bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decreased neuronal activity in reward circuitry of pathological gamblers during processing of personal relevant stimuli
Authors: de Greck Moritz , Enzi Björn , Prösch Ulrike , Gantman Ana , Tempelmann Claus , Northoff Georg 
Published: February 2010

AbstractPathological gamblers impress by an increasing preoccupation with gambling, which leads to the neglect of stimuli, interests, and behaviors that were once of high personal relevance. Neurobiologically dysfunctions in reward circuitry underlay pathological gambling. To explore the association of both findings, we investigated 16 unmedicated pathological gamblers using an fMRI paradigm that included two different tasks: the evaluation of personal relevance and a reward task that served as a functional localizer. Pathological gamblers revealed diminished deactivation during monetary loss events in some of our core reward regions, the left nucleus accumbens and the left putamen. Moreover, while pathological gamblers viewed stimuli of high personal relevance, we found decreased neuronal activity in all of our core reward regions, including the bilateral nucleus accumbens and the left ventral putamen cortex as compared to healthy controls. We demonstrated for the first time altered neuronal activity in reward circuitry during personal relevance in pathological gamblers. Our findings may provide new insights into the neurobiological basis of pathological gamblers' preoccupation by gambling. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Population‐based breast (female) and cervix cancer rates in the Gambia: Evidence of ethnicity‐related variations
Authors: Sighoko Dominique , Bah Ebrima , Haukka Jari , McCormack Valerie A. , Aka Elizabeth Patu , Bourgeois Denis , Autier Philippe , Byrnes Graham , Curado Maria Paula , Hainaut Pierre 
Published: February 2010

AbstractSince 1987, the Gambia National Cancer Registry has provided nationwide cancer registration for the Gambia. We used data from 1998 to 2006 to assess age‐standardized incidence rates (ASRs) of 2 common cancers in women, breast and cervix. With an ASR of 15.42 (95% CI [14.18–16.66]) for cervix and 5.86 (95% CI [5.12–6.59]) for breast per 105 person‐years, these cancers ranked first and third, respectively, among Gambian women (the second most common being liver, ASR 14.90). Incidence of both cancers, breast and cervix, increased rapidly at young ages to reach a peak at ages 40–44 years. Significant differences were observed in relation to ethnicity. Using the Mandinka (42% of the population) as a reference, breast cancer incidence rates were 2.16‐fold higher (95% CI [1.33–3.52]) in Jola (10% of the population), specially at early‐onset ages (before 40 years). For cervix cancer, highest rates were observed in Fula (18% of the population; risk ratio (RR): 1.84 (95% CI [1.44–2.36])). In contrast, a significantly lower risk was observed in the Serrahuleh (9% of the population; RR: 0.54 (95% CI [0.31–0.96]). This study revealed a preponderance of early‐onset breast cancer among Gambian women similar to that seen in African women in more developed countries but also demonstrates large ethnic variations. It points to the need for further studies on cancer determinants to improve prevention, early detection and therapeutic management of these diseases in a low‐resource setting in West Africa.
Deregulation of the cell cycle by breast tumor kinase (Brk)
Authors: Chan Edward , Nimnual Anjaruwee S. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBrk is a cytoplasmic nonreceptor tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed in breast tumors but undetectable in normal or benign mammary tissues. Brk promotes proliferation of human mammary epithelial cells and tumor growth in a mouse model, but the role of Brk in cell cycle regulation is not known. In this study, we describe the mechanism of Brk‐induced deregulation of the cell cycle. We provide evidence that Brk antagonizes the transcriptional activity of the transcription factor FoxO family of proteins by inhibiting its nuclear localization. As a result, the cell cycle inhibitor p27, a FoxO target gene, is down‐regulated. This event is accompanied by G1/S cell cycle progression of quiescent cells. As p27 is a key regulator of the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint, these data suggest that perturbation of p27 expression induced by Brk causes S phase entrance. Deregulation of the cell cycle is a key event in neoplasia, and thus, the mechanism presented here likely contributes to breast cancer development.
