bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least‐squares estimation (IDEAL) of the wrist and finger at 3T: Comparison with chemical shift selective fat suppression images
Authors: Aoki Takatoshi , Yamashita Yoshiko , Oki Hodaka , Takahashi Hiroyuki , Hayashida Yoshiko , Saito Kazuyoshi , Tanaka Yoshiya , Korogi Yukunori 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPurpose:To compare fat‐suppressed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) quality using iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least‐squares estimation (IDEAL) with that using chemical shift selective fat‐suppressed T1‐weighted spin‐echo (CHESS) images for evaluating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lesions of the hand and finger at 3T.Materials and Methods:MRI was performed in eight healthy volunteers and eight RA patients with a 3.0T MR system (Signa HDxt GE healthcare) using an eight‐channel knee coil. FS‐CHESS‐T1‐SE and IDEAL imaging were acquired in the coronal planes covering the entire structure of the bilateral hands with a slice thickness of 2 mm. In the RA patients both images were obtained after intravenous gadolinium administration. Image quality was evaluated on a five‐point scale (1 = excellent to 5 = very poor). Synovitis and bone marrow contrast uptake on MR images were reviewed by two musculoskeletal radiologists using the Rheumatoid Arthritis MRI Scoring System (RAMRIS) of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT) group.Results:IDEAL showed uniform FS unaffected by magnetic field inhomogeneity and challenging geometry of hand and fingers, while CHESS‐T1‐SE often showed FS failure within the first metacarpal joint, tip of the finger, and ulnar aspect of the wrist joint. Overall image quality was significantly better with IDEAL than CHESS‐T1‐SE images (4.43 vs. 3.43, P < 0.01). Interobserver agreement (κ value) for synovitis and bone marrow contrast uptake was good to excellent with IDEAL (0.74–0.91, 0.62–0.89, respectively).Conclusion:IDEAL could compensate for the effects of field inhomogeneities, providing uniform FS of the hand and finger than did the CHESS‐T1‐SE sequence. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:733–738. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effects of different UV‐B radiation intensities on morphological and biochemical characteristics in Ocimum basilicum L.
Authors: Sakalauskaitė Jurga , Viskelis Pranas , Dambrauskienė Edita , Sakalauskienė Sandra , Samuolienė Giedrė , Brazaitytė Aušra , Duchovskis Pavelas , Urbonavičienė Dalia 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: The effects of short‐term ultraviolet B (UV‐B) irradiation on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Cinnamon) plants at the 3–4 leaf pair and flowering stages were examined in controlled environment growth chambers. Plants were exposed to 0 (reference), 2 and 4 kJ UV‐B m−2 day−1 over 7 days.RESULTS: Exposure of basil plants to supplementary UV‐B light resulted in increased assimilating leaf area, fresh biomass and dry biomass. Stimulation of physiological functions in young basil plants under either applied UV‐B dose resulted in increased total chlorophyll content but no marked variation in carotenoid content. At the flowering stage the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of basil were affected by supplementary UV‐B radiation, decreasing with enhanced UV‐B exposure. Both total antioxidant activity (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl free radical assay) and total phenolic compound content were increased by UV‐B light supplementation. Young and mature basil plants differed in their ascorbic acid content, which was dependent on UV‐B dose and plant age. UV‐B radiation resulted in decreased nitrate content in young basil plants (3–4 leaf pair stage).CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the application of short‐exposure UV‐B radiation beneficially influenced both growth parameters and biochemical constituents in young and mature basil plants. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
The effect of probiotic‐fermented soy milk on enhancing the NO‐mediated vascular relaxation factors
Authors: Cheng Chein‐Pang , Tsai Shuo‐Wen , Chiu Chihwei P , Pan Tzu‐Ming , Tsai Tsung‐Yu 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBACKGROUND: Soy milk is one of the common soy‐based foods in Asia. In this study the effects of soy milk fermented with selected probiotics on nitric oxide (NO)‐mediated vascular relaxation factors in cell model systems were investigated.RESULTS: Soy milk fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 or Streptococcus thermophilus BCRC 14085 for 48 h showed a greater transformation of glucoside isoflavones to aglycone isoflavones (P < 0.05). An increase in aglycone isoflavones in ethanol extracts from fermented soy milk stimulated NO production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. It also had a stimulating effect on superoxide anion scavenging and prostaglandin E2 production. In addition, it enhanced mRNA expression of the E‐prostanoid 4 receptor in rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle cells. Moreover, a small amount of O$_{2}^{-}$ induced by water extracts from fermented soy milk at low concentration (1 mg mL−1) increased the content of calcium ions and activated eNOS, thereby promoting NO production and the coupling state of eNOS.CONCLUSION: Soy milk fermented with selected probiotics promotes the relaxation factors of vascular endothelial cells and can be applied in the development of functional foods. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
