bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maternally inherited genetic variants of CADPS2 are present in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disability patients
Authors: Bonora Elena , Graziano Claudio , Minopoli Fiorella , Bacchelli Elena , Magini Pamela , Diquigiovanni Chiara , Lomartire Silvia , Bianco Francesca , Vargiolu Manuela , Parchi Piero , Marasco Elena , Mantovani Vilma , Rampoldi Luca , Trudu Matteo , Parmeggiani Antonia , Battaglia Agatino , Mazzone Luigi , Tortora Giada ,   IMGSAC, Maestrini Elena , Seri Marco , Romeo Giovanni
Published: April 2014

Intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex neuropsychiatric conditions, with overlapping clinical boundaries in many patients. We identified a novel intragenic deletion of maternal origin in two siblings with mild ID and epilepsy in the CADPS2 gene, encoding for a synaptic protein involved in neurotrophin release and interaction with dopamine receptor type 2 (D2DR). Mutation screening of 223 additional patients (187 with ASD and 36 with ID) identified a missense change of maternal origin disrupting CADPS2/D2DR interaction. CADPS2 allelic expression was tested in blood and different adult human brain regions, revealing that the gene was monoallelically expressed in blood and amygdala, and the expressed allele was the one of maternal origin. Cadps2 gene expression performed in mice at different developmental stages was biallelic in the postnatal and adult stages; however, a monoallelic (maternal) expression was detected in the embryonal stage, suggesting that CADPS2 is subjected to tissue‐ and temporal‐specific regulation in human and mice. We suggest that CADPS2 variants may contribute to ID/ASD development, possibly through a parent‐of‐origin effect.
Monocyte‐derived dendritic cells promote T follicular helper cell differentiation
Authors: Chakarov Svetoslav , Fazilleau Nicolas
Published: April 2014

To be effective, protein priming must induce the development of a distinct lineage of CD4+ T cells named T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which regulate the differentiation of high‐affinity memory B cells and long‐lived plasma cells. In this context, we tested how adjuvantation with CpG, the Toll‐like receptor 9 agonist used in clinics, contributes to antigen‐specific T‐cell‐dependent B‐cell responses in vivo. We found that addition of CpG to other vaccine adjuvant increased the differentiation of antigen‐specific Tfh cells without changing the overall magnitude of the T‐cell response. This phenomenon correlated with an enhancement of the germinal centre reaction, antigen‐specific plasma cells and circulating antibodies. We comprehensively demonstrated that, in addition to the classical Tfh‐cell differentiation mediated by conventional DC, the promoting effect due to CpG was orchestrated in vivo by antigen presentation and IL‐6 secreted by monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (DC) as shown in their absence. Thus, while conventional DC initiate T‐cell responses, targeting monocyte‐derived DC specifically enhances the Tfh programme needed to regulate high‐affinity B‐cell protection in vivo.
Cognitive predictors of medical decision‐making capacity in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Stormoen Sara , Almkvist Ove , Eriksdotter Maria , Sundström Erik , Tallberg Ing‐Mari
Published: April 2014

Objective

Impaired capacity to make decisions in everyday life and situations of medical treatment is an inevitable consequence of the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The objective of this study was to identify the most powerful cognitive component(s) that best predicted medical decision‐making capacity (MDMC) in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment.

Method

Three groups of subjects participated in the study: patients with AD (n = 20), mild cognitive impairment (n = 21), and healthy control subjects (n = 33). MDMC was assessed by the linguistic instrument for medical decision‐making (LIMD) and related to demographics and 27 cognitive test measures.

Results

The cognitive tests were found to aggregate into four components using a principle component analysis. The four components, which correspond to verbal knowledge, episodic memory, cognitive speed, and working memory, accounted for 73% of the variance in LIMD according to a stepwise regression analysis. Verbal knowledge was the most powerful predictor of LIMD (beta = 0.66) followed by episodic memory (beta = 0.43), cognitive speed (beta = 0.32), and working memory (beta = 0.23). The best single test as shown by the highest correlation with LIMD was Reading speed (R = 0.77).

Conclusion

Multiple factors are involved in MDMC in subjects with cognitive impairment. The component of verbal knowledge was the best predictor of MDMC and Reading speed was the most important single cognitive test measurement, which assessed both rapid Reading and understanding of text. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
IRRIGATION IN THE TWENTY‐FIRST CENTURY: REFLECTIONS ON SCIENCE, POLICY AND SOCIETY
Authors: Lenton Roberto
Published: April 2014

Irrigated agriculture will come under increased global pressures in the twenty‐first century to be more efficient, productive, profitable and sustainable. This paper considers the implications of these pressures. It concludes that we will need the best of science to develop the scientific underpinnings for innovative approaches in irrigated agriculture; effective policies and institutions to control use, manage storage, balance water needs, and create incentives for adoption of innovations; and a broader set of actors working together as part of the solution set. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Serum enhanced cytokine responses of macrophages to silica and iron oxide particles and nanomaterials: a comparison of serum to lung lining fluid and albumin dispersions
Authors: Brown David M. , Johnston Helinor , Gubbins Eva , Stone Vicki
Published: April 2014

