bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modification and Resonance Tuning of Optical Microcavities by Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Wang Jiao , Huang Gaoshan , Mei Yongfeng
Published: June 2014

Recently, enormous interest has been focused on the nanofabrication of optical micro‐ and nanocavities for applications in lab‐on‐a‐chip and quantum optics. At the same time, the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process presents several advantages for the fabrication and modification of micro‐ and nanostructures because of its atomic level thickness fine‐tuning and perfect coating conformability in three‐dimensional (3D) structures. Hence, ALD technology has been directed into the field of optical microcavities for the tracking and tuning of their properties. In this short review, we will summarize recent progress in the application of ALD on optical microcavities. Firstly, we will briefly introduce ALD technology and emphasize its distinctive features when applied to optical microcavities. Then, various microcavities such as photonic crystals, opals, and tubular microcavities will be illustrated to demonstrate their development with the assistance of ALD technology. Such an influential manufacturing tool for optical devices could inspire numerous interesting applications, as concluded in the final part.
A possible relation between new neuronal recruitment and migratory behavior in Acrocephalus warblers
Authors: Barkan Shay , Yom‐Tov Yoram , Barnea Anat
Published: June 2014

Evidence suggests a possible correlation between learning abilities of adults and new neuronal recruitment into their brains. The hypothesis is that this brain plasticity enables animals to adapt to environmental changes. We examined whether there are differences in neuronal recruitment between resident and migrant birds. We predicted that migrants, which are more exposed to spatial changes than residents, will recruit more new neurons. To test this, we compared neuronal recruitment in two closely related bird species ‐ the migrant reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), and the resident Clamorous warbler (A. Stentoreus) ‐ during spring, summer, and autumn. Wild birds were caught, treated with BrdU and sacrificed five weeks later. New neurons were recorded in the Hippocampus and Nidopallium caudolateral. The results support our hypothesis, as more new neurons were found in the migrant species, in both brain regions and all seasons. We suggest that this phenomenon enables enhanced navigational abilities, which are required for the migratory lifestyle. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, in spring we found less new neurons in adults of both species, as compared to other seasons. We suggest that in spring, when birds settle in breeding territories, they require less spatial skills, and this might enable to reduce the cost of neuronal recruitment, as reflected by less new neurons in their brains. We also found age differences, with overall higher neuronal recruitment in juveniles. Finally, we advocate the importance of studying wild populations, for a better understanding of the adaptive significance of neuronal replacement in the vertebrate brain. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 74: 1194–1209, 2014
Vertebrate neurogenic placode development: Historical highlights that have shaped our current understanding
Authors: Stark Michael R.
Published: June 2014

With the flood of published research encountered today, it is important to occasionally reflect upon how we arrived at our current understanding in a particular scientific discipline, thereby positioning new discoveries into proper context with long‐established models. This historical review highlights some of the important scientific contributions in the field of neurogenic placode development. By viewing cumulatively the rich historical data, we can more fully appreciate and apply what has been accomplished. Early descriptive work in fish and experimental approaches in amphibians and chick yielded important conceptual models of placode induction and cellular differentiation. Current efforts to discover genes and their molecular functions continue to expand our understanding of the placodes. Carefully considering the body of work may improve current models and help focus modern experimental design. Developmental Dynamics 243:1167–1175, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A comparison of women with child‐adolescent versus adult onset binge eating: Results from the National Women's Study
Authors: Brewerton Timothy D. , Rance Samantha J. , Dansky Bonnie S. , O'Neil Patrick M. , Kilpatrick Dean G.
Published: June 2014

Objective

Studies of age of first binge have been conducted in clinical samples of patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED), but few studies have examined age of first binge using nationally representative samples.

Method

We examined age of first binge and its clinical correlates using data generated from the National Women's Study (n = 3,006). Participants who endorsed ever binge eating (n = 707) were divided into two groups: (1) child‐adolescent onset (CO)—age of first binge <18 years, and (2) adult onset (AO)—age of first binge ≥18 years. We hypothesized that CO binge eating would be associated with greater (1) likelihood of developing BN/BED, (2) severity of BN/BED, (3) history of trauma and PTSD, and (4) history of psychiatric comorbidity, such as major depression and substance use.

Results

Of those who ever endorsed binge eating, 212 reported CO (30%) and 495 (70%) reported AO. Although AO binge eating was more common, CO binge eating was associated with higher rates of lifetime BN, greater severity of bulimic symptoms, earlier age of first dieting; earlier age at highest weight, greater likelihood of ED treatment, and higher rates of molestation, physical assault, any direct victimization, lifetime PTSD, and substance abuse.

