bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ChemInform Abstract: D‐Luciferin, Derivatives and Analogues — Synthesis and in vitro/in vivo Luciferase‐Catalyzed Bioluminescent Activity
Authors: Meroni Giuseppe , Rajabi Mehdi , Santaniello Enzo
Published: December 2009

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
Polyvinylpyrrolidon. Ein Tausendsassa in der Chemie
Authors: Fischer Frank , Bauer Stephan
Published: December 2009

Vor genau 70 Jahren wurde PVP von Prof. Dr. Walter Reppe in der BASF erfunden und zum Patent angemeldet. Polyvinylpyrrolidon wurde zunächst als Blutplasmaersatzstoff im Zweiten Weltkrieg eingesetzt. Nach und nach fand es dann Anwendung in den unterschiedlichsten Branchen: Pharma‐, Kosmetik‐, Waschmittelindustrien. PVP kommt mittlerweile bei über 100 verschiedenen technischen Anwendungen zum Einsatz, zum Beispiel in Membranen, Klebestiften, Schmelzklebern, Hydrogelen und im Pflanzenschutz. Aufgrund seiner vielseitigen Eigenschaften – wie Wasserlöslichkeit, Film‐ und Komplexbildung, Kleb‐ und Bindekraft – sowie Dank seiner toxikologischen Unbedenklichkeit ist PVP eines der interessantesten technischen Spezialpolymere in der Chemie.
Das Gerbereimuseum in Enger
Authors: Schwedt Georg
Published: December 2009

Zwischen Teutoburger Wald und Wiehengebirge im Kreis Herford liegt die westfälische Stadt Enger (Stadtrecht seit 1719), die 948 erstmals urkundlich erwähnt wurde. Nach einer legendenhaften Überlieferung soll der Sachsenherzog Widukind (lebte im 8. Jahrhundert) in der Pfarrkirche sein Grab haben. In Enger befindet sich die seit 1740 betriebene Gerberei Sasse am Ufer des Bolldammbaches, die 1995 stillgelegt und nach 1998 (Gründung des “Vereins Gerbereimuseum Enger e.V.”) bis 2001 zu einem lebendigen Museum umgestaltet wurde. Es ist das einzige Gerbereimuseum mit Loh‐ und Chromgerberei in Deutschland am originalen Standort und im ursprünglichen Gebäude.
How to quantify iron in an aqueous or biological matrix: a technical note
Authors: Boutry Sébastien , Forge Delphine , Burtea Carmen , Mahieu Isabelle , Murariu Oltea , Laurent Sophie , Vander Elst Luce , Muller Robert N.
Published: December 2009

Iron oxide (nano)particles are powerful contrast agents for MRI and tags for magnetic cellular labeling. The need for quantitative methods to evaluate the iron content of contrast media solutions and biological matrixes is thus obvious. Several convenient methods aiming at the quantification of iron from iron oxide nanoparticle‐containing samples are presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibitory neurons in the anterior piriform cortex of the mouse: Classification using molecular markers
Authors: Suzuki Norimitsu , Bekkers John M.
Published: December 2009

The primary olfactory cortex (or piriform cortex, PC) is attracting increasing attention as a model system for the study of cortical sensory processing, yet little is known about inhibitory neurons in the PC. Here we provide the first systematic classification of GABA‐releasing interneurons in the anterior PC of mice, based on the expression of molecular markers. Our experiments used GAD67‐GFP transgenic mice, in which gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐containing cells are labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). We first confirmed, using paired whole‐cell recordings, that GFP+ neurons in the anterior PC of GAD67‐GFP mice are functionally GABAergic. Next, we performed immunolabeling of GFP+ cells to quantify their expression of every possible pairwise combination of seven molecular markers: calbindin, calretinin, parvalbumin, cholecystokinin, neuropeptide Y, somatostatin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. We found that six main categories of interneurons could be clearly distinguished in the anterior PC, based on the size and laminar location of their somata, intensity of GFP fluorescence, patterns of axonal projections, and expression of one or more of the seven markers. A number of rarer categories of interneurons could also be identified. These data provide a road map for further work that examines the functional properties of the six main classes of interneurons. Together, this information elucidates the cellular architecture of the PC and provides clues about the roles of GABAergic interneurons in olfactory processing. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1670–1687, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Telencephalic binding sites for oxytocin and social organization: A comparative study of eusocial naked mole‐rats and solitary cape mole‐rats
Authors: Kalamatianos Theodosis , Faulkes Christopher G. , Oosthuizen Maria K. , Poorun Ravi , Bennett Nigel C. , Coen Clive W.
Published: December 2009

