bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global transcriptome analysis identifies regulated transcripts and pathways activated during oogenesis and early embryogenesis in atlantic cod
Authors: Kleppe Lene , Edvardsen Rolf Brudvik , Furmanek Tomasz , Taranger Geir Lasse , Wargelius Anna
Published: March 2014

The molecular mechanisms underlying oogenesis and maternally controlled embryogenesis in fish are not fully understood, especially in marine species. Our aim was to study the egg and embryo transcriptome during oogenesis and early embryogenesis in Atlantic cod. Follicles from oogenesis stages (pre‐, early‐, and late‐vitellogenic), ovulated eggs, and two embryonic stages (blastula, gastrula) were collected from broodstock fish and fertilized eggs. Gene expression profiles were measured in a 44 K oligo microarray consisting of 23,000 cod genes. Hundreds of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the follicle stages investigated, implicating a continuous accumulation and degradation of polyadenylated transcripts throughout oogenesis. Very few DEGs were identified from ovulated egg to blastula, showing a more stable maternal RNA pool in early embryonic stages. The highest induction of expression was observed between blastula and gastrula, signifying the onset of zygotic transcription. During early vitellogenesis, several of the most upregulated genes are linked to nervous system signaling, suggesting increasing requirements for ovarian synaptic signaling to stimulate the rapid growth of oocytes. Highly upregulated genes during late vitellogenesis are linked to protein processing, fat metabolism, osmoregulation, and arrested meiosis. One of the genes with the highest upregulation in the ovulated egg is involved in oxidative phosphorylation, reflecting increased energy requirements during fertilization and the first rapid cell divisions of early embryogenesis. In conclusion, this study provides a large‐scale presentation of the Atlantic cod's maternally controlled transcriptome in ovarian follicles through oogenesis, ovulated eggs, and early embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 619–635, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sperm‐specific AKAP3 is a dual‐specificity anchoring protein that interacts with both protein kinase a regulatory subunits via conserved N‐terminal amphipathic peptides
Authors: Xu Kaibiao , Qi Huayu
Published: March 2014

cAMP‐dependent protein kinase A (PKA) plays important regulatory roles during mouse spermatogenesis. PKA‐mediated signaling has been shown to regulate gene expression, chromatin condensation, capacitation, and motility during sperm development and behavior, although how PKA is regulated in spatiotemporal manners during spermatogenesis is not fully understood. In the present study, we found that PKA subunit isoforms are expressed and localized differently in meiotic and post‐meiotic mouse spermatogenic cells. Regulatory subunit I alpha (RIα) is expressed in spermatocytes and round spermatids, where it is localized diffusely throughout the cytoplasm of cells. During late spermiogenesis, RIα abundance gradually decreases. On the other hand, RIIα is expressed constantly throughout meiotic and post‐meiotic stages, and is associated with cytoskeletal structures. Among several A kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) expressed in the testis, sperm‐specific AKAP3 can be found in the cytoplasm of elongating spermatids and interacts with RIα, as demonstrated by both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In mature sperm, AKAP3 is exclusively found in the principal piece of the flagellum, coincident with only RIIα. Mutagenesis experiments further showed that the preferential interactions of AKAP3 with PKA regulatory subunits are mediated by two highly conserved amphipathic peptides located in the N‐terminal region of AKAP3. Thus, AKAP3 is a dual‐specificity molecule that modulates PKA isotypes in a spatiotemporal manner during mouse spermatogenesis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 595–607, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Was ist Kupfer wirklich wert?
Authors: Langner Bernd E.
Published: March 2014

Der zunehmende Bedarf Chinas lässt die Kupferpreise steigen. An der Börse handeln Unternehmen nicht nur, um Materialien zu kaufen, sondern auch, um deren Preis für eine bestimmte Zeit zu sichern.
Roles of the spinal glutamatergic pathway activated through α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid (AMPA) receptors and its interactions with spinal noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways in the rat urethral continence mechanisms
Authors: Kawamorita Naoki , Kaiho Yasuhiro , Miyazato Minoru , Arai Yoichi , Yoshimura Naoki
Published: March 2014

Aims

To investigate the role of the glutamatergic pathway and its relationship to noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways in modulation of the urethral continence reflex during sneezing in rats.

Methods

In female Sprague‐Dawley rats under urethane anesthesia, the effects of an α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐meth‐ylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid (AMPA) glutamate receptor antagonist, a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and a serotonin [5‐hydeoxytripitamine (5‐HT)]2B/2C agonist on the amplitude of urethral responses during sneezing (AURS), urethral baseline pressure (UBP), and sneeze‐induced leak point pressure (S‐LPP) were investigated.

Results

Intrathecal application (i.t.) of NBQX disodium salt (an AMPA receptor antagonist) decreased AURS dose‐dependently by approximately 60% without affecting UBP and caused stress urinary incontinence (SUI) during sneezing in 60% of normal rats. Nisoxetine (i.t.), a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, and mCPP (i.t.), a 5‐HT2B/2C, agonist increased AURS, and NBQX (i.t.) abolished these excitatory effects of nisoxetine (i.t.) and mCPP (i.t.), whereas nisoxetine (i.t.) and mCPP (i.t.) did not enhance AURS in the presence of NBQX (i.t.).

