bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Starvation and the Clinicopathologic Abnormalities Associated with Starved Dogs: A Review of 152 Cases
Authors: Pointer Emmy , Reisman Robert , Windham Rhonda , Murray Louise
Published: January 2013

The objectives of this retrospective study were to identify the most common clinicopathologic abnormalities in starved dogs, assess the time required for those abnormalities to resolve, and determine whether clinicopathologic abnormalities recorded at time of intake to the hospital influenced time to regain weight. Records of 152 very underweight or emaciated dogs seized by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) division were reviewed. Dogs were classified as emaciated if the admission body weight was estimated to be ≥ 30% below the anticipated ideal body weight and classified as very underweight if the admission weight was estimated to be 20–29% below the anticipated ideal body weight. An initial minimum database was obtained on each animal, and when possible, clinicopathologic abnormalities were serially assessed. The most common initial abnormalities, present in ≥ 25% of dogs, were hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytosis, anemia, elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN), elevated BUN/creatinine ratio, and hypocalcemia. Mean time to gain 20% of admission body weight was similar for the abnormalities studied. Although there was some evidence that dogs with anemia and/or hypoalbuminemia required more days to gain weight, future studies are required for confirmation.
Bilateral Extracapsular Soft-Tissue Ossification Affecting Range of TMJ Motion in an Airedale Terrier
Authors: Ellenberger Sarah , Snyder Christopher
Published: January 2013

A 3 mo old female Airedale terrier presented with decreased range of motion of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which was first recognized at weaning. Computed tomography (CT) revealed abnormal, bilateral ossification of the soft tissues extending from the region of the tympanic bullae to the medial aspect of the angular process of each mandible. Those ossified structures most closely approximated the location of the lateral pterygoid muscles. The ossified structures were present at presentation and initially manifested as complete ossification on the right side. The condition progressed to complete bilateral ossification by 3 yr of age. The mandibular condyles associated with the temporomandibular joints were malformed. The patient had severe mandibular distoclusion with deviation of the mandible to the left. The left mandibular cheek teeth were positioned in a caudal cross bite. A single treatment of manual stretching and breakdown of the ossified muscle of mastication by placement of tongue depressors within the oral cavity resulted in no increase in TMJ range of motion as measured by the incisal opening. This is the first reported case of spontaneous false ankylosis of the TMJ in an Airedale terrier.
Food Value of Two Varieties of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Commonly Consumed in Nigeria
Authors: Ajayi Olubunmi B. , Akomolafe Seun F. , Akinyemi Funmilayo T.
Published: January 2013

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a well-known and widely used herb, which contains several interesting bioactive constituents and possesses health-promoting properties. The proximate, mineral, antinutrient, amino acid, and phytochemical components of two varieties of ginger (Zingiber officinale) were investigated. Amino acid composition was determined using standard analytical techniques. The results obtained in percentages in the two varieties of ginger (white and yellow types) were crude fibre (21.90, 8.30), fat (17.11, 9.89), carbohydrate (39.70, 58.21), crude protein (12.05, 11.65), ash (4.95, 7.45) and moisture (3.95, 4.63) contents respectively. Elemental analysis revealed that potassium (0.98 ppm and 1.38 ppm) is the most abundant, while copper (0.01 ppm) is the least. Phytochemical screening indicated that they are both rich in saponins, anthraquinones, phlobatannin and glycosides. Also, the antinutrient constituents of white ginger were lower than yellow ginger, although the levels of the antinutrient constituents in the two varieties are saved for consumption. The essential amino acids in the two varieties were almost the same, with Leu being the most abundant in both. The two ginger varieties were adequate only in Leu, Phe + Try, and valine based on FAO/WHO provisional pattern. Overall, the findings indicate that the two varieties of ginger are good sources of nutrients, mineral elements, amino acid, and phytochemicals which could be exploited as great potentials for drugs and/or nutritional supplements.
Continuous grinding mill simulation using Austin's model
Authors: Silva André Carlos , Luz José Aurélio Medeiros
Published: January 2013