The potential hazard to humans exposed to nanomaterials such as silica and iron oxide was investigated using an in vitro macrophage cell culture system. Amorphous silica and iron oxide particles and nanomaterials (NMs) were dispersed in cell culture medium supplemented with either bovine serum albumin (BSA), lung lining fluid (LLF) or serum, in order to mimic the body fluids encountered during different routes of exposure in the body. End points investigated included macrophage viability and cytokine production. Silica NMs and particles (50 and 200 nm, respectively) were unmodified (plain) or aminated (NH2). Iron oxide NMs and particles, Fe3O4 45 nm and Fe2O3 280 nm were also used in this study. Silica particles and NMs induced a dose‐dependent increase in cytotoxicity as measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Serum enhanced silica‐induced interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐10, IL‐1β and MCP‐1 release, whereas albumin partially inhibited MCP‐1 release. Aminated silica, 50 nm was more potent than the 200‐nm particles at inducing monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) production when dispersed in medium or LLF, suggesting a size specific effect for these particles and this cytokine. Iron oxide particles were relatively inert compared with the silica particles and NMs; however, serum and albumin did affect cytokine release in some treatments. In conclusion, the data suggests that serum, compared with medium, BSA and LLF is very potent at enhancing macrophage responses to silica and iron oxide particles and NMs. Size was only influential in LLF for a limited number of parameters, whereas surface chemistry was not of consequence in this in vitro macrophage system. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The in Vitro estrogenic activities of triclosan and triclocarban
Authors: Huang Hongyu , Du Guizhen , Zhang Wei , Hu Jialei , Wu Di. , Song Ling , Xia Yankai , Wang Xinru
Published: April 2014

Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC), as broad spectrum antibacterial agents, are distributed widely in the environment and humans. Most studies have focused on their distribution and biodegradation, but the endocrine‐disrupting effects of these chemicals, especially their estrogenic effects, are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the estrogenic effects of TCS and TCC using a series of in vitro assays, including the ER reporter gene assay in the CV‐1 cells, E‐screen assay and evaluation of estrogen‐responsive genes in the MCF‐7 cells. The tested concentrations of TCS and TCC were both from 1 × 10–9 to 1 × 10–6 M. Results showed that TCS and TCC exerted estrogenic activities by inducing luciferase activities in an ER reporter gene assay, promoting the proliferation of the MCF‐7 cells, up‐regulating the expression of pS2 and down‐regulating ERα expression at both the mRNA and protein levels in the MCF‐7 cells. We further found that TCS and TCC could alter the expression of multiple microRNAs (mir‐22, mir‐206 and mir‐193b) in the MCF‐7 cells, which would help understand the mechanisms of their estrogenic effects on regulating the expression of ERα. In brief, our results demonstrated the potential estrogenic effects and profiled in vitro data for further risk assessment of TCS and TCC. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lubricin: A novel means to decrease bacterial adhesion and proliferation
Authors: Aninwene George E. , Abadian Pegah N. , Ravi Vishnu , Taylor Erik N. , Hall Douglas M. , Mei Amy , Jay Gregory D. , Goluch Edgar D. , Webster Thomas J.
Published: April 2014

This study investigated the ability of lubricin (LUB) to prevent bacterial attachment and proliferation on model tissue culture polystyrene surfaces. The findings from this study indicated that LUB was able to reduce the attachment and growth of Staphylococcus aureus on tissue culture polystyrene over the course of 24 h by approximately 13.9% compared to a phosphate buffered saline (PBS)‐soaked control. LUB also increased S. aureus lag time (the period of time between the introduction of bacteria to a new environment and their exponential growth) by approximately 27% compared to a PBS‐soaked control. This study also indicated that vitronectin (VTN), a protein homologous to LUB, reduced bacterial S. aureus adhesion and growth on tissue culture polystyrene by approximately 11% compared to a PBS‐soaked control. VTN also increased the lag time of S. aureus by approximately 43%, compared to a PBS‐soaked control. Bovine submaxillary mucin was studied because there are similarities between it and the center mucin‐like domain of LUB. Results showed that the reduction of S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis proliferation on mucin coated surfaces was not as substantial as that seen with LUB. In summary, this study provided the first evidence that LUB reduced the initial adhesion and growth of both S. aureus and S. epidermidis on a model surface to suppress biofilm formation. These reductions in initial bacteria adhesion and proliferation can be beneficial for medical implants and, although requiring more study, can lead to drastically improved patient outcomes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 451–462, 2015.
Standardizing Vitamin D Assays: The Way Forward
Authors: Binkley Neil , Sempos Christopher T ,   for the Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP)
Published: April 2014

For a number of years it has been widely assumed that measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration is the best approach to assessing an individual's vitamin D status.(1, 2) However, it has also been recognized that there is substantial within-assay variation in 25(OH)D measurement and even greater between-assay variability.(3, 4, 5) Such assay variation clearly confounds attempts to define what constitutes the diagnosis of hypovitaminosis D. Importantly, assay variability makes pooling of 25(OH)D results from different studies in systematic reviews for the specific purpose of determining dose-response and/or clinical cut points at best problematic. Therefore, to develop and implement evidence-based clinical guidelines, it is essential that 25(OH)D measurement be standardized in both clinical and research laboratories. In this Perspective we outline a way forward toward achieving this goal—the Vitamin D Standardization Program (VDSP). © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Using operators to expand the block matrices forming the Hessian of a molecular potential
Authors: Carlsen Martin
Published: April 2014

