bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Universal RNA Beacon for Exogenous Gene Detection
Authors: Guo Yuanjian , Lu Zhongju , Cohen Ira Stephen , Scarlata Suzanne
Published: March 2015

Stem cell therapy requires a nontoxic and high-throughput method to achieve a pure cell population to prevent teratomas that can occur if even one cell in the implant has not been transformed. A promising method to detect and separate cells expressing a particular gene is RNA beacon technology. However, developing a successful, specific beacon to a particular transfected gene can take months to develop and in some cases is impossible. Here, we report on an off-the-shelf universal beacon that decreases the time and cost of applying beacon technology to select any living cell population transfected with an exogenous gene.

Significance

Stem cell therapy requires pure cell populations. RNA beacons have a high potential to select and separate differentiated cells from undifferentiated cells. However, development of a beacon for a specific gene can be difficult and time-consuming. An RNA tag was developed that can be attached to any gene without affecting the protein product. The tagged gene is detected by an off-the-shelf RNA beacon that can be used for cell selection.
The Investigation of the Efficient Market Hypothesis: Evidence from an Emerging Market
Authors: Saeedi Ali , Miraskari Seyed Reza , Ara Mehrdad Sadr
Published: March 2015

This study examines the weak-form efficiency of the Iranian capital market after changes in market regulations. Some events after 2005 have fundamentally changed the environment of the Iranian capital market, and we expect those reforms to increase its market efficiency. Therefore, this study examined the behavior of daily returns in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) utilizing autocorrelation and augmented Dickey-Fuller for the period of 2005-2013. The results of all the tests do not support that TSE daily returns follow a random walk. Therefore, we conclude that it is possible to use technical skills to attain abnormal gains.
Reproductive Biology and Mass Production of Pseudodiaptomus annandalie Sewell (Copepoda: Calanoida)
Authors: CATURAO ROMEO D.
Published: March 2015

Due to expensive microparticulate diets for marine fish larvae, mariculturesystems shifted to alternative live feeds. P. annandalie is recommended asalternative larval feed; however, field collection is unreliable because the quantityrequired is variable in nature. This study examined the reproductive biology andmass production of P.annandalie. The reproductive biology was characterized byegg, nauplii, copepodite and total abundances, and fecundity through feedingvarious locally available microalgal species and at different salinity levels. Exceptfor scaling up, all experiments were conducted in complete randomized designand data were analyzed by ANOVA at 0.05 alpha using SPSS. Results showed that reproductive biology of P. annandalie cultured for 20 days is better enhanced by microalgal species (Chaetoceros calcitrans) at lower salinity of 20 ppt. Scale-up andmass production was possible through a multi-step method. It is recommendedthat nutritional studies should be explored to improve fecundity of this species.Keywords - Biology, Pseudodiaptomus annandalie, reproductive biology, fecundity, massproduction, and experimental design
Larval Host Plants and Metamorphosis of Selected Butterfly Species (Rhopalocera) in La Union Botanical Garden (LUBG), San Fernando, La Union, Philippines
Authors: NACUA ALMA E. , MOHAGAN ALMA B. , ALEJANDRO GRECEBIO JONATHAN D.
Published: March 2015

Host plants are known to support growth of different butterfly species in the larval stage.  Butterfly larvae are characterized by being voracious eaters and host plant specific. However, information regarding larval host plants of many butterfly species remains poor in the Philippines. The paper aimed to provide information on the larval host plants of the butterflies and document some butterfly life cycles in La Union Botanical Garden, San Fernando, La Union (LUBG), Philippines. The study employed visual searching for eggs and larvae in the foliage along the 100-meter line transects established in LUBG. Larval host plants were determined when larvae feed on the plant particularly leaves or flowers. The study on the life cycle or metamorphosis of selected butterfly species utilized field observation and description using ocular micrometer under the microscope. The data revealed 66 species in 27 families of larval host plants that support 57 species in 4 families of butterflies. The results suggest that presence and abundance of larval host plants affect butterfly metamorphosis and abundance in LUBG. Keywords - Butterfly, larval host plants, metamorphosis
Evaluating the utility of B/Ca ratios in planktic foraminifera as a proxy for the carbonate system: A case study of Globigerinoides ruber
Authors: Henehan Michael J. , Foster Gavin L. , Rae James W. B. , Prentice Katy C. , Erez Jonathan , Bostock Helen C. , Marshall Brittney J. , Wilson Paul A.
Published: March 2015

