bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pseudocyesis as a cause of abdomen enlargement in a female adolescent
Authors: Škrabić Veselin , Vlastelica Željka , Vučinović Zoran 
Published: August 2011

AbstractPseudocyesis is a rare condition in the pediatric population characterized by all signs and symptoms of pregnancy except the existence of a fetus [1]. In some patients it is associated with organic etiology, in others with mental disorders, also occurs in those without disorders in their medical history. Pseudocyesis occurs in both sexes, but more frequently in women. An effective treatment is a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy with antidepressants and antipsychotics [2]. We present a 15,9-year old girl with pseudocyesis as a cause of abdomen enlargement, who comes from an ordinary family with a negative history of psychiatric illness. The organic etiology of her condition was excluded, and therefore she was treated with antidepressants which contributed to the resolution of her case.
Dynamic simulations of waste water treatment plant operation
Authors: Derco Ján , Černochová Lenka , Krcho Ľubomír , Lalai Antonio 
Published: August 2011

AbstractActivated Sludge Model No. 1 (ASM1) was used to model the biological stage of an actual waste water treatment plant (WWTP). Some possibilities for the utilisation of simulation programs for WWTP operation are presented. Simulation calculations were performed taking the conditions of WWTP in Nové Zámky, the Slovak Republic, into consideration, where measurements of the diurnal variations in waste water flow and composition at the inlet and outlet were carried out. A calibrated model predicting the influence of changes in the waste water composition and the operational parameters on the effluent waste water quality and related operational costs is available. Values of the operational parameters (solids retention time, internal recirculation flow, dissolved oxygen concentration) for effective operation (effluent concentration values, oxygen consumption, charges, i.e. charges for waste water discharge into the recipient water body) of the WWTP were obtained by simulations. The presented results are for illustration purposes only and are not intended as instructions for the operation of a waste water treatment plant. They correspond to the calibrated mathematical model ASM 1 based on the results of experimental measurements and operational data, as well as on the technical and monitoring level of the WWTP.
A simple and efficient one-pot synthesis of Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridines using silica sulphuric acid as a heterogeneous and reusable catalyst under solvent-free conditions
Authors: Kolvari Eskandar , Zolfigol Mohammad , Koukabi Nadiya , Shirmardi-Shaghasemi Behzad 
Published: August 2011

AbstractA simple, inexpensive and efficient one-pot synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives under solvent-free conditions using silica sulphuric acid (SSA) as a heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst is reported.
Influence of recycling and temperature on the swelling ability of paper
Authors: Letková Erika , Letko Michal , Vrška Milan 
Published: August 2011

AbstractHornification is the loss of fiber wall swelling which is detrimental to subsequent recycling resulting from drying. It is known that dried fibers lose their conformability and swelling capacity. The effect of recycling treatment on the swelling ability of hardwood bleached kraft pulp fibers was determined. Modelling paper recycling, sheets were recycled using heat treatment (23°C, 60°C, 100°C). The results were compared with those for natural fibers from bleached kraft pulp. Swelling kinetics of sheets was measured by a modified method monitoring interactions of pulp with water. Swelling ability decreased during the recycling in comparison with never-recycled pulp at all temperatures. Recycling of sheets caused only small changes in the cupri-ethylene-diamine viscosity, however, the water retention value decreased considerably.
Calculation and Measurement of Coil Inductance Profile in Tubular Linear Reluctance Motor and its Validation by Three Dimensional FEM
Authors: Mosallanejad Ali , Shoulaie Abbas 
Published: August 2011

