bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of matrix properties on the survival of freeze‐dried bacteria
Authors: Wessman Per , Mahlin Denny , Akhtar Sultan , Rubino Stefano , Leifer Klaus , Kessler Vadim , Håkansson Sebastian 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: Disaccharides are, in general, the first choice as formulation compounds when freeze‐drying microorganisms. Although polysaccharides and other biopolymers are considered too large to stabilise and interact with cell components in the same beneficial way as disaccharides, polymers have been reported to support cell survival. In the present study we compare the efficiency of sucrose and the polymers Ficoll, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and polyvinylalcohol to support the survival of three bacterial strains during freeze drying. The initial osmotic conditions were adjusted to be similar for all formulations. Formulation characterisation was used to interpret the impact that different compound properties had on cell survival.RESULTS: Despite differences in molecular size, both sucrose and the sucrose‐based polymer Ficoll supported cell survival after freeze drying equally well. All formulations became amorphous upon dehydration. Scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction data showed that the discerned differences in structure of the dry formulations had little impact on the survival rates. The capability of the polymers to support cell survival correlated with the surface activity of the polymers in a similar way for all investigated bacterial strains.CONCLUSION: Polymer‐based formulations can support cell survival as effectively as disaccharides if formulation properties of importance for maintaining cell viability are identified and controlled. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Mechanical α‐relaxations and stickiness of milk solids/maltodextrin systems around glass transition
Authors: Silalai Nattiga , Roos Yrjö H 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBACKGROUND: Stickiness correlates with changes in mechanical α‐relaxation properties and often results from glass transition and plasticisation of amorphous food components. In this study, milk solids with maltodextrins with different dextrose equivalents (DE9 and DE17) were analysed for glass transition (Tg), α‐relaxation (Tα) and sticky point (SPT) temperatures using differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis and a sticky point test respectively.RESULTS: At the same maltodextrin contents, Tg and Tα were lower for milk solids with the higher‐DE maltodextrin. Increasing maltodextrin contents gave Tg, Tα and SPT at higher temperatures, and the magnitudes of α‐relaxations with high maltodextrin (DE9 and DE17) contents were less pronounced.CONCLUSION: Stickiness was governed by glass transition and affected by skim milk/maltodextrin composition. Stickiness was reduced with increasing maltodextrin content as a result of maltodextrin miscibility with skim milk solids, particularly lactose, which changed the relaxation behaviour above the glass transition. The mixes of milk solids with low‐DE maltodextrin may show improved dehydration characteristics and powder stability resulting from increased Tg, Tα and SPT. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Semi‐quantitative expression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase‐2 in cancer of uterine cervix
Authors: Wu Yao‐Chung , Wang Po‐Hui , Tsai Amy , Yang Shun‐Fa , Chen Shiuan‐Chih 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveBecause matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) is associated with tumor progression and tissue inhibitor of MMP‐2 (TIMP‐2) selectively inhibits MMP‐2, we investigate the implication of TIMP‐2 in carcinogenesis of uterine cervix.MethodsTwenty‐six cervical cancer tissues and their normal counterparts were collected to evaluate semi‐quantitative mRNA expression of TIMP‐2. Eighty‐two cervical cancer, 26 high‐grade and 26 low‐grade dysplasia, and 26 normal tissues were collected to construct tissue microarrays for immunohistochemical study. We evaluated TIMP‐2 immunoreactivity using H scores in cervical carcinogenesis. Semi‐quantitative expression of MMP‐2 was also detected for comparison.ResultsCervical cancer tissues exhibited statistically lower semi‐quantitative TIMP‐2 (P = 0.028) or higher MMP‐2 (P = 0.036) mRNA expression than their normal counterparts. None of cervical cancer tissues exerted elevated TIMP‐2 and reduced MMP‐2 mRNA expression simultaneously. Cancer tissues have significantly lower TIMP‐2 or higher MMP‐2 H scores than high‐grade and low‐grade dysplasia or normal tissues of uterine cervix.ConclusionsLow expression of TIMP‐2 or high expression of MMP‐2 is semi‐quantitatively demonstrated in cancer of uterine cervix. TIMP‐2 is implicated in cervical carcinogenesis. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011;104:210–215. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brief cognitive–behavioral intervention for maternal depression and trauma in the neonatal intensive care unit: A pilot study
Authors: Bernard Rebecca S. , Williams Sharon E. , Storfer‐Isser Amy , Rhine William , Horwitz Sarah McCue , Koopman Cheryl , Shaw Richard J. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractParents of hospitalized premature infants are at risk for developing psychological symptoms. This randomized controlled pilot study examined the effectiveness of a brief cognitive–behavioral intervention in reducing traumatic and depressive symptoms in mothers 1 month after their infant's discharge from the hospital. Fifty‐six mothers were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Results showed that mothers experienced high levels of symptoms initially and at follow‐up. At follow‐up, there was a trend for mothers in the intervention group to report lower levels of depression (p = .06; Cohen's f = .318), but levels of traumatic symptoms were similar for both groups. Brief psychological interventions may reduce depressive symptoms in this population. Estimates of the effect sizes can be used to inform future intervention studies.