B/Ca ratios in foraminifera have attracted considerable scientific attention as a proxy for past ocean carbonate system. However, the carbonate system controls on B/Ca ratios are not straightforward, with Δ[
] ([
]in situ – [
]at saturation) correlating best with B/Ca ratios in benthic foraminifera, rather than pH,
, or
(as a simple model of boron speciation in seawater and incorporation into CaCO3 would predict). Furthermore, culture experiments have shown that in planktic foraminifera properties such as salinity and [B]sw can have profound effects on B/Ca ratios beyond those predicted by simple partition coefficients. Here, we investigate the controls on B/Ca ratios in G. ruber via a combination of culture experiments and core‐top measurements, and add to a growing body of evidence that suggests B/Ca ratios in symbiont‐bearing foraminiferal carbonate are not a straightforward proxy for past seawater carbonate system conditions. We find that while B/Ca ratios in culture experiments covary with pH, in open ocean sediments this relationship is not seen. In fact, our B/Ca data correlate best with [
] (a previously undocumented association) and in most regions, salinity. These findings might suggest a precipitation rate or crystallographic control on boron incorporation into foraminiferal calcite. Regardless, our results underscore the need for caution when attempting to interpret B/Ca records in terms of the ocean carbonate system, at the very least in the case of mixed‐layer planktic foraminifera.
Tracking the Late Jurassic apparent (or true) polar shift in U‐Pb‐dated kimberlites from cratonic North America (Superior Province of Canada)
Authors: Kent Dennis V. , Kjarsgaard Bruce A. , Gee Jeffrey S. , Muttoni Giovanni , Heaman Larry M.
Published: March 2015

Different versions of a composite apparent polar wander (APW) path of variably selected global poles assembled and averaged in North American coordinates using plate reconstructions show either a smooth progression or a large (∼30°) gap in mean paleopoles in the Late Jurassic, between about 160 and 145 Ma. In an effort to further examine this issue, we sampled accessible outcrops/subcrops of kimberlites associated with high‐precision U‐Pb perovskite ages in the Timiskaming area of Ontario, Canada. The 154.9 ± 1.1 Ma Peddie kimberlite yields a stable normal polarity magnetization that is coaxial within less than 5° of the reverse polarity magnetization of the 157.5 ± 1.2 Ma Triple B kimberlite. The combined ∼156 Ma Triple B and Peddie pole (75.5°N, 189.5°E, A95 = 2.8°) lies about midway between igneous poles from North America nearest in age (169 Ma Moat volcanics and the 146 Ma Ithaca kimberlites), showing that the polar motion was at a relatively steady yet rapid (∼1.5°/Myr) pace. A similar large rapid polar swing has been recognized in the Middle to Late Jurassic APW path for Adria‐Africa and Iran‐Eurasia, suggesting a major mass redistribution. One possibility is that slab breakoff and subduction reversal along the western margin of the Americas triggered an episode of true polar wander.
Multilevel modeling analysis of dyadic network data with an application to Ye'kwana food sharing
Authors: Koster Jeremy , Leckie George , Miller Andrew , Hames Raymond
Published: March 2015

Behavioral ecologists have recently begun using multilevel modeling for the analysis of social behavior. We present a multilevel modeling formulation of the Social Relations Model that is well suited for the analysis of dyadic network data. This model, which we adapt for count data and small datasets, can be fitted using standard multilevel modeling software packages. We illustrate this model with an analysis of meal sharing among Ye'kwana horticulturalists in Venezuela. In this setting, meal sharing among households is predicted by an association index, which reflects the amount of time that members of the households are interacting. This result replicates recent findings that interhousehold food sharing is especially prevalent among households that interact and cooperate in multiple ways. We discuss opportunities for human behavioral ecologists to expand their focus to the multiple currencies and cooperative behaviors that characterize interpersonal relationships in preindustrial societies. We discuss possible extensions to this statistical modeling approach and applications to research by human behavioral ecologists and primatologists. Am J Phys Anthropol 157:507–512, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of dipyridamole on myocardial reperfusion injury: A double‐blind randomized controlled trial in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery
Authors: El Messaoudi S , Wouters CW , van Swieten HA , Pickkers P , Noyez L , Kievit PC , Abbink EJ , Rasing‐Hoogveld A , Bouw TP , Peters JG , Coenen MJH , Donders ART , Riksen NP , Rongen GA
Published: March 2015

Dipyridamole reduces reperfusion‐injury in preclinical trials and may be beneficial in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty, but its effect on patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is unknown. We hypothesized that dipyridamole limits myocardial reperfusion‐injury in patients undergoing CABG. The trial design was a double‐blind trial randomizing between pretreatment with dipyridamole or placebo. In all, 94 patients undergoing elective on‐pump CABG were recruited between February 2010 and June 2012. The primary endpoint was plasma high‐sensitive (hs‐) troponin‐I at 6, 12, and 24 hours after reperfusion. Secondary endpoints were the occurrence of bleeding, arrhythmias, need for inotropic support, and intensive care unit length of stay. Finally, 79 patients (33 dipyridamole) were included in the per‐protocol analysis. Dipyridamole did not significantly affect postoperative hs‐troponin‐I (change in plasma hs‐troponin I −3% [95% confidence interval −23% to 36%]; P > 0.1). Secondary endpoints did not differ between groups. Dipyridamole prior to CABG does not significantly reduce postoperative hs‐troponin release.
The impact of early neglect on defensive and appetitive physiology during the pubertal transition: A study of startle and postauricular reflexes
Authors: Quevedo Karina , Johnson Anna E. , Loman Michelle M. , Lafavor Theresa , Moua Bao , Gunnar Megan R.
Published: March 2015

