bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic Islets from Non-Heart-Beating Donor Pig: Two-layer Preservation Method in an in Vitro Porcine Model
Authors: Gioviale Maria Concetta , Damiano Giuseppe , Palumbo Vincenzo Davide , Bellavia Maurizio , Cacciabaudo Francesco , Cassata Giovanni , Puleio Roberto , Altomare Roberta , Lo Monte Attilio Ignazio 
Published: July 2011

Purpose Pancreata from non-heart beating donors could represent an unlimited source of islets if their cell viability can be efficiently preserved during the time necessary to process the organs by the use of a better solution of preservation compared to the classic University of Wisconsin solution. The aim of this study was to determine whether it is possible to obtain functioning “alive islets” from non-heart-beating donors by comparing, on a porcine model, the classic “UW ice-store” method with a two-layer cold storage method (TLM) using oxygenated Perfluorocarbons (PFC) and UW. Methods Whole pancreata were harvested from 20 NHBDs female pigs with similar characteristics and preserved for 4 h in UW solution (n=10) or TLM (UW/PFC) solution (n=10). The isolated islets were then evaluated for number, viability, purity, and insulin secretion, also estimated after 8 weeks of cryopreservation. Results The total number of islets obtained from isolation, and their function assayed by the insulin stimulation index, before and after cryopreservation, showed a higher value in the TLM group. No significative differences in terms of purity and viability before and after cryopreservation were found when comparing the two groups. Conclusions TLM solution for NHBDs porcine pancreata with cold ischemia time lower than 4 h offers significant advantages over UW solution storage, thereby increasing the isolation yield and isolation success rate of the pancreatic porcine islets.
Role of the Hemodialysis Vascular Access Type in Inflammation Status and Monocyte Activation
Authors: Colì Luigi , Donati Gabriele , Cappuccilli Maria L. , Cianciolo Giuseppe , Comai Giorgia , Cuna Vania , Carretta Elisa , La Manna Gaetano , Stefoni Sergio 
Published: July 2011

Purpose The aim of this study was to ascertain the role of different vascular access types in inflammatory status, monocyte activation, and senescence in hemodialysis patients. Methods We recruited 126 hemodialysis patients, including 51 with arterovenous fistula (AVF), 32 with arterovenous graft (AVG), and 43 with tunneled cuffed catheters (TCC). In dialysis patients enrolled in the study and in a control group of 40 healthy subjects, we measured the serum levels of albumin, CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α, the expression of CD14, CD44, and CD32 on monocyte surface, and the percentage of monocytes exhibiting a senescent phenotype (CD14+CD32+). Results The patients with AVG compared to those with AVF had: a) higher levels of CRP and TNF-α; b) increased expression of CD14 and CD32 on monocyte surface, with no difference in CD44 expression; c) no difference in the percentage of CD14+CD32+ monocytes. In the comparison of TCC vs. AVF group, we observed significantly higher values of: a) circulating inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α); b) monocyte surface expression of cellular activation markers (CD14, CD44 and CD32); c) relative count of CD14+CD32+ monocytes. When comparing TCC vs. AVG group, we found: a) no difference in serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α; b) no difference in the expression of CD14, CD44, and CD32 on monocyte surface; c) no difference in the percentage of CD14+CD32+ monocytes. Conclusions These results suggest that the use of AVG and TCC for dialysis vascular access is associated with serological and cellular indexes of inflammatory reaction, also resulting in a higher degree of monocyte activation and senescence.
Glucose but not N-Acetylglucosamine Accelerates in vitro Senescence of Human Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells
Authors: Ciszewicz Marta , Wu George , Tam Paul , Połubinska Alicja , Bręborowicz Andrzej 
Published: July 2011

