bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive assessment of osteoarthritis severity in human explants by multicontrast MRI
Authors: Griebel Adam J. , Trippel Stephen B. , Emery Nancy C. , Neu Corey P.
Published: March 2013

Purpose

Medical imaging has the potential to noninvasively diagnose early disease onset and monitor the success of repair therapies. Unfortunately, few reliable imaging biomarkers exist to detect cartilage diseases before advanced degeneration in the tissue.

Method

In this study, we quantified the ability to detect osteoarthritis (OA) severity in human cartilage explants using a multicontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach, inclusive of novel displacements under applied loading by MRI, relaxivity measures, and standard MRI.

Results

Displacements under applied loading by MRI measures, which characterized the spatial micromechanical environment by 2D finite and Von Mises strains, were strong predictors of histologically assessed OA severity, both before and after controlling for factors, e.g., patient, joint region, and morphology. Relaxivity measures, sensitive to local macromolecular weight and composition, including T1ρ, but not T1 or T2, were predictors of OA severity. A combined multicontrast approach that exploited spatial variations in tissue biomechanics and extracellular matrix structure yielded the strongest relationships to OA severity.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that combining multiple MRI‐based biomarkers has high potential for the noninvasive measurement of OA severity and the evaluation of potential therapeutic agents used in the treatment of early OA in animal and human trials. Magn Reson Med 71:807–814, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stimuli‐responsive diblock copolymer brushes via combination of “click chemistry” and living radical polymerization
Authors: Demirci Serkan , Kinali‐Demirci Selin , Caykara Tuncer
Published: March 2013

pH‐ and temperature‐responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐block−4‐vinylbenzoic acid) (poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA)) diblock copolymer brushes on silicon wafers have been successfully prepared by combining click reaction, single‐electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP), and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Azide‐terminated poly(NIPAAm) brushes were obtained by SET‐LRP followed by reaction with sodium azide. A click reaction was utilized to exchange the azide end group of a poly(NIPAAm) brushes to form a surface‐immobilized macro‐RAFT agent, which was successfully chain extended via RAFT polymerization to produce poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA) brushes. The addition of sacrificial initiator and/or chain‐transfer agent permitted the formation of well‐defined diblock copolymer brushes and free polymer chains in solution. The free polymer chains were isolated and used to estimate the molecular weights and polydispersity index of chains attached to the surface. Ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, grazing angle‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to characterize the immobilization of initiator on the silicon wafer, poly(NIPAAm) brush formation via SET‐LRP, click reaction, and poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA) brush formation via RAFT polymerization. The poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA) brushes demonstrate stimuli‐responsive behavior with respect to pH and temperature. The swollen brush thickness of poly(NIPAAm‐b‐VBA) brush increases with increasing pH, and decreases with increasing temperature. These results can provide guidance for the design of smart materials based on copolymer brushes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2677–2685
Synthesis of a benzoxazine with precisely two phenolic OH linkages and the properties of its high‐performance copolymers
Authors: Hsuan Lin Ching , Feng Yu Ren , Dai Kang Hong , Chang Hou Chien , Juang Tzong Yuan
Published: March 2013

A phenolic OH‐containing benzoxazine (F‐ap), which cannot be directly synthesized from the condensation of bisphenol F, aminophenol, and formaldehyde by traditional procedures, has been successfully prepared in our alternative synthetic approach. F‐ap was prepared by three steps including (a) condensation of 4‐aminophenol and 5,5'‐methylenebis(2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde) (1), (b) reduction of the resulting imine linkage by sodium borohydride, and (c) ring closure condensation by formaldehyde. The key starting material, (1), was prepared from 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde and s‐trioxane in the presence of sulfuric acid. F‐ap is structurally similar to bis(3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐3‐phenyl‐1,3‐benzoxazinyl)methane (F‐a, a commercial benzoxazine based on bisphenol F/aniline/formaldehyde) except for two phenolic OHs. The phenolic OHs can provide reaction sites with epoxy and 1,1'‐(methylenedi‐p‐phenylene)bismaleimide (BMI). The structure–property relationships between the thermosets of F‐ap/epoxy, F‐a/epoxy, F‐ap/BMI, and F‐a/BMI were discussed. Experimental data showed that thermosets based on F‐ap/epoxy and F‐ap/BMI provided much better thermal properties than those based on F‐a/epoxy and F‐a/BMI. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2686–2694
Synthesis of imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched polymers with POSS‐branching points and their pH responsive and coordination properties
Authors: Irie Yasuyuki , Naka Kensuke
Published: March 2013

An imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched polymer with octafunctional POSS branching units denoted as POSS‐HYPAM‐Im was prepared by the polymerization of excess amounts of tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine with the first‐generation methyl ester‐terminated POSS‐core poly(amidoamine)‐typed dendrimer, reacting with methyl acrylate, and ester‐amide exchange reaction with 3‐aminopropylimidazole. The imidazole‐terminated hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) denoted as HYPAM‐Im was also synthesized with 1‐(3‐aminopropyl)imidazole from a methyl ester‐terminated hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) by the ester‐amide exchange reaction. The transmittance of the POSS‐HYPAM‐Im solution drastically decreased when the solution pH was greater than 8.2. On the other hand, the transmittance of the HYPAM‐Im solution gradually decreased when the solution pH at 8.5 and was greater than 9. Spectrophotometric titrations of the hyperbranched polymer aqueous solutions with Cu2+ ions indicated the variation of the coordination modes of POSS‐HYPAM‐Im from the Cu2+–N4 complex to the Cu2+–N2O2 complex and the existence of the only one complexation mode of Cu2+–N4 between Cu2+ ion and HYPAM‐Im with increasing the concentrations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2695–2701
Plasmon resonances and plasmon‐induced charge transport in linear atomic chains
Authors: Zhang Hong , Yin Haifeng
Published: March 2013

