bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diterpenoids from Marine Ciliates: Chemical Polymorphism of Euplotes rariseta
Authors: Guella Graziano , Callone Emanuela , Mancini Ines , Dini Fernando , Di Giuseppe Graziano
Published: August 2012

A homogeneous, though multifaceted, secondary metabolic character emerges from a detailed investigation of secondary metabolites produced by the ciliate species Euplotes rariseta. In particular, from the strain NZ2, collected in New Zealand (Omaha Bay), two new irregular diterpenoids, omaholidenol (6) and omaholidenal (7), have been isolated which are the C5 homologues of rarisetenolide (1), the latter being previously found as the main secondary metabolite in different strains of the same species. On the other hand, from strain Ubt22, three new diterpenoids, ubatubaolidenal (8), ubatubadial A (9), and ubatubadial B (10), have been found. Finally, two new diterpenoids, epoxyfocardolide (11) and prenyl epoxyrarisetenolde (12), were isolated in low yields from the sister species Euplotes quinquecarinatus and Euplotes parkei, respectively. All these findings strongly suggest, in addition to a wide chemical polymorphism in E. rariseta populations, a close parallelism between the production pattern of secondary metabolites and the phylogenetic relationships of the species, confirming the chemotaxonomic utility of these compounds in the ciliate genus Euplotes.
Regioselective N‐Alkylation of 2‐Aminoimidazoles with Alcohols to 2‐(N‐Alkylamino)imidazoles Catalyzed by the [Cp*IrCl2]2/K2CO3 System
Authors: Li Feng , Kang Qikai , Shan Haixia , Chen Lin , Xie Jianjiang
Published: August 2012

The direct N‐alkylation of 2‐aminoimidazoles to give the corresponding 2‐(N‐alkylamino)imidazoles was accomplished using alcohols as alkylating agents in the presence of a [Cp*IrCl2]2/K2CO3 system. The iridium‐catalyzed regioselective reaction is simple, efficient, general, and environmentally benign.
First steps towards the successful surface‐based cultivation of human embryonic stem cells in hanging drop systems
Authors: Schulz Julia C. , Stumpf Patrick S. , Katsen‐Globa Alisa , Sachinidis Agapios , Hescheler Jürgen , Zimmermann Heiko
Published: August 2012

Miniaturization and parallelization of cell culture procedures are in focus of research in order to develop test platforms with low material consumption and increased standardization for toxicity and drug screenings. The cultivation in hanging drops (HDs) is a convenient and versatile tool for biological applications and represents an interesting model system for the screening applications due to its uniform shape, the advantageous gas supply, and the small volume. However, its application has so far been limited to non#x02010;adherent and aggregate forming cells. Here, we describe for the first time the proof‐of‐principle regarding the adherent cultivation of human embryonic stem cells in HD. For this microcarriers were added to the droplet as dynamic cultivation surfaces resulting in a maintained pluripotency and proliferation capacity for 10 days. This enables the HD technique to be extended to the cultivation of adherence‐dependent stem cells. Also, the possible automation of this method by implementation of liquid handling systems opens new possibilities for miniaturized screenings, the improvement of cultivation and differentiation conditions, and toxicity and drug development.
Bio‐antifelting of wool based on mild methanolic potassium hydroxide pretreatment
Authors: Wang Ping , Yuan Jiugang , Ren Xuehong , Cui Li , Wang Qiang , Fan Xuerong
Published: August 2012

Covalently bound lipids cover the wool surface and make enzymatic degradation of wool scales very difficult. In this paper, methanolic potassium hydroxide (MPH) pretreatment was used prior to enzymatic treatment of wool with protease, aiming at hydrolyzing the outmost lipids on the wool surface and promoting the subsequent proteolytic reaction. The efficacy of lipid removal from the fiber surface and the properties of the protease‐treated wool were evaluated. The results indicated that mild MPH pretreatment with 0.10 mol/L MPH for 10 min improved the wettability of the wool without adverse impacts on its mechanical properties. The wetting time and area shrinkage of the wool fabric reached 0.5 s and 5.6%, respectively, and the strength loss was within the acceptable range. Pretreatment with high concentrations of MPH for longer times led to significant damage to the wool fibers and caused heavy strength loss, without improving the antifelting properties after protease treatment. Thus, the combination of mild MPH and protease treatments endowed the wool with desirable properties in contrast to the treatment with protease alone.
The 2010 rockfall event in Stein an der Traun – installation of monitoring and early‐warning systems / Das Felssturzereignis von Stein an der Traun – Einrichtung von Monitoring‐ und Frühwarn‐Systemen
Authors: Plinninger Ralf J. , Smettan Klaus , Kresse John
Published: August 2012

The heritage‐protected ensemble of Castle Brewery, boarding school and medieval Cave Castle forms the centre of Stein a.d. Traun, Traunstein County, Bavaria/Germany. In large parts of the area, the buildings nestle to or are built directly into a vertical or even overhanging rock slope up to 50 m high, formed of Quaternary conglomerates. Potential rock or block falls as well as larger scale instabilities in this slope represent hazards to the infrastructure below it, as was dramatically shown by the tragic event in January 2010. In order to monitor changes in the rock mass, geotechnical monitoring and early‐warning systems were installed in two areas in 2011. This article describes the specific structural and geomechanical situation of the two investigation areas and presents the monitoring concept and the first measured data.

