reviewed articles, 110 (64%) provided a good amount of information on the cancer registry. Information less frequently reported included mainly follow‐up of vital status and characteristics of respondents/nonrespondents.CONCLUSIONSQoL studies increasingly use population‐based registries, which provide important clinical variables and an excellent sampling frame for identifying subgroups. Until now, most studies have tended to focus on more prevalent cancers, and surprisingly few studies have focused on QoL of elderly survivors, who remain understudied in clinical trials. Cancer 2013;119(11 suppl):2109‐23. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
High intratumor genetic heterogeneity is related to worse outcome in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Mroz Edmund A. , Tward Aaron D. , Pickering Curtis R. , Myers Jeffrey N. , Ferris Robert L. , Rocco James W. 
Published: May 2013

BACKGROUNDAlthough the presence of genetic heterogeneity within the tumors of individual patients is established, it is unclear whether greater heterogeneity predicts a worse outcome. A quantitative measure of genetic heterogeneity based on next‐generation sequencing (NGS) data, mutant‐allele tumor heterogeneity (MATH), was previously developed and applied to a data set on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Whether this measure correlates with clinical outcome was not previously assessed.METHODSThe authors examined the association between MATH and clinical, pathologic, and overall survival data for 74 patients with HNSCC for whom exome sequencing was completed.RESULTSHigh MATH (a MATH value above the median) was found to be significantly associated with shorter overall survival (hazards ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.3‐4.8). MATH was similarly found to be associated with adverse outcomes in clinically high‐risk patients with an advanced stage of disease, and in those with tumors classified as high risk on the basis of validated biomarkers including those that were negative for human papillomavirus or having disruptive tumor protein p53 mutations. In patients who received chemotherapy, the hazards ratio for high MATH was 4.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.6‐10.2).CONCLUSIONSThis novel measure of tumor genetic heterogeneity is significantly associated with tumor progression and adverse treatment outcomes, thereby supporting the hypothesis that higher genetic heterogeneity portends a worse clinical outcome in patients with HNSCC. The prognostic value of some known biomarkers may be the result of their association with high genetic heterogeneity. MATH provides a useful measure of that heterogeneity to be prospectively validated as NGS data from homogeneously treated patient cohorts become available Cancer 2013;119:3034—3042. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Finite element analysis of balloon‐expandable coronary stent deployment: Influence of angioplasty balloon configuration
Authors: Martin David , Boyle Fergal 
Published: May 2013

SUMMARYToday, the majority of coronary stents are balloon‐expandable and are deployed using a balloon‐tipped catheter. To improve deliverability, the membrane of the angioplasty balloon is typically folded about the catheter in a pleated configuration. As such, the deployment of the angioplasty balloon is governed by the material properties of the balloon membrane, its folded configuration and its attachment to the catheter. Despite this observation, however, an optimum strategy for modelling the configuration of the angioplasty balloon in finite element studies of coronary stent deployment has not been identified, and idealised models of the angioplasty balloon are commonly employed in the literature. These idealised models often neglect complex geometrical features, such as the folded configuration of the balloon membrane and its attachment to the catheter, which may have a significant influence on the deployment of a stent. In this study, three increasingly sophisticated models of a typical semi‐compliant angioplasty balloon were employed to determine the influence of angioplasty balloon configuration on the deployment of a stent. The results of this study indicate that angioplasty balloon configuration has a significant influence on both the transient behaviour of the stent and its impact on the mechanical environment of the coronary artery. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Orally Active Aurora A/B Kinase Inhibitor, AM‐005, Suppresses the Growth of Human Colon Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Zheng Ming , Zheng Youguang , Xie Li , Chang Weiwei , Gu Ning , Ji Min 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

Preclinical Research

The Aurora family of serine/threonine kinases plays important roles in process of cell division or mitosis. Overexpression of Aurora A, B, and C has been identified in many human cancers including colon carcinoma cells. To date, a number of small molecular inhibitors have been developed for reducing Aurora kinases activities of tumor cells in preclinical and clinical trials. In this study, we describe the properties of AM‐005, a novel and orally active Aurora A/B kinase inhibitor. AM‐005 irreversibly inhibited the proliferation and levels of phospho‐Histone H3 in human colon carcinoma cell lines. Defective mitosis was also visualized in AM‐005‐treated HT29 cells by microscopy. Flow cytometric analysis showed that AM‐005 induced the accumulation of HT29 cells with >4N DNA content in a time or concentration‐dependent manner, and HT29 cells underwent severe apoptosis at 72 h. Moreover, AM‐005 given intragastrically led to suppression of the proliferative response in the xenograft model of colon carcinoma. These results indicate the utility of AM‐005 as a promising noncytotoxic agent for treating human colon carcinoma.
Full‐scale shaking table test of a base‐isolated medical facility subjected to vertical motions
Authors: Furukawa Sachi , Sato Eiji , Shi Yundong , Becker Tracy , Nakashima Masayoshi 
Published: May 2013

SUMMARYBase isolation is a well known technology that has been proven to reduce structural response to horizontal ground accelerations. However, vertical response still remains a topic of concern for base‐isolated buildings, perhaps more so than in fixed‐base buildings as isolation is often used when high performance is required. To investigate the effects of vertical response on building contents and nonstructural components, a series of full‐scale shaking table tests were conducted at the E‐Defense facility in Japan. A four‐story base‐isolated reinforced concrete building was outfitted as a medical facility with a wide variety of contents, and the behavior of the contents was observed. The rubber base isolation system was found to significantly amplify vertical accelerations in some cases. However, the damage caused by the vertical ground motions was not detrimental when peak vertical floor accelerations remained below 2 g with three exceptions: (1) small items placed on shelves slid or toppled; (2) objects jumped when placed on nonrigid furniture, which tended to increase the response; and (3) equipment with vertical eccentricities rocked and jumped. In these tests, all equipment and nonstructural components remained functional after shaking. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.