We derive compact expressions of the second‐order derivatives of bond length, bond angle, and proper and improper torsion angle potentials, in terms of operators represented in two orthonormal bases. Hereby, simple rules to generate the Hessian of an internal coordinate or a molecular potential can be formulated. The algorithms we provide can be implemented efficiently in high‐level programming languages using vectorization. Finally, the method leads to compact expressions for a second‐order expansion of an internal coordinate or a molecular potential. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nonenhanced arterial spin labeled carotid MR angiography using three‐dimensional radial balanced steady‐state free precession imaging
Authors: Koktzoglou Ioannis , Meyer Joel R. , Ankenbrandt William J. , Giri Shivraman , Piccini Davide , Zenge Michael O. , Flanagan Oisin , Desai Tina , Gupta NavYash , Edelman Robert R.
Published: April 2014

Purpose

To optimize and preliminarily evaluate a three‐dimensional (3D) radial balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) arterial spin labeled (ASL) sequence for nonenhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the extracranial carotid arteries.

Materials and Methods

The carotid arteries of 13 healthy subjects and 2 patients were imaged on a 1.5 Tesla MRI system using an undersampled 3D radial bSSFP sequence providing a scan time of ∼4 min and 1 mm3 isotropic resolution. A hybridized scheme that combined pseudocontinuous and pulsed ASL was used to maximize arterial coverage. The impact of a post label delay period, the sequence repetition time, and radiofrequency (RF) energy configuration of pseudocontinuous labeling on the display of the carotid arteries was assessed with contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) measurements. Faster, higher undersampled 2 and 1 min scans were tested.

Results

Using hybridized ASL MRA and a 3D radial bSSFP trajectory, arterial CNR was maximized with a post label delay of 0.2 s, repetition times ≥ 2.5 s (P < 0.05), and by eliminating RF energy during the pseudocontinuous control phase (P < 0.001). With higher levels of undersampling, the carotid arteries were displayed in ≤ 2 min.

Conclusion

Nonenhanced MRA using hybridized ASL with a 3D radial bSSFP trajectory can display long lengths of the carotid arteries with 1 mm3 isotropic resolution. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:1150–1156. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of foliar application of organic acids on alleviation of aluminum toxicity in alfalfa
Authors: An Yuan , Zhou Peng , Xiao Qiu , Shi Dongyan
Published: April 2014

Organic acids (OA) may affect plant resistance to aluminum (Al) toxicity in acidic soils. However, limited information is available on the effects of different organic acids on Al resistance in alfalfa. We investigated the effects of foliar application of organic acids (succinic acid, citric acid, malic acid, and oxalic acid) to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) under Al stress. Seedlings were grown in pH 4.5 nutrient solution containing Al at 0 or 100 μM, and were sprayed with water or 100 μM of oxalic acid, malic acid, citric acid, or succinic acid every 3 d during a 10 d experiment. Aluminum stress caused significant reduction in alfalfa growth (reflected by above‐ground biomass, root weight and root length), root activity, mineral nutrient concentrations (Ca, K, Mg, Mn and Zn), and a significant increase in leaf membrane lipid peroxidation. Foliar application of the four organic acids, especially succinic acid, alleviated Al toxicity, as demonstrated by the increase in plant growth and root activity, as well as reduction in lipid peroxidation. Oxalic acid and malic acid treatments significantly increased oxalate exudation and decreased Al concentration in roots exposed to Al stress. Succinic acid treatment significantly increased accumulation of all four organic acids in roots, accumulation of Ca, K, Mg, Mn and Zn, and up‐regulated the gene transcription of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) in roots. Our results suggest that the promotion of oxalate exudation from roots through exogenous application of oxalate and malate could contribute to the improvement in Al resistance of alfalfa, and the positive effects of exogenous application of succinate on Al resistance may be associated with the increased endogenous accumulation of all four organic acids in roots, which may constitute an organic‐acid detoxification system in alfalfa.
High performance a‐IGZO thin‐film transistors with mf‐PVD SiO2 as an etch‐stop‐layer
Authors: Nag Manoj , Steudel Soeren , Bhoolokam Ajay , Chasin Adrian , Rockele Maarten , Myny Kris , Maas Joris , Fritz Thomas , Trube Jutta , Groeseneken Guido , Heremans Paul
Published: April 2014