Comminution is a frequently-required step in mineral processing and is responsible for almost 90% of all energy consumption in a mineral processing plant. Tumbling mill design has been studied since the middle of the XIX century. There are many comminution models in the literature, with preponderance, however, of Austin’s model (2002) for mineral impact breakage. In this paper, Austin’s model was applied to tubular tumbling mills. Once Austin’s model was proposed for batch processing of narrowly-distributed fraction sizes, an artifice has allowed it to be used in continuous grinding mill processes with widely-distributed fraction sizes. Interesting results were obtained with errors less than 0.005 for mills with sharp residence time distributions.
Tratamento térmico de moldes e matrizes  e os aspectos de qualidade relevantes
Authors: Mesquita Rafael Agnelli , Moraes Priscilla
Published: January 2013

Neste artigo, discute-se a problemática do controle de tratamentos térmicos de ferramentas, moldes e matrizes. Diversos aspectos metalúrgicos específicos dos aços ferramenta são apontados, ilustrando quão crítica é a qualidade do tratamento térmico para o desempenho final das ferramentas. Apesar dessa relevância, os mecanismos tradicionais de controle são mostrados como ineficazes para garantir um desempenho adequado. Assim, uma metodologia baseada no controle do processo é proposta.
BellBot - A Hotel Assistant System Using Mobile Robots
Authors: López Joaquín , Pérez Diego , Zalama Eduardo , Gómez-García-Bermejo Jaime
Published: January 2013

There is a growing interest in applying intelligent technologies to assistant robots. These robots should have a number of characteristics such as autonomy, easy reconfiguration, robust perception systems and they should be oriented towards close interaction with humans.

In this paper we present an automatic hotel assistant system based on a series of mobile platforms that interact with guests and service personnel to help them in different tasks. These tasks include bringing small items to customers, showing them different points of interest in the hotel, accompanying the guests to their rooms and providing them with general information. Each robot can also autonomously handle some daily scheduled tasks. Apart from user-initiated and scheduled tasks, the robots can also perform tasks based on events triggered by the building's automation system (BAS). The robots and the BAS are connected to a central server via a local area network.

The system was developed with the Robotics Integrated Development Environment (RIDE) and was tested intensively in different environments.
Delineating the Role of Multiple Intraarticular Corticosteroid Injections in the Management of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in the Biologic Era
Authors: Papadopoulou Charalampia , Kostik Mikhail , Gonzalez‐Fernandez Maria Isabel , Bohm Marek , Nieto‐Gonzalez Juan Carlos , Pistorio Angela , Lanni Stefano , Consolaro Alessandro , Martini Alberto , Ravelli Angelo
Published: January 2013

Objective

To investigate the outcome and predicting factors of multiple intraarticular corticosteroid (IAC) injections in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods

The clinical charts of patients who received their first IAC injection in ≥3 joints between January 2002 and December 2011 were reviewed. The corticosteroid used was triamcinolone hexacetonide for large joints and methylprednisolone acetate for small or difficult to access joints. In each patient, the followup period after IAC injection was censored in case of synovitis flare or at the last visit with continued remission. Predictors included sex, age at disease onset, JIA category, antinuclear antibody (ANA) status, age and disease duration, disease course, general anesthesia, number and type of injected joints, acute‐phase reactants, and concomitant systemic medications.

Results

A total of 220 patients who had 1,096 joints injected were included. Following IAC therapy, 66.4% of patients had synovitis flare after a median of 0.5 years, whereas 33.6% of patients had sustained remission after a median of 0.9 years. The cumulative probability of survival without synovitis flare was 50.0%, 31.5%, and 19.5% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, positive C‐reactive protein value, negative ANA, lack of concomitant methotrexate administration, and a polyarticular (versus an oligoarticular) disease course were the strongest predictors for synovitis flare.

Conclusion

Multiple IAC injection therapy induced sustained remission of joint synovitis in a substantial proportion of patients. A controlled trial comparing multiple IAC injection therapy and methotrexate versus methotrexate and a tumor necrosis factor antagonist is worthy of consideration.
Systematic Review of Validation Studies of the Use of Administrative Data to Identify Serious Infections
Authors: Barber Claire , Lacaille Diane , Fortin Paul R.
Published: January 2013

Objective

To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the validation of algorithms identifying infections in administrative data for future use in populations with rheumatic diseases.

Methods

Medline and EMBase were searched using the themes “administrative data” and “infection” between 1950 and October 2012. Inclusion criteria consisted of validation studies of administrative data identifying infections in adult populations. Article quality was assessed using a validated tool.