This study tested the effect of early neglect on defensive and appetitive physiology during puberty. Emotion‐modulated reflexes, eye‐blink startle (defensive) and postauricular (appetitive), were measured in 12‐to‐13‐year‐old internationally adopted youth (from foster care or from institutional settings) and compared to non‐adopted US born controls. Startle Reflex: adopted youth displayed lower overall startle amplitude across all valences and startle potentiation to negative images was negatively related to severity of pre‐adoption neglect. Postauricular reflex (PAR): adopted youth showed larger PAR magnitude across all valences. Puberty: adopted youth showed diminished PAR potentiation to positive images and startle potentiation during mid/late puberty versus the opposite pattern in not‐adopted. Early neglect was associated with blunted fast defensive reflexes and heightened fast appetitive reflexes. After puberty, early neglected youth showed physiological hyporeactivity to threatening and appetitive stimuli versus heightened reactivity in not adopted youth. Behavioral correlates in this sample and possible neurodevelopmental mechanisms of psychophysiological differences are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 57: 289–304, 2015.
Lixisenatide reduces postprandial hyperglycaemia via gastrostatic and insulinotropic effects
Authors: Becker Reinhard H. A. , Stechl Jens , Steinstraesser Axel , Golor Georg , Pellissier Franck
Published: March 2015

Background

Lixisenatide is a once‐daily, prandial, short‐acting glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist. Its main antidiabetic effect is to delay gastric emptying to control postprandial plasma glucose excursions. The dose–response relationship of the integrated insulinotropic and gastrostatic response to lixisenatide in healthy volunteers after a standardized liquid meal was investigated.

Methods

Twenty healthy subjects received acetaminophen 1000 mg with a standardized liquid meal 60 min after a single subcutaneous injection of placebo or lixisenatide 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 µg in randomized order separated by a 2‐ to 7‐day washout. Acetaminophen pharmacokinetics served as a surrogate to assess rate of gastric emptying. Postprandial plasma glucose, insulin, C‐peptide and glucagon were assessed for 5 h after the meal test, and lixisenatide pharmacokinetics were determined for 6 h.

Results

After lixisenatide administration and prior to the standardized meal, insulin and C‐peptide transiently increased, while fasting plasma glucose decreased in a dose‐dependent manner. After the meal, postprandial plasma glucose, insulin and C‐peptide were dose proportionally reduced with lixisenatide versus placebo for up to 6 h. Compared with placebo, glucagon levels were transiently lower after any lixisenatide dose, with more sustained reductions after the meal and no apparent dose‐related trends. Acetaminophen absorption was significantly reduced and delayed compared with placebo for lixisenatide doses ≥5 µg and demonstrated dose‐dependent slowing of gastric emptying. Lixisenatide displayed near dose‐proportional exposure, with gastrointestinal events increasing with dose.

Conclusions

Lixisenatide reduced fasting plasma glucose via stimulation of glucose‐dependent insulin release and controlled postprandial plasma glucose by delaying gastric emptying, demonstrating it to be a valuable option for overall glycaemic control. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sodium Butyrate Ameliorates l‐Arginine‐Induced Pancreatitis and Associated Fibrosis in Wistar Rat: Role of Inflammation and Nitrosative Stress
Authors: Kanika Gayathri , Khan Sabbir , Jena Gopabandhu
Published: March 2015

Several reports indicated that histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a crucial role in inflammation and fibrogenesis. Sodium butyrate (SB) is a short‐chain fatty acid having HDAC inhibition potential. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of SB against l‐arginine (l‐Arg)‐induced pancreatic fibrosis in Wistar rats. Pancreatic fibrosis was induced by twice intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of 20% l‐Arg (250 mg/100 g) at 2‐h interval on day 1, 4, 7, and 10, whereas SB (800 mg/kg/day) was administrated for 10 days. At the end of the study, biochemical estimations, histological alterations, DNA damage, and the expression of various proteins were evaluated. Posttreatment of SB decreased l‐Arg‐induced oxidative and nitrosative stress, DNA damage, histological alterations, and fibrosis. Interestingly, posttreatment of SB significantly decreased the expression of α‐smooth muscle actin, interleukin‐1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and 3‐nitrotyrosine. The present study demonstrated that posttreatment of SB alleviates l‐Arg‐induced pancreatic damage and fibrosis in rat.
Determinants of surgical resection for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Doi Ryuichiro
Published: March 2015

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) include functioning and non‐functional tumors. Functioning tumors consist of tumors that produce a variety of hormones and their clinical effects. Therefore, determinants of resection of pNETs should be discussed for each group of tumors. Less than 10% of insulinomas are malignant, therefore more than 90% of the cases can be cured by surgical resection. Lymphadenectomy is generally not necessary in insulinoma operation. If preoperative localization of the insulinoma is completed, enucleation from the pancreatic body or tail, and distal pancreatectomy can be performed safely by laparoscopy. When preoperative localization of a sporadic insulinoma is not confirmed, surgical exploration is needed. Intraoperative localization of a tumor, intraoperative insulin sampling and frozen section are required. The crucial purpose of surgical resection is to control inappropriate insulin secretion by removing all insulinomas. Gastrinomas are usually located in the duodenum or pancreas, which secrete gastrin and cause Zollinger‐Ellison syndrome (ZES). Duodenal gastrinomas are usually small, therefore they are not seen on preoperative imaging studies or endoscopic ultrasound, and can be found only at surgery if a duodenotomy is performed. In addition, lymph node metastasis is found in 40–60% of cases. Therefore, the experienced surgeons should direct operation for gastrinomas. Surgical exploration with duodenotomy should be performed at a laparotomy. Other functioning pNETs can occur in the pancreas or in other locations. Curative resection is always recommended whenever possible after optimal symptomatic control of the clinical syndrome by medical treatment. Indications for surgery depend on clinical symptom control, tumor size, location, extent, malignancy and presence of metastasis. A lot of non‐functioning pNETs are found incidentally according to the quality improvement of imaging techniques. Localized, small, malignant non‐functioning pNETs should be operated on aggressively, while in possibly benign tumors smaller than 2 cm the surgical risk‐benefit ratio should be carefully weighted. Surgical liver resection is generally proposed in curative intent to all patients with operable metastases from G1 or G2 pNET. The benefits of surgical resection of liver metastases have been demonstrated in terms of overall survival and quality of life. Complete resection is associated with better long‐term survival.
Uncertainties in estimating spatial and interannual variations in precipitation climatology in the India–Tibet region from multiple gridded precipitation datasets
Authors: Kim J. , Sanjay J. , Mattmann C. , Boustani M. , Ramarao M. V. S. , Krishnan R. , Waliser D.
Published: March 2015

