bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal Conductivity of Polypropylene Composites with Combined Boron Nitride Fillers
Authors: Cheewawuttipong W. , Fuoka D. , Tanoue S. , Uematsu H. , Iemoto Y. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
We prepared polypropylene (PP) filled with boron nitride (BN) particles by melt compounding. The effects of filler content, particle size, and combined filler on the thermal conductivity of PP/BN composites were investigated. The results indicated that the thermal conductivities depend on the content and BN particle size. The good dispersion of BN particles of intermediate size in PP matrices led to a higher thermal conductivity than that of PP matrices containing small and large BN particles in which the agglomeration of BN particles was observed. The incorporation of BN particles of two different sizes could enhance the thermal conductivities of PP composites relative to those of composites containing BN particles of a single size at the same total content. A PP composite containing 50 wt% combined fillers with a mixture of BN particles measuring 45 μm and 10 μm at a weight ratio 1 : 4 showed the highest thermal conductivity in this experiment. Furthermore, several models for predicting the thermal conductivity of the composites were studied.
Characterization on Biodegradation of Enzymatically Synthesized Polylactic Acid by Using Alkaline Protease and Lipase
Authors: Omay D. , Güvenilir Y. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Biodegradation is the degradation process of organic substances via catabolic reactions that usually takes place in the presence of microorganisms and enzymes. In the present study, the enzymatic degradation of PLA was investigated by protease DSM and candida rugosa lipase enzymes. When the molecular weight loss in the degradation processes using protease DSM and candida rugosa lipase was examined, there was a 23 % reduction after 90 days for protease DSM, and 28 % reduction after 50 days for candida rugosa lipase. In addition, FT-IR, TGA, XRD and SEM analyses demonstrated significant changes in the characteristic, morphological and thermal structures of PLA during the enzymatic degradation processes.
Synthesis and Characteristics of Graft Copolymerization of Starch-G-PAM Using A Twin-Roll Mixer as Reactor for Cornstarch with Different Amylose/Amylopectin Ratios
Authors: Qiao D. , Ma H. , Yu L. , Liu H. , Zou W. , Chen L. , Chen P. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Starch-based superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were produced by graft copolymerization of starch-g-acrylamide using a twin-roll mixer as reactor. This work focused on the effect of starch microstructure (amylose/amylopectin contents) from the same source (corn starch) on the graft ratio (GR), graft efficiency (GE) and Add-on (AO), as well as water absorption capability (WAC) of the SAPs, which were investigated by FTIR, NMR, gravimetric and TGA. The torque variation represented all the processing in the reactor, including compress, gelatinization, graft reaction and crosslinking. Results showed that all the starches were successfully grafted with acrylamide then crosslinked by N.N′-methylene-bisacrylamide through this technology. Both AO and GR increased with increasing amylose content. But the GE decreased with increasing amylose content, which is different from the results in the solution reaction. The higher WAC of high amylose starch-based SAP corresponds with higher AO and GR, while the higher WAC of waxy-based SAP corresponds with higher GE.
Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan & Amino Acid Superabsorbent Hydrogels
Authors: Akay P. , Omay D. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Chitosan & L-alanine and chitosan & L-leucine superabsorbent hydrogels were prepared by crosslinking chitosan with glutaraldehyde. L-alanine and L-leucine were used as amino acid structures in different loading degrees and the optimum amount of amino acid was determined for both types of hydrogel. The swelling behaviors of neat chitosan, chitosan & L-alanine and chitosan & L-leucine hydrogels were investigated by gravimetric measurements with different pH values and at different intervals of time. The neat chitosan, chitosan & L-alanine and chitosan & L-leucine hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) were used to find the thermal stability of the hydrogels. Also, surface morphological studies of all the hydrogels were carried out by using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). In addition, XRD analysis demonstrated significant changes in the characteristic and morphological structures of the hydrogels.
Ikaros Imposes a Barrier to CD8+ T Cell Differentiation by Restricting Autocrine IL-2 Production
