bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An improved method for growing and analysing human antigen‐specific CD4+ T‐cell clones
Authors: Ciantar Joseph P. , Mannering Stuart I. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundT‐cell clones are valuable tools for investigating T‐cell specificity in type 1 diabetes. Efficient methods for isolating T‐cell clones have been developed, but growing enough cells to undertake a detailed analysis remains a challenge.MethodsWe optimized the conditions for isolating and growing antigen‐specific human CD4+ effector T‐cell clones. T‐cell clones were isolated by FACS sorting antigen‐responsive cells identified by carboxylfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) dilution. The cloning efficiency was compared between T cells cloned in the presence of 21 different combinations of cytokines. Following cloning, the growth of cloned T cells in the presence of seven different combinations of cytokines was compared. Finally, we sought a quicker and more sensitive assay to measure cloned T cells' responses to antigen.ResultsIL‐2 + IL‐4 were optimal for cloning antigen‐specific CD4+ T cells. Following cloning, the most antigen‐specific CD4+ T‐cell clones grew in the presence of IL‐15 + IL‐21. Antigen recognition by T cells cloned and grown under these conditions was readily detected by the increase in the expression of CD25. Induction of CD25 was a more sensitive measure of antigen recognition than 3H‐thymidine incorporation assays. These findings were confirmed with two proinsulin‐specific CD4+ T‐cell clones isolated from an individual with type 1 diabetes.ConclusionThe optimal cytokines for isolating, and growing, proinsulin‐specific human, CD4+ T‐cell clones are IL‐2 + IL‐4 and IL‐15 + IL‐21, respectively. Antigen recognition, by clones isolated and grown under these conditions is best detected by the induction of CD25. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preservation of recall immunity in anti‐CD3‐treated recent onset type 1 diabetes patients
Authors: Alkemade Gonnie M. , Hilbrands Robert , Vandemeulebroucke Evy , Pipeleers Daniel , Waldmann Herman , Mathieu Chantal , Keymeulen Bart , Roep Bart O. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe safety of any immune modulating agent in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) involves its selectivity on autoimmunity and its preservation of recall and tumour immunity.MethodsWe performed lymphocyte proliferation tests on seven recent onset diabetic patients treated with anti‐CD3 (Otelixizumab; ChAglyCD3) and five recent onset diabetic patients treated with placebo, on average 2 years after therapy.ResultsProliferative responses towards common viral, bacterial and yeast antigens upon in vitro stimulation with a range of recall antigens in anti‐CD3‐treated T1DM patients were highly similar to those in placebo‐treated T1DM patients. Similarly, T‐cell responses towards autoantigens were equally low between the two groups, several years after diagnosis of T1DM. The proliferative response upon stimulation with the human suppressor protein p53 was invariably high in both anti‐CD3‐ and placebo‐treated patients, implying preserved anti‐tumour immunity in anti‐CD3 treatment.ConclusionsAs long‐term focus on side effects is key, we demonstrate in this sub‐cohort of recent onset T1DM patients treated with Otelixizumab that recall immunity is preserved in spite of high‐dose anti‐CD3 treatment, adding to the safety of anti‐CD3 treatment as an immune‐modulatory agent in the treatment of T1DM. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of vitamin D supplementation on peripheral regulatory T cells and β cell function in healthy humans: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bock Gerlies , Prietl Barbara , Mader Julia K. , Höller Evelyne , Wolf Michael , Pilz Stefan , Graninger Winfried B. , Obermayer‐Pietsch Barbara M. , Pieber Thomas R. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing evidence supports the role of vitamin D (vitD) in modifying the risk to develop type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other autoimmune diseases. VitD3 might stimulate regulatory T cells (Tregs), a central player in the maintenance of self‐tolerance. In addition, direct effects of vitD on β‐cell function are postulated. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of a high dose vitD supplementation on Tregs frequency (%Tregs) and β‐cell function assessed by a mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) in healthy humans.MethodsA double‐blind, placebo controlled trial was performed in 59 healthy adult subjects (49% females). Subjects received oral vitD3 (140 000 IU monthly) or placebo for 3 months. %Tregs within 20 000 CD4+ T cells of peripheral blood was determined by multi‐parametric FACS‐analysis. A liquid MMTT was carried out before and after treatment.Results%Tregs increased significantly in the vitD group, but remained unchanged in the placebo group. Fasting C‐peptide concentrations did not change significantly in either group. Similarly, the mean AUC for C‐peptide after 3 months and the change in mean values from baseline to the end of the treatment were comparable in both groups.ConclusionsA short time high dose vitD3 supplementation significantly increased the frequency of Tregs, but did not further improve β‐cell function in apparently healthy subjects. The immunomodulatory potential of vitD might be an important mechanistic link for the association of vitD and T1D. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Experimental manipulation shows that the white wing patch in collared flycatchers is a male sexual ornament
Authors: de Heij Maaike E. , Gustafsson Lars , Brommer Jon E. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractDescriptive analysis suggests that a conspicuous white wing patch in dichromatic (black and white) pied and collared flycatchers is under sexual selection. Here, we use an experimental approach to test whether this trait is indeed the target of selection. We caught 100 collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis males soon after their arrival on the breeding site. We reduced (blackened) part of the white wing patch in half of these males and recorded their mating success and within and extra‐pair offspring production. Reduction of the size of the white wing patch lowered a male's probability to attract a secondary social female, but not a primary female. However, primary females paired to males with a reduced wing patch were smaller (in tarsus), suggesting that male choice of partner or female–female competition over mates occurs in this species. The probability of pairing with a primary female (but not other components of male reproductive success) declined with arrival time (proxied by the date of capture). Males with a reduced wing patch size tended to sire less extra‐pair offspring, although this relationship was reversed in one of the three study plots, suggesting that mating dynamics are context dependent. While our findings show that wing patch size is the target of sexual selection, the pathways and the strength of selection on this ornament differed markedly from a previous descriptive study. Nonexperimental studies of sexual selection in the wild may overestimate its importance because male fitness and ornamentation both depend positively on environmental conditions.