Conclusion

These results indicate that the glutamatergic pathway acting through AMPA receptors plays a crucial role on the active urethral closure reflex during sneezing at the spinal level, and noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways modulate the reflex via the spinal glutamatergic system in rats. Neurourol. Urodynam. 34:475–481, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Proteomic identification of rainbow trout sperm proteins
Authors: Nynca Joanna , Arnold Georg J. , Fröhlich Thomas , Otte Kathrin , Ciereszko Andrzej
Published: March 2014

Proteomics represents a powerful tool for the analysis of fish spermatozoa, since these cells are transcriptionally inactive. The aim of the present study was to generate an inventory of the most prominent rainbow trout sperm proteins by SDS‐PAGE prefractionation combined with nano‐LC‐MS/MS based identification. This study provides the first in‐depth analysis of the rainbow trout sperm proteome, with a total of 206 identified proteins. We found that rainbow trout spermatozoa are equipped with functionally diverse proteins related to energetic metabolism, signal transduction, protein turnover, transport, cytoskeleton, oxidative injuries, and stress and reproduction. The availability of a catalog of rainbow trout sperm proteins provides a crucial tool for the understanding of fundamental molecular processes in fish spermatozoa, for the ongoing development of novel markers of sperm quality and for the optimization of short‐ and long‐term sperm preservation procedures. The MS data are available at ProteomeXchange with the dataset identifier PXD000355 and DOI 10.6019/PXD000355.
Resorcinol‐based benzoxazine with low polymerization temperature
Authors: Arnebold Andre , Schorsch Oliver , Stelten Johannes , Hartwig Andreas
Published: March 2014

The industrial applications of benzoxazines are limited due to their high curing temperatures. This drawback can be overcome by more reactive precursor compared to conventional benzoxazines or by application of efficient initiators. We report the synthesis of a new resorcinol‐based benzoxazine and its cationic polymerization with thermolatent super acids, namely organic sulfonium hexafluoroantimonates. This combination of a reactive precursor and an efficient initiator results in a curing temperature below 100 °C (differential scanning calorimetry onset) which is up to now one of the lowest polymerization temperatures for benzoxazine systems. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the formed polybenzoxazine has not been influenced by the applied initiators. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1693–1699
Immediate Effects of Talocrural and Subtalar Joint Mobilization on Balance in the Elderly
Authors: Chevutschi Alain , D'Houwt Juliette , Pardessus Vinciane , Thevenon André
Published: March 2014

Background and Purpose

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immediate effects of therapeutic mobilization of the talocrural and subtalar joints on ankle mobility and postural control in elderly subjects.

Methods

Nineteen subjects (83.1 ± 6 years, 159 ± 1 cm; 56.1 ± 9.7 kg − mean ± standard deviation) participated in this study. The centre of pressure (COP) displacements along the anterior–posterior and medial–lateral axes was recorded in static and dynamic conditions on a force platform before and after therapeutic mobilization of the feet and ankles without blinding the subjects.

Results

In static conditions, the sway area is reduced contrarily to dynamic conditions where the sway area is increased. In the two experimental sessions, subjects showed comparable COP displacements and the total length of the oscillations. Results demonstrated a significant improvement immediately after mobilization for ankle range of motion in dorsal flexion (right +4.7°; left +3.2°) and plantar flexion (right 5.2°; left +4.2°).

Conclusion

These results suggested that postural control is improved in static conditions and decreased in dynamic conditions. Therapeutic mobilization of feet and ankles in the elderly provides an immediate improvement in joint range of movement in dorsal and plantar flexion. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystal structure of the nucleotide‐binding domain of mortalin, the mitochondrial Hsp70 chaperone
Authors: Amick Joseph , Schlanger Simon E. , Wachnowsky Christine , Moseng Mitchell A. , Emerson Corey C. , Dare Michelle , Luo Wen‐I , Ithychanda Sujay S. , Nix Jay C. , Cowan J. A. , Page Richard C. , Misra Saurav
Published: March 2014

Mortalin, a member of the Hsp70‐family of molecular chaperones, functions in a variety of processes including mitochondrial protein import and quality control, Fe‐S cluster protein biogenesis, mitochondrial homeostasis, and regulation of p53. Mortalin is implicated in regulation of apoptosis, cell stress response, neurodegeneration, and cancer and is a target of the antitumor compound MKT‐077. Like other Hsp70‐family members, Mortalin consists of a nucleotide‐binding domain (NBD) and a substrate‐binding domain. We determined the crystal structure of the NBD of human Mortalin at 2.8 Å resolution. Although the Mortalin nucleotide‐binding pocket is highly conserved relative to other Hsp70 family members, we find that its nucleotide affinity is weaker than that of Hsc70. A Parkinson's disease‐associated mutation is located on the Mortalin‐NBD surface and may contribute to Mortalin aggregation. We present structure‐based models for how the Mortalin‐NBD may interact with the nucleotide exchange factor GrpEL1, with p53, and with MKT‐077. Our structure may contribute to the understanding of disease‐associated Mortalin mutations and to improved Mortalin‐targeting antitumor compounds.
Evaluation of ensemble forecast uncertainty using a new proper score: Application to medium‐range and seasonal forecasts
Authors: Christensen H. M. , Moroz I. M. , Palmer T. N.
Published: March 2014