Uncertainty in calculating the spatial‐ and interannual variability of precipitation over India and Tibet from widely used gridded precipitation datasets is examined for the 29‐year period from 1979 to 2007. Uncertainty is defined in terms of the spread among the variability calculated from multiple datasets, a useful method when multiple datasets of similar or unknown accuracy are available for analyses. The resulting uncertainty varies for regions and seasons. Geographical variations are clearly seen in the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), with the largest uncertainty in the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), western India‐eastern Pakistan, Tibet, Hindu‐Kush mountains, and Western Ghats which are characterized by either dry climate or complex terrain, or both. Seasonally, the uncertainty is larger for the December–February period (DJF) than for the June–September period (JJAS) in most of the region except J&K which is characterized by two wet seasons: winter and summer. The uncertainty in the interannual variability also varies according to regions especially in J&K where the calculated interannual variability varies by nearly a factor of two among the datasets. The uncertainty range in the calculated interannual variability is determined largely by two gauge‐based data of the finest resolution, Asian Precipitation – Highly‐Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation of water resources (smallest) and India Meteorological Department (largest) in all regions.

The regional and seasonal variations in the uncertainty do not appear to depend on either the spatial resolution or the length of records. This implies that analysis methodology such as the quality control of input data, spatial/temporal interpolation, and retrieval algorithms used in producing these gridded datasets plays a crucial role in determining the characteristics of precipitation climatology represented by individual datasets. Our results show that calculating precipitation characteristics must be accompanied by careful examinations of uncertainty among available datasets, especially for dry seasons and arid/mountainous regions.
Variation by center and economic burden of readmissions after liver transplantation
Authors: Wilson Gregory C. , Hoehn Richard S. , Ertel Audrey E. , Wima Koffi , Cutler Quillin R. , Hohmann Sam , Paterno Flavio , Abbott Daniel E. , Shah Shimul A.
Published: March 2015

The rate and causes of hospital readmissions after liver transplantation (LT) remain largely unknown in the United States. Adult patients (n = 11,937; 43.1% of all LT cases) undergoing LT from 2007 to 2011 were examined with a linkage of the University HealthSystem Consortium and Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients databases to determine the incidence and risk factors for 30‐day readmissions and utilization metrics 90 days after LT. The overall 30‐day hospital readmission rate after LT was 37.9%, with half of patients admitted within 7 days after discharge. Readmitted patients had worse overall graft and patient survival with a 2‐year follow‐up. Multivariate analysis identified risk factors associated with 30‐day hospital readmission, including a higher Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease score, diabetes at LT, dialysis dependence, a high donor risk index allograft, and discharge to a rehabilitation facility. After adjustments for donor, recipient, and geographic factors in a hierarchical model, we found significant variation in readmission rates among hospitals ranging from 26.3% to 50.8% (odds ratio, 0.53‐1.90). In the 90‐day analysis after LT, readmissions accounted for $43,785 of added costs in comparison with patients who were not readmitted in the first 90 days. This is the first national report showing that more than one‐third of LT recipients are readmitted to their center within 30 days and that readmissions are associated with center variation and increased resource utilization. Liver Transpl 21:953‐960, 2015. © 2015 AASLD.
Cilostazol improves hepatic blood perfusion, microcirculation, and liver regeneration after major hepatectomy in rats
Authors: von Heesen Maximilian , Dold Stefan , Müller Simon , Scheuer Claudia , Kollmar Otto , Schilling Martin K. , Menger Michael D. , Moussavian Mohammed R.
Published: March 2015