African mole‐rats provide a unique taxonomic group for investigating the evolution and neurobiology of sociality. The two species investigated here display extreme differences in social organization and reproductive strategy. Naked mole‐rats (NMRs) live in colonies, dominated by a queen and her consorts; most members remain nonreproductive throughout life but cooperate in burrowing, foraging, and caring for pups, for which they are not biological parents (alloparenting). In contrast, Cape mole‐rats (CMRs) are solitary and intolerant of conspecifics, except during fleeting seasonal copulation or minimal maternal behavior. Research on other mammals suggests that oxytocin receptors at various telencephalic sites regulate social recognition, monogamous pair bonding, and maternal/allomaternal behavior. Current paradigms in this field derive from monogamous and polygamous species of New World voles, which are evolutionarily remote from Old World mole‐rats. The present findings indicate that NMRs exhibit a considerably greater level of oxytocin receptor (OTR) binding than CMRs in the: nucleus accumbens; indusium griseum; central, medial, and cortical amygdaloid nuclei; bed nucleus of the stria terminalis; and CA1 hippocampal subfield. In contrast, OTR binding in the piriform cortex is intense in CMRs but undetectable in NMRs. We speculate that the abundance of OTR binding and oxytocin‐neurophysin‐immunoreactive processes in the nucleus accumbens of NMRs reflects their sociality, alloparenting behavior, and potential for reproductive attachments. In contrast, the paucity of oxytocin and its receptors at this site in CMRs may reflect a paucity of prosocial behaviors. Whether similarities in OTR expression between eusocial mole‐rats and monogamous voles are due to gene conservation or convergent evolution remains to be determined. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1792–1813, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of nitrergic neurons in the nervous system of the locust embryo
Authors: Stern Michael , Böger Nicole , Eickhoff René , Lorbeer Christina , Kerssen Ulrike , Ziegler Maren , Martinelli Giorgio P. , Holstein Gay R. , Bicker Gerd
Published: December 2009

We followed the development of the nitric oxide‐cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO‐cGMP) system during locust embryogenesis in whole mount nervous systems and brain sections by using various cytochemical techniques. We visualized NO‐sensitive neurons by cGMP immunofluorescence after incubation with an NO donor in the presence of the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activator YC‐1 and the phosphodiesterase‐inhibitor isobutyl‐methyl‐xanthine (IBMX). Central nervous system (CNS) cells respond to NO as early as 38% embryogenesis. By using the NADPH‐diaphorase technique, we identified somata and neurites of possible NO‐synthesizing cells in the CNS. The first NADPH‐diaphorase‐positive cell bodies appear around 40% embryogenesis in the brain and at 47% in the ventral nerve cord. The number of positive cells reaches the full complement of adult cells at 80%. In the brain, some structures, e.g., the mushroom bodies acquire NADPH‐diaphorase staining only postembryonically. Immunolocalization of L‐citrulline confirmed the presence of NOS in NADPH‐diaphorase‐stained neurons and, in addition, indicated enzymatic activity in vivo. In whole mount ventral nerve cords, citrulline immunolabeling was present in varying subsets of NADPH‐diaphorase‐positive cells, but staining was very variable and often weak. However, in a regeneration paradigm in which one of the two connectives between ganglia had been crushed, strong, reliable staining was observed as early as 60% embryogenesis. Thus, citrulline immunolabeling appears to reflect specific activity of NOS. However, in younger embryos, NOS may not always be constitutively active or may be so at a very low level, below the citrulline antibody detection threshold. For the CNS, histochemical markers for NOS do not provide conclusive evidence for a developmental role of this enzyme. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1157–1175, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chemical stress induces the unfolded protein response in olfactory sensory neurons
Authors: Sammeta Neeraja , McClintock Timothy S.
Published: December 2009

More than any other neuron, olfactory sensory neurons are exposed to environmental insults. Surprisingly, their only documented response to damaging stress is apoptosis and subsequent replacement by new neurons. However, they expressed unfolded protein response genes, a transcriptionally regulated defense mechanism activated by many types of insults. The unfolded protein response transcripts Xbp1, spliced Xbp1, Chop (Ddit3), and BiP (Hspa5) were decreased when external access of stressors was reduced by blocking a nostril (naris occlusion). These transcripts and Nrf2 (Nfe2l2) were increased by systemic application of tunicamycin or the selective olfactotoxic chemical methimazole. Methimazole's effects overcame naris occlusion, and the unfolded protein response was independent of odor‐evoked neuronal activity. Chemical stress is therefore a major and chronic activator of the unfolded protein response in olfactory sensory neurons. Stress‐dependent repression of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2 was absent, however, suggesting a mechanism for disconnecting the UPR from apoptosis and tolerating a chronic unfolded protein response. Environmental stressors also affect both the sustentacular cells that support the neurons and the respiratory epithelia, because naris occlusion decreased expression of the xenobiotic chemical transformation enzyme Cyp2a5 in sustentacular cells, and both naris occlusion and methimazole altered the abundance of the antibacterial lectin Reg3g in respiratory epithelia. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1825–1836, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Embedded Phases: A Way to Active and Stable Catalysts
Authors: De Rogatis Loredana , Cargnello Matteo , Gombac Valentina , Lorenzut Barbara , Montini Tiziano , Fornasiero Paolo
Published: December 2009