Authors: O’Brien Shaun , Thomas Rajan M. , Wertheim Gerald B. , Zhang Fuqin , Shen Hao , Wells Andrew D. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractNaive CD4+ T cells require signals from the TCR and CD28 to produce IL-2, expand, and differentiate. However, these same signals are not sufficient to induce autocrine IL-2 production by naive CD8+ T cells, which require cytokines provided by other cell types to drive their differentiation. The basis for failed autocrine IL-2 production by activated CD8+ cells is unclear. We find that Ikaros, a transcriptional repressor that silences IL-2 in anergic CD4+ T cells, also restricts autocrine IL-2 production by CD8+ T cells. We find that CD8+ T cell activation in vitro in the absence of exogenous cytokines and CD4 help leads to marked induction of Ikaros, a known repressor of the Il2 gene. Naive murine CD8 T cells haplo-insufficient for Ikzf1 failed to upregulate Ikaros, produced autocrine IL-2, and differentiated in an IL-2–dependent manner into IFN-γ–producing CTLs in response to TCR/CD28 stimulation alone. Furthermore, Ikzf1 haplo-insufficient CD8+ T cells were more effective at controlling Listeria infection and B16 melanoma growth in vivo, and they could provide help to neighboring, non-IL-2–producing cells to differentiate into IFN-γ–producing effectors. Therefore, by repressing autocrine IL-2 production, Ikaros ensures that naive CD8+ T cells remain dependent on licensing by APCs and CD4+ T cells, and it may therefore act as a cell-intrinsic safeguard against inappropriate CTL differentiation and immunopathology.
Longitudinal Requirement for CD4+ T Cell Help for Adenovirus Vector–Elicited CD8+ T Cell Responses
Authors: Provine Nicholas M. , Larocca Rafael A. , Penaloza-MacMaster Pablo , Borducchi Erica N. , McNally Anna , Parenteau Lily R. , Kaufman David R. , Barouch Dan H. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Despite the widespread use of replication-incompetent recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vectors as candidate vaccine platforms, the mechanism by which these vectors elicit CD8+ T cell responses remains poorly understood. Our data demonstrate that induction and maintenance of CD8+ T cell responses by Ad vector immunization is longitudinally dependent on CD4+ T cell help for a prolonged period. Depletion of CD4+ T cells in wild type mice within the first 8 d following Ad immunization resulted in dramatically reduced induction of Ag-specific CD8+ T cells, decreased T-bet and eomesodermin expression, impaired KLRG1+ effector differentiation, and atypical expression of the memory markers CD127, CD27, and CD62L. Moreover, these CD8+ T cells failed to protect against a lethal recombinant Listeria monocytogenes challenge. Depletion of CD4+ T cells between weeks 1 and 4 following immunization resulted in increased contraction of memory CD8+ T cells. These data demonstrate a prolonged temporal requirement for CD4+ T cell help for vaccine-elicited CD8+ T cell responses in mice. These findings have important implications in the design of vaccines aimed at eliciting CD8+ T cell responses and may provide insight into the impaired immunogenicity of vaccines in the context of AIDS and other CD4+ T cell immune deficiencies.
Cross-Desensitization of CCR1, but Not CCR2, following Activation of the Formyl Peptide Receptor FPR1
Authors: Bednar Filip , Song Changcheng , Bardi Giuseppe , Cornwell William , Rogers Thomas J. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
The cross-regulation of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) plays an important role in the immune response. Studies from several laboratories have suggested that a hierarchy of sensitivities to cross-desensitization exists for the chemoattractant GPCRs. We carried out experiments to study the capacity of the formyl peptide receptor-1 (FPR1) to desensitize chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR2. Our results show that activation of FPR1 resulted in the desensitization and partial internalization of CCR1, but not CCR2, in both primary human monocytes and HEK293 cells coexpressing CCR1, CCR2, and FPR1 (HR1R2F cells). The desensitization of CCR1 by FPR1 stimulation was not due to the simple depletion of the Ca2+ stores, but was dependent on activation of protein kinase C. Furthermore, we found that the cross-desensitization of CCR1 by FPR1 was associated with CCR1 phosphorylation and moderate reduction of CCR1 cell-surface expression. In contrast, CCR2 was not phosphorylated or internalized after FPR1 activation. Additional studies showed that optimal cross talk between FPR1 and CCR1 was dependent on the functional activity of protein kinase Cβ. These results provide a mechanistic basis for the capacity of certain GPCR ligands to exert rapid and selective cross-inactivation of other chemoattractant receptors, and suggest that FPR1 is able to exert “traffic control” in the migration of inflammatory cells by rapidly inhibiting the cell responses to potentially “low-priority” chemoattractants such as CCR1 agonists without inhibiting the response to “higher priority” CCR2 chemoattractants.
Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase PH20 Does Not Stimulate an Acute Inflammatory Response and Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neutrophil Recruitment in the Air Pouch Model of Inflammation
Authors: Huang Zhongdong , Zhao Chunmei , Chen Yanling , Cowell Jessica A. , Wei Ge , Kultti Anne , Huang Lei , Thompson Curtis B. , Rosengren Sanna , Frost Gregory I. , Shepard H. Michael 
Published: April 2014

