bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous cyclic embryonic movements in humans and guinea pigs
Authors: Felt Renée H.M. , Mulder Eduard J.H. , Lüchinger Annemarie B. , van Kan Colette M. , Taverne Marcel A.M. , de Vries Johanna I.P.
Published: July 2011

Motility assessment before birth can be used to evaluate the integrity of the nervous system. Sideways bending (SB) of head and/or rump, the earliest embryonic motility in both humans and guinea pigs, can be visualized sonographically. We know from other species that early embryonic motility is cyclic. This study explores the distribution of SB‐to‐SB intervals in human and guinea pig embryos before the appearance of more complex movements such as general movements. We hypothesized that the activity in both species is cyclic. We made 15‐min sonographic recordings of SBs between 5 weeks and 0 days (5wk0d) and 7wk0d conceptional age (CA) in 18 human embryos of uncomplicated IVF pregnancies (term 38 weeks) and in 20 guinea pig embryos between 3wk4d and 4wk0d CA (term 9 weeks). SB‐to‐SB interval durations were categorized as long (≥10 s) or short (<10 s) intervals. For human embryos, the median values for long and short intervals were 61 s (range, 10–165 s) and 3 s (range, 1–9 s) respectively; for guinea pigs 38 s (range, 10–288 s) and 5 s (range, 1–9 s), respectively. During development, the duration of long intervals decreased while the number of short intervals increased for both species. The earliest embryonic motility in the human and guinea pig is performed cyclically with distinct developmental milestones. The resemblance of their interval development offers promising possibilities to use the guinea pig as a noninvasive animal model of external influences on motor and neural development. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2012
Extracellular matrix functions during neuronal migration and lamination in the mammalian central nervous system
Authors: Franco Santos J. , Müller Ulrich
Published: July 2011

Extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoproteins are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) in complex and developmentally regulated patterns. The ECM provides a number of critical functions in the CNS, contributing both to the overall structural organization of the CNS and to control of individual cells. At the cellular level, the ECM affects its functions by a wide range of mechanisms, including providing structural support to cells, regulating the activity of second messenger systems, and controlling the distribution and local concentration of growth and differentiation factors. Perhaps the most well known role of the ECM is as a substrate on which motile cells can migrate. Genetic, cell biological, and biochemical studies provide strong evidence that ECM glycoproteins such as laminins, tenascins, and proteoglycans control neuronal migration and positioning in several regions of the developing and adult brain. Recent findings have also shed important new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which reelin regulates migration. Here we will summarize these findings, emphasizing the emerging concept that ECM glycoproteins promote different modes of neuronal migration such as radial, tangential, and chain migration. We also discuss several studies demonstrating that mutations in ECM glycoproteins can alter neuronal positioning by cell nonautonomous mechanisms that secondarily affect migrating neurons. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 71: 889‐900, 2011
Understanding ecohydrological connectivity in savannas: a system dynamics modelling approach
Authors: Miller Gretchen R. , Cable Jessica M. , McDonald Alyson K. , Bond Barbara , Franz Trenton E. , Wang Lixin , Gou Si , Tyler Anna P. , Zou Chris B. , Scott Russell L.
Published: July 2011

Ecohydrological connectivity is a system level property that results from the linkages in the networks of water transport through ecosystems, by which feedbacks and other emergent system behaviours may be generated. We created a system dynamics model that represents primary ecohydrological networks to examine how connectivity between ecosystem components impacts ecosystem processes. Here, we focused on the savanna ecosystems, although the analyses may be expanded to other ecosystem types in the future. To create the model, a set of differential equations representing ecohydrological processes was programmed into the dynamic solver Vensim. Stocks of water storage (e.g. atmospheric and soil moisture) were linked by flows [e.g. precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET)] that were in turn dynamically controlled by the amount of water stored. Precipitation was forced stochastically, and soil moisture and potential ET controlled actual ET. The model produced extended, probabilistic time series of stocks and flows, including precipitation, soil moisture, runoff, transpiration, and groundwater recharge. It was used to describe the behaviour of several previously studied savanna ecosystems in North America and Africa. The model successfully reproduced seasonal patterns of soil moisture dynamics and ET at the California site. It also demonstrated more complex, system level behaviours, such as multiyear persistence of drought and synergistic or antagonistic responses to disconnection of system components. Future improvements to the model will focus on capturing other important aspects of long‐term system behaviour, such as changes in physiology or phenology, and spatial heterogeneity, such as the patchwork nature of savannas. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Influence of fructose and oxygen gradients on fed‐batch recombinant protein production using Bacillus megaterium
Authors: Korneli Claudia , David Florian , Godard Thibault , Franco‐Lara Ezequiel
Published: July 2011

