bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is there a link between open‐angle glaucoma and dementia?
Authors: Helmer Catherine , Malet Florence , Rougier Marie‐Bénédicte , Schweitzer Cédric , Colin Joseph , Delyfer Marie‐Noëlle , Korobelnik Jean‐François , Barberger‐Gateau Pascale , Dartigues Jean‐François , Delcourt Cécile
Published: May 2013

Objective

Previous research has suggested an association between dementia and glaucoma through common risk factors or mechanisms. Our aim was to evaluate the longitudinal relationship between open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) and incident dementia.

Methods

The Three‐City–Bordeaux–Alienor study is a population‐based cohort of 812 participants with a 3‐year follow‐up period. All participants were aged 72 years or older. An eye examination was performed on all subjects. An OAG was determined based on optic nerve damage and visual field loss. Incident dementia was actively screened for and confirmed by a neurologist.

Results

A total of 41 participants developed dementia over the 3‐year follow‐up period. Future incident dementia cases had an increased prevalence of OAG (17.5% vs 4.5% for nondemented participants, p = 0.003). After adjustment for age, gender, education, family history of glaucoma, vascular comorbidities, and apolipoprotein ε4, our results showed that participants with an OAG were four times more likely to develop dementia during the 3‐year follow‐up period (odds ratio = 3.9, 95% confidence interval = 1.5–10.4, p = 0.0054). An increased risk of dementia was also associated with 2 markers of optic nerve degeneration (vertical cup:disk ratio and minimal rim:disk ratio). However, no association was found between a high intraocular pressure and/or the use of intraocular pressure‐lowering medications and incident dementia.

Interpretation

If the association between OAG and dementia is confirmed, direct and noninvasive quantification of the amount of retinal ganglion cell axonal loss may be a useful biomarker of cerebral axonal loss in the future. It may also offer new breakthroughs in understanding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of both diseases.
Neuroprotectin/protectin D1 protects against neuropathic pain in mice after nerve trauma
Authors: Xu Zhen‐Zhong , Liu Xing‐Jun , Berta Temugin , Park Chul‐Kyu , Lü Ning , Serhan Charles N. , Ji Ru‐Rong
Published: May 2013

Prevalence of neuropathic pain is high after major surgery. However, effective treatment for preventing neuropathic pain is lacking. Here we report that perisurgical treatment of neuroprotectin D1/protectin D1 (NPD1/PD1), derived from docosahexaenoic acid, prevents nerve injury‐induced mechanical allodynia and ongoing pain in mice. Intrathecal post‐treatment of NPD1/PD1 also effectively reduces established neuropathic pain and produces no apparent signs of analgesic tolerance. Mechanistically, NPD1/PD1 treatment blocks nerve injury‐induced long‐term potentiation, glial reaction, and inflammatory responses, and reverses synaptic plasticity in the spinal cord. Thus, NPD1/PD1 and related mimetics might serve as a new class of analgesics for preventing and treating neuropathic pain. Ann Neurol 2013;74:490–495
A Screen for Disruptors of the Retinol (Vitamin A) Signaling Pathway
Authors: Chen Yanling , Reese David H.
Published: May 2013

The pathway through which retinol (vitamin A) is converted to its active metabolite, all‐trans‐retinoic acid (atRA), and subsequent receptor‐mediated regulation of gene transcription by atRA is essential for all mammal life stages. This pathway is required for normal embryonic development and maintenance of cellular phenotype in adult organisms; chemicals that cause even minor interference with its normal function are potential developmental and adult toxicants. A short‐term (24 h) in vitro mode‐of‐action screen for detecting chemicals that disrupt this essential pathway is described. It uses the mouse pluripotent P19 stem cell in a 96‐well format, RT‐qPCR gene‐expression assay that does not require RNA purification to detect chemicals that interfere with retinol‐inducedHoxa1gene expression, a target of retinol signaling in mammals. A total of 21 chemicals were screened at a single 45 μM concentration. Four chemicals known to disrupt the pathway in the rodent embryo (citral, disulfiram, and two rodent teratogens, nitrofen and bisdiamine) all significantly inhibitedHoxa1upregulation by retinol. An additional four of seven chemicals with varying degrees of structural similarity to known disruptors or to the retinoid side chain, but not previously known to disrupt the pathway, were positive in the screen. The xenoestrogens, diethylstilbestrol, bisphenol A, 4‐n‐nonylphenol, and genistein and the phthalate esters, dibutyl phthalate and dipentyl phthalate, but not diethylhexyl phthalate, also significantly disrupted the pathway. Of the 21 chemicals tested, diethylstilbestrol was the only chemical that showed evidence in the MTT assay that cytotoxicity may have contributed to disruption of the pathway. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 98:276–282, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Crystallographic analysis and structure‐guided engineering of NADPH‐dependent Ralstonia sp. Alcohol dehydrogenase toward NADH cosubstrate specificity
Authors: Lerchner Alexandra , Jarasch Alexander , Meining Winfried , Schiefner André , Skerra Arne
Published: May 2013