Forecast verification is important across scientific disciplines, as it provides a framework for evaluating the performance of a forecasting system. In the atmospheric sciences, probabilistic skill scores are often used for verification, as they provide a way of ranking the performance of different probabilistic forecasts unambiguously. In order to be useful, a skill score must be proper: it must encourage honesty in the forecaster and reward forecasts that are reliable and have good resolution. A new score, the error‐spread score (ES), is proposed, which is particularly suitable for evaluation of ensemble forecasts. It is formulated with respect to the moments of the forecast. The ES is confirmed to be a proper score and is therefore sensitive to both resolution and reliability. The ES is tested on forecasts made using the Lorenz ′96 system and found to be useful for summarizing the skill of the forecasts. The European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ensemble prediction system (EPS) is evaluated using the ES. Its performance is compared with a perfect statistical probabilistic forecast: the ECMWF high‐resolution deterministic forecast dressed with the observed error distribution. This generates a forecast that is perfectly reliable if considered over all time, but does not vary from day to day with the predictability of the atmospheric flow. The ES distinguishes between the dynamically reliable EPS forecasts and the statically reliable dressed deterministic forecasts. Other skill scores are tested and found to be comparatively insensitive to this desirable forecast quality. The ES is used to evaluate seasonal range ensemble forecasts made with the ECMWF System 4. The ensemble forecasts are found to be skilful when compared with climatological or persistence forecasts, though this skill is dependent on the region and time of year.
Probing the lipid chemistry of neurotoxin‐induced hippocampal lesions using multimodal imaging mass spectrometry
Authors: Hanrieder Jörg , Karlsson Oskar , B. Brittebo Eva , Malmberg Per , Ewing Andrew G.
Published: March 2014

The environmental toxin β‐N‐methylamino‐l‐alanine (BMAA) has been causatively linked to neurodegenerative disease pathology. In a rat model, neonatal BMAA resulted in selective uptake in the hippocampal formation and caused learning and memory impairments in adult animals. Moreover, high dose neonatal BMAA exposure resulted in formation of histopathological lesions in the CA1 region of the adult hippocampus; however, the mechanism underlying BMAA induced neuropathology remains elusive. Imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) is a powerful method for spatial interrogation of biochemical distribution in biological tissue with high chemical specificity. The aim of this study was to therefore characterize the lipid microenvironment of BMAA‐induced hippocampal lesions in adult rats using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and time‐of‐flight SIMS (ToF‐SIMS imaging). Multimodal imaging was carried out by ToF‐SIMS scans of the hippocampal formation followed by whole tissue scans using MALDI imaging. Multivariate analysis was performed on the SIMS data in order to delineate the spatial biochemistry surrounding the lesions. The data show lesion‐specific localization of phosphatidylcholine fragments, suggesting neuroinflammatory glial cell activation. Complementary MALDI imaging data showed increased levels of phosphoethanolamines colocalizing with the proteopathic lesions pointing to macroautophagic mechanisms associated with neurotoxin‐induced protein accumulation. Multimodal IMS by means of ToF‐SIMS and MALDI mass spectrometry proved to be a powerful technique for neurotoxicological research. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crystal structure of oxide layers on Mo‐added Fe‐Cr Alloys studied by GIXS and XPS
Authors: Nagoshi M. , Makiishi N. , Hamada E. , Kawano T. , Ishii K. , Okada S. , Sato M.
Published: March 2014

The grazing incident X‐ray scattering (GIXS) and XPS measurements were carried out for as‐polished surfaces of polycrystalline Fe‐Cr ferritic alloys with and without Mo. The GIXS patterns from the oxide layers consist of the diffraction peaks from Cr2O3 and the broad scattering peaks. The intensities of the diffraction peaks tended to increase as the thickness of the oxide layers on the samples became larger and their content of Cr estimated by XPS decreased. However, the intensities of the diffraction peaks changed independently of the alloy compositions as well as the dependence of the thickness and Cr content of the layers on the alloy compositions. Contaminations such as Na and S spontaneously mixed during polishing treatments are considered to be a possible reason of the formation of crystalline Cr2O3 on the surfaces. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Practical methods for background subtraction in photoemission spectra
Authors: Herrera‐Gomez A. , Bravo‐Sanchez M. , Ceballos‐Sanchez O. , Vazquez‐Lepe M. O.
Published: March 2014

The active approach for background modeling is described in this report. Under this technique, the background is assessed during the optimization of the peak parameters. In contrast, under the traditional (static) approach, the background is defined prior to peak fitting. The active has many advantages over the static, such as that the peak areas are often underestimated under the static approach. The active technique allows for treating the background as a combination of various background types. There are many reports in the literature where some of the features of the active approach are employed. Also described in this report is the Shirley–Vegh–Salvi–Castle (SVSC) background, which is a variant of the Shirley–Proctor–Sherwood method that does not require iterations. The advantages of the SVSC over the Shirley–Proctor–Sherwood background are fully described. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ZnO–clay nanocomposites for enhance drilling at HTHP conditions
Authors: Abdo J. , Zaier R. , Hassan E. , AL‐Sharji H. , Al‐Shabibi A.
Published: March 2014