Bacillus megaterium expressing a variant of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used to investigate the influence of gradients in dissolved oxygen (DO) and fructose concentration on biomass and product formation. For this purpose, several fed‐batch experiments with DO as feed control parameter were performed using suboptimal and optimal adjusted control parameters. In a first approach, suboptimal DO‐feeding was reached by varying randomly the controller output between 10 and 20% of the maximal pumping capacity. This led to fluctuations in DO between 20 and 80% and to substrate gradients around 3 g/L. GFP formation thereby was decreased. In a second approach, an optimal feeding profile was realized using a PI‐control with a constant controller output of 20% was used. Thereby no gradients in substrate concentration, but low‐amplitude and high‐frequency oscillations in the DO concentration were obtained, leading to increased GFP formation. In a final experimental approach, large‐scale conditions were emulated in a two‐compartment scale‐down system consisting of a 3.7‐L stirred tank reactor and a 0.7‐L non‐stirred vessel. DO‐based feeding was applied with the measurement in the 3.7‐L bioreactor and feeding in the small vessel. This setup led to a fairly constant gradient of 20% between both vessels, which also resulted in a decreased GFP productivity.
A novel interface‐tracking method based on Lagrangian particles for deformation analysis of a red blood cell in a capillary
Authors: Li Hua , Ye Ting , Lam K. Y.
Published: July 2011

A novel efficient interface‐tracking method is developed to gain an insight into the interface in a multiphase or multifluid system, called the modified particle binary level set (MPBLS) method, in which the binary level set function is defined to distinguish the different phases or fluids and further modified by Lagrangian particles scattered along the interface for achieving higher accuracy. The validation of the MPBLS method is carried out first by simulating the free motion of a red blood cell (RBC) in the rotating, shear and Poiseuille flows, respectively. Subsequently, further validations are performed by comparing with the experimental and numerical results published previously. As one of important applications, the MPBLS method is employed to investigate the deformation behaviors of RBCs with different shapes in a capillary. The simulations show that the healthy RBC gradually changes the geometric shape from a biconcave to a steady parachute shape. It is thus guaranteed that the RBC successfully traverses through the smaller capillaries compared with undeformed RBC. However, the unhealthy RBC with the circular or elliptical shape has different deformation behaviors, in which the steady parachute shape is much less concave at the rear and more convex in the front. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implicit preconditioned high‐order compact scheme for the simulation of the three‐dimensional incompressible Navier–Stokes equations with pseudo‐compressibility method
Authors: Qian ZhanSen , Zhang JingBai
Published: July 2011

This paper combines the pseudo‐compressibility procedure, the preconditioning technique for accelerating the time marching for stiff hyperbolic equations, and high‐order accurate central compact scheme to establish the code for efficiently and accurately solving incompressible flows numerically based on the finite difference discretization. The spatial scheme consists of the sixth‐order compact scheme and 10th‐order numerical filter operator for guaranteeing computational stability. The preconditioned pseudo‐compressible Navier–Stokes equations are marched temporally using the implicit lower–upper symmetric Gauss–Seidel time integration method, and the time accuracy is improved by the dual‐time step method for the unsteady problems. The efficiency and reliability of the present procedure are demonstrated by applications to Taylor decaying vortices phenomena, double periodic shear layer rolling‐up problem, laminar flow over a flat plate, low Reynolds number unsteady flow around a circular cylinder at Re = 200, high Reynolds number turbulence flow past the S809 airfoil, and the three‐dimensional flows through two 90°curved ducts of square and circular cross sections, respectively. It is found that the numerical results of the present algorithm are in good agreement with theoretical solutions or experimental data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neural mechanisms underlying the grouping effect in short‐term memory
Authors: Kalm Kristjan , Davis Matthew H. , Norris Dennis
Published: July 2011

Dividing auditory sequence into groups, or imposing rhythmic, tonal, or spatial structure during presentation, improves recall performance. Several competing computational models have been proposed to account for these effects, but little is known about the neural correlates of grouping and hence the representations that encode grouped sequences. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare the auditory encoding of grouped and ungrouped lists of sub‐span (six letters) and supra‐span (nine letters) length in an immediate serial recall (ISR) task. Analysis of activation revealed an extensive premotor and prefrontal network, which was significantly less active when short‐term memory (STM) span was exceeded during encoding. Only primary auditory cortex showed an increase in activation when memory span was exceeded. Comparison of activation for grouped and ungrouped lists showed that during the subspan phase bilateral planum temporale showed less activation for grouped stimuli, while during the supra‐span phase supramarginal and inferior parietal areas were more active for grouped lists. The magnitude of both temporal and parietal activations predicted enhanced recall of grouped lists. Thus neural signatures of grouping seem to reflect more structured processing in parietal areas instead of reliance on perceptual‐auditory processing in temporal regions. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cortical thickness is linked to executive functioning in adulthood and aging
Authors: Burzynska Agnieszka Z. , Nagel Irene E. , Preuschhof Claudia , Gluth Sebastian , Bäckman Lars , Li Shu‐Chen , Lindenberger Ulman , Heekeren Hauke R.
Published: July 2011

Executive functions that are dependent upon the frontal‐parietal network decline considerably during the course of normal aging. To delineate neuroanatomical correlates of age‐related executive impairment, we investigated the relation between cortical thickness and executive functioning in 73 younger (20–32 years) and 56 older (60–71 years) healthy adults. Executive functioning was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Cortical thickness was measured at each location of the cortical mantle using surface‐based segmentation procedures on high‐resolution T1‐weighted magnetic resonance images. For regions involved in WCST performance, such as the lateral prefrontal and parietal cortices, we found that thicker cortex was related to higher accuracy. Follow‐up ROI‐based analyses revealed that these associations were stronger in older than in younger adults. Moreover, among older adults, high and low performers differed in cortical thickness within regions generally linked to WCST performance. Our results indicate that the structural cortical correlates of executive functioning largely overlap with previously identified functional patterns. We conclude that structural preservation of relevant brain regions is associated with higher levels of executive performance in old age, and underscore the need to consider the heterogeneity of brain aging in relation to cognitive functioning. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinicopathologic analysis and predictive factors for distant metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Coca‐Pelaz Andrés , Rodrigo Juan P. , Suárez Carlos
Published: July 2011