In linear hydrogen atomic chains, plasmon resonances and plasmon‐induced charge transport are studied by time‐dependent density functional theory. For the large linear chain, it is a general phenomenon that, in the longitudinal excitation, there are high‐energy resonances and a large low‐energy resonance. The energy of the large low‐energy resonance conforms to the results calculated by the classical Drude model. In order to explain the formation mechanism of the high‐energy resonances, we present a simple harmonic oscillator model. This model may reasonably account for the relationship between low‐energy and high‐energy resonances, and has a certain degree of universality. As the interatomic distance decreases, the current shows a gradual transition from insulator to metal. The current enhancement mainly depends on the local field enhancement associated with plasmon excitation, and the enhanced electron delocalization effect as a result of the decrease of the interatomic distance. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electronic and magnetic properties of all 3d transition‐metal‐doped ZnO monolayers
Authors: Ren Juan , Zhang Hong , Cheng Xinlu
Published: March 2013

Stable geometries, electronic structures, and magnetic properties of the ZnO monolayer doped with 3d transition‐metal (TM) (Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) atoms substituting the cation Zn have been investigated using first‐principles pseudopotential plane wave method within density functional theory (DFT). It is found that these nine atomic species can be effectively doped in the ZnO monolayer with formation energies ranging from −6.319 to −0.132 eV. Furthermore, electronic structures and magnetic properties of ZnO monolayer can be modified by such doping. The results show that the doping of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu atoms can induce magnetization, while no magnetism is observed when Sc, Ti, and V atoms are doped into the ZnO monolayer. The magnetic moment is mainly due to the strong p–d mixing of O and TM (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) orbitals. These results are potentially useful for spintronic applications and the development of magnetic nanostructures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Turbogeneratorfundamente als schwingende Stäbe in einem elastischen Medium
Authors: Herzog M.
Published: March 2013

Es wird gezeigt, wie einfach die Schwingungen der immer länger werdenden Turbogeneratorfundamente mit einem neuen Rechenmodell in guter Übereinstimmung mit dem gemessenen Verhalten vorausgesagt werden können.
Das Sicherheitskonzept bei Klöppel
Authors: Maier W.
Published: March 2013

Wenn man erst das Hemmnis der Sprache und Terminologie jener Zeit überwunden hat, dann zeigt sich Klöppel als Vorreiter und Prophet des zeitgenössischen Sicherheitskonzeptes. Er hat das Ende des Konzeptes mit globalem Sicherheitsbeiwert, das eng mit dem Konzept der zulässigen Spannungen verbunden ist, angekündigt und das heute verwendete Konzept mit Teilsicherheitsbeiwerten vorgeschlagen. Er sah in diesem Konzept die Voraussetzung für die angemessene Berücksichtigung wirklichkeitsnaher Grenzzustände und darüber hinaus für den Fortschritt der Bauweise überhaupt. Umfassend und teilweise in erstaunlicher Tiefe hat er die Einflüsse auf die Teilsicherheitsbeiwerte zusammengetragen. Er hat den stochastischen Charakter von Einflußgrößen erkannt und in der Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie das Werkzeug für ihre angemessene Berücksichtigung gesehen. Klöppel war auf diesem Gebiet seiner Zeit voraus. Seine grundlegenden Gedanken zum zukünftigen Sicherheitskonzept mußte er mit dem heute irreführenden, damals aber wohl attraktiven Schlagwort "zulässige Spannung" an den Hörer bzw. den Leser bringen. Deshalb, so ist zu vermuten, widerspiegelt sich seine Vorreiterrolle so schwach in der Literatur.
Thermovision ‐ Entwicklung eines neuen Verfahrens zur Dehnungsanalyse beanspruchter Stahlbauteile
Authors: Pasternak H. , Müller L.
Published: March 2013

Messungen der Dehnung können mit konventionellen Dehnmeßstreifen (DMS) durchgeführt werden. Wenn sich das Tragverhalten dem Versagenszustand nähert, haben DMS den Nachteil, vorzeitig auszufallen (insbesondere im überkritischen bzw. Fließ‐ und Verfestigungsbereich). Das Thermovisionsverfahren dient zur Dehnungsanalyse beanspruchter Stahlbauteile bis in den Versagenszustand hinein. Zunächst werden für monoton und zyklisch beanspruchte Basisproben mit unterschiedlichen strukturellen und geometrischen Imperfektionen (z. B. Schweißnaht bzw. Kerbe) Wegänderungen und Temperatur bis zum Versagenszustand aufgenommen. Begleitend werden FE‐Simulationen durchgeführt und die zu den gemessenen Temperaturen korrespondierenden Dehnungen ermittelt. Dadurch kann das thermoplastische Verhalten des untersuchten Materials (S235) bestimmt werden. Als weitere Anwendung des Thermovisionsverfahrens erfolgte die Untersuchung des Tragverhaltens an komplexen Bauteilen: Rosettenverbindungen, Hohlkastenträger mit schlanken Stegen, Kopfplattenverbindungen, Wellstegträger mit Konsolen.
Mapping large‐scale river flow hydraulics in the Amazon Basin
Authors: Getirana Augusto C. V. , Paiva Rodrigo C. D.
Published: March 2013