Industrial catalysts are typically made of nanosized metal particles, carried by a solid support. The extremely small size of the particles maximizes the surface area exposed to the reactant, leading to higher reactivity. Moreover, the higher the number of metal atoms in contact with the support, the better the catalyst performance. In addition, peculiar properties have been observed for some metal/metal oxide particles of critical sizes. However, thermal stability of these nanostructures is limited by their size; smaller the particle size, the lower the thermal stability. The ability to fabricate and control the structure of nanoparticles allows to influence the resulting properties and, ultimately, to design stable catalysts with the desired characteristics. Tuning particle sizes provides the possibility to modulate the catalytic activity. Unique and unexpected properties have been observed by confining/embedding metal nanoparticles in inorganic channels or cavities, which indeed offers new opportunities for the design of advanced catalytic sytems. Innovation in catalyst design is a powerful tool in realizing the goals of more green, efficient and sustainable industrial processes. The present Review focuses on the catalytic performance of noble metal‐ and non precious metal‐based embedded catalysts with respect to traditional impregnated systems. Emphasis is dedicated to the improved thermal stability of these nanostructures compared to conventional systems.
Atomic Layer Deposition of Ruthenium Thin Films from an Amidinate Precursor
Authors: Wang Hongtao , Gordon Roy G. , Alvis Roger , Ulfig Robert M.
Published: December 2009

Ruthenium thin films are deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) from bis(N,N'‐di‐tert‐butylacetamidinato)ruthenium(II) dicarbonyl and O2. Highly conductive, dense, and pure thin films can be deposited when oxygen exposure, EO, approaches a certain threshold (Emax). When EO > Emax the film peels off due to the recombinative desorption of O2 at the film/substrate interface. Analysis by atomic probe microscopy (APM) shows that the crystallites are nearly free from carbon impurity (<0.1 at.‐%), while a low level of carbon (<0.5 at.‐%) is segregated near the grain boundaries. APM also shows that a small amount of O impurity (0.3 at.‐%) is distributed uniformly between the crystallites and the grain boundaries.
Proxy‐assisted P2P and multicast transmission schemes for layered‐video streaming over wireless networks
Authors: Kao Yung‐Cheng , Lee Chung‐Nan
Published: December 2009

This work describes the process of efficiently streaming a set of layered‐videos from a remote server via proxy of the base station to multiple heterogeneous and asynchronous clients in wireless networks, such as the WiMAX network, which are devices that request different layers of the video according to their profiles. The process focuses on that the transmission cost savings for cachingXlayers of a video are not only from requests onXlayers, but also from requests on layers that are lower thanXlayers. A set of proxy‐assisted transmission schemes are proposed for layered‐video streaming by integrating the proxy caching with reactive transmission schemes, peer‐to‐peer mesh networks and base station multicast capability. The optimal proxy prefix cache allocation is calculated for each transmission scheme to identify the cache layer and cache length of each video to minimize the aggregate transmission cost. Experimental results demonstrate that an adaptive proxy‐assisted transmission scheme can lead to significant transmission cost savings. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transient expression of serotonin 5‐HT4receptors in the mouse developing thalamocortical projections
Authors: Slaten Erin R. , Hernandez Melissa C. , Albay Ricardo , Lavian Rachel , Janušonis Skirmantas
Published: December 2009

The serotonin 5‐HT4receptor (5‐HT4‐R) is an unusually complex G‐protein coupled receptor that is likely to play important roles in brain development and that may underlie the comorbidity of central and peripheral abnormalities in some developmental disorders. We studied the expression of 5‐HT4‐Rs in the developing mouse forebrain at embryonic days 13, 15, 17, and at postnatal days 3 and 14 by using immunohistochemistry, tract tracing, and quantitative RT‐PCR. The developing thalamocortical projections transiently expressed 5‐HT4‐Rs in the embryonic brain and the 5‐HT4‐R expression in the forebrain changed from axonal to somatic around birth. From embryonic days 13–17, the forebrain mRNA levels of the 5‐HT4(a)‐R and 5‐HT4(b)‐R splice variants increased nine‐ and fivefold, respectively, whereas the levels of the 5‐HT4(e)‐R and 5‐HT4(f)‐R variants remained relatively low throughout the studied period of embryonic development. These results suggest that during development 5‐HT4‐R expression undergoes a dynamic regulation and that this regulation may be important for the normal development of sensory and limbic processing. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2010.
Molecular Rotors Based on the Boron Dipyrromethene Fluorophore
Authors: Benniston Andrew C. , Harriman Anthony , Whittle Victoria L. , Zelzer Mischa
Published: December 2009

In order to examine how changes in the size of the rotary group affect the efficacy of molecular probes for monitoring changes in local viscosity, a boron dipyrromethene dyebearing a meso‐phenanthrene unit has been synthesized and fully characterized. 19F NMR spectroscopy, together with molecular modelling, indicates that the bulky phenanthryl unit cannot rotate completely around the connecting C–C linkage but can oscillate over a reasonably large dihedral angle. This situation is to be contrasted with the corresponding dye having a meso‐phenylene ring. The latter dye functions as a molecular probe for changes in viscosity of the surrounding solvent but remains essentially insensitive to changes in the polarity of the solvent. The opposite situation is found for the phenanthryl derivative, where a charge‐transfer state lies at higher energy than the emissive π,π* excited state but can be accessed thermally. The results are considered in terms of energy‐level diagrams taking into account rotational freedom. Photophysical properties are reported for both dyes in a range of solvents, and temperature‐dependent studies are described.
Distinct pathways to persuasion: The role of affect in message‐framing effects
Authors: van 't Riet Jonathan , Ruiter Robert A. C. , Werrij Marieke Q. , Candel Math J. J. M. , de Vries Hein
Published: December 2009