Major hepatectomy or small‐for‐size liver transplantation may result in postoperative liver failure. So far, no treatment is available to improve liver regeneration. Herein, we studied whether cilostazol, a selective phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, is capable of improving liver regeneration after major hepatectomy. Sprague‐Dawley rats (n = 74) were treated with cilostazol (5 mg/kg daily) or a glucose solution and underwent either 70% liver resection or a sham operation. Before and after surgery, hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flow and hepatic microvascular perfusion were analyzed. Liver morphology, function, and regeneration were studied with histology, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and bile excretion analysis. Cilostazol significantly increased hepatic blood flow and microcirculation before and after hepatectomy in comparison with sham‐operated controls. This was associated with an elevation of hepatic vascular endothelial growth factor expression, an increase of hepatocellular proliferation, and an acceleration of liver regeneration. Furthermore, cilostazol protected the tissue of the remnant liver as indicated by an attenuation of hepatocellular disintegration. In conclusion, cilostazol increases hepatic blood perfusion, microcirculation, and liver regeneration after a major hepatectomy. Thus, cilostazol may represent a novel strategy to reduce the rate of liver failure after both extended hepatectomy and small‐for‐size liver transplantation. Liver Transpl 21:792–800, 2015. © 2015 AASLD.
Modified wideband three‐dimensional late gadolinium enhancement MRI for patients with implantable cardiac devices
Authors: Rashid Shams , Rapacchi Stanislas , Shivkumar Kalyanam , Plotnik Adam , Finn J. Paul , Hu Peng
Published: March 2015

Purpose

To study the effects of cardiac devices on three‐dimensional (3D) late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI and to develop a 3D LGE protocol for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients with reduced image artifacts.

Theory and Methods

The 3D LGE sequence was modified by implementing a wideband inversion pulse, which reduces hyperintensity artifacts, and by increasing bandwidth of the excitation pulse. The modified wideband 3D LGE sequence was tested in phantoms and evaluated in six volunteers and five patients with ICDs.

Results

Phantom and in vivo studies results demonstrated extended signal void and ripple artifacts in 3D LGE that were associated with ICDs. The reason for these artifacts was slab profile distortion and the subsequent aliasing in the slice‐encoding direction. The modified wideband 3D LGE provided significantly reduced ripple artifacts than 3D LGE with wideband inversion only. Comparison of 3D and 2D LGE images demonstrated improved spatial resolution of the heart using 3D LGE.

Conclusion

Increased bandwidth of the inversion and excitation pulses can significantly reduce image artifacts associated with ICDs. Our modified wideband 3D LGE protocol can be readily used for imaging patients with ICDs given appropriate safety guidelines are followed. Magn Reson Med 75:572–584, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dixon water‐fat separation in PROPELLER MRI acquired with two interleaved echoes
Authors: Schär Michael , Eggers Holger , Zwart Nicholas R. , Chang Yuchou , Bakhru Akshay , Pipe James G.
Published: March 2015

Purpose

To propose a novel combination of robust Dixon fat suppression and motion insensitive PROPELLER (periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction) MRI.

Methods

Two different echoes were acquired interleaved in each shot enabling water‐fat separation on individual blades. Fat, which was blurred in standard PROPELLER because the water‐fat shift (WFS) rotated with the blades, was shifted back in each blade. Additionally, field maps obtained from the water‐fat separation were used to unwarp off‐resonance–induced shifts in each blade. PROPELLER was then applied to the water, corrected fat, or recombined water‐fat blades. This approach was compared quantitatively in volunteers with regard to motion estimation and signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) to a standard PROPELLER acquisition with minimal WFS and fat suppression.

Results

Shifting the fat back in each blade reduced errors in the translation correction. SNR in the proposed Dixon PROPELLER was 21% higher compared with standard PROPELLER with identical scan time. High image quality was achieved even when the volunteers were moving during data acquisition. Furthermore, sharp water‐fat borders and image details were seen in areas where standard PROPELLER suffered from blurring when acquired with a low readout bandwidth.

Conclusion

The proposed method enables motion‐insensitive PROPELLER MRI with robust fat suppression and reduced blurring. Additionally, fat images are available if desired. Magn Reson Med 75:718–728, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Joint blood and cerebrospinal fluid suppression for intracranial vessel wall MRI
Authors: Wang Jinnan , Helle Michael , Zhou Zechen , Börnert Peter , Hatsukami Thomas S , Yuan Chun
Published: March 2015

Purpose

To develop and evaluate a joint blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) suppression technique for improved intracranial vessel wall MR imaging.

Methods

The Delay Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation (DANTE) prepulse was specifically optimized for CSF suppression to improve vessel wall and CSF contrast. It was evaluated on six patients and three healthy volunteers. CSF suppression efficiency, lumen signal to noise ratio, and wall‐lumen contrast to noise ratio were compared between images with and without DANTE in major intercranial artery segments. Contrast changes in tissues were also compared with evaluate the technique's compatibility with multicontrast imaging techniques.

Results

The optimized DANTE images significantly improved intracranial vessel wall characterization on all images. Quantitatively, CSF to wall contrast improved by 28% (DANTE‐VISTA 1.354 ± 0.216 versus VISTA 1.057 ± 0.13; P < 0.001). DANTE also significantly improved wall‐lumen (10.55 ± 3.79 versus 9.34 ± 3.54; P < 0.001) and wall‐CSF (4.62 ± 3.19 versus 0.78 ± 2.30; P < 0.001) contrast‐to‐noise ratios. DANTE prepared images were also found to make only minimal impact on static tissue contrast.

