bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prepregnancy obesity: A complex risk factor for selected birth defects
Authors: Carmichael Suzan L. , Rasmussen Sonja A. , Shaw Gary M. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractObesity is associated with increased risk of many adverse health conditions. During pregnancy, obesity presents particularly important challenges for both mother and baby. Over the last 20 years, studies have emerged indicating an association between prepregnancy weight and risks of birth defects. However, few studies have examined the mechanisms through which this association occurs. Understanding the underlying mechanisms may provide clues to public health strategies for the prevention of birth defects associated with maternal obesity. This article briefly reviews existing literature on the association between maternal obesity and birth defects, discusses potential underlying mechanisms, and suggests research needed to improve our understanding of this important association. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of alternative styles of risk information on EMF risk perception
Authors: Nielsen Jesper Bo , Elstein Arthur , Gyrd‐Hansen Dorte , Kildemoes Helle Wallach , Kristiansen Ivar Sønbø , Støvring Henrik 
Published: June 2010

AbstractRisk scenarios characterized by exposures to new technologies with unknown health effects, together with limited appreciation of benefits pose a challenge to risk communication. The present report illustrates this situation through a study of the perceived risk from mobile phones and mobile masts in residential areas. Good information should objectively convey the current state of knowledge. The research question is then how to inform lay people so that they trust and understand the information. We used an Internet‐based survey with 1687 Danish participants randomized to three types of information about radiation from mobile phones and masts. The objective was to study whether different types of information were rated as equally useful, informative, comprehensible, and trustworthy. Moreover, an important issue was whether information would influence risk perception and intended behavior. The conclusion is that lay people rate information about risks associated with a new and largely unknown technology more useful and trustworthy when provided with brief statements about how to handle the risk, rather than more lengthy technical information about why the technology may or may not entail health hazards. Further, the results demonstrate that information may increase concern among a large proportion of the population, and that discrepancies exist between expressed concern and intended behavior. Bioelectromagnetics 31:504–512, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mischen von Hochleistungsbetonen
Authors: Baumert Christian , Garrecht Harald 
Published: June 2010

AbstractDer aktuelle betontechnologische Kenntnisstand ermöglicht die Entwicklung von Hochleistungsbetonen, die unterschiedlichste Merkmale wie Selbstverdichtung, Festigkeiten deutlich über dem Niveau von Normalbeton und eine deutlich gesteigerte Dauerhaftigkeit aufweisen. Das für die Herstellung von Normalbetonen bekannte 4‐Stoffsystem muss dabei einem 5‐ oder 6‐Stoffsystem weichen, das sich zudem durch eine deutlich reduzierte Wasserzugabe auszeichnet. Entsprechend der komplexeren Mischungszusammensetzung stellen die Hochleistungsbetone höhere Anforderungen an den Mischprozess. Mit konventionellen Mischsystemen, die bei Normalbetonen selbst innerhalb kürzester Mischzeit eine sehr hohe Mischgüte erreichen, erfordert die Herstellung von Hochleistungsbetonen einen deutlich intensiveren Mischenergieeintrag, um die gewünschten Frischbetoneigenschaften zu erzielen.Untersuchungen am Fachgebiet Werkstoffe im Bauwesen (WIB) an der TU Darmstadt belegen die Vorteile erhöhter Werkzeuggeschwindigkeiten auf die Frischbetoneigenschaften von Hochleistungsbeton. Durch den intensiven und schnellen Aufschluss von Zement können die rheologischen Eigenschaften verbessert und über einen längeren Zeitraum aufrecht erhalten werden. Der Suspensions‐Mischer ermöglicht bei geringem Energieeinsatz eine deutliche Verkürzung der Mischzeit.The Mixing Process of High Performance ConcreteBased on the current knowledge it is feasible to develop high performance concretes with special features such as self compacting ability, a compressive strength significantly above the average of standard concrete and a noticeable increased durability. The 4‐materials system, a basic principle of the standard concrete production, is substituted by a 5‐ or 6‐materials system that is characterized by a considerable reduced amount of water. Due to their complex mix composition high performance concretes show enhanced requirements concerning the mixing process. Conventional mixing systems are able to produce a high quality outcome for standard concretes within a short time. In contrast to that, a proper prediction of high performance concretes requires a more intensive input of mixing energy in order to deliver a concrete with the desired fresh concrete properties.Current research activities at the Department of Building Materials, Building Physics and Building Chemistry at the TU Darmstadt prove considerable advantages of higher agitator velocity concerning the fresh concrete characteristics of HPC. An intensive and fast disintegration of cement particles significantly improves rheological attributes of the concrete and sustains them over a longer period of time. The usage of a suspension mixer enables a noticeable reduction of the mixing time and simultaneously decreased energy consumption.
Flow‐regulated glucose and lipid metabolism in adipose tissue, endothelial cell and hepatocyte cultures in a modular bioreactor
Authors: Vinci Bruna , Murphy Ellen , Iori Elisabetta , Marescotti Maria Cristina , Avogaro Angelo , Ahluwalia Arti 
Published: June 2010