Conclusions

AO binge eating is more than twice as common as CO binge eating in women, but CO binge eating is associated with higher rates of lifetime BN, greater severity of BN, and higher rates of victimization, PTSD, and substance abuse. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:836–843)
Species‐level view of population structure and gene flow for a critically endangered primate (Varecia variegata)
Authors: Baden Andrea L. , Holmes Sheila M. , Johnson Steig E. , Engberg Shannon E. , Louis Edward E. , Bradley Brenda J.
Published: June 2014

Lemurs are among the world's most threatened mammals. The critically endangered black‐and‐white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata), in particular, has recently experienced rapid population declines due to habitat loss, ecological sensitivities to habitat degradation, and extensive human hunting pressure. Despite this, a recent study indicates that ruffed lemurs retain among the highest levels of genetic diversity for primates. Identifying how this diversity is apportioned and whether gene flow is maintained among remnant populations will help to diagnose and target conservation priorities. We sampled 209 individuals from 19 sites throughout the remaining V. variegata range. We used 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci and ~550 bp of mtDNA sequence data to evaluate genetic structure and population dynamics, including dispersal patterns and recent population declines. Bayesian cluster analyses identified two distinct genetic clusters, which optimally partitioned data into populations occurring on either side of the Mangoro River. Localities north of the Mangoro were characterized by greater genetic diversity, greater gene flow (lower genetic differentiation) and higher mtDNA haplotype and nucleotide diversity than those in the south. Despite this, genetic differentiation across all sites was high, as indicated by high average FST (0.247) and ΦST (0.544), and followed a pattern of isolation‐by‐distance. We use these results to suggest future conservation strategies that include an effort to maintain genetic diversity in the north and restore connectivity in the south. We also note the discordance between patterns of genetic differentiation and current subspecies taxonomy, and encourage a re‐evaluation of conservation management units moving forward.
Zn2+‐Responsive Bimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Fluorescence Imaging Agents and Their Interaction with Human Serum Albumin
Authors: Xu Ying‐Qi , Luo Jian , Chen Zhong‐Ning
Published: June 2014

The gadolinium(III) complexes GdL1 and GdL2 were designed as Zn2+‐responsive bimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence imaging probes. Upon binding to Zn2+ ions, GdL1 exhibits a bidentate or tridentate mode to form heterodinuclear GdL1Zn or heterotrinuclear (GdL1)2Zn, whereas GdL2 binds to the Zn2+ ion only in a bidentate mode to form (GdL2)2Zn. The gadolinium(III) complexes derived from both H3L1 and H3L2 exhibit remarkable interactions with human serum albumin (HSA) at both site I and site II, which result in significant enhancements of the relaxivity and remarkable improvements of T1‐weighted imaging contrast. In the presence of HSA, both the relaxivity (r1) and fluorescence exhibit 300 % enhancement with a clear blueshift of the fluorescence for GdL1Zn, which is ascribed to direct binding to HSA through the formation of a Zn–HSA coordination bond. In contrast, the presence of HSA induces smaller relaxivity increases for GdL1 (155 %), (GdL1)2Zn (183 %), GdL2 (192 %), and (GdL2)2Zn (181 %); these increases are ascribed to weaker hydrophobic interactions or stereospecificity with HSA. The contrast of T1‐weighted phantom MR images of these gadolinium(III) complexes in human serum (HS) is much improved relative to that in 4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐1‐piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer solutions.
Copper(II)‐Mediated Homocoupling of Thioamides for the Synthesis of 1,2,4‐Thiadiazoles
Authors: Sun Yadong , Wu Wanqing , Jiang Huanfeng
Published: June 2014

A copper(II)‐mediated highly selective oxidative cyclization reaction of thioamides to provide 3,5‐disubstituted 1,2,4‐thiadiazoles was developed. The copper species plays a key role in this transformation and different functional groups are tolerated under the optimal reaction conditions.
Conjugate Addition of Organomagnesium Cuprates to Guvacine Derivatives
Authors: Hellenbrand Tim , Wanner Klaus T.
Published: June 2014

The synthesis of 4‐substituted piperidine‐3‐carboxylates was achieved by conjugate addition of organomagnesium cuprates to N‐methyl and N‐tert‐butoxycarbonyl guvacine derivatives. Good to excellent yields were obtained with primary Grignard reagents containing alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or masked aldehyde groups in a copper(I)‐trimethylsilylacetylide‐catalysed and chlorotrimethylsilane (TMSCl) mediated procedure.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative C–H Bond Arylation of Furans
Authors: Pei Kai , Jie Xiaoming , Zhao Huaiqing , Su Weiping
Published: June 2014

A Pd/PCy3/Ag2CO3 (Cy = cyclohexyl) catalytic system was found to promote decarboxylative arylation through the combination of decarboxylation and C–H bond functionalization. This protocol features a good substrate scope of aromatic carboxylic acids as well as a broad range of functional groups and provides the products in high yields.
Distribution, characterization, and exposure of MC252 oil in the supratidal beach environment
Authors: Lemelle Kendall R. , Elango Vijaikrishnah , Pardue John H.
Published: June 2014