In this work, we report on high‐performance bottom‐gate top‐contact (BGTC) amorphous‐Indium‐Gallium‐Zinc‐Oxide (a‐IGZO) thin‐film transistor (TFT) with SiO2 as an etch‐stop‐layer (ESL) deposited by medium frequency physical vapor deposition (mf‐PVD). The TFTs show field‐effect mobility (μFE) of 16.0 cm2/(V.s), sub‐threshold slope (SS−1) of 0.23 V/decade and off‐currents (IOFF) < 1.0 pA. The TFTs with mf‐PVD SiO2 ESL deposited at room temperature were compared with TFTs made with the conventional plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) SiO2 ESL deposited at 300 °C and at 200 °C. The TFTs with different ESLs showed a comparable performance regarding μFE, SS−1, and IOFF, however, significant differences were measured in gate bias‐stress stability when stressed under a gate field of +/−1 MV/cm for duration of 104 s. The TFTs with mf‐PVD SiO2 ESL showed lower threshold‐voltage (VTH) shifts compared with TFTs with 300 °C PECVD SiO2 ESL and TFTs with 200 °C PECVD SiO2 ESL. We associate the improved bias‐stress stability of the mf‐PVD SiO2 ESL TFTs to the low hydrogen content of the mf‐PVD SiO2 layer, which has been verified by Rutherford‐Back‐Scattering‐Elastic‐Recoil‐Detection technique.
Relationships of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Sleep Measures to Cognitive Performance in Young‐Adult African Americans
Authors: Brownlow Janeese A. , Hall Brown Tyish S. , Mellman Thomas A.
Published: April 2014

Disturbed sleep is a prominent feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD and disrupted sleep have been independently linked to cognitive deficits; however, synergistic effects of PTSD and poor sleep on cognition have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of PTSD symptoms and objectively measured disruptions to sleep on cognitive function. Forty‐four young‐adult African American urban residents comprised the study sample. The Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS; Blake et al., 1995) was utilized to determine the severity of PTSD symptoms. Participants underwent 2 consecutive nights of polysomnography. The Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (Reeves, Winter, Bleiberg, & Kang, ) was utilized to assess sustained attention and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Schmidt, ) was used to evaluate verbal memory. PTSD symptom severity, r(42) = .40, p = .007, was significantly associated with omission errors on the sustained attention task, and sleep duration, r(42) = .41, p = .006, and rapid eye movement sleep, r(42) = .43, p = .003, were positively correlated with verbal memory. There was an interaction of PTSD symptom severity and sleep duration on omission errors such that more than 7 hours 12 minutes of sleep mitigated attentional lapses that were associated with PTSD.
Stopover duration of mallards during autumn in the Illinois River valley
Authors: Hagy Heath M. , Yetter Aaron P. , Stodola Kirk W. , Horath Michelle M. , Hine Christopher S. , Ward Michael P. , Benson Thomas J. , Smith Randolph V. , Stafford Joshua D.
Published: April 2014

Estimates of time spent at migratory stopovers are often used to develop habitat conservation objectives for a variety of avian species, namely waterfowl. Because of limited previous research and a need for accurate conservation planning objectives, we estimated stopover duration and factors influencing stay of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in Illinois using radio telemetry during autumns 2009 and 2010. Total stopover duration of migrating mallards was approximately 68 days and was approximately twice that of previous studies which could have significant implications on habitat needs used for conservation planning purposes. Duration of stay post‐capture did not vary by sex, body condition, year, or age but was inversely related to capture date. Our results suggest that wetland conservation objectives could increase 16.2% if our contemporary estimates were included in current planning models of the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Habitat‐related variation in carcass mass of a large herbivore revealed by combining hunting and GPS data
Authors: Marchand Pascal , Garel Mathieu , Bourgoin Gilles , Michel Patricia , Maillard Daniel , Loison Anne
Published: April 2014

Studies on habitat–performance relationships that require joint data on fitness and habitat use are still scarce in long‐lived species. Using data from a southern French population of Mediterranean mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon × Ovis sp.), we proposed an original approach for gaining information on this relationship by combining a fitness proxy (i.e., carcass mass) collected on harvested rams (n = 257) with knowledge on habitat use obtained from other rams (n = 13) fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. We first evaluated habitat characteristics encountered by harvested animals in hypothesized home ranges corresponding to circles centered on harvest locations. We set circle size to equal an average ram home range. We found that the carcass mass of harvested individuals decreased with aspect diversity (−16.0% from home ranges with the lowest to the highest diversity), mean slope (−9.3% between flat home ranges and steep ones), and decreasing abundance of open areas (−11.3% between the most and the least open areas). We then tested the robustness of our results by simulating circles with variable sizes and whose centers were randomly located around each harvest location. We found similar results confirming that some habitat characteristics that may be related to resource abundance and spatial structure were important drivers of ram carcass mass in this population. Finally, we showed that simulated circles of variable sizes and centered on GPS locations captured well the habitat composition of home ranges of GPS‐collared rams. Combining different sources of information could hence allow drawing robust inference on key habitats in terms of performance, which is of particular interest when including a spatial component in wildlife management and conservation plans and deciding on appropriate habitat improvements. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Video‐based method of quantifying performance and instrument motion during simulated phonosurgery
Authors: Conroy Ellen , Surender Ketan , Geng Zhixian , Chen Ting , Dailey Seth , Jiang Jack
Published: April 2014

Objectives/Hypothesis

To investigate the use of the Video‐Based Phonomicrosurgery Instrument Tracking System to collect instrument position data during simulated phonomicrosurgery and calculate motion metrics using these data. We used this system to determine if novice subject motion metrics improved over 1 week of training.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

Ten subjects performed simulated surgical tasks once per day for 5 days. Instrument position data were collected and used to compute motion metrics (path length, depth perception, and motion smoothness). Data were analyzed to determine if motion metrics improved with practice time. Task outcome was also determined each day, and relationships between task outcome and motion metrics were used to evaluate the validity of motion metrics as indicators of surgical performance.