AbstractHyaluronidase (Hyal) and low m.w. hyaluronan (LMW HA) fragments have been widely reported to stimulate the innate immune response. However, most hyaluronidases used were purified from animal tissues (e.g., bovine testis Hyal [BTH]), and contain endotoxin and other unrelated proteins. We tested a highly purified recombinant human Hyal (rHuPH20) and endotoxin-free HA fragments from Mr 5,000 to 1,500,000 in the rodent air pouch model of inflammation to determine their potential for stimulation of the innate immune response. Exogenous LMW HA fragments (average Mr 200,000) failed to induce either cytokine/chemokine production or neutrophil infiltration into the air pouch. Challenging the air pouch with LPS or BTH stimulated production of cytokines and chemokines but rHuPH20 did not, suggesting that neither PH20 nor generation of LMW HA fragments in situ stimulates cytokine and chemokine production. LPS and BTH also induced neutrophil infiltration into the air pouch, which was not observed with rHuPH20 treatment. Endotoxin-depleted BTH had much reduced proinflammatory activity, suggesting that the difference in inflammatory responses between rHuPH20 and BTH is likely due to endotoxin contaminants in BTH. When rHuPH20 was dosed with LPS, the induction of cytokines and chemokines was the same as LPS alone, but neutrophil infiltration was inhibited, likely by interrupting HA–CD44 interaction. Our results indicate that neither rHuPH20 nor its directly generated HA catabolites have inflammatory properties in the air pouch model, and rHuPH20 can instead inhibit some aspects of inflammation, such as neutrophil infiltration into the air pouch.
Increased Immunoaccessibility of MOMP Epitopes in a Vaccine Formulated with Amphipols May Account for the Very Robust Protection Elicited against a Vaginal Challenge with Chlamydia muridarum
Authors: Tifrea Delia F. , Pal Sukumar , Popot Jean-Luc , Cocco Melanie J. , de la Maza Luis M. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
There is a need to implement a vaccine to protect against Chlamydia trachomatis infections. To test a new vaccine, mice were immunized with the Chlamydia muridarum native major outer membrane protein (nMOMP) solubilized with either amphipol A8-35 or the detergent Z3-14. OVA was used as a negative control, and mice were inoculated intranasally with C. muridarum as positive controls. Animals vaccinated with nMOMP mounted strong Chlamydia-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Mice vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 had a higher ratio of Abs to denatured elementary bodies (EB) over live EB, recognized more synthetic MOMP peptides and had higher neutralizing titers than sera from mice immunized with nMOMP/Z3-14. T cell lymphoproliferative responses and levels of IFN-γ were also higher in mice vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 than with nMOMP/Z3-14. Following immunization, animals were challenged intravaginally with C. muridarum. On the basis of the number of mice with positive vaginal cultures, length of vaginal shedding, total number of positive vaginal cultures, and number of Chlamydia inclusion forming units recovered, nMOMP/A8-35 elicited a more robust protection than nMOMP/Z3-14. By depleting T cells with Abs, we determined that CD4+ and not CD8+ T cells mediated the protection elicited by nMOMP/A8-35. Mice were subsequently mated, and based on the number of pregnant mice and number of embryos, animals that were vaccinated with nMOMP/A8-35 or nMOMP/Z3-14 had fertility rates equivalent to the positive control group immunized with live EB and the fertility controls. In conclusion, increased accessibility of epitopes in the nMOMP/A8-35 preparation may account for the very robust protection against infection and disease elicited by this vaccine.
Endothelial PINK1 Mediates the Protective Effects of NLRP3 Deficiency during Lethal Oxidant Injury
Authors: Zhang Yi , Sauler Maor , Shinn Amanda S. , Gong Huan , Haslip Maria , Shan Peiying , Mannam Praveen , Lee Patty J. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
High levels of inspired oxygen, hyperoxia, are frequently used in patients with acute respiratory failure. Hyperoxia can exacerbate acute respiratory failure, which has high mortality and no specific therapies. We identified novel roles for PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), a mitochondrial protein, and the cytosolic innate immune protein NLRP3 in the lung and endothelium. We generated double knockouts (PINK1−/−/NLRP3−/−), as well as cell-targeted PINK1 silencing and lung-targeted overexpression constructs, to specifically show that PINK1 mediates cytoprotection in wild-type and NLRP3−/− mice. The ability to resist hyperoxia is proportional to PINK1 expression. PINK1−/− mice were the most susceptible; wild-type mice, which induced PINK1 after hyperoxia, had intermediate susceptibility; and NLRP3−/− mice, which had high basal and hyperoxia-induced PINK1, were the least susceptible. Genetic deletion of PINK1 or PINK1 silencing in the lung endothelium increased susceptibility to hyperoxia via alterations in autophagy/mitophagy, proteasome activation, apoptosis, and oxidant generation.
The Nature of the Original "Firm": A Coasean Cost-Benefit Analysis of Legalizing Prostitution
Authors: Dalesandry Malia 
Published: April 2014