Das denkmalgeschützte Ensemble von Schlossbrauerei, traditionsreichem Internat und mittelalterlicher Felsenburg bildet den Ortskern von Stein an der Traun, Landkreis Traunstein, Bayern. Die Gebäude schmiegen sich dabei in weiten Bereichen direkt an eine bis zu rund 50 m hohe, senkrechte bis überhängende Nagelfluhwand an bzw. sind in diese hineingebaut. Das Risiko von Stein‐ oder Blockschlägen sowie ggf. auch größeren Felsstürzen aus der Felswand stellt eine Gefährdung der darunterliegenden Infrastruktur dar, deren potenzielle Auswirkungen das tragische Ereignis vom Januar 2010 vor Augen geführt hat. Zur Überwachung von Veränderungen wurden 2011 geotechnische Monitoring‐ und Frühwarnsysteme in zwei Teilbereichen eingerichtet. Der Beitrag beschreibt die spezifische bauliche und geomechanische Situation und stellt Auslegung und erste Messergebnisse des installierten Systems vor.
Various methods, different results – on dealing with rockfall modelling in hazard and risk analyses / Verschiedene Verfahren, verschiedene Resultate – Vom Umgang mit Sturzmodellierungen bei Gefahren‐ und Risikoanalysen
Authors: Bollinger Daniel , Gruner Ueli , Jordan Peter , Liniger Markus , Rovina Hermann
Published: August 2012

Numerical modelling of rockfall events is an increasingly significant basis for the production of hazard maps and the design of protection structures. The fact that the various programs on the market lead to different results in specific cases has led to discussion. The programs most commonly used in Switzerland are therefore compared with regard to input parameters and results, the main and auxiliary algorithms and further aspects. The difference between deterministic and probabilistic methods is important. The probabilistic method requires great caution and experience, both in the parameter input and in the interpretation of the results. This poses the general question, what uncertainties have to be dealt with in the management of natural hazards.

Numerische Modellierungen von Steinschlagereignissen stellen eine zunehmend bedeutendere Grundlage für die Erstellung von Gefahrenkarten und die Bemessung von Schutzbauten dar. Dass die verschiedenen marktüblichen Programme bei konkreten Fragestellungen zu unterschiedlichen Resultaten führen, hat zu Diskussionen geführt. Die in der Schweiz am häufigsten eingesetzten Programme werden deshalb betreffend der Eingabeparameter und Resultate, der zugrunde liegenden Haupt‐ und Zusatzalgorithmen und weiterer Aspekte verglichen. Wichtig ist die Unterscheidung zwischen deterministischem und probabilistischem Ansatz. Der probabilistische Ansatz bedarf sowohl bei der Parametereingabe als auch bei der Interpretation der Resultate größter Sorgfalt und Erfahrung. Dabei stellt sich auch die generelle Frage, wie mit Unsicherheiten im Naturgefahrenmanagement umzugehen ist.
Protection against debris flows using flexible ring net barriers in the Teufelskadrich, Germany / Murgangschutz Teufelskadrich mit flexiblen Ringnetzbarrieren
Authors: Wendeler Corinna , Gröner Eberhard , Matthesius Jürgen
Published: August 2012

The steep slope along the river Rhine between the German villages of Lorch and Assmannshausen is called the “Teufelskadrich”. The railway line of German federal railways and the motorway run alongside the river Rhine between the foot of the slope and the riverbank. In July 2008, after heavy rain and thunderstorms, several landslides and small debris flows occurred in the area, closing the railway line for several days. Twelve flexible ring net barriers were designed, manufactured and installed within two months as part of an emergency procedure. These lightweight ring net barriers are quick to install and are suitable for slopes with difficult access. They can also blend in with nature once installed, which was important in the “Teufelskadrich” area as the valley is a popular tourist destination. With the new barriers installed on the slope, mobilised landslide or debris flow material is drained and retained by the filtering effect of the ring net barriers. As an additional measure, some of the deposited debris has been stabilised using a slope stabilisation system, utilising high‐tensile chain link mesh and soil nails. Most of the future material is thus already retained in the catchment area, further reducing erosion and limiting mass mobilisation in case of an event.

Im Teufelskadrich, einem zwischen Lorch am Rhein und Assmannshausen gelegenen steilen Abhang des Rheinischen Schiefergebirges, wurde infolge von Hangrutschungen und kleineren Murgängen im Juli 2008 die dortige Hauptbahnverbindung für mehrere Tage unterbrochen. Auslösendes Moment der Massenbewegungen waren Starkniederschlagsereignisse im Zuge eines Gewitters. Im Rahmen einer Sofortmaßnahme wurde innerhalb von zwei Monaten in enger Zusammenarbeit zwischen DB AG, Planer, Produkthersteller und ausführenden Bauunternehmungen ein in Deutschland neuartiges Schutzsystem aus zwölf flexiblen Ringnetzbarrieren realisiert. Diese Systeme eignen sich durch ihre einfache und schnelle Installation im schwer zugänglichen Gelände, ohne dabei das touristisch geprägte Landschaftsbild der “Loreley‐Region” des Rheins stark zu beeinträchtigen. Zukünftige Murgangereignisse sollten folglich nicht mehr zu einem Stillstand des Bahnverkehrs und einer Gefährdung von Mensch und Infrastruktur in diesem Gebiet führen.
Thymosin beta 4 mediates oligodendrocyte differentiation by upregulating p38 MAPK
Authors: Santra Manoranjan , Chopp Michael , Zhang Zheng Gang , Lu Mei , Santra Sutapa , Nalani Ankita , Santra Soumi , Morris Daniel C.
Published: August 2012

Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4), a G‐actin sequestering peptide, increases oligodendrogenesis and improves functional outcome in models of neurological injury. The molecular mechanisms of Tβ4 mediated oligodendrogenesis are unclear. The p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) regulates oligodendrocyte (OL) differentiation and myelin gene expression in other models. Therefore, we investigated p38MAPK signaling pathways. We used primary rat neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and a mouse oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) line (N20.1 cells) to investigate the molecular mechanisms of Tβ4‐enhanced oligodendrogenesis. NPCs were isolated from rat subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricles (n = 12). Primary NPCs and N20.1 cells were grown in the presence of 0, 25, and 50 ng/mL of Tβ4 (RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals Inc, Rockville, MD) for 14 days. Quantitative real‐time PCR and Western blot data showed significant induction of both expression and phosphorylation of p38MAPK with simultaneous inhibition of phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1), c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase 1 (JNK1), leading to reduction of phosphorylation of c‐Jun, a potent negative regulator of transcription of myelin genes. These effects were reversed with transfection of Tβ4siRNA. Our data indicate that Tβ4 treatment induces OL differentiation by inducing p38MAPK with parallel inactivation of ERK1 and JNK1, thus preventing the accumulation of phosphorylated c‐Jun. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Strategic planning processes and financial performance among hospitals in Lebanon
Authors: Saleh Shadi , Kaissi Amer , Semaan Adele , Natafgi Nabil Maher
Published: August 2012

Background

Strategic planning has been presented as a valuable management tool. However, evidence of its deployment in healthcare and its effect on organizational performance is limited in low‐income and middle‐income countries (LMICs). The study aimed to explore the use of strategic planning processes in Lebanese hospitals and to investigate its association with financial performance.

Methods

The study comprised 79 hospitals and assessed occupancy rate (OR) and revenue‐per‐bed (RPB) as performance measures. The strategic planning process included six domains: having a plan, plan development, plan implementation, responsibility of planning activities, governing board involvement, and physicians' involvement.

Results

Approximately 90% of hospitals have strategic plans that are moderately developed (mean score of 4.9 on a 1–7 scale) and implemented (score of 4.8). In 46% of the hospitals, the CEO has the responsibility for the plan. The level of governing board involvement in the process is moderate to high (score of 5.1), whereas physician involvement is lower (score of 4.1). The OR and RPB amounted to respectively 70% and 59 304 among hospitals with a strategic plan as compared with 62% and 33 564 for those lacking such a plan. No statistical association between having a strategic plan and either of the two measures was detected. However, the findings revealed that among hospitals that had a strategic plan, higher implementation levels were associated with lower OR (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In an LMIC healthcare environment characterized by resource limitation, complexity, and political and economic volatility, flexibility rather than rigid plans allow organizations to better cope with environmental turbulence. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The influence of switching from haloperidol decanoate depot to risperidone long‐acting injection on the clinical symptoms and cognitive function in schizophrenia
Authors: Suzuki Hidenobu , Gen Keishi
Published: August 2012

Objective

This study was a comparative investigation of the effects on clinical symptoms and cognitive function of switching the treatment of schizophrenia patients from haloperidol decanoate depot to risperidone long‐acting injection (RLAI) compared with a control group that continued receiving haloperidol decanoate depot.

Methods

This study was a 24‐week, non‐randomized, non‐double blind, open‐label trial. The subjects' clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and their cognitive function was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: Keio Version to assess executive function and the St. Marianna University School of Medicine's Computerized Memory Test to assess memory and concentration at 0 and 24 weeks.

Results

The mean change from baseline in the number of categories achieved at the second stage of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: Keio Version was significantly greater in the RLAI group than in the control group. The mean changes from baseline in the individual St. Marianna University School of Medicine's Computerized Memory Tests were significantly greater in the RLAI group than in the control group. The RLAI group needed a lower dosage of biperiden compared with the control group, even though they had similar risperidone‐equivalent daily dosages.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest the possibility that switching from haloperidol decanoate depot to RLAI may improve cognitive function including memory, executive function, motor processing function, and attention. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A mixture of amino acids and other small molecules present in the serum suppresses the growth of murine and human tumors in vivo
Authors: Kulcsár Gyula , Gaál Dezső , Kulcsár Péter I. , Schulcz Ákos , Czömpöly Tamás
Published: August 2012