Results

Significant decreases over time were observed for path length (P < .001), depth perception (P < .001), and task outcome (P < .001). No significant change was observed for motion smoothness. Significant relationships were observed between task outcome and path length (P < .001), depth perception (P < .001), and motion smoothness (P < .001).

Conclusions

Our system can estimate instrument trajectory and provide quantitative descriptions of surgical performance. It may be useful for evaluating phonomicrosurgery performance. Path length and depth perception may be particularly useful indicators.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope 124:2332–2337, 2014
Issues in fortification and analysis of omega‐3 fatty acids in foods
Authors: Hernandez Ernesto M.
Published: April 2014

It is extensively documented that omega‐3 fatty acids play important roles in many bioactive processes. Omega‐3 can also influence the onset, prevention, and control of many illnesses, including prevention of cardiovascular disease. The main sources of omega‐3 fatty acids are currently from vegetable oils and cold water fish. New sources such as from microalgae and krill oils are quickly increasing their share in the supplement market. Challenges for the incorporation of omega‐3 into foods and supplements have been gradually overcome by the introduction of new, more effective, antioxidants and by the use of various types of encapsulation technologies. Also, the smaller, micronutrient level, amounts of omega‐3 fatty acids normally added to fortified foods and supplements present several challenges of sample extraction, preparation and analysis of bioactive omega‐3 ingredients.
Synthesis and Electrochromic Properties of Aromatic Polyamides with Pendent Triphenylamine Units
Authors: Hsiao Sheng‐Huei , Chou Yu‐Tan
Published: April 2014

Three series of electroactive polyamides are prepared, from 4‐(3,5‐diaminobenzamido)triphenylamine (4), 4‐(3,5‐diaminobenzamido)‐4′,4″‐di‐tert‐butyltriphenylamine (t‐Bu‐4), and 4‐(3,5‐diaminobenzamido)‐4′,4″‐dimethoxytriphenylamine (MeO‐4), respectively, with aromatic dicarboxylic acids via phosphorylation polyamidation reactions. The resulting polyamides are easily soluble in polar organic solvents and can be solution‐cast into flexible and strong films. They exhibit high thermal stability with glass transition temperatures (Tg) in the range of 264–306 °C and 10% weight‐loss temperatures in excess of 470 °C. The polyamides derived from diamines t‐Bu‐4 and MeO‐4 exhibit reversible electrochemical oxidation, accompanied by strong color changes with high contrast ratio and electrochromic stability. The remarkable electrochromic behavior of the polymer film is clearly interpreted on the basis of spectro‐electrochemical studies. For the polyamides derived from diamine 4, the triphenylamine radical cations formed during the oxidative process will dimerize to a tetraphenylbenzidine structure, leading to an additional oxidation state and color change.

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The Non‐effect of Polymer‐Network Inhomogeneities in Microgel Volume Phase Transitions: Support for the Mean‐Field Perspective
Authors: Habicht Axel , Schmolke Willi , Lange Frank , Saalwächter Kay , Seiffert Sebastian
Published: April 2014

Thermoresponsive polymer gels exhibit pronounced swelling and deswelling upon changes in temperature, making them attractive for applications in sensing and actuation. This volume phase transition can be discussed in terms of mean‐field theoretical pictures to assess at which conditions it occurs continuously or discontinuously. However, this treatment disregards static nano‐ and micrometer‐scale inhomogeneities in gel polymer networks, which are a common feature of these materials. To check for the impact of such structural complexity, droplet‐based microfluidics are used to fabricate sub‐millimeter‐sized gel particles that exhibit critical compositions at the border between continuous to discontinuous volume phase transitions, along with determined static spatial polymer‐network heterogeneity on the nano­meter and micrometer length scales, which is characterized by low‐field NMR. These different microgels are then used to study their swelling and deswelling volume phase transitions from a sub‐millimeter perspective. In this investigation, microgel particles with similar content of crosslinker exhibit similar swelling and deswelling, independent of their extent of static polymer‐network inhomogeneity, in agreement with mean‐field theoretical predictions.

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Excess α‐tocopherol decreases extrahepatic phylloquinone in phylloquinone‐fed rats but not menaquinone‐4 in menaquinone‐4‐fed rats
Authors: Hanzawa Fumiaki , Sakuma Eri , Nomura Saki , Uchida Tomono , Oda Hiroaki , Ikeda Saiko
Published: April 2014

Scope

The effects of vitamin E on vitamin K metabolism were elucidated by comparing the effect of tocopherol intake on vitamin K concentrations in rats fed phylloquinone (PK) or menaquinone (MK)‐4.