The NADP+‐dependent alcohol dehydrogenase from Ralstonia sp. (RasADH) belongs to the protein superfamily of short‐chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs). As an enzyme that accepts different types of substrates—including bulky–bulky as well as small–bulky secondary alcohols or ketones—with high stereoselectivity, it offers potential as a biocatalyst for industrial biotechnology. To understand substrate and cosubstrate specificities of RasADH we determined the crystal structure of the apo‐enzyme as well as its NADP+‐bound state with resolutions down to 2.8 Å. RasADH displays a homotetrameric quaternary structure that can be described as a dimer of homodimers while in each subunit a seven‐stranded parallel β‐sheet, flanked by three α‐helices on each side, forms a Rossmann fold‐type dinucleotide binding domain. Docking of the well‐known substrate (S)‐1‐phenylethanol clearly revealed the structural determinants of stereospecificity. To favor practical RasADH application in the context of established cofactor recycling systems, for example, those involving an NADH‐dependent amino acid dehydrogenase, we attempted to rationally change its cosubstrate specificity from NADP+ to NAD+ utilizing the structural information that NADP+ specificity is largely governed by the residues Asn15, Gly37, Arg38, and Arg39. Furthermore, an extensive sequence alignment with homologous dehydrogenases that have different cosubstrate specificities revealed a modified general SDR motif ASNG (instead of NNAG) at positions 86–89 of RasADH. Consequently, we constructed mutant enzymes with one (G37D), four (N15G/G37D/R38V/R39S), and six (N15G/G37D/R38V/R39S/A86N/S88A) amino acid exchanges. RasADH (N15G/G37D/R38V/R39S) was better able to accept NAD+ while showing much reduced catalytic efficiency with NADP+, leading to a change in NADH/NADPH specificity by a factor of ∼3.6 million. Biotechnol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013;110: 2803–2814. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Palladium–Poly(3‐aminoquinoline) Hollow‐Sphere Composite: Application in Sonogashira Coupling Reactions
Authors: Ul Islam Rafique , Mahato Sanjit K. , Shukla Sudheesh K. , Witcomb Michael J. , Mallick Kaushik
Published: May 2013

We report on the use of palladium acetate for the synthesis of a palladium‐based polymer composite material as a catalyst for Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions for aryl and heteroaryl of iodides and bromides.
Morphology and Performance of Poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(20‐ethyl‐hexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene) (MEH‐PPV):(6,6)‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric Acid Methyl Ester (PCBM) Based Polymer Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Leijing , Bavel Svetlana van , Wen Shanpeng , Yang Xiaoniu , Loos Joachim
Published: May 2013

Polymer solar cells were fabricated based on composite films of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (MEH‐PPV):fullerene derivative (6,6)‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with weight blend ratio of 1:3, 1:4 and 1:5, spin‐coated from chloroform (CF), chlorobenzene (CB), and o‐dichlorobenzene (ODCB) solutions, respectively. Photoinduced current and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the devices show a dependence on the solvents. The solar cells have the highest PCE at 1:5 blend ratio. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) morphology reveals that there are some voids in MEH‐PPV:PCBM films. The void number decreases with the solvent from CF to CB and ODCB. We found the voids are located at the bottom of the films through electron tomography technique by TEM and film bottom‐side morphology study by atomic force microscopy. The charge carrier transport efficiency and collection efficiency should decrease greatly due to the voids, and the more voids the film has, the more degree the efficiencies decrease. PCE of the solar cell prepared from CF is lower than that of the solar cells prepared from CB and ODCB. The void phenomenon of MEH‐PPV:PCBM based solar cell and method to investigate the void position provide an experimental evidence and research mentality to fabricate polymer solar cell with high performance.
Highly Selective Fluorescent Recognition towards Th4+ Based on Coumarin‐derivatized Crescent Aromatic Oligoamide
Authors: Gao Rongzhao , Hu Jinchuan , Zhang Ke , He Youzhou , Liu Peng , Luo Shunzhong , Yang Yanqiu , Yang Liang , Feng Wen , Yuan Lihua
Published: May 2013

An intramolecularly hydrogen‐bonded crescent aromatic oligoamide 1 bearing two coumarin residues was synthesized. The results from UV‐vis and fluorescent spectra upon metal ions complexation demonstrated that the two fluorophores serving as parts of the shape‐persistent backbone provided the molecule with high selectivity and sensitivity for recognition of Th4+ over other lanthanide and uranyl ions. A 48‐fold fluorescent enhancement in the intensity was observed at 505 nm upon adding Th4+, while other metal cations failed to induce such a significant change. A visual detection for Th4+ was achieved by color change. The stoichiometry of the complex formed by 1 and Th4+ was found to be 1:1 with the stability constant of (2.0±0.6)×106 L·mol−1.
Recent Developments of Atomic Layer Deposition Processes for Metallization
Authors: Li Wei‐Min
Published: May 2013

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has become an enabling technology for a wide range of applications where depositions of high quality, conformal thin films are desired. The needs of conducting materials with tailored properties call for ALD metallization processes that can meet diverse requirements in various applications. Recent developments of ALD processes for conducting materials have led to some novel ALD chemistries. Most of the ALD binary materials are formed in a typical AB sequence from two reactants. More complex ternary and doped materials can be achieved according to the same AB sequence principle through nano‐lamination of two binary materials using three or more reactants. It is demonstrated that ternary and elemental materials can be deposited using two reactants with a basic ALD AB sequence. Furthermore, an ALD process is not limited to an AB sequence, an ABC sequence with a surface‐controlled ALD reaction is also possible. A double replacement reaction mechanism is proposed with examples of novel processes such as TaCxNy, WCx, and WNxCy. Recent developments of ALD metallization processes have opened up more opportunities of producing novel ALD materials for industrial applications.
A detachable mobile and adjustable telemetry system
Authors: Parker Tommy S. , Persons William E. , Bradley Joseph G. , Gregg Margaret , Gonzales Shinelle K. , Helton Jesse S.
Published: May 2013