TGFBR1 tagging SNPs and gastric cancer susceptibility: A two‐stage case–control study in chinese population
Authors: Chen Jianjian , Miao Lin , Jin Guangfu , Ren Chuanli , Ke Qiao , Qian Yun , Dong Meihua , Li Huizhang , Zhang Qin , Ding Yanbing , Yan Zhigang , Wang Jianming , Liu Zheng , Hu Zhibin , Xu Yaochu , Ji Guozhong , Shen Hongbing 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThe transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β is a potent growth inhibitor primarily responsible for cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, and frequently perturbed during development of tumors, including gastric cancer. TGF‐β receptor type I (TGFβR1) may be a modifier of cancer risk by constitutively decreasing the TGF‐β inhibitory signals during early tumorigenesis and increasing the TGF‐β signals in tumor progression. In this study, we hypothesized that genetic variants of TGFBR1 may influence the risk of gastric cancer. We conducted a two‐stage case–control study of gastric cancer, including 650 cases and 683 controls in the first stage and 484 cases and 348 controls in the second stage, and genotyped five tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to represent common variants in the whole TGFBR1 gene. In the first stage, two SNPs rs6478974 and rs10512263 were found to be potentially associated with risk of gastric cancer (P = 3.35 × 10−3 for rs6478974 AT vs. TT and P = 0.033 for rs10512263 CT vs. TT), which were further confirmed in the second stage with similar effects (P = 0.144 and 0.049, respectively). After combining the two stages, we found that these two SNPs were associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric cancer in dominant models [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14–1.63 for rs6478974 AT/AA vs. TT; adjusted OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.50 for rs10512263 CT/CC vs. TT] or additive model (adjusted OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.08–1.40 for rs6478974). These findings indicate that TGFBR1 polymorphisms may be implicated with the development of gastric cancer in Han‐Chinese population. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ethanol lock therapy in pediatric hematology and oncology
Authors: Wolf Joshua , Shenep Jerry L. , Clifford Vanessa , Curtis Nigel , Flynn Patricia M. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractCentral venous catheters are essential for treatment of cancer and hematologic disorders in children. Central line‐associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is the most common important complication and can lead to serious sequelae. Conventional antibiotic treatment is often unsuccessful. Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) has been shown to prevent CLABSI in various patient groups and might also be beneficial as adjunctive treatment for active infection. Efficacy and safety have not been adequately studied in the pediatric hematology/oncology population. Catheter occlusion and intraluminal clots have been reported. Routine use of ELT should not be recommended in this population until more data are available. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 18–25. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Local piezoelectric response of single poly(vinylidene fluoride) electrospun fibers
Authors: Sencadas V. , Ribeiro C. , Bdikin I. K. , Kholkin A. L. , Lanceros‐Mendez S. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIt is shown that electrospun poly(vynilidene fluoride) nanofibers are fully poled right after preparation and show β‐phase contents of ∼70%, therefore being able to be implemented into electroactive devices without further processing steps. Further, the local piezoelectric properties of individual electrospun fibers have been studied by piezoresponse force microscopy. Piezoelectric response, polarization switching, and nanoscale patterning of the fibers have been demonstrated.magnified image
Photoluminescence enhancement of porous silicon particles by microwave‐assisted activation
Authors: Xia Bing , Zhang Wenyi , Bao Weiyi , Dong Chen , Zhang Junfeng , Shi Jisen 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPhotoluminescence (PL) of porous silicon (PSi) particles can be significantly enhanced in some organic solvents (i.e., ethanol or dimethyl sulfoxide) under microwave irradiation. Fourier transform infrared spectra, dynamic‐light‐scattering measurements, and scanning electron microscopy had been adopted to explore the mechanism of PL enhancement of PSi particles under microwave irradiation, which is attributed to the formation of higher porosity and the growth of silicon oxide by microwave‐assisted wet etching. Compared with that fabricated by ultrasonication, smaller luminescent PSi nanoparticles (average size ∼60 nm) with stronger orange‐red fluorescence (PL quantum yield ∼14.8%) and higher dispersibility can be large‐scale prepared for cellular imaging and drug delivery in biomedical applications.