AbstractStatic cell culture has serious limitations in its ability to represent cellular behaviour within a live organism. In vivo, cells are constantly exposed to the flow of bodily fluids and contact with other cell types. Bioreactors provide the opportunity to study cells in an environment that more closely resembles the in vivo setting because cell cultures can be exposed to dynamic flow in contact with or in proximity to other cell types. In this study we compared the metabolic profile of a dynamic cell culture system to that of a static cell culture in three different cellular phenotypes: adipocytes, endothelial cells and hepatocytes. Albumin, glucose, free fatty acids, glycerol, and lactate were measured over 48 h. We show that all three cell types have increased glucose uptake in the presence of flow; lactate release was also significantly affected. We provide robust evidence that the presence of flow significantly modifies cellular metabolism. While flow provides a more uniform nutrient distribution and increases metabolite turnover, our results indicate that different cell types have specific metabolic responses to flow, suggesting cell‐specific flow‐regulated activation of metabolite signalling pathways.
A novel microplate‐based screening strategy to assess the cellulolytic potential of Trichoderma strains
Authors: Cianchetta Stefano , Galletti Stefania , Burzi Pier Luigi , Cerato Claudio 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to fuel requires a hydrolysis step to obtain fermentable sugars, generally accomplished by fungal enzymes. An assorted library of cellulolytic microbial strains should facilitate the development of optimal enzyme cocktails specific for locally available feedstocks. Only a limited number of strains can be simultaneously assayed in screening based on large volume cultivation methods, as in shake flasks. This study describes a miniaturization strategy aimed at allowing parallel assessment of large numbers of fungal strains. Trichoderma strains were cultivated stationary on microcrystalline cellulose using flat bottom 24‐well plates containing an agarized medium. Supernatants obtained by a rapid centrifugation step of the whole culture plates were evaluated for extracellular total cellulase activity, measured as filter paper activity, using a microplate‐based assay. The results obtained were consistent with those observed in shake‐flask experiments and more than 300 Trichoderma strains were accordingly characterized for cellulase production. Five strains, displaying on shake‐flasks at least 80% of the activity shown by the hyper‐cellulolytic mutant Trichoderma Rut‐C30, were correctly recognized by the screening on 24‐well plates, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach. Cellulase activity distribution for the entire Trichoderma collection is also reported. One strain (T. harzianum Ba8/86) displayed the closest profile to the reference strain Rut‐C30 in time course experiments. The method is scalable and addresses a major bottleneck in screening programs, allowing small‐scale parallel cultivation and rapid supernatant extraction. It can also be easily integrated with high‐throughput enzyme assays and could be suitable for automation. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 461–468. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alkali‐based AFEX pretreatment for the conversion of sugarcane bagasse and cane leaf residues to ethanol
Authors: Krishnan Chandraraj , Sousa Leonardo da Costa , Jin Mingjie , Chang Linpei , Dale Bruce E. , Balan Venkatesh 
Published: June 2010

