bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Mast cells are the main interleukin 17-positive cells in anticitrullinated protein antibody-positive and -negative rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis synovium
Authors: Suurmond Jolien , Dorjée Annemarie L , Boon Mariëtte R , Knol Edward F , Huizinga Tom WJ , Toes René EM , Schuerwegh Annemie JM 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Introduction

Mast cells have been implicated to play a functional role in arthritis, especially in autoantibody-positive disease. Among the cytokines involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), IL-17 is an important inflammatory mediator. Recent data suggest that the synovial mast cell is a main producer of IL-17, although T cells have also been implicated as prominent IL-17 producers as well. We aimed to identify IL-17 expression by mast cells and T cells in synovium of arthritis patients.

Methods

Synovial samples of anticitrullinated protein antibody-positive (ACPA+) and ACPA-negative (ACPA-) RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients were stained for IL-17 in combination with CD117 (mast cells), CD3 (T cells) and CD68 (macrophages). Concentrations of IL-17 in synovial fluid were determined by ELISA.

Results

The number of IL-17+ cells in synovium was comparable in all groups. Although the vast majority of IL-17+ cells are mast cells, no difference in the percentage of IL-17+ mast cells was observed. Nonetheless, levels of IL-17 in synovial fluid were increased in ACPA+ RA patients compared to ACPA- RA and OA patients.

Conclusions

The synovial mast cell is the main IL-17+ cell in all three arthritis groups analyzed. These data are relevant for studies aimed at blocking IL-17 in the treatment of arthritis.
A validity-driven approach to the understanding of the personal and societal burden of low back pain: development of a conceptual and measurement model
Authors: Buchbinder Rachelle , Batterham Roy , Elsworth Gerald , Dionne Clermont E , Irvin Emma , Osborne Richard H 
Published: September 2011

Abstract

Introduction

While the importance and magnitude of the burden of low back pain upon the individual is well recognized, a systematic understanding of the impact of the condition on individuals is currently hampered by the lack of an organized understanding of what aspects of a person's life are affected and the lack of comprehensive measures for these effects. The aim of the present study was to develop a conceptual and measurement model of the overall burden of low back pain from the individual's perspective using a validity-driven approach.

Methods

To define the breadth of low back pain burden we conducted three concept-mapping workshops to generate an item pool. Two face-to-face workshops (Australia) were conducted with people with low back pain and clinicians and policy-makers, respectively. A third workshop (USA) was held with international multidisciplinary experts. Multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, participant input and thematic analyses organized participants' ideas into clusters of ideas that then informed the conceptual model.

Results

One hundred and ninety-nine statements were generated. Considerable overlap was observed between groups, and four major clusters were observed - Psychosocial, Physical, Treatment and Employment - each with between two and six subclusters. Content analysis revealed that elements of the Psychosocial cluster were sufficiently distinct to be split into Psychological and Social, and a further cluster of elements termed Positive Effects also emerged. Finally, a hypothesized structure was proposed with six domains and 16 subdomains. New domains not previously considered in the back pain field emerged for psychometric verification: loss of independence, worry about the future, and negative or discriminatory actions by others.

Conclusions

Using a grounded approach, an explicit a priori and testable model of the overall burden of low back pain has been proposed that captures the full breadth of the burden experienced by patients and observed by experts.
The chemokine receptor CX3CR1 is directly involved in the arrest of breast cancer cells to the skeleton
Authors: Jamieson-Gladney Whitney L , Zhang Yun , Fong Alan M , Meucci Olimpia , Fatatis Alessandro 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Introduction
Skeletal metastases from breast adenocarcinoma are responsible for most of the morbidity and mortality associated with this tumor and represent a significant and unmet need for therapy. The arrival of circulating cancer cells to the skeleton depends first on the adhesive interactions with the endothelial cells lining the bone marrow sinusoids, and then the extravasation toward chemoattractant molecules produced by the surrounding bone stroma.
We have previously shown that the membrane-bound and cell-adhesive form of the chemokine fractalkine is exposed on the luminal side of human bone marrow endothelial cells and that bone stromal cells release the soluble and chemoattractant form of this chemokine. The goal of this study was to determine the role of fractalkine and its specific receptor CX3CR1 in the homing of circulating breast cancer cells to the skeleton.

