bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Capture of cell-derived microvesicles (exosomes and apoptotic bodies) by human plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Authors: Bastos-Amador Patricia , Pérez-Cabezas Begoña , Izquierdo-Useros Nuria , Puertas Maria C , Martinez-Picado Javier , Pujol-Borrell Ricardo , Naranjo-Gómez Mar , Borràs Francesc E 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACT
cDCs and pDCs differ in multiple aspects. Among those, antigen capture is a recognized feature of cDCs, whereas pDCs display poor capacity to capture cell-derived antigens. However, animal models of organ transplantation suggested a role for pDCs in tolerance induction via phagocytosis of donor antigens. In a transplantation setting, microvesicles, such as apoptotic bodies and exosomes secreted by the graft, may be potential sources of alloantigen. Here, we tested the capacity of human pDCs to capture exosomes and apoptotic bodies from Jurkat T cells. Exosomes and apoptotic bodies were indeed captured by pDCs, although required longer times of incubation when compared with the highly endocytic cDCs. In cDCs and pDCs, exosome capture was more efficient than apoptotic bodies. Endocytosis inhibitors clearly impaired exosome capture by cDCs, although this could not be verified in pDCs as a result of cellular toxicity. Functionally, capture of Jurkat-derived exosomes did not induce nor prevent pDC maturation, and exosome-loaded pDCs induced T cell proliferation, suggesting a link between capture and presentation. Thus, exosomes and apoptotic bodies may be sources of antigen for human pDCs.
The prevalence of coronary artery variations on coronary computed tomography angiography
Authors: Erol Cengiz , Seker Mehmet 
Published: February 2012

Background Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) can delineate the coronary artery anatomy precisely. Basic knowledge of the normal coronary artery anatomy and familiarity with its common variations are essential in order to assess CCTA accurately. Purpose To determine the prevalence of coronary artery variations detected by 64-slice mutidetector CT. Material and Methods CCTA images of 2096 patients were evaluated retrospectively. Relatively unusual coronary artery morphological features that were seen in greater than 1% of the study population were classified as variations. Results Coronary artery circulation was right dominant in 86.6%, left dominant in 9.6%, and balanced in 3.8% of patients. The conus artery arose from the right coronary artery in 83%, or directly from the aorta with a separate ostium in 17% of cases which was much more common in men than women. The sinoatrial node artery originated from the right coronary artery (65.6%) or the circumflex artery (33.7%). The atrioventricular node artery originated from the right coronary artery in 86.4% or the circumflex artery in 13.6% of cases. The left main coronary artery was shorter than 0.5 cm in 4.7% of cases and trifurcated into the intermediate artery in 31.3% of cases. A myocardial bridge was observed in 21.6%, coronary ectasia-aneurysm in 2%, dual left anterior descending artery (LAD) type 1 in 1.38%, and a variant of type 1 in 0.1% of cases. The presence of coronary atherosclerosis was higher in patients with coronary ectasia-aneurysm than the patients who did not have coronary ectasia-aneurysm (90.5% vs. 72.2%, P = 0.000). Conclusion CCTA is a non-invasive imaging modality for the depiction of variations of the coronary arteries. The incidence of coronary artery variations is high and various, and readers should be familiar and looking for these conditions during interpretation of CCTA examinations.
Sustainable Piling Made of Recycled Polymers: State of the Art Review
Authors: Iskander Magued G. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
There has been increasing interest in the use of recycled polymer composites as a replacement for timber piling in coastal and waterfront environments. This trend is expected to grow because polymeric piling is more attractive than timber when life cycle costs are factored in, and also because polymeric piling is a creative method for the recycling and reuse of tons of plastic waste. However, composites face obstacles because they do not have a long track record of use in civil engineering structures. Polymeric piling is typically made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and reinforced with fiber reinforced polymer E-glass (FRP) or steel. This paper summarizes the current state of the art in polymeric piling practice, including (1) the mechanical properties of piling made of recycled polymers; (2) the durability of recycled polymers in aggressive soils; (3) the compressive creep of recycled HDPE and FRP; (4) drivability; (5) design considerations such as skin friction, end bearing, and buckling; and (6) load testing of polymeric piles.
A crystal chemical approach to superconductivity. II. An analysis of local bond-valence distribution in inorganic compounds
Authors: Klein Hans-Joachim , Liebau Friedrich 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
A crystal chemical approach to superconductivity based upon a bond-valence sum analysis of inorganic compounds is extended by an analysis of local bond-valence distribution. The notions of stoichiometric and structural valence together with Pauling’s rule of equal distribution of valences among the ligands of a given atom allow to provide a characterization for the strength of bonds which is used to define structurally distinguished bond paths. Combinations of these paths represent infinite units of strongly overlapping orbitals. Such units are assumed to be the conducting units in superconductors. A large number of crystal-structure data determined at ambient temperature and pressure has been analyzed including data of chalcogenides and pnictides as well as cuprates. It is shown that infinite units of strongly overlapping orbitals always exist in compounds which become superconducting on cooling with or without applied pressure and/or by doping. As a consequence, a systematic search for potential unconventional superconductors in inorganic crystallographic databases seems to be promising.
Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Progression to Diabetes in Patients at Risk for Diabetes
Authors: Pittas Anastassios G. , Nelson Jason , Mitri Joanna , Hillmann William , Garganta Cheryl , Nathan David M. , Hu Frank B. , Dawson-Hughes Bess ,   the Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between vitamin D status, assessed by plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and risk of incident diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Prospective observational study with a mean follow-up of 2.7 years in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a multicenter trial comparing different strategies for prevention of diabetes in patients with prediabetes. We assessed the association between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, measured repeatedly during follow-up, and incident diabetes in the combined placebo (n = 1,022) and intensive lifestyle (n = 1,017) randomized arms of the DPP. Variables measured at multiple study time points (25-hydroxyvitamin D, BMI, and physical activity) entered the analyses as time-varying “lagged” covariates, as the mean of the previous and current visits at which diabetes status was assessed.