Key Points

first attempt to map river flow dynamics in the Amazon basin

new empirical equation for time of peak of flood waves designed for large rivers

the map has a percentage of detection of 83.4%
Revealing the spatial variability of water fluxes at the groundwater‐surface water interface
Authors: Binley Andrew , Ullah Sami , Heathwaite A. Louise , Heppell Catherine , Byrne Patrick , Lansdown Katrina , Trimmer Mark , Zhang Hao
Published: March 2013

There is widespread recognition that the groundwater‐surface water interface can have significant influence on the pattern and form of the transfer of nutrient‐rich groundwater to rivers. Characterizing and quantifying this influence is critical for successful management of water resources in many catchments, particularly those threatened by rising nitrate levels in groundwater. Building on previous experimental investigations in one such catchment: the River Leith, UK, we report on a multimeasurement, multiscale program aimed at developing a conceptualization of groundwater‐surface water flow pathways along a 200 m reach. Key to this conceptualization is the quantification of vertical and horizontal water fluxes, which is achieved through a series of Darcian flow estimates coupled with in‐stream piezometer tracer dilution tests. These data, enhanced by multilevel measurements of chloride concentration in riverbed pore water and water‐borne geophysical surveying, reveal a contrast in the contribution of flow components along the reach. In the upper section of the reach, a localized connectivity to regional groundwater, that appears to suppress the hyporheic zone, is identified. Further downstream, horizontal (lateral and longitudinal) flows appear to contribute more to the total subsurface flow at the groundwater‐surface water interface. Although variation in hydraulic conductivity of the riverbed is observed, localized variation that can account for the spatial variability in flow pathways is not evident. The study provides a hydrological conceptualization for the site, which is essential for future studies which address biogeochemical processes, in relation to nitrogen retention/release. Such a conceptualization would not have been possible without a multiexperimental program.
Branched‐chain amino acid supplementation: impact on signaling and relevance to critical illness
Authors: Mattick John S. A. , Kamisoglu Kubra , Ierapetritou Marianthi G. , Androulakis Ioannis P. , Berthiaume Francois
Published: March 2013

The changes that occur in mammalian systems following trauma and sepsis, termed systemic inflammatory response syndrome, elicit major changes in carbohydrate, protein, and energy metabolism. When these events persist for too long they result in a severe depletion of lean body mass, multiple organ dysfunction, and eventually death. Nutritional supplementation has been investigated to offset the severe loss of protein, and recent evidence suggests that diets enriched in branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs) may be especially beneficial. BCAAs are metabolized in two major steps that are differentially expressed in muscle and liver. In muscle, BCAAs are reversibly transaminated to the corresponding α‐keto acids. For the complete degradation of BCAAs, the α‐keto acids must travel to the liver to undergo oxidation. The liver, in contrast to muscle, does not significantly express the branched‐chain aminotransferase. Thus, BCAA degradation is under the joint control of both liver and muscle. Recent evidence suggests that in liver, BCAAs may perform signaling functions, more specifically via activation of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway, influencing a wide variety of metabolic and synthetic functions, including protein translation, insulin signaling, and oxidative stress following severe injury and infection. However, understanding of the system‐wide effects of BCAAs that integrate both metabolic and signaling aspects is currently lacking. Further investigation in this respect will help rationalize the design and optimization of nutritional supplements containing BCAAs for critically ill patients. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:449–460. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1219

This article is categorized under:

Biological Mechanisms > Metabolism

Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease

Translational, Genomic, and Systems Medicine > Translational Medicine
E-learning any time any place anywhere on mobile devices
Authors: Eggermont Sylvia , Bloemendaal Peter M. , Van Baalen Jary M.
Published: March 2013

The registered screen resolution of e-learning study moments in
MedicalEducation.nl was used in this research to investigate the readiness of students
and medical professionals to study e-learning on a mobile device. Between January 2008
and September 2012 the use of e-learning on a mobile device by students has quintupled
to 2.29 %, while medical professionals lag behind in this development. If the use of
mobile devices for e-learning is better supported, a rapid further increase should be
anticipated. Further research on the desire of both students and medical professionals
to study e-learning on a mobile device should be conducted.
Moving from knowledge to practice: is it time to move from teaching evidence-based
medicine (EBM) to knowledge translation competency?
Authors: Hassan Imad S. A.
Published: March 2013

None
Diamond defects enable nanoscale nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: March 2013

Detecting the tiny magnetic field from a few thousand atomic nuclei is a first step toward imaging complex molecular structures directly.
Gamma-ray spectra show that supernova remnants create cosmic-ray protons
Authors: Schwarzschild Bertram M.
Published: March 2013

Spectral signatures of pion decay have long been sought as direct evidence of proton acceleration in supernova shock fronts.
Scientists experiment with crowdfunding
Authors: Feder Toni
Published: March 2013

Interactions with the public prove as rewarding as the money.
Black holes, quantum information, and the foundations of physics
Authors: Giddings Steven B.
Published: March 2013