Digital compensation of transmitter leakage in FDD zero‐IF receivers
Authors: Frotzscher A. , Fettweis G. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTTransmitter leakage (TxL) has a significant impact on the performance of frequency division duplex devices using zero‐IF receivers and thus requires a suitable compensation. In contrast to analog approaches, digital TxL compensation approaches can easily be reconfigured and therefore are highly attractive for multiband mobile devices. In this contribution, we present a system model, describing the TxL impact on the received digital baseband signal. Furthermore, we show analytically that TxL causes an additional, irreversible signal‐to‐noise loss due to the quantisation in the analog‐to‐digital converter, which limits the applicability of a digital TxL compensation. However, this signal‐to‐noise ratio loss remains negligibly small as long as the TxL interference does not exceed significantly the desired received signal. For TxL to be compensated digitally, the TxL channel needs be estimated. In this work, we present two TxL channel estimation approaches suitable for frequency flat and frequency selective channels. It is shown that the usage of these approaches mitigates effectively the TxL impact on the system performance. Thus, the system designer can allow much stronger TxL, which significantly relaxes the requirements on the transmitter–receiver isolation of the duplexer and the linearity of the analog receiver frontend. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A study of fire performance of textile membranes used as building components
Authors: Blomqvist Per , Andersson Petra 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTThe advantages of textile materials as building components include low weight, and in the case of textile membranes, the advantages include translucency and architectural possibilities. A common disadvantage, however, is the fire property of textile materials, which highlights the importance of fire safety assessments for building application of such materials. The work presented in this paper was conducted within the European project contex‐T, ‘Textile Architecture – Textile Structures and Buildings of the Future’.This paper presents the results of reaction‐to‐fire tests required for European Standard (EN) 13501–1 classification conducted with a number of textile membranes. The classification results are compared for a selection of these membranes with the information gained from a large‐scale reference test that was designed within the project. The reference test was based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9705 room test. It was seen that the reference test could separate the performance of the different types of membranes investigated and the repeatability of duplicate tests performed was acceptable. However, the classification of the materials by test results from the Single Burning Item (SBI) test (EN 13823) and the small flame test (EN ISO 11925–2) did not reflect the performance of the membranes in the large‐scale test properly in all aspects important for fire safety. Most significantly, the ‘burn‐through’ and the associated opening of a hole in the polyvinyl chloride/polyester membranes tested ventilated the hot smoke gases out of the reference room that resulted in limited flame spread and heat production. This mechanism is not modelled correctly by the SBI test, which leads to a discrepancy between classification and large‐scale behaviour. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simultaneous effects of induced magnetic field and heat and mass transfer on the peristaltic motion of second‐order fluid in a channel
Authors: Mekheimer K. S. , Saleem N. , Hayat T. , Hendi A. A. 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYIn this article, we investigate the influence of heat and mass transfer on the peristaltic flow of magnetohydrodynamic second‐order fluid in a channel when the induced magnetic field effects are present. Problem formulation in a wave frame of reference is presented. The governing nonlinear analysis is carried out under the assumption of small wave number. Explicit expressions of the pressure gradient, the stream function, the magnetic force function, the axial induced magnetic field, the current density distribution, the temperature, and the concentration distribution are derived. The effects of embedded parameters are also examined. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implementation of ADER scheme for a bore on an unsaturated permeable slope
Authors: Steenhauer K. , Pokrajac D. , O'Donoghue T. 