Convective Delivery of Electroactive Species to Annular Nanoband Electrodes Embedded in Nanocapillary‐Array Membranes
Authors: Gibson Larry R. , Branagan Sean P. , Bohn Paul W. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractSignificant technological drivers motivate interest in the use of reaction sites embedded within nanometer‐scale channels, and an important class of these structures is realized by an embedded annular nanoband electrode (EANE) in a cylindrical nanochannel. In this structure, the convective delivery of electroactive species to the nanoelectrode is tightly coupled to the electrochemical overpotential via electroosmotic flow. Simulation results indicate that EANE arrays significantly outperform comparable microband electrode/microchannel structures, producing higher conversion efficiencies at low Peclet number. The results of this in‐depth analysis are useful in assessing possible implementation of the EANE geometry for a wide range of electrochemical targets within microscale total analysis systems.
The Development of a Processing Window for the Continuous Galvanizing of a Mn–Cr–Si Martensitic Steel
Authors: Chakraborty Anirban , McDermid Joseph R. , Kavitha Ranganathan , Voyzelle Benoit , Essadiqi Elhachmi , Goodwin Frank E. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractMartensitic or complex phase steels are leading candidates for automotive impact management applications. However, achieving high strengths while obtaining high quality coatings via continuous galvanizing is a challenge due to cooling rate limitations of the processing equipment and selective oxidation of alloying elements such as Cr, Mn, and Si adversely affecting reactive wetting. The galvanizability of a CrMnSi steel with a target tensile strength above 1250 MPa was investigated within the context of the continuous galvanizing line. The continuous cooling transformation behavior of the candidate alloy was determined, from which intercritical and austenitic annealing thermal cycles were developed. The evolution of substrate surface chemistry and oxide morphology during these treatments and their subsequent effect on reactive wetting during galvanizing were characterized. The target strength of 1250 MPa was achieved and high quality coatings produced using both intercritical (75% γ) and austenitic (100% γ) annealing using a conventional 95%N2–5%H2, −30°C dew point process atmosphere and 0.20 wt% dissolved (effective) Al bath, despite the presence of significant Mn and Cr oxides on the substrate surfaces. It is proposed that complete reactive wetting by the Zn(Al, Fe) bath was promoted by in situ aluminothermic reduction of the Mn and Cr‐oxides by the dissolved bath Al.
The effect of high pressure homogenization on the activity of a commercial β-galactosidase
Authors: Tribst Alline A L , Augusto Pedro E D , Cristianini Marcelo 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
High pressure homogenization (HPH) has been proposed as a promising method for changing the activity and stability of enzymes. Therefore, this research studied the activity of β-galactosidase before and after HPH. The enzyme solution at pH values of 6.4, 7.0, and 8.0 was processed at pressures of up to 150 MPa, and the effects of HPH were determined from the residual enzyme activity measured at 5, 30, and 45 °C immediately after homogenization and after 1 day of refrigerated storage. The results indicated that at neutral pH the enzyme remained active at 30 °C (optimum temperature) even after homogenization at pressures of up to 150 MPa. On the contrary, when the β-galactosidase was homogenized at pH 6.4 and 8.0, a gradual loss of activity was observed, reaching a minimum activity (around 30 %) after HPH at 150 MPa and pH 8.0. After storage, only β-galactosidase that underwent HPH at pH 7.0 retained similar activity to the native sample. Thus, HPH did not affect the activity and stability of β-galactosidase only when the process was carried out at neutral pH; for the other conditions, HPH resulted in partial inactivation of the enzyme. Considering the use of β-galactosidase to produce low lactose milk, it was concluded that HPH can be applied with no deleterious effects on enzyme activity.