Calculation and Measurement of Coil Inductance Profile in Tubular Linear Reluctance Motor and its Validation by Three Dimensional FEMThis paper reports a study of coil inductance profile in all positions of plunger in tubular linear reluctance motors (TLRMs) with open type magnetic circuits. In this paper, maximum inductance calculation methods in winding of tubular linear reluctance motors are described based on energy method. Furthermore, in order to calculate the maximum inductance, equivalent permeability is measured. Electromagnetic finite-element analysis for simulation and calculation of coil inductance in this motor is used. Simulation results of coil inductance calculation using 3-D FEM with coil current excitation is compared to theoretical and experimental results. The comparison yields a good agreement.
Cutting Edge: Accelerated Autoimmune Diabetes in the Absence of LAG-3
Authors: Bettini Maria , Szymczak-Workman Andrea L. , Forbes Karen , Castellaw Ashley H. , Selby Mark , Pan Xiaoyu , Drake Charles G. , Korman Alan J. , Vignali Dario A. A. 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3; CD223) is a CD4 homolog that is required for maximal regulatory T cell function and for the control of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell homeostasis. Lag3−/− NOD mice developed substantially accelerated diabetes with 100% incidence. Adoptive transfer experiments revealed that LAG-3 was primarily responsible for limiting the pathogenic potential of CD4+ T cells and, to a lesser extent, CD8+ T cells. Lag3−/− mice exhibited accelerated, invasive insulitis, corresponding to increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell islet infiltration and intraislet proliferation. The frequencies of islet Ag-reactive chromogranin A-specific CD4+ T cells and islet specific glucose-6-phosphatase-specific CD8+ T cells were significantly increased in the islets of Lag3−/− mice, suggesting an early expansion of pathogenic clones that is normally restrained by LAG-3. We conclude that LAG-3 is necessary for regulating CD4+ and CD8+ T cell function during autoimmune diabetes, and thus may contribute to limiting autoimmunity in disease-prone environments.
ORAI1 Deficiency Impairs Activated T Cell Death and Enhances T Cell Survival
Authors: Kim Kyun-Do , Srikanth Sonal , Yee Ma-Khin Win , Mock Dennis C. , Lawson Gregory W. , Gwack Yousang 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
ORAI1 is a pore subunit of Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ channels that mediate TCR stimulation-induced Ca2+ entry. A point mutation in ORAI1 (ORAI1R91W) causes SCID in human patients that is recapitulated in Orai1−/− mice, emphasizing its important role in the immune cells. In this study, we have characterized a novel function of ORAI1 in T cell death. CD4+ T cells from Orai1−/− mice showed robust proliferation with repetitive stimulations and strong resistance to stimulation-induced cell death due to reduced mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and altered gene expression of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic molecules (e.g., Fas ligand, Noxa, and Mcl-1). Nuclear accumulation of NFAT was severely reduced in ORAI1-deficient T cells, and expression of ORAI1 and a constitutively active mutant of NFAT recovered cell death. These results indicate NFAT-mediated cell death pathway as one of the major downstream targets of ORAI1-induced Ca2+ entry. By expressing various mutants of ORAI1 in wild-type and Orai1−/− T cells to generate different levels of intracellular Ca2+, we have shown that activation-induced cell death is directly proportional to the intracellular Ca2+ concentration levels. Consistent with the in vitro results, Orai1−/− mice showed strong resistance to T cell depletion induced by injection of anti-CD3 Ab. Furthermore, ORAI1-deficient T cells showed enhanced survival after adoptive transfer into immunocompromised hosts. Thus, our results demonstrate a crucial role of the ORAI1–NFAT pathway in T cell death and highlight the important role of ORAI1 as a major route of Ca2+ entry during activated T cell death.
An Acquired Defect in IgG-Dependent Phagocytosis Explains the Impairment in Antibody-Mediated Cellular Depletion in Lupus
Authors: Ahuja Anupama , Teichmann Lino L. , Wang Haowei , Dunn Robert , Kehry Marilyn R. , Shlomchik Mark J. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractB cells play important roles in autoimmune diseases ranging from multiple sclerosis to rheumatoid arthritis. B cells have also long been considered central players in systemic lupus erythematosus. However, anti-CD20–mediated B cell depletion was not effective in two clinical lupus studies, whereas anti-B lymphocyte stimulator, which inhibits B cell survival, was effective. Others and we previously found that anti-CD20–based depletion was surprisingly ineffective in tissues of lupus-prone mice, but that persistent high doses eventually led to depletion and ameliorated lupus. Lupus patients might also have incomplete depletion, as suggested in several studies, and which could have led to therapeutic failure. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of resistance to Ab-mediated cellular depletion in murine lupus. B cells from lupus-prone mice were easily depleted when transferred into normal environments or in lupus-prone mice that lacked serum Ig. Serum from lupus-prone mice transferred depletion resistance, with the active component being IgG. Because depletion is FcγR-dependent, we assayed macrophages and neutrophils exposed to lupus mouse serum, showing that they are impaired in IgG-mediated phagocytosis. We conclude that depletion resistance is an acquired, reversible phagocytic defect depending on exposure to lupus serum IgG. These results have implications for optimizing and monitoring cellular depletion therapy.
MAD Saturated Families and SANE Player
Authors: Shelah Saharon 
Published: August 2011