Published: November 2011

SUMMARYThe paper details the implementation of the Godunov‐type finite volume Arbitrary high order schemes using Derivatives (ADER) scheme for the case of a large source term in the continuity equation of the nonlinear shallow water equations. The particular application is the movement of a bore on a highly permeable slope. The large source term is caused by the infiltration into the initially unsaturated slope material. Infiltration is modelled as vertical downwards piston‐like flow with Forchheimer quadratic parameterisation of the resistance law. The corresponding ODE is solved using the fourth‐order Runge–Kutta method. The surface and subsurface flow models have been tested by comparison with analytical solutions. Example predictions of surface bore propagation and wetting front propagation are presented for a range of slope permeabilities. The effects of permeability on bore run‐up, water depths and velocities are illustrated. The ADER scheme is capable of handling the source term, including the extreme case when this term dominates the volume balance. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nowcasting Business Cycles Using Toll Data
Authors: Askitas Nikolaos , Zimmermann Klaus F. 
Published: November 2011

ABSTRACTNowcasting has been a challenge in the recent economic crisis. We introduce the Toll Index, a new monthly indicator for business cycle forecasting, and demonstrate its relevance using German data. The index measures the monthly transportation activity performed by heavy transport vehicles across the country and has highly desirable availability properties (insignificant revisions, short publication lags) as a result of the innovative technology underlying its data collection. It is coincident with production activity due to the prevalence of just‐in‐time delivery. The Toll Index is a good early indicator of production as measured, for instance, by the German Production Index, provided by the German Statistical Office, which is a well‐known leading indicator of the gross national product. The proposed new index is an excellent example of technological, innovation‐driven economic telemetry, which we suggest should be established more around the world. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GFAP‐independent inflammatory competence and trophic functions of astrocytes generated from murine embryonic stem cells
Authors: Kuegler Philipp B. , Baumann Bettina A. , Zimmer Bastian , Keller Sascha , Marx Andreas , Kadereit Suzanne , Leist Marcel 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe directed generation of pure astrocyte cultures from pluripotent stem cells has proven difficult. Generation of defined pluripotent‐stem‐cell derived astrocytes would allow new approaches to the investigation of plasticity and heterogeneity of astrocytes. We here describe a two‐step differentiation scheme resulting in the generation of murine embryonic stem cell (mESC) derived astrocytes (MEDA), as characterized by the upregulation of 19 astrocyte‐associated mRNAs, and positive staining of most cells for GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), aquaporin‐4 or glutamine synthetase. The MEDA cultures could be cryopreserved, and they neither contained neuronal, nor microglial cells. They also did not react to the microglial stimulus lipopolysaccharide, while inflammatory activation by a complete cytokine mix (CCM) or its individual components (TNF‐α, IL1‐β, IFN‐γ) was readily observed. MEDA, stimulated by CCM, became susceptible to CD95 ligand‐induced apoptosis and produced NO and IL‐6. This was preceded by NF‐kB activation, and up‐regulation of relevant mRNAs. Also GFAP‐negative astrocytes were fully inflammation‐competent. Neurotrophic support by MEDA was found to be independent of GFAP expression. In summary, we described here the generation and functional characterization of microglia‐free murine astrocytes, displaying phenotypic heterogeneity as is commonly observed in brain astrocytes. © 2011 WiWiley Periodicals, Inc.
Personalities of adults with traumatic childhood separations
Authors: Malone Johanna C. , Westen Drew , Levendosky Alytia A. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractObjectives: This study examined personality characteristics and identified personality subtypes of adults with childhood histories of traumatic separations from a parent. Previous work from attachment theory and developmental psychopathology suggests that distinct developmental trajectories might lead to different styles of personality adaptation after an attachment disruption. Design: Randomly selected psychologists and psychiatrists provided data on 203 adults with histories of traumatic separations using a personality pathology instrument designed for use by clinically experienced observers, the Shedler‐Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP‐II). Results: Using a Q‐factor analysis, 5 distinct personality subtypes were identified: internalizing/avoidant, psychopathic, emotionally dysregulated, hostile/paranoid, and resilient. Initial support for the validity of the subtypes was established, based on Axis I and Axis II pathology, adaptive functioning, developmental history, and family history variables. Conclusions: Both therapeutic interventions and case formulation might be strengthened by considering an individual's personality features and match to one of the identified subtypes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol: In Session 67:1–24, 2011.