miR‐34c is downregulated in prostate cancer and exerts tumor suppressive functions
Authors: Hagman Zandra , Larne Olivia , Edsjö Anders , Bjartell Anders , Ehrnström Roy A. , Ulmert David , Lilja Hans , Ceder Yvonne 
Published: February 2010

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that post‐transcriptionally regulate gene expression. There have been several reports of miRNA deregulation in prostate cancer (PCa) and the biological evidence for an involvement of miRNAs in prostate tumorigenesis is increasing. In this study, we show that miR‐34c is downregulated in PCa (p = 0.0005) by performing qRT‐PCR on 49 TURPs from PCa patients compared to 25 from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The miR‐34c expression was found to inversely correlate to aggressiveness of the tumor, WHO grade, PSA levels and occurrence of metastases. Furthermore, a Kaplan–Meier analysis of patient survival based on miR‐34c expression levels divided into low (< 50th percentile) and high (> 50th percentile) expression, significantly divides the patients into high risk and low risk patients (p = 0.0003, log‐rank test). The phenotypic effects of miR‐34c deregulation were studied in prostate cell lines, where ectopic expression of miR‐34c decreased cell growth, due to both a decrease in cellular proliferation rate and an increase in apoptosis. In concordance to this, miR‐34c was found to negatively regulate the oncogenes E2F3 and BCL‐2, which stimulates proliferation and suppress apoptosis in PCa cells, respectively. Reversely, we could also show that blocking miR‐34c in vitro increases cell growth. Further, ectopic expression of miR‐34c was found to suppress migration and invasion. Our findings provide new insight into the role of miR‐34c in the prostate, exhibiting tumor suppressing effects on proliferation, apoptosis and invasiveness.
Characterization of a stretch‐activated potassium channel in chondrocytes
Authors: Mobasheri Ali , Lewis Rebecca , Maxwell Judith E.J. , Hill Claire , Womack Matthew , Barrett‐Jolley Richard 
Published: February 2010

AbstractChondrocytes possess the capacity to transduce load‐induced mechanical stimuli into electrochemical signals. The aim of this study was to functionally characterize an ion channel activated in response to membrane stretch in isolated primary equine chondrocytes. We used patch‐clamp electrophysiology to functionally characterize this channel and immunohistochemistry to examine its distribution in articular cartilage. In cell‐attached patch experiments, the application of negative pressures to the patch pipette (in the range of 20–200 mmHg) activated ion channel currents in six of seven patches. The mean activated current was 45.9 ± 1.1 pA (n = 4) at a membrane potential of 33 mV (cell surface area approximately 240 µm2). The mean slope conductance of the principal single channels resolved within the total stretch‐activated current was 118 ± 19 pS (n = 6), and reversed near the theoretical potassium equilibrium potential, EK+, suggesting it was a high‐conductance potassium channel. Activation of these high‐conductance potassium channels was inhibited by extracellular TEA (Kd approx. 900 µM) and iberiotoxin (Kd approx. 40 nM). This suggests that the current was largely carried by BK‐like potassium (MaxiK) channels. To further characterize these BK‐like channels, we used inside‐out patches of chondrocyte membrane: we found these channels to be activated by elevation in bath calcium concentration. Immunohistochemical staining of equine cartilage samples with polyclonal antibodies to the α1‐ and β1‐subunits of the BK channel revealed positive immunoreactivity for both subunits in superficial zone chondrocytes. These experiments support the hypothesis that functional BK channels are present in chondrocytes and may be involved in mechanotransduction and chemotransduction. J. Cell. Physiol. 223: 511–518, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An analysis of precipitation data from the Antarctic base Faraday/Vernadsky
Authors: Kirchgäßner Amélie 
Published: February 2010