Many traditional mobile telemetry systems require permanently mounting a rod through the cabin of a vehicle to serve as the mast for a directional antenna. In this article we present an alternative to this configuration by providing a platform that can be placed atop the vehicle in which the antenna mast can be mounted and controlled from the cabin of the vehicle. Thereby making this design a viable option for researchers who share vehicles with others that may not approve of permanent vehicle modifications such as placing a hole in the roof of the vehicle as required by traditional mobile configurations. We tested the precision and accuracy of detachable mobile and adjustable telemetry system (DMATS) in an urban park with varying terrain, tree stands, overhead wires, and other structures that can contribute to signal deflection. We placed three radiocollars 50 m apart and 1.2 m above the ground then established three testing stations ~280 m from the location of the radiocollars. The DMATS platform required 12 h for completion and cost $1059 USD. Four technicians were randomly assigned radio collars to triangulate using DMATS and a handheld telemetry system. We used a one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a Scheffe post hoc test to compare error ellipses between azimuths taken using DMATS and the hand held system. Average error ellipses for all testers was 1.96 ± 1.22 ha. No significant differences were found between error ellipses of testers (P = 0.292). Our design, the DMATS, does not require any vehicle modification; thereby, making this a viable option for researchers sharing vehicles with others that may not approve of permanent vehicle alterations.
Primary blood neutrophils express a functional cell surface Toll‐like receptor 9
Authors: Lindau Dennis , Mussard Julie , Wagner Britta J. , Ribon Matthieu , Rönnefarth Viktoria M. , Quettier Maude , Jelcic Ivan , Boissier Marie‐Christophe , Rammensee Hans‐Georg , Decker Patrice
Published: May 2013

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) represent one of the first lines of defense against pathogens. TLR9 is normally expressed in endosomes/lysosomes where it is activated by pathogen‐derived DNA. Here we show that freshly isolated human and mouse primary PMNs express TLR9 at the cell surface ex vivo. Moreover, surface TLR9 expression is upregulated upon activation of PMNs with different stimuli and not only TLR9 agonists. Importantly, surface TLR9 is processed, active, and functional. TLR9 ligands, oligo‐nucleotides containing unmethylated CpG motifs, indeed bind to surface TLR9 and binding was strongly observed at the cell surface of human cells expressing surface TLR9 and at the surface of WT but not TLR9‐deficient mouse PMNs. Finally, CpG oligonucleotides cross‐linked onto a solid phase and having no access to intracellular TLR9 are able to trigger cell surface TLR9 and induce neutrophil activation, even when endosomal acidification is inhibited. This is the first demonstration of a functional TLR9 expressed at the cell surface of human primary cells. This pathway may be triggered when pathogen‐derived TLR9 ligands cannot reach the endosome, offering a rescue mechanism for neutrophil activation.
Dioxomolybdenum(VI) Complexes with Acylpyrazolonate Ligands: Synthesis, Structures, and Catalytic Properties
Authors: Hills Lily , Moyano Raquel , Montilla Francisco , Pastor Antonio , Galindo Agustín , Álvarez Eleuterio , Marchetti Fabio , Pettinari Claudio
Published: May 2013

The complexes [Mo(O)2(QR)2] [R = cyclohexyl (1), ethylcyclopentyl (2), hexyl (3), and neopentyl (4)] have been obtained in good yields by treatment of [Mo(O)2(acac)2] with 2 equivalents of acylpyrazolone compounds HQR [HQR = 3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐4‐alkylcarbonyl‐5‐pyrazolone; R = cyclohexyl (HQCy), ethylcyclopentyl (HQEtCp), hexyl (HQHe), neopentyl (HQnPe)]. They were isolated as yellow crystalline solids and characterized spectroscopically [IR, 1H and 13C(1H) NMR] and structurally (X‐ray for 2 and 3). The deoxygenation of selected epoxide substrates to alkenes by employing compounds 1 and 3 as catalysts and PPh3 as the oxygen acceptor showed good activities in toluene. The use of the ionic liquid [C4mim]PF6 as solvent gave lower yields, but the resulting catalytic system could be conveniently recycled. The [Mo(O)2(QR)2] derivatives 1 and 3 were also found to be moderately active catalysts for the deoxydehydration of vicinal diols.
Determination of nitrogen mustard degradation products in water samples using a portable capillary electrophoresis instrument
Authors: Sáiz Jorge , Mai Thanh Duc , Hauser Peter C. , García‐Ruiz Carmen
Published: May 2013

In this work, a new purpose‐made portable CE instrument with a contactless conductivity detector was used for the determination of degradation products of nitrogen mustards in different water samples. The capillary was coated with poly(1‐vinylpyrrolidone‐co‐2‐dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) to avoid analyte‐wall interactions. The coating procedure was studied to obtain the best repeatability of the migration time of the analytes. Four different coating procedures were compared; flushing the capillary with the copolymer at 100 psi for 2 min at 60°C provided the best RSD values (<4%). The analytical method was also optimized. The use of 20 mM of MES adjusted to pH 6.0 with His as running buffer allowed a good baseline separation of the three analytes in different water samples without matrix interferences. The method permitted the detection of the three degradation products down to 5 μM.
Biomagnification and tissue distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in market-size rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Goeritz Ina , Falk Sandy , Stahl Thorsten , Schäfers Christoph , Schlechtriem Christian
Published: May 2013