AbstractWe throw some light on the question: is there a MAD family (a maximal family of infinite subsets of ℕ, the intersection of any two is finite) that is saturated (=completely separable i.e., any X ⊆ ℕ is included in a finite union of members of the family or includes a member (and even continuum many members) of the family). We prove that it is hard to prove the consistency of the negation:(i) if 2ℵ0 < ℵω, then there is such a family;(ii) if there is no such family, then some situation related to pcf holds whose consistency is large (and if a* > ℵ1 even unknown);(iii) if, e.g., there is no inner model with measurables, then there is such a family.
Gosset Polytopes in Picard Groups of del Pezzo Surfaces
Authors: Lee Jae-Hyouk 
Published: August 2011

Abstract In this article, we study the correspondence between the geometry of del Pezzo surfaces Sr and the geometry of the r-dimensional Gosset polytopes (r − 4)21. We construct Gosset polytopes (r −4)21 in Pic Sr ꕕ ℚ whose vertices are lines, and we identify divisor classes in Pic Sr corresponding to (a − 1)-simplexes (a ≤ r), (r − 1)-simplexes and (r − 1)-crosspolytopes of the polytope (r − 4)21. Then we explain how these classes correspond to skew a-lines(a ≤ r), exceptional systems, and rulings, respectively.As an application, we work on the monoidal transform for lines to study the local geometry of the polytope (r−4)21. And we show that the Gieser transformation and the Bertini transformation induce a symmetry of polytopes 321 and 421, respectively.
The dehydration kinetics, physical properties and nutritional content of banana textured by instantaneous controlled pressure drop
Authors: Setyopratomo Puguh , Fatmawati Akbarningrum , Sutrisna Putu Doddy , Savitri Emma , Allaf Karim 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTTexturing by instantaneous controlled pressure drop is used to modify texture of banana slices, which was aimed to improve properties of banana flour. Texturing step is inserted between initial and final hot air drying steps. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of the texturing on the dehydration kinetic, physical properties and nutritional characteristic of banana. Some impacts of the texturing have been identified. The results of this work showed that the texturing increased the effective moisture diffusivity and the water holding capacity, but reduced the oil holding capacity of banana. This work also showed that the banana texturing inhibited the transformation of banana starch to reduction of sugar that might be attributable to enzyme deactivation during the texturing process. © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coagulation–flocculation of colloidal suspensions of kaolinite, bentonite, and alumina by chitosan sulfate
Authors: Rios‐Donato Nely , Navarro Ricardo , Avila‐Rodriguez Mario , Mendizábal Eduardo 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThis article reports on the removal of colloidal suspensions of kaolinite, bentonite, and alumina using chitosan sulfate (ChS). ChS was synthesized by partial introduction of sulfate groups in the chitosan (Ch) structure. The polyampholyte (chitosan sulfate) shows variable charge depending on the pH of the solution. ChS was characterized by FTIR, 13C‐NMR, elemental analysis, and potentiometric titrations. The ChS coagulation–flocculation capacity for kaolinite, bentonite, and alumina aqueous suspensions was systematically studied. The coagulation–flocculation process was carried out at various pH values and ChS concentrations. The pH range in which the largest ChS removal capacity was observed depended on particle type (4.5–5.5 for kaolinite, 4.5–7.0 for bentonite, and 7.0–8.0 for alumina). The removal of colloidal particles is explained by charge neutralization due to electrostatic interactions between ChS and particles and particle entrapping when the polyelectrolyte precipitates. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Effect of bark flour on melt rheological behavior of high density polyethylene
Authors: Sewda Kamini , Maiti S. N. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe melt rheological behavior of neem bark flour (BF) filled high density polyethylene (HDPE) has been studied at varying volume fraction (ϕf) from 0 to 0.26 at 180, 190, and 200°C in the shear rate range from 100 to 5000 s−1 using extruded pellets of the composites. The melt viscosity of HDPE increases with ϕf because the BF particles obstruct the flow of HDPE. With the incorporation of the coupling agent HDPE‐g‐MAH, the viscosity decreased compared to the corresponding compositions in the HDPE/BF systems due to a plasticizing/lubricating effect by HDPE‐g‐MAH. The composites obeyed power law behavior in the melt flow. The power law index decreases with increase in the filler content and increases with temperature for the corresponding systems while the consistency index showed the opposite trend. The activation energy for viscous flow exhibited inappreciable change with either ϕf or inclusion of the coupling agent, however, the pre‐exponential factor increased with filler concentration. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Synthesis of functionalizable and biodegradable polymers via ring‐opening polymerization of 5‐benzyloxy‐trimethylene carbonate and ε‐caprolactone