AbstractA recent study on cloud observations reports an increase in total cloud cover at Faraday/Vernadsky since 1960 in the annual and wintertime data. The aim of this present study is to investigate whether this increase in total cloud cover has influenced the precipitation in this region. For this purpose, precipitation observations at the Antarctic base Faraday/Vernadsky between 1960 and 1999 were analysed. A positive trend, significant at the 5% level, was found in the number of precipitation events recorded during winter, showing an increase of 13 events per decade. The annual number of precipitation days has increased by 5.7 per decade during the period of investigation, with highest increase rates being observed in winter and autumn. The characteristics of these findings confirm that results previously published though trends presented here are ∼50% smaller due to a more thorough data quality control of the observational data. These results indicate that an increase in total cloud cover at Faraday/Vernadsky observed since 1960 in the annual and wintertime data is reflected in higher numbers of precipitation events and days. Analyses of the precipitation type found an increase in the proportion of events of non‐frozen precipitation, which is significant (1% level) on an annual basis as well as in spring and autumn (both significant at 5% level). This is a clear manifestation of the year round temperature increase observed over the Antarctic Peninsula. The increase in non‐frozen precipitation will have reduced the albedo in the region and will thus have contributed to the temperature‐albedo feedback. To refreeze rain that is draining through glaciers energy is extracted from the surrounding ice, thereby physically corroding the ice. This will have contributed to the observed retreat of glaciers around the Antarctic Peninsula. As non‐frozen precipitation falling on frozen ground cannot be stored but instead runs off, less water will be available for the ecosystem. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Augmentation of surgical angiogenesis in vascularized bone allotransplants with host‐derived a/v bundle implantation, fibroblast growth factor‐2, and vascular endothelial growth factor administration
Authors: Larsen Mikko , Willems Wouter F. , Pelzer Michael , Friedrich Patricia F. , Yaszemski Michael J. , Bishop Allen T. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractWe have previously shown experimental transplantation of living allogeneic bone to be feasible without long‐term immunosuppression by development of a recipient‐derived neoangiogenic circulation within bone. In this study, we examine the role of angiogenic cytokine delivery with biodegradable microspheres to enhance this process. Microsurgical femoral allotransplantation was performed from Dark Agouti to Piebald Virol Glaxo rats. Poly(D,L‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) microspheres loaded with buffer, basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or both, were inserted intramedullarly along with a recipient‐derived arteriovenous (a/v) bundle. FK‐506 was administered daily for 14 days, then discontinued. At 28 days, bone blood flow was measured using hydrogen washout. Microangiography, histologic, and histomorphometric analyses were performed. Capillary density was greater in the FGF+VEGF group (35.1%) than control (13.9%) (p < 0.05), and a linear trend was found from control, FGF, VEGF, to FGF+VEGF (p < 0.005). Bone formation rates were greater with VEGF (p < 0.01) and FGF+VEGF (p < 0.05). VEGF or FGF alone increased blood flow more than when combined. Histology rejection grading was low in all grafts. Local administration of vascular and fibroblast growth factors augments angiogenesis, bone formation, and bone blood flow from implanted blood vessels of donor origin in vascularized bone allografts after removal of immunosuppression. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:1015–1021, 2010
Wear, delamination, and fatigue resistance of melt‐annealed highly crosslinked UHMWPE cruciate‐retaining knee inserts under activities of daily living
Authors: Popoola Oludele O. , Yao Jian Q. , Johnson Todd S. , Blanchard Cheryl R. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe wear, delamination, and fatigue resistance of artificially aged gamma irradiation‐sterilized conventional polyethylene (CPE) and gas‐plasma‐sterilized melt‐annealed highly crosslinked polyethylene tibial inserts (HXPE) were compared. Six CPE and 12 HXPE (six irradiated at 58 kGy and six at 72 kGy) left knee inserts were wear tested for 5.5 million cycles (Mc) under loads and motions that mimic activities of daily living, such as walking, chair rise, stair ascent, and deep squatting. Another six HXPE (72 kGy) and six CPE inserts were also tested under conditions that could produce severe delamination for 8 Mc. Ten other knees (five 72 kGy HXPE and five CPE) were subjected to posterior edge loading fatigue testing for 5 Mc. The HXPE inserts had an average wear rate reduction of about 80% relative to their CPE counterparts during all activities. All of the CPE inserts delaminated and fractured during high cycle deep squat (152° flexion) motions, while all the HXPE remained intact. None of the HXPE inserts delaminated after 8 Mc, while all of the CPE inserts developed delamination damage within 1.5–5.8 Mc of delamination testing. All CPE inserts developed subsurface cracks and delamination within 2.8 Mc during posterior edge loading fatigue studies, while none of the HXPE inserts showed cracking or delamination after 5 Mc. These results show that aged HXPE has higher wear and fatigue resistance than aged CPE, and offers potential long‐term advantages for young active patients with sustained activities of daily living. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:1120–1126, 2010