Methods
We employed a powerful pre-clinical animal model of hematogenous metastasis, in which fluorescent cancer cells are identified immediately after their arrival to the bone. We engineered cells to over-express either wild-type or functional mutants of CX3CR1 as well as employed transgenic mice knockout for fractalkine.

Results
CX3CR1 protein is detected in human tissue microarrays of normal and malignant mammary glands. We also found that breast cancer cells expressing high levels of this receptor have a higher propensity to spread to the skeleton. Furthermore, studies with fractalkine-null transgenic mice indicate that the ablation of the adhesive and chemotactic ligand of CX3CR1 dramatically impairs the skeletal dissemination of circulating cancer cells. Finally, we conclusively confirmed the crucial role of CX3CR1 on breast cancer cells for both adhesion to bone marrow endothelium and extravasation into the bone stroma.

Conclusions
We provide compelling evidence that the functional interactions between fractalkine produced by both the endothelial and stromal cells of bone marrow and the CX3CR1 receptor on breast cancer cells are determinant in the arrest and initial lodging needed for skeletal dissemination.
Changes of monocyte human leukocyte antigen-DR expression as a reliable predictor of mortality in severe sepsis
Authors: Wu Jian-Feng , Ma Jie , Chen Juan , Ou-Yang Bin , Chen Min-Ying , Li Li-Fen , Liu Yong-Jun , Lin Ai-Hua , Guan Xiang-Dong 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Introduction
Many studies have shown that monocyte human leukocyte antigen-DR (mHLA-DR) expression may be a good predictor for mortality in severe septic patients. On the contrary, other studies found mHLA-DR was not a useful prognostic marker in severe sepsis. Few studies have taken changes of mHLA-DR during treatment into consideration. The objective of this study was to estimate the prognostic value of changes of mHLA-DR to predict mortality in severe sepsis.

Methods
In this prospective observational study, mHLA-DR was measured by flow cytometry in peripheral blood from 79 adult patients with severe sepsis. mHLA-DR levels were determined on day 0, 3, 7 after admission to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) with a diagnosis of severe sepsis. ΔmHLA-DR3 and ΔmHLA-DR7 were defined as the changes in mHLA-DR value on day 3 and day 7 compared to that on day 0. Data were compared between 28-day survivors and non-survivors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to measure the performance and discriminating threshold of ΔmHLA-DR3, ΔmHLA-DR7, ΔmHLA-DR7-3, mHLA-DR0, mHLA-DR3 and mHLA-DR7 in predicting mortality of severe sepsis.

Results
ROC curve analysis showed that ΔmHLA-DR3 and ΔmHLA-DR7 were reliable indicators of mortality in severe sepsis. A ΔmHLA-DR3 value of 4.8% allowed discrimination between survivors and non-survivors with a sensitivity of 89.0% and a specificity of 93.7%; similarly, ΔmHLA-DR7 value of 9% allowed discrimination between survivors and non-survivors with a sensitivity of 85.7% and a specificity of 90.0%. Patients with ΔmHLA-DR3 ≤4.8% had higher mortality than those with ΔmHLA-DR3 > 4.8% (71.4% vs. 2.0%, OR 125.00, 95% CI 13.93 to 1121.67); patients with ΔmHLA-DR7 ≤9% had higher mortality than those with ΔmHLA-DR7 > 9% (52.9% vs. 2.0%, OR 54.00, 95% CI 5.99 to 486.08). The mean change of mHLA-DR significantly increased in the survivor group with the passage of time; from day 0 to day 3 and day 7, changes were 6.45 and 16.90 (P < 0.05), respectively.