Methods and results

Initially, the dietary effect of RRR‐α‐tocopherol, but not RRR‐γ‐tocopherol, in decreasing extrahepatic PK concentrations was confirmed. Subsequently, rats were fed a PK or MK‐4‐containing diet (0.75 mg/kg) with RRR‐α‐tocopherol (0, 10, 50, or 500 mg/kg) for 6 weeks. In rats fed PK, α‐tocopherol consumption decreased PK in kidney, lung, heart, muscle, testis, and brain but not in serum and liver. However, in rats fed MK‐4, α‐tocopherol consumption did not decrease MK‐4 in serum and tissues. Finally, vitamin K‐ and E‐depleted rats were administered PK or MK‐4 (0.2 mg) with RRR‐α‐tocopherol (0, 1, or 10 mg) by gavage. After PK administration, α‐tocopherol was observed to decrease PK in kidney, adrenal gland, lung, testis, and brain but not in serum and liver, whereas, after MK‐4 administration, α‐tocopherol did not affect MK‐4 in serum and tissues.

Conclusion

Excess α‐tocopherol decreased extrahepatic PK in rats fed PK but not MK‐4 in rats fed MK‐4.
Quantitative blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) response of the left ventricular myocardium to hyperoxic respiratory challenge at 1.5 and 3.0 T
Authors: Winklhofer Sebastian , Pazahr Shila , Manka Robert , Alkadhi Hatem , Boss Andreas , Stolzmann Paul
Published: April 2014

The aim of this study was to quantify the response of the myocardial transverse relaxation times (ΔT2*) to hyperoxic respiratory challenge (HRC) at different field strengths in an intra‐individual comparison of healthy volunteers and in a patient with coronary artery disease. Blood oxygenation level‐dependent (BOLD) cardiovascular MR (CMR) data were acquired in 10 healthy volunteers (five women, five men; mean age, 29 ± 3 years; range, 22–35 years) at 1.5 and 3.0 T. Medical air (21% O2), pure oxygen and carbogen (95% O2, 5% CO2) were administered in a block‐design temporal pattern to induce normoxia, hyperoxia and hyperoxic hypercapnia, respectively. Average T2* times were derived from measurements by two independent and blind readers in 16 standard myocardial segments on three short‐axis slices per patient. Inter‐ and intra‐reader correlations of T2* measurements were good [intra‐class correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.75 and ICC = 0.79, both p < 0.001]. During normoxia, the mean T2* times were 29.9 ± 6.1 ms at 1.5 T and 27.1 ± 6.6 ms at 3.0 T. Both hyperoxic gases induced significant (all p < 0.01) T2* increases (∆T2* hyperoxia: 1.5 T, 12.7%; 3.0 T, 11.2%; hyperoxic hypercapnia: 1.5 T, 13.1%; 3.0 T, 17.7%). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results indicated a significant (both p < 0.001) effect of the inhaled gases on the T2* times at both 1.5 T (F = 17.74) and 3.0 T (F = 39.99). With regard to the patient imaged at 1.5 T, HRC induced significant T2* increases during hyperoxia and hyperoxic hypercapnia in normal myocardial segments, whereas the T2* response was not significant in ischemic segments (p > 0.23). The myocardial ∆T2* response to HRC can reliably be imaged and quantified with BOLD CMR at both 1.5 and 3.0 T. During HRC, hyperoxia and hyperoxic hypercapnia induce a significant increase in T2*, with ∆T2* being largest at 3.0 T and during hyperoxic hypercapnia in normal myocardial segments. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The efficiency of provincial governments in China from 2001 to 2010: measurement and analysis
Authors: Tang Renwu , Tang Tianwei , Lee Zong
Published: April 2014

Measurement and analysis of local government efficiency is important; however, it is also difficult. To measure government efficiency, this paper employs the relative measurement method described in the research literature. It develops and applies an index to measure and rank the government efficiency of 31 provincial governments in China (including autonomous regions and municipalities) from 2001 to 2010. This permits a comparative analysis of provincial government efficiency and of the factors that influence it, among China's eastern, central, and western regions. The findings suggest a high association between the degree of economic development and local government efficiency, and in this respect, a large disparity has been observed between central and western regions on the one hand and the eastern region on the other. It is argued that provincial governments in the central and western regions should focus on improving residents' welfare, the quality of regional economic growth, and the level of social development by constantly enhancing government efficiency, optimizing the supply of public services, controlling the size of government, and thus improving residents' disposable income. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Individual Differences in Testosterone Predict Persistence in Men
Authors: Welker Keith M. , Carré Justin M.
Published: April 2014

Persistence is an important predictor of future successes. The present research addresses the relationship between testosterone and persistence in men. One hundred eighteen men were randomly assigned to win or lose a competitive number tracing task against a confederate or complete the task alone in a non–competitive control condition. Saliva samples were collected prior to and after the competition or control conditions. Participants were then given a maximum time of 30 min to spend attempting to solve unsolvable puzzles, with the option to quit at any time. In contrast to our prediction, changes in testosterone concentrations in response to the competitive interaction did not predict persistence behaviour. However, individual differences in testosterone concentrations (pre–competition/non–competition) were positively correlated with persistence. These findings are the first to examine associations between neuroendocrine function and persistence behaviour in people and suggest that testosterone should also be considered when predicting persistence–related outcomes. Copyright © 2014 European Association of Personality Psychology
Stochastic variation in network epidemic models: implications for the design of community level HIV prevention trials
Authors: Boren David , Sullivan Patrick S. , Beyrer Chris , Baral Stefan D. , Bekker Linda‐Gail , Brookmeyer Ron
Published: April 2014