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has received lot of attention as a nanostructured material because of unique properties rendering it for various applications. Severe drilling problems like pipe sticking, formation damage and high torque and drag are common in extended reach hydrocarbon wells that limit the performance of drilling operations. Bentonite (MMT) is commonly used as a rheology modifier, and attapulgite (ATP) has good Fann viscosity for use in drilling fluids, but both clays face the limitations of flocculation and instability at high temperature and pressure conditions (HTHP). ZnO–clay nanocomposites were formed by incorporating nano‐ZnO in nano‐modified MMT and ATP to maintain remarkable colloidal dispersion and superior rheology, thus enabling homogeneous drilling fluid recipes. ZnO–clay nanocomposites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. After successive laboratory investigations, drilling fluid compositions of certain proportions of water and MMT in the presence of ZnO–clay nanocomposite yielded perfect stability at high temperatures and pressure, i.e. stable drilling fluid rheology at HTHP conditions. The best‐recorded results are reported in this paper, and the properties focused here are the plastic viscosity and yield point. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SEM‐EDS with low primary electron energy as a tool of surface analysis
Authors: Nagoshi M. , Sato K.
Published: March 2014

Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) has been applied to thin Cr films on Fe and Fe–Ni alloys with the primary electron energy (EP) of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as low as 1.5 keV. The detection depth of SEM‐EDS with an EP of 1.5 keV is estimated to be less than 20 nm for the L emission of Fe in Cr. Linear relationships were obtained between Fe–Ni alloy compositions determined by chemical analysis and those derived by a quantitative calculation from the Fe‐L and Ni‐L peaks measured with the EP from 1.5 to 15 keV. SEM‐EDS can be a quantitative analysis technique with high spatial resolution for material surfaces when combined with low EP's. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nano‐attapulgite for improved tribological properties of drilling fluids
Authors: Abdo J.
Published: March 2014

Attapulgite (ATT) is purified, synthesized, characterized, functionalized, and tested in nano‐form (10–25 nm diameter) for its effectiveness to tailor the rheology of drilling fluids swiftly to reduce friction, discourage use of other expensive additives, and improve functionality. A schematic procedure for purification and synthesis of ATT to nano‐level for uniform dispersion is established. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are utilized to analyze the nano‐attapulgite (NATT) structure. The effects of NATT‐modified drilling fluids on the tribological properties mainly the coefficient of friction (COF) between the drillstring and the wellbore are established. OFITE Lubricity Tester is used to measure the COF values of the test samples. To test for the performance of the NATT‐modified drilling fluids, an in‐house experimental setup that imitates the wellbore being drilled in the presence of surrounding drilling fluid was developed and utilized to investigate the effects of NATT size and composition on the axial force transfer of drillstring. Results show that the use of a NATT in drilling fluid significantly reduces the COF between the drillstring and the wellbore thus improves the axial force transfer considerably. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multifractal analysis of drop‐casted copper (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine film surfaces on the indium tin oxide substrates
Authors: Ţălu Ştefan , Stach Sebastian , Mahajan Aman , Pathak Dinesh , Wagner Tomas , Kumar Anshul , Bedi Ratish Kumar
Published: March 2014

This paper applies multifractal spectrum theory to characterize the structural complexity of 3D surface roughness of copper (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine (CuTsPc) films on the indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate, obtained with atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis. CuTsPc films were prepared by drop cast method on ITO substrate. CuTsPc films surface roughness was studied by AFM in tapping‐mode™, in air, on square areas of 2500 µm2. A novel approach, on the basis of computational algorithms for analysis of 3D roughness surface applied for AFM data, was presented. Results revealed that the 3D surface roughness of CuTsPc films prepared by drop cast method on ITO substrate can be described using the multifractal geometry. The generalized dimensions Dq and the multifractal spectrum f(α) provided quantitative values that characterize the local scale properties of CuTsPc films surface geometry at nanometer scale. Data provide valuable information to describe the spatial arrangement of 3D surface roughness of CuTsPc films on ITO substrate, which was not taken into account by classical surface statistical parameters. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sufficient dimension reduction on the mean and rate functions of recurrent events
Authors: Zhao Xiaobing , Zhou Xian
Published: March 2014

The counting process with a Cox‐type intensity function has been extensively applied to analyze recurrent event data, which assume that the underlying counting process is a time‐transformed Poisson process and that the covariates have multiplicative or additive effects on the mean and rate functions of the counting process. The existing statistical inference, however, often encounters difficulties due to high‐dimensional covariates, such as in gene expression and single nucleotide polymorphism data that have revolutionized our understanding of cancer recurrence and other diseases. In this paper, a technique of sufficient dimension reduction is applied to the mean and rate function for the number of occurrences of events over time. A two‐step procedure is proposed to estimate the model components: first, a nonparametric estimator is proposed for the baseline, and then the basis of the central subspace and its dimension are estimated through a modified slicing inverse regression. On the basis of the estimated structural dimension and on the basis of the central subspace, we can estimate the regression function by using the local linear regression. A simulation is performed to confirm and assess the theoretical findings, and an application is demonstrated on a set of chronic granulomatous disease data. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effectiveness of a curricular and professional development intervention at improving elementary teachers' science content knowledge and student achievement outcomes: Year 1 results
Authors: Diamond Brandon S. , Maerten‐Rivera Jaime , Rohrer Rose Elizabeth , Lee Okhee
Published: March 2014