Previously we have hypothesized that the small molecules which are selectively accumulated in cancer cells might participate in a non‐immunological antitumor surveillance mechanism. We demonstrated earlier that a mixture of experimentally selected substances (“active mixture”, AM: L‐arginine, L‐histidine, L‐methionine, L‐phenylalanine, L‐tyrosine, L‐tryptophan, L‐ascorbate, D‐biotin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, adenine, L(‐)malate) possesses a selective toxic effect in vitro on a variety of tumor cell lines, and we have shown that the AM selectively induces apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro. To explore the in vivo significance of our earlier findings we examined the antitumor effect of AM in Colon 26 murine colorectal adenocarcinoma, B16 murine melanoma, MXT murine mammary carcinoma, S180 murine sarcoma, P388 murine lymphoid leukemia, HL‐60 human promyeloid leukemia, PC‐3 human prostate carcinoma, and HT‐29 human colon carcinoma tumor models. Treatment of tumor bearing mice with AM inhibited the growth of the tumors investigated, with an inhibitory effect ranging from 40 to 69%. The AM had a comparable antitumor effect with 5‐fluorouracil and cisplatin in the Colon‐26 tumor model, and combined treatment with AM and 5‐fluorouracil or cisplatin resulted in an enhanced tumor growth inhibitory effect. The AM induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway and induced G1 arrest in PC‐3 cells and increased the number of apoptotic cells in PC‐3 xenografts. These findings suggest that the AM might offer an interesting perspective in the treatment of cancer and in combination with other treatments may offer hope for a more effective cancer therapy.
Epigenetic inactivation of endothelin‐2 and endothelin‐3 in colon cancer
Authors: Wang Rong , Löhr Christiane V. , Fischer Kay , Dashwood W. Mohaiza , Greenwood Jeffrey A. , Ho Emily , Williams David E. , Ashktorab Hassan , Dashwood Michael R. , Dashwood Roderick H.
Published: August 2012

Endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) and its receptors are overexpressed in human cancers, but much less is known about the roles of ET‐2 and ET‐3 in cancer etiology. We sought to examine human and rat colon tumors for dysregulation of ET‐2 and ET‐3 expression and determine the underlying mechanisms. Human primary colon cancers and carcinogen‐induced rat colon tumors were subjected to real‐time RT‐PCR, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry; EDN2 and EDN3 genes were examined by methylation‐specific PCR, bisulfite sequencing and pyrosequencing; and forced expression of ET‐2 and ET‐3 was conducted in human colon cancer cells followed by real‐time cell migration and invasion assays. Rat and human colon tumors had markedly reduced expression of ET‐2 and ET‐3 mRNA and protein compared with matched controls. Mechanistic studies revealed hypermethylation of EDN2 and EDN3 genes in human primary colon cancers and in a panel of human colon cancer cell lines. Forced expression of ET‐2 and ET‐3 attenuated significantly the migration and invasion of human colon cancer cells. We conclude that epigenetic inactivation of ET‐2 and ET‐3 occurs frequently in both rat and human colon cancers. Current therapeutic strategies target overexpressed members of the ET axis via small molecule inhibitors and receptor antagonists, but this work supports a complementary approach based on the re‐expression of ET‐2 and ET‐3 as natural antagonists of ET‐1 in colon cancer.
Fourier transform infrared imaging of femoral neck bone: Reduced heterogeneity of mineral-to-matrix and carbonate-to-phosphate and more variable crystallinity in treatment-naive fracture cases compared with fracture-free controls
Authors: Gourion-Arsiquaud Samuel , Lukashova Lyudmilla , Power Jon , Loveridge Nigel , Reeve Jonathan , Boskey Adele L
Published: August 2012

After the age of 60 years, hip fracture risk strongly increases, but only a fifth of this increase is attributable to reduced bone mineral density (BMD, measured clinically). Changes in bone quality, specifically bone composition as measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic imaging (FTIRI), also contribute to fracture risk. Here, FTIRI was applied to study the femoral neck and provide spatially derived information on its mineral and matrix properties in age-matched fractured and nonfractured bones. Whole femoral neck cross sections, divided into quadrants along the neck's axis, from 10 women with hip fracture and 10 cadaveric controls were studied using FTIRI and micro-computed tomography. Although 3-dimensional micro-CT bone mineral densities were similar, the mineral-to-matrix ratio was reduced in the cases of hip fracture, confirming previous reports. New findings were that the FTIRI microscopic variation (heterogeneity) of the mineral-to-matrix ratio was substantially reduced in the fracture group as was the heterogeneity of the carbonate-to-phosphate ratio. Conversely, the heterogeneity of crystallinity was increased. Increased variation of crystallinity was statistically associated with reduced variation of the carbonate-to-phosphate ratio. Anatomical variation in these properties between the different femoral neck quadrants was reduced in the fracture group compared with controls. Although our treatment-naive patients had reduced rather than increased bending resistance, these changes in heterogeneity associated with hip fracture are in another way comparable to the effects of experimental bisphosphonate therapy, which decreases heterogeneity and other indicators of bone's toughness as a material. © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Influence of image‐quality degradation on accommodation mechanism in human vision: Conditions necessary for objective image‐quality evaluation metrics
Authors: Matsui Toshikazu
Published: August 2012