Background Preservation of the mesothelial cells (MCs) is crucial for longevity of the peritoneal dialysis membrane. Glucose accelerates aging of MC and we tested whether N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) has an identical effect. Methods Replicative aging of MCs was studied during 10 passages performed every three days in cells cultured in standard medium or in medium supplemented with Glucose 30 mmol/L or NAG 30 mmol/L. Changes in population doubling time and β-galactosidase activity were used as an index of aging and compared with other cellular parameters. Results Repeated passages of MC cause their aging, as reflected by prolongation of the population doubling time, increased β-galactosidase activity, oxidative stress and release of cytokines. Healing of injured mesothelial monolayer is impaired in senescent cells. Glucose accelerates in vitro aging of MC, whereas NAG does not cause this effect. Conclusions Replacement of glucose with NAG in the dialysis fluid can slow down aging of MC.
Experience with Ulcerated, Bleeding Autologous Dialysis Fistulas
Authors: Jaffers Gregory J. , Fasola Carlos G. 
Published: July 2011

Purpose The incidence of ulcerated, bleeding, autologous, hemodialysis fistulas has been felt to be increasing in recent years. This review was undertaken to examine our experience with patients who presented with episodes of spontaneous bleeding in the presence of an ulcerated lesion over their autologous dialysis accesses. Methods A database of hemodialysis access procedures was reviewed for individuals with spontaneous bleeding from ulcerations. Twenty-four patients were identified with 28 ulcerating lesions over a ten-year period from 2001 to 2011. Each had at least a single episode of spontaneous bleeding. Treatment methods were reviewed including five techniques of surgical intervention. Results Two of 24 patients expired from major hemorrhagic events before obtaining surgical consultation (8.3%). Twenty-one patients (87.5%) underwent 28 surgical procedures for correction of the ulcers. One patient (4.1%) with simultaneous ulcers healed under antibiotic therapy during close observation in hospital. Simple suturing of the ulcer was found to be inconsistent in effectively maintaining hemostasis. Surgical excision of the ulcer with primary closure, vein patching of the fistula, or end-end anastomosis were equally effective in definitively correcting the problem. Conclusions The ulcerated autologous dialysis fistula is a life-threatening lesion and requires prompt surgical intervention to reduce mortality. The frequency of this problem appears to be increasing. Simple suturing of the ulcers was not consistently effective in remedying the problem and should be utilized as a temporizing measure until surgical correction can be undertaken. Fistulas can be uniformly salvaged with surgical intervention enabling uninterrupted dialysis treatments.
Pictures in Test Items: Effects on Response Time and Response Correctness
Authors: Saß Steffani , Wittwer Jörg , Senkbeil Martin , Köller Olaf 
Published: June 2011