Nanostructured surface pre‐treatment based on self‐assembled molecules for corrosion protection of Alclad 7475‐T761 aluminum alloy
Authors: de Souza S. , Yoshikawa D. S. , Izaltino W. A. S. , Assis S. L. , Costa I. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractCoatings based on self‐assembled molecules (SAMs) for corrosion protection of aircraft aluminum alloys have been studied to evaluate their potentialities as replacements to yellow chromate conversion coatings (CCC), due to the toxicity of these leading to environmental problems. In this work, the influence of alkane diphosphonates self‐assembling molecules on the corrosion resistance of the AA7475‐T761 cladded with AA7072 was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cathodic and anodic polarization curves, in naturally aerated 0.5 mol/L Na2SO4 aqueous solution, with pH adjusted to 4. Corrosion accelerated experiments (salt spray tests) were also carried out to examine the resistance of the SAM treated samples against corrosion. The results suggested that the development of boehmite (aluminum oxide) layer with incorporation of SAM was beneficial to the corrosion resistance of the tested aluminum alloy. Samples surface treated with SAM or aluminum oxide/SAM (without and with subsequent polyester layer) showed better corrosion resistance results than samples with CCC, indicating that this last type of coating containing hexavalent chromium could be replaced by the environmentally friendly pre‐treatment corresponding to boehmite growth followed by incorporation of SAM.
Stability of the passive state of Zr–Nb crystalline alloys
Authors: Rosalbino F. , Macciò D. , Saccone A. , Angelini E. , Delfino S. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractStability of the passive state was assessed for pure Zr and four Zr–Nb alloys (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 25.0 at.% Nb) after 24 h exposure to naturally aerated 3.5% NaCl solution (pH = 6). Open circuit potential values indicated that all the Zr–Nb alloys studied and the pure Zr undergo spontaneous passivation due to spontaneously formed oxide film passivating the metallic surface. It also indicated that the addition of increasing Nb contents to pure Zr seems to improve the protection characteristics of its spontaneous oxides. Potentiodynamic polarization curves showed an increase of the breakdown potential and the extent of the passive range following an increased niobium amount in the alloy. This leads to the conclusion that a progressive increase of niobium content positively affects the localized corrosion behaviour of the Zr–Nb alloys by enhancing the electrochemical stability of the passive film. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) studies showed high impedance values for all the samples, and its increase on increased niobium content in the alloy indicated an improvement in the corrosion resistance of the spontaneous oxide film. The fit obtained suggests a single passive film present on the metal surface, with resistance improving with the increase of niobium amount in the alloy. All these electrochemical results show the beneficial effect of increasing niobium contents on the passive state stability of the Zr–Nb alloys.