Health‐promoting messages can be framed in terms of the gains that are associated with healthy behaviour (gain frame) or the losses that are associated with unhealthy behaviour (loss frame). In the present research, we examined the role of positive and negative affect in the persuasive effects of gain‐ and loss‐framed health‐promoting information. Experiment 1 (N = 98) showed that gain‐framed information resulted in higher levels of information acceptance than loss‐framed information and that this effect was mediated by positive affect. The results of Experiment 2 (N = 129) showed that gain‐framed information resulted in higher levels of information acceptance and attitude, an effect that was again mediated by positive affect. In addition, loss‐framed information resulted in more negative affect than gain‐framed information and negative affect increased participants' intention to engage in the healthy behaviour. These results suggest that affect may be of great importance in the persuasion process and may be particularly helpful to explain the underlying mechanisms of message framing effects. The findings also suggest that gain‐ and loss‐framed messages offer distinct pathways to persuasion. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatial distribution and content of soil organic matter in an agricultural field in eastern Canada, as estimated from geostatistical tools
Authors: Mabit Lionel , Bernard Claude
Published: December 2009

Soil erosion induces soil redistribution within the landscape and thus contributes to the spatial variability of soil quality. This study complements a previous experimentation initiated by the authors focusing on soil redistribution as a result of soil erosion, as indicated by caesium‐137 (137Cs) measurements, in a small agricultural field in Canada.

The spatial variability of soil organic matter (SOM) was characterized using geostatistics, which consider the randomized and structured nature of spatial variables and the spatial distribution of the samples. The spatial correlation of SOM (in percentages) patterns in the topsoil was established taking into account the spatial structure present in the data. A significant autocorrelation and reliable variograms were found with a R2 ≥ 0·9, thus demonstrating a strong spatial dependence.

Ordinary Kriging (OK) interpolation provided the best cross validation (r2 = 0·35). OK and inverse distance weighting power two (IDW2) interpolation approaches produced similar estimates of the total SOM content of the topsoil (0–20 cm) of the experimental field, i.e. 211 and 213 tonnes, respectively. However, the two approaches produced differences in the spatial distribution patterns and the relative magnitude of some SOM content classes.

The spatialization of SOM and soil redistribution variability – as evidenced by 137Cs measurements – is a first step towards the assessment of the impact of soil erosion on SOM losses to recommend conservation measures. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Little Ice Age glaciers in the Balkans: low altitude glaciation enabled by cooler temperatures and local topoclimatic controls
Authors: Hughes P.D.
Published: December 2009

Moraine ridges are present in the highest cirques of the Durmitor massif in Montenegro and post‐date the widespread Pleistocene moraines of this area. Lichenometry suggests that at least eight glaciers were present in the 19th century and correlate with the culmination of the Little Ice Age in the European Alps. Cooler temperatures combined with local topoclimatic controls, including windblown and avalanching snow as well as shading, were crucial for the formation and survival of these glaciers below the regional equilibrium–line altitude. The resultant regional equilibrium line altitude (ELA) was positioned close to the highest peaks between 2400 and 2500 m, with local controls such as avalanche, windblown snow and shading depressing the ELA in the northern cirques to 2130–2210 m. This ELA position was very low for this latitude and lower than for most glaciers in the European Alps at any time during the Holocene, and even equivalent to many Alpine glaciers during the Younger Dryas. Today, one glacier still survives in Montenegro, in a deep northeast‐facing cirque characterized by the largest combined areas of potential avalanche and windblown snow. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fully Aromatic Copolyethers for High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Daletou M. K. , Geormezi M. , Pefkianakis E. K. , Morfopoulou C. , Kallitsis J. K.
Published: December 2009

New aromatic polyethers containing diphenylpyridine, phosphinoxide and tetramethyl‐biphenyl units have been synthesised employing various comonomers' ratios affording a complete series of soluble high molecular weight copolymers. Their properties in respect to their potential as electrolytes for high temperature PEM fuel cells were thoroughly investigated. All materials exhibit excellent film forming properties and mechanical integrity, high thermal and oxidative stability in combination with the ability to absorb phosphoric acid resulting in conductivities in the range of 10–2 S cm–1. A discussion on the effect of the chemical structure on the properties is also depicted herein.
Electrical stimulation induces calcium‐dependent release of NGF from cultured Schwann cells
Authors: Huang Jinghui , Ye Zhengxu , Hu Xueyu , Lu Lei , Luo Zhuojing
Published: December 2009