Authors: Lai Kui‐Lin , Ji Li‐Jie , Long Chun‐Yan , Li Li , He Bin , Wu Yao , Gu Zhong‐Wei 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe biomedical applications of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) were limited for its high hydrophobicity and crystallinity. In this study, we copolymerized CL with amorphous 5‐hydroxyl‐trimethylene carbonate (HTMC) to solve the problem. The 5‐benzyloxy‐trimethylene carbonate (BTMC) was synthesized to copolymerize with CL, then hydrogenolyzed to obtain hydroxyl pendant groups. A serial of copolymers with different BTMC molar ratio were synthesized and their chemical structures and thermal properties were thoroughly studied with NMR, FT‐IR, GPC, XRD, DSC, and TGA. Finally we examined the water contact angle of the copolymers. DSC and XRD results showed that the PCL segments in the copolymers crystallized below 16.8%. BTMC molar content and the crystallinity of the copolymers increased after hydrolysis. With the introduced hydroxyl pendant groups, the deprotected copolymers improved their hydrophilic property significantly, and the copolymer with 9.3% HTMC molar content had static water contact angle as low as 36.5°. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Surface modification of vulcanized rubber by radiation grafting, part 2: Improvement in performance of wiper rubber
Authors: Mizote N. , Katakai A. , Tamada M. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractSurface of natural rubber was modified by radiation‐induced grafting of hydrophilic monomer, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), to improve the properties of surface hardness, dry friction, wiping performance, and wear duration. The ratio of grafted‐HEMA to the rubber near the surface layer of HEMA‐grafted rubber was analyzed by FT‐IR and expressed as composition ratio. The composition ratio was controlled from 0.29 to 0.93 by changing HEMA concentration and dose in graft polymerization. When this composition ratio was higher than 0.8, the surface hardness was higher than 70 and the coefficient of dry friction lower than 0.65. Those values became better than those of commercially available chlorinated‐rubber in terms of wear and friction against glass. The surface hardness in wet state became very close to natural rubber since grafted‐HEMA was softened by contacting with water. As a result, the grafted‐HEMA rubber realized 95% and higher wiping performance of water on glass. Additionally, the wear resistance was eight times higher than chlorinated rubber. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Engineering lysine‐rich caleosins as carrier proteins to render biotin as a hapten on artificial oil bodies for antibody production
Authors: Liu Ting‐Hang , Chyan Chia‐Lin , Li Feng‐Yin , Chen Ying‐Jie , Tzen Jason T. C. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIt has been demonstrated that caleosin alone is sufficient to stabilize artificial oil bodies. A series of recombinant caleosins, mutated with 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 15, and 17 extra Lys residues and over‐expressed in Escherichia coli, were used as carrier proteins to render biotin as a hapten on the surface of artificial oil bodies for antibody production. Biotinylation levels of the recombinant caleosins were step‐wisely elevated as the number of extra Lys residues increased, and the biotinylated Lys residues were identified by mass spectrometric analysis. Polyclonal antibodies against biotin were successfully generated in rats injected with artificial oil bodies constituted with each of the biotinylated caleosins. Moreover, those generated via the biotinylated caleosins with eight or more extra Lys residues no longer recognized caleosin. It appears that engineered Lys‐rich caleosins are suitable carrier proteins for the production of antibodies against small molecules. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2011
Reproductive changes in American kestrels (Falco sparverius) in relation to exposure to technical hexabromocyclododecane flame retardant
Authors: Fernie Kim J , Marteinson Sarah C , Bird David M , Ritchie Ian J , Letcher Robert J 
Published: August 2011