Teacher knowledge of science content is an important but under‐studied construct. A curricular and professional development intervention consisting of a fifth grade science curriculum, teacher workshops, and school site support was studied to determine its effect on teachers' science content knowledge as measured by a science knowledge test, a questionnaire, and classroom observations. These three measures, along with college science courses taken, were then used to examine the effect of teachers' science content knowledge on student achievement outcomes. The intervention had a significant effect on the treatment group teachers' science knowledge test scores and questionnaire responses compared to the control group, but not on the classroom observation ratings. Teachers' scores on the science knowledge test were found to be the largest significant teacher‐level predictor of student achievement outcomes regardless of participation in the intervention. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 51: 635–658, 2014
Evidence of second‐trimester changes in head biometry and brain perfusion in fetuses with congenital heart disease
Authors: Masoller N. , Martínez J. M. , Gómez O. , Bennasar M. , Crispi F. , Sanz‐Cortés M. , Egaña‐Ugrinovic G. , Bartrons J. , Puerto B. , Gratacós E.
Published: March 2014

Objectives

To evaluate the associations between congenital heart disease (CHD) and head biometry and cerebrovascular blood flow dynamics at the time of diagnosis of CHD in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Methods

This was a study of 95 consecutive fetuses diagnosed with CHD. At the time of diagnosis, fetal biometry was performed and brain perfusion was assessed by middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA‐PI), cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and fractional moving blood volume (FMBV). The results were compared with those of 95 normal fetuses matched for gestational age.

Results

Median gestational age at diagnosis was 22 + 3 (range, 20 + 0 to 23 + 5) weeks. Fetuses with CHD showed significantly lower MCA‐PI and CPR Z‐scores (−0.23 vs 0.34 and −0.37 vs 0.30, respectively; both P < 0.001) and higher FMBV Z‐scores (2.35 vs 0.15; P < 0.001). FMBV > 95th percentile was observed in 81.1% of cases as compared with 10.5% in controls (P < 0.001). Moreover, cases showed significantly smaller biparietal diameter (BPD) and head circumference (HC) Z‐scores (−1.61 vs −0.43 and −0.89 vs 0.09, respectively; both P < 0.001), with a higher proportion of BPD and HC measurements below the 5th percentile compared with controls (51.6% vs 13.7% and 26.3% vs 4.2%, respectively; both P < 0.001). These findings were more pronounced in those cases with types of CHD associated with compromised oxygenated blood delivery to the brain, such as left outflow tract obstruction and transposition of the great arteries.

Conclusions

A high proportion of fetuses with CHD have a smaller head and increased brain perfusion already in the second trimester, suggesting an early onset of the mechanisms leading to poorer neurodevelopment later in life. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
The Effect of the Massachusetts Healthcare Reform on Emergency Department Use
Authors: Hosseinichimeh Niyousha , Weinberg Stephen
Published: March 2014

Lack of healthcare insurance is considered one of the drivers of the rise in emergency department (ED) use in the United States. Using survey‐based, individual‐level data, we compare ED use after the 2006 Massachusetts health insurance reform with ED use before the reform both in Massachusetts and nearby states. We find that the reform increased the insurance rate significantly by 5.29 percentage points. We do not find a statistically significant effect on ED visits but do not have enough power to rule out potentially relevant effects. It seems that policy makers hoping that insurance reform will dramatically decrease ED overcrowding are likely to be disappointed.
Community Handwashing Guide: Utilizing Available Resources to Initiate a Handwashing Intervention
Authors: Sandhu Manmeet Poonam , Goodnight Jennifer
Published: March 2014

Handwashing with soap is the single most cost‐effective public health intervention that can decrease the incidence of various communicable diseases in developing nations. Unfortunately, handwashing interventions in resource‐poor communities are often hindered by promotion of official handwashing guidelines that assume soap, clean water, and towels are readily available. In this article, the current handwashing recommendations and their applicability to hygiene interventions in developing nations were examined. The results of this review suggested that a new handwashing paradigm is needed to address the varying resources available for hand hygiene. Thus, a novel community handwashing guide was developed. This guide emphasizes the importance of increasing access to physical handwashing resources in developing communities, and can be applied to communities regardless of their socioeconomic status. The community handwashing guide promotes sustainable, incremental improvements in hygiene within a community, and is a more feasible approach than previous recommendations.
Connecting Climate Change and Health Through Global Summitry
Authors: Kirton John , Kulik Julia , Bracht Caroline , Guebert Jenilee
Published: March 2014