Background

The recognition of patients at high risk for the development of distant metastasis (DM) is required to recognize a subset of patients who may benefit from systemic therapy.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis of patients treated between 1995 and 2006, 443 patients with surgically treated primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were included. The frequency and clinicopathologic risk factors for DM were evaluated.

Results

A total of 60 patients (13.5%) developed DM. In a univariate analysis, tumor site (pharynx), pN classification (pN2–N3), differentiation grade (poorly differentiated), disease stage (stage IV), number (3 or more nodes), and site (bilateral nodes) of nodal metastasis were found to be significantly associated with the risk of DM. In a multivariate analysis, the only significant risk factors were the differentiation grade and the number and site of nodal metastasis.

Conclusions

Patients with pharyngeal poorly differentiated tumors, with multiple or bilateral nodal metastases, are at greater risk of DM and should be considered for systemic therapy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011
Secondary tracheoesophageal puncture and myotomy—A novel outpatient technique
Authors: Duvdevani Shay I. , Talmi Yoav P. , Horowitz Zeev , Wolf Michael , Bedrin Lev
Published: July 2011

Background

The purpose of this study was to show a novel technique for secondary tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) and myotomy in patients who previously underwent total laryngectomy.

Methods

Fifteen patients underwent secondary TEP and 3 patients underwent myotomy. In 1 patient, both myotomy and TEP were done concurrently. A Foley catheter is nasally inserted into the esophagus with the patient under local anesthesia and the catheter balloon is inflated at the site of the planned procedure. The myotomy is performed over the inflated balloon for esophageal posterior wall protection and a voice prosthesis is inserted in a small incision made by the physician. When only myotomy is performed, the muscles over the mucosa are incised. A voice test is performed immediately.

Results

All patients exhibited good voice rehabilitation. One patient who had a myotomy had a penetration of the pharyngeal mucosa with immediate closure and no sequelae.

Conclusion

Outpatient Foley catheter–guided myotomy and secondary TEP are simple, safe, time saving, and cost‐effective procedures. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Recurrent episodes of asystole from carotid sinus hypersensitivity triggered by positioning for head and neck surgery
Authors: Truong Angela T. , Sturgis Erich M. , Rozner Marc A. , Truong Dam‐Thuy
Published: July 2011

Background

We present a case report of a patient with recurrent thyroid carcinoma, previously treated with surgery and radiotherapy, who developed asystolic episodes on 2 occasions as the result of positioning of the neck in hyperextension for head and neck surgery.

Methods and Results

In carotid sinus hypersensitivity (CSH), the carotid sinus reflex is greatly exaggerated, resulting in profound bradycardia and asystole. Predisposing risk factors for the development of CSH in this patient included history of previously treated head and neck cancer and the presence of tight surgical scars. His negative cardiovascular history, the time sequence between neck positioning and asystole, and the fact that asystole recurred during the second surgery strongly suggest that CSH was precipitated by hyperextension of the neck during positioning.

Conclusions

A heightened awareness of this syndrome, close monitoring, and preparedness for timely diagnosis and management are essential for a successful outcome. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Genes inducing iPS phenotype play a role in hepatocyte survival and proliferation in vitro and liver regeneration in vivo
Authors: Bhave Vishakha S. , Paranjpe Shirish , Bowen William C. , Donthamsetty Shashikiran , Bell Aaron W. , Khillan Jaspal S. , Michalopoulos George K.
Published: July 2011

Reprogramming factors have been used to induce pluripotent stem cells as an alternative to somatic cell nuclear transfer technology in studies targeting disease models and regenerative medicine. The neuronal repressor RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) maintains self-renewal and pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells by maintaining the expression of Oct3/4, Nanog, and cMyc. We report that primary hepatocytes express REST and most of the reprogramming factors in culture. Their expression is up-regulated by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). REST inhibition results in down-regulation of reprogramming factor expression, increased apoptosis, decreased proliferation, and cell death. The reprogramming factors are also up-regulated after 70% partial hepatectomy

in vivo

.