Quantum mechanics teaches that black holes evaporate by radiating particles—a lesson indicating that at least one pillar of modern physics must fall.
Zero-field nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Ledbetter Micah P. , Budker Dmitry
Published: March 2013

Counter to intuition, one doesn’t necessarily need a strong magnet—or any magnet, for that matter—to extract richly informative spectra from nuclear spins.
Team-Based Learning Exercise Efficiently Teaches Brief Intervention Skills to Medicine Residents
Authors: Wamsley Maria A. , Julian Katherine A. , O'Sullivan Patricia , McCance-Katz Elinore F. , Batki Steven L. , Satre Derek D. , Satterfield Jason
Published: March 2013

Background

Evaluations of substance use screening and brief intervention (SBI) curricula typically focus on learner attitudes and knowledge, although effects on clinical skills are of greater interest and utility. Moreover, these curricula often require large amounts of training time and teaching resources. This study examined whether a 3-hour SBI curriculum for internal medicine residents utilizing a team-based learning (TBL) format is effective for SBI skills as measured by a standardized patient (SP) assessment.

Methods

A waitlist-controlled design was employed.

Results

Twenty-four postgraduate year 2 (PGY-2) and PGY-3 residents participated in a SP assessment prior to the TBL session (waitlist control group) and 32 participated in a SP assessment after the TBL session (intervention group). The intervention residents demonstrated better brief intervention skills than waitlist control residents, but there were no differences between the groups in screening and assessment skills. Residents receiving the TBL curriculum prior to the SP assessment reported increased confidence in all SBI skills.

Conclusion

Findings indicate that a brief educational intervention can improve brief intervention skills. However, more intensive education may be needed to improve substance use screening and assessment.
Density-based hierarchical clustering of pyro-sequences on a large scale—the case of fungal ITS1
Authors: Pagni Marco , Niculita-Hirzel Hélène , Pellissier Loïc , Dubuis Anne , Xenarios Ioannis , Guisan Antoine , Sanders Ian R. , Goudet Jérôme , Guex Nicolas
Published: March 2013

Motivation: Analysis of millions of pyro-sequences is currently playing a crucial role in the advance of environmental microbiology. Taxonomy-independent, i.e. unsupervised, clustering of these sequences is essential for the definition of Operational Taxonomic Units. For this application, reproducibility and robustness should be the most sought after qualities, but have thus far largely been overlooked.

Results: More than 1 million hyper-variable internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequences of fungal origin have been analyzed. The ITS1 sequences were first properly extracted from 454 reads using generalized profiles. Then, otupipe, cd-hit-454, ESPRIT-Tree and DBC454, a new algorithm presented here, were used to analyze the sequences. A numerical assay was developed to measure the reproducibility and robustness of these algorithms. DBC454 was the most robust, closely followed by ESPRIT-Tree. DBC454 features density-based hierarchical clustering, which complements the other methods by providing insights into the structure of the data.

Availability: An executable is freely available for non-commercial users at ftp://ftp.vital-it.ch/tools/dbc454. It is designed to run under MPI on a cluster of 64-bit Linux machines running Red Hat 4.x, or on a multi-core OSX system.

Contact:  dbc454@vital-it.ch or nicolas.guex@isb-sib.ch
FishingCNV: a graphical software package for detecting rare copy number variations in exome-sequencing data
Authors: Shi Yuhao , Majewski Jacek
Published: March 2013

Summary: Rare copy number variations (CNVs) are frequent causes of genetic diseases. We developed a graphical software package based on a novel approach that can consistently identify CNVs of all types (homozygous deletions, heterozygous deletions, heterozygous duplications) from exome-sequencing data without the need of a paired control. The algorithm compares coverage depth in a test sample against a background distribution of control samples and uses principal component analysis to remove batch effects. It is user friendly and can be run on a personal computer.

Availability and implementation: The main scripts are implemented in R (2.15), and the GUI is created using Java 1.6. It can be run on all major operating systems. A non-GUI version for pipeline implementation is also available. The program is freely available online:https://sourceforge.net/projects/fishingcnv/

Contact:  yuhao.shi@mail.mcgill.ca

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
EURObservational Research Programme: regional differences and 1‐year follow‐up results of the Heart Failure Pilot Survey (ESC‐HF Pilot)
Authors: Maggioni Aldo P. , Dahlström Ulf , Filippatos Gerasimos , Chioncel Ovidiu , Leiro Marisa Crespo , Drozdz Jaroslaw , Fruhwald Friedrich , Gullestad Lars , Logeart Damien , Fabbri Gianna , Urso Renato , Metra Marco , Parissis John , Persson Hans , Ponikowski Piotr , Rauchhaus Mathias , Voors Adriaan A. , Nielsen Olav Wendelboe , Zannad Faiez , Tavazzi Luigi ,   on behalf of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (HFA)
Published: March 2013

Aims

The ESC‐HF Pilot survey was aimed to describe clinical epidemiology and 1‐year outcomes of outpatients and inpatients with heart failure (HF). The pilot phase was also specifically aimed at validating structure, performance, and quality of the data set for continuing the survey into a permanent Registry.