Conclusions
The change of mHLA-DR over time may be a reliable predictor for mortality in patients with severe sepsis.
Out-of-Pocket Costs for Accessing Adjuvant Radiotherapy Among Canadian Women With Breast Cancer
Authors: Lauzier Sophie , Levesque Pascale , Drolet Mélanie , Coyle Douglas , Brisson Jacques , Mâsse Benoît , Robidoux André , Robert Jean , Maunsell Elizabeth 
Published: September 2011

PurposePatients with breast cancer incur out-of-pocket costs when they receive adjuvant radiation. These treatments are administered in dedicated centers on a daily basis over 4 to 5 weeks. We assessed the extent of out-of-pocket costs to access radiotherapy and identified women at risk of experiencing higher costs.Patients and MethodsThis prospective study was conducted among 800 women from eight Quebec hospitals (participation, 86%), of whom 693 women received adjuvant radiotherapy. Costs to access treatment (transportation, parking, lodging, and meals) were estimated on the basis of information collected by telephone interviews. Generalized linear models were used to identify women at risk of having higher costs.ResultsMean and median total costs (including financial aid received) to access radiotherapy were 445 Canadian dollars (Can$; standard deviation, Can$407) and Can$311, respectively. Women who lived at home but far from the radiotherapy center had the highest risk of experiencing weekly costs of at least Can$122 (highest quartile; prevalence ratio [PR], 5.8; 95% CI, 4.7 to 7.1) followed by women who lived away from home and farther from the center (PR, 4.5; 95% CI, 3.4 to 6.0) and by women who lived away from home and closer to the center (PR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.5). When women stayed at a cancer lodge during treatment, costs were reduced by 80%.ConclusionConsidered in and of themselves, out-of-pocket costs for access to radiotherapy appeared relatively modest. Financial assistance initiatives for women who lived away from home during treatments contributed to a substantial reduction of access costs. These efforts should be maintained, but financial assistance should also target patients with cancer who live at home during treatments but have to travel relatively long distances on a daily basis.
Moisture Meter Calibrations for Untreated and ACQ-Treated Southern Yellow Pine Lumber and Plywood
Authors: Boardman C. R. , Glass Samuel V. , Carll Charles G. 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
This study investigates the effects of alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) preservative treatment and of plywood glue lines on resistance-based moisture content (MC) measurements. Moisture meter readings using stainless steel screws as electrodes were acquired over a range of moisture conditions in Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) lumber and plywood. Calibration equations are presented for predicting gravimetric MC from meter readings taken in SYP lumber and SYP plywood with or without ACQ treatment. These corrections assume that the meter has been set for SYP. Correlation equations are also presented for directly relating resistance to gravimetric MC, which may be useful for automated data collection systems employed in monitoring moisture levels in buildings. The conductance of SYP lumber was raised by treatment with ACQ, particularly at higher moisture contents, but was unaffected by vacuum-pressure treatment with water. The conductance of untreated SYP plywood, measured with electrodes penetrating the glue lines, exceeded that of untreated SYP lumber. The conductance of SYP plywood was lowered by treatment with ACQ, by vacuum-pressure soaking with water, and by exposure to rain. We suggest that electrolytes in the plywood glue lines increase the conductance of untreated plywood relative to that of untreated lumber, and that the concentration of these electrolytes is lowered by the (aqueous) preservative treatment process, thereby lowering the conductance of these high-conductance pathways.
Data Management in Large Collaborative Biology Research Projects
Authors: Rinn Bernd 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Scientific data management subsumes several areas of activities related to the storage, classification, querying, retrieval and presentation of research data to develop and share insight into research questions. We give an overview of the challenges of building up data management solutions for large collaborative research projects in the realm of biology from practical experience and describe “building blocks”, which we found to be helpful for developing good solutions. Such building blocks can be technical, organizational, or social.
KASTEL — An Application-Driven Center of Excellence for IT Security
Authors: Müller-Quade Jörn 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Smart infrastructures, cloud computing, and public security challenge the IT security of the future. In addition to the classical term of security one also has to deal with data that must be kept in clear text, mutually distrustful parties, and threats from insiders. It is not sufficient anymore to only consider the security of single components within a complex system. Furthermore, security can only be achieved in an interdisciplinary effort. The Center of Excellence for Applied Security Technology KASTEL (Kompetenzzentrum für Angewandte Sicherheits-TEchnoLogie) is a research center for security that combines several areas of IT security, users, and legal experts.
Buchbesprechung
Authors: Savitskaya Natallia 
Published: September 2011