Conclusion:

These findings show that genes inducing the iPS phenotype, even though expressed at lower levels than embryonic stem cells, nonetheless are associated with control of apoptosis and cell proliferation in hepatocytes in culture and may play a role in such processes during liver regeneration. (Hepatology 2011)
Involvement of Th2 cytokines in the mouse model of flutamide‐induced acute liver injury
Authors: Higuchi Satonori , Kobayashi Masanori , Yano Azusa , Tsuneyama Koichi , Fukami Tatsuki , Nakajima Miki , Yokoi Tsuyoshi
Published: July 2011

Drug‐induced liver injury is a growing concern for pharmaceutical companies and patients because numerous drugs have been linked to hepatotoxicity and it is the most common reason for a drug to be withdrawn. Flutamide rarely causes liver dysfunction in humans, and immune allergic reactions have been suggested in some cases. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of flutamide‐induced liver injury in BALB/c mice. Plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly increased 3, 6 and 9 h after flutamide (1500 mg kg−1, p.o.) administration. The biomarker for oxidative stress was not changed, but Th2‐dominant immune‐related factors, such as interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, STAT6 and GATA‐binding protein (GATA)‐3, were induced in flutamide‐administered mice. The pre‐administration of monoclonal‐IL‐4 antibody suppressed the hepatotoxicity of flutamide. In addition, we investigated the effect of 13,14‐dihydro‐15‐keto‐PGD2 (DK‐PGD2; 10 µg per mouse, i.p.) administration on flutamide‐induced acute liver injury. Coadministration of DK‐PGD2 and flutamide resulted in a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase and a remarkable increase of macrophage inflammatory protein‐2. In conclusion, we demonstrated that flutamide‐induced acute liver injury is mediated by Th2‐dominant immune responses in mice. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
GPU‐accelerated atom and dynamic bond visualization using hyperballs: A unified algorithm for balls, sticks, and hyperboloids
Authors: Chavent Matthieu , Vanel Antoine , Tek Alex , Levy Bruno , Robert Sophie , Raffin Bruno , Baaden Marc
Published: July 2011

Ray casting on graphics processing units (GPUs) opens new possibilities for molecular visualization. We describe the implementation and calculation of diverse molecular representations such as licorice, ball‐and‐stick, space‐filling van der Waals spheres, and approximated solvent‐accessible surfaces using GPUs. We introduce HyperBalls, an improved ball‐and‐stick representation replacing tubes, linking the atom spheres by hyperboloids that can smoothly connect them. This type of depiction is particularly useful to represent dynamic phenomena, such as the evolution of noncovalent bonds. It is furthermore well suited to represent coarse‐grained models and spring networks. All these representations can be defined by a single general algebraic equation that is adapted for the ray‐casting technique and is well suited for execution on the GPU. Using GPU capabilities, this implementation can routinely, accurately, and interactively render molecules ranging from a few atoms up to huge macromolecular assemblies with more than 500,000 particles. In simple cases, based only on spheres, we have been able to display up to two million atoms smoothly. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011
Ab initio molecular dynamics of protonated water clusters by integrated multicenter molecular‐orbital method
Authors: Udagawa Taro , Sakai Shogo
Published: July 2011

To analyze large‐scale cluster systems theoretically, we recently developed an “integrated multicenter molecular‐orbital” (IMiC‐MO) method. This method calculates the force of an entire system by dividing the system into small regions. We used the method to analyze the effect of cluster size and the process of hydrogen bond network (HBN) growth to form H+(H2O)n (n = 9, 17, and 33) clusters. Our simulations reveal that H3O+ and water molecules in the first solvation shell function take an important role to grow the HBN. In addition, the number of hydrogen donors in each water molecule is strongly related to the shape of the HBN. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2011
Role of endoscopic sonography in the diagnosis of a fish bone perforation of the gastric wall resulting in a submucosal pseudotumor
Authors: Huang Ching‐Hsiu , Chiang Ching‐Chung , Yan Yuan‐Horng , Tsai Tsung‐Jung , Chen Chi‐Yi
Published: July 2011

We report the case of a 72‐year‐old woman with a fish bone‐induced granulation tissue in the gastric wall that was initially diagnosed as a submucosal tumor by panendoscopy. High‐frequency endoscopic ultrasonography identified the linear calcified fish bone embedded in a heterogeneous mass. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 2011
Investigating genotype–phenotype influences on the development of type 1 diabetes
Authors: Peakman Mark
Published: July 2011

The identification of genes associated with type 1 diabetes has provided important clues to the nature of the pathogenesis of the disease. Currently, this information is encapsulated in several putative mechanisms through which islet autoimmunity might arise and become converted into a malignant autoimmune disease leading to diabetes. One of these mechanisms involves the immune response to viruses, including the human enteroviruses.

The link between polymorphisms, splice variants, and deletions, in the interferon induced with helicase C domain 1 gene IFIH1 (which acts as a viral sensing gene), and diabetes has reinforced the “aberrant immune response to virus” pathway for the development of diabetes [Nejentev et al., 2009].

In order to understand how such pathways might operate in type 1 diabetes, we have taken the approach of selecting subjects with polarized genotypes (homozygous susceptibility vs. homozygous protection) for type 1 diabetes‐associated SNPs and examining the immunological phenotypes associated with these variants.