Conclusion

DANTE prepared MR imaging can significantly improve contrast between the vessel wall and cerebral spinal fluid in major intracranial arteries, holding a good potential to be combined with multicontrast protocol for intracranial wall imaging. Magn Reson Med 75:831–838, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function in children and adolescents: Update report from the standardization committee of the International Children's Continence Society
Authors: Austin Paul F. , Bauer Stuart B. , Bower Wendy , Chase Janet , Franco Israel , Hoebeke Piet , Rittig Søren , Walle Johan Vande , von Gontard Alexander , Wright Anne , Yang Stephen S. , Nevéus Tryggve
Published: March 2015

Aim

The impact of the original International Children's Continence Society (ICCS) terminology document on lower urinary tract (LUT) function resulted in the global establishment of uniformity and clarity in the characterization of LUT function and dysfunction in children across multiple healthcare disciplines. The present document serves as a stand‐alone terminology update reflecting refinement and current advancement of knowledge on pediatric LUT function.

Methods

A variety of worldwide experts from multiple disciplines within the ICCS leadership who care for children with LUT dysfunction were assembled as part of the standardization committee. A critical review of the previous ICCS terminology document and the current literature was performed. Additionally, contributions and feedback from the multidisciplinary ICCS membership were solicited.

Results

Following a review of the literature over the last 7 years, the ICCS experts assembled a new terminology document reflecting current understanding of bladder function and LUT dysfunction in children using the resources from the literature review, expert opinion and ICCS member feedback.

Conclusions

The present ICCS terminology document provides a current and consensus update to the evolving terminology and understanding of LUT function in children. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:471–481, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Monometallic cyanide cluster fullerene YCN@C78: A theoretical prediction
Authors: Zhao Li‐Juan , Wang Dong‐Lai
Published: March 2015

Stimulated by the recent experimental success in production and characterization of YCN@Cs(6)‐C82, the possibility of encapsulating YCN cluster in the C78 fullerene has been performed using density functional theory. Six isomers of YCN@C78 are considered based on six lowest energy C782− isomers. The results reveal that YCN@D3h(24109)‐C78 and YCN@C2v(24107)‐C78, both of which satisfy the isolated‐pentagon rule, present excellent thermodynamic stability with very small energy differences. Moreover, the large HOMO‐LUMO gaps (1.55 and 1.47 eV for YCN@D3h(24109)‐C78 and YCN@C2v(24107)‐C78, respectively) indicate their high kinetic stabilities. Significantly, in both the structures, the encapsulated YCN cluster is triangular, similar to the cases of YCN@Cs(6)‐C82 and TbCN@C2(5)‐C82. In addition, electronic absorption spectra, infrared spectra, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of two stable structures have also been explored to further disclose the molecular structures and properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Caregiving Competence Scale Among Chinese Family Caregivers
Authors: Cheng Ho Yu , Chair Sek Ying , Chau Janita Pak-Chun
Published: March 2015

Purpose:

The aim of the study was to develop a Chinese version of the Caregiving Competence Scale (CCS) and evaluate its psychometric properties.

Design:

A multicenter, cross-sectional study design.

Methods:

Brislin’s translation method was used to translate the CCS into Chinese. Its psychometric properties were tested with 118 Chinese family caregivers of stroke survivors.

Findings:

The Chinese version of the Caregiving Competence Scale (CCS-C) demonstrated adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .81) and stability (weighted kappa statistics: .67–.78). Convergent and discriminative validities were supported by a significant correlation between the CCS-C and the General Self-Efficacy Scale scores (r = .46, p < .01) and a significant difference in the CCS-C scores between depressed and nondepressed caregivers (p = .03), respectively.

Conclusions:

Study results suggested that the CCS-C could be a valid and reliable self-reported instrument for family caregivers of Chinese stroke survivors.

Clinical Relevance:

This scale can be used to evaluate the caregiving competence of stroke caregivers in nursing research and in clinical settings.
Application of MPE Model to Iron Ore Sintering, Ironmaking and Steelmaking Processes
Authors: Chen Chunlin
Published: March 2015

A short review of the available models and databases in the Multi‐Phase Equilibrium (MPE) package developed by CSIRO are outlined in this paper. The capability of the MPE model covers the behavior of a large number of elements in high temperature processes such as iron ore sintering, iron and steelmaking, copper smelting and converting, nickel, lead, and zinc smelting as well as waste treatment etc. Some examples on the validation of the model and databases against published experimental data on slag liquidus, sulphur capacity, phosphorus partitioning and viscosity etc. are shown. Finally, a few examples on application of MPE to iron ore sintering, ironmaking, and steelmaking are also presented.
The effects of fertilizers, irrigation and storage on the properties of potato tubers and their constituent starches
Authors: Wszelaczyńska Elżbieta , Pobereżny Jarosław , Dudek Stanisław , Kuśmierek‐Tomaszewska Renata , Żarski Jacek , Pawelzik Elke
Published: March 2015