SummaryAlthough pictures are often added to text in items of educational tests, little is known about their influence on item solving. Therefore, we conducted an experiment in which we examined how pictures affected item solving. A total of N = 158 fourth‐grade students completed a physics knowledge test under one of six experimental conditions. The experimental conditions varied according to whether or not pictures were presented in the stem and in the answer options of the test items. The results showed that pictures in the stem and in the answer options increased the correctness with which students responded to the test items. This was particularly true for test items that required the application of relationships. In addition, response time was reduced when pictures were added to the answer options of the test items. Hence, pictures are an important feature of test items that produce changes in item processing. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Periodically Laser Patterned FeBSi Amorphous Ribbons: Phase Evolution and Mechanical Behavior
Authors: Harimkar Sandip P. , Paital Sameer R. , Wang Gangyao , Liaw Peter K. , Dahotre Narendra B. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe properties of amorphous alloys are significantly influenced by structural relaxation and partial/full crystallization induced by thermal annealing of the alloy. In this paper, the phase evolution and mechanical behavior of laser‐patterned FeBSi amorphous alloys are reported. The laser patterning was employed to cause localized thermal effects on the surface of amorphous ribbons. The laser irradiation with a lower fluence (12 J · cm−2) caused significant embrittlement of the alloy due to the structural relaxation. The partial crystallization of an amorphous alloy into α‐Fe(Si) was also observed with laser irradiation using higher laser fluences (15 and 17 J · cm−2). The embrittlement effect due to laser‐irradiation‐induced crystallization was more severe than that due to structural relaxation.
Platinum Phosphors Containing an Aryl‐modified β‐Diketonate: Unusual Effect of Molecular Packing on Photo‐ and Electroluminescence
Authors: Chen Chin‐Hsien , Wu Fang‐Iy , Tsai Yin‐Yen , Cheng Chien‐Hong 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThree new FPt1 [(2‐(4′,6′‐difluorophenyl)pyridinato‐N,C2′)(2,4‐pentanedionato‐ O,O)Pt(II)] analogues, Ph‐FPt, CzP‐FPt, and mCzP‐FPt, chelated with a 3‐aryl‐substituted acac ligand were synthesized. As shown by the results of X‐ray diffraction, the nearest neighboring molecules in the FPt1, Ph‐FPt, and CzP‐FPt crystals have a Pt–Pt distance of ~4.5, 4.5, and 7.0 Å, respectively. In contrast, in the mCzP‐FPt crystals, the nearest neighboring molecules exhibit a Pt–Pt distance of only 3.49 Å. All four Pt complexes show the same monomeric emission spectrum in dilute solution. However, in the crystalline state, mCzP‐FPt with a clear Pt–Pt bimetallic interaction shows only the low‐energy orange broadband emission; complexes FPt1, Ph‐FPt, and CzP‐FPt without significant Pt–Pt interaction (Pt–Pt distance > 4 Å) give higher‐energy emission closely resembling that of the monomeric species. The results provide clear evidence that the Pt–Pt bimetallic interaction is responsible for the low‐energy broadband emission of these Pt complexes. Unlike in the crystalline state, all of the four platinum complexes in the thin film give only the low‐energy broadband emissions with some difference in wavelength. In a similar manner, these platinum complexes‐based, non‐doped electroluminescence (EL) devices also emit only low‐energy orange broadband light. The non‐doped EL device using CzP‐FPt as the emitter showed a very promising external quantum efficiency of 10%, nearly five times higher than that of the FPt1 control device. The higher EL efficiency of the CzP‐FPt non‐doped device is mainly ascribed to the lower concentration of Pt–Pt dimers that effectively suppresses the self‐quenching between the orange emissive dimers.
Highly Regio‐ and Stereoselective Iodohydroxylation of 1,2‐Allenylic Sulfoxides in the Presence of Benzyl Thiol
Authors: Wang Minyan , Fu Chunling , Ma Shengming 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe iodohydroxylation of 1,2‐allenyl sulfoxides with iodine in the presence of benzyl thiol afforded 3‐hydroxy‐2‐iodo‐2(E)‐alkenyl sulfides in good yields and high regio‐ and stereoselectivities. In this reaction it was observed that the sulfoxide functionality was reduced to sulfide and the water in the reaction mixture plays an important role for the stereoselectivity observed. A mechanism involving the attack of benzyl thiol at the positively charged sulfur atom in the five‐membered intermediate 2 has been proposed.
Enhanced photocatalytic performance of nanocrystalline TiO2 membrane by both slow photons and stop‐band reflection of photonic crystals
Authors: Chen Sheng‐Li , Wang Ai‐Jun , Hu Chun‐Tian , Dai Chao , Benziger Jay B. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractAn nc‐TiO2/SnO2 inverse opal composite membrane was fabricated, the photo‐activity of which was significantly enhanced by utilizing both slow photons and stop‐band reflection of the photonic crystal layer. The materials of the photonic crystal layer must be transparent in the area of adsorption edge of the nc‐TiO2, so that SnO2, having much greater electronic band gap than TiO2, was used for the materials of the photonic crystal layer. The photonic band‐gap of the SnO2 photonic crystal was designed at the semiconductor band gap of TiO2 to harvest slow photons in the interface between the SnO2 layer and the TiO2 layer. The two layer structure makes it possible to couple the stop‐band reflectivity of the photonic layer to the photocatalyst. Composite membranes can improve solar energy harvesting and substantially improve photocatalysts for photolysis and photochemical degradation of environmental pollutants. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
Nonlinear quality prediction for multiphase batch processes
Authors: Ge Zhiqiang , Song Zhihuan , Gao Furong 
Published: June 2011