These studies indicate that with a careful design of assays that examine effects highly proximal to the genes of interest, it is possible to identify immunological phenotypes influenced by type 1 diabetes‐associated polymorphic gene variants. J. Med. Virol. 83:1671–1671, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence of JC polyomavirus genomic sequences from the large t‐antigen and non‐coding control regions among bulgarian patients with primary brain tumors
Authors: Tsekov Iliya , Ferdinandov Dilyan , Bussarsky Ventzeslav , Hristova Svetlana , Kalvatchev Zlatko
Published: July 2011

A total of 111 fresh brain biopsies from patients with primary brain tumors were examined for JC polyomavirus sequences from the Large T antigen encoding region (LT) and the viral non‐coding control region (NCCR). SYBR Green and TaqMan real‐time polymerase chain reaction assays were used. In the glioblastoma group of 39 patients 48.7% were positive for LT sequences. Among the astrocytoma group (19 patients) and the oligodendroglioma group (12 patients) 31.6% and 33.3% were also positive. The prevalence of LT genomic sequences among the other groups was as follows: in 2 out of 3 oligoastrocytomas; in 3 out 5 gangliogliomas; in 2 out of 5 meduloblastomas; in 1 out 3 pineocytomas; and in none of the tested 5 ependimomas. All positive samples had a late threshold cycle that varied from 36 to 49, indicative of very low starting viral number. Only 21 of all the 111 samples were positive for NCCR. Low copy number in range of 10–1,000 was present. Notably, only 8 of all NCCR positive specimens were also LT positive. It might be suggested that the disproportion between the results for LT and NCCR is either due to clonally integrated LT fragments, with loss of genetic material, or changes in the NCCR. The latter would alter the productive course of the infection and may establish a premise for continuous interaction of viral regulatory proteins with cell molecules that are responsible for the control of the cell cycle. This may lead subsequently to malignant transformation. J. Med. Virol. 83:1608–1613, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Resistance to antiretroviral drugs in newly diagnosed, young treatment‐naïve HIV‐positive pregnant women in the province of KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa
Authors: Parboosing R. , Naidoo A. , Gordon M. , Taylor M. , Vella V.
Published: July 2011

In 2004, KwaZulu‐Natal initiated one of the world's largest HIV/AIDS treatment programs. Studies in South Africa have shown that patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) develop rapidly and transmit drug resistant mutations. Since resistance testing is not widely available in Kwazulu‐Natal, the Department of Health conducted the first HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) threshold survey in 2005, which did not identify any mutations associated with HIVDR. The objective of this study was to conduct a follow‐up threshold survey to update the information on HIVDR. This study was conducted in 2009 in five antenatal care sites in Kwazulu‐Natal using the HIVDR threshold survey method developed by WHO. Two hundred and thirteen newly‐diagnosed HIV positive, drug‐naïve primigravidae, less than 22 years of age were included in the survey. Of the 82 HIV positive specimens, 17 had insufficient volume for genotyping and, of the remaining 65, 47 were genotyped sequentially. Drug resistance was identified by sequencing the HIV‐1 pol gene, using the ViroSeq® HIV‐1 genotyping system v2.0. Of the 47 samples that were genotyped, only one presented with a K103N mutation, which equates to a prevalence of transmitted HIVDR of <5%. The low prevalence of transmitted HIVDR is in keeping with statistical models of the early stages of ART rollout. As ART coverage is increasing continuously, there is a need to ensure that vigilance of HIVDR continues so that the emergence and spread of HIVDR is minimized. This survey should be repeated in 2011, in accordance with WHO guidelines. J. Med. Virol. 83:1508–1513, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inverse association of IL28B genotype and liver mRNA expression of genes promoting or suppressing antiviral state
Authors: Abe Hiromi , Hayes C. Nelson , Ochi Hidenori , Tsuge Masataka , Miki Daiki , Hiraga Nobuhiko , Imamura Michio , Takahashi Shoichi , Kubo Michiaki , Nakamura Yusuke , Kamatani Naoyuki , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: July 2011

High intrahepatic expression levels of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in chronic hepatitis C patients are associated with poor response to interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy. Expression levels of 16 genes (OAS1, PKR, MxA, ISG15, RIG‐I, TLR8, IRF7, IRF9, NFKBIA, IL28A/IL28B, IL29, IL28RA, IL10RB, IFNAR2, and STAT1) that promote antiviral state and 4 genes (SOCS1, SOCS3, Zc3h12a, and A20) that suppress antiviral state were analyzed using real‐time PCR assays in 133 liver biopsy samples from patients infected with genotypes 1 or 2. Expression levels of genes promoting antiviral state were positively correlated with each other but were not correlated with those that suppress antiviral state. Expression levels of some ISGs were inversely associated with common polymorphisms within the IL28B locus. Genes promoting antiviral state were expressed lower (e.g., ISG15, P = 1.42E‐12 and MxA, P = 6.40E‐11) in individuals with the protective rs12979860 CC genotype, and genes suppressing antiviral state were expressed higher (A20, P = 0.00107 and Zc3h12a, P = 0.00129, respectively), although some ISGs were not significant after the Bonferroni correction. The expression levels of both an antiviral (MxA) and a suppressor (SOCS1) ISG were independent predictors for non‐response. These results suggest that rs12979860 genotype may be associated with response to combination therapy through an inverse relationship between antiviral and suppressor ISGs in the liver. J. Med. Virol. 83:1597–1607, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spatial Heterogeneity of Thermo‐Oxidative Degradation in Impact Poly(propylene) Copolymers
Authors: de Goede Elana , Mallon Peter E. , Rode Karsten , Pasch Harald
Published: July 2011

The spatial degradation in impact PP copolymers with different ethylene contents is studied by FTIR microscopy and layer‐by‐layer milling of the sample surfaces, followed by ATR‐FTIR, SEC, and CRYSTAF analysis. FTIR allows for tracking of the rate of degradation, providing information on the depth profiling of the degradation. Results show that samples with lower ethylene content degrade faster at all depths than those with higher ethylene content. The latter show a more uniform degradation from the surface to the bulk of the material at longer degradation times. This is ascribed to the higher amorphous content which results in a larger oxygen diffusion to the centre of the material while its slower rate of degradation is ascribed to the lower tertiary carbon content.