The present study investigated the biomagnification potential as well as the substance and tissue-specific distribution of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in market-size rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Rainbow trout with an average body weight of 314 ± 21 g were exposed to perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in the diet for 28 d. The accumulation phase was followed by a 28-d depuration phase, in which the test animals were fed with nonspiked trout feed. On days 0, 7, 14, 28, 31, 35, 42, and 56 of the present study, fish were sampled from the test basin for PFAS analysis. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) for all test compounds were determined based on a kinetic approach. Distribution factors were calculated for each test compound to illustrate the disposition of PFASs in rainbow trout after 28 d of exposure. Dietary exposure of market-size rainbow trout to PFASs did not result in biomagnification; BMF values were calculated as 0.42 for PFOS, >0.23 for PFNA, >0.18 for PFHxS, >0.04 for PFOA, and >0.02 for PFBS, which are below the biomagnification threshold of 1. Liver, blood, kidney, and skin were identified as the main target tissues for PFASs in market-size rainbow trout. Evidence was shown that despite relative low PFAS contamination, the edible parts of the fish (the fillet and skin) can significantly contribute to the whole-body burden. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:2078–2088. © 2013 SETAC
Green Tax Incentives Still Available Although Cash Grants Not Extended
Authors: Parker Kathy
Published: May 2013

Over the past several years, the renewable energy industry has enjoyed increasing growth, thanks in large part to the provisions available through the 1603 cash grant program. Under this program, energy projects found it much easier to fund the completion of projects. When the 1603 program was not extended, this left a gap in the financial resources available to new renewable energy projects, and created additional challenges for those attempting to complete projects already in progress. The days of the bridge loan secured by a 1603 grant are over.
Reciprocal translocations in myelodysplastic syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemias: Review of 5,654 patients with an evaluable karyotype
Authors: Costa Dolors , Muñoz Concha , Carrió Ana , Nomdedeu Meritxell , Calvo Xavier , Solé Francesc , Luño Elisa , Cervera José , Vallespí Teresa , Berneaga Daniela , Gómez Cándida , Arias Amparo , Such Esperanza , Sanz Guillermo , Grau Javier , Insunza Andrés , Calasanz María J. , Ardañaz María T. , Hernández Jesús M. , Azaceta Gemma , Álvarez Sara , Sánchez Joaquín , Martín María L. , Bargay Joan , Gómez Valle , Cervero Carlos Javier , Allegue María J. , Collado Rosa , Campo Elias , Nomdedeu Benet ,   on behalf of the Spanish Group of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (GESMD)
Published: May 2013

The infrequency of translocations in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and chronic myelomonocytic leukemias (CMML) makes their identification and reporting interesting for the recognition of the recurrent ones and the genes involved in these neoplasias. The aims of this study were to identify new translocations associated with MDS and CMML and to establish their frequency in a cohort of 8,016 patients from the Spanish Group of MDS database. The karyotype was evaluable in 5,654 (70%) patients. Among those, 2,014 (36%) had chromosomal abnormalities, including 213 (10%) translocations identified in 195 patients. The translocations were balanced in 183 (86%) cases and unbalanced in 30 (14%) cases. All chromosomes were found to be involved in translocations, with the single exception of the Y chromosome. The chromosomes most frequently involved were in decreasing frequency: 3, 1, 7, 2, 11, 5, 12, 6, and 17. Translocations were found in karyotypes as the unique chromosomal abnormality (33%), associated with another chromosomal abnormality (11%), as a part of a complex karyotype (17%), and as a part of a monosomal karyotype (38%). There were 155 translocations not previously described in MDS or CMML and nine of them appeared to be recurrent. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
BIRTH WEIGHT AND FAMILY STATUS REVISITED: EVIDENCE FROM AUSTRIAN REGISTER DATA
Authors: Frimmel Wolfgang , Pruckner Gerald J.
Published: May 2013

In this paper, we study the socio‐economic determinants of birth weight, with a focus on the mother's family status. We use Austrian birth register data covering all births between 1984 and 2007 and find that a mother's marriage is associated with a higher birth weight of the newborn, in the range of 40 to 60 g. The significant impact is retained if we include mother fixed effects or use an instrumental variable approach to account for unobserved mother heterogeneity. However, the magnitude of the causal effect (37 g) clearly indicates the importance of selection into marriage. Divorce around pregnancy results in significantly lower birth weights than the birth weights of babies born to single mothers. Family status effects in the 2000s are stronger than they were in the 1980s, and quantile regressions suggest that family effects are more pronounced at the lower quantiles of the birth weight distribution and less pronounced at higher quantiles. We conclude that the life situation of expectant mothers has an important influence on the birth weight of newborns, especially at the lower tail of the birth weight distribution. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two‐pass search strategy using accumulated band energy histogram for HMM‐based identification of perceptually identical music
Authors: Myung Jinbok , Kim Kwang‐Ho , Park Jeong‐sik , Koo Myoung‐Wan , Kim Ji‐Hwan
Published: May 2013