The distribution and characteristics of MC252 oil:sand aggregates, termed surface residue balls (SRBs), were measured on the supratidal beach environment of oil-impacted Fourchon Beach in Louisiana (USA). Probability distributions of 4 variables, surface coverage (%), size of SRBs (mm2 of projected area), mass of SRBs per m2 (g/m2), and concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and n-alkanes in the SRBs (mg of crude oil component per kg of SRB) were determined using parametric and nonparametric statistical techniques. Surface coverage of SRBs, an operational remedial standard for the beach surface, was a gamma-distributed variable ranging from 0.01% to 8.1%. The SRB sizes had a mean of 90.7 mm2 but fit no probability distribution, and a nonparametric ranking was used to describe the size distributions. Concentrations of total PAHs ranged from 2.5 mg/kg to 126 mg/kg of SRB. Individual PAH concentration distributions, consisting primarily of alkylated phenanthrenes, dibenzothiophenes, and chrysenes, did not consistently fit a parametric distribution. Surface coverage was correlated with an oil mass per unit area but with a substantial error at lower coverage (i.e., <2%). These data provide probabilistic risk assessors with the ability to specify uncertainty in PAH concentration, exposure frequency, and ingestion rate, based on SRB characteristics for the dominant oil form on beaches along the US Gulf Coast. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1544–1551. © 2014 SETAC
Evaluating toxicity of heavy fuel oil fractions using complementary modeling and biomimetic extraction methods
Authors: Redman Aaron D. , Parkerton Thomas F. , Letinski Daniel J. , Manning Ryan G. , Adams Julie E. , Hodson Peter V.
Published: June 2014

The toxicity of chemically dispersed heavy fuel oil (HFO) and 3 distillate fractions to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) embryos was evaluated using the PETROTOX model and a biomimetic extraction technique that involved passive sampling of oil-contaminated test media with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers. Test solutions for toxicity testing were generated using a combination of dispersant and high-energy mixing. The resulting water accommodated fractions (WAF) provided complex exposure regimens that included both dissolved hydrocarbons and oil droplets. The toxicity of the various fractions differed by approximately 3 orders of magnitude when expressed on the basis of WAF dilution. Using detailed compositional data, the PETROTOX model predicted the speciation of hydrocarbons between dissolved and oil droplet phases and explained observed toxicity based on computed dissolved phase toxic units (TUs). A key finding from model calculations was that dissolved hydrocarbon exposures and associated TUs were a nonlinear function of WAF dilution, because dissolved hydrocarbons were largely controlled by the dissolution of oil droplets that were transferred in WAF dilutions. Hence, oil droplets served to “buffer” dissolved concentrations in WAF dilutions at loadings greater than 1 mg/L, resulting in higher dissolved concentrations and TUs than expected based on dilution. The TUs computed at each WAF dilution explained the observed toxicity among the HFO and fractions to within a factor of 3. Dissolved material measured by SPME showed a consistent relationship with model-predicted TUs, confirming the utility of this approach for providing an integrated measure of exposure to bioavailable hydrocarbons. These 2 approaches provide complementary tools for better defining bioavailability of complex petroleum substance. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:2094–2104. © 2014 SETAC
Investigating Maternal Touch and Infants' Self‐Regulatory Behaviours during a Modified Face‐to‐Face Still‐Face with Touch Procedure
Authors: Jean Amélie D. L. , Stack Dale M. , Arnold Sharon
Published: June 2014

Maternal touch and infants' self‐regulatory behaviours were examined during a modified Still‐Face with Touch (SF + T) procedure. Mothers and their 5½‐month‐old infants participated in one period of Normal interaction followed by three SF + T periods. Maternal functions of touch, and infants' self‐regulatory behaviour, affect, and attention were evaluated. Contrary to a typical SF procedure, the amount of smiling remained high while fretting remained low. High levels of maternal touching and variations in the functions of maternal touch were observed across periods. Playful touch remained high while there was an increase in nurturing touch and a decrease in attention‐getting touch from the Normal to all SF + T periods. Similar amounts of self‐regulatory behaviours were observed across periods with the exception of a decrease in bidirectional exchanges during the SF + T periods. Finally, across periods, maternal touch and infants' self‐regulatory behaviours were found to be temporally organized with infants' affect and attention. Examining how mothers use touch when other forms of communication are absent increased our understanding of the role of touch in infants' emotion regulation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Basic Helix‐Loop‐Helix/Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor USF2 Integrates Serum‐Induced PAI‐1 Expression and Keratinocyte Growth
Authors: Qi Li , Higgins Craig E. , Higgins Stephen P. , Law Brian K. , Simone Tessa M. , Higgins Paul J.
Published: June 2014

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type‐1 (PAI‐1), a major regulator of the plasmin‐dependent pericellular proteolytic cascade, is prominently expressed during the tissue response to injury although the factors that impact PAI‐1 induction and their role in the repair process are unclear. Kinetic modeling using established biomarkers of cell cycle transit (c‐MYC; cyclin D1; cyclin A) in synchronized human (HaCaT) keratinocytes, and previous cytometric assessments, indicated that PAI‐1 transcription occurred early after serum‐stimulation of quiescent (G0) cells and prior to G1 entry. It was established previously that differential residence of USF family members (USF1→USF2 switch) at the PE2 region E box (CACGTG) characterized the G0 → G1 transition period and the transcriptional status of the PAI‐1 gene. A consensus PE2 E box motif (5′‐CACGTG‐3′) at nucleotides −566 to −561 was required for USF/E box interactions and serum‐dependent PAI‐1 transcription. Site‐directed CG → AT substitution at the two central nucleotides inhibited formation of USF/probe complexes and PAI‐1 promoter‐driven reporter expression. A dominant‐negative USF (A‐USF) construct or double‐stranded PE2 “decoy” attenuated serum‐ and TGF‐β1‐stimulated PAI‐1 synthesis. Tet‐Off induction of an A‐USF insert reduced both PAI‐1 and PAI‐2 transcripts while increasing the fraction of Ki‐67+ cells. Conversely, overexpression of USF2 or adenoviral‐delivery of a PAI‐1 vector inhibited HaCaT colony expansion indicating that the USF1 → USF2 transition and subsequent PAI‐1 transcription are critical events in the epithelial go‐or‐grow response. Collectively, these data suggest that USF2, and its target gene PAI‐1, regulate serum‐stimulated keratinocyte growth, and likely the cadence of cell cycle progression in replicatively competent cells as part of the injury repair program. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 1840–1847, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Disruption of Crosstalk between Mesenchymal Stromal and Tumor Cells in Bone Marrow as a Therapeutic Target to Prevent Metastatic Bone Disease
Authors: Gordon Jonathan A. R. , Lisle Jennifer W. , Alman Benjamin A. , Lian Jane B.
Published: June 2014