Luminescent determination of flavonoids in orange juices by LC with post‐column derivatization with aluminum and terbium
Authors: Andreu‐Navarro Alvaro , Fernández‐Romero Juan Manuel , Gómez‐Hens Agustina 
Published: February 2010

AbstractA new post‐column derivatization system is described and applied to the determination of flavonoids in citric beverages after their separation by LC using a monolithic column. The derivatization involves the formation of the chelates of the analytes with aluminum (III) and terbium (III) in the presence of the surfactant SDS and the measurement of the terbium sensitized luminescence at λex 360 and λem 545 nm. Naringin, hesperidin, quercetin, naringenin, and kaempferol have been chosen as analyte models. The large Stokes shift and the relatively long wavelength emission of terbium(III) can minimize interferences from background sample matrix, which usually emit at shorter wavelengths. Calibration graphs were constructed in the intervals 6.0–1700 ng/mL naringin, 9.8–1700 ng/mL hesperidin, 2.1–2000 ng/mL quercetin, 5.2–1500 ng/mL naringenin and 2.5–2000 ng/mL kaempferol, with regression coefficients higher than 0.9935 in all instances. The precision of the method, expressed as RSD%, was established at two concentration levels, with values of 1.3 and 4.7%, which corresponded to the minimal and maximal error zones of the calibration graphs. The practical usefulness of the method is demonstrated by the analysis of orange juices, which were diluted and directly injected into the chromatographic system, obtaining recoveries between 86.9 and 108.2%.
Perioral skin biopsy to study skeletal muscle protein expression
Authors: Santoro Lucio , Nolano Maria , Faraso Stefania , Fiorillo Chiara , Vitiello Carmen , Provitera Vincenzo , Aurino Stefania , Nigro Vincenzo 
Published: February 2010

AbstractClinical trials for muscular dystrophy molecular treatment require multiple sampling of skeletal muscle to monitor protein rescue. This practice is invasive and could raise ethical problems. A less invasive tool to obtain sequential muscle sampling is necessary. Using indirect immunofluorescence, we evaluated muscle protein expression in myofiber bundles included in 2–2.5‐mm punch skin biopsies from the perioral region from 6 healthy subjects and 6 patients with genetically defined forms of muscular dystrophy. Large intradermal bundles of orbicularis oris muscle were constantly present in skin biopsies. They showed a typical muscular antigenic pattern in controls and the expected protein defect in muscular dystrophy patients. These results demonstrate the feasibility of muscular protein expression analysis using skin biopsy. We propose this minimally invasive technique to follow‐up the response to genetic or conventional therapies in muscular dystrophies and to confirm the diagnosis in some special clinical conditions. Muscle Nerve 41: 392–398, 2010
Effective electrical conductivity of nanocomposites. Influence of image forces on contact conductivity of metal‐filled polymer nanocomposites
Authors: Novikov V.V. , Friedrich Chr. , Nezhevenko K.A. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe generalized effective conductivity of a heterogeneous medium with chaotic structure is defined based on the ideas of the renormalization group transformation method and the theory of fractals. The fractal sets obtained from rectangular lattices have been used to construct the structure of a nanocomposite with random distribution of components (phases). A model for the calculation of effective electrical conductivity of filled polymer nanocomposites is developed. It is based on conductivity between two filler particles separated by matrix polymer as an elementary conductivity event and the application of an iterative averaging method. The comparison of the calculation and experimental data of different filled polymer systems shows good agreement. PACS: 72.80 Tm; 72.60+ g; and 84.32 Ff. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1541–1553, 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Characterization of polyaniline/Ag nanocomposites using H2O2 and ultrasound radiation for enhancing rate