In this article, we present an efficient two‐pass search strategy for the implementation of a Hidden Markov Model (HMM)‐based music identification system. In our previous work, we demonstrated a single‐pass HMM‐based music identification system, considering its application to music copyright protection. This conventional system showed very robust performance to signal‐level variations between perceptually identical music files. However, it requires heavy computation for search. In the proposed two‐pass search system, the conventional single‐pass search is extended to two‐pass. In pass 1 of the proposed method, a queried music produces an accumulated band energy histogram which is a set of normalized sums of band energies for each frequency bin. This histogram is compared to all of the histograms for the registered music files. The system generates a list of small number of most probable music files among the all of the registered music files. In pass 2, HMM‐based search is applied only to candidate music files selected in pass 1. Using the proposed two‐pass strategy, we successfully implemented a HMM‐based music identification system, which maintains the same level robustness to signal level variations between perceptually identical music files but also produces the identification result very quickly. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 23, 127–132, 2013
LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND AGILITY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Authors: Boer Alexander , Van Engers Tom
Published: May 2013

To address agility in public administration, we have developed a knowledge acquisition infrastructure for legal knowledge, based on an implementation‐oriented conceptualization of the legal system. Our objective is to reframe legal knowledge as a knowledge source in a design‐oriented task ontology, building on insights from the CommonKADS methodology for intelligent system design. The main result is to make case law and legal expert knowledge of critical incidents in organizations, two diagnostic knowledge sources underutilized in modern management and engineering, more accessible as a resource for design of agile organizational structures and intelligent systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Functional nanofiber mat of polyvinyl alcohol/gelatin containing nanoparticles of biphasic calcium phosphate for bone regeneration in rat calvaria defects
Authors: Ba Linh Nguyen Thuy , Lee Kap‐Ho , Lee Byong‐Taek
Published: May 2013

New biodegradable mats was successfully obtained by functional polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/Gelatin (GE) blend fiber mats containing different BCP amounts (20, 40, and 50 w/v%) of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) nanoparticles for bone regeneration. BCP nanoparticles were loaded and dispersed successfully in the PVA/GE fibrous matrix. The addition of BCP was found to have increased fiber diameter, tensile strength, osteoblast cell adhesion, proliferation, and protein expression. Compared to the others, the 50% BCP‐loaded electrospun PVA/GE fibers had the most favorable mechanical properties, cell attachment and growth, and protein expression. In vivo bone formation was examined using rat models, and increased bone formation was observed for the 50% BCP‐loaded electrospun PVA/GE blends within 2 and 4 weeks. This result suggests that the 50% BCP‐PVA/GE composite nanofiber mat has high potential for use in the field of bone regeneration and tissue engineering. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.
Composite hydrogel scaffolds with controlled pore opening via biodegradable hydrogel porogen degradation
Authors: Hawkins Ashley M. , Milbrandt Todd A. , Puleo David A. , Hilt J. Zach
Published: May 2013

Poly(β‐amino ester) (PBAE) biodegradable hydrogel systems have garnered much attention in recent years due to their appealing properties for biomedical applications. These hydrogel systems exhibit properties similar to natural soft tissue, degrade in aqueous environments, and have easily tunable properties that have been well studied and understood. In most cases, tissue engineering scaffolds must possess a three‐dimensional interconnected porous network for tissue ingrowth and construct vascularization. Here, PBAE properties were explored and systems were selected to serve as both the pore‐forming agent and the outer matrix of a scaffold that exhibits controlled pore opening upon degradation. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a biodegradable hydrogel porogen system entrapped in a degradable hydrogel outer matrix. Scaffolds were prepared, and the degradation, compressive moduli, and porosity were analyzed. An added advantage of a degradable porogen is the potential for controlled drug release, and a model protein was released from the porogen particles to demonstrate this application. Finally, pluripotent cells seeded onto predegraded scaffolds were viable during the first 24 h of exposure, and furthermore, cell tracking confirmed the presence of cells within the pores of the scaffold. Overall, these present studies demonstrate the possibility of using these biodegradable hydrogel porogen‐matrix systems as tissue engineering scaffolding materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 102A: 400–412, 2014.
Testing Existing Classifications of Serial Murder Considering Gender: An Exploratory Analysis of Solo Female Serial Murderers
Authors: Farrell Amanda L. , Keppel Robert D. , Titterington Victoria B.
Published: May 2013

Serial murder is a genre of crime that has received a great deal of media and academic attention, yet, serial murder committed by women has only begun to garner a portion of this attention within the last 15 years. This study examines the reliability of Kelleher and Kelleher's classification rubric, the only classification system developed for female serial murderers, as well as considering Hickey's classification of serial offenders by location. Other variables associated with homicide research have also been examined to determine their roles in both these crimes and classifying offenders. The current research will demonstrate that offender motivation is not an ideal basis for the classification of female serial murderers, who tend to defy simple or singular classification within existing typologies. The other variables analysed indicate that victim–offender relationship and victim approach are important to understanding these female offenders and their crimes, as well as the possible development of more accurate classification systems. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Potassium requirement in relation to grain yield and genotypic improvement of irrigated lowland rice in China
Authors: Zhang Yi , Zhang Chao‐chun , Yan Peng , Chen Xin‐ping , Yang Jian‐chang , Zhang Fu‐suo , Cui Zhen‐ling
Published: May 2013

The yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) has increased substantially with the development of new cultivars, but the role of potassium (K) requirement for the increase in grain yield and the genotypic advance is still unclear. In order to investigate this relationship a database of 1199 on‐farm measurements (harvest index 0.4) comprising > 400 modern rice cultivars was collected during 2005–2010 across major irrigated lowland rice–production regions of China. This was used to evaluate the relationships among K requirement, grain yield, and genetic improvement. Across all the sites and seasons, mean reciprocal internal efficiency of K (RIE‐K, kg K [t grain produced]–1) was 19.8 kg K (t grain)–1 and rice yield averaged 8.7 t ha–1. Considering four levels of grain yield (< 7.5, 7.5–9, 9–10.5, and > 10.5 t ha–1), the respective RIEs were 18.7, 19.4, 20.5, and 21.7 kg K (t grain)–1. The gradual increase in the RIE‐K with yield was attributed mainly to the increase in straw and grain K concentration and the decrease in the K harvest index. The RIE‐K values for ordinary inbred, ordinary hybrid, and “super rice” were 18.5, 20.1, and 19.9 kg K (t grain)–1, respectively. Examining the historical development of rice cultivars, the RIE‐K decreased from 40.9 (Nanjing1, early tall, inbred) in the 1950s to 19.8 (IR24, semi‐dwarf, ordinary inbred) in the 1970s, and then increased to 20.9 (Shanyou63, modern ordinary hybrid) in the 1980s and 20.6 kg K (t grain)–1 (II‐you084, “super” rice) in the 2000s. This variation in RIE‐K among grain‐yield levels and cultivars highlights the importance of information on rice K requirement in calculating K balance and optimal K‐fertilizer rate for rice production.
Insights from theory and experiments on slip flow in chromatography
Authors: Wu Zhen , Rogers Benjamin J. , Wei Bingchuan , Wirth Mary J.
Published: May 2013

Slip flow has become a topic of interest in reversed‐phase liquid chromatography because it gives a flow enhancement that facilitates the use of submicrometer particles, providing a large improvement in separation efficiency. Moreover, slip flow provides an additional improvement in efficiency by reducing the velocity distribution in the mobile phase. The phenomenon of slip flow in open tubes is described in chromatographically relative terms. A recent paper in this journal is discussed, as it provides the first theoretical study of slip flow in packed beds, in this case for face‐centered cubic geometry. The theory paper reveals that the presence of the packed bed introduces a heterogeneity in fluid velocities that is absent in open tubes, reducing the additional improvement in efficiency from slip flow. The recent paper also suggests that there is yet another factor improving efficiency, which is size‐exclusion of proteins from regions of stagnant flow. The latter is supported by recently published data on restricted protein diffusion in face‐centered cubic silica colloidal crystals. Extremely low plate heights are enabled by use of submicrometer particles, and further improvement appears to be possible when the analyte size is on the order of 1% of the particle diameter or larger.
Efficacy of liver graft washout as a function of the perfusate, pressure, and temperature
Authors: Post Ivo C. J. H. , Dirkes Marcel C. , Heger Michal , Verheij Joanne , de Bruin Kora M. , de Korte Dirk , Bennink Roelof J. , van Gulik Thomas M.
Published: May 2013

Donor graft washout can be impaired by colloids in organ preservation solutions that increase the viscosity and agglutinative propensity of red blood cells (RBCs) and potentially decrease organ function. The colloid-induced agglutinative effects on RBCs and RBC retention after liver washout with Ringer's lactate (RL), histidine tryptophan ketoglutarate solution, University of Wisconsin solution, and Polysol were determined as a function of the washout pressure (15 or 100 mm Hg) and temperature (4 or 37°C) in a rat liver washout model with 99mTc-pertechnetate–labeled RBCs. Colloids (polyethylene glycol in Polysol and hydroxyethyl starch in University of Wisconsin) induced RBC agglutination, regardless of the solution's composition. RL was associated with the lowest degree of 99mTc-pertechnetate–labeled RBC retention after simultaneous arterial and portal washout at 37°C and 100 mm Hg. RL washout was also associated with the shortest washout time. A single portal washout with any of the solutions did not result in differences in the degree of RBC retention, regardless of the temperature or pressure. In conclusion, no differences were found in portal washout efficacy between colloidal solutions, histidine tryptophan ketoglutarate, and RL. Simultaneous arterial and portal washout with RL at 37°C and 100 mm Hg resulted in the least RBC retention and the shortest washout time.
Morphological Heterogeneity by Diffusional Kurtosis NMR Spectroscopy in Perfluorosulfonic Acid/SiO2Composite Proton‐Exchange Membranes
Authors: Demco Dan E. , Filipoi Carmen , Zhu Xiaomin , Fechete Radu , Möller Martin
Published: May 2013

Diffusional kurtosis is introduced to characterize the heterogeneity of the channel architecture for ionic transport in proton exchange membranes. Measuring the apparent kurtosis by a pulsed‐field‐gradient NMR spectroscopy technique may yield additional information about membrane morphology not available to the conventional water‐diffusion method. Water diffusional kurtosis and the apparent diffusion coefficient are investigated for perfluorinated sulfonic acid (PFSA)/SiO2nanocomposites. Diffusional kurtosis is anisotropic revealing higher channel heterogeneity in‐plane of solution‐cast films compared with the transverse direction. Diffusional kurtosis is related to the non‐Gaussian character of the averaged diffusion propagator. A universal relationship is proposed for the root‐mean‐squared displacement.