Skeletal metastasis is a serious complication of many primary cancers. A common feature of tumor cells that metastasize to the bone marrow microenvironment is that they initiate a cascade of events, recruiting and presumably/potentially altering the phenotype of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) to produce an environment that allows for tumor growth and in some cases, drug‐resistant dormancy of latent cancer cells. Consequently the MSC population can contribute to metastatic disease through several distinct mechanisms by differentiating into cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Understanding the expression and epigenetic changes that occur as normal MSCs become associated with metastatic tumors would reveal possible therapeutic targets for treating skeletal metastasis. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1884–1886, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of CTGF/CCN2 on Osteo/Cementoblastic and Fibroblastic Differentiation of a Human Periodontal Ligament Stem/Progenitor Cell Line
Authors: Yuda Asuka , Maeda Hidefumi , Fujii Shinsuke , Monnouchi Satoshi , Yamamoto Naohide , Wada Naohisa , Koori Katsuaki , Tomokiyo Atsushi , Hamano Sayuri , Hasegawa Daigaku , Akamine Akifumi
Published: June 2014

Appropriate mechanical loading during occlusion and mastication play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), a matricellular protein, is known to upregulate extracellular matrix production, including collagen in PDL tissue. However, the underlying mechanisms of CTGF/CCN2 in regulation of PDL tissue integrity remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of CTGF/CCN2 on osteo/cementoblastic and fibroblastic differentiation of human PDL stem cells using the cell line 1–11. CTGF/CCN2 expression in rat PDL tissue and human PDL cells (HPDLCs) was confirmed immunohisto/cytochemically. Mechanical loading was found to increase gene expression and secretion of CTGF/CCN2 in HPDLCs. CTGF/CCN2 upregulated the proliferation and migration of 1–11 cells. Furthermore, increased bone/cementum‐related gene expression in this cell line led to mineralization. In addition, combined treatment of 1–11 cells with CTGF/CCN2 and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) significantly promoted type I collagen and fibronectin expression compared with that of TGF‐β1 treatment alone. Thus, these data suggest the underlying biphasic effects of CTGF/CCN2 in 1–11 cells, inducible osteo/cementoblastic, and fibroblastic differentiation dependent on the environmental condition. CTGF/CCN2 may contribute to preservation of the structural integrity of PDL tissue, implying its potential use as a therapeutic agent for PDL regeneration. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 150–159, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Randomized, double blinded, placebo‐controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan in Chinese patients with hyponatremia caused by SIADH
Authors: Chen Shi , Zhao Jia‐Jun , Tong Nan‐Wei , Guo Xiao‐Hui , Qiu Ming‐Cai , Yang Gang‐Yi , Liu Zhi‐Min , Ma Jian‐Hua , Zhang Zhen‐Wen , Gu Feng
Published: June 2014

To study the effect of tolvaptan on non‐acute, non‐hypovolemic hyponatremia in inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) syndrome in Chinese patients. Hyponatremic SIADH patients received placebo (N = 18) or tolvaptan (N = 19) at an initial dose of 15 mg/day with further titration to 30 mg/day and 60 mg/day based on serum sodium concentrations. Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Primary endpoint was the change of the serum sodium from baseline to days 4 and 7. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for statistical analysis. At day 4, average daily changes in serum sodium levels from baseline was 1.9 ± 2.9 mmol/L (1.9 ± 2.9 mEq/L) in the placebo group and 8.1 ± 3.6 mmol/L (8.1 ± 3.6 mEq/L) in the tolvaptan group; at day 7, the values were 2.5 ± 3.9 mmol/L (2.5 ± 3.9 mEq/L) and 8.6 ± 3.9 mmol/L (8.6 ± 3.9 mmEq/L) for the placebo and tolvaptan groups (ANCOVA, P < 0.001). At days 4 and 7, daily urine output and proportions of patients with normalized serum sodium were significantly superior in the tolvaptan group. The most common adverse events occurring in the tolvaptan group were dry mouth and thirst. Tolvaptan demonstrated superiority to placebo in the treatment of Chinese SIADH patients with hyponatremia by elevating serum sodium concentration with acceptable safety profile.
The evolutionary origin of the turtle shell and its dependence on the axial arrest of the embryonic rib cage
Authors: Hirasawa Tatsuya , Pascual‐Anaya Juan , Kamezaki Naoki , Taniguchi Mari , Mine Kanako , Kuratani Shigeru
Published: June 2014