Though there have been many studies of prostitution from the legal perspective, the feminist perspective, the societal perspective, and the moral, ethical, and religious perspective, the current breadth of literature does not include a cost-benefit analysis from which to examine its economic effects. This paper attempts a comprehensive analysis of legalizing prostitution while noting deficiencies in data and recognizing variations when interpreting existing data. The most salient monetary costs and benefits are discussed and calculated, and many others are included for the sake of a more developed examination. After a sensitivity analysis and a brief discussion of how Coase’s theorem may be utilized to determine economic efficiency, the conclusion and final recommendation is that, because economic benefits vastly outweigh economic costs, all states could benefit economically from legalizing prostitution.
Cytomorphologic spectrum of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and its clinical correlation: A retrospective study of 52 patients
Authors: Chandanwale Shirish S. , Gore Charusheela R. , Bamanikar Sunita A. , Gupta Nidhi , Gupta Kanika 
Published: April 2014

Background:
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disease and it is more prevalent in Asians. The incidence of HT seems to be increasing in the recent times. It is one of the most common cause of hypothyroidism. The purpose of this study is to review the cytomorphologic spectrum of HT and correlate it with clinical findings including thyroid function and antibody profile.

Materials and Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) features of 52 HT patients. Based on cytomorphologic features patients were categorized into three groups. Clinical findings including thyroid function and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibody profile were correlated with cytomorphologic features in all three groups.

Results:
Majority of the patients were females and in 2nd, 3rd and 4th decades. Diffuse goiter and thyroid hypofunction were the common findings. Significant number of patients had thyroid hyperfunction. Increased lymphocytes on the background and lymphocytic infiltration of thyroid follicular cell clusters in cytology smears were diagnostic of HT. The 32 patients showed elevated titers of TPO antibodies. In the early stages and mild form of the disease, results of thyroid function and anti TPO antibodies are quite variable.

Conclusions:
HT is a disease of young and middle age and mostly occur in females. Clinical findings alone may not be adequate for definitive diagnosis. FNA is the gold standard for diagnosis. In the presence of abundant colloid, follicular hyperplasia or co-existing neoplasm, careful interpretation of cytology smears should be done. Aspiration from more than one site minimizes the diagnostic pitfalls.
Cancerogenesis Risks between 64 and 320 Row Detector CT for Coronary CTA Screening
Authors: Khan Atif N. , Khosa Faisal , Nikolic Boris , Shuaib Waqas , Lin Pei-Jan Paul , Khan Mohammad K. 
Published: April 2014

Objectives:
This study compares cancerogenesis risks posed by the 64 row detector and the 320 row detector computed tomography scanners used during coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) following decennial screening guidelines.