AbstractSugarcane is one of the major agricultural crops cultivated in tropical climate regions of the world. Each tonne of raw cane production is associated with the generation of 130 kg dry weight of bagasse after juice extraction and 250 kg dry weight of cane leaf residue postharvest. The annual world production of sugarcane is ∼1.6 billion tones, generating 279 MMT tones of biomass residues (bagasse and cane leaf matter) that would be available for cellulosic ethanol production. Here, we investigated the production of cellulosic ethanol from sugar cane bagasse and sugar cane leaf residue using an alkaline pretreatment: ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX). The AFEX pretreatment improved the accessibility of cellulose and hemicelluloses to enzymes during hydrolysis by breaking down the ester linkages and other lignin carbohydrate complex (LCC) bonds and the sugar produced by this process is found to be highly fermentable. The maximum glucan conversion of AFEX pretreated bagasse and cane leaf residue by cellulases was ∼85%. Supplementation with hemicellulases during enzymatic hydrolysis improved the xylan conversion up to 95–98%. Xylanase supplementation also contributed to a marginal improvement in the glucan conversion. AFEX‐treated cane leaf residue was found to have a greater enzymatic digestibility compared to AFEX‐treated bagasse. Co‐fermentation of glucose and xylose, produced from high solid loading (6% glucan) hydrolysis of AFEX‐treated bagasse and cane leaf residue, using the recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae (424A LNH‐ST) produced 34–36 g/L of ethanol with 92% theoretical yield. These results demonstrate that AFEX pretreatment is a viable process for conversion of bagasse and cane leaf residue into cellulosic ethanol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 441–450. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fibroblast response to interstitial flow: A state‐of‐the‐art review
Authors: Dan Liu , Chua Chee‐Kai , Leong Kah‐Fai 
Published: June 2010

AbstractInterstitial flow (IF) modulates both the biochemical and biophysical cues surrounding cells. It represents a very important regulating mechanism for cell/tissue function and has been commonly utilized in tissue engineering (TE). This article discusses the possible regulating mechanisms of IF on fibroblasts, the various fibroblast responses to IF, the current challenges in understanding the IF–fibroblast relationship and the application of IF for fibroblast involved TE. In particular, IF can affect fibroblast growth at both intracellular (e.g., calcium signaling, protein/proteinase secretion) and cellular (e.g., autocrine/paracrine signaling, proliferation, differentiation, alignment, adhesion, migration) levels. One major challenge for understanding IF–fibroblast interaction has been the determination of the flow and cell growth condition at microlevel especially in a three‐dimensional environment. To utilize IF and optimize the fluidic environment for TE, several influencing factors in the system including perfusate composition, flow profile, nutrient supply, signaling molecule effect, scaffold property, and fibroblast type should be considered. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107: 1–10. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Response to induction therapy in oesophageal and cardia carcinoma using Mandard tumour regression grade or size of residual foci (Br J Surg 2010; 97: 719–725)
Authors: Chua T C 
Published: June 2010

Abstract
The Editors welcome topical correspondence from readers relating to articles published in the Journal. Responses should be sent electronically via the BJS website (www.bjs.co.uk). All letters will be reviewed and, if approved, appear on the website. A selection of these will be edited and published in the Journal. Letters must be no more than 250 words in length.
Novel technology to provide an enriched therapeutic cell concentrate from bone marrow aspirate
Authors: Ridgway Jonathan , Butcher Andrew , Chen Pei‐Sheng , Horner Alan , Curran Stephen 
Published: June 2010