Turtles are characterized by their possession of a shell with dorsal and ventral moieties: the carapace and the plastron, respectively. In this review, we try to provide answers to the question of the evolutionary origin of the carapace, by revising morphological, developmental, and paleontological comparative analyses. The turtle carapace is formed through modification of the thoracic ribs and vertebrae, which undergo extensive ossification to form a solid bony structure. Except for peripheral dermal elements, there are no signs of exoskeletal components ontogenetically added to the costal and neural bones, and thus the carapace is predominantly of endoskeletal nature. Due to the axial arrest of turtle rib growth, the axial part of the embryo expands laterally and the shoulder girdle becomes encapsulated in the rib cage, together with the inward folding of the lateral body wall in the late phase of embryogenesis. Along the line of this folding develops a ridge called the carapacial ridge (CR), a turtle‐specific embryonic structure. The CR functions in the marginal growth of the carapacial primordium, in which Wnt signaling pathway might play a crucial role. Both paleontological and genomic evidence suggest that the axial arrest is the first step toward acquisition of the turtle body plan, which is estimated to have taken place after the divergence of a clade including turtles from archosaurs. The developmental relationship between the CR and the axial arrest remains a central issue to be solved in future. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 194–207, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Unravelling Crime Series Patterns amongst Serial Sex Offenders: Duration, Frequency, and Environmental Consistency
Authors: Deslauriers‐Varin Nadine , Beauregard Eric
Published: June 2014

Crime linkage and the investigation of behavioural consistency amongst serial offenders has been a flourishing field of research over the past decade or so, especially with respect to serial sex offenders. The emerging research in this field has often portrayed serial sex offenders as a single, distinct, and homogeneous group. Such an assumption, however, has never been empirically examined. Using a criminal career approach and a sample of 72 serial sex offenders who have committed a total of 361 sexual assaults on stranger victims, the current study aims to examine and describe subgroups of crime series patterns amongst serial sex offenders in terms of duration and frequency of offending. The level of environmental consistency display (i.e. offender's choice of crime location and characteristics of the crime site selected) across subgroups of crime series patterns is also examined. Study findings suggest the presence and heterogeneity of crime series patterns amongst serial sex offenders, advocating for the consideration of subgroups of crime series patterns when studying serial sex offenders. Moreover, the offenders' level of environmental consistency varies across the different crime series patterns identified, allowing for the identification of subgroups of offenders showing a higher or lower level of environmental consistency. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pathogenic role of ganglioside metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Ariga Toshio
Published: June 2014

Ganglioside metabolism is altered in several neurodegenerative diseases, and this may participate in several events related to the pathogenesis of these diseases. Most changes occur in specific areas of the brain and their distinct membrane microdomains or lipid rafts. Antiganglioside antibodies may be involved in dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier and disease progression in these diseases. In lipid rafts, interactions of glycosphingolipids, including ganglioside, with proteins may be responsible for the misfolding events that cause the fibril and/or aggregate processing of disease‐specific proteins, such as α‐synuclein, in Parkinson's disease, huntingtin protein in Huntington's disease, and copper‐zinc superoxide dismutase in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Targeting ganglioside metabolism may represent an underexploited opportunity to design novel therapeutic strategies for neurodegeneration in these diseases. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Repetitive systemic morphine alters activity‐dependent plasticity of schaffer–collateral–CA1 pyramidal cell synapses: Involvement of adenosine A1 receptors and adenosine deaminase
Authors: Sadegh Mehdi , Fathollahi Yaghoub
Published: June 2014

The effectiveness of O‐pulse stimulation (TPS) for the reversal of O‐pattern primed bursts (PB)‐induced long‐term potentiation (LTP) were examined at the Schaffer–collateral–CA1 pyramidal cell synapses of hippocampal slices derived from rats chronically treated with morphine (M‐T). The results showed that slices derived from both control and M‐T rats had normal field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP)‐LTP, whereas PS‐LTP in slices from M‐T rats was significantly greater than that from control slices. When morphine was applied in vitro to slices derived from rats chronically treated with morphine, the augmentation of PS‐LTP was not seen. TPS given 30 min after LTP induction failed to reverse the fEPSP‐ or PS‐LTP in both groups of slices. However, TPS delivered in the presence of long‐term in vitro morphine caused the PS‐LTP reversal. This effect was blocked by the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) antagonist CPX (200 nM) and furthermore was enhanced by the adenosine deaminase (ADA) inhibitor EHNA (10 μM). Interestingly, TPS given 30 min after LTP induction in the presence of EHNA (10 μM) can reverse LTP in morphine‐exposed control slices in vitro. These results suggest adaptive changes in the hippocampus area CA1 in particular in adenosine system following repetitive systemic morphine. Chronic in vivo morphine increases A1R and reduces ADA activity in the hippocampus. Consequently, adenosine can accumulate because of a stimulus train‐induced activity pattern in CA1 area and takes the opportunity to work as an inhibitory neuromodulator and also to enable CA1 to cope with chronic morphine. In addition, adaptive mechanisms are differentially working in the dendrite layer rather than the somatic layer of hippocampal CA1. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Unconventional myosin ID is expressed in myelinating oligodendrocytes
Authors: Yamazaki Reiji , Ishibashi Tomoko , Baba Hiroko , Yamaguchi Yoshihide
Published: June 2014