Important sources of variation in the spread of HIV in communities arise from overlapping sexual networks and heterogeneity in biological and behavioral risk factors in populations. These sources of variation are not routinely accounted for in the design of HIV prevention trials. In this paper, we use agent‐based models to account for these sources of variation. We illustrate the approach with an agent‐based model for the spread of HIV infection among men who have sex with men in South Africa. We find that traditional sample size approaches that rely on binomial (or Poisson) models are inadequate and can lead to underpowered studies. We develop sample size and power formulas for community randomized trials that incorporate estimates of variation determined from agent‐based models. We conclude that agent‐based models offer a useful tool in the design of HIV prevention trials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Concise Review: Androgen Receptor Differential Roles in Stem/Progenitor Cells Including Prostate, Embryonic, Stromal, and Hematopoietic Lineages
Authors: Huang Chiung-Kuei , Luo Jie , Lee Soo Ok , Chang Chawnshang
Published: April 2014

Stem/progenitor (S/P) cells are special types of cells that have the ability to generate tissues throughout their entire lifetime and play key roles in the developmental process. Androgen and the androgen receptor (AR) signals are the critical determinants in male gender development, suggesting that androgen and AR signals might modulate the behavior of S/P cells. In this review, we summarize the AR effects on the behavior of S/P cells, including self-renewal, proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation in normal S/P cells, as well as proliferation, invasion, and self-renewal in prostate cancer S/P cells. AR plays a protective role in the oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in embryonic stem cells. AR inhibits the self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, bone marrow stromal cells, and prostate S/P cells, but promotes their differentiation except for adipogenesis. However, AR promotes the proliferation of hematopoietic S/P cells and stimulates hematopoietic lineage differentiation. In prostate cancer S/P cells, AR suppresses their self-renewal, metastasis, and invasion. Together, AR differentially influences the characteristics of normal S/P cells and prostate cancer S/P cells, and targeting AR might improve S/P cell transplantation therapy, especially in embryonic stem cells and bone marrow stromal cells. Stem Cells  2014;32:2299–2308
Are visible and strong legal frameworks always necessary to sustain irrigation institutions?: some wider lessons for water resource management
Authors: Palerm‐Viqueira Jacinta
Published: April 2014

How important is a long‐term legal framework for irrigators' organizations to manage their irrigation systems? Countries that have a consistent long‐term legal framework appear also to have strong self‐managed irrigation institutions (e.g., Spain, Japan, Chile, and the US). A lack of this legal framework appears to correlate with lack of or weak irrigators' organizations. In Mexico, however, in spite of a changing and chaotic legal framework, informal or nonofficial irrigators' organizations and horizontal agreements actually do exist. Some of these organizations were officially suppressed, others lost their legal framework, and still others never received official recognition. There is continuity for some cases dating back to 16th century institutions, as well as new organizational efforts. The irrigators' organizations and horizontal agreements are not missing but invisible. These results emphasize that research based around the analysis of official information and official organizations may overlook what is revealed by considering local arrangements on the ground. While a consistent legal framework for self‐managed irrigation institutions may provide increased visibility, and probably make them stronger and more capable of operating effectively, legal frameworks are not necessary—not least because such institutions may actually be very resilient in the face of external pressures. These issues are of much wider importance for water resource management, questioning the assumption that a strong top‐down response is necessary to guarantee water security, and emphasizing the importance of sustaining specific local circumstances in water resource management, which may be invisible without careful investigation.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance
Use of isotopic sulfur to determine whitebark pine consumption by Yellowstone bears: A reassessment
Authors: Schwartz Charles C. , Teisberg Justin E. , Fortin Jennifer K. , Haroldson Mark A. , Servheen Christopher , Robbins Charles T. , van Manen Frank T.
Published: April 2014

Use of naturally occurring stable isotopes to estimate assimilated diet of bears is one of the single greatest breakthroughs in nutritional ecology during the past 20 years. Previous research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), USA, established a positive relationship between the stable isotope of sulfur (δ34S) and consumption of whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) seeds. That work combined a limited sample of hair, blood clots, and serum. Here we use a much larger sample to reassess those findings. We contrasted δ34S values in spring hair and serum with abundance of seeds of whitebark pine in samples collected from grizzly (Ursus arctos) and American black bears (U. americanus) in the GYE during 2000–2010. Although we found a positive relationship between δ34S values in spring hair and pine seed abundance for grizzly bears, the coefficients of determination were small (R2 ≤ 0.097); we failed to find a similar relationship with black bears. Values of δ34S in spring hair were larger in black bears and δ34S values in serum of grizzly bears were lowest in September and October, a time when we expect δ34S to peak if whitebark pine seeds were the sole source of high δ34S. The relationship between δ34S in bear tissue and the consumption of whitebark pine seeds, as originally reported, may not be as clean a method as proposed. Data we present here suggest other foods have high values of δ34S, and there is spatial heterogeneity affecting the δ34S values in whitebark pine, which must be addressed. Published 2014. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Integrated damage management reduces grazing of wild rice by resident Canada geese in New Jersey
Authors: Nichols Theodore C.
Published: April 2014