RESULTS
After multivariate adjustment, including for the DPP intervention, participants in the highest tertile of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (median concentration, 30.1 ng/mL) had a hazard ratio of 0.72 (95% CI 0.56–0.90) for developing diabetes compared with participants in the lowest tertile (median concentration, 12.8 ng/mL). The association was in the same direction in placebo (0.70; 0.52–0.94) versus lifestyle arm (0.80; 0.54–1.17).

CONCLUSIONS
Higher plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D, assessed repeatedly, was associated with lower risk of incident diabetes in high-risk patients, after adjusting for lifestyle interventions (dietary changes, increased physical activity, and weight loss) known to decrease diabetes risk. Because of the observational nature of the study, the potential association between vitamin D and diabetes needs to be confirmed in intervention studies.
Unusual increase of Scd1 and Elovl6 expression in rat inguinal adipose tissue
Authors: Turyn Jacek , Mika Adriana , Stepnowski Piotr , Swierczynski Julian 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
It is generally accepted that the location of body fat deposits may play an important role in the risk of developing some endocrine and metabolic diseases. We have studied the effect of food restriction and food restriction/refeeding, often practiced by individuals trying to lose body weight, on the expression of genes which are associated with obesity and certain metabolic disorders in inguinal, epididymal, and perirenal rat white adipose tissues. Gene expression was analyzed by real time semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and by Western blot. We found that prolonged food restriction caused a significant decrease of body and adipose tissue mass as well as the increase of Scd1 and Elovl6 gene expressions in all main rat adipose tissue deposits. Food restriction/refeeding caused increases of: a) Scd1 and Elovl6 mRNA levels in adipose tissue, b) Scd1 protein level and c) desaturation index in adipose tissue. The increased expression of both genes was unusually high in inguinal adipose tissue. The results suggest that the increase of Scd1 and Elovl6 gene expressions in white adipose tissue by prolonged food restriction and prolonged food restriction/refeeding may contribute to accelerated fat recovery that often occurs in individuals after food restriction/refeeding.
Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of the Lower Dyje River Basin (Podyjí) at the Czech-Austrian border
Authors: Šebesta Oldřich , Gelbič Ivan , Minář Jan 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
During 2009–2011, mosquitoes were captured in CDC miniature light traps using CO2 (dry ice) at six sites in the Lower Dyje River Basin (Czech Republic). Other methods of capture — sweeping from vegetation and collection of larvae and pupae from ponds — were also used for more precise diagnostics. Thirty mosquito species of six genera were confirmed. A total of 415,218 females were captured. Most frequently found were the outbreak species Aedes vexans (56.52% of all mosquitoes collected) and Ae. sticticus (16.40%). Among other flood species, Ae. rossicus (5.17%), Ae. cantans and Ae. annulipes (2.44% of all females collected), and Ae. cinereus s. l. (1.11%) were especially abundant. Females of Ae. cataphylla were captured in spring (0.31%) and Ae. intrudens was numerous only at one site. Among the other species, Culex pipiens s. l. (6.61%) and Cx. modestus (8.87%) were abundant. Anopheles maculipennis s. l. (1.01%), An. claviger (0.43%), An. plumbeus (0.08%), An. hyrcanus (0.08%), Coquillettidia richiardii (0.52%) and Culiseta annulata (0.18%) were also detected. Sparsely occurring were Ae. excrucians, Ae. flavescens, Ae. caspius and Ae. geniculatus. Captured only very sporadically were Ae. communis, Ae. leucomelas, Ae. dorsalis, Ae. rusticus, Cx. martinii, Cx. territans, Cs. morsitans and Uranotaenia unguiculata.