Results

A total of 5,941 articles were identified, 90 articles underwent detailed review, and 24 studies were included. The majority (17 of 24) examined bacterial infections and 9 examined opportunistic infections. Eighteen studies were from the US and all but 4 studies used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Rheumatoid arthritis patients were studied in 6 of 24 articles. The studies on bacterial infections in general reported highly variable sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) for the diagnosis of infections using administrative data (sensitivity range 4.4–100%, PPV range 21.7–100%). Algorithms to identify opportunistic infections similarly had a highly variable sensitivity (range 20–100%) and PPV (range 1.3–100%). Thirteen studies compared the diagnostic accuracy of different algorithms, which revealed that strategies including a comprehensive algorithm using a greater number of diagnostic codes or codes in any position had the highest sensitivity for the diagnosis of infection. Algorithms that incorporated microbiologic or pharmacy data in combination with diagnostic codes had improved PPV for identification of tuberculosis.

Conclusion

Algorithms for identifying infections using administrative data should be selected based on the purpose of the study, with careful consideration as to whether a high sensitivity or PPV is required.
Functional Free‐Standing Graphene Honeycomb Films
Authors: Yin Shengyan , Goldovsky Yulia , Herzberg Moshe , Liu Lei , Sun Hang , Zhang Yanyan , Meng Fanben , Cao Xuebo , Sun Darren D. , Chen Hongyu , Kushmaro Ariel , Chen Xiaodong
Published: January 2013

Fabricating free‐standing, three‐dimensional (3D) ordered porous graphene structure can service a wide range of functional materials such as environmentally friendly materials for antibacterial medical applications and efficient solar harvesting devices. A scalable solution processable strategy is developed to create such free‐standing hierarchical porous structures composed of functionalized graphene sheets via an “on water spreading” method. The free‐standing film shows a large area uniform honeycomb structure and can be transferred onto any substrate of interest. The graphene‐based free‐standing honeycomb films exhibit superior broad spectrum antibacterial activity as confirmed using green fluorescent protein labeled Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Escherichia coli as model pathogens. Functional nanoparticles such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles can be easily introduced into conductive graphene‐based scaffolds by premixing. The formed composite honeycomb film electrode shows a fast, stable, and completely reversible photocurrent response accompanying each switch‐on and switch‐off event. The graphene‐based honeycomb scaffold enhances the light‐harvesting efficiency and improves the photoelectric conversion behavior; the photocurrent of the composite film is about two times as high as that of the pure TiO2 film electrode. Such composite porous films combining remarkably good electrochemical performance of graphene, a large electrode/electrolyte contact area, and excellent stability during the photo‐conversion process hold promise for further applications in water treatment and solar energy conversion.
Effect of Solute‐ and Solvent‐Derived Marangoni Flows on the Shape of Polymer Films Formed from Drying Droplets
Authors: Babatunde Patience Oluwatosin , Hong Wang Jing , Nakaso Koichi , Fukai Jun
Published: January 2013

Significance

The effects of mixed solvents on the shape of films formed on a hydrophilic surface from polymer solute droplets were investigated experimentally. The film shape depended on the two solvents used, and the mixing ratio. It was also found that the flow direction was dominated by solute‐derived rather than solvent‐derived Marangoni flows. Consequently, the changes in the shape of the film could not be explained only by the Marangoni flow direction.
Exploring Occupational and Health Behavioral Causes of Firefighter Obesity: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Dobson Marnie , Choi BongKyoo , Schnall Peter L. , Wigger Erin , Garcia‐Rivas Javier , Israel Leslie , Baker Dean B.
Published: January 2013

Background

Firefighters, as an occupational group, have one of the highest prevalence rates of obesity. A qualitative study investigated occupational and health behavioral determinants of obesity among firefighters.

Methods

Four focus groups were conducted with firefighters of every rank as Phase I of the FORWARD study which was designed to assess health behavioral and occupational characteristics related to obesity in firefighters.

Results

Analysis revealed five main themes of central importance to firefighters: (1) fire station eating culture; (2) night calls and sleep interruption; (3) supervisor leadership and physical fitness; (4) sedentary work; and (5) age and generational influences.

Conclusion

The results showed a strong interrelationship between occupational and health behavioral causes of obesity in firefighters. The relevance of these qualitative findings are discussed along with the implications for future obesity interventions with firefighters. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:776–790, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Anti‐clockwise rotating shift work and health: Would you prefer 3‐shift or 4‐shift operation?
Authors: Mauss Daniel , Litaker David , Jarczok Marc N. , Li Jian , Bosch Jos A. , Fischer Joachim E.
Published: January 2013

Background

We explored the association between work schedules involving nightshifts and selected measures of health and whether these associations differed among those working in either 3‐ or 4‐shift cycles.