Myelin is a dynamic multilamellar structure that ensheathes axons and is crucial for normal neuronal function. In the central nervous system (CNS), myelin is produced by oligodendrocytes that wrap many layers of plasma membrane around axons. The dynamic membrane trafficking system, which relies on motor proteins, is required for myelin formation and maintenance. Previously, we found that myosin ID (Myo1d), a class I myosin, is enriched in the rat CNS myelin fraction. Myo1d is an unconventional myosin and has been shown to be involved in membrane trafficking in the recycling pathway in an epithelial cell line. Western blotting revealed that Myo1d expression begins early in myelinogenesis and continues to increase into adulthood. The localization of Myo1d in CNS myelin has not been reported, and the function of Myo1d in vivo remains unknown. To demonstrate the expression of Myo1d in CNS myelin and to begin to explore the function of Myo1d in myelination, we produced a new antibody against Myo1d that has a high titer and specificity for rat Myo1d. By using this antibody, we demonstrated that Myo1d is expressed in rat CNS myelin and is especially abundant in abaxonal and adaxonal regions (the outer and inner cytoplasm‐containing loops, respectively), but that expression is low in peripheral nervous system myelin. In culture, Myo1d was expressed in mature rat oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, an increase in expression of Myo1d during maturation of CNS white matter (cerebellum and corpus callosum) was demonstrated by histological analysis. These results suggest that Myo1d may be involved in the formation and/or maintenance of CNS myelin. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cilostazol suppresses β‐amyloid production by activating a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 via the upregulation of SIRT1‐coupled retinoic acid receptor‐β
Authors: Lee Hye Rin , Shin Hwa Kyoung , Park So Youn , Kim Hye Young , Lee Won Suk , Rhim Byung Yong , Hong Ki Whan , Kim Chi Dae
Published: June 2014

The accumulation of plaques of β‐amyloid (Aβ) peptides, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, results from the sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by activation of β‐ and γ‐secretases. However, the production of Aβ can be avoided by alternate cleavage of APP by α‐and γ‐secretases. We hypothesized that cilostazol attenuates Aβ production by increasing a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10)/α‐secretase activity via SIRT1‐coupled retinoic acid receptor‐β (RARβ) activation in N2a cells expressing human APP Swedish mutation (N2aSwe). To evoke endogenous Aβ overproduction, the culture medium was switched from medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) to medium containing 1% FBS, and cells were cultured for 3∼24 hr. After depletion of FBS in media, N2aSwe cells showed increased accumulations of full‐length APP (FL‐APP) and Aβ in a time‐dependent manner (3–24 hr) in association with decreased ADAM10 protein expression. When pretreated with cilostazol (10–30 μM), FL‐APP and Aβ levels were significantly reduced, and ADAM10 and α‐secretase activities were restored. Furthermore, the effect of cilostazol on ADAM10 expression was antagonized by pretreating Rp‐cAMPS and sirtinol and by SIRT1‐gene silencing. In the N2aSwe cells overexpressing the SIRT1 gene, ADAM10, and sAPPα levels were significantly elevated. In addition, like all‐trans retinoic acid, cilostazol enhanced the protein expressions of RARβ and ADAM10, and the cilostazol‐stimulated ADAM10 elevation was significantly attenuated by LE135 (a RARβ inhibitor), sirtinol, and RARβ‐gene silencing. In conclusion, cilostazol suppresses the accumulations of FL‐APP and Aβ by activating ADAM10 via the upregulation of SIRT1‐coupled RARβ. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of a new staging classification and a Peritoneal Surface Disease Severity Score (PSDSS) in 229 patients with mucinous appendiceal neoplasms with or without peritoneal dissemination
Authors: Esquivel Jesus , Garcia Susana Sanchez , Hicken Willima , Seibel Jeffrey , Shekitka Kris , Trout Richard
Published: June 2014

Introduction

Most classifications of mucinous appendiceal neoplasms (MAN) do not take into consideration the type of primary tumor or the burden of peritoneal disease.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective evaluation of 229 patients with MAN. The severity of their disease was analyzed with the Peritoneal Surface Disease Severity Score (PSDSS) on a five‐point scale that included: (1) the primary appendiceal tumor, (2) the type of peritoneal dissemination, and (3) the burden of disease. Overall survival was analyzed according to five tiers of estimated disease severity based on the above parameters.

Results

There were 19, 67, 59, 43, and 41 patients with PSDSS 0, I, II, III, and IV, respectively. One hundred seventy‐three patients underwent cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Overall survival was 80.0 months in this group with 5‐year survival of 100%, 79.2%, 23.3%, and 6.9% in patients with PSDSS I, II, III, and IV, respectively (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, sex and PSDSS stage were identified as independent predictors of survival.