Erratum to: Central European Journal of Biology, Volume 7, Issue 1
Authors: Hussein  
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Paper by Hussein et al. “Effectiveness of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae in agar gel formulations against larvae of the Colarado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)” in Volume 7, Issue 1, 77–82 9 / February 2012; DOI: 10.2478/s11535-011-0090-0 contains an error in the title. The correct title is presented below.
Macular Hole Surgery Prognostic Success Rates Based on Macular Hole Size
Authors: Salter Amanda B. , Folgar Francisco A. , Weissbrot Joseph , Wald Kenneth J. 
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the correlation between macular hole (MH) surgery outcomes and preoperative factors believed to affect surgical success rates.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A retrospective, consecutive case series was designed to evaluate the correlation between anatomic success and preoperative factors: MH duration prior to surgery, visual acuity (VA), and MH diameter measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) at the base and the narrowest midpoint.

RESULTS:

A total of 153 eyes were enrolled. There was no significant difference in mean duration prior to surgery for MH success and failure (
P
= .13). Mean preoperative VA was significantly better for MH success than failure (
P
= .03). Mean mid-hole diameter (
P
< .001) and mean base-hole diameter (
P
< .001) were significantly less for MH success than failure. Failure rate was 0% among eyes with mid-hole diameter less than 500 microns and 14.9% with mid-hole 500 microns or greater (
P
< .001). Failure rate was 0% among eyes with base-hole diameter less than 500 microns, 1.4% with base-hole 500 to 999 microns, and 19.1% with base-hole of 1,000 microns or greater (
P
= .001).

CONCLUSION:
Preoperative VA, mid-hole diameter, and base-hole diameter are correlated with anatomic success in MH surgery. An excellent surgical prognosis exists for MHs with mid-hole diameter less than 500 microns and base-hole less than 1,000 microns.
Simulation of Copolymer Phase Separation in One-Dimensional Thin Liquid Films
Authors: Yasuda Hidenori 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis paper discusses the development of an invariant finite difference scheme to simulate the microphase separation of copolymers in one-dimensional thin liquid films. The film phenomena are modelled using two-phase shallow water equations and the Ohta-Kawasaki potential, which governs the phase separation of the copolymer. Non-positive volume fractions and spurious oscillations are eventually eliminated, in simulating the one-dimensional phase separation lamellar pattern.
Coming to Terms with the Antagonism between Rhetorical Reflection and Political Agency
Authors: Welsh Scott 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWhat does it mean to say rhetoric scholarship should be relevant to democratic practice? A prevailing answer to this question insists that rhetoric scholars are participants in the democratic contest for power just like all other citizens, no more and no less. Drawing on the work of Slavoj Žižek, the argument of this essay is that reducing scholarship to a mode of political agency not only produces an increasingly uninhabitable academic identity but also draws our attention away from producing results of rhetorical inquiry designed to be useful to citizens in democracy. Clinging to the idea that academic practice is a mode of political action produces a fantastic blindness to the antagonism between scholarly reflection and political agency that structures academic purpose. While empirical barriers to the production of rhetorical resources suitable for democratic appropriation undoubtedly exist, ignoring the self-frustrating character of academic desire is no less of an impediment to the production of democratically consequential rhetoric scholarship.
On Mimetic Style in Plato'sRepublic
Authors: Winslow Russell 
Published: February 2012