Methods

Employees at a German industrial company who worked on a fixed daytime schedule or on one involving nightshifts were invited to participate in this cross‐sectional study. Work schedules involving a nightshift were organized into either 3 or 4 shifts rotated anti‐clockwise on a weekly basis. Health characteristics included a range of clinical and physiological measures and self‐reported data on stress and sleep quality. We assessed the independent association of work schedules involving any nightshift and these health characteristics in separate regression analyses, adjusting for age, gender, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

Results

Nightshift work (N = 133) in general and 3‐shift‐work (N = 53) in particular was associated with decreased sleep quality (P < 0.001). Compared to those working daytime (N = 632), employees working on a 3‐shift cycle had higher adjusted odds of meeting the definition of metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.56 [1.38, 4.75]). Employees working 4‐shift cycles were somewhat less likely to have metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.22 [0.73, 2.05]) and had higher parasympathetic activity measured by heart rate variability (OR = 2.20 [1.04, 4.63]).

Conclusions

Our data suggest important relationships between shift schedule and a selected group of objective and subjective health measures. Additional research that further clarifies potential mechanisms underlying these relationships is needed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:599–608, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A combined study of genetic association and brain imaging on the DAOA gene in schizophrenia
Authors: Chen Jun , Xu Yong , Zhang Juan , Liu Zhifen , Xu Cheng , Zhang Kerang , Shen Yan , Xu Qi
Published: January 2013

While there has been no objective biomarker available for both diagnosis and prognosis of schizophrenia, compelling evidence suggests that the glutamatergic system may influence susceptibility to schizophrenia. To test genetic association of the glutamatergic system with schizophrenia and abnormal brain activities in resting‐state patients with schizophrenia, a two‐stage association study was performed in 454 patients and 480 controls, followed by regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis of resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging in 48 first‐episode medication‐free patients and 43 well‐matched controls. The differences in ReHo between genotypes of interest were initially tested by the Student's t‐test and the 2 × 2 (genotypes × disease status) ANOVA was then performed to identify the main effects of genotypes, disease status and their interactions in schizophrenia. The stage‐1 study showed association of the DAOA and PSEN2 genes with schizophrenia in a small sample; the stage‐2 study with an expanded sample confirmed the disease association for 2‐SNP and 3‐SNP haplotypes, and the cis‐phase interactions between rs2391191 and some other SNPs in the DAOA gene. Four clusters with altered ReHo in the bilateral culmen, left putamen and left cuneus were associated with rs2391191. Main effects of rs2391191 genotypes were found in the left putamen. The left cuneus showed a genotype × disease status interaction. In conclusion, the DAOA gene may confer genetic risk of schizophrenia and associate with the altered ReHo in schizophrenia; genotype effect and its interaction with disease status may contribute to the altered ReHo, leading to specific ReHo in schizophrenic brain due to glutamatergic modulation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
“Collaborative Innovation” – Wie bringt man die Arzneimittelentwicklung zurück auf die Erfolgsspur?
Authors: Wild Hanno , Huwe Christoph , Lessl Monika
Published: January 2013

Wer teilt gewinnt: Das „Collaborative Innovation“‐Konzept hat das Potenzial, die wachsenden Herausforderungen für die Pharmaindustrie zu überwinden. Um dabei erfolgreich zu sein, ist es wichtig, die Kräfte unterschiedlichster Partner auf globaler Ebene zu bündeln und verschiedene Ansätze flexibel zu kombinieren. Dies erfordert die richtige Einstellung aller Beteiligten, eine Kombination aus interner Exzellenz und Offenheit nach außen und den richtigen organisatorischen Aufbau.
Probing the reinforcing mechanism of graphene and graphene oxide in natural rubber
Authors: Li Fayong , Yan Ning , Zhan Yanhu , Fei Guoxia , Xia Hesheng
Published: January 2013