During 2011–2014 the effects of fertigation and storage on certain quality attributes of potato tubers (Courage variety) and their extracted starches were assessed. The effect of those factors on the FFQ was also evaluated. When processed, potato tubers are exposed to high temperatures (frying) and this can cause unfavorable physico‐chemical changes in the starch quality. The highest content of AM and Ptot in starch, as well as the starch lightest in color, were obtained from the tubers of potatoes irrigated and fertigated with a soil fertilizer. The use of a soil fertilizer increased the Ptot content in starch and the share of starch grains in the desired fractions (20–40 µm). All experimental factors had an unfavorable effect on starch pasting temperature and a positive effect on the DM and starch contents in the tubers of the studied cultivar. A highly significant positive effect, i.e., a decreased water content after defrosting, was recorded after irrigation with fertigation. The most favorable FFQ was found immediately after the harvest of potatoes grown with the application of all the factors, while the process of storage decreased FFQ by 4.3%.
Cassava starch‐poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites for the controlled delivery of curcumin in cancer prevention and treatment
Authors: Athira Geetha K. , Jyothi Alummoottil N.
Published: March 2015

Curcumin, a natural yellow pigment with a wide spectrum of bioactivities, was incorporated in nanocomposite films of cassava starch with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for achieving sustained release properties which improves its potential for use in cancer treatment. The ultra structure of the films was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the formation of nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis. The curcumin incorporation in the films was confirmed by Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR). The swelling capacity and erosion of the films were also recorded. It was observed that pH of the medium and storage conditions greatly affected the release of curcumin from the polymer matrices. The release behaviour of curcumin from starch‐PVA matrices was studied and the kinetics behind the curcumin release was fitted to Higuchi model. The mechanism obtained from Korsemeyer‐Peppas equation was a combination of diffusion and erosion controlled. Cytotoxicity study of the incorporated curcumin was carried out with normal as well as cancer cells and the results showed that it was non‐toxic to normal cells and it also showed anticancer potential. The cell viability (%) in the case of cancer cells was lower for nanocomposite incorporated curcumin than pure curcumin which indicates higher anti cancer potential of the former. The size of curcumin was reduced in the nanocomposites as evidenced from TEM and SEM analysis results, which might have resulted in its greater cell availability and resultant higher anticancer activity.
Morphological and physicochemical properties of bulb and bulbil starches from Lilium lancifolium
Authors: Yu Xurun , Zhang Jing , Shao Shanshan , Yu Heng , Xiong Fei , Wang Zhong
Published: March 2015

Lilium lancifolium is an important edible starch plant that is widely cultivated in China. Bulbs and bulbils are starch storage organs of L. lancifolium found below and above ground. To further utilize lily starch resources, starches were extracted from bulbs and bulbils of L. lancifolium. The morphological, structural, thermal, hydrolytic, and in vitro digestive properties of these starches were systematically investigated and compared. The bulb and bulbil starches differed in their amylose content and granule size, as well as their shape and surface morphologies. Compared with bulbil starch, bulb starch had a relatively higher degree of crystallinity. The ordered structure in the external granule region of bulb starch was similar to that of bulbil starch. In addition, bulb starch demonstrated significantly higher solubility, onset temperature, and gelatinization enthalpy than bulbil starch. When hydrolyzed by α‐amylase and hydrochloric acid, bulb starch exhibited stronger resistance to enzymolysis but had a higher degree of acidolysis than bulbil starch. In vitro digestion showed that native and gelatinized bulb starches contained lower slowly digestible starch (SDS) content and higher resistant starch (RS) content than bulbil starch. In retrograded starch, bulbs and bulbils had similar amounts of rapidly digestible starch, SDS, and RS. This study sufficiently described the morphological and physicochemical properties of bulb and bulbil starches from L. lancifolium. This information is crucial to the future application of these starches in the food and nonfood industries.
Pluronic F-127 hydrogel as a promising scaffold for encapsulation of dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Diniz Ivana M. A. , Chen Chider , Xu Xingtian , Ansari Sahar , Zadeh Homayoun H. , Marques Márcia M. , Shi Songtao , Moshaverinia Alireza
Published: March 2015

Dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) provide an advantageous therapeutic option for tissue engineering due to their high accessibility and bioavailability. However, delivering MSCs to defect sites while maintaining a high MSC survival rate is still a critical challenge in MSC-mediated tissue regeneration. Here, we tested the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in a thermoreversible Pluronic F127 hydrogel scaffold encapsulation system in vitro. DPSCs were encapsulated in Pluronic®F-127 hydrogel and stem cell viability, proliferation and differentiation into adipogenic and osteogenic tissues were evaluated. The degradation profile and swelling kinetics of the hydrogel were also analyzed. Our results confirmed that Pluronic F-127 is a promising and non-toxic scaffold for encapsulation of DPSCs as well as control human bone marrow MSCs (hBMMSCs), yielding high stem cell viability and proliferation. Moreover, after 2 weeks of differentiation in vitro, DPSCs as well as hBMMSCs exhibited high levels of mRNA expression for osteogenic and adipogenic gene markers via PCR analysis. Our histochemical staining further confirmed the ability of Pluronic F-127 to direct the differentiation of these stem cells into osteogenic and adipogenic tissues. Furthermore, our results revealed that Pluronic F-127 has a dense tubular and reticular network morphology, which contributes to its high permeability and solubility, consistent with its high degradability in the tested conditions. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that Pluronic F-127 is a promising scaffold for encapsulation of DPSCs and can be considered for cell delivery purposes in tissue engineering.
Crude Palm Oil from Interspecific Hybrid Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis: Alcoholic Constituents of Unsaponifiable Matter
Authors: Mozzon Massimo , Pacetti Deborah , Frega Natale Giuseppe , Lucci Paolo
Published: March 2015