AbstractIn this article the author offers a reading of mimetic style (lexis) as it is presented in book 3 of Plato's Republic with the aim of disclosing the importance of style in the acquisition and employment of knowledge—whether scientific or ethical. In fact, the author argues that a careful reading of Socrates' words in the text occasions the idea that reflection on the way that we imitate our inherited content—the ethos, the comportment, in which we exhibit that content—makes visible a potential to appropriate received content and imitated knowledge in original and wakeful ways. In consequence, the author argues that it might be style, not content, that harbors the capacity for us to take a genuine, critical responsibility for our inherited concepts.
Anisotropic Wetting Surfaces with One‐Dimesional and Directional Structures: Fabrication Approaches, Wetting Properties and Potential Applications
Authors: Xia Deying , Johnson Leah M. , López Gabriel P. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis review article provides a brief summary of recent research progress on anisotropic wetting on one‐dimensional (1D) and directionally patterned surfaces, as well as the technical importance in various applications. Inspiration from natural structures exhibiting anisotropic wetting behavior is first discussed. Development of fabrication techniques for topographically and chemically 1D patterned surfaces and directional nanomaterials are then reviewed, with emphasis on anisotropic behavior with topographically (structurally) patterned surfaces. The basic investigation of anisotropic wetting behavior and theoretical simulations for anisotropic wetting are also further reviewed. Perspectives concerning future direction of anisotropic wetting research and its potential applications in microfluidic devices, lab‐on‐a‐chip, sensor, microreactor and self‐cleaning are presented.
Asymmetric Construction of Quaternary Stereocenters: Synthesis of Enantiopure Amino Acid‐Based Tricyclic α,β‐Enones through an ipso‐Friedel–Crafts/Michael Addition Cascade
Authors: Rodríguez‐Solla Humberto , Concellón Carmen , Tuya Paula , García‐Granda Santiago , Díaz M. Rosario 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAn efficient reaction of the (2R,1′S)‐ or (2S,1′S)‐N,N‐bis(p‐methoxybenzyl)‐2‐(1‐aminoalkyl)epoxides, derived from α‐amino acids, with boron trifluoride‐phosphoric acid complex is described. This process affords highly elaborated enantiopure tricyclic α,β‐enones in high yields, through an ipso‐Friedel–Crafts/Michael addition cascade.
Copper‐Catalyzed Domino Synthesis of Benzimidazo[2,1‐b]quin‐ azolin‐12(6H)‐ones Using Cyanamide as a Building Block
Authors: Yang Daoshan , Wang Yuyuan , Yang Haijun , Liu Tao , Fu Hua 
Published: February 2012

AbstractA convenient copper‐catalyzed domino method for the synthesis of benzimidazo[2,1‐b]quinazolin‐12(6H)‐ones has been developed via reactions of readily available substituted 2‐bromo‐N‐(2‐halophenyl)benzamides with cyanamide, in which cyanamide acts as a useful building block.
Modular Furanoside Pseudodipeptides and Thioamides, Readily Available Ligand Libraries for Metal‐Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation Reactions: Scope and Limitations
Authors: Coll Mercedes , Ahlford Katrin , Pàmies Oscar , Adolfsson Hans , Diéguez Montserrat 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTwo new highly modular carbohydrate‐based, pseudodipeptide and thioamide ligand libraries have been synthesized for the rhodium‐ and ruthenium‐catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of prochiral ketones. These series of ligands can be prepared efficiently from easily accessible D‐xylose and D‐glucose. The ligand libraries contain two main ligand structures (pseudodipeptide and thioamide) that have been designed by making systematic modifications to one of the most successful ligand families developed for the ATH. As well as studying the effect of these two ligand structures on the catalytic performance, we also evaluated the effect of modifying several of the ligand parameters. We found that the effectiveness of the ligands at transferring the chiral information in the product can be tuned by correctly choosing the ligand components (ligand structure and ligand parameters). Excellent enantioselectivities (ees up to 99%) were therefore obtained in both enantiomers of the alcohol products using a wide range of substrates.
CX (X=Br, I) Bond‐Tolerant Aerobic Oxidative Cross‐ Coupling: A Strategy to Selectively Construct β‐Aryl Ketones and Aldehydes
Authors: Chen Mao , Wang Jie , Chai Ziyi , You Cai , Lei Aiwen 
Published: February 2012