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Some results on a singular parabolic equation in one dimension case
Authors: Zhou Wenshu , Wei Xiaodan
Published: May 2013

This paper is concerned with the existence, nonexistence, uniqueness, and non‐uniqueness of solutions for a singular parabolic equation in one dimension case. For different cases of some constant m of the equation, we study the uniqueness of solutions for m > − 1, the nonexistence of solutions for m ≤ − p, and the existence and non‐uniqueness of solutions for − p < m ≤ − 1. The novelty of this paper lies in the study of nonexistence. Moreover, the other results of this paper extend some recent works. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Error analysis of a fully discrete finite element variational multiscale method for time‐dependent incompressible Navier–Stokes equations
Authors: Shang Yueqiang
Published: May 2013

A finite element variational multiscale method based on two local Gauss integrations is applied to solve numerically the time‐dependent incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. A significant feature of the method is that the definition of the stabilization term is derived via two local Guass integrations at element level, making it more efficient than the usual projection‐based variational multiscale methods. It is computationally cheap and gives an accurate approximation to the quantities sought. Based on backward Euler and Crank–Nicolson schemes for temporal discretization, we derive error bounds of the fully discrete solution which are first and second order in time, respectively. Numerical tests are also given to verify the theoretical predictions and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013
Moving collocation method for a reaction‐diffusion equation with a traveling heat source
Authors: Liang Kewei , Zhu Hancan
Published: May 2013

We consider a reaction‐diffusion equation with a traveling heat source on an unbounded domain. The numerical simulation of the problem is difficult because of the moving singularity, the blow‐up phenomenon, and the delta function in the equation. Because we are only interested in the solution behavior near the heat source, we choose a bounded moving domain which contains the heat source and has the same speed as the source. Local absorbing boundary conditions are constructed on the boundaries of the moving domain. Then, we transform the moving domain to a fixed one. At last, a special moving collocation method is adopted. The new method is much simpler than the existing moving finite difference methods. Moreover, numerical experiments illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of our moving collocation method. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013
Analytical and numerical stability of partial differential equations with piecewise constant arguments
Authors: Wang Qi , Wen Jiechang
Published: May 2013

This article is concerned with the stability analysis of the analytic and numerical solutions of a partial differential equation with piecewise constant arguments of mixed type. First, by means of the similar technique in Wiener and Debnath [Int J Math Math Sci 15 (1992), 781–788], the sufficient conditions under which the analytic solutions asymptotically stable are obtained. Then, the θ‐methods are used to solve the above‐mentioned equation, the sufficient conditions for the asymptotic stability of numerical methods are derived. Finally, some numerical experiments are given to demonstrate the conclusions.Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 30: 1‐16, 2014
A connection between filter stabilization and eddy viscosity models
Authors: Olshanskii Maxim A. , Xiong Xin
Published: May 2013

Recently, a new approach for the stabilization of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations for high Reynolds numbers was introduced based on the nonlinear differential filtering of solutions on every time step of a discrete scheme. In this article, the stabilization is shown to be equivalent to a certain eddy‐viscosity model in Large Eddy Simulation. This allows a refined analysis and further understanding of desired filter properties. We also consider the application of the filtering in a projection (pressure correction) method, the standard splitting algorithm for time integration of the incompressible fluid equations. The article proves an estimate on the convergence of the filtered numerical solution to the corresponding Navier‐Stokes solution. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2013
Associations of visceral and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue with markers of cardiac and metabolic risk in obese adults
Authors: Neeland Ian J. , Ayers Colby R. , Rohatgi Anand K. , Turer Aslan T. , Berry Jarett D. , Das Sandeep R. , Vega Gloria L. , Khera Amit , McGuire Darren K. , Grundy Scott M. , de Lemos James A.
Published: May 2013

Objective: Visceral (VAT) and abdominal subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissues contribute to obesity but may have different metabolic and atherosclerosis risk profiles. We sought to determine the associations of abdominal VAT and SAT mass with markers of cardiac and metabolic risk in a large, multiethnic, population‐based cohort of obese adults.

Design and Methods: Among obese participants in the Dallas Heart Study, we examined the cross‐sectional associations of abdominal VAT and SAT mass, assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and indexed to body surface area (BSA), with circulating biomarkers of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and inflammation (n = 942); and with aortic plaque and liver fat by MRI and coronary calcium by computed tomography (n = 1200). Associations of VAT/BSA and SAT/BSA were examined after adjustment for age, sex, race, menopause, and body mass index.

Results: In multivariable models, VAT significantly associated with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), lower adiponectin, smaller LDL and HDL particle size, larger VLDL size, and increased LDL and VLDL particle number (p < 0.001 for each). VAT also associated with prevalent diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hepatic steatosis, and aortic plaque (p < 0.001 for each). VAT independently associated with C‐reactive protein but not with any other inflammatory biomarkers tested. In contrast, SAT associated with leptin and inflammatory biomarkers, but not with dyslipidemia or atherosclerosis. Associations between SAT and HOMA‐IR were significant in univariable analyses but attenuated after multivariable adjustment.