Tidal freshwater marshes of the Maurice River, New Jersey, USA, have been long renowned for robust stands of wild rice (Zizania aquatica). During the 1990s, these marshes experienced an apparent decline in wild rice. During 2000–2002, I used paired fenced exclosures and open control plots to measure herbivory by the Atlantic Flyway Resident Population of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) on wild rice and response of rice to an integrated damage management program (IDMP). The IDMP consisted of rendering goose nests unhatchable, shooting, and culling molting geese. The IDMP reduced the number of goslings by 60% during the first year and essentially eliminated recruitment during the second year. Prior to the IDMP, grazing by geese reduced the density of rice by 78% and the height of plants surviving grazing by 17%. With implementation of an IDMP, rice density between exclosures and control plots did not differ. Wetland managers should consider the grazing impacts that resident population Canada geese can incur on native plant communities and develop a plan for mitigating that damage. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
The relation between preset distinguishing sequences and synchronizing sequences
Authors: Güniçen Canan , İnan Kemal , Türker Uraz Cengiz , Yenigün Hüsnü
Published: April 2014

We study the relation between synchronizing sequences and preset distinguishing sequences which are some special sequences used in finite state machine based testing. We show that the problems related to preset distinguishing sequences can be converted into related problems of synchronizing sequences. Using the results existing in the literature for synchronizing sequences, we offer several reflections of these results for preset distinguishing sequences. Although computing a preset distinguishing sequence is PSPACE-hard , we do identify a class of machines for which computing a preset distinguishing sequence can be performed in polynomial time and argue that this class is practically relevant. We also present an experimental study to compare the performance of exponential brute-force and polynomial heuristic algorithms to compute a preset distinguishing sequence.
Extraction and Demulsification of Oil From Wheat Germ, Barley Germ, and Rice Bran Using an Aqueous Enzymatic Method
Authors: Fang Xuezhi , Moreau Robert A.
Published: April 2014

An aqueous enzymatic method was developed to extract oil from wheat germ. Wheat germ pretreatment, effect of various industrial enzymes, pH, wheat germ to water ratio, reaction time and effect of various methods of demulsification, were investigated. Pretreatment at 180 °C in a conventional oven for 4 min reduced the moisture 12.8–2.2 % and significantly increased the oil yield. Adding a combination of protease (Fermgen) and cellulase (Spezyme CP) resulted in a 72 % yield of emulsified oil from wheat germ (both commercial and laboratory milled wheat germ). Using the same oil extraction conditions optimized for wheat germ, yields of 51 and 39 % emulsified oil were obtained from barley germ (laboratory milled), and rice bran, respectively. Three physical demulsification methods (heating, freeze‐thawing, and pH adjustment) and enzymatic methods (Protex 6L, Protex 7L, Alcalase, Fermgen, Lysomax and G‐zyme 999) were compared. After demulsification with Protex 6L, free oil yields of 63.8 and 59.5 % were obtained with commercial wheat germ and with laboratory milled wheat germ, respectively. Using the same demulsification conditions optimized for wheat germ, yields of 45.7 % emulsified oil and 35 % free oil were obtained for barley germ and rice bran, respectively.
On some large global solutions to 3-D density-dependent Navier–Stokes system with slow variable: Well-prepared data
Authors: Paicu Marius , Zhang Ping
Published: April 2014

In this paper, we consider the global wellposedness of 3-D incompressible inhomogeneous Navier–Stokes equations with initial data slowly varying in the vertical variable, that is, initial data of the form

(1 + \varepsilon ^{\sigma }a_{0}(x_{h},\varepsilon x_{3}),(\varepsilon u_{0}^{h}(x_{h},\varepsilon x_{3}),u_{0}^{3}(x_{h},\varepsilon x_{3})))

for some

\sigma > 0

and
ε
being sufficiently small. We remark that initial data of this type does not satisfy the smallness conditions in [11,18] no matter how small
ε
is.
El concepto de consumo socialmente responsable y su medición. Una revisión de la literatura
Authors: Dueñas Ocampo Sebastian , Perdomo Ortiz Jesús , Villa Castaño Lida Esperanza
Published: April 2014

El concepto de «consumo socialmente responsable» (CSR) tiene una importante tradición en la literaturade mercadeo y recientemente en la de responsabilidad social empresarial. Sin embargo, el carácter complejo y dinámico del concepto hace relevante un debate sobre su medición. El presente artículo aportauna revisión de la literatura de forma comprensiva sobre el CSR guiada por la pregunta sobre la medición.La metodología utilizada parte de la revisión de los artículos seminales, para progresivamente sesgar labúsqueda hacia artículos en revistas de alto impacto. Se logró identificar diferentes etapas en los mode-los de medida y precisar los debates actuales centrados en el papel de la responsabilidad social, y de laincidencia del contexto socioeconómico y cultural en el consumo.