This paper clarifies the relationship between image quality and accommodation in human vision through two types of experiments. One examines how image‐quality degradation influences the accommodation mechanism, and the other examines which type of information of quality‐degraded images activates the accommodation mechanism. Actually, accommodative responses are measured using an infrared optometer while subjects are subjectively evaluating sharpness, noise, and pseudo‐contours and while they are observing sine, square, and missing fundamental (MF) square waves. The following results were derived: (1) the accommodation lag increases as the degree of sharpness is degraded regardless of the tone‐reproducing methods; (2) the accommodation lag decreases considerably in the existence of noise or pseudo‐contours, whereas it increases for uniform or gently curved planes; (3) the spatial features of presented images activate the accommodation mechanism. These results suggest that accommodative responses influence human subjective judgments as well as being a human factor related closely to image quality and that the spatial features of quality‐degraded images underlie human subjective judgments. In other words, they imply that objective image‐quality evaluation metrics should satisfy the following two conditions: the incorporation of the accommodation characteristics into such metrics and the formulation of such metrics in the spatial region.
Tomato powder impedes the development of azoxymethane‐induced colorectal cancer in rats through suppression of COX‐2 expression via NF‐κB and regulating Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway
Authors: Tuzcu Mehmet , Aslan Abdullah , Tuzcu Zeynep , Yabas Mehmet , Bahcecioglu Ibrahim Halil , Ozercan Ibrahim Hanifi , Kucuk Omer , Sahin Kazim
Published: August 2012

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Since dietary factors have been connected to a reduced risk of a diversity of human cancers, in this study we investigated the effects of tomato powder (TP) on the development of azoxymethane (AOM)‐induced colorectal cancer in Wistar rats, and possible mechanism(s) by which TP shows its chemopreventive activity. Here we show that TP added to feed at 5% rate decreases the rate of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and reduces the development of adenocarcinoma and growth of AOM‐induced colorectal cancer in rats. In addition, we demonstrate that TP supplementation shows its chemopreventive activities through inhibition of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression via NF‐κB pathway and promotion of apoptosis, as well as regulating Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathway in colorectal tissue of AOM‐treated rats. Our findings identify an intimate connection between dietary supplementation of TP and the decreased risk of colorectal cancer in rats, and suggest that consumption of TP would be a natural candidate for the prevention of colorectal cancer in men.
Novel CCK‐dependent vasorelaxing dipeptide, Arg‐Phe, decreases blood pressure and food intake in rodents
Authors: Kagebayashi Tomomi , Kontani Noriyasu , Yamada Yuko , Mizushige Takafumi , Arai Toshinobu , Kino Kuniki , Ohinata Kousaku
Published: August 2012

Scope

We found that a dipeptide, Arg‐Phe (RF), had vasorelaxing activity in mesenteric artery isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) (EC50 = 580 nM). We then investigated its mechanism of action, and elucidated its physiological functions.

Methods and results

Vasorelaxing activities of RF‐related peptides were tested. The retro‐sequence dipeptide FR was inactive, suggesting that the RF sequence is important for a potent vasorelaxing effect. RA and AF were also inactive. RF‐nh2 had vasorelaxing activity, implying that the C‐terminal amidation of RF is tolerated. Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGs) are known to be vasorelaxing factors; however, the vasorelaxing activity of RF was inhibited by neither NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME), an NO synthase inhibitor, nor indomethacin, a COX inhibitor. Interestingly, the activity was blocked by lorglumide, an antagonist of the cholecystokinin (CCK)1 receptor; however, RF had no affinity for CCK receptors, suggesting that RF stimulates CCK release. Orally administered RF decreased blood pressure in SHRs, and this antihypertensive activity was also blocked by a CCK1 antagonist. RF had CCK‐like suppressive effects on food intake and gastrointestinal transit. RF increased intracellular Ca2+ flux and CCK release in enteroendocrine STC‐1 cells.

Conclusion

A novel CCK‐dependent vasorelaxing RF decreases both blood pressure and food intake.
Twelve‐month and lifetime prevalence and lifetime morbid risk of anxiety and mood disorders in the United States
Authors: Kessler Ronald C. , Petukhova Maria , Sampson Nancy A. , Zaslavsky Alan M , Wittchen Hans‐Ullrich
Published: August 2012

Estimates of 12‐month and lifetime prevalence and of lifetime morbid risk (LMR) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM‐IV‐TR) anxiety and mood disorders are presented based on US epidemiological surveys among people aged 13+. The presentation is designed for use in the upcoming DSM‐5 manual to provide more coherent estimates than would otherwise be available. Prevalence estimates are presented for the age groups proposed by DSM‐5 workgroups as the most useful to consider for policy planning purposes. The LMR/12‐month prevalence estimates ranked by frequency are as follows: major depressive episode: 29.9%/8.6%; specific phobia: 18.4/12.1%; social phobia: 13.0/7.4%; post‐traumatic stress disorder: 10.1/3.7%; generalized anxiety disorder: 9.0/2.0%; separation anxiety disorder: 8.7/1.2%; panic disorder: 6.8%/2.4%; bipolar disorder: 4.1/1.8%; agoraphobia: 3.7/1.7%; obsessive‐compulsive disorder: 2.7/1.2. Four broad patterns of results are most noteworthy: first, that the most common (lifetime prevalence/morbid risk) lifetime anxiety‐mood disorders in the United States are major depression (16.6/29.9%), specific phobia (15.6/18.4%), and social phobia (10.7/13.0%) and the least common are agoraphobia (2.5/3.7%) and obsessive‐compulsive disorder (2.3/2.7%); second, that the anxiety‐mood disorders with the earlier median ages‐of‐onset are phobias and separation anxiety disorder (ages 15–17) and those with the latest are panic disorder, major depression, and generalized anxiety disorder (ages 23–30); third, that LMR is considerably higher than lifetime prevalence for most anxiety‐mood disorders, although the magnitude of this difference is much higher for disorders with later than earlier ages‐of‐onset; and fourth, that the ratio of 12‐month to lifetime prevalence, roughly characterizing persistence, varies meaningfully in ways consistent with independent evidence about differential persistence of these disorders. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Axon reflex flare and quantitative sudomotor axon reflex contribute in the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy
Authors: Namer Barbara , Pfeffer Stefan , Handwerker Hermann O. , Schmelz Martin , Bickel Andreas
Published: August 2012

Introduction

Objective diagnosis of small fiber impairment is difficult.