Zusammenfassung
Marina Scharlaj: Das Weißrussische zwischen Sprachkontakt und Sprachverdrängung. München: Verlag Otto Sagner, 2008. 154 S. Ill., graph. Darst. (Specimina philologiae slavicae 147) ISBN: 978-3-86688-038-2
False-Positive Newborn Screening Result and Future Health Care Use in a State Medicaid Cohort
Authors: Tarini Beth A. , Clark Sarah J. , Pilli Subra , Dombkowski Kevin J. , Korzeniewski Steven J. , Gebremariam Acham , Eisenhandler Jon , Grigorescu Violanda 
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE:To compare health care visit rates between infants with false-positive and those with normal newborn screening (NBS) results.PATIENTS AND METHODS:We analyzed administrative claims of Medicaid-enrolled infants born in Michigan in 2006 and calculated the average number of outpatient, emergency department, and hospital visits for infants aged 3 to 12 months according to NBS results. We calculated an adjusted incidence rate ratio for each visit category, adjusting for covariates and accounting for interaction effects.RESULTS:Of the 49 959 infants in the analysis, 818 had a false-positive NBS result. We noted a significant interaction between gestational age and NBS results. We found that preterm, but not term, infants with false-positive results had more acute outpatient visits than their counterparts with normal NBS results. We found no difference in adjusted rates of other visit types (emergency department, inpatient, outpatient well) between infants with false-positive and normal NBS results, regardless of gestational age.CONCLUSIONS:Increased rates of acute outpatient visits among preterm infants with false-positive NBS screening results may be attributable to underlying chronic illness or parental anxiety. The absence of increased health care utilization among term infants may be unique to this Medicaid population or a subgroup phenomenon that was not detectable in this analysis.
Design and thermoreflectance imaging of high-speed SiGe superlattice microrefrigerators
Authors: Vermeersch Bjorn , Bahk Je-Hyeong , Christofferson James , Shakouri Ali 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTOver the past few years, thermoelectric (TE) materials have been receiving an increasing amount of attention owing to their promising potential for energy conversion and thermal management applications. Thermal characterisation techniques offer a powerful tool in investigating and optimizing the TE device performance. In addition, they can provide a better understanding of the underlying fundamental principles such as Peltier effects at the interfaces of the active medium. In this paper, we present the design and thermal characterisation of integrated highspeed microcoolers based on SiGe superlattices. The electrode metalisation is laid out as a coplanar waveguide, enabling to supply electrical pulses with short rise times to the coolers. We employ a variety of CCD-based transient thermoreflectance imaging methods to perform an extensive dynamic thermal analysis. These techniques provide 2-D temperature maps of the chip surface with ∼100ns temporal and submicron spatial resolution without the need to scan the sample. Net cooling in the 2 degree range is observed, with response times well below 1μs. This is almost two orders of magnitude faster compared to the best in the literature. The obtained images also confirm the previous observations that the Peltier cooling term responds faster than the Joule heating term, in agreement with their expected locality and associated thermal mass. This provides potential to study ultrafast electron-phonon interactions during Peltier effects.
Seebeck and Spin Seebeck effect in Gd-doped GaN thin films for Thermoelectric Devices and Applications
Authors: Kucukgok Bahadir , Su Liqin , Hurwitz Elisa N. , Melton Andrew , Zhiqiang Liu , Lu Na , Ferguson Ian T. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTGaN-based dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMS) have recently been investigated for use in spintronic devices. In particular, Gd-doped GaN has shown very promising room temperature ferromagnetic behavior and potential for use in spintronics applications. III-Nitride materials have recently had their thermoelectric properties investigated; however this work has not been extended to Nitride-based DMS. Understanding the spin-calorimetric characteristics of GaN-based DMS is important to the successful development of low-power spintronic devices. In this paper the Seebeck and spin-Seebeck effect in MOCVD grown Gd-doped GaN (Gd: GaN) are investigated.
Theory of phonon conductivity of semiconductor superlattices
Authors: Srivastava Gyaneshwar P. , Hepplestone Steven P. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTWe present a single-mode relaxation-time theory of phonon conductivity of semisonductor superlattices with nanoscale periodicities. Analytic expressions have been obtained for phonon-interface scattering and phonon-phonon scattering taking into consideration the effects of interfaces and the presence of two materials in superlattices. Numerical calculations have been performed by using phonon eigensolutions obtained from an enhanced adiabatic bond charge model and by carrying out Brillouin zone integration using the special q-points scheme. The experimental measured conductivity results for Si(19)/Ge(5) and Si(72)/Ge(30) superlattices have been successfully explained.
An Overview of Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Materials
Authors: Wang Yixu , Shadow Huang Hsiao-Ying 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTThe need for the development and deployment of reliable and efficient energy storage devices, such as lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, is becoming increasingly important due to the scarcity of petroleum. In this work, we provide an overview of commercially available cathode materials for Li-ion rechargeable batteries and focus on characteristics that give rise to optimal energy storage systems for future transportation modes. The study shows that the development of lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries promises an alternative to conventional lithiumion batteries, with their potential for high energy capacity and power density, improved safety, and reduced cost. This work contributes to the fundamental knowledge of lithium-ion battery cathode materials and helps with the design of better rechargeable batteries, and thus leads to economic and environmental benefits.
Ordered Si-Ge nanostructures by glancing angle deposition via ion beam sputtering
Authors: Bauer Jens , Weise Michael , Khare Chinmay , Rauschenbach Bernd 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTGlancing angle deposition (GLAD) was used to deposit ordered arrangements of Si/Ge-nanocolumns applying the ion beam sputter technique. After substrate preparation by electron beam lithography as well as nanosphere lithography the deposition behavior of GLAD nanocolumns in regular arrangements with different symmetries was studied. The nanocolumns exhibited distinct morphology regions which are correlated to their temporal evolution during deposition. Furthermore, the customization of the column morphology by non-uniform substrate rotation is considered. Axial Si/Ge-heterojunctions were incorporated by sequential deposition.
Elastic Distortion of Dislocations in Deforming FCC Crystals
Authors: Mohamed Mamdouh , El-Azab Anter , Larson B. C. 
Published: September 2011

