bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Ethanol Reinforcement in 1‐Day‐Old Rats: Assessment Through a Brief and Novel Operant Procedure
Authors: Bordner Kelly A. , Molina Juan Carlos , Spear Norman E. 
Published: March 2008

Background:  An accumulating body of experimental evidence supports the notion that, early in development, heterogeneous rats exhibit heightened affinity for ethanol ingestion and are sensitive to the drug’s postabsorptive reinforcing effects. The brevity of this ontogenetic period and the limited behavioral repertoire of the newborn represent obstacles in the examination of these phenomena. In the present study, we developed a novel operant technique aimed at examining the neonatal predisposition to gain access to intraoral infusions of different ethanol solutions and other potential reinforcers.Methods:  In all experiments, 1‐day‐old rats were placed in a supine position that allowed access to a touch‐sensitive sensor. In Paired pups, reinforcers were delivered through an intraoral cannula in a fixed‐ratio‐1 schedule, based on their physical contact with the sensor. Yoked controls were included to account for overall magnitude of behavioral responding and were given infusions in accord with behavior of the corresponding Paired pup. The reinforcement effect of milk, water and different ethanol solutions (0.75 to 10% v/v) was assessed using a single 15‐minute conditioning session. Additional pharmacokinetic studies were conducted to determine blood ethanol concentrations attained during the course of the training session.Results:  Within‐subjects analysis revealed that Paired pups rapidly learned to increase the probability of behavioral execution to gain access to a biological reinforcer such as milk (Experiment 1). Follow‐up experiments indicated that relatively low ethanol concentrations are equally likely to support operant performance (Experiments 2a and 3a). It was also observed that Paired pups exhibited surprisingly high levels of responding during an extinction session, particularly when initially trained with milk or 3% v/v ethanol as reinforcers (Experiment 4). The pharmacokinetic studies indicated that, within a short period of time, ethanol was detectable in blood. Levels attained during conditioning varied as a function of the ethanol concentration utilized as a reinforcer (Experiments 2b and 3b).Conclusions:  The present technique appears to represent a valuable tool for examining ethanol self‐administration and seeking behavior of the drug during early ontogeny. The results indicate that newborn rats, subjected to the explicit contingency comprising suckling‐related behaviors and intraoral ethanol delivery (Paired pups), rapidly learn to gain access to the drug. These results are not explainable through psychomotor effects of ethanol as Yoked pups consumed similar amounts of ethanol and yet exhibited relatively low and consistent levels of responding. The overall pattern of results extends and validates previous observations of substantial affinity for ethanol during early stages of development, a phenomenon rarely encountered in genetically heterogeneous adult rats.
History's Lessons:
Authors: Boons Frank 
Published: March 2008

SummaryA major claim of the work of Desrochers is that students of industrial ecology can learn a great deal from historical evidence on industrial practices regarding waste recovery. In this article, I argue that this requires that such evidence should be put into its institutional context, to prevent overly simple conclusions and naive policy prescriptions. In the first part of the article, I argue that the work of Desrochers suffers from a narrowly economic focus on interfirm recovery as well as a selective use of sources. The modern definition of industrial ecology requires that such recycling contributes to the reduction of ecological impact. Additional material from Desrochers's sources, as well as recent historical research on the meatpacking industry, shows that industrial practice in the 19th century does not support the claim that the market mechanism by itself is sufficient to promote such practices.In the second part of the article, I offer a perspective in which structural, cultural, and political factors are used to assess historical evidence of industrial ecology. This allows a more nuanced understanding of the development of industry's dealing with waste in the 19th century and helps to understand the complexity of promoting interfirm recycling in the present.
Concurrent Application of Charge Using a Novel Circuit Prevents Heat‐Related Coagulum Formation During Radiofrequency Ablation
Authors: LIM BERNARD , VENKATACHALAM KALPATHI L. , JAHANGIR ARSHAD , JOHNSON SUSAN B , ASIRVATHAM SAMUEL J. 
Published: March 2008