Methods

We used the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART) and axon‐reflex‐flare‐test in the foot and thigh of 46 patients with peripheral neuropathy to assess C‐fiber function in addition to conventional neurography and thermal threshold testing.

Results

In all patients, small fiber impairment was suspected because of abnormal warmth detection thresholds (76% of all tested) and/or pain in the feet. A total of 83% had reduced axon‐reflex flare areas and 17% lower QSART scores. Patients with pure small fiber neuropathy had higher rates of reduced flare areas (87.5%) and sweating rates (25.5%). There was no difference between patients with and without pain regarding thermotesting and axon‐reflex testing.

Conclusions

Both axon‐reflex tests are helpful to identify objectively patients with small fiber impairment. Afferent and efferent C‐fiber classes can be impaired differently. These tests detect small fiber impairment, but they cannot differentiate between painful and nonpainful neuropathy. Muscle Nerve 47: 357–363, 2013
Stability of earth slopes. Part II: three dimensional analysis in closed‐form
Authors: Pantelidis Lysandros , Griffiths D.V.
Published: August 2012

A closed‐form stability analysis of earth slopes performed in 3D is proposed. The sliding surface is assumed spherical and treated as a rigid body allowing the internal state of stress to be ignored. The proposed closed‐formed solution (CFS) can be applied to both homogenous and non‐homogenous slopes of either simple or complex geometry and can also deal with any kind of additional loading. Although it is recognized that the critical failure surface is often non‐spherical, the CFS methodology for spheres described herein provides an objective tool for the evaluation of the assumptions made by other limit equilibrium methods including the role of intercolumn forces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Theoretical analyses of acidization dissolution front instability in fluid‐saturated carbonate rocks
Authors: Zhao Chongbin , Hobbs B. E. , Ord A.
Published: August 2012

This paper presents an instability theory that can be used to understand the fundamental behavior of an acidization dissolution front when it propagates in fluid‐saturated carbonate rocks. The proposed theory includes two fundamental concepts, namely the intrinsic time and length of an acidization dissolution system, and a theoretical criterion that involves the comparison of the Zhao number and its critical value of the acidization dissolution system. The intrinsic time is used to determine the time scale at which the acidization dissolution front is formed, while the intrinsic length is used to determine the length scale at which the instability of the acidization dissolution front can be initiated. Under the assumption that the acidization dissolution reaction is a fast process, the critical Zhao number, which is used to assess the instability likelihood of an acidization dissolution front propagating in fluid‐saturated carbonate rocks, has been derived in a strictly mathematical manner. Based on the proposed instability theory of a propagating acidization dissolution front, it has been theoretically recognized that: (i) the increase of the mineral dissolution ratio can stabilize the acidization dissolution front in fluid‐saturated carbonate rocks; (ii) the increase of the final porosity of the carbonate rock can destabilize the acidization dissolution front, while the increase of the initial porosity can stabilize the acidization dissolution front in fluid‐saturated carbonate rocks; (iii) the increase of the mineral dissolution ratio can cause an increase in the dimensionless propagation speed of the acidization dissolution front; (iv) the increase of the initial porosity can enable the acidization dissolution front to propagate faster, while the increase of the final porosity can enable the acidization dissolution front to propagate slower in the acidization dissolution system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of protest scenario in the neural response to the supportive communication
Authors: Calatayud Daniel Pinazo , Barros‐Loscertales Alfonso , Peris Rosana , Ventura‐Campos Noelia , Avila Cesar
Published: August 2012

People are capable of understanding the suffering of distant others and of their personal responsibility in this suffering. The communication of harm and self‐responsibility in the suffering of others leads to greater moral sensitivity. Two studies were carried out to test our hypotheses. In study 1, we analysed the emotional response to the scripts by using a correlational study. In study 2, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate brain activation associated with the communication of harm and self‐responsibility in a moral scenario on supportive communication. Direct comparison between donor and protest scenarios yielded a significant activation in the left amygdala usually associated with moral emotions. Responses in supportive communication scenarios show that donors can feel personally involved in a moral issue if they perceive the harm and their self‐responsibility. Our results suggest that the creation of a communications structure on the basis of social condemnation increases moral sensitivity to poverty.

Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probe Indentation: A Mesoscale Approach to Characterise Powder Systems: Experimental Investigation of Monomodel and Bimodal Diameter Distributions of Glass Spheres
Authors: Danby Matthew , Shrimpton John S.
Published: August 2012

An experimental study investigating a novel power characterisation method is investigated. The scope of this experimental work is to assess the feasibility, suitability and sensitivity of small scale probe indentation as a mechanism by which Discrete element method (DEM) may be calibrated. This meso–scale approach is chosen for investigation since it bridges the gap between the single‐particle methodologies of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and bulk measurements such as shear cell testing. Five different mono‐modal populations of glass bead and bi‐modal blends of these populations have been examined. The force‐displacement profile from a spherical probe was measured during indentation into a powder bed. Discernable differences in the resultant force‐profile are quantifiable and a mechanism has been proposed for the physical basis of these different characteristics.
An incidence estimation model for multi‐stage diseases with differential mortality
Authors: Dray Alyssa , Williams Talithia
Published: August 2012

Prevalence and incidence are two important measures of the impact of a disease. For many diseases, incidence is the most useful measure for response planning. However, the longitudinal studies needed to calculate incidence are resource‐intensive, so prevalence estimates are often more readily available. In 1986, Podgor and Leske (Statistics in Medicine, 5:573–578, 1986) developed a model to estimate incidence of a single disease from one survey of age‐specific prevalence, even where the presence of the disease increases the mortality rate of patients. Here, we extend their model to the case of progressive diseases, where the incidence of all disease stages is desired. As an example, we consider the case of cataract disease in Africa, where ophthalmologists wish to distinguish between unilateral and bilateral cataract incidence in order to plan the number of cataract surgeries needed to prevent the occurrence of blindness as a result of the disease. Our method has successfully provided cataract incidence estimates on the basis of prevalence data from new Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness surveys in Africa (Lewallen et al., Archives of Ophthalmology, 128(12):1584–1589, 2010). In this paper, we provide a more general form of the model in order to promote its applicability to other diseases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Application of fractional factorial designs to study drug combinations
Authors: Jaynes Jessica , Ding Xianting , Xu Hongquan , Wong Weng Kee , Ho Chih‐Ming
Published: August 2012

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) is known to cause diseases of various severities. There is increasing interest to find drug combinations to treat HSV‐1 by reducing drug resistance and cytotoxicity. Drug combinations offer potentially higher efficacy and lower individual drug dosage. In this paper, we report a new application of fractional factorial designs to investigate a biological system with HSV‐1 and six antiviral drugs, namely, interferon alpha, interferon beta, interferon gamma, ribavirin, acyclovir, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. We show how the sequential use of two‐level and three‐level fractional factorial designs can screen for important drugs and drug interactions, as well as determine potential optimal drug dosages through the use of contour plots. Our initial experiment using a two‐level fractional factorial design suggests that there is model inadequacy and that drug dosages should be reduced. A follow‐up experiment using a blocked three‐level fractional factorial design indicates that tumor necrosis factor alpha has little effect and that HSV‐1 infection can be suppressed effectively by using the right combination of the other five antiviral drugs. These observations have practical implications in the understanding of antiviral drug mechanism that can result in better design of antiviral drug therapy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High‐Speed Tracking of Murine Cardiac Stem Cells by Harmonic Nanodoublers
Authors: Magouroux Thibaud , Extermann Jerome , Hoffmann Pernilla , Mugnier Yannick , Le Dantec Ronan , Jaconi Marisa E. , Kasparian Christelle , Ciepielewski Daniel , Bonacina Luigi , Wolf Jean‐Pierre
Published: August 2012

Potassium niobate nonlinear nanoparticles are used for the first time to monitor the evolution of embryonic stem cells (ESC) by second harmonic microscopy. These particles feature the complete absence of photo‐bleaching and unlimited excitation wavelength flexibility. The potential of this approach is made evident for tissue‐regeneration studies and applications, by capturing a high‐speed movie of ESC‐derived cardiomyocytes autonomously beating within a cluster. Time‐resolved data are analyzed to retrieve 3D information of the contraction pattern at the cellular level.
Impact of ovulation and implantation timing on first‐trimester crown–rump length and gestational age
Authors: Mahendru A. A. , Daemen A. , Everett T. R. , Wilkinson I. B. , McEniery C. M. , Abdallah Y. , Timmerman D. , Bourne T. , Lees C. C.
Published: August 2012

Objective

To determine the impact of ovulation and implantation timing on first‐trimester crown–rump length (CRL) and the derived gestational age (GA).

Method

One hundred and forty‐three women who were trying to conceive were recruited prospectively. The timing of ovulation and implantation and the ovulation to implantation (O–I) interval were established in 101 pregnancies using home urinary tests for luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin. In 71 ongoing pregnancies, GA determined by measurement of fetal CRL at 10–14 weeks' gestation was compared with GA based on ovulation and implantation day. First‐trimester growth was determined by serial ultrasound scans at 6–7, 8–9 and 10–14 weeks.

Results

The median ovulation and implantation days were 16 and 27, respectively, with an O–I interval of 11 days. GA estimated from CRL at 10–14 weeks was on average 1.3 days greater than that derived from ovulation timing. CRL Z‐score was inversely related to O–I interval (ρ = −0.431, P = 0.0009). There was no significant relationship between CRL growth rate and the difference between observed CRL and expected CRL based on GA from last menstrual period (ρ = 0.224, P = 0.08).