Abstract
Recently, the ban of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), a high-production-volume flame retardant, was announced in Europe and North America. However, the effects of HCBD remain understudied in birds. The objectives of the present comparative effects study were to determine whether exposure to an HBCD technical mixture (HBCD-TM) altered avian reproductive measures at an environmentally relevant concentration. American kestrels were exposed daily by food to HBCD-TM, i.e., 0.51 µg HBCD/g kestrel/d; exposed kestrels laid eggs that had α-HBCD concentrations (163.5 ± 75.1 ng/g wet wt) tenfold greater than β- and γ-HBCD isomers, an isomer profile and concentrations similar to those of eggs of wild peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus). Concentrations of HBCD were not detected in the control kestrel eggs. In comparison with controls, the kestrels exposed to HBCD began to lay their eggs 6 d earlier and laid larger clutches of smaller eggs. The size of the eggs was inversely correlated with the in ovo α-HBCD concentrations. The smaller eggs of the HBCD exposed kestrels also lost more weight by midincubation, suggesting increased eggshell porosity since eggshell thickness was comparable. Generally birds that lay more eggs and lay earlier in the breeding season gain the advantage of better hatching and fledging success, yet the kestrels exposed to HBCD failed to have better reproductive success than the control birds. These reproductive changes were a function of HBCD exposure, likely through changes in food consumption, with possible impacts on, for example, reproductive behavior and/or alterations in thyroid hormones. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011;30:2570–2575. © 2011 SETAC
Platelet‐derived growth factor‐responsive neural precursors give rise to myelinating oligodendrocytes after transplantation into the spinal cords of contused rats and dysmyelinated mice
Authors: Plemel Jason R. , Chojnacki Andrew , Sparling Joseph S. , Liu Jie , Plunet Ward , Duncan Greg J. , Park So Eyun , Weiss Samuel , Tetzlaff Wolfram 
Published: August 2011

AbstractSpinal cord injury (SCI) results in substantial oligodendrocyte death and subsequent demyelination leading to white‐matter defects. Cell replacement strategies to promote remyelination are under intense investigation; however, the optimal cell for transplantation remains to be determined. We previously isolated a platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐responsive neural precursor (PRP) from the ventral forebrain of fetal mice that primarily generates oligodendrocytes, but also astrocytes and neurons. Importantly, human PRPs were found to possess a greater capacity for oligodendrogenesis than human epidermal growth factor‐ and/or fibroblast growth factor‐responsive neural stem cells. Therefore, we tested the potential of PRPs isolated from green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐expressing transgenic mice to remyelinate axons in the injured rat spinal cord. PRPs were transplanted 1 week after a moderate thoracic (T9) spinal cord contusion in adult male rats. After initial losses, PRP numbers remained stable from 2 weeks posttransplantation onward and those surviving cells integrated into host tissue. Approximately one‐third of the surviving cells developed the typical branched phenotype of mature oligodendrocytes, expressing the marker APC‐CC1. The close association of GFP cells with myelin basic protein as well as with Kv1.2 and Caspr in the paranodal and juxtaparanodal regions of nodes of Ranvier indicated that the transplanted cells successfully formed mature myelin sheaths. Transplantation of PRPs into dysmyelinated Shiverer mice confirmed the ability of PRP‐derived cells to produce compact myelin sheaths with normal periodicity. These findings indicate that PRPs are a novel candidate for CNS myelin repair, although PRP‐derived myelinating oligodendrocytes were insufficient to produce behavioral improvements in our model of SCI. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Regulation of anti‐apoptotic BCL2‐proteins by non‐canonical interactions: The next step forward or two steps back?
Authors: Beverly Levi J. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAll aspects of cellular biology affect the process of regulated cell death, or apoptosis, and disruption of this process is a causative event in many diseases. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of all pathways that regulate apoptosis would increase our knowledge of basic cellular functions, as well as the etiologies of many diseases. In turn, we may be able to use this knowledge to better treat patients with diseases, including cancer. Although the basic signaling pathway that regulates apoptosis has been known for over 10 years, we still have much to learn about the upstream signaling components that can directly regulate the core apoptosis machinery. The focus of this review will be to direct attention to non‐canonical regulators of the BCL2‐family of proteins, especially our void of understanding of such interactions, and the controversy that surrounds some such interactions. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 3–12, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.