Production of nerve growth factor (NGF) from Schwann cells (SCs) progressively declines in the distal stump, if axonal regeneration is staggered across the suture site after peripheral nerve injuries. This may be an important factor limiting the outcome of nerve injury repair. Thus far, extensive efforts are devoted to modulating NGF production in cultured SCs, but little has been achieved. In the present in vitro study, electrical stimulation (ES) was attempted to stimulate cultured SCs to release NGF. Our data showed that ES was capable of enhancing NGF release from cultured SCs. An electrical field (1 Hz, 5 V/cm) caused a 4.1‐fold increase in NGF release from cultured SCs. The ES‐induced NGF release is calcium dependent. Depletion of extracellular or/and intracellular calcium partially/ completely abolished the ES‐induced NGF release. Further pharmacological interventions showed that ES induces calcium influx through T‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels and mobilizes calcium from 1, 4, 5‐trisphosphate‐sensitive stores and caffeine/ryanodine‐sensitive stores, both of which contributed to the enhanced NGF release induced by ES. In addition, a calcium‐triggered exocytosis mechanism was involved in the ES‐induced NGF release from cultured SCs. These findings show the feasibility of using ES in stimulating SCs to release NGF, which holds great potential in promoting nerve regeneration by enhancing survival and outgrowth of damaged nerves, and is of great significance in nerve injury repair and neuronal tissue engineering. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The reliability of three depression rating scales in a general population of Dutch older persons
Authors: van de Rest Ondine , van der Zwaluw Nikita , Beekman Aartjan T.F. , de Groot Lisette C.P.G.M. , Geleijnse Johanna M.
Published: December 2009

Objective

To compare the reliability of three rating scales for assessing depressive symptoms in a community‐based, non‐clinically depressed older population.

Methods

The study sample comprised of 302 independently living subjects aged 65 years or older. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the centre for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CES‐D), the geriatric depression scale (GDS‐15) and the Montgomery and Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS) at three time points: at baseline, after 13 weeks (except the GDS‐15) and after 26 weeks. Three dimensions of reliability were compared: (i) internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), (ii) reproducibility (Spearman correlations) and (iii) the intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability (Spearman correlations to compare the differences between correlations of subjects tested by the same vs. different raters at three time points).

Results

Cronbach's alpha was high for the CES‐D (0.84), good for the MADRS (0.72) and relatively low for the GDS‐15 (0.55). Reproducibility was also higher for the CES‐D (0.71) than for the MADRS (0.61) and the GDS‐15 (0.52). The rater had little influence on CES‐D scores (intra/inter‐rater ratio = 0.99). The GDS‐15 and the MADRS, however, performed better when administered by the same rater.

Conclusions

The CES‐D was the most reliable scale for measuring depressive symptoms in a non‐clinically depressed older population. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brain‐behavior relationships in young traumatic brain injury patients: DTI metrics are highly correlated with postural control
Authors: Caeyenberghs Karen , Leemans Alexander , Geurts Monique , Taymans Tom , Linden Catharine Vander , Smits‐Engelsman Bouwien C. M. , Sunaert Stefan , Swinnen Stephan P.
Published: December 2009

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of impairment and functional disability in children and adolescents, including deterioration in fine as well as gross motor skills. The aim of this study was to assess deficits in sensory organization and postural ability in a young group of TBI patients versus controls by using quantitative force‐platform recordings, and to test whether balance deficits are related to variation in structural properties of the motor and sensory white matter pathways. Twelve patients with TBI and 14 controls (aged 8–20 years) performed the Sensory Organisation Test (SOT) protocol of the EquiTest® (Neurocom). All participants were scanned using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) along with standard anatomical scans. Quantitative comparisons of DTI parameters (fractional anisotropy, axial and radial diffusivity) between TBI patients and controls were performed. Correlations between DTI parameters and SOT balance scores were determined. Findings revealed that the TBI group scored generally lower than the control group on the SOT, indicative of deficits in postural control. In the TBI group, reductions in fractional anisotropy were noted in the cerebellum, posterior thalamic radiation, and corticospinal tract. Degree of white matter deterioration was highly correlated with balance deficits. This study supports the view that DTI is a valuable tool for assessing the integrity of white matter structures and for selectively predicting functional motor deficits in TBI patients. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identifying spatially overlapping local cortical networks with MEG
Authors: Duncan Keith Kawabata , Hadjipapas Avgis , Li Sheng , Kourtzi Zoe , Bagshaw Andy , Barnes Gareth
Published: December 2009

Recent modelling studies (Hadjipapas et al. [2009]: Neuroimage 44:1290‐1303) have shown that it may be possible to distinguish between different neuronal populations on the basis of their macroscopically measured (EEG/MEG) mean field. We set out to test whether the different orientation columns contributing to a signal at a specific cortical location could be identified based on the measured MEG signal. We used 1.5deg square, static, obliquely oriented grating stimuli to generate sustained gamma oscillations in a focal region of primary visual cortex. We then used multivariate classifier methods to predict the orientation (left or right oblique) of the stimuli based purely on the time‐series data from this one location. Both the single trial evoked response (0–300 ms) and induced post‐transient power spectra (300–2,300 ms, 20–70 Hz band) due to the different stimuli were classifiable significantly above chance in 11/12 and 10/12 datasets respectively. Interestingly, stimulus‐specific information is preserved in the sustained part of the gamma oscillation, long after perception has occurred and all neuronal transients have decayed. Importantly, the classification of this induced oscillation was still possible even when the power spectra were rank‐transformed showing that the different underlying networks give rise to different characteristic temporal signatures. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural brain differences and cognitive functioning related to body mass index in older females
Authors: Walther Katrin , Birdsill Alex C. , Glisky Elizabeth L. , Ryan Lee
Published: December 2009