AbstractCurrent strategies to repair fractures rely on orthopaedic surgeons harvesting bone from one area of the body, typically pelvis and transferring it to the fracture site. The amount of tissue available is therefore limited, requiring a second surgical procedure and often causing the patient long term pain. An alternative approach is utilise therapeutic cells contained within bone marrow aspirate during the primary procedure. The number of therapeutic cells within a fresh aspirate is insufficient to provide clinically acceptable bone healing in a timescale that is satisfactory to the surgeon and the patient. Therefore methods to efficiently concentrate bone marrow in the clinical setting are required. Centrifugation is the current method of choice but has limitations in that it requires large capital equipment, servicing and there are potential issues of tissue contamination. We have developed a novel, acoustically‐assisted filtration device that addresses these limitations, delivering a concentrated bone marrow in a point of care, single use, fully disposable, compact device. An additional advantage is that the level of concentration required can be specified by the end user. The resulting bone marrow concentrate has been characterised in terms of cell number, viability and osteogenic potential using flow cytometry and alkaline phosphatase assay. When compared to recent clinical studies using bone marrow to repair non‐union fractures, the findings from our work suggest that the bone marrow concentrate is likely to be highly therapeutic and clinically efficacious as a bone fracture repair strategy. A product concept for use in the clinical setting is presented. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Nanoporous protein matrix made of amyloid fibrils of β2‐microglobulin
Authors: Ahn Minkoo , Kang Sungsoo , Koo Hee Jung , Lee Jung‐Ho , Lee Yoon‐Sik , Paik Seung R. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractAmyloid fibrils are considered as novel nanomaterials because of their nanoscale width, a regular constituting structure of cross β‐sheet conformation, and considerable mechanical strength. By using an amyloidogenic protein of β2‐microglobulin (β2M) related to dialysis‐related amyloidosis, nanoporous protein matrix has been prepared. The β2M granules made of around 15 monomers showed an average size of 23.1 nm. They formed worm‐like fibrils at pH 7.4 in 20 mM sodium phosphate containing 0.15 M NaCl following vigorous nondirectional shaking incubation, in which they became laterally associated and interwound to generate the porous amyloid fibrillar matrix with an average pore size of 30–50 nm. This nanoporous protein matrix was demonstrated to be selectively disintegrated by reducing agents, such as tris‐(2‐carboxyethyl) phosphine. High surface area with nanopores on the surface has been suggested to make the matrix of β2M amyloid fibrils particularly suitable for applications in the area of nanobiotechnology including drug delivery and tissue engineering. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Polymerization of human hemoglobin using the crosslinker 1,11‐bis(maleimido)triethylene glycol for use as an oxygen carrier
Authors: Zhang Ning , Palmer Andre F. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractVasoconstriction and systemic hypertension are the main side effects associated with transfusion of current commercial polymerized hemoglobins (PolyHbs). It is hypothesized that the presence of free tetrameric hemoglobin (Hb) in the PolyHb solution is the root cause of these side effects. Therefore, increasing the size of PolyHbs and reducing the amount of free Hb in solution should dually reduce the extent of vasoconstriction and systemic hypertension. However, all current commercial PolyHb preparations have a small fraction of free Hb in solution. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel chemical strategies to synthesize large PolyHb molecules with a higher degree of polymerization without free Hb in solution. In this study, a Hb‐based oxygen carrier was synthesized by polymerizing human Hb using a dimaleimide poly(ethylene glycol) derivative (1,11‐bis(maleimido)triethylene glycol). The resultant PolyHb has a weight‐averaged molecular weight of 1.49 ± 0.62 MDa, O2 affinity (P50) of 2.75 ± 0.55 mm Hg, and Hill coefficient (n) of 0.97 ± 0.07. Light scattering analysis of the PolyHb dispersion confirmed the absence of free Hb monomers, dimers, and tetramers in solution. This work is significant, as it should enable future engineering of nonvasoactive PolyHbs with potential applications in transfusion medicine. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Flow cytometric analysis of genetic FRET detectors containing variable substrate sequences
Authors: Hong Lim Kok , Hsu Cheng‐Kuo , Park Sheldon 
Published: June 2010