Interspecific hybrid Elaeis oleifera × E. guineensis (O×G) palm is currently receiving increasing attention because of its interesting glycerides structure and composition. In this study, the alcoholic constituents of unsaponifiable matter of crude hybrid O×G palm oil were characterized for the first time and compared to data obtained analyzing crude African palm oil (E. guineensis).Total unsaponifiable matter content was 1.18 ± 0.11 g/100 g in O×G hybrid oil and 1.05 ± 0.06 g/100 g in African palm oil. O×G oil was characterized by lower contents of squalene and alcoholic constituents where the main differences concerned 4‐desmethylsterols and isoprenoid alcohols: O×G oil was characterized by higher (23.6 ± 6.1 %) contents of isoprenoid alcohols and by a different phytol/geranylgeraniol ratio. The tocol fraction constituted the class of unsaponifiable components on which the genetic exerts the greatest influence: tocol content showed no significant differences between the two oils, however, hybrid palm oil was characterized by higher percentages of γ‐tocotrienol (59.7 ± 1.1) and δ‐tocotrienol (11.7 ± 0.8) and lower percentages of tocopherols (10.6 ± 0.3), almost entirely constituted of the α isomer. These results suggest that O×G oil can also be considered an interesting alimentary source of nutraceutical components, especially for bioactive tocotrienols.
Total Phenolics of Virgin Olive Oils Highly Correlate with the Hydrogen Atom Transfer Mechanism of Antioxidant Capacity
Authors: Ballus Cristiano Augusto , Meinhart Adriana Dillenburg , de Souza Campos Francisco Alberto , Godoy Helena Teixeira
Published: March 2015

Polar extracts of extra‐virgin olive oils (EVOO) contain a large number of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. The antioxidant capacity can be measured by different reaction mechanisms, as the single electron transfer (SET) or the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). In this work, the total phenolic content (TPC) by the Folin‐Ciocalteu method and its correlation with four antioxidant capacity assays (FRAP, ABTS, DPPH• and ORAC) were evaluated for EVOO polar extracts. It was observed that the higher the total phenolic compounds in the EVOO extracts, the higher the antioxidant capacities, regardless of the method employed. The reaction mechanism observed for TPC by Folin‐Ciocalteu method and also for FRAP, ABTS and DPPH• antioxidant capacity assays is a single electron transfer, thus, a high correlation among their results is expected. However, the correlation between TPC and ORAC results was also high and significant, allowing to conclude that EVOO phenolic compounds are able to react by the hydrogen atom transfer mechanism, which indicates that they can act as effective radical chain‐breaking antioxidants. These results suggest that, for the EVOO polar extracts, TPC by Folin‐Ciocalteu and ORAC assays could be sufficient to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant capacity.
Dual role of dopamine D2‐like receptors in the mediation of conditioned and unconditioned fear
Authors: Brandão Marcus Lira , de Oliveira Amanda Ribeiro , Muthuraju Sangu , Colombo Ana Caroline , Saito Viviane Mitsuko , Talbot Teddy
Published: March 2015

A reduction of dopamine release or D2 receptor blockade in the terminal fields of the mesolimbic system, particularly the amygdala, clearly reduces conditioned fear. Similar D2 receptor antagonism in the neural substrates of fear in the midbrain tectum attenuates the processing of unconditioned aversive information. However, the implications of the interplay between opposing actions of dopamine in the rostral and caudal segments of the dopaminergic system are still unclear. Previous studies from this laboratory have reported the effects of dopaminergic drugs on behavior in rats in the elevated plus maze, auditory‐evoked potentials (AEPs) recorded from the midbrain tectum, fear‐potentiated startle, and conditioned freezing. These findings led to an interesting framework on the functional roles of dopamine in both anxiety and fear states. Dopamine D2 receptor inhibition in the terminal fields of the mesolimbic dopamine system generally causes anxiolytic‐like effects, whereas the activity of midbrain substrates of unconditioned fear are enhanced by D2 receptor antagonists, suggesting that D2 receptor‐mediated mechanisms play opposing roles in fear/anxiety processes, depending on the brain region under study. Dopamine appears to mediate conditioned fear by acting at rostral levels of the brain and regulate unconditioned fear at the midbrain level, likely by reducing the sensorimotor gating of aversive events.
Single chain precursor prohaptoglobin promotes angiogenesis by upregulating expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor2
Authors: Oh Mi-Kyung , Park Hyo-Jung , Lee Joo-Hyun , Bae Hyun-Mi , Kim In-Sook
Published: March 2015

Prohaptoglobin (proHp) is processed into mature haptoglobin via site‐specific cleavage. Although haptoglobin has been well studied, the functions of proHp remain unclear. We investigated the angiogenic action of proHp in endothelial cells, demonstrating that proHp upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) expression and endothelial sprouting and branching. ProHp‐induced sprouting was attenuated by a VEGFR2 inhibitor. Moreover, proHp was detected in sera of cancer patients by immunoprecipitation and Western blot. These findings indicate that proHp promotes angiogenesis via VEGF/VEGFR2 signalling, and serum proHp level may be a useful biomarker for diseases associated with angiogenesis.