Methods

The ESC‐HF Pilot study is a prospective, multicentre, observational survey conducted in 136 Cardiology Centres in 12 European countries selected to represent the different health systems across Europe. All outpatients with HF and patients admitted for acute HF on 1 day per week for eight consecutive months were included. From October 2009 to May 2010, 5118 patients were included: 1892 (37%) admitted for acute HF and 3226 (63%) patients with chronic HF. The all‐cause mortality rate at 1 year was 17.4% in acute HF and 7.2% in chronic stable HF. One‐year hospitalization rates were 43.9% and 31.9%, respectively, in hospitalized acute and chronic HF patients. Major regional differences in 1‐year mortality were observed that could be explained by differences in characteristics and treatment of the patients.

Conclusion

The ESC‐HF Pilot survey confirmed that acute HF is still associated with a very poor medium‐term prognosis, while the widespread adoption of evidence‐based treatments in patients with chronic HF seems to have improved their outcome profile. Differences across countries may be due to different local medical practice as well to differences in healthcare systems. This pilot study also offered the opportunity to refine the organizational structure for a long‐term extended European network.
Size distribution of Parkfield's microearthquakes reflects changes in surface creep rate
Authors: Tormann T. , Wiemer S. , Metzger S. , Michael A. , Hardebeck J. L.
Published: March 2013

The nucleation area of the series of M6 events in Parkfield has been shown to be characterized by low b-values throughout the seismic cycle. Since low b-values represent high differential stresses, the asperity structure seems to be always stably stressed and even unaffected by the latest main shock in 2004. However, because fault loading rates and applied shear stress vary with time, some degree of temporal variability of the b-value within stable blocks is to be expected. We discuss in this study adequate techniques and uncertainty treatment for a detailed analysis of the temporal evolution of b-values. We show that the derived signal for the Parkfield asperity correlates with changes in surface creep, suggesting a sensitive time resolution of the b-value stress meter, and confirming near-critical loading conditions within the Parkfield asperity.
Racial Disparities in Operative Procedure Time
Authors: Silber Jeffrey H. , Rosenbaum Paul R. , Ross Richard N. , Even-Shoshan Orit , Kelz Rachel R. , Neuman Mark D. , Reinke Caroline E. , Ludwig Justin M. , Kyle Fabienne A. , Bratzler Dale W. , Fleisher Lee A.
Published: March 2013

Background:

Using Pennsylvania Medicare claims from 1995 to 1996, the authors previously reported that anesthesia procedure length appears longer in blacks than whites. In a new study using a different and larger data set, the authors now examine whether body mass index (BMI), not available in Medicare claims, explains this difference. The authors also examine the relative contributions of surgical and anesthesia times.

Methods:

The Obesity and Surgical Outcomes Study of 47 hospitals throughout Illinois, New York, and Texas abstracted chart information including BMI on elder Medicare patients (779 blacks and 14,596 whites) undergoing hip and knee replacement and repair, colectomy, and thoracotomy between 2002 and 2006. The authors matched all black Medicare patients to comparable whites and compared procedure lengths.

Results:

Mean BMI in the black and white populations was 30.24 and 28.96 kg/m2, respectively (P < 0.0001). After matching on age, sex, procedure, comorbidities, hospital, and BMI, mean white BMI in the comparison group was 30.1 kg/m2 (P = 0.94). The typical matched pair difference (black–white) in anesthesia (induction to recovery room) procedure time was 7.0 min (P = 0.0019), of which 6 min reflected the surgical (cut-to-close) time difference (P = 0.0032). Within matched pairs, where the difference in procedure times was greater than 30 min between patients, blacks more commonly had longer procedure times (Odds = 1.39; P = 0.0008).

Conclusions:

Controlling for patient characteristics, BMI, and hospital, elder black Medicare patients experienced slightly but significantly longer procedure length than their closely matched white controls. Procedure length difference was almost completely due to surgery, not anesthesia.
Calabadion
Authors: Hoffmann Ulrike , Grosse-Sundrup Martina , Eikermann-Haerter Katharina , Zaremba Sebastina , Ayata Cenk , Zhang Ben , Ma Da , Isaacs Lyle , Eikermann Matthias
Published: March 2013

Introduction:

To evaluate whether calabadion 1, an acyclic member of the Cucurbit[n]uril family of molecular containers, reverses benzylisoquinoline and steroidal neuromuscular-blocking agent effects.

Methods:

A total of 60 rats were anesthetized, tracheotomized, and instrumented with IV and arterial catheters. Rocuronium (3.5 mg/kg) or cisatracurium (0.6 mg/kg) was administered and neuromuscular transmission quantified by acceleromyography. Calabadion 1 at 30, 60, and 90 mg/kg (for rocuronium) or 90, 120, and 150 mg/kg (for cisatracurium), or neostigmine/glycopyrrolate at 0.06/0.012 mg/kg were administered at maximum twitch depression, and renal calabadion 1 elimination was determined by using a 1H NMR assay. The authors also measured heart rate, arterial blood gas parameters, and arterial blood pressure.

Results:

After the administration of rocuronium, resumption of spontaneous breathing and recovery of train-of-four ratio to 0.9 were accelerated from 12.3 ± 1.1 and 16.2 ± 3.3 min with placebo to 4.6 ± 1.8 min with neostigmine/glycopyrrolate to 15 ± 8 and 84 ± 33 s with calabadion 1 (90 mg/kg), respectively. After the administration of cisatracurium, recovery of breathing and train-of-four ratio of 0.9 were accelerated from 8.7 ± 2.8 and 9.9 ± 1.7 min with placebo to 2.8 ± 0.8 and 7.6 ± 2.1 min with neostigmine/glycopyrrolate to 47 ± 13 and 87 ± 16 s with calabadion 1 (150 mg/kg), respectively. Calabadion 1 did not affect heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, pH, carbon dioxide pressure, and oxygen tension. More than 90% of the IV administered calabadion 1 appeared in the urine within 1 h.