Three‐dimensional repositioning tasks show differences in joint position sense between active and passive shoulder motion
Authors: Erickson R. I. Carl , Karduna Andrew R. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractProprioception is important in maintaining shoulder joint stability. Previous studies investigated the effects of unconstrained multiplanar motion, with subjects able to move freely in space, on repositioning tasks for active shoulder motion but not passive motion. We sought to further explore joint position sense with 3D passive, robot‐guided motions. We hypothesized that target repositioning error would be greater in the case of passively placed targets than for actively placed targets. To investigate, 15 healthy individuals participated (8 female, 7 male), who were at most 6 ft (183 cm) tall to accommodate the equipment, and who had no history of shoulder injury, surgery, or significant participation in throwing sports. Target orientations were centered at 44° of elevation and 32° of horizontal rotation from the frontal plane. Two sets of 10 trials were performed. The first set involved active placement followed by active replacement, and the second set involved passive, robot‐guided, placement followed by active replacement. Repositioning error was greater following passive placement than active placement (p < 0.001). These results further our understanding of the differences between active and passive joint position sense at the shoulder. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:787–792, 2012
Effect of partial meniscectomy at the medial posterior horn on tibiofemoral contact mechanics and meniscal hoop strains in human knees
Authors: Seitz Andreas Martin , Lubomierski Anja , Friemert Benedikt , Ignatius Anita , Dürselen Lutz 
Published: November 2011

AbstractWe examined the influence of partial meniscectomy of 10 mm width on 10 human cadaveric knee joints, as it is performed during the treatment of radial tears in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, on maximum contact pressure, contact area (CA), and meniscal hoop strain in the lateral and medial knee compartments. In case of 0° and 30° flexion angle, 20% and 50% partial meniscectomy did not influence maximum contact pressure and area. Only in case of 60° knee flexion, 50% partial resection increased medial maximum contact pressure and decreased the medial CA statistically significant. However, 100% partial resection increased maximum contact pressure and decreased CA significantly in the meniscectomized medial knee compartment in all tested knee positions. No significant differences were noted for meniscal hoop strain. From a biomechanical point of view, our in vitro study suggests that the medial joint compartment is not in danger of accelerated cartilage degeneration up to a resection limit of 20% meniscal depth and 10 mm width. Contact mechanics are likely to be more sensitive to partial meniscectomy at higher flexion angles, which has to be further investigated. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:934–942, 2012
Simplified equations for the determination of the hydraulic properties of horticultural substrates by one‐step outflow experiments
Authors: Valiantzas John D. , Londra Paraskevi A. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractSimplified algebraic equations are derived to calculate directly the Brooks and Corey model parameters using data obtained from one‐step outflow experiments and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The suggested method has been demonstrated only for horticultural substrates and is verified experimentally for four substrates with satisfactory agreement of the results.
Processing and characterization of braided NiTi microstents for medical applications
Authors: Frotscher M. , Schreiber F. , Neelakantan L. , Gries T. , Eggeler G. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn the present exploratory study we investigate the processing of NiTi microstents, which were produced by braiding. We give a short description of the braiding of microstents using 0.1 mm pseudoelastic NiTi wires. We compare our braided microstents with microstents which were produced, using the traditional tube making and laser cutting technology. We outline why braiding may avoid some of the inherent problems related with the traditional procedure and highlight its cost effectiveness. We report on the thermal, chemical and mechanical properties of braided microstents. Most importantly, we provide information on the elementary damage processes which characterize displacement controlled fatigue loading up to 30·106 cycles. The results presented in this work provide information on a research field, which links the engineering manufacturing field braiding (as a potential new processing technology for NiTi stents) with state‐of‐the‐art materials science techniques for the characterization of pseudoelastic NiTi shape memory alloys.
Improving long term oxidation protection for γ‐TiAl substrates
Authors: Bobzin K. , Schläfer T. , Warda T. , Brühl M. , Linke T. F. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractIn previous work, a thermal spray multilayer system consisting of Zirconia (ZrO2) and MCrAlY top coat showed promising results regarding the oxidation behavior of the Gamma Titanium Aluminides substrates tested, which encouraged further research activities. Diffusion of substrate material was successfully inhibited by a ceramic Zirconia coating. A building up of a dense and stable oxide layer could be achieved by additional application of an MCrAlY top coat, leading to improved oxidation resistance and thus showing feasibility. In this work the main focus for development was put on enhancing adhesion and lowering residual stresses of the coatings in order to allow long term and cyclic testing without delamination taking place. Being a very brittle material, Gamma Titanium Aluminides require special surface treatment to enable roughening which is crucial for a strong mechanical bond between substrate and coating. Alternatives to conventional grit blasting as a standard preparation method were investigated. These were micro‐abrasive blasting and blasting at elevated temperature (≈300–550°C) to allow a more ductile behavior. The paper will highlight the implications by means of these measures and will also show the present development status of the multilayer system.