“Is it Really Worth it to Get Tested?”: Primary Care Patients’ Impressions of Predictive SNP Testing for Colon Cancer
Authors: Leventhal Kara‐Grace , Tuong William , Peshkin Beth N. , Salehizadeh Yasmin , Fishman Mary B. , Eggly Susan , FitzGerald Kevin , Schwartz Marc D. , Graves Kristi D. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractDespite significant progress in genomics research over the past decade, we remain years away from the integration of genomics into routine clinical care. As an initial step toward the implementation of genomic‐based medicine, we explored primary care patients’ ideas about genomic testing for common complex diseases to help develop future patient education materials and interventions to communicate genomic risk information. We conducted a mixed‐methods study with participants from a large primary care clinic. Within four focus groups, we used a semi‐structured discussion guide and administered brief pre‐ and post‐ discussion quantitative surveys to assess participants’ interest, attitudes, and preferences related to testing and receipt of test results. Prior to the discussion, moderators presented a plain‐language explanation of DNA and genetics, defined “SNP”, and highlighted what is known and unknown about the risks associated with testing for SNPs related to colorectal cancer risk. We used the NVIVO 8 software package to analyze the transcripts from the focus group discussions. The majority of participants (75 %) were “very” or “somewhat interested” in receiving information from a colon cancer SNP test, even after learning about and discussing the small and still clinically uncertain change in risk conferred by SNPs. Reported interest in testing was related to degree of risk conferred, personal risk factors, family history, possible implications for managing health /disease prevention and curiosity about genetic results. Most people (85 %) preferred that genetic information be delivered in person by a healthcare or genetics professional rather than through print materials or a computer. These findings suggest that patients may look to genetic counselors, physicians or other healthcare professionals as gatekeepers of predictive genomic risk information.
Proteasome inhibition in cancer is associated with enhanced tumor targeting by the adeno‐associated virus/phage
Authors: Przystal Justyna M. , Umukoro Eloho , Stoneham Charlotte A. , Yata Teerapong , O'Neill Kevin , Syed Nelofer , Hajitou Amin 
Published: August 2012

Bacteriophage (phage), which are viruses that infect bacteria only, have shown promise as vehicles for targeted cancer gene therapy, albeit with poor efficiency. Recently, we generated an improved version of phage vectors by incorporating cis genetic elements of adeno‐associated virus (AAV). This novel AAV/phage hybrid (AAVP) efficiently delivered systemically administered therapeutic genes to various tumor targets by displaying an integrin tumor‐targeting ligand on the phage capsid. However, inherent limitations in bacteriophage mean that these AAVP vectors still need to be improved. One of the limitations of AAVP in mammalian cells may be its susceptibility to proteasomal degradation. The proteasome is upregulated in cancer and it is known that it constitutes a barrier to gene delivery by certain eukaryotic viruses. We report here that inhibition of proteasome improved targeted reporter gene delivery by AAVP in cancer cells in vitro and in tumors in vivo after intravenous vector administration to tumor‐bearing mice. We also show enhanced targeted tumor cell killing by AAVP upon proteasome inhibition. The AAVP particles persisted significantly in cancer cells in vitro and in tumors in vivo after systemic administration, and accumulated polyubiquitinated coat proteins. Our results suggest that the proteasome is indeed a barrier to tumor targeting by AAVP and indicate that a combination of proteasome‐inhibiting drugs and AAVP should be considered for clinical anticancer therapy.