Influence of heat treatments at 475 and 400 °C on the pitting corrosion resistance and sensitization of UNS S32750 and UNS S32760 superduplex stainless steels
Authors: Tavares S. S. M. , Loureiro A. , Pardal J. M. , Montenegro T. R. , da Costa V. C. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractSome precipitation reactions of superduplex stainless steels (SDSS) can improve hardness, yield, and ultimate strength, but with substantial decrease of corrosion resistance. One of these reactions is the spinodal decomposition of ferrite into Cr‐rich fine precipitates (α′) and Cr‐depleted matrix during low temperature aging. In this work, the effect of the α′ precipitation on the pitting corrosion resistance was investigated. The results showed that short duration heat treatments at 475 °C do not decrease the pitting corrosion resistance, but increase the hardness of UNS S32750 and S32760 SDSS. The limits of heat treatment duration for both steels were determined.
Corrosion resistance of environment‐friendly sealing layer for Zn‐coated sintered NdFeB magnet
Authors: Liu F. , Li Q. , Yang X. K. , Dai Y. , Luo F. , Wang S. Y. , Zhang H. X. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIn this paper, a protective sealed Zn coating (SZC) was prepared on sintered NdFeB magnet by the combination of electrodeposition and sol–gel method. The unsealed Zn coating (UZC) was also studied for a comparison. The surface morphology of UZC and the cross‐section morphology of SZC were investigated using scanning election microscope (SEM). The microstructure of Zn coating and structure of sealing layer were studied by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectrum, respectively. The corrosion characteristics of SZC and UZC in neutral 3.5 wt% NaCl solution were evaluated using electrochemical measurements including open circuit potential (OCP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization test, indicating that the anticorrosive properties of SZC coated specimens increased 20 times compared with that of UZC coated specimens. In order to further investigate the anticorrosive properties of SZC, a long‐term immersion test was carried out in neutral 3.5 wt% NaCl solution using EIS. The results of long‐term corrosion test showed that the SZC could provide long‐term protection in neutral 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for NdFeB magnet.
Corrosion behaviour of a new Ti‐6Al‐2Nb‐1Ta alloy in various solutions
Authors: Pirvu C. , Demetrescu I. , Drob P. , Vasilescu E. , Ivanescu S. , Mindroiu M. , Vasilescu C. , Drob S. I. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractA new Ti‐6Al‐2Nb‐1Ta alloy was obtained for to satisfy the mechanical and anticorrosion requirements in neutral corrosive environment. The corrosion behaviour of this new Ti‐6Al‐2Nb‐1Ta alloy in 0.1 M Na2SO4, 3% NaCl solutions and synthetic sea water was studied in this paper, using potentiodynamic and linear polarisation method, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and monitoring of the open circuit potentials. The structure of the alloy represents an α + β uniform structure with un‐oriented grains. From the potentiodynamic polarisation curves it resulted that the studied alloy is self‐passivated in all three solutions having a very good and very easy tendency to passivation. The most favourable values of the electrochemical parameters were registered in 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution due to its reduced corrosivity. EIS measurements proved the improvement of the passive layer resistance with the immersion time. An electric equivalent circuit with two time constants was fitted. The values of the polarisation resistances showed very good protective capacities which improved in time. The open circuit potentials have the general tendency to ennoble in time, suggesting the thickening of the passive films and the increase of their protective capacities.