Conclusion:

Calabadion 1 is a new drug for rapid and complete reversal of the effects of steroidal and benzylisoquinoline neuromuscular-blocking agents.
Activity of antimalarial drugs in vitro and in a murine model of cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Rocha Vinícius Pinto Costa , Nonato Fabiana Regina , Guimarães Elisalva Teixeira , Rodrigues de Freitas Luiz Antônio , Soares Milena Botelho Pereira
Published: March 2013

The currently used treatments for leishmaniasis, a neglected parasitic disease, are associated with several side effects, high cost and resistance of the Leishmania parasites. Here we evaluated in vitro and in vivo the antileishmanial activity of five antimalarial drugs against Leishmania amazonensis. Mefloquine was effective against promastigotes in axenic cultures and showed an IC50 (concentration giving half-maximal inhibition) value of 8.4±0.7 µM. In addition, mefloquine, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were active against intracellular amastigotes in macrophage-infected cultures, presenting IC50 values of 1.56±0.19 µM, 0.78±0.08 µM and 0.67±0.12 µM, respectively. The ultrastructural analysis of chloroquine- or mefloquine-treated amastigotes showed an accumulation of multivesicular bodies in the cytoplasm of the parasite, suggesting endocytic pathway impairment, in addition to the formation of myelin-like figures and enlargement of the Golgi cisternae. CBA mice were infected with L. amazonensis in the ear dermis, and treated by oral and/or topical routes with chloroquine and mefloquine. Treatment of L. amazonensis-infected mice with chloroquine by the oral route reduced lesion size, which was associated with a decrease in the number of parasites in the ear, as well as the parasite burden in the draining lymph nodes. In contrast, mefloquine administration by both routes decreased the lesion size in infected mice without causing a reduction in parasite burden. Our results revealed a promising antileishmanial effect of chloroquine and suggest its use in cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment.
Complex expression dynamics and robustness in C. elegans insulin networks
Authors: Ritter Ashlyn D. , Shen Yuan , Fuxman Bass Juan , Jeyaraj Sankarganesh , Deplancke Bart , Mukhopadhyay Arnab , Xu Jian , Driscoll Monica , Tissenbaum Heidi A. , Walhout Albertha J.M.
Published: March 2013

Gene families expand by gene duplication, and resulting paralogs diverge through mutation. Functional diversification can include neofunctionalization as well as subfunctionalization of ancestral functions. In addition, redundancy in which multiple genes fulfill overlapping functions is often maintained. Here, we use the family of 40 Caenorhabditis elegans insulins to gain insight into the balance between specificity and redundancy. The insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IIS) pathway comprises a single receptor, DAF-2. To date, no single insulin-like peptide recapitulates all DAF-2-associated phenotypes, likely due to redundancy between insulin-like genes. To provide a first-level annotation of potential patterns of redundancy, we comprehensively delineate the spatiotemporal and conditional expression of all 40 insulins in living animals. We observe extensive dynamics in expression that can explain the lack of simple patterns of pairwise redundancy. We propose a model in which gene families evolve to attain differential alliances in different tissues and in response to a range of environmental stresses.
Evaluation of Postmortem Bacterial Migration Using Culturing and Real‐Time Quantitative PCR
Authors: Tuomisto Sari , Karhunen Pekka J. , Vuento Risto , Aittoniemi Janne , Pessi Tanja
Published: March 2013

Postmortem bacteriology can be a valuable tool for evaluating deaths due to bacterial infection or for researching the involvement of bacteria in various diseases. In this study, time‐dependent postmortem bacterial migration into liver, mesenteric lymph node, pericardial fluid, portal, and peripheral vein was analyzed in 33 autopsy cases by bacterial culturing and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). None suffered or died from bacterial infection. According to culturing, pericardial fluid and liver were the most sterile samples up to 5 days postmortem. In these samples, multigrowth and staphylococci were not or rarely detected. RT‐qPCR was more sensitive and showed higher bacterial positivity in all samples. Relative amounts of intestinal bacterial DNA (bifidobacteria, bacteroides, enterobacter, clostridia) increased with time. Sterility of blood samples was low during the studied time periods (1–7 days). The best postmortem microbiological sampling sites were pericardial fluid and liver up to 5 days after death.
Development of Latent Fingerprints on Thermal Paper by the Controlled Application of Heat
Authors: Bond John W.
Published: March 2013

Apparatus to produce a spatially and temporally uniform heat source is described and this is used to visualize latent fingerprints deposited onto thermal paper by raising the temperature of the paper. Results show an improvement over previous research when fingerprint deposits are aged or the developed fingerprints faint; visualization being enhanced by the use of a blue LED light source of 465 nm peak wavelength. An investigation of the components in fingerprint sweat likely to affect the solubility and hence color change of the dye present in the thermal paper has shown that polar protic solvents able to donate a proton are favored and a polar amino acid found commonly in eccrine fingerprint sweat (lysine) has been shown able to produce the desired color change. Aged fingerprint deposits on thermal paper from a variety of sources up to 4 years old have been visualized with this technique.
Progress Toward the Determination of Correct Classification Rates in Fire Debris Analysis,,
Authors: Waddell Erin E. , Song Emma T. , Rinke Caitlin N. , Williams Mary R. , Sigman Michael E.
Published: March 2013