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A Double Click Strategy Applied to the Reversible Polymerization of Furan/Vegetable Oil Monomers
Authors: Vilela Carla , Cruciani Letizia , Silvestre Armando J. D. , Gandini Alessandro
Published: July 2011

This investigation describes preliminary results related to the preparation of monomers based on vegetable oil derivatives bearing furan heterocycles appended through thiol‐ene click chemistry, and their subsequent polymerization via the Diels‐Alder (DA) polycondensation between furan and maleimide complementary moieties, i.e. a second type of click chemistry. Following the optimization of these interactions with model compounds, two basic approaches were considered for these DA polymerizations, namely (i) the use of monomers with two terminal furan rings in conjunction with bismaleimides (AA + BB systems) and (ii) the use of AB monomers incorporating both furan and maleimide end‐groups. This ongoing study clearly showed that both approaches were successful, albeit with different outcomes, in terms of the nature of the products. The application of the retro‐DA reaction confirmed their thermoreversible character, i.e. the clean‐cut return to their respective starting monomers.

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Selective and Sequential Re‐Assembly of Patterned Block Copolymer Thin Film for Fabricating Polymeric, Inorganic, and Their Composite Nanostructured Arrays
Authors: Zu Xihong , Gong Jian , Tu Weiping , Deng Yulin
Published: July 2011

We report that the nanostructures of poly(styrene‐block‐4‐vinylpyridine) block copolymer (PS‐b‐P4VP) thin film on a wafer substrate can be re‐assembled by sequential vapor treatment using selected solvents. Metal or other inorganic nanoparticles that were randomly pre‐loaded inside or on the surface of PS‐b‐P4VP thin film could be pulled to the rim of PS and P4VP along with the movements of PS and P4VP blocks during the treatment. As a result, the patterned polymeric or inorganic/polymer composite nanoisland and nanoring arrays were fabricated.

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Bim contributes to phenethyl isothiocyanate‐induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells
Authors: Hahm Eun‐Ryeong , Singh Shivendra V.
Published: July 2011

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is a highly promising cancer chemopreventive constituent of cruciferous vegetables (e.g., watercress) with in vivo efficacy in experimental rodent cancer models. Research thus far implicates apoptosis induction in cancer chemopreventive response to PEITC, but the mechanism of proapoptotic effect is not fully understood. The present study demonstrates that p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA)‐independent apoptosis by PEITC is mediated by B‐cell lymphoma 2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim). Exposure of a cell line (BRI‐JM04) derived from spontaneously developing mammary tumor of a MMTV‐neu transgenic mouse to pharmacological concentrations of PEITC resulted in decreased cell viability coupled with apoptosis induction, characterized by release of histone‐associated DNA fragments into the cytosol and cleavage of poly‐(ADP‐ribose)‐polymerase and procaspase‐3. The PEITC‐induced apoptosis in BRI‐JM04 cells was associated with up‐regulation of Bak, PUMA, and Bim (long and short forms of Bim), increased S65 phosphorylation of BimEL (extra‐long form), and down‐regulation of Bcl‐xL and Bcl‐2. On the other hand, a non‐tumorigenic human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF‐10A) was significantly more resistant to PEITC‐induced apoptosis compared with BRI‐JM04 despite induction of Bax and PUMA due to concomitant overexpression of anti‐apoptotic proteins, including Bcl‐xL, Bcl‐2, and Mcl‐1. Wild‐type HCT‐116 cells and its isogenic PUMA knockout variant exhibited comparable sensitivity to PEITC‐induced apoptosis. On the other hand, small interfering RNA knockdown of Bim protein imparted partial but statistically significant protection against PEITC‐induced apoptosis in BRI‐JM04, MCF‐7, and MDA‐MB‐231 cells. In conclusion, the present study provides novel insight into the mechanism of PEITC‐induced apoptosis involving Bim. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Downregulation of Mig‐6 in nonsmall‐cell lung cancer is associated with EGFR signaling
Authors: Li Zixuan , Dong Qianze , Wang Yang , Qu Lianyue , Qiu Xueshan , Wang Enhua
Published: July 2011

Downregulation of Mig‐6 expression has been implicated in several human cancers and its loss can lead to prolonged activation of EGFR and carcinogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of loss of Mig‐6 expression in nonsmall‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the biological functions of Mig‐6 in NSCLC cell lines. Mig‐6 expression was downregulated in 47/91 (51.6%) cases of NSCLC that were examined. Mig‐6 downregulation significantly correlated with poor differentiation (P = 0.0131), histological type (P = 0.0021), and EGFR expression (P = 0.003). In addition, knockdown of Mig‐6 expression in H1299 and BE1 cells promoted EGF‐induced tumor cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, Mig‐6 knockdown led to a significant increase in phospho‐AKT, phospho‐ERK, phospho‐EGFR as well as MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 levels. These results indicate that downregulated Mig‐6 in NSCLC tissues may serve as a new marker that can predict the activation of EGFR signaling pathway. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diagnostic criteria for depression in Parkinson's disease: A study of symptom patterns using latent class analysis
Authors: Starkstein Sergio , Dragovic Milan , Jorge Ricardo , Brockman Simone , Merello Marcelo , Robinson Robert G. , Bruce David , Wilson Mark
Published: July 2011