Natural rubber (NR) containing graphene (GE) and graphene oxide (GO) were prepared by latex mixing. The in situ chemically reduction process in the latex was used to realize the conversion of GO to GE. A noticeable enhancement in tensile strength was achieved for both GO and GE filled NR systems, but GE has a better reinforcing effect than GO. The strain‐induced crystallization was evaluated by synchrotron wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. Increased crystallinity and special strain amplification effects were observed with the addition of GE. The incorporation of GE produces a faster strain‐induced crystallization rate and a higher crystallinity compared to GO. The entanglement‐bound tube model was used to characterize the chain network structure of composites. It was found that the contribution of entanglement to the conformational constraint increases and the network molecular parameters changes with the addition of GE and GO, while GE has a more evident effect than GO. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Performance of flame retardancy silk modified with water‐soluble vinyl phosphoamide
Authors: Guan Jinping , Chen Guoqiang
Published: January 2013

In this article, a water‐soluble flame retardant monomer dimethyl(methacryloyloxyethyl)phosphoramidate (DMMEPN) was synthesized and applied onto silk fabric via graft copolymerization technique initiated with potassium persulfate (KPS). The results of attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) indicated that DMMEPN was successfully grafted onto silk fiber surface. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that grafting process didn't change the crystalline structure of silk fibers and the reaction mainly occurred at the amorphous region of silk fibers. DMMEPN grafted silk fabric exhibited self‐extinguish property when ignited with a candle like fire with LOI of 32.38% and could pass vertical flammability test with char length of 42 mm. Thermal gravimetric analysis showed that grafted silk fibers had different thermal decomposition mode with control silk fibers and tended to produce more char after combustion. This article also investigated the physical properties like whiteness index, hygroscopicity, and tensile strength of grafted silk fabrics. The results showed that physical properties had some loss but had no negative effect on final uses. Laundering durability test demonstrated treated silk fabrics still showed flame retardancy after enduring 30 hand wash cycles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Rituximab Therapy for Primary Sjögren's Syndrome: An Open‐Label Clinical Trial and Mechanistic Analysis
Authors: St.Clair E. William , Levesque Marc C. , Prak Eline T. Luning , Vivino Frederick B. , Alappatt Chacko J. , Spychala Meagan E. , Wedgwood Josiah , McNamara James , Moser Sivils Kathy L. , Fisher Lytia , Cohen Philip ,   for the Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence
Published: January 2013

Objective

To study the safety and clinical efficacy of rituximab therapy for primary Sjögren's syndrome, as well as to investigate its mechanisms.

Methods

Patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were enrolled in an open‐label trial, were given rituximab (1 gm) infusions on days 1 and 15, and were monitored through week 52. The primary end point was safety, with secondary end points evaluating clinical and biologic efficacy. Blood was obtained for enumeration of lymphocyte subsets, measurement of serum autoantibody and BAFF levels, and analysis of gene expression.

Results

Twelve female patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were administered rituximab. They had a median age of 51 years (range 34–69 years) and a median disease duration of 8.0 years (range 2–18 years). We observed no unexpected toxicities from the rituximab therapy. Modest improvements were observed at week 26 in patient‐reported symptoms of fatigue and oral dryness, with no significant improvement in the objective measures of lacrimal and salivary gland function. The recovery of blood B cells following the nadir from rituximab therapy was characterized by a predominance of transitional B cells and a lack of memory B cells. While blood B cell depletion was associated with an increase in serum BAFF levels, no significant changes were observed in the levels of serum anti‐Ro/SSA, anti‐La/SSB, and anti–type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies or in the blood interferon signature.

Conclusion

In patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome, a single treatment course of rituximab was not associated with any unexpected toxicities and led to only modest clinical benefits despite effective depletion of blood B cells.
Deletion Variants of RABGAP1L, 10q21.3, and C4 Are Associated With the Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Korean Women
Authors: Kim Ji‐Hong , Jung Seung‐Huyn , Bae Joon Seol , Lee Hye‐Soon , Yim Seon‐Hee , Park So‐Yeon , Bang So‐Young , Hu Hae‐Jin , Shin Hyoung Doo , Bae Sang‐Cheol , Chung Yeun‐Jun
Published: January 2013

Objective

Several copy number variations (CNVs) have been found to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) through the target gene approach. However, genome‐wide features of CNVs and their role in the risk of SLE remain unknown. The aim of this study was to identify SLE‐associated CNVs in Korean women.

Methods

Genome‐wide assessments of CNVs were performed in 382 SLE patients and 191 control subjects, using an Illumina HumanHap610 BeadChip genotyping platform. SLE‐associated CNV regions that were identified by genome‐wide association study (GWAS) were replicated in quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and deletion‐typing PCR analyses in an independent sample set comprising 564 SLE patients and 511 control subjects.