Principal components analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) were used to develop a multistep classification procedure for determining the presence of ignitable liquid residue in fire debris and assigning any ignitable liquid residue present into the classes defined under the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E 1618‐10 standard method. A multistep classification procedure was tested by cross‐validation based on model data sets comprised of the time‐averaged mass spectra (also referred to as total ion spectra) of commercial ignitable liquids and pyrolysis products from common building materials and household furnishings (referred to simply as substrates). Fire debris samples from laboratory‐scale and field test burns were also used to test the model. The optimal model's true‐positive rate was 81.3% for cross‐validation samples and 70.9% for fire debris samples. The false‐positive rate was 9.9% for cross‐validation samples and 8.9% for fire debris samples.
Anaphylaxis After the Injection of Buprenorphine
Authors: Boggs Cassie L. , Ripple Mary G. , Ali Zabiullah , Brassell Melissa , Levine Barry , Jufer‐Phipps Rebecca , Doyon Suzanne , Fowler David R.
Published: March 2013

Cause of death rulings in cases when the concentration of a drug or drugs is higher than observed following therapeutic use are generally straightforward “drug deaths.” However, when toxicology testing identifies drug concentrations consistent with therapeutic use or detects no drugs at all, then the cause of death determination is more complicated. Given the rapidity and protean manifestations of anaphylaxis, it should be considered in deaths where no other cause of death is apparent in a suspected drug death. This article reports two cases where an anaphylactic reaction was observed following either the actual or alleged use of therapeutic formulations of buprenorphine intravenously.
Improvement of Karmali Agar by Addition of Polymyxin B for the Detection of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli in Whole‐Chicken Carcass Rinse
Authors: Chon Jung‐Whan , Kim Hyunsook , Yim Jin‐Hyeok , Song Kwang‐Young , Moon Jin‐San , Kim Young‐Jo , Seo Kun‐Ho
Published: March 2013

The Karmali agar was modified by supplementation with a high concentration of polymyxin B. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effect of a high concentration of polymyxin B on the ability and selectivity of the modified Karmali agar to isolate Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from whole chicken carcass rinse. A total of 80 whole chickens were rinsed with 400 mL of buffer peptone water. The rinsed samples were incubated with 2× blood‐free modified Bolton enrichment broth for 48 h, and then streaked onto unmodified Karmali agar and modified Karmali agar supplemented with 100000 IU/L polymixin B (P‐Karmali agar). The suspected colonies were finally confirmed by colony PCR. The P‐Karmali agar exhibited a significantly better (P < 0.05) isolation rate than the unmodified Karmali agar (P‐Karmali agar, 73.8%; unmodified Karmali agar, 33.8%). Moreover, the selectivity of the P‐Karmali agar was also better (P < 0.05) than that of the other selective agar when comparing the number of contaminated plates (P‐Karmali agar, 68.8%; unmodified Karmali agar, 87.5%) and growth index of competing flora (P‐Karmali agar, 1.4; unmodified Karmali agar, 2.7). The improved selective agar excluded competing flora resistant to antibiotic agents in unmodified Karmali agar, increasing isolation rate and selectivity for C. jejuni and C. coli.
Association of Streptococcus bovis endocarditis and advanced colorectal neoplasia: A case–control study
Authors: Sharara Ala I. , Abou Hamdan Tarek , Malli Ahmad , El‐Halabi Mustapha M. , Hashash Jana G. , Ghaith Ola A. , Kanj Souha S.
Published: March 2013

Objective

To study the association between Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) endocarditis and advanced colorectal neoplasia.

Methods

This was a case–control study of patients with S. bovis endocarditis undergoing colonoscopic evaluation. Patients were matched 1:20 with controls by gender and age (±2 years) from a large screening colonoscopy database. The baseline, colonoscopic and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with S. bovis endocarditis were analyzed.

Results

From 1996 to 2010, 18 adult patients with S. bovis bacteremia were identified, of whom 10 with infective endocarditis (IE) underwent colonoscopic evaluation. Endocarditis involved a native or prosthetic valve in six and four of those patients, respectively. All 10 patients recovered without recurrence of IE (mean follow‐up duration 49.6 months). None had a concurrent or preceding history of colon disease and only one had subclinical chronic liver disease. Advanced neoplasia, defined as the presence of polyps ≥1 cm (n = 6), villous histology (n = 3), high‐grade focal dysplasia (n = 1) or cancer (n = 1), was found under colonoscopy in 6 of the 10 cases (60.0%) compared with 13/200 (6.5%) matched controls (OR 21.6, 95% CI 5.4–86.1, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

S. bovis endocarditis is strongly associated with the presence of advanced colorectal neoplasia. In the absence of any contraindication, colonoscopic examination is strongly recommended in patients with endocarditis. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this association and the predilection for S. bovis bacteremia in patients with advanced colonic neoplasia remain unclear.
The plover neurotranscriptome assembly: transcriptomic analysis in an ecological model species without a reference genome
Authors: Moghadam Hooman K. , Harrison Peter W. , Zachar Gergely , Székely Tamás , Mank Judith E.
Published: March 2013