Introduction: Thromboembolism resulting from coagulum formation on the catheter and electrode surfaces is a serious complication with radiofrequency ablation procedures for heart rhythm disorders. Why coagulum occurs despite therapeutic heparinization is unclear. In this report, we demonstrate a novel approach to minimize coagulum formation based on the electromolecular characteristics of fibrinogen. Methods and Results: Atomic force microscopy was used to establish that fibrinogen deposited on surfaces underwent conformational changes that resulted in spontaneous clot formation. We then immersed ablation catheters that were uncharged, negatively, or positively charged in heparinized blood for 30 minutes and noted the extent of clot formation. In separate experiments, ablation catheters were sutured to the ventricle of an excised porcine heart immersed in whole, heparinized blood and radiofrequency ablation performed for 5 minutes with and without charge delivered to the catheter tips. Electron microscopy of the catheter tips showed surface coverage of fibrin clot of the catheter to be 33.8% for negatively charged catheters, compared with 84.7% (P = 0.01) in noncharged catheters. There was no significant difference in surface coverage of fibrin clot between positively charged catheters (93.8%) and noncharged catheters (84.7%, P = ns). In contrast, the thickness of surface clot coverage for positively charged catheters was 87.5%, compared with 28.45% (P= 0.03) for noncharged catheters and 11.25% (P = 0.03) for negatively charged catheters, compared with noncharged catheters. Conclusions: We describe a novel method of placing negative charge on electrodes during ablation that reduced coagulum formation. This may decrease thromboembolism‐related complications with radiofrequency ablation procedures.
Antifibrillatory Actions of Cisatracurium: An Atrial Specific M2Receptor Antagonist
Authors: PATTERSON EUGENE , SCHERLAG BENJAMIN J. , ZHOU JING , JACKMAN WARREN M. , LAZZARA RALPH , COSCIA DANIEL , PO SUNNY 
Published: March 2008

Introduction:Muscarinic receptor antagonists are proposed to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF), but also facilitate AV conduction, limiting clinical usefulness.Methods:Cisatracurium, a neuromuscular blocker, was administered to anesthetized dogs (0.05–0.8 mg/kg IV) and was administered to superfused pulmonary vein (PV) tissuesin vitro.Results:Dose‐dependent suppression of AF induced by premature atrial stimuli was observed under control conditions (n = 3), right vagus nerve stimulation (n = 7), and anterior right ganglionated plexus stimulation (n = 3). AF was prevented (P < 0.0001) concurrent with suppression of the decreased atrial MAP duration/ERP accompanying vagus nerve stimulation without altering AH intervals or sinus cycle length. Although atropine (0.001–0.016 mg/kg, n = 4) suppressed AF (P < 0.04) in association with suppression of atrial MAP shortening induced by vagus nerve stimulation, atropine also prevented sinus cycle length and AH interval prolongation with vagus nerve stimulation, and decreased AV effective and functional refractory periods.In vitro, both cisatracurium and atropine prevented (1) action potential shortening produced by acetylcholine administration and (2) action potential shortening and arrhythmia triggering within PV sleeves produced by local autonomic nerve stimulation, atropine producing competitive inhibition, and cisatracurium producing noncompetitive M2muscarinic receptor blockade.Conclusions:Cisatracurium demonstrates a dose‐dependent (1) suppression of AF and atrial action potential shortening accompanying vagus nerve stimulation without facilitating sinus or atrioventricular nodal function and (2) noncompetitive blockade of action potential shortening and triggered firing induced in isolated PVs by local autonomic nerve stimulation. The data are consistent with allosteric binding of cisatracurium to the M2muscarinic receptor in canine atrium.
Efficacy, Safety, and Outcome of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Septuagenarians
Authors: CORRADO ANDREA , PATEL DIMPI , RIEDLBAUCHOVA LUCIE , FAHMY TAMER S. , THEMISTOCLAKIS SAKIS , BONSO ALDO , ROSSILLO ANTONIO , HAO STEVEN , SCHWEIKERT ROBERT A. , CUMMINGS JENNIFER E. , BHARGAVA MANDEEP , BURKHARDT DAVID , SALIBA WALID , RAVIELE ANTONIO , NATALE ANDREA 
Published: March 2008