The strengthening scientific consensus about the connection between climate change and health is not reflected at the relevant organizations of the United Nations (UN). It has been more adequately addressed by the informal Group of Eight (G8). Relative to the G8 with its comprehensive agenda, intermittent UN summits focused on health, environment, or development have lagged in recognizing and responding to the connection. This poorer UN performance is not caused by changes in the scientific consensus, or by severe climate and health shocks, which should spur both summit systems, particularly the UN, to act. It depends more on the comprehensiveness, flexibility, annual occurrence, and compact like‐mindedness of the G8 summits compared to the subject‐specific, organizationally constrained, intermittent, internally divergent UN ones. This suggests the UN will struggle to transform the Millennium Development Goals into new post‐2015 sustainable development goals and define a post‐2015 climate change control regime with a closer climate‐health connection, unless the G8 and now Group of 20 summits address the connection in a UN‐supportive way.
Five Strategies for Successful Assessment in Graduate Medical Education
Authors: Barlow Patrick B. , Smith Tiffany L. , Skolits Gary
Published: March 2014

This discussion provides faculty, or anyone conducting their own assessment, with five key strategies for useful assessment in graduate medical education (GME) and the broader higher education environment with or without the benefit of pre‐existing learning objectives. Higher education faculty, including GME, are not trained to develop their own assessment strategies (Hutchings, 2010). Consequently, developing assessment “from the ground up” can be an arduous process, particularly without previous strategies in place. We introduce the strategies using a free‐standing evidence‐based medicine curriculum as a case. The five strategies are: (1) know your situation; (2) clarify your purpose; (3) use what you have; (4) fit the instrument to your purpose, not the other way around; and (5) get consistent and critical feedback. These five strategies should prove beneficial in making sure effective assessment data is gathered efficiently as medical education moves towards a competency‐based model.
The Impact of Trust in E‐Government on Electronic Health Literacy
Authors: Srinivasan Divya
Published: March 2014

The electronic information the U.S. government provides to the public on health issues may impact health literacy, suggested by indicators including the perception of quality and security of information and confidence in health information utilized. The study uses social cognitive theory (SCT) to develop a foundation for why patients are affected by sources of health information around them. A logistic regression is conducted on 2007 HINTS survey data in order to assess how trust in different types of information sources (e‐government, the Internet, charitable organizations, television, etc.) impact health literacy indicators. The result of the study suggests that greater trust in health information from e‐government increases patient perception of information security and confidence in health information, but does not impact perception of quality of health information. The study suggests how e‐government information affects self‐efficacy and interest in e‐health literacy and provides policy analysis of direct and indirect initiatives that e‐government can take in the future to improve on current health literacy outcomes. The study summarizes the results and policy analysis on the impact of e‐government on e‐health literacy for the community.
Neuronal RNA‐binding proteins in health and disease
Authors: Lenzken Silvia Carolina , Achsel Tilmann , Carrì Maria Teresa , Barabino Silvia M.L.
Published: March 2014

In mammalian cells in general and in neurons in particular, mRNA maturation, translation, and degradation are highly complex and dynamic processes. RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) play crucial roles in all these events. First, they participate in the choice of pre‐mRNA splice sites and in the selection of the polyadenylation sites, determining which of the possible isoforms is produced from a given precursor mRNA. Then, once in the cytoplasm, the protein composition of the RNP particles determines whether the mature mRNA is transported along the dendrites or the axon of a neuron to the synapses, how efficiently it is translated, and how stable it is. In agreement with their importance for neuronal function, mutations in genes that code for RBPs are associated with various neurological diseases. In this review, we illustrate how individual RBPs determine the fate of an mRNA, and we discuss how mutations in RBPs or perturbations of the mRNA metabolism can cause neurodegenerative disorders. WIREs RNA 2014, 5:565–576. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1231

This article is categorized under:

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Recognition

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications

RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease
Surgeon‐performed Intraoperative Tumor Localization in Recurrent Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma by Ultrasound‐guided Intratumoral Indigo Carmine Injection
Authors: Ahn Dongbin , Sohn Jin Ho , Kim Heejin
Published: March 2014

Background

Identification and removal of small, non‐palpable tumors located within previous surgical scar tissue is challenging and time consuming and may be associated with increased risk in patients with recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The purpose of the present study was to present our surgeon‐performed technique and to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound‐guided intratumoral indigo carmine injection (US‐III) for intraoperative tumor localization in patients with recurrent PTC.

Methods

Sixteen patients with recurrent PTC in which tumors were <1.5 cm and not palpable were enrolled in this prospective study from January 2012 through March 2013.

Results

The mean size of the target tumors was 0.85 cm (range 0.4–1.3 cm) on preoperative US. The average time required for the US‐III procedure was 7.7 min (range 5–11 min). The mean volume of injected indigo carmine was 0.56 mL (range 0.3–1.0 mL); this injection expanded the tumors by a mean of 0.2 cm (23.5 % increase compared with the initial tumor size; range 0.0–0.4 cm), increasing the mean size of the target tumors to 1.05 cm (range 0.5–1.5 cm). In 15 (93.8 %) of the 16 patients, the recurrent tumors were successfully removed with the aid of US‐III. No complications occurred in any of the patients as a result of the US‐III or subsequent surgeries.