Conclusions

The PSDSS appears to be an important prognostic indicator in patients with MANs with or without peritoneal dissemination and may improve selection of patients for appropriate therapy from the time of diagnosis. J. Surg. Oncol. 2014 110:656–660. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Solved and Unsolved Problems of Chemoinformatics
Authors: Gasteiger Johann
Published: June 2014

From humble beginnings in the Sixties chemoinformatics evolved into a scientific field of its own. Without the achievements of chemoinformatics the flood of information in chemistry would simply not be manageable and modern research in chemistry and related fields would be inconceivable. However, there are still a host of problems waiting for solutions to be found or to be improved. The impact of chemicals on human health and on the environment presents both challenges and concerns. Research in chemoinformatics could help in better understanding these topics and thus contribute to a better living.
Zwischen Europa und Asien
Authors: Uhle Bente
Published: June 2014

Im September veranstaltet die Euchems in Istanbul ihren fünften Chemistry Congress. Die Ausrichter bieten unter der wissenschaftlichen Leitung von Helena Grennberg neben den Vorträgen und Gelegenheiten zum persönlichen Gespräch kulturelle Aktivitäten zwischen den Kontinenten. Tipps und Fakten für Besucher.
Proteine aus der Urzeit des Lebens
Authors: Groß Michael
Published: June 2014

Forscher rekonstruieren inzwischen Proteine des letzten gemeinsamen Vorfahren aller zellulären Lebewesen. Dafür extrapolieren sie molekulargenetische Stammbäume in der Zeit zurück. Die Untersuchung natürlicher Urzeitproteine aus Fossilien funktioniert noch nicht so gut.
Die richtige Software für die Qualitätssicherung im Labor
Authors: Klinkner Roman
Published: June 2014

Ein Labor braucht in der Regel eine Qualitätsmanagementsoftware. Ob das Laborinformations‐ und ‐managementsystem ausreicht oder rechnergestützte Qualitätssicherung erforderlich ist, hängt von der Art und Größe des Labors, seinen Aufgaben und seiner Umgebung ab.
Multi‐granular, multi‐purpose and multi‐Gb/s monitoring on off‐the‐shelf systems
Authors: Moreno Victor , Santiago del Río Pedro M. , Ramos Javier , Muelas David , García‐Dorado José Luis , Gomez‐Arribas Francisco J. , Aracil Javier
Published: June 2014

As an attempt to make network managers’ life easier, we present M3Omon, a system architecture that helps to develop monitoring applications and perform network diagnosis. M3Omon behaves as an intermediate layer between the traffic and monitoring applications that provides advanced features, high performance and low cost. Such advanced features leverage a multi‐granular and multi‐purpose approach to the monitoring problem. Multi‐granular monitoring provides answers to tasks that use traffic aggregates to identify an event, and requires either flow records or packet data or even both to understand it and, eventually, take convenient countermeasures. M3Omon provides a simple API to access traffic simultaneously at several different granularities, i.e. packet‐level, flow‐level and aggregate statistics. The multi‐purposed design of M3Omon allows not only performing tasks in parallel that are specifically targeted to different traffic‐related purposes (e.g. traffic classification and intrusion detection) but also sharing granularities between applications, e.g. several concurrent applications fed from flow records that are provided by M3Omon. Finally, the low‐cost characteristic is brought by off‐the‐shelf systems (the combination of open‐source software and commodity hardware) and the high performance is achieved thanks to modifications in the standard NIC driver, low‐level hardware interaction, efficient memory management and programming optimization. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of curing characteristics of carbon fiber/epoxy composites cured with low‐energy electron beam
Authors: Zhao Xinming , Duan Yugang , Li Dichen , Wang Ben , Zhang Xiaohui
Published: June 2014

To solve the penetration depth of carbon fiber/epoxy prepreg and irradiation dose uniformity by low‐energy E‐Beam under 125 keV, the both‐side irradiation curing of prepreg was investigated. The results show that there is little thermal effect during the low‐energy electron beam irradiation curing process, even though the irradiation dosage reached 300 kGy, only 46.2°C can be tested on the prepreg surface. Due to the low curing temperature, the degree of cure of prepreg was only 61.8% at 300 kGy level of irradiation, and the glass‐transition temperature (Tg) was only 48.6°C. The degree of cure and Tg can be increased sharply by thermal postcure. After being postcured at 160°C for 30 min, the degree of cure and the Tg of prepreg reached 98.5% and 170.4°C, respectively. Interlaminar shear strength testing result indicate that the fabrication process of the composite layer by layer curing by the low‐ energy E‐Beam is a promising cure approach. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1731–1737, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Crystallization of different polypropylene matrices in the presence of wood fillers
Authors: Borysiak Slawomir , Szentner Kinga , Kasprzyk Henryk
Published: June 2014

The increasing global energy crisis and ecological risks in recent years have led to the interest in lignocellulosic fillers reinforced polymer composites. In this study, the nucleation ability of pine wood in polypropylene (PP) matrices was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. PPs with different melt flow index values (in range 3.2–25 g/10 min.) were used as the polymer matrix. Moreover, a new technique of wood treatment using γ‐irradiation was used. The experimental results clearly show that the nucleation activity of the wood particles is strongly dependent on the rheological parameter (e.g., MFI) of PP matrix. The composites containing PP matrix with lower MFI exhibited higher degree of crystal conversion, lower half‐times of crystallization, and higher crystallization temperatures. Moreover, the applied γ‐irradiation of wood resulted in a negative effect on the crystallization rate of PP matrix and a distinct deterioration of the nucleation ability of wood surface. The interesting differences in nucleation activity of wood have been interpreted in the context of polymer chains length and relaxation times during crystallization. This article will spotlight the nucleating efficiency of filler, which is critical in polymer processing e.g., optimization of injection molding cycle time of composite materials. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1813–1818, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Fabrication of long glass fiber reinforced polyacetal composites: Mechanical performance, microstructures, and isothermal crystallization kinetics
Authors: Tao Zhaozeng , Wang Yatao , Li Jianhua , Wang Xiaodong , Wu Dezhen
Published: June 2014