Authors: Li Zhihua , Wang Yanwei 
Published: February 2010

AbstractPolyaniline/Ag nanocomposites have been synthesized via in situ chemical oxidation polymerization of aniline in silver salt by sonochemical method using H2O2 as an external medium. H2O2 was used to reduce AgNO3 to Ag nanoparticles as well as to polymerize aniline to polyaniline in the same pot. The ultrasound radiation as an energy source was applied to facilitate the reaction by reducing the reaction time. Reduction of the silver salt in aqueous aniline leads to the formation of silver nanoparticles which in turn catalyze oxidation of aniline to polyaniline. The research on the structures and properties of the composites showed the individual or aggregated silver nanoparticles are dispersed in the matrix of polyaniline. The composites possess a higher degradation temperature than polyaniline alone, and their electrical conductivity are raised morethan 200 times. The cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy results showed that the polyaniline/Ag film exhibits considerably higher electroactivity compared with polyaniline film without Ag particles. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1662–1668, 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Kinetics of the phase selective localization of silica in rubber blends
Authors: Le Hai Hong , Ilisch Sybill , Heidenreich Daniel , Wutzler André , Radusch Hans‐Joachim 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy on the rubber‐filler gel has been used as a tool for the quantitative characterization of the phase selective silica localization in styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)/natural rubber (NR) blends. The so‐called rubber‐layer L was introduced to describe the selective wetting behavior of the rubber phases to the filler. SBR/NR blends filled with silica were the focus of the experimental investigation. NR shows a higher wetting rate than SBR. Silane addition does not affect the wetting of NR but slowdowns the wetting of SBR. With increasing chamber temperature the value of the rubber‐layer L of all mixtures increases owing to the different thermal activated rubber‐filler bonding processes. Using the wetting concept the kinetics of silica localization in the phases of heterogeneous rubber blends was characterized. Because of the higher wetting rate of the NR component, in the first stage of mixing of NR/SBR blends more silica is found in the NR phase than in the SBR phase. In the next stage, silica is transferred from the NR phase to the SBR phase until the loosely bonded components of NR rubber‐layer are fully replaced by SBR molecules. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1701–1711, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Improvement of mechanical properties of structural thermoplastic composites using a reactive (low molecular weight) matrix component
Authors: Aurilia M. , Sorrentino L. , Iannace S. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractAn innovative manufacturing process for continuous fiber composites with the polymeric matrix made up of polypropylene and epoxy resin, as a model reactive low molecular weight component, was developed; variable process parameters give rise to different morphologies of matrix components surrounding the woven fabric reinforcement. Furthermore, the combination of both thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers permitted intimate fibers impregnation, typical of thermosetting matrix composites, with short process cycle time, which usually occurs in manufacturing process of thermoplastic matrix composites. Polypropylene (PP) films, glass fibers fabric, and epoxy resin film were used to produce flat composite through film‐stacking technique. The preparation process focused on control of both epoxy resin cure process and polypropylene melting. The process was able to induce the two matrix components to form either a planar (sandwich‐like) structure or a three‐dimensional (3D) network by means of controlling the process parameters such as pressure and heating rate. The strong enhancement of the mechanical properties (Young's modulus and tensile strength of the composites with the 3D structure were almost twice as high of those of the composites with sandwich‐like matrix structure) was due to the different microstructures produced by the interplanar flow of the thermoplastic polymer. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1762–1769, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers.