bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduced expression of multiple gap junction proteins is a feature of cervical dysplasia
Authors: Aasen Trond , Graham Sheila V , Edward Mike , Hodgins Malcolm B 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Cervical dysplasia is a premalignant lesion associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection which, over time, can turn cancerous. Previous studies have indicated that loss of gap junctions may be a feature of cervical cancer and premalignant dysplasia. Loss of the gap junction protein connexin43 has been demonstrated in dysplastic cervix, but other connexins have not been investigated. In contrast we previously showed that HPV-associated cutaneous warts – and other hyperproliferative skin conditions – display a dramatic upregulation of certain connexins, in particular connexin26. By performing immunofluorescence staining after antigen retrieval of paraffin-embedded cervical tissue samples, this study reports for the first time that connexin26 and connexin30, in addition to connexin43, are expressed in differentiating cells of normal human cervical epithelia. Moreover, in dysplastic ectocervix, all connexins studied display a dramatic loss of expression compared to adjacent normal epithelia. The role of connexins in keratinocyte differentiation and carcinogenesis is discussed.
Proanthocyanidins, from Ribes nigrum leaves, reduce endothelial adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1
Authors: Garbacki N , Kinet M , Nusgens B , Desmecht D , Damas J 
Published: August 2005

Abstract

Background
The effects of proanthocyanidins (PACs), isolated from blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) leaves, on neutrophil accumulation during inflammatory processes were investigated in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

In vivo studies were performed using carrageenin-induced pleurisy in rats pre-treated with PACs. Exudate volume and PMNs accumulation were measured. Leukocyte cell adhesion molecules (LFA-1, Mac-1 and VLA-4) mobilization in circulating granulocytes were analysed by flow cytometry and endothelial cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) were detected by immunohistochemistry on lung sections.

In vitro studies were conducted on endothelial LT2 cells, stimulated with TNF-α, to evaluate ICAM-1, IL-8 and VEGF mRNA expression upon PACs treatment.
Data sets were examined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by a Scheffe post-hoc test.

Results
Pretreatment of the animals with PACs (10, 30 and 60 mg/kg) inhibited dose-dependently carrageenin-induced pleurisy in rats by reducing pleural exudate formation and PMNs infliltration. Leukocyte cell adhesion molecules mobilization was not down-regulated on granulocytes by PACs. Immunohistochemistry on lung sections showed a decreased production of endothelial cell adhesion molecules.

In vitro experiments demonstrated that PACs were able to significantly inhibit ICAM-1 but not IL-8 and VEGF165 mRNA expression. Moreover, VEGF121 mRNA expression was dose-dependently enhanced.

Conclusion
This study provides evidence to support the anti-inflammatory activity of proanthocyanidins is related to an inhibition of leukocyte infiltration which can be explained at least in part by a down-regulation of endothelial adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and that these compounds are capable of modulating TNF-α-induced VEGF transcription.
The cost-effectiveness of neonatal screening for Cystic Fibrosis: an analysis of alternative scenarios using a decision model
Authors: Simpson Neil , Anderson Rob , Sassi Franco , Pitman Alexandra , Lewis Peter , Tu Karen , Lannin Heather 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Background
The use of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis is widely debated in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, but the evidence available to inform policy is limited. This paper explores the cost-effectiveness of adding screening for cystic fibrosis to an existing routine neonatal screening programme for congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria, under alternative scenarios and assumptions.

Methods
The study is based on a decision model comparing screening to no screening in terms of a number of outcome measures, including diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, life-time treatment costs, life years and QALYs gained. The setting is a hypothetical UK health region without an existing neonatal screening programme for cystic fibrosis.

Results
Under initial assumptions, neonatal screening (using an immunoreactive trypsin/DNA two stage screening protocol) costs £5,387 per infant diagnosed, or £1.83 per infant screened (1998 costs). Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis produces an incremental cost-effectiveness of £6,864 per QALY gained, in our base case scenario (an assumed benefit of a 6 month delay in the emergence of symptoms). A difference of 11 months or more in the emergence of symptoms (and mean survival) means neonatal screening is both less costly and produces better outcomes than no screening.

Conclusion
Neonatal screening is expensive as a method of diagnosis. Neonatal screening may be a cost-effective intervention if the hypothesised delays in the onset of symptoms are confirmed. Implementing both antenatal and neonatal screening would undermine potential economic benefits, since a reduction in the birth incidence of cystic fibrosis would reduce the cost-effectiveness of neonatal screening.
Fast, visual specialization for reading in English revealed by the topography of the N170 ERP response
Authors: Maurer Urs , Brandeis Daniel , McCandliss Bruce D 
Published: August 2005

Abstract

Background
N170 effects associated with visual words may be related to perceptual expertise effects that have been demonstrated for faces and other extensively studied classes of visual stimuli. Although face and other object expertise effects are typically bilateral or right-lateralized, the spatial topography of reading-related N170 effects are often left-lateralized, providing potential insights into the unique aspects of reading-related perceptual expertise.

Methods
Extending previous research in German [1], we use a high-density channel array to characterize the N170 topography for reading-related perceptual expertise in English, a language with inconsistent spelling-to-sound mapping. N170 effects related to overall reading-related expertise are defined by contrasting responses to visual words versus novel symbol strings. By contrasting each of these conditions to pseudowords, we examined how this reading-related N170 effect generalizes to well-ordered novel letter strings.

Results
A sample-by-sample permutation test computed on word versus symbol ERP topographies revealed differences during two time windows corresponding to the N170 and P300 components. Topographic centroid analysis of the word and symbol N170 demonstrated significant differences in both left-right as well as inferior-superior dimensions. Words elicited larger N170 negativities than symbols at inferior occipito-temporal channels, with the maximal effect over left inferior regions often unsampled in conventional electrode montages. Further contrasts produced inferior-superior topographic effects for the pseudoword-symbol comparison and left-lateralized topographic effects for the word-pseudoword comparison.

Conclusion
Fast specialized perception related to reading experience produces an N170 modulation detectable across different EEG systems and different languages. Characterization of such effects may be improved by sampling with greater spatial frequency recordings that sample inferior regions. Unlike in German, reading-related expertise effects in English produced only partial generalization in N170 responses to novel pseudowords. The topographic inferior-superior N170 differences may reflect general perceptual expertise for orthographic strings, as it was found for words and pseudowords across both languages. The topographic left-right N170 difference between words and pseudowords was only found in English, and may suggest that ambiguity in pronunciating novel pseudowords due to inconsistency in spelling-to-sound mapping influences early stages of letter string processing.
A Comparative Evaluation of Three Commercial Instruments for Field Measurements of Reinforcing Steel Corrosion Rates
Authors: Gepraegs OK , Hansson CM 
Published: August 2005

AbstractIn this study, a comparative evaluation was made of three instruments, designed for field monitoring of reinforcing steel corrosion rates. The electrochemical operating principles of each instrument were determined by monitoring the potential and current of each electrode during operation.Corrosion current densities (icorr) of reinforcing steel bar (rebar) in concrete determined with the three different instruments varied by as much as 50 times. The average of the ratios of corrosion rates between any two of the instruments varied between four and 14 times. The size of the polarized area of a section of reinforcing steel is assumed by the configuration of each instrument's counter electrode and guard ring electrode. It was observed that the guard ring electrodes affected the polarization of the reinforcing steel and this effect, together with the different electrode materials, is considered the principal cause of the variations in measured corrosion rate.Corrosion rates of embedded corrosion monitoring probes were also measured. The variation in icorr for measurements on probes was smaller than those on the reinforcing bar and, on average, corrosion rates varied between two and six times. The observation that corrosion monitoring of probes is more consistent than measurements on reinforcing bar suggests that the use of such embedded probes may provide more reliable values for service-life predictions. This consistency was attributed mainly to the known size of the polarized area.
Efforts to Determine the Relationship Between Corrosion Rate and Concrete Damage Using Acoustic Emission
Authors: Wheat HG , Thakar M 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Over the past 20 years, the linear polarization resistance (LPR) technique has become one of the most popular techniques for determining the corrosion rate of steel in concrete. The results are then related to the amount of damage, and this parameter becomes very important in determining the amount of remaining service life of the concrete structure. Corrosion investigations that utilize polarization resistance (Rp), which is inversely related to the corrosion rate of the steel, are carried out with the knowledge that in laboratory specimens, and especially in field situations, the steel is not corroding uniformly, the changing conditions of the concrete play a major role in the corrosion rates determined, and the area over which polarization takes place is not well defined. All of these aspects become even more important when the concrete/reinforcement system is changed because the choice of the metallic material changes or the concrete changes due to the addition of admixtures. These factors will be discussed based on an investigation in which LPR was used in combination with Acoustic Emission (AE), which can offer more direct information about the extent of damage. The goal is to be able to provide insight into the complicated relationship between the corrosion rate of the metal reinforcement, the damage to the surrounding concrete, and the remaining life of the concrete structure.
Structural Reliability Analysis of Railroad Tank Cars Subjected to Fatigue and Corrosion
Authors: Zhao W , Sutton MA 
Published: August 2005

AbstractReliability analysis of tank car structures undergoing fatigue crack growth and general corrosion (tank wall thinning) is illustrated to support informed decision-making and planning for reliability-centered maintenance. Two specific mechanisms that contribute to tank car deterioration are considered: (1) corrosion with negligible fatigue crack growth; and (2) corrosion-accelerated fatigue crack growth. Reliability analysis of corrosion-accelerated fatigue crack growth is performed with a time-dependent tank wall thickness reduction and a fatigue crack growth model that incorporates a three-degrees-of-freedom surface crack obeying Walker crack growth law under tank car spectrum loading. System reliability problems involving multiple corrosion sites are considered to illustrate important features of failure probability for a series system in relation to failure probability of individual corrosion sites.
Load History Effects Resulting from Compression Precracking
Authors: James MA , Forth SC , Newman JA 
Published: August 2005

AbstractCompression precracking (CPC) has seen renewed interest as a possible alternative procedure for generating fatigue crack growth threshold data with minimal load history effects, but recent testing confirms results from the literature that compression precracking does induce load history effects through residual stresses that influence subsequent fatigue crack growth test data. Using the CPC method, specimens are precracked with both maximum and minimum compressive loads. Compressive yielding occurs at the crack-starter notch, resulting in a local tensile residual stress field through which the fatigue crack must propagate. Although the tensile residual stress field contributes to the driving force for precracking, it also introduces the possibility of history effects that may affect subsequent fatigue crack growth. The tensile residual stress field elevates the local driving force at the crack tip, promoting higher crack growth rates than would be expected from the applied loading. This paper presents three-dimensional finite element results and experimental data for compact tension specimens that characterize the load history effects induced by compression precracking. The analysis results indicate that for low tensile loading levels near the threshold region, the residual stresses cause the calculated crack tip driving force to increase from the applied driving force by 25% or more. In addition, significant crack growth of about two times the estimated plastic zone size is needed to grow away from the residual stress field and reduce the calculated crack tip driving force to within 5% of the applied driving force. Experimental results show that growth of about two to three times the estimated plastic zone size is necessary to establish steady growth rates under constant ΔK loading for the materials and loading levels evaluated. Constant ΔK testing following compression precracking will demonstrate when residual stress effects are no longer significant and will ensure consistent growth rates.
Mechanical Properties of Cubic Silicon Carbide after Neutron Irradiation at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Katoh Y , Snead LL 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Mechanical properties of high-purity polycrystalline cubic SiC was characterized after neutron irradiation. Bar samples were irradiated in target position capsules in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR, Oak Ridge, Tennessee) to nominal fluence levels up to 7.7 dpa at temperatures of 300, 500, and 800°C. A decrease in Young's modulus was observed after irradiation, and its irradiation temperature dependence qualitatively agreed with the calculated modulus change due to point defect swelling. Irradiation caused a significant modification of statistical flexural strength but caused only minor increase in nano-indentation hardness. The irradiation effect on fracture initiation through an enhanced cleavage resistance likely is primarily responsible for the major change in flexural strength properties.
Radiation Resistance of Advanced Ferritic-Martensitic Steel HCM12A
Authors: Allen TR , Tan L , Tucker JD , Gan J , Gupta G , Was GS , Shutthanandan S , Thevuthasan S 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
HCM12A is an advanced 12 Cr ferritic-martensitic steel designed for higher temperature operation than could be achieved using earlier generation steels such as HT9. HCM12A is one of the advanced alloys under consideration for application in core components in Generation IV nuclear energy systems, and is of particular interest to the supercritical water reactor, sodium fast reactor, and lead fast reactor designs. The radiation resistance of HCM12A has not previously been studied. This work provides information on the hardening and microstructural changes in HCM12A after irradiation using 2.0 MeV protons at 400°C to 10 dpa and 5 MeV Ni-ions at 500°C to 50 dpa. Following irradiation, changes in hardness were measured using Vickers hardness indentation, changes in microstructure and phase stability were studied using transmission electron microscopy, and changes in microchemistry were measured using scanning Auger microscopy. The hardness increases by roughly 70 % and saturates by roughly 5 dpa. The changes to the microstructure contributing to this hardness increase are primarily due to the formation of precipitate phases, with some contribution from changes in dislocation density. Chromium is enriched at grain boundaries prior to irradiation, likely due to grain boundary carbides, and increases further during the irradiation.
Effects of Neutron Irradiation on Precipitation in Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels
Authors: Faulkner RG , Lu Z , Ellis D , Williams TJ 
Published: August 2005

Abstract
Several MnMoNi pressure vessel steels with varying Ni, Cu, and Mo contents have been investigated in the irradiated and unirradiated condition. Examination using analytical transmission electron microscopy was performed in order to understand more fully the nature of both the inter- and intra-granular precipitation in these alloys. In particular, attention has been paid to the carbide population, which exists in the material in addition to the copper precipitates, which have received detailed study elsewhere. The most dramatic revelations concern the discovery that fine, intra-granular (10 nm diameter) Fe3C particles are present in these steels, in addition to the normally expected copper-rich precipitates of a similar size. Neutron irradiation increases the volume fractions of inter- and intra-granular precipitation of all phases (Fe3C, Cu-rich, and Mo2C). Neutron irradiation has the least effect in increasing volume fraction in high Ni; high Cu alloys (WV). The effects of neutron irradiation on precipitation rates are greatest in low Ni; high Cu alloys (SG (SH)). Inter-granular precipitation is most prevalent in the high Ni; low Cu material (WF). It is significant that this material contains the least intra-granular fine-scale precipitation. This is probably because the Cu precipitation is minimal. Mo and C have an important influence on the amount of Mo2C phase formed, with large amounts being observed in high Mo-C, irradiated material (SH) (0.48 % Mo). These results are discussed in terms of various models for inter-and intra-granular precipitate nucleation and growth.
Radiation- and Thermally-Induced Phosphorus Inter-Granular Segregation in Pressure Vessel Steels
Authors: Lu Z , Faulkner RG , Jones RB , Flewitt PEJ 
Published: August 2005

AbstractA survey of neutron- and thermally-induced phosphorus inter-granular segregation behavior in C-Mn welds, LWR plates, LWR HAZ materials, and VVER steels is described in this paper. The materials were irradiated up to doses of 0.13 dpa (fast neutron energy &gt; 1 MeV), with dose rates ranging from 1.75 × 10−8 dpa/s to 10−12 dpa/s, at temperatures between 190°C and 400°C. Irradiation-induced P inter-granular segregation has been found in LWR and VVER materials at high doses (generally 10–130 mdpa) but is absent in all Magnox C-Mn submerged-arc welds at lower doses (1.5–13 mdpa). The dose sensitivity of the irradiation-induced P monolayer coverage depends on the material examined, being highest for VVER plates and weld, lower for the LWR materials, and zero for the C-Mn welds. There are high initial P segregations (arising from pre-heat-treatment) in C-Mn weld and LWR HAZ materials and low initial P segregation in LWR and VVER steels. Comparisons of the experimental data with model predictions are made. The amount of phosphorus segregation is shown via site competition models to be related to free carbon concentration. The model results show a good agreement with experimental measurements.
The Effect of Duplex Cladding Outer Component Tin Content on Corrosion, Hydrogen Pick-up, and Hydride Distribution at Very High Burnup
Authors: Arborelius J , Dahlbäck M , Hallstadius L , Jourdain P , Andersson T , Lisdat R , Hahn M , Toscano EH 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe performance of two types of Duplex claddings irradiated to very high burnup in a German high duty pressurized water reactor (PWR) has been studied. Four fuel rods with Duplex cladding were moved from two discharged assemblies to a low-burnt assembly for further irradiation. These rods were finally unloaded after reaching a rod average burnup close to 70 MWd/kgU. The performance of these rods has been examined through pool-side inspection. Two of these rods have been studied further in a hot-cell post irradiation examination (PIE). The results of destructive and nondestructive examinations consistently show good corrosion resistance and low hydrogen pick-up for both Duplex variants. The hot-cell measurements reveal peak values of the oxide thickness of around 30 μm for both types of Duplex. Consequently, the claddings show low levels of absorbed hydrogen in the order of 300 ppm, as is indicated by metallographic cross-sections and the low axial growth of the rods. During the development of Duplex claddings, it was observed that the Sn content in the two components should not differ by more than about 0.7 wt%. A limited difference in Sn concentration implies that the two components have similar recrystallization temperatures. More important, hydriding studies of unirradiated Duplex claddings have shown that, by limiting the difference in Sn content, the amount of hydrides in the boundary zone between the inner component and the Duplex layer is reduced. There is a significant difference in the Sn concentration in the outer component of the two studied Duplex types. The effect of difference in Sn concentration on hydride distribution observed from studies of unirradiated claddings has, however, not been confirmed by the hot-cell studies presented here.