Results

Of 144 common CNV regions, 3 deletion‐type CNV regions in 1q25.1, 8q23.3, and 10q21.3 were found to be significantly associated with SLE by GWAS analysis. In the independent replication, the CNV regions in 1q25.1 (RABGAP1L) and 10q21.3 were successfully replicated (odds ratio [OR] 1.30, P = 0.038 and OR 1.90, P = 3.6 × 10−5, respectively), and the associations were confirmed again by deletion‐typing PCR. The CNV region in the C4 gene, which showed a potential association in the discovery stage, was included in the replication analysis and was found to be significantly associated with the risk of SLE (OR 1.88, P = 0.01). Through deletion‐typing PCR, the exact sizes and breakpoint sequences of the deletions were defined. Individuals with the deletions in all 3 loci (RABGAP1L, 10q21.3, and C4) had a much higher risk of SLE than did those without any deletions in the 3 loci (OR 5.52, P = 3.9 × 10−4).

Conclusion

These CNV regions can be useful to identify the pathogenic mechanisms of SLE, and might be used to more accurately predict the risk of SLE by taking into consideration their synergistic effects on disease susceptibility.
Acid‐Sensing Ion Channel 3 Deficiency Increases Inflammation but Decreases Pain Behavior in Murine Arthritis
Authors: Sluka Kathleen A. , Rasmussen Lynn A. , Edgar Meghan M. , O'Donnell James M. , Walder Roxanne Y. , Kolker Sandra J. , Boyle David L. , Firestein Gary S.
Published: January 2013

Objective

Through its location on nociceptors, acid‐sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC‐3) is activated by decreases in pH and plays a significant role in musculoskeletal pain. We recently showed that decreases in pH activate ASIC‐3 located on fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS), which are key cells in the inflammatory process. The purpose of this study was to test whether ASIC‐3–deficient mice with arthritis have altered inflammation and pain relative to controls.

Methods

Collagen antibody–induced arthritis (CAIA) was generated by injection of an anti–type II collagen antibody cocktail. Inflammation and pain parameters in ASIC‐3−/− and ASIC‐3+/+ mice were assessed. Disease severity was assessed by determining clinical arthritis scores, measuring joint diameters, analyzing joint histology, and assessing synovial gene expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Cell death was assessed with a Live/Dead assay of FLS in response to decreases in pH. Pain behaviors in the mice were measured by examining withdrawal thresholds in the joints and paws and by measuring their physical activity levels.

Results

Surprisingly, ASIC‐3−/− mice with CAIA demonstrated significantly increased joint inflammation, joint destruction, and expression of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP‐3), and MMP‐13 in joint tissue as compared to ASIC‐3+/+ mice. ASIC‐3+/+ FLS showed enhanced cell death when exposed to pH 6.0 in the presence of IL‐1β, which was abolished in ASIC‐3−/− FLS. Despite enhanced disease severity, ASIC‐3−/− mice did not develop mechanical hypersensitivity of the paw and showed greater levels of physical activity.

Conclusion

Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that ASIC‐3 plays a protective role in the inflammatory arthritides by limiting inflammation through enhanced synoviocyte cell death, which reduces disease severity, and through the production of pain, which reduces joint use.
Wood pellet market and trade: a global perspective
Authors: Goh Chun Sheng , Junginger Martin , Cocchi Maurizio , Marchal Didier , Thrän Daniela , Hennig Christiane , Heinimö Jussi , Nikolaisen Lars , Schouwenberg Peter‐Paul , Bradley Douglas , Hess Richard , Jacobson Jacob , Ovard Leslie , Deutmeyer Michael
Published: January 2013

This perspective provides an overview of wood pellet markets in a number of countries of high significance, together with an inventory of market factors and relevant past or existing policies. In 2010, the estimated global wood pellet production and consumption were close to 14.3 Mt (million metric tonnes) and 13.5 Mt, respectively, while the global installed production capacity had reached over 28 Mt. Two types of pellets are mainly traded (i) for residential heating and (ii) for large‐scale district heating or co‐firing installations. The EU was the primary market, responsible for nearly 61% and 85% of global production and consumption, respectively in 2010. EU markets were divided according to end use: (i) residential and district heating, (ii) power plants driven market, (iii) mixed market, and (iv) export‐driven countries. North America basically serves as an exporter, but also with significant domestic consumption in USA. East Asia is predicted to become the second‐largest consumer after the EU in the near future. The development perspective in Latin America remains unclear. Five factors that determine the market characteristics are: (i) the existence of coal‐based power plants, (ii) the development of heating systems, (iii) feedstock availability, (iv) interactions with wood industry, and (v) logistics factor. Furthermore, intervention policies play a pivotal role in market development. The perspective of wood pellets industry was also analyzed from four major aspects: (i) supply potential, (ii) logistics issues, (iii) sustainability considerations, and (iv) technology development. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Heterometallic Polyhydride Complexes Containing Yttrium Hydrides with Different Cp Ligands: Synthesis, Structure, and Hydrogen‐Uptake/Release Properties
Authors: Shima Takanori , Hou Zhaomin
Published: January 2013