Agglomeration and de-agglomeration of rotating wet doublets
Authors: Donahue Carly M. , Brewer William M. , Davis Robert H. , Hrenya Christine M. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIn this work, experiments using a pendulum apparatus were conducted for two particles engaged in oblique, wetted collisions over a range of impact angles, impact velocities, coating thicknesses, liquid viscosities, particle materials, and particle radii. From previous studies on normal or head-on collisions, the two particles bounce apart if the Stokes number (a ratio of particle inertia to viscous forces) exceeds a critical value, whereas they stick together if the Stokes number is below this critical value. However, for oblique collisions, an additional outcome is observed at moderate Stokes numbers and impact angles, in which the spheres initially stick together, rotate as a doublet, and then separate due to centrifugal forces. We refer to this outcome as ‘stick–rotate–separate’. For subcritical Stokes numbers exhibiting this new outcome, the experimental results for the apparent coefficient of normal restitution and angle of rotation from impact to separation show only weak dependence on the fluid viscosity and thickness and the dry restitution coefficient, whereas they both decrease with increasing particle radius. These results are in contrast with those for supercritical Stokes numbers in which the spheres bounce upon impact. An accompanying theory based on lubrication forces, the glass transition of the liquid layer, and solid deformation and rebound agrees well with experimental results and gives insight into the observed trends.
Segregation-induced fingering instabilities in granular free-surface flows
Authors: Woodhouse M. J. , Thornton A. R. , Johnson C. G. , Kokelaar B. P. , Gray J. M. N. T. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractParticle-size segregation can have a significant feedback on the bulk motion of granular avalanches when the larger grains experience greater resistance to motion than the fine grains. When such segregation-mobility feedback effects occur the flow may form digitate lobate fingers or spontaneously self-channelize to form lateral levees that enhance run-out distance. This is particularly important in geophysical mass flows, such as pyroclastic currents, snow avalanches and debris flows, where run-out distance is of crucial importance in hazards assessment. A model for finger formation in a bidisperse granular avalanche is developed by coupling a depth-averaged description of the preferential transport of large particles towards the front with an established avalanche model. The coupling is achieved through a concentration-dependent friction coefficient, which results in a system of non-strictly hyperbolic equations. We compute numerical solutions to the flow of a bidisperse mixture of small mobile particles and larger more resistive grains down an inclined chute. The numerical results demonstrate that our model is able to describe the formation of a front rich in large particles, the instability of this front and the subsequent evolution of elongated fingers bounded by large-rich lateral levees, as observed in small-scale laboratory experiments. However, our numerical results are grid dependent, with the number of fingers increasing as the numerical resolution is increased. We investigate this pathology by examining the linear stability of a steady uniform flow, which shows that arbitrarily small wavelength perturbations grow exponentially quickly. Furthermore, we find that on a curve in parameter space the growth rate is unbounded above as the wavelength of perturbations is decreased and so the system of equations on this curve is ill-posed. This indicates that the model captures the physical mechanisms that drive the instability, but additional dissipation mechanisms, such as those considered in the realm of flow rheology, are required to set the length scale of the fingers that develop.
Contribution of gut bacteria to the metabolism of cyanidin 3-glucoside in human microbiota-associated rats
Authors: Hanske Laura , Engst Wolfram , Loh Gunnar , Sczesny Silke , Blaut Michael , Braune Annett 
Published: August 2012

Cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) is one of the major dietary anthocyanins implicated in the prevention of chronic diseases. To evaluate the impact of human intestinal bacteria on the fate of C3G in the host, we studied the metabolism of C3G in human microbiota-associated (HMA) rats in comparison with germ-free (GF) rats. Urine and faeces of the rats were analysed for C3G and its metabolites within 48 h after the application of 92 μmol C3G/kg body weight. In addition, we tested the microbial C3G conversion in vitro by incubating C3G with human faecal slurries and selected human gut bacteria. The HMA rats excreted with faeces a three times higher percentage of unconjugated C3G products and a two times higher percentage of conjugated C3G products than the GF rats. These differences were mainly due to the increased excretion of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde and 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid. Only the urine of HMA rats contained peonidin and 3-hydroxycinnamic acid and the percentage of conjugated C3G products in the urine was decreased compared with the GF rats. Overall, the presence of intestinal microbiota resulted in a 3·7 % recovery of the C3G dose in HMA rats compared with 1·7 % in GF rats. Human intestinal bacteria rapidly degraded C3G in vitro. Most of the C3G products were also found in the absence of bacteria, but at considerably lower levels. The higher concentrations of phenolic acids observed in the presence of intestinal bacteria may contribute to the proposed beneficial health effects of C3G.