Material and Methods:
Data of the radiation absorbed after CCTA by lung, thyroid, and female breast in patients between 50 and 70 years of age obtained from prior published literature for the 64 row CT scanner were compared with data from our study using 320 row detector CT scanner. Data from the 64 row and the 320 row detector CT scanners was used to determine lifetime attributable risks (LAR) of cancer based on the biological effects of ionizing radiation (BEIR) VII report.

Results:
The relative reduction of LAR (%) for 50-, 60-, and 70-year-old patients undergoing scanning with the 320 row detector CT scanner was 30% lower for lung, and more than 50% lower for female breast when compared with results from 64 row detector CT scanner. The use of 320 row detector CT would result in a combined cumulative cancer incidence of less than 1/500 for breast in women and less than 1/1000 for lung in men; By comparison, this is much lower than other more common risk factors: 16-fold for lung cancer in persistent smokers, 2-fold for breast cancer with a first degree family member history of breast cancer, and 10-fold for thyroid cancer with a family member with thyroid cancer. Decennial screening would benefit at least 355,000 patients from sudden cardiac death each year, 94% of whom have significant coronary artery disease, with at least one stenosis >75%. LAR for thyroid cancer was negligible for both scanners.

Conclusion:
Lung and female breast LAR reductions with 320 row detector compared with 64 row detector CT are substantial, and the benefits would outweigh increased cancer risks with decennial screening in the age group of 50-70 years.
Thrombocytopenia in Patients with Gastric Varices and the Effect of Balloon-occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration on the Platelet Count
Authors: Saad W. E. , Bleibel W. , Adenaw N. , Wagner C. E. , Anderson C. , Angle J. F. , Al-Osaimi A. M. , Davies M. G. , Caldwell S. 
Published: April 2014

Objectives:Gastric varices primarily occur in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension and splenomegaly and thus are probably associated with thrombocytopenia. However, the prevalence and severity of thrombocytopenia are unknown in this clinical setting. Moreover, one-third of patients after balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) have aggravated splenomegaly, which potentially may cause worsening thrombocytopenia. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence and degree of thrombocytopenia in patients with gastric varices associated with gastrorenal shunts undergoing BRTO, to determine the prognostic factors of survival after BRTO (platelet count included), and to assess the effect of BRTO on platelet count over a 1-year period.Materials and Methods:This is a retrospective review of 35 patients who underwent BRTO (March 2008–August 2011). Pre- and post-BRTO platelet counts were noted. Potential predictors of bleeding and survival (age, gender, liver disease etiology, platelet count, model for end stage liver disease [MELD]-score, presence of ascites or hepatocellular carcinoma) were analyzed (multivariate analysis). A total of 91% (n= 32/35) of patients had thrombocytopenia (<150,000 platelet/cm3) pre-BRTO. Platelet counts at within 48-h, within 2 weeks and at 30-60 days intervals (up to 6 months) after BRTO were compared with the baseline pre-BRTO values.Results:35 Patients with adequate platelet follow-up were found. A total of 92% and 17% of patients had a platelet count of <150,000/cm3and <50,000/cm3, respectively. There was a trend for transient worsening of thrombocytopenia immediately (<48 h) after BRTO, however, this was not statistically significant. Platelet count was not a predictor of post-BRTO rebleeding or patient survival. However, MELD-score, albumin, international normalized ratio (INR), and etiology were predictors of rebleeding.Conclusion:Thrombocytopenia is very common (>90% of patients) in patients undergoing BRTO. However, BRTO (with occlusion of the gastrorenal shunt) has little effect on the platelet count. Long-term outcomes of BRTO for bleeding gastric varices using sodium tetradecyl sulfate in the USA are impressive with a 4-year variceal rebleed rate and transplant-free survival rate of 9% and 76%, respectively. Platelet count is not a predictor of higher rebleeding or patient survival after BRTO.