A new family of Y4/M2 and Y5/M heterobimetallic rare‐earth‐metal/d‐block‐transition‐metalpolyhydride complexes has been synthesized. The reactions of the tetranuclear yttriumoctahydride complex [{Cp′′Y(μ‐H)2}4(thf)4] (Cp′′=C5Me4H, 1‐C5Me4H) with one equivalent of Group‐6‐metalpentahydride complexes [Cp*M(PMe3)H5] (M=Mo, W; Cp*=C5Me5) afforded pentanuclear heterobimetallic Y4/Mpolyhydride complexes [{(Cp′′Y)4(μ‐H)7}(μ‐H)4MCp*(PMe3)] (M=Mo (2 a), W (2 b)). UV irradiation of compounds 2 a,b in THF gave PMe3‐free complexes [{(Cp′′Y)4(μ‐H)6(thf)2}(μ‐H)5MCp*] (M=Mo (3 a), W (3 b)). Compounds 3 a,b reacted with one equivalent of [Cp*M(PMe3)H5] to afford hexanuclear Y4/M2 complexes [{Cp*M(μ‐H)5}{(Cp′′Y)4(μ‐H)5}{(μ‐H)4MCp*(PMe3)}] (M=Mo (4 a), W (4 b)). UV irradiation of compounds 4 a,b provided the PMe3‐free complexes [(Cp′′Y)4(μ‐H)4{(μ‐H)5MCp*}2] (M=Mo (5 a), W (5 b)). C5Me4Et‐ligated analogue [(Cp′′Y)4(μ‐H)4{(μ‐H)5Mo(C5Me4Et)}2] (5 a′) was obtained from the reaction of 1‐C5Me4H with [(C5Me4Et)Mo(PMe3)H5]. On the other hand, the reaction of pentanuclear yttriumdecahydride complex [{(C5Me4R)Y(μ‐H)2}5(thf)2] (1‐C5Me5: R=Me; 1‐C5Me4Et: R=Et) with [Cp*M(PMe3)H5] gave the hexanuclear heterobimetallic Y5/Mpolyhydride complexes [({(C5Me4R)Y}5(μ‐H)8)(μ‐H)5MCp*] (6 a: M=Mo, R=Me; 6 a′: M=Mo, R=Et; 6 b: M=W, R=Me). Compound 5 a released two molecules of H2 under vacuum to give [(Cp′′Y)4(μ‐H)2{(μ‐H)4MoCp*}2] (7). In contrast, compound 6 a lost one molecule of H2 under vacuum to yield [{(Cp*Y)5(μ‐H)7}(μ‐H)4MoCp*] (8). Both compounds 7 and 8 readily reacted with H2 to regenerate compounds 5 a and 6 a, respectively. The structures of compounds 4 a, 5 a′, 6 a′, 7, and 8 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.
Cooperative transmissions for secondary spectrum access in cognitive radios
Authors: Dai Zeyang , Liu Jian , Long Keping
Published: January 2013

In cognitive radio networks (CRNs), the primary users (PUs) and secondary users (SUs) will interfere with each other, which may severely degrade the performances of both primary and secondary transmissions. In this paper, we propose a two‐phase cognitive transmission (TCT) protocol for secondary spectrum access in CRNs, aiming at improving the secondary transmission performance while guaranteeing the quality‐of‐service (QoS) of primary transmissions. In TCT protocol, SUs gain the opportunities to access the licensed spectrum through assisting primary transmissions using superposition coding (SC), where SUs limit their transmit power to satisfy a given primary QoS requirement and also employ interference cancelation technique to mitigate the interference from PUs. Under the constraint of satisfying a required primary outage probability, we derive the closed‐form expressions of secondary outage probabilities over Rayleigh fading channels for proposed TCT protocol. Numerical and simulation results reveal that, with a guaranteed primary outage probability, TCT achieves better secondary transmission performance than traditional case. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive responses and invasion: the role of plasticity and evolution in snail shell morphology
Authors: Kistner Erica J. , Dybdahl Mark F.
Published: January 2013