Conclusions

US‐III is a safe and effective technique that can be performed by the surgeon for the intraoperative localization of small non‐palpable tumors within previous scar tissue in patients with recurrent PTC.
Reducing the Burden of Postoperative ileus: Evaluating and Implementing an Evidence‐based Strategy
Authors: Barletta Jeffrey F. , Senagore Anthony J.
Published: March 2014

Background

Postoperative ileus remains a significant clinical and economic burden to the health care system. Over the last decade, several advances in both medical and surgical therapies have been made to reduce the incidence and severity of postoperative ileus. Despite these advances, though, the incidence of ileus remains high. This narrative review focuses on interventions aimed to prevent and treat postoperative ileus while presenting a step‐by‐step process for implementation of an evidenced‐based strategy.

Methods

A literature search was performed using Medline/PubMed, and articles related to postoperative ileus were identified. The bibliographies of all retrieved articles were reviewed to obtain additional articles of relevance.

Results

There are many factors that can influence gastrointestinal recovery that can be categorized as management‐, drug‐, or surgery‐related. While several strategies exist to improve gastrointestinal recovery, few have been shown to reduce length of hospital stay. These strategies are described here, along with a structured approach organized by preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative considerations.

Conclusions

Postoperative ileus is associated with a significant clinical and economic burden to the health care system. Strategies such as the development of a multidisciplinary team and the creation of a multimodal protocol are encouraged with continuous quality assurance to assess outcomes at the local level.
Charitable Platforms in Global Surgery: A Systematic Review of their Effectiveness, Cost‐Effectiveness, Sustainability, and Role Training
Authors: Shrime Mark G. , Sleemi Ambereen , Ravilla Thulasiraj D.
Published: March 2014

Objective

This study was designed to propose a classification scheme for platforms of surgical delivery in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) and to review the literature documenting their effectiveness, cost‐effectiveness, sustainability, and role in training. Approximately 28 % of the global burden of disease is surgical. In LMICs, much of this burden is borne by a rapidly growing international charitable sector, in fragmented platforms ranging from short‐term trips to specialized hospitals. Systematic reviews of these platforms, across regions and across disease conditions, have not been performed.

Methods

A systematic review of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was performed from 1960 to 2013. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined a priori. Bibliographies of retrieved studies were searched by hand. Of the 8,854 publications retrieved, 104 were included.

Results

Surgery by international charitable organizations is delivered under two, specialized hospitals and temporary platforms. Among the latter, short‐term surgical missions were the most common and appeared beneficial when no other option was available. Compared to other platforms, however, worse results and a lack of cost‐effectiveness curtailed their role. Self‐contained temporary platforms that did not rely on local infrastructure showed promise, based on very few studies. Specialized hospitals provided effective treatment and appeared sustainable; cost‐effectiveness evidence was limited.

Conclusions

Because the charitable sector delivers surgery in vastly divergent ways, systematic review of these platforms has been difficult. This paper provides a framework from which to study these platforms for surgery in LMICs. Given the available evidence, self‐contained temporary platforms and specialized surgical centers appear to provide more effective and cost‐effective care than short‐term surgical mission trips, except when no other delivery platform exists.
Over 20-Year Follow-up of Miura Reconstruction of Cleft Hand
Authors: Beck John D. , Chang Benjamin , Jones Neil F.
Published: March 2014

Abstract Several techniques have been described for cleft hand closure and web space reconstruction in patients with central deficiency; however, long-term documentation of results is rare. We present a 23-year follow-up of a patient who underwent the Miura procedure for a Manske type IIb cleft hand exhibiting long-term aesthetic and functional success. In addition, early skin flap necrosis and late web space contracture, which have been seen after the Snow-Littler procedure, did not occur in this case.
Gemini Pyridinium Surfactants: Synthesis and Their Surface Active Properties
Authors: Patial Pankaj , Shaheen Arifa , Ahmad Ishtiaque
Published: March 2014

New pyridinium Gemini surfactants have been synthesized by esterification of renewable fatty acids with halogenated alcohols furnishing respective esters (2‐chloroethyl hexadecanoate, 2‐chloroethyl tetradecanoate, 2‐chloroethyl dodecanoate, 2‐bromoethyl hexadecanoate, 2‐bromoethyl tetradecanoate and 2‐bromoethyl dodecanoate) followed by their subsequent treatment with 4,4′‐trimethylenedipyridine resulting into the formation of title Gemini surfactants: (4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1‐(2‐(hexadecanoyl oxy) ethyl) dipyridinium chloride(7), (4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1‐(2‐(tetradecanoyl oxy) ethyl) dipyridinium chloride (8), 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1‐(2‐(dodecanoyl oxy) ethyl) dipyridinium chloride (9), (4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1‐(2‐(hexadecanoyl oxy) ethyl) dipyridinium bromide (10), (4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1‐(2‐(tetradecanoyl oxy) ethyl) dipyridinium bromide (11), 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1‐(2‐(dodecanoyl oxy) ethyl) dipyridinium bromide (12). Their identifications are based on IR, 1H‐, 13C‐NMR, DEPT, COSY and mass spectral studies. Their surface active properties are also evaluated on the basis of surface tension and conductivity measurements and thermal stability of these long chain cationics Gemini surfactants have been measured by thermal gravimetric analysis under nitrogen atmosphere.
Application of High Intensity Ultrasound to a Zero‐trans Shortening During Temperature Cycling at Different Cooling Rates
Authors: Ye Y. , Tan C. Y. , Kim D. A. , Martini S.
Published: March 2014