AbstractTypically, a multiphase batch process comprises several steady phases and transition periods. In steady phases, the data characteristics remain similar during the phase and have a significant repeatability from batch to batch; thus most data nonlinearities can be removed through the batch normalization step. In contrast, in each transition period, process observations vary with time and from batch to batch, so nonlinearities in the data may not be eliminated through batch normalization. To improve quality prediction performance, an efficient nonlinear modeling method—relevance vector machine (RVM) was introduced. RVMs were formulated for each transition period of the batch process, and for combining the results of different process phases. For process analysis, a phase contribution index and a variable contribution index are defined. Furthermore, detailed performance analyses on the prediction uncertainty and variation were also provided. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed by an industrial example. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 58: 1778–1787, 2012
Prediction of the n‐hexane/water and 1‐octanol/water partition coefficients for environmentally relevant compounds using molecular simulation
Authors: Garrido Nuno M. , Economou Ioannis G. , Queimada António J. , Jorge Miguel , Macedo Eugénia A. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractIn recent years molecular simulation has emerged as a useful tool to predict physical properties of complex chemical systems. A methodology to estimate the n‐hexane/water and 1‐octanol/water partition coefficients of environmentally relevant solutes, namely substituted alkyl‐aromatic molecules, chlorobenzenes, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs) using molecular simulation is elucidated here. The partition coefficients are calculated based on the absolute solvation Gibbs energies in each phase which are estimated from molecular dynamics simulations employing the thermodynamic integration approach. Very encouraging results, with average absolute deviations of 0.4 log P units are presented. Consequently, this molecular‐based approach with a strong physical background can provide reliable prediction of the partition coefficients in different solvent pairs without the a priori knowledge of experimental data. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 58: 1929–1938, 2012
Organ donation after cardiac death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Toossi Shahed , Lomen‐Hoerth Catherine , Josephson S. Andrew , Gropper Michael A. , Roberts John , Patton Kim , Smith Wade S. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractPatients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are often told that solid organ donation is not possible following death, although the reasons for exclusion are not evidence based. Because ALS patients typically remain sentient until death, organs may be procured under donation after cardiac death protocols. Anticipating this need, our institution created a process for organ donation in ventilator‐dependent ALS patients that was subsequently implemented. To our knowledge, this is the first report of organ donation in a patient with rapidly progressive ventilator‐dependent ALS. Ann Neurol 2012;71:154–156
Recovery from chronic spinal cord contusion after nogo receptor intervention
Authors: Wang Xingxing , Duffy Philip , McGee Aaron W. , Hasan Omar , Gould Grahame , Tu Nathan , Harel Noam Y. , Huang Yiyun , Carson Richard E. , Weinzimmer David , Ropchan Jim , Benowitz Larry I. , Cafferty William B. J. , Strittmatter Stephen M. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractObjective:Several interventions promote axonal growth and functional recovery when initiated shortly after central nervous system injury, including blockade of myelin‐derived inhibitors with soluble Nogo receptor (NgR1, RTN4R) decoy protein. We examined the efficacy of this intervention in the much more prevalent and refractory condition of chronic spinal cord injury.Methods:We eliminated the NgR1 pathway genetically in mice by conditional gene targeting starting 8 weeks after spinal hemisection injury and monitored locomotion in the open field and by video kinematics over the ensuing 4 months. In a separate pharmacological experiment, intrathecal NgR1 decoy protein administration was initiated 3 months after spinal cord contusion injury. Locomotion and raphespinal axon growth were assessed during 3 months of treatment between 4 and 6 months after contusion injury.Results:Conditional deletion of NgR1 in the chronic state results in gradual improvement of motor function accompanied by increased density of raphespinal axons in the caudal spinal cord. In chronic rat spinal contusion, NgR1 decoy treatment from 4 to 6 months after injury results in 29% (10 of 35) of rats recovering weight‐bearing status compared to 0% (0 of 29) of control rats (p < 0.05). Open field Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor scores showed a significant improvement in the NgR‐treated group relative to the control group (p < 0.005, repeated measures analysis of variance). An increase in raphespinal axon density caudal to the injury is detected in NgR1 decoy‐treated animals by immunohistology and by positron emission tomography using a serotonin reuptake ligand.Interpretation:Antagonizing myelin‐derived inhibitors signaling with NgR1 decoy augments recovery from chronic spinal cord injury. ANN NEUROL 2011
Shuttle‐Mediated Drug Delivery to the Brain
Authors: Malakoutikhah Morteza , Teixidó Meritxell , Giralt Ernest 
Published: June 2011