Conclusion: VAT associated with an adverse metabolic, dyslipidemic, and atherogenic obesity phenotype. In contrast, SAT demonstrated a more benign phenotype, characterized by modest associations with inflammatory biomarkers and leptin, but no independent association with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, or atherosclerosis in obese individuals. These findings suggest that abdominal fat distribution defines distinct obesity sub‐phenotypes with heterogeneous metabolic and atherosclerosis risk.
Low cerebral blood flow is associated with lower memory function in metabolic syndrome
Authors: Birdsill Alex C. , Carlsson Cynthia M. , Willette Auriel A. , Okonkwo Ozioma C. , Johnson Sterling C. , Xu Guofan , Oh Jennifer M. , Gallagher Catherine L. , Koscik Rebecca L. , Jonaitis Erin M. , Hermann Bruce P. , LaRue Asenath , Rowley Howard A. , Asthana Sanjay , Sager Mark A. , Bendlin Barbara B.
Published: May 2013

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS)—a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors—is linked with cognitive decline and dementia. However, the brain changes underlying this link are presently unknown. In this study, we tested the relationship between MetS, cerebral blood flow (CBF), white matter hyperintensity burden, and gray matter (GM) volume in cognitively healthy late middle‐aged adults. Additionally, the extent to which MetS was associated with cognitive performance was assessed.

Design and Methods

Late middle‐aged adults from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (N = 69, mean age = 60.4 years) underwent a fasting blood draw, arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI, T1‐weighted MRI, T2FLAIR MRI, and neuropsychological testing. MetS was defined as abnormalities on three or more factors, including abdominal obesity, triglycerides, HDL‐cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting glucose.

Results

Mean GM CBF was 15% lower in MetS compared to controls. Voxel‐wise image analysis indicated that the MetS group had lower CBF across a large portion of the cortical surface, with the exception of medial and inferior parts of the occipital and temporal lobes. The MetS group also had lower immediate memory function; a mediation analysis indicated this relationship was partially mediated by CBF. Among the MetS factors, abdominal obesity and elevated triglycerides were most strongly associated with lower CBF.

Conclusions

The results underscore the importance of reducing the number of cardiovascular risk factors for maintaining CBF and cognition in an aging population.
Aerobic exercise + weight loss decreases skeletal muscle myostatin expression and improves insulin sensitivity in older adults
Authors: Ryan A.S. , Li G. , Blumenthal J.B. , Ortmeyer H.K.
Published: May 2013

Objective

To determine whether aerobic exercise training + weight loss (AEX + WL) would affect the expression of myostatin and its relationship with insulin sensitivity in a longitudinal, clinical intervention study.

Design and Methods

Thirty‐three obese sedentary postmenopausal women and men (n = 17 and 16, age: 61 ± 1 years, body mass index: 31 ± 1 kg/m2, VO2max: 21.9 ± 1.0 mL/kg/min, X ± Standard error of the mean (SEM)) completed 6 months of 3 days/week AEX + WL. During an 80 mU m−2 min−1 hyperinsulinemic‐euglycemic clamp, we measured glucose utilization (M), myostatin, myogenin, and MyoD gene expression by real‐time RT‐PCR in vastus lateralis muscle at baseline and 2 h.

Results

Body weight (−8%) and fat mass (−17%) decreased after AEX + WL (P < 0.001). Fat‐free mass (FFM) and mid‐thigh muscle area by computed tomography did not change but muscle attenuation increased (P < 0.05). VO2max increased 14% (P < 0.001). AEX + WL increased M by 18% (P < 0.01). Myostatin gene expression decreased 19% after AEX + WL (P < 0.05). Basal mRNA myostatin levels were negatively associated with M before the intervention (r = −0.43, P < 0.05). Insulin infusion increased myoD and myogenin expression before and after AEX + WL (both P < 0.001) but basal levels did not change. The insulin effect on myostatin expression was associated with the change in M after AEX + WL (r = 0.56, P < 0.005).

Conclusions

Exercise and weight loss results in a downregulation of myostatin mRNA and an improvement in insulin sensitivity in obese older men and women.
Heritability of eleven metabolic phenotypes in Danish and Chinese twins: A cross‐population comparison
Authors: Li Shuxia , Duan Hongmei , Pang Zengchang , Zhang Dongfeng , Duan Haiping , Hjelmborg Jacob v.B. , Tan Qihua , Kruse Torben A. , Kyvik Kirsten O.
Published: May 2013

Objectives: A twin‐based comparative study on the genetic influences in metabolic endophenotypes in two populations of substantial ethnic, environmental, and cultural differences was performed.

Design and Methods: Data on 11 metabolic phenotypes including anthropometric measures, blood glucose, and lipids levels as well as blood pressure were available from 756 pairs of Danish twins (309 monozygotic and 447 dizygotic twin pairs) with a mean age of 38 years (range: 18‐67) and from 325 pairs of Chinese twins (183 monozygotic and 142 dizygotic twin pairs) with a mean age of 40.5 years (range: 18‐69). Twin modeling was performed on full and nested models with the best fitting models selected.

Results: Heritability estimates were compared between Danish and Chinese samples to identify differential genetic influences on each of the phenotypes. Except for hip circumference, all other body measures exhibited similar heritability patterns in the two samples with body weight showing only a slight difference. Higher genetic influences were estimated for fasting blood glucose level in Chinese twins, whereas the Danish twins showed more genetic regulation over most lipids phenotypes. Systolic blood pressure was more genetically controlled in Danish than in Chinese twins.

Conclusions: Metabolic endophenotypes show disparity in their genetic determinants in populations under distinct environmental conditions.