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of high intensity ultrasound (HIU) on the physical properties of a commercial shortening crystallized at a constant temperature and during temperature cycling at two different cooling rates (0.5 and 1 °C/min). Different ultrasound power levels and different durations were evaluated during crystallization at a constant temperature and the best conditions were used to evaluate the effect of HIU during temperature cycling. The physical properties tested were crystal microstructure, viscoelasticity, and melting profile. Results show that HIU is more efficient at changing crystal microstructure when used at 20 °C using a 1/2″ tip. No difference was found on the microstructure of the crystals formed when different durations of ultrasound exposure were tested. A significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in the storage modulus (G′) of the lipid exposed to temperature fluctuations with the use of HIU. The G′ values increased from 662.6 ± 176.8 Pa (no HIU applied) to 3,365.5 ± 426.4 Pa (with HIU applied, 0.5 °C/min) and from 354.4 ± 49.7 Pa (no HIU applied) to 1,249.0 ± 19.8 Pa (with HIU applied, 1 °C/min).
Skewed Sex Ratios and Criminal Victimization in India
Authors: South Scott J. , Trent Katherine , Bose Sunita
Published: March 2014

Although substantial research has explored the causes of India’s excessively masculine population sex ratio, few studies have examined the consequences of this surplus of males. We merge individual-level data from the 2004–2005 India Human Development Survey with data from the 2001 India population census to examine the association between the district-level male-to-female sex ratio at ages 15 to 39 and self-reports of victimization by theft, breaking and entering, and assault. Multilevel logistic regression analyses reveal positive and statistically significant albeit substantively modest effects of the district-level sex ratio on all three victimization risks. We also find that higher male-to-female sex ratios are associated with the perception that young unmarried women in the local community are frequently harassed. Household-level indicators of family structure, socioeconomic status, and caste, as well as areal indicators of women’s empowerment and collective efficacy, also emerge as significant predictors of self-reported criminal victimization and the perceived harassment of young women. The implications of these findings for India’s growing sex ratio imbalance are discussed.
Farnesyl‐diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 regulates hepatitis C virus propagation
Authors: Park Eun-Mee , Nguyen Lam N. , Lim Yun-Sook , Hwang Soon B.
Published: March 2014

To identify the novel genes involved in lipid metabolism and lipid droplet formation that may play important roles in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) propagation, we have screened the small interfering RNA library using cell culture derived HCV (HCVcc)‐infected cells. We selected and characterized the gene encoding farnesyl‐diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT1). siRNA‐mediated knockdown of FDFT1 impaired HCV replication in both subgenomic replicon and HCVcc infected cells. Moreover, YM‐53601, an inhibitor of FDFT1 enzyme activity, abrogated HCV propagation. HCV infection increased FDFT1 protein level but not FDFT1 mRNA level. These results suggest that HCV may modulate FDFT1 protein level to facilitate its own propagation.
Can we trap the metalloradical intermediate during the S‐state transitions of Photosystem II? An EPR investigation
Authors: Zahariou Georgia , Chrysina Maria , Petrouleas Vasili , Ioannidis Nikolaos
Published: March 2014

We report the trapping of two metalloradical intermediates corresponding to the transitions S2 to S3 and S3 to S0 of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) of Photosystem II (PSII), in preparations containing methanol, at temperatures near that of half inhibition of the respective S‐state transitions. The first intermediate, with an EPR width of 160 G, is assigned to , based on its similarity to the one previously characterized after trapping at 10 K. The second with a splitting of ∼80 G is tentatively assigned to . The EPR signal is weaker than the one, and both are stable at cryogenic temperatures.
Monitoring jaguar populationsPanthera oncawith non-invasive genetics: a pilot study in Brazilian ecosystems
Authors: Roques S. , Furtado M. , Jácomo A. T. A. , Silveira L. , Sollmann R. , Tôrres N. M. , Godoy J. A. , Palomares F.
Published: March 2014

The global population of jaguarsPanthera oncahas decreased significantly since the beginning of the 20th century. Given the scarcity of demographic and biological information, estimating population parameters is critical for the design of conservation measures. The jaguar's elusive behaviour makes it impossible to estimate and monitor populations by direct observation. We propose a non-invasive genetic sampling approach and demonstrate its potential for large-scale monitoring. Sex identification was optimized for faecal samples of jaguars and other felids. We also optimized a set of 11 microsatellite markers for reliable identification of individuals. We estimated the effectiveness of faecal sample genotyping in two distinct Brazilian biomes: the Pantanal and the semi-arid Caatinga. Almost 90% of the samples that were molecularly identified as jaguar (n = 90) were successfully genotyped and were assigned to 30 individuals. Genetic diversity was generally high but was significantly lower in the Caatinga population. We show that non-invasive genetic sampling can be a reliable tool to study population parameters and to monitor the genetic status of jaguar populations in different habitats. It may also be useful for future surveys of jaguars that address ecological, behavioural and conservation issues, and could provide a baseline for non-invasive genetic studies of other wild felid populations.