AbstractAdvances in the field of shuttle‐mediated drug delivery have been made in the last decade; however, the treatment of brain disorders still remains a great challenge because of the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), a structure that limits the access of drugs to their site of action in the central nervous system. Several strategies have been proposed to enhance the transport of drugs across the BBB. In this Review, we focus on the vector‐mediated approach, in which a drug is coupled to a molecule (shuttle) that has the ability to cross the BBB and deliver the drug to the brain.
Design and operation of unbaffled vessels agitated with an unsteadily forward–reverse rotating impeller handling solid–liquid dispersions
Authors: Yoshida M. , Kimura A. , Yoneyama A. , Tezura S. 
Published: June 2011

ABSTRACTAn unbaffled vessel, which is an enhanced form of solid‐liquid apparatus, has been constructed; when fitted with an agitator using an impeller it rotates unsteadily in the alternate direction, i.e. a forward–reverse rotating impeller. For this type of solid–liquid agitation vessel, a disk turbine impeller with six flat blades was used; suspension of solid particles in liquid was studied on different apparatus scales. Empirical relations to predict the minimum impeller rotation rate for complete solid suspension were presented with variations in the solid–liquid conditions and apparatus geometrical conditions, including the scale effect. The agitation requirements for complete solid suspension were related to the liquid flow along the bottom of the vessel which is assumed to enhance off‐bottom suspension of solid particles. For off‐bottom suspension of solid particles, an effective flow characteristic produced by the forward–reverse rotating impeller set at a lower height was recognized from the viewpoint of the intensity of turbulence in the liquid flow. Copyright © 2011 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of polyacrylonitrile pregelled starch graft copolymers using ferrous sulfate‐hydrogen peroxide redox initiation system as surface sizing agent
Authors: Wang Chunyan , Li Xiaorui , Chen Jingqian , Fei Guiqiang , Wang Haihua , Liu Qin 
Published: June 2011

AbstractA graft copolymer was synthesized by graft copolymerization of starch with styrene (St) and butyl acrylate (BA), using ferrous sulfate‐hydrogen peroxide redox initiation system. The starch was pregelled in the presence of acrylonitrile (AN) in aqueous alkali at high temperature before graft polymerization. Major factors affecting the polymerization reaction were investigated. It was found that a graft copolymer with higher percentage conversion (PC), graft efficiency (GE) and graft percentage (GP) was obtained by controlling the initiator concentration, concentration, and ratio of monomers and polymerization temperature. The optimum conditions were as follows: H2O2 concentration, 12%; monomer concentration, 120%; St/BA ratio, 1 : 1; polymerization temperature, 65°C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and NMR analyses were used to gain information on the structure of the products. It was demonstrated that St, BA, and AN had been successfully grafted onto starch and CN had been saponified into CONH2 and COO− to a certain degree when pregelling. Scanning electron microscope micrographs showed the coarse structure and broad network. The graft polymerization took place on the surface of starch granule and led to amorphization of the starch structure. Graft polymer had better thermal stability and was endowed with pseudo‐plasticity. It was observed that the starch graft copolymer offers good properties such as water resistance as surface‐sizing agent. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011