AbstractA genetic Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) detector undergoes a post‐translational modification (PTM)‐induced conformational change that results in increased FRET. To test if the PTM‐dependent FRET change can be quantified by flow cytometry, we purified and immobilized a genetic detector on microbeads and used flow cytometry to measure its FRET efficiency before and after Erk‐2–mediated phosphorylation. The fluorescence ratio R between the acceptor and donor fluorescence, which was obtained by fitting a straight line through the data points in linear space, increases following phosphorylation, thus demonstrating that flow cytometry is capable of detecting a PTM‐dependent FRET response. Furthermore, when Erk‐2 and a genetic detector are coexpressed in bacteria, the measured R value changes with the substrate sequence with near single residue resolution. Similarly, the cells coexpressing the glycosylating enzyme O‐GlcNAc transferase (OGT) and a genetic detector specific for OGT exhibit a PTM‐induced change in FRET efficiency. Therefore, the combination of flow cytometry and a genetic detector may be useful to characterize the substrate specificity of a PTM enzyme and identify the sequences that are preferentially targeted for PTM in vivo. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010
Preliminary results of the INSPIRE trial with the novel MGuard™ stent system containing a protection net to prevent distal embolization
Authors: Maia Felipe , Ribamar Costa J. , Abizaid Alexandre , Feres Fausto , Costa Ricardo , Staico Rodolfo , Siqueira Dimytri , Esteves Vinicius , Sousa Amanda , Eduardo Sousa J. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractObjective: To assess the efficacy of the MGuardTM stent combining a polymer‐mesh sleeve attached to the external surface of a bare‐metal stent in preventing distal embolization during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Background: Distal embolization of thrombus/platelet agreggates is associated with worse immediate and long‐term prognosis after PCI. Treatment of saphenous vein graft (SVG) and PCI in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is often related to this complication. Although protection and aspiration devices have been shown to reduce distal embolization, they add time and cost to PCI. Methods: A total of 30 patients were included. Inclusion criteria were de novo lesions in SVG or native vessels with angiographic evidence of instability with potential to provoke flow disturbances and/or distal embolization. Primary endpoint included the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (composite of cardiac death, non‐fatal myocardial infarction and TLR) up to 30 days of the procedure and TIMI flow right after the PCI. Results: Mean population age was 60.8 years with 36.7% of diabetes. Overall, 53.3% presented with ACS, and most lesions were located in SVG (16 of 30). The majority of lesions had complex morphology including the presence of thrombus (30%) and ulcer (33.3%). The MGuard stent was successfully deployed in all cases with no angiographic/clinical complications including distal embolization. Final TIMI‐3/blush‐3 were achieved in all cases with no MACE up to 30 days of the procedure. Conclusions: In this preliminary evaluation, the MGuard device demonstrated excellent performance in a highly complex lesion subset, including absence of angiograhpic/procedural complications, and no adverse events up to 30‐day FU. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The EXTREME registry: Titanium‐nitride‐oxide coated stents in small coronary arteries
Authors: Valdesuso Raúl , Karjalainen Pasi , García Joan , Díaz José , Portales Javier Fernández , Masotti Mónica , Picó Francisco , Serra Antonio , Burgos José Moreu , Insa Luis , Mauri Fina , Collado Javier Rodriguez , Nammas Wail 
Published: June 2010

AbstractObjectives: We sought to explore the immediate results of Titan2® stent implantation in small coronary arteries, as well as the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at six months follow‐up. Background: The safety of Titan2® stent has been confirmed in several studies in real‐life unselected populations. Methods: We enrolled 311 consecutive patients admitted for percutaneous intervention for at least one significant (50%) de novo lesion in a native small coronary artery (2.0–2.75 mm). All lesions were treated with Titan2® stent implantation. Patients were prospectively followed up for at least six months. The primary endpoint was MACE at six months follow‐up [death, myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization (TVR)]. Secondary endpoints included angiographic and clinical procedural success, in‐hospital MACE, target lesion revascularization (TLR) during follow‐up, and stent thrombosis. Results: The mean age was 67.3 ± 10.9 years (65.9% males). A total of 356 Titan2® stents were implanted in 353 lesions. Angiographic and clinical procedural success was achieved in 344 (97.5%) patients. No case of in‐hospital MACE or acute stent thrombosis was reported. Clinical follow‐up was completed for an average of 8 ± 2 months. Two patients (0.7%) died, and 6 (2.1%) developed MI. TLR was performed in 12 (4.2%) and TVR in 16 (5.5%) patients, all were clinically driven. Cumulative MACE occurred in 20 (6.9%) patients. One patient suffered subacute stent thrombosis, but no late stent thrombosis. Conclusions: Titan2® stent implantation in small coronary arteries achieves excellent immediate outcome, with a low incidence of MACE at mid‐term follow‐up. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.