Although major depression is one of the most frequent psychiatric disorders among patients with Parkinson's disease, diagnostic criteria have yet to be validated. The main aim of our study was to validate depressive symptoms using latent class analysis for use as diagnostic criteria for major depression in Parkinson's disease. We examined a consecutive series of 259 patients with Parkinson's disease admitted to 2 movement disorders clinics for regular follow‐ups. All patients were assessed with a comprehensive psychiatric interview that included structured assessments for depression, anxiety, and apathy. The main finding was that all 9 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (4th edition) diagnostic criteria for major depression (ie, depressed mood, diminished interest or pleasure, weight or appetite changes, sleep changes, psychomotor changes, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, poor concentration, and suicidal ideation) identified a patient class (severe depression group) with high statistical significance. Latent class analysis also demonstrated a patient class with minimal depressive symptoms (no‐depression group), and a third patient class with intermediate depressive symptoms (moderate depression). Anxiety and apathy were both significant comorbid conditions of moderate and severe depression. Taken together, our findings support the use of the full Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (4th edition) criteria for major depression for use in clinical practice and research in Parkinson's disease and suggest that anxiety may be included as an additional diagnostic criterion. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Examination of central gait control mechanisms in Parkinson's disease using movement‐related potentials
Authors: Shoushtarian Mehrnaz , Murphy Anna , Iansek Robert
Published: July 2011

Gait disorders are common in people with Parkinson's disease. The pathophysiology of these disorders is not fully understood. Movement‐related potentials reflect supplementary motor area activity associated with the preparation and execution of voluntary movement. Our aim was to investigate movement‐related potentials associated with gait disturbances in patients with Parkinson's disease, as reflected by gait hypokinesia and initiation difficulties, in order to better understand the role of the basal ganglia in the pathogenesis of these conditions. Movement‐related potentials were back‐averaged from electroencephalography recordings performed on 11 participants with Parkinson's disease with no gait initiation difficulties, 9 participants with Parkinson's disease who suffered from gait initiation difficulties, 12 young healthy adults, and 8 healthy older adults. Participants took 3 steps forward, stepping off a force plate. Trigger signals from the force plate and electromyographic activity of the tibialis anterior muscle were used to identify gait initiation time. Participants' stride length was also measured using a 3‐dimensional motion analysis system. Movement‐related potentials showed significant group differences between the healthy young adults and the 2 Parkinson's disease groups as well as the Parkinson's disease group as a whole. No significant difference was found between the participants with Parkinson's disease and age‐matched controls. A significant inverse relationship between movement‐related potentials and stride length was found in patients with Parkinson's disease who did not experience gait initiation difficulties but not in those who did have this symptom. Gait‐generated movement‐related potentials appear to show electrical evidence of cortical disturbances correlated with stride length reduction in patients with Parkinson's disease without gait initiation difficulties. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
A clinical test for the alcohol sensitivity of essential tremor
Authors: Knudsen Karina , Lorenz Delia , Deuschl Günther
Published: July 2011

Background:

The objective of the study was to develop a simple diagnostic test for alcohol sensitivity of essential tremor patients. Here we describe the controlled measurements of tremor severity after alcohol ingestion and the practicability of using it as a home test.

Methods:

Ten patients were tested for alcohol sensitivity under controlled conditions in the laboratory (blood alcohol, quantitative tremor recordings, modified Fahn scale, visual analog scale, Archimedes spirals), and 15 patients were instructed to perform an alcohol test at home (visual analog scale, Archimedes spirals) following an adapted dosage of alcohol.

Results:

The time course of the antitremor effect showed significant improvement of up to 50% in both groups for all the outcome parameters. Tremor deteriorated after 3 hours. A quarter of the patients noticed the alcohol effect for the first time during the test.

Conclusions:

Alcohol is an effective drug for essential tremor. Its effect is only short‐lived and exhibits a rebound after > 3 hours and the next morning. We propose this essential tremor home test as a diagnostic tool to confirm the alcohol sensitivity of essential tremor. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Dynamic control of dichlorocarbene addition to cyclopropene
Authors: Merrer Dina C. , Doubleday Charles
Published: July 2011