AbstractUsing moelcular oxygen as the terminal oxidant, various aryl halide‐containing β‐aryl ketones and aldehydes can be synthesized directly from readily available allyic alcohols and boronic acids via palladium‐catalyzed oxidative cross‐coupling reactions. The dual roles of copper, including electron‐carrier and Lewis acid functions, are supposed to be critical for the high reactivity and selectivity of this aerobic oxidative coupling transformation.
Assessing Effect of the Reagglomeration and Migration of Chemical Curatives on the Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Vulcanizate
Authors: Saeed Farhan , Ansarifar Ali , Ellis Robert J. , Haile‐Meskel Yared 
Published: February 2012

AbstractNatural rubber was mixed with a high loading of a sulfur‐bearing silanized silica nanofiller and cured by adding a sulfenamide accelerator and zinc oxide. The rubber was cured at 85° and 140°C, which were below and above the melting point of the accelerator, respectively, and stored at ambient temperature for up to 60 days to allow full blooming to appear. The mechanical properties of the rubber vulcanizate were measured and found to be affected by the blooming of the accelerator on the rubber surface, which also damaged the internal structure of the rubber. Below the melting point of the accelerator there was little or no reagglomeration and some migration of the accelerator, whereas above the melting point there were reagglomeration and extensive migration of the accelerator to the rubber surface. The latter was more damaging to the rubber properties than the former. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 32: E153–E165, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/adv.21259
Dynamic computer modeling of environmental systems for decision making, risk assessment and design
Authors: Markatos Nikos C. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTThis paper describes the mathematical modeling and associated computer simulations of environmental problems related to flow and heat/mass transfer. Many key ‘issues’ in designing environmental protection systems and in performing environmental risk assessment and control are related to the behavior of fluids in turbulent flow, often involving more than one phase, with chemical reaction or heat transfer. Computational‐fluid‐dynamics (CFD) techniques have shown great potential for analyzing these processes and are very valuable to the environmental engineer and scientist, by reducing the need to resort to ‘cut and try’ approaches to the design of complex environmental protection systems and to any relevant decision‐making process. Multidimensional, multiphase dynamic models for the dispersion of air, water, and soil pollutants and for the prediction of environmental risks are presented. Up‐to‐date procedures and methods for solving the relevant equations are included, together with indications of the computational resources necessary to obtain realistic representations. Results using model simulations are presented for several cases of atmospheric and marine pollution, as well as for the environmental risks of fires and of petrol‐tank explosions. It is concluded that the results are physically plausible and can be used with confidence for environmental policy decisions and for the design of environmentally friendly processes and equipment. Air, water, and soil management systems can be improved by the application of these computational prediction techniques. Copyright © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient and validated simulation of crowds for an evacuation assistant
Authors: Wagoum Armel Ulrich Kemloh , Chraibi Mohcine , Mehlich Jonas , Seyfried Armin , Schadschneider Andreas 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTTo improve safety at mass events, an evacuation assistant that supports security services in case of emergencies is developed. One central aspect is forecasting the emergency egress of large crowds in complex buildings. This requires realistic models of pedestrian dynamics that can be simulated faster than real‐time by using methods applied in high performance computing. We give an overview of the project and present the actual results. We also describe the modeling approaches used thereby focusing on the runtime optimization and parallelization concepts. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.