Conclusions

Early implantation leads to a larger CRL and late implantation to a smaller CRL at 10–14 weeks, independent of CRL growth rate. Implantation timing is a major determinant of fetal size at 10–14 weeks and largely explains the variation in estimates of GA in the first trimester derived from embryonic or fetal CRL.
Computerized assessment of placental calcification post‐ultrasound: a novel software tool
Authors: Moran M. , Higgins M. , Zombori G. , Ryan J. , McAuliffe F. M.
Published: August 2012

Objectives

Placental calcification is associated with an increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The subjectivity of current ultrasound methods of assessment of placental calcification indicates that a more objective method is required. The aim of this study was to correlate the percentage of calcification defined by the clinician using a new software tool for calculating the extent of placental calcification with traditional ultrasound methods and with pregnancy outcome.

Methods

Ninety placental images were individually assessed. An upper threshold was defined, based on high intensity, to quantify calcification within the placenta. Output metrics were then produced including the overall percentage of calcification with respect to the total number of pixels within the region of interest. The results were correlated with traditional ultrasound methods of assessment of placental calcification and with pregnancy outcome.

Results

The results demonstrate a significant correlation between placental calcification, as defined using the software, and traditional methods of Grannum grading of placental calcification. Whilst correlation with perinatal outcome and cord pH was not significant as a result of small numbers, patients with placental calcification assessed using the computerized software at the upper quartile had higher rates of poor perinatal outcome when compared with those at the lower quartile (8/22 (36%) vs 3/23 (13%); P = 0.069).

Conclusion

These results suggest that this computerized software tool has the potential to become an alternative method of assessing placental calcification. Copyright © 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Offshore wind turbine maintenance access: a closed‐form probabilistic method for calculating delays caused by sea‐state
Authors: Feuchtwang Julian , Infield David
Published: August 2012

Offshore wind energy is fast developing and with it a growing understanding of the challenge to maintain high levels of turbine availability and to keep down maintenance costs. Loss of turbine availability is, of course, related to component failure rate but is also highly dependent on access to the turbine, and this in turn reflects the wind and sea conditions occurring at the site as well as the operational limits of the vessels and plant being used.

A computational approach has been developed on the basis of probability calculations, enabling very fast estimates to be made of offshore access probabilities and expected delays. These can be used directly to explore the impact of different parameters such as key component reliability, time to repair and access constraints at specific offshore sites. The methodology used is derived and explained in detail. Different numerical techniques are available to calculate the probability distributions and their parameters as required by the methodology. These are presented and contrasted. Example applications of the methodology are provided for two specific sites that provide a degree of validation and also allow comparison of the different numerical approaches to probability distribution identification. It is shown that the accessibility calculated using the developed method is believable in the context of operational access data for the sites in question. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Building SO(10) models from F-theory
Authors: Antoniadis I. , Leontaris G.K.
Published: August 2012

Abstract

We revisit local F-theory SO(10) and SU(5) GUTs and analyze their properties within the framework of the maximal underlying E
8 symmetry in the elliptic fibration. We consider the symmetry enhancements along the intersections of seven-branes with the GUT surface and study in detail the embedding of the abelian factors undergoing monodromies in the covering gauge groups. We combine flux data from the successive breaking of SO(10) to SU(5) gauge symmetry and subsequently to the Standard Model one, and further constrain the parameters determining the models’ particle spectra. In order to eliminate dangerous baryon number violating operators we propose ways to construct matter parity like symmetries from intrinsic geometric origin. We study implementations of the resulting constrained scenario in specific examples obtained for a variety of monodromies.
Exclusive elemental diet impacts on the gastrointestinal microbiota and improves symptoms in patients with chronic pouchitis
Authors: McLaughlin S.D. , Culkin A. , Cole J. , Clark S.K. , Tekkis P.P. , Ciclitira P.J. , Nicholls R.J. , Whelan K.
Published: August 2012

Background: Treatment resistant chronic pouchitis causes significant morbidity. Elemental diet is effective treatment for Crohn's disease. Since pouchitis shares some similarities to Crohn's disease we hypothesised that elemental diet may be an effective treatment.

Method: Seven pouchitis patients (with ulcerative colitis) were studied. All had active pouchitis with a pouch disease activity index (PDAI) ≥ 7. Exclusion criteria were recent NSAIDs, antibiotics or probiotics. Sufficient elemental diet to achieve energy requirements was provided. Flexible-pouchoscopy was performed, and the Cleveland Global Quality of Life score (CGQoL), Pouch Disease Activity Index (PDAI) and BMI were recorded at baseline and following 28 days of elemental diet. Faecal samples were also collected at these time points and analysed for major bacterial groups using culture independent fluorescence in situ hybridisation. Data were analysed using Wilcoxon's signed-rank test.

Results: Following 28 days of exclusive elemental diet, median stool frequency decreased from 12 to 6 per day (p = 0.028), median clinical PDAI decreased from 4 to 1 (p = 0.039). There was no significant difference in quality of life scores or PDAI before and following treatment. There was a trend towards an increase in the concentration of Clostridium coccoides–Eubacterium rectale (median 7.9 to 8.5 log10/g, p = 0.08) following exclusive elemental diet.

Conclusion: Treatment with four weeks elemental diet appeared to improve the symptoms of chronic pouchitis in some patients but is not an effective strategy for inducing remission. Although a potential symptom modifier, elemental diet cannot be recommended for the routine treatment of active pouchitis.