The addition of dichlorocarbene to cyclopropene has been studied with direct dynamics quasiclassical trajectories using B3LYP/6‐31G*. The trajectories yielded 1,1‐dichlorobicyclo[1.1.0]butane and 1,1‐dichloro‐1,3‐butadiene in a ratio of 4.7:1, which is consistent with the experimental ratio of 4:1. The large majority of trajectories formed products within 100 fs of the start of the trajectory and proceeded in a concerted manner to the bicyclobutane or butadiene; no zwitterion or biradical intermediate was observed. Eight trajectories generated bicyclobutane and subsequently dissociated chloride to form an ion pair, which recombined to form 2,3‐dichlorocyclobutene. The lifetime of the ion pair averaged 95 fs, which was too short to be considered an intermediate, consistent with previous calculations that characterized the ion pair as a transition state. This study lends strong support to the previous proposition that the addition of CCl2 to cyclopropene is controlled by dynamic effects. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and properties of sulfonated poly(arylene ether)s containing azole groups
Authors: Bae Byungchan , Kawamura Shinya , Miyatake Kenji , Watanabe Masahiro
Published: July 2011

Random and multiblock sulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s (SPEs) containing various azole groups such as oxadiazole and triazole were synthesized and characterized for fuel cell application. Successful preparation of SPE membranes depended on the structure of azole groups, which affected solubility of precursors and the resulting SPEs. Although oxadiazole groups were incorporated into hydrophobic component, they were found to be hydrophilic to give higher proton conductivity. Introduction of oxadiazole groups into random SPE gave comparable proton conductivity to that of Nafion NRE at >60% relative humidity at 80 °C. Block copolymer structure further increased the proton diffusion coefficient without increasing ion exchange capacity. Hydrolytic and oxidative stability of the SPE membranes was affected by both hydrophilic and hydrophobic components. Oxadiazole groups gave negative impact on hydrolytic and mechanical stability to the SPE membranes. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Copolyfluorenes containing pendant bipolar carbazole and 1,2,4‐triazole groups: Synthesis, characterization, and optoelectronic applications
Authors: Wu Chia‐Shing , Chen Yun
Published: July 2011

Three novel copolyfluorenes (P1‐P3) containing pendant bipolar groups (2.5–7.7 mol %), directly linked hole‐transporting carbazole and electron‐transporting aromatic 1,2,4‐triazole, were synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reaction and applied to enhance emission efficiency of polymer light‐emitting diodes based on conventional MEH‐PPV. The bipolar groups not only suppress undesirable green emission of polyfluorene under thermal annealing, but also promote electron‐ and hole‐affinity of the resulting copolyfluorenes. Blending the bipolar copolyfluorenes with MEH‐PPV results in significant enhancement of device performance [ITO/PEDOT:PSS/MEH‐PPV+P1, P2 or P3/Ca(50 nm)/Al(100 nm)]. The maximum luminance and luminance efficiency were enhanced from 3230 cd/m2 and 0.29 cd/A of MEH‐PPV‐only device to 15,690 cd/m2 and 0.81 cd/A (blend device with MEH‐PPV/P3 = 94/6 containing about 0.46 wt % of pendant bipolar residues), respectively. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the bipolar copolyfluorenes in enhancing emission efficiency of MEH‐PPV. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011
Participation of protein sequence termini in crystal contacts
Authors: Carugo Oliviero
Published: July 2011

The analysis of the crystal packing interactions, in a nonredundant set of high resolution and monomeric globular protein crystal structures, shows that the residues located at the N‐ and C‐termini of the sequence tend to participate in packing interaction more often than expected and that often they interact with each other. Since the sequence termini are, in general, conformationally very flexible and since they host electrical charges of opposite sign, it can be hypothesized that they play a crucial role in the early formation of the nonphysiological contacts that bring to protein crystallization. It is thus not surprising that modest lengthening/shortening of the sequence termini have often a dramatic effect on protein crystallogenesis.
Computational design and selections for an engineered, thermostable terpene synthase
Authors: Diaz Juan E. , Lin Chun‐Shi , Kunishiro Kazuyoshi , Feld Birte K. , Avrantinis Sara K. , Bronson Jonathan , Greaves John , Saven Jeffery G. , Weiss Gregory A.
Published: July 2011

Terpenoids include structurally diverse antibiotics, flavorings, and fragrances. Engineering terpene synthases for control over the synthesis of such compounds represents a long sought goal. We report computational design, selections, and assays of a thermostable mutant of tobacco 5‐epi‐aristolochene synthase (TEAS) for the catalysis of carbocation cyclization reactions at elevated temperatures. Selection for thermostability included proteolytic digestion followed by capture of intact proteins. Unlike the wild‐type enzyme, the mutant TEAS retains enzymatic activity at 65°C. The thermostable terpene synthase variant denatures above 80°C, approximately twice the temperature of the wild‐type enzyme.
Numerical analysis of superparamagnetic clusters distribution
Authors: Chrobak A. , Haneczok G. , Chełkowska G. , Kassiba A. , Ziółkowski G.
Published: July 2011

The paper concerns numerical analysis of superparamagnetic clusters by means of Langevin paramagnetism theory and simulated annealing (SA) procedure supplemented with some additional constraints. In order to determine a proper calculation algorithm and its parameters the three methods, i.e., simple SA, SA with maximum entropy, and SA with local maximum entropy were tested. Within the analyzed SA procedures (carried out for the computer generated semi‐empirical curves) the best results were obtained by making use of the local entropy constraint. It was also shown that this algorithm can be successfully applied to determination of superparamagnetic cluster distribution. The tested SA procedure was applied to analysis of measured magnetic isotherms for Al–RE–Ni amorphous alloys and thin SiC–Mn layers deposited on a Si substrate.