Little is known about the effect of obesity on brain structures and cognition in healthy older adults. This study examined the association between body mass index (BMI), regional volume differences in gray and white matter measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cognitive functioning in older females. Participants included 95 community‐dwelling older females (ages 52–92 years) who underwent extensive neuropsychological testing and high‐resolution MRI scanning. Optimized voxel‐based morphometry techniques were employed to determine the correlation between BMI and regional gray and white matter volumes. Volumes of significant regions were then correlated with cognitive functioning. Higher BMI was associated with decreased gray matter volumes in the left orbitofrontal, right inferior frontal, and right precentral gyri, a right posterior region including the parahippocampal, fusiform, and lingual gyri, and right cerebellar regions, as well as increased volumes of white matter in the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes, even when hypertension was considered. Compared to normal weight women, obese women performed poorer on tests of executive functioning. Smaller gray matter volume in the left orbitofrontal region was associated with lower executive functioning. Additionally, despite the lack of significant group differences in memory and visuomotor speed, gray and white matter volumes predicted performance on these measures. The results provide additional evidence for a negative link between increased body fat and brain functioning in older females. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Levels of oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation in thyroid neoplasia
Authors: Young Orla , Crotty Tom , O'Connell Rohana , O'Sullivan Jacintha , Curran Aongus J.
Published: December 2009

Background

This study assessed the presence of oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation in thyroid neoplasia.

Methods

Using tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry, we assessed levels of DNA damage (8‐oxo‐dG) and lipid peroxidation (4‐HNE) in 71 follicular thyroid adenoma (FTA), 45 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and 17 follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) and matched normal thyroid tissue.

Results

Cytoplasmic 8‐oxo‐dG and 4‐HNE expression was significantly higher in FTA, FTC, and PTC tissue compared to matched normal tissue (all p values < .001). Similarly, elevated nuclear levels of 8‐oxo‐dG were seen in all in FTA, FTC, and PTC tissue compared to matched normal (p values < .07, < .001, < .001, respectively). In contrast, a higher level of 4‐HNE expression was detected in normal thyroid tissue compared with matched tumor tissue (p < .001 for all groups). Comparing all 3 groups, 4‐HNE levels were higher than 8‐oxo‐dG levels (p < .001 for all groups) except that cytoplasmic levels of 8‐oxo‐dG were higher than 4‐HNE in all (p < .001). These results were independent of proliferation status.

Conclusion

High levels of DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in benign and malignant thyroid neoplasia indicates this damage is an early event that may influence disease progression. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010
An analysis of alternative conceptual models relating hyporheic exchange flow to diel fluctuations in discharge during baseflow recession
Authors: Wondzell Steven M. , Gooseff Michael N. , McGlynn Brian L.
Published: December 2009

Diel fluctuations in stream flow during baseflow have been observed in many streams and are typically attributed to water losses from evapotranspiration (ET). However, there is no widely transferable conceptual model that explains how ET results in diel fluctuations in streamflow at the watershed outlet. For fluctuations to occur, two factors must be present: (1) some process must generate the fluctuations and transfer them to the stream channel, and (2) fluctuations must be accumulated and transported down the stream network in such a way that they arrive at a stream gauge as a coherent signal. We have previously shown how stream flow velocity affects the transport of diel fluctuations in discharge through a stream network. Here, we examined how riparian ET and hyporheic exchange flows generate diel fluctuations in discharge. We hypothesized that ET would cause a slight drawdown of riparian aquifers during the day, slightly increasing head gradients away from the stream and slightly reducing head gradients back to the stream. Thus, slightly more water would flow into the hyporheic zone than is returned to the stream, gradually reducing stream discharge. The process would be reversed at night. Using stream‐tracer experiments and riparian water‐level data, we tested two hypotheses related to this conceptual model—that the amplitude (H1) and time lag (H2) of diel aquifer drawdown would be constant over the summer. Neither hypothesis was supported by our data. We conclude that the processes that link watershed ET with streams include both local‐ and watershed‐scale effects. Conceptual models attempting to explain diel fluctuations need to include the combined effects of ET on lateral inputs and hyporheic exchange flows, the redistribution of water within riparian aquifers, and the transport of ET signals from the whole stream network to the stream gauge. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Re‐establishment of soil water repellency after destruction by intense burning in a Mediterranean heathland (SW Spain)
Authors: Jordán Antonio , González Félix A. , Zavala Lorena M.
Published: December 2009