Improving Polymer Nanofiber Quality Using a Modified Co‐axial Electrospinning Process
Authors: Yu Deng‐Guang , Branford‐White Christopher , Bligh S. W. Annie , White Kenneth , Chatterton Nicholas P. , Zhu Li‐Min 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBased on a modified coaxial electrospinning process and suitable selection of solvent mixtures as sheath fluid, a new strategy is presented for systematically improving polymer nanofiber quality. A concentric spinneret with an indented inner capillary is designed for the modified coaxial electrospinning. With a solution of 12% w/v PVP K60 in ethanol as the core electrospinning fluid, six solvents are used as sheath fluids to investigate the impact of solvent properties on the resultant PVP nanofiber quality. The PVP nanofiber quality is closely related to solvent physical‐chemical properties. High quality PVP nanofibers of average diameter 130 ±10 nm with homogeneous structures and smooth surfaces are created using a solvent mixture of acetone, ethanol and DMAc in the ratio of 3:1:1(v/v/v). magnified image
Determination of minimal clinically important change in early and advanced Parkinson's disease
Authors: Hauser Robert A. , Auinger Peggy ,   on behalf of the Parkinson Study Group
Published: March 2011

AbstractTwo common primary efficacy outcome measures in Parkinson's disease (PD) are change in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores in early PD and change in “off” time in patients with motor fluctuations. Defining the minimal clinically important change (MCIC) in these outcome measures is important to interpret the clinical relevance of changes observed in clinical trials and other situations. We analyzed data from 2 multicenter, placebo‐controlled, randomized clinical trials of rasagiline; TEMPO studied 404 early PD subjects, and PRESTO studied 472 levodopa‐treated subjects with motor fluctuations. An anchor‐based approach using clinical global impression of improvement (CGI‐I) was used to determine MCIC for UPDRS scores and daily “off” time. MCIC was defined as mean change in actively treated subjects rated minimally improved on CGI‐I. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves defined optimal cutoffs discriminating between changed and unchanged subjects. MCIC for improvement in total UPDRS score (parts I–III) in early PD was determined to be −3.5 points based on mean scores and −3.0 points based on ROC curves. In addition, we found an MCIC for reduction in “off” time of 1.0 hours as defined by mean reduction in “off” time in active treated subjects self‐rated as minimally improved on CGI‐I minus mean reduction in “off” time in placebo‐treated subjects self‐rated as unchanged (1.9–0.9 hours). We hypothesize that many methodological factors can influence determination of the MCIC, and a range of values is likely to emerge from multiple studies. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Genotoxicity of dietary, environmental and therapeutic topoisomerase II poisons is uniformly correlated to prolongation of enzyme DNA residence
Authors: Kalfalah Faiza M. , Mielke Christian , Christensen Morten O. , Baechler Simone , Marko Doris , Boege Fritz 
Published: March 2011

AbstractScope: DNA damage by genistein and etoposide is determined by the half‐life of topoisomerase II–DNA linkage induced [Bandele O. J. and Osheroff N., Biochemistry 2008, 47, 11900]. Here, we test whether this applies generally to dietary flavonoids and therapeutic compounds enhancing topoisomerase II–DNA cleavage (Topo II poisons).Methods and results: We compared the impact of Topo II poisons on DNA residence kinetics of biofluorescent human topoisomerases IIα and IIβ (delineating duration of the DNA‐linked enzyme state) with histone 2AX phosphorylation (delineating DNA damage response). Prolongation of topoisomerase II–DNA residence was correlated to DNA damage response, whereas topoisomerase II–DNA linkage was not. Catalytic inhibitors stabilizing topoisomerase II on unbroken DNA also exhibited such a correlation, albeit at a lower level of DNA damage response. Therapeutic Topo II poisons had stronger and more durable effects on enzyme II DNA residence and elicited stronger DNA damage responses than natural or dietary ones.Conclusions: Topoisomerase II‐mediated DNA damage appears related to the prolongation of enzyme DNA residence more than to enzyme–DNA cleavage. Due to this reason, genistein and other tested natural and dietary Topo II poisons have a much lower genotoxic potential than therapeutic ones under the conditions of equal topoisomerase II–DNA linkage.