A thermoplastic pultrusion was carried out to prepare the long fiber reinforced thermoplastic (LFT) composites based on polyacetal (POM) matrix on the custom‐designed pultrusion equipment. The investigation on mechanical performance revealed that the POM‐based LFT composites achieved much higher tensile, flexural, and impact strength than the short glass fiber reinforced ones at the same fiber loadings. Such a promising reinforcement effect is attributed to the feature that the residual fiber length in the injection‐molded LFT products is greatly superior to that in short fiber reinforced ones. This takes full advantage of the strength of the reinforcing fiber itself. The scanning electronic microscopy demonstrated that the fiber fracture and fiber pull‐out concurred on the tensile and impact fracture surfaces, and the former preceded the latter. The isothermal crystallization kinetics of the POM‐based LFT composites was also intensively studied, and the results indicated that the crystallinity of POM domain was enhanced by the heterogeneous nucleation of glass fiber, but the crystallization rate was postponed due to the interspace restriction toward crystalline growth caused by long glass fiber. These kinetic parameters provided information on the processing conditions of POM‐based LFT composites for the injection and compression molding. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1826–1839, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
The Effect of Cardiovascular Credentialed Pharmacists on Process Measures and Outcomes in Myocardial Infarction and Heart Failure
Authors: Dorsch Michael P. , Lose Jennifer M. , DiDomenico Robert J.
Published: June 2014

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine if institutions with inpatient cardiovascular credentialed pharmacists exhibit improved quality measures for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and heart failure (HF) care compared with institutions without inpatient cardiovascular credentialed pharmacists.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, cross‐sectional, matched case‐control study. Hospitals with at least one Added Qualification in Cardiology (AQCV) inpatient pharmacist were included in the case group. Each case group hospital was matched to hospitals without anAQCVpharmacist by region, number of cardiovascular discharges, and teaching hospital designation in a 1:3 ratio (case:control). The 34AQCVhospitals were matched to 102 non‐AQCVhospitals. The proportions of discharges meetingHFandAMIprocess of care measures and 30‐day outcomes (readmission and mortality) for each hospital were determined from public data and compared between the case and control groups.

Results

Hospitals withAQCVpharmacists performed better on process of care measures than hospitals withoutAQCVpharmacists (odds ratio1.41, 95%confidence interval1.25–1.58, p<0.0001, p<0.001 for heterogeneity), which was mainly driven by the aspirin on discharge forAMIand angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker on discharge forHFmeasures. No differences were observed between the groups for either readmission or mortality at 30 days.

Conclusions

Hospitals that used inpatientAQCVpharmacists performed better on process of care measures than hospitals that do not use inpatientAQCVpharmacists. However, improvements in process of care performance measures observed inAQCVhospitals did not translate into improved 30‐day clinical outcomes.
Acute Coronary Syndrome Antiplatelet Alternatives in Clopidogrel Allergy
Authors: Manchette Anastasia M. , Drucker Adrienne G. , Januzzi James L.
Published: June 2014

No published information exists to support the safe use of ticagrelor in patients with a clopidogrel allergy. This study involved an institutional review board–approved retrospective review of patients with a documented clopidogrel allergy who subsequently received ticagrelor between July 2011 and February 2014. We report the cases of two patients with a history of hypersensitivity to clopidogrel in whom ticagrelor was used successfully without documented incident. In addition, principles suggesting a lack of cross‐sensitivity between ticagrelor and clopidogrel are reviewed. These cases combined with theoretical evidence support the use of ticagrelor in patients with hypersensitivity to clopidogrel.
Wet‐milled anatase titanium oxide nanoparticles as a buffer layer for air‐stable bulk heterojunction solar cells
Authors: Huang Jen‐Hsien , Ibrahem Mohammed Aziz , Chu Chih‐Wei
Published: June 2014

In this study, an air‐stable bulk heterojunction organic solar cell demonstrated by utilization of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as a hole blocking layer was prepared through high‐energy grinding method. The large clumps of the anatase TiO2 underwent deaggregation to form a stable dispersed solution during the grinding process. The resultant suspension can form a uniform and smooth TiO2 film through spin coating on various substrates. Because of substantial oxygen and water protection effect of TiO2 thin film, the bulk heterojunction solar cells exhibit a significant long‐term stability. It is also found that the cell performance can be promoted dramatically after ultraviolet activation. The mechanism responsible for the enhanced cell efficiency was also investigated. This solution‐based method does not require surfactants, thus preserving the intrinsic electronic and optical properties of TiO2 that makes these proposed buffer layers quite attractive for next‐generation flexible devices appealing high conductivity and transparency. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.