Soil water repellency has been conventionally considered as a fire‐induced effect, but an increasing number of studies have suggested that natural background repellency occurs in many soil types, and many of them have suggested that water repellency can be re‐established over time after being destroyed. An experimental fire was conducted to study changes of the soil surface during the first 18 months following intense burning. The main objectives of this paper are as follows: (1) to investigate in situ water repellency changes at three soil depths (0, 2 and 4 cm) immediately after burning; (2) to evaluate the medium‐term evolution of water repellency under field conditions; and (3) to outline the main hydrological consequences of these changes. Also, different water repellency tests (water drop penetration time, ethanol percentage test (EPT) and contact angle (CA) between water drops and the soil surface) were carried out for comparison purposes. Field experiments showed that soil water repellency was partly destroyed after intense burning. Changes were relatively strong at the soil surface, but diminished progressively with depth. Levels of water repellency were practically re‐established 18 months after burning. This suggests that water repellency in the studied area is not necessarily a consequence of fire, but can instead be a natural attribute. Finally, although limited in time, destruction of soil water repellency has important consequences for runoff flow generation and soil loss rates, and, indirectly, for water quality. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unsaturated zone fracture flow contributions to stream flow: evidence for the process in South Africa and its importance
Authors: Hughes D. A.
Published: December 2009

Understanding hydrological processes has always been important to the development and successful application of conceptual hydrological models. It can also contribute to informed water resources management, particularly in the context of understanding the potential impacts of both land use and climate change. Improved conceptual and quantitative understanding of near‐surface hydrological processes emerged through field studies during the 1960s to1980s; however, there remains a degree of ambiguity about the processes that link surface water and groundwater. This is especially the case in South Africa where a great deal of confusion has arisen about the source of the ‘baseflow’ signal in stream flow observations. This paper suggests that fracture flow within the unsaturated zone could have a lateral component and therefore re‐emerge and contribute to stream flow in catchments with relatively steep topography. The implication is that ‘baseflows’ could be made up of groundwater contributions (caused by intersection of the water table with stream channels) as well as an unsaturated zone flow component. Evidence for the existence of the process is presented on the basis of small‐scale observations and interpretations of stream flow observations. The potential importance of the process relates to interpreting different methods of recharge estimation, assessing the impacts of groundwater abstraction on stream flow, as well as the application and interpretation of the results of hydrological models. The conclusions are that the process does exist, but that there is less than conclusive evidence for its importance. There is therefore a need for further studies that can quantify the scale of the process and therefore its importance. Only then will it be possible to develop a consistent understanding of the processes of surface water and groundwater interaction and therefore manage water resources in a truly integrated manner. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modified passive capillary samplers for collecting samples of snowmelt infiltration for stable isotope analysis in remote, seasonally inaccessible watersheds 1: laboratory evaluation
Authors: Frisbee Marty D. , Phillips Fred M. , Campbell Andrew R. , Hendrickx Jan M. H.
Published: December 2009

Snowmelt is the most significant source of runoff generation and recharge in many of the mountainous watersheds worldwide and this is especially true in the southwestern United States. Yet, the isotopic and geochemical composition of the soil–meltwater endmember remains poorly constrained. Using the isotopic compositions of snow and snowmelt runoff samples taken from the landscape surface as proxies for soil–meltwater endmembers is problematic since they are typically not representative of the actual composition of soil meltwater. Furthermore, the applicability of current methodologies to collect the isotopic composition of meltwater is limited because of the remote and often seasonally inaccessible nature of the terrain where snowpacks develop. Therefore, a robust methodology requiring little maintenance or monitoring is desirable. A lab experiment was conducted to determine the suitability of using a modified passive capillary sampler (M‐PCAPS) design to collect snowmelt infiltration for isotopic analysis. Passive capillary samplers are constructed from fiberglass wicks that can be installed in the soil to sample vadose‐zone waters under a wide range of matric potentials and require little maintenance. Results from this lab experiment indicate that the wicking process associated with M‐PCAPS does not fractionate water but certain precautions are necessary to prevent exchange between the wick and the atmosphere. In this experiment, M‐PCAPS effectively tracked the changing isotopic composition of a soil reservoir undergoing evaporation. Therefore, M‐PCAPS provide a robust methodology to sample the isotopic composition of snowmelt infiltration in remote watersheds and similar applications. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An examination of snow redistribution over smooth land‐fast sea ice
Authors: Iacozza J. , Barber D. G.
Published: December 2009

An understanding of temporal evolution of snow on sea ice at different spatial scales is essential for improvement of snow parameterization in sea ice models. One of the problems we face, however, is that long‐term climate data are routinely available for land and not for sea ice. In this paper, we examine the temporal evolution of snow over smooth land‐fast first‐year sea ice using observational and modelled data. Changes in probability density functions indicate that depositional and drifting events control the evolution of snow distribution. Geostatistical analysis suggests that snowdrifts increased over the study period, and the orientation was related to the meteorological conditions. At the microscale, the temporal evolution of the snowdrifts was a product of infilling in the valleys between drifts.