Aims: Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). The outcome of AF ablation in septuagenarians is not clear. Our aim was to evaluate success rate, outcome, and complication rate of AF ablation in septuagenarians. Methods and Results: We collected data from 174 consecutive patients over 75 years of age who underwent AF ablation from 2001 to 2006. AF was paroxysmal in 55%. High‐risk CHADS score (≥2) was present in 65% of the population. Over a mean follow‐up of 20 ± 14 months, 127 (73%) maintained sinus rhythm (SR) with a single procedure, whereas 47 patients had recurrence of AF. Twenty of them had a second ablation, successful in 16 (80%). Major acute complications included one CVA and one hemothorax (2/194 [1.0%]). During the follow‐up, three patients had a CVA within the first 6 weeks after ablation. Warfarin was discontinued in 138 out 143 patients (96%) who maintained SR without AADs with no embolic event occurring over a mean follow‐up of 16 ± 12 months. Conclusion: AF ablation is a safe and effective treatment for AF in septuagenarians.
Pea aphid dropping behavior diminishes foraging efficiency of a predatory ladybeetle
Authors: Francke Devon L. , Harmon Jason P. , Harvey Chad T. , Ives Anthony R. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAntipredator defensive behaviors are a well‐studied and often crucial part of prey life histories, but little has been done to quantify how such behaviors affect natural enemies, their foraging, and their effectiveness as biological control agents. We explored how the generalist predatory coccinellid Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) affects the dropping behavior of the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Homoptera: Aphididae), and in turn, how that defensive behavior affects the foraging efficiency of the predator. Experimental arenas that allowed or prevented pea aphid dropping were compared to determine how dropping influences the foraging of multiple life stages of H. axyridis: second instars, fourth instars, and adults. Dropping reduced predation on aphids by all ladybeetle life stages. Despite older predators inducing more dropping, aphid dropping reduced predation by approximately 40% across all ladybeetle life stages. Aphid dropping and predator consumption of aphids were both correlated with how much the predator moved, which also increased with predator life stage. We suggest that the high rates of dropping induced by H. axyridis and the subsequent decrease in H. axyridis foraging efficiency may partially explain why H. axyridis is less effective at controlling pea aphids than it is at controlling other aphid species that do not drop.
Longevity and egg development of adult female boll weevils fed exclusively on different parts and stages of cotton fruiting bodies
Authors: Showler Allan T. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe capacities of the rind (i.e., the developing calyx and petals of squares; and the outer casing, or husk, of bolls) and the internal reproductive portion of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae), squares of three sizes, and bolls of three ages to influence adult female boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), longevity and egg production were evaluated in laboratory bioassays. While feeding on the reproductive portion of squares was expected to support adult boll weevils for considerable periods of time (e.g., medium square reproductive portion: ≈185 days), feeding on rinds also resulted in substantial longevity (e.g., medium square rind: ≈120 days). As anticipated, feeding on the reproductive portion of squares resulted in formation of chorionated eggs in mated females, but a diet comprised exclusively of rinds, particularly from large squares, was associated with gravidity and high fecundity relative to rinds of young and mature bolls. The reproductive portion and rind of post‐bloom and young bolls as sources of food resulted in limited gravidity while mature bolls were not associated with any egg formation. These findings further our understanding of how boll weevils feed on different parts of the cotton plant and how those parts as food sources are related to the biology and ecology of the boll weevil.
Systems biology and cancer stem cells
Authors: Price Nathan D. , Foltz Greg , Madan Anup , Hood Leroy , Tian Qiang 
Published: March 2008

Introduction
Molecular profiling for cancer classification
Molecular profiling of cancer stem cells
Emerging technologies for proteome characterization
Biomolecular networks in cancer
Perspective and concluding remarks