Signal‐to‐noise optimization for sodium MRI of the human knee at 4.7 Tesla using steady state
Authors: Watts Alexander , Stobbe Robert W. , Beaulieu Christian 
Published: March 2011

AbstractSodium magnetic resonance imaging of knee cartilage is a possible diagnostic method for osteoarthritis, but low signal‐to‐noise ratio yields low spatial resolution images and long scan times. For a given scan time, a steady‐state approach with reduced repetition time and increased averaging may improve signal‐to‐noise ratio and hence attainable resolution. However, repetition time reduction results in increased power deposition, which must be offset with increased radiofrequency pulse length and/or reduced flip angle to maintain an acceptable specific absorption rate. Simulations varying flip angle, repetition time, and radiofrequency pulse length were performed for constant power deposition corresponding to ∼6 W/kg over the human knee at 4.7T. For 10% agar, simulation closely matched experiment. For healthy human knee cartilage, a 37% increase in signal‐to‐noise ratio was predicted for steady‐state over “fully relaxed” parameters while a 29% ± 4% increase was determined experimentally (n = 10). Partial volume of cartilage with synovial fluid, inaccurate relaxation parameters used in simulation, and/or quadrupolar splitting may be responsible for this disagreement. Excellent quality sodium images of the human knee were produced in 9 mins at 4.7T using the signal‐to‐noise ratio enhancing steady‐state technique. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Changes in intracellular water diffusion and energetic metabolism in response to ischemia in perfused C6 rat glioma cells
Authors: Harkins Kevin D. , Galons Jean‐Philippe , Divijak Joseph L. , Trouard Theodore P. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis work reports results of experiments in hollow‐fiber bioreactor C6 glioma cell cultures where the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of intracellular water (iADC) was measured at diffusion times between 0.83 and 40 ms. The experiments were carried out before and after the onset of permanent ischemia. The changes in iADC following ischemia were dependent on the diffusion time employed in the experiment. An ischemia‐induced decrease in the iADC was measured at short diffusion times, while at long diffusion times the iADC increased. Decreases in the iADC measured at short diffusion times are interpreted to be a result of a decrease in the intrinsic diffusivity of intracellular water due to energy failure. Increases in iADC measured at long diffusion times, are interpreted to result from cell swelling. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the undersampling strategies to accelerate time‐resolved 3D imaging using k‐t‐GRAPPA
Authors: Jung Bernd , Stalder Aurélien F. , Bauer Simon , Markl Michael 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore how to optimally undersample and reconstruct time‐resolved 3D data using a k‐t‐space‐based GRAPPA technique. The performance of different reconstruction strategies was evaluated using data sets with different ratios of phase (Ny) and partition (Nz) encoding lines (Ny × Nz = 64–128 × 40–64) acquired in a moving phantom. Image reconstruction was performed for different kernel configurations and different reduction factors (R = 5, 6, 8, and 10) and was evaluated using regional error quantification and SNR analysis. To analyze the temporal fidelity of the different kernel configurations in vivo, time‐resolved 3D phase contrast data were acquired in the thoracic aorta of two healthy volunteers. Results demonstrated that kernel configurations with a small kernel extension yielded superior results especially for more asymmetric data matrices as typically used in clinical applications. The application of k‐t‐GRAPPA to in vivo data demonstrated the feasibility of undersampling of time‐resolved 3D phase contrast data set with a nominal reduction factors of up to Rnet = 8, while maintaining the temporal fidelity of the measured velocity field. Extended GRAPPA‐based parallel imaging with optimized multidimensional reconstruction kernels has the potential to substantially accelerate data acquisitions in time‐resolved 3D MRI. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Highly efficient whole‐heart imaging using radial phase encoding‐phase ordering with automatic window selection
Authors: Kolbitsch Christoph , Prieto Claudia , Smink Jouke , Schaeffter Tobias 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThree dimensional (3D) whole‐heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become an important imaging modality to assess cardiovascular diseases. The main challenges for 3D whole‐heart MRI are long acquisition times, required to achieve high spatial resolution, and image artefacts due to physiological motion. Here we propose to overcome these problems by the combination of an interleaved Radial Phase Encoding trajectory and the Phase Ordering with Automatic Window Selection method. This Radial Phase Encoding‐Phase Ordering with Automatic Window Selection approach yields fast 3D whole‐heart imaging with a high isotropic resolution and high navigator efficiency even for extremely irregular breathing. Numerical simulations were performed and Radial Phase Encoding‐Phase Ordering with Automatic Window Selection was implemented on a clinical scanner. A comparison between the proposed method and a respiratory gated 3D Cartesian approach was carried out. Radial Phase Encoding‐Phase Ordering with Automatic Window Selection leads to a better depiction of coronary arteries and an increase in navigator efficiency. In addition to a high resolution image, this method also provides dynamic respiratory information without an increase in scan time. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.