ABSTRACTA computational technique is developed to predict the statistics of internal elastic fields of three-dimensional dislocation systems in deforming crystals. The internal elastic fields are computed based on 3D dislocation realizations generated by the method of dislocation dynamics simulation. Preliminary results are presented for the statistical characteristics of the elastic strain, lattice rotation and dislocation density tensor fields. The importance of the current analysis is discussed in the context of direct comparison of simulations with spatially resolved 3D X-ray microscopy measurements of lattice rotation and the dislocation density tensor.
Les professionnels mobiles à l’épreuve des radars automatiques. Une acceptation entre stress contenu et identités au travail bousculées
Authors: Hamelin Fabrice , Eyssartier Chloé 
Published: September 2011

L’introduction, en 2003, du recours à l’automatisation pour le contrôle et la sanction des infractions au code de la route a introduit un changement majeur dans la politique de sécurité routière en France. L’objet de ce papier est de saisir l’impact de ce dispositif sur ceux qui en sont les destinataires mais également sur ceux en charge de sa mise en œuvre, d’autant que le recours à l’automatisation a été étendu au franchissement des feux rouges en 2009, en attendant l’introduction de la lecture automatisée des plaques d’immatriculation. La réalisation de focus groups réunissant des professionnels exerçant un « travail de mobilité » (il s’agissait dans ce travail d’agents d’exploitation et d’agents des forces de l’ordre) et des professionnels exerçant un « travail dans la mobilité » (il s’agissait ici des usagers professionnels de la route), fournit le matériau empirique du papier. L’objectif de cet article est de mettre en évidence l’impact du radar automatique sur les pratiques professionnelles, et notamment sur les déplacements, mais également sur l’identité au travail. Les travaux sur les modèles psychologiques du stress et sur la sociologie des professions et du travail offrent une grille d’analyse pertinente pour en saisir tous les éléments.