AbstractThe identification, purification and characterization of cancer stem cells (CSCs) holds tremendous promise for improving the treatment of cancer. Mounting evidence is demonstrating that only certain tumour cells (i.e. the CSCs) can give rise to tumours when injected and that these purified cell populations generate heterogeneous tumours. While the cell of origin is still not determined definitively, specific molecular markers for populations containing these CSCs have been found for leukaemia, brain cancer and breast cancer, among others. Systems approaches, particularly molecular profiling, have proven to be of great utility for cancer diagnosis and characterization. These approaches also hold significant promise for identifying distinctive properties of the CSCs, and progress is already being made.
Vascular endothelial growth factor in astroglioma stem cell biology and response to therapy
Authors: Knizetova Petra , Darling John L. , Bartek Jiri 
Published: March 2008

Introduction
Adult brain – a dynamic structure with active stem cells?
Cancer stem‐like cells in brain tumours
Angiogenesis in astrogliomas
VEGF and the ‘stem cell niche’
Resistance to DNA‐damaging therapy in astrogliomas
VEGF and DNA damage response: implications for astroglioma therapy

AbstractMalignant astrogliomas are among the most aggressive, highly vascular and infiltrating tumours bearing a dismal prognosis, mainly due to their resistance to current radiation treatment and chemotherapy. Efforts to identify and target the mechanisms that underlie astroglioma resistance have recently focused on candidate cancer stem cells, their biological properties, interplay with their local microenvironment or ‘niche’ and their role in tumour progression and recurrence. Both paracrine and autocrine regulation of astroglioma cell behaviour by locally produced cytokines such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are emerging as key factors that determine astroglioma cell fate. Here, we review these recent rapid advances in astroglioma research, with emphasis on the significance of VEGF in astroglioma stem‐like cell biology. Furthermore, we highlight the unique DNA damage checkpoint properties of the CD133‐marker‐positive astroglioma stem‐like cells, discuss their potential involvement in astroglioma radioresistance and consider the implications of this new knowledge for designing combinatorial, more efficient therapeutic strategies.
Morphological characterization of very small embryonic‐like stem cells (VSELs) by ImageStream system analysis
Authors: Zuba‐Surma Ewa K. , Kucia Magdalena , Abdel‐Latif Ahmed , Dawn Buddhadeb , Hall Brian , Singh Rajesh , Lillard James W. , Ratajczak Mariusz Z. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractRecently, our group purified a rare population of primitive Sca1+/Lin−/CD45− cells from murine bone marrow by employing multiparameter cell sorting. Based on flow cytometric and gene expression analysis, these cells have been shown to express several markers of embryonic stem cells and were accordingly termed Very Small Embryonic‐Like stem cells (VSELs). In order to better characterize VSELs, we focused on their morphological parameters (e.g. diameter, nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, cytoplasmic area) as well as expression of Oct‐4. To examine the morphological features of VSELs, we employed a multi‐dimensional approach, including (i) traditional flow cytometry, (ii) a novel approach, which is ImageStream (IS) cytometry and (iii) confocal microscopy. We demonstrate by all of the sensitive and precise methods employed, that VSELs are a population of very small cells, which are significantly smaller than haematopoetic stem cells (HSC) (3.63 ± 0.09 versus 6.54 ±0.17 μm in diameter). They also exhibit higher nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio and lower cytoplasmic area as compared with HSCs and mature granulocytes. Besides confirming the size characteristics, confocal microscopic analysis also confirmed that VSELs express Oct‐4, a marker of pluripotent embryonic stem cells. Morphological examination reveals that VSELs are unusually small eukaryotic cells that posses several characteristics of embryonic cells. Thus, FACS‐based sorting strategies should consider that adult tissues harbour small primitive cells that are larger than platelets and smaller than erythrocytes.
Hepatic tissue engineering: from transplantation to customized cell‐based liver directed therapies from the laboratory
Authors: Fiegel Henning C. , Kaufmann Peter M. , Bruns Helge , Kluth Dietrich , Horch Raymund E. , Vacanti Joseph P. , Kneser Ulrich 
Published: March 2008