Results using two shore‐based climate reporting stations (Paulatuk and Tuktoyuktuk, NWT) suggest that on‐ice air temperature and relative humidity can be estimated using air temperature recorded at either station. Wind speed, direction and precipitation on ice cannot be accurately estimated using meteorological data from either station. The temporal evolution of snow distribution over smooth land‐fast sea ice was modelled using SnowModel and four different forcing regimes. The results from these model runs indicate a lack of agreement between observed distribution and model outputs. The reasons for these results are lack of meteorological measurements prior to the end of January, lack of spatially adequate surface topography and discrepancies between meteorological variables on land and ice. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Early and late effects of the immunosuppressants rapamycin and mycophenolate mofetil on UV carcinogenesis
Authors: de Gruijl F.R. , Koehl G.E. , Voskamp P. , Strik A. , Rebel H.G. , Gaumann A. , de Fijter J.W. , Tensen C.P. , Bavinck J.N. Bouwes , Geissler E.K.
Published: December 2009

Increased skin cancer risk in organ transplant recipients has been experimentally emulated with enhanced UV carcinogenesis from administering conventional immunosuppressants. However, newer generation immunosuppressive drugs, rapamycin (Rapa) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), have been shown to impair angiogenesis and outgrowth of tumor implants. To ascertain the overall effect on UV carcinogenesis, Rapa and MMF were admixed into the food pellets of hairless SKH1 mice receiving daily sub‐sunburn UV dosages. With immunosuppressive blood levels neither of the drugs affected onset of tumors (<2 mm), but in contrast to MMF, Rapa significantly increased latency of large tumors (≥4 mm, medians of 190 vs 125 days) and reduced their multiplicity (1.6 vs 4.5 tumors per mouse at 200 days). Interestingly, tumors (>2 mm) from the Rapa‐fed group showed a reduction in UV‐signature p53 mutations (39% vs 90%) in favor of mutations from putative base oxidation. This shift in mutation spectrum was not essentially linked to the reduction in large tumors because it was absent in large tumors similarly reduced in number when feeding Rapa in combination with MMF, possibly owing to an antioxidant effect of MMF. Significantly fewer tumor cells were Vegf‐positive in the Rapa‐fed groups, but a correspondingly reduced expression of Hif1α target genes (Vegf, Ldha, Glut1, Pdk1) that would indicate altered glucose metabolism with increased oxidative stress was not found. Remarkably, we observed no effect of the immunosuppressants on UV‐induced tumor onset, and with impaired tumor outgrowth Rapa could therefore strongly reduce skin carcinoma morbidity and mortality rates in organ transplant recipients.
Novel soluble HLA‐A2/MELAN‐A complexes selectively stain a differentiation defective subpopulation of CD8+ T cells in patients with melanoma
Authors: Guillaume Philippe , Baumgaertner Petra , Neff Laurence , Rufer Nathalie , Wettstein Peter , Speiser Daniel E. , Luescher Immanuel F.
Published: December 2009

Multimeric MHC I‐peptide complexes containing phycoerythrin‐streptavidin are widely used to detect and investigate antigen‐specific CD8+ (and CD4+) T cells. Because such reagents are heterogeneous, we compared their binding characteristics with those of monodisperse dimeric, tetrameric and octameric complexes containing linkers of variable length and flexibility on Melan‐A‐specific CD8+ T cell clones and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HLA‐A*0201+ melanoma patients. Striking binding differences were observed for different defined A2/Melan‐A26‐35 complexes on T cells depending on their differentiation stage. In particular, short dimeric but not octameric A2/Melan‐A26‐35 complexes selectively and avidly stained incompletely differentiated effector‐memory T cells clones and populations expressing CD27 and CD28 and low levels of cytolytic mediators (granzymes and perforin). This subpopulation was found in PBMC from all six melanoma patients analyzed and proliferated on peptide stimulation with only modest phenotypic changes. By contrast influenza matrix58‐66 ‐specific CD8+ PBMC from nine HLA‐A*0201+ healthy donors were efficiently stained by A2/Flu matrix58‐61 multimers, but not dimer and upon peptide stimulation proliferated and differentiated from memory into effector T cells. Thus PBMC from melanoma patients contain a differentiation defective sub‐population of Melan‐A‐specific CD8+ T cells that can be selectively and efficiently stained by short dimeric A2/Melan‐ A26‐35 complexes, which makes them directly accessible for longitudinal monitoring and further investigation.
Changes in the risk of death from cancer up to five years after diagnosis in elderly patients: A study of five common cancers
Authors: Colonna Marc , Bossard Nadine , Remontet Laurent , Grosclaude Pascale
Published: December 2009

Cancer mortality in elderly people is described to highlight the mechanisms that could potentially explain observed differences with other age groups. Data from 15 French cancer registries were considered in the search for the 5‐year outcome of patients diagnosed during the period 1989–1997. Relative survival, excess mortality hazard, and hazard ratio of mortality were estimated to describe patient outcome according to age. Five cancer sites were selected: colon/rectum, prostate, breast, head/neck, and lung. An excess mortality rate was found in patients aged over 75 at the time of diagnosis. This excess mortality rate was mainly seen during the first months after diagnosis, then it decreased gradually with time. An initial phenomenon of patient selection, a greater disease severity at the time of diagnosis, and less‐effective treatments given to elderly patients are the most plausible explanations for the increased risk of cancer‐related death in the eldest patients.