We assembled a de novo transcriptome of short‐read Illumina RNA‐Seq data generated from telencephalon and diencephalon tissue samples from the Kentish plover, Charadrius alexandrinus. This is a species of considerable interest in behavioural ecology for its highly variable mating system and parental behaviour, but it lacks genomic resources and is evolutionarily distant from the few available avian draft genome sequences. We assembled and identified over 21 000 transcript contigs with significant expression in our samples, showing high homology to exonic sequences in avian draft genomes. From these, we identified >31 000 high‐quality SNPs and > 2500 simple sequence repeats (SSRs). We also analysed expression patterns in our data to identify potential candidate genes related to differences in male and female behaviour, identifying over 200 nonoverlapping putative autosomal transcripts that show significant expression differences between males and females. Gene ontology analysis revealed that female‐biased transcripts were significantly enriched for cerebral functions related to learning, cognition and memory, and male‐biased transcripts were mostly enriched for terms related to neural function such as neuron projection and synapses. This data set provides one of the first de novo transcriptome assemblies from non‐normalized short‐read next‐generation data and outlines an effective strategy for measuring sequence and expression variability simultaneously without the aid of a reference genome.
Activation of PPARγ by Pioglitazone Potentiates the Effects of Naltrexone on Alcohol Drinking and Relapse in msP Rats
Authors: Stopponi Serena , de Guglielmo Giordano , Somaini Lorenzo , Cippitelli Andrea , Cannella Nazzareno , Kallupi Marsida , Ubaldi Massimo , Heilig Markus , Demopulos Gregory , Gaitanaris George , Ciccocioppo Roberto
Published: March 2013

Background

Pioglitazone is a selective peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist used for the treatment of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Previous studies conducted in our laboratory showed that activation of PPARγ by pioglitazone reduces alcohol drinking, stress‐induced relapse, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome in rats. Pioglitazone was not able to prevent relapse elicited by alcohol cues. Conversely, the nonselective opioid antagonist naltrexone has been shown to reduce alcohol drinking and cue‐ but not stress‐induced relapse in rodents.

Methods

Based on these findings, this study was sought to determine the efficacy of pioglitazone and naltrexone combination on alcohol intake and relapse behavior. Genetically selected alcohol‐preferring Marchigian Sardinian (msP) rats were used for the study.

Results

Pioglitazone (10 and 30 mg/kg) and naltrexone (0.25 and 1.0 mg/kg) each individually reduced alcohol drinking in msP rats. The combination of the 2 drugs resulted in a more potent alcohol drinking reduction than single agents. Confirming previous studies, pioglitazone (10 and 30 mg/kg) significantly reduced relapse induced by the pharmacological stressor yohimbine (1.25 mg/kg) but not by cues predictive of alcohol availability. Conversely, naltrexone reduced reinstatement of drug seeking elicited by alcohol cues but not by yohimbine.

Conclusions

The drug combination was effective in reducing both relapse behaviors. These findings open new vistas in the use pioglitazone in combination with naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism.
Chronic Ethanol (EtOH) Consumption Differentially Alters Gray and White Matter EtOH Methyl 1H Magnetic Resonance Intensity in the Primate Brain
Authors: Kroenke Christopher D. , Flory Graham S. , Park Byung , Shaw Jessica , Rau Andrew R. , Grant Kathleen A.
Published: March 2013

Background

In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has previously been used to directly monitor brain ethanol (EtOH). It has been proposed that the EtOH methyl 1H resonance intensity is larger in EtOH‐tolerant individuals than in sensitive individuals. To characterize the relationship between long‐term EtOH exposure and the brain EtOH MRS intensity, we present data from a longitudinal experiment conducted using nonhuman primate subjects.

Methods

In vivo MRS was used to measure the gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) EtOH methyl 1H MRS intensity in 18 adult male rhesus macaques at 4 time points throughout the course of a chronic drinking experiment. Time points were prior to EtOH drinking, following a 3‐month EtOH induction procedure, and following 6, and 12 subsequent months of 22 h/d of “open access” to EtOH (4% w/v) and water.

Results

The EtOH methyl 1H MRS intensity, which we observed to be independent of age over the range examined, increased with chronic EtOH exposure in GM and WM. In GM, MRS intensity increased from naïve level following the EtOH induction period (90 g/kg cumulative EtOH intake). In WM, MRS intensity was not significantly different from the EtOH‐naïve state until after 6 months of 22‐hour free access (110 to 850 g/kg cumulative intake range). The WM MRS intensity in the EtOH‐naïve state was positively correlated with future drinking, and the increase in WM MRS intensity was negatively correlated with the amount of EtOH consumed throughout the experiment.

Conclusions

Chronic exposure to EtOH is associated with brain changes that result in differential increases in EtOH MRS intensity in GM and WM. The EtOH‐naïve WM MRS intensity pattern is consistent with its previously proposed relationship to innate tolerance to the intoxicating effects of EtOH. EtOH‐dependent MRS intensity changes in GM required less EtOH exposure than was necessary to produce changes in WM. Within WM, an unexpected, potentially age dependent, enhanced sensitivity to EtOH in light drinkers relative to heavy drinkers was observed.