IntroductionDevelopment of cell isolation and primary culture for hepatocytesThree–dimensional culture using matricesDevelopment of bioreactor systems for liver cellsFirst clinical application of bioreactors with liver cellsDevelopment of matrix‐based hepatocyte transplantationOutlook: future perspective for the development of successful tissue engineering approaches for transplantationAbstractToday, liver transplantation is still the only curative treatment for liver failure due to end‐stage liver diseases. Donor organ shortage, high cost and the need of immunosuppressive medications are still the major limitations in the field of liver transplantation. Thus, alternative innovative cell‐based liver directed therapies, for example, liver tissue engineering, are under investigation with the aim that in future an artificial liver tissue could be created and be used for the replacement of the liver function in patients. Using cells instead of organs in this setting should permit (i) expansion of cells in an in vitro phase, (ii) genetic or immunological manipulation of cells for transplantation, (iii) tissue typing and cryopreservation in a cell bank and (iv) theex vivogenetic modification of patient's own cells prior to re‐implantation. Function and differentiation of liver cells are influenced by the three‐dimensional organ architecture. The use of polymeric matrices permits the three‐dimensional formation of a neo tissue and specific stimulation by adequate modification of the matrix surface, which might be essential for appropriate differentiation of transplanted cells. In addition, culturing hepatocytes on three‐dimensional matrices permits culture in a flow bioreactor system with increased function and survival of the cultured cells. Based on bioreactor technology, bioartificial liver devices (BAL) are developed for extracorporeal liver support. Although BALs improved clinical and metabolic conditions, increased patient survival rates have not been proven yet. For intracorporeal liver replacement, a concept that combines tissue engineering using three‐dimensional, highly porous matrices with cell transplantation could be useful. In such a concept, whole liver mass transplantation, long‐term engraftment and function as well as correction of a metabolic defect in animal models could be achieved with a principally reversible procedure. Future studies have to investigate which environmental conditions and transplantation system would be most suitable for the development of artificial functional liver tissue including blood supply for a potential use in a clinical setting.
Cancer stem cells: the lessons from pre‐cancerous stem cells
Authors: Gao Jian‐Xin 
Published: March 2008

Introduction
Stem cells and cancer stem cells
Development of pre‐cancerous and cancer stem cells
Characteristics of pre‐cancerous versuscancer stem cells
Are there demarcations between pre‐cancerous and cancer stem cells
Contribution of pre‐cancerous and cancer stem cells to tumour malignancy
Clonal evolution underlies the development of tumour‐initiating cell (TIC) → pre‐cancerous stem cell (pCSC) → cancer stem cell (CSC)
Molecular pathways for the development of pre‐cancerous and cancer stem cells
Experimental models for pre‐cancerous and cancer stem cell research
Clinical implications: early detection, prevention and treatment via targeting of pre‐cancerous and cancer stem cells
Concluding remark

AbstractHow a cancer is initiated and established remains elusive despite all the advances in decades of cancer research. Recently the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis has been revived, challenging the long‐standing model of ‘clonal evolution’ for cancer development and implicating the dawning of a potential cure for cancer [1]. The recent identification of pre‐cancerous stem cells (pCSCs) in cancer, an early stage of CSC development, however, implicates that the clonal evolution is not contradictory to the CSC hypothesis but is rather an aspect of the process of CSC development [2]. The discovery of pCSC has revealed and will continue to reveal the volatile properties of CSC with respect to their phenotype, differentiation and tumourigenic capacity during initiation and progression. Both pCSC and CSC might also serve as precursors of tumour stromal components such as tumour vasculogenic stem/progenitor cells (TVPCs). Thus, the CSC hypothesis covers the developing process of tumour‐initiating cells (TIC) → pCSC → CSC → cancer, a cellular process that should parallel the histological process of hyperplasia/metaplasia (TIC) → pre‐cancerous lesions (pCSC) → malignant lesions (CSC → cancer). The embryonic stem (ES) cell and germ line stem (GS) cell genes are subverted in pCSCs. Especially the GS cell protein piwil2 may play an important role during the development of TIC → pCSC → CSC, and this protein may be used as a common biomarker for early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer. As cancer stem cell research is yet in its infancy, definitive conclusions regarding the role of pCSC cannot be made at this time. However, this review will discuss what we have learned from pCSC and how this has led to innovative ideas that may eventually have major impacts on the understanding and treatment of cancer.