Invasive species often exhibit either evolved or plastic adaptations in response to spatially varying environmental conditions. We investigated whether evolved or plastic adaptation was driving variation in shell morphology among invasive populations of the New Zealand mud snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) in the western United States. We found that invasive populations exhibit considerable shell shape variation and inhabit a variety of flow velocity habitats. We investigated the importance of evolution and plasticity by examining variation in shell morphological traits 1) between the parental and F1 generations for each population and 2) among populations of the first lab generation (F1) in a common garden, full‐sib design using Canonical Variate Analyses (CVA). We compared the F1 generation to the parental lineages and found significant differences in overall shell shape indicating a plastic response. However, when examining differences among the F1 populations, we found that they maintained among‐population shell shape differences, indicating a genetic response. The F1 generation exhibited a smaller shell morph more suited to the low‐flow common garden environment within a single generation. Our results suggest that phenotypic plasticity in conjunction with evolution may be driving variation in shell morphology of this widespread invasive snail.
Heterobimetallic Sodium–Lithium Based Metal–Organic Framework Showing the β‐Cristobalite Topology and Having High Permanent Porosity
Authors: Frigoli Michel , El Osta Racha , Marrot Jérôme , Medina Manuela E. , Walton Richard I. , Millange Franck
Published: January 2013

The solvothermal synthesis of a novel mixed‐s‐block metal–organic framework is described, with crystallization brought about by use of the sodium salt of the benzo‐(1,2;3,4;5,6)‐tris(thiophene‐2′‐carboxylate) linker in combination with a lithium salt. The structure of the material was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, which reveals an expanded version of the β‐cristobalite topology, with supertetrahedral building units made up of clusters of sodium and lithium ions. Outgassing under vacuum gives permanent porosity to the solid structure with a BET surface area of 1191 m2 g–1 measured by nitrogen adsorption.
Organic carbon export in the form of wood during an extreme tropical storm, Upper Rio Chagres, Panama
Authors: Wohl Ellen , Ogden Fred L.
Published: January 2013

Widespread, intense rainfall over the Upper Rio Chagres watershed (414 km2) in central Panama during December 2010 triggered numerous landslides that introduced large numbers of trees to the river network. We flew by helicopter along the mainstem Upper Chagres and the adjacent margins of Lake Alhajuela, into which the Upper Chagres flows, in February and June 2011. We used low‐elevation video photography from these flights to tally the number of wood pieces stored along the lake margin and within the channel, and the number of landslides reaching the mainstem. We used these tallies with ground‐verified estimates of average wood piece size and landslide surface area, and assumptions about wood density, carbon content, and aboveground biomass, to develop a first‐order estimate of carbon export in the form of wood from the Upper Chagres following the 2010 storms. Based on the wood tally, we estimate 9 · 6 to 16 Mg C/km2export, and from the landslide tally we estimate 24 Mg C/km2. We believe the landslide tally provides a more accurate minimum estimate of carbon export from the Upper Chagres during the December 2010 storms. These values are an order of magnitude higher than limited data for average or background rates of wood‐based carbon export from other catchments, but two orders of magnitude lower than wood‐based carbon export during extreme storms in Taiwan. The findings suggest that duration of flood flow above a threshold for mobilizing wood within the channel network exerts a more important control on wood export from the Upper Chagres than magnitude of flood peak. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of mesenchymal stem cells on inhibiting airway remodeling and airway inflammation in chronic asthma
Authors: Ge Xiahui , Bai Chong , Yang Jianming , Lou Guoliang , Li Qiang , Chen Ruohua
Published: January 2013

Previous studies proved that bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) could improve a variety of immune‐mediated disease by its immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effect on airway remodeling and airway inflammation by administrating BMSCs in chronic asthmatic mice. Forty‐eight female BALB/c mice were randomly distributed into PBS group, BMSCs treatment group, BMSCs control group, and asthmatic group. The levels of cytokine and immunoglobulin in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The number of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells and morphometric analysis was determined by flow cytometry, hematoxylin‐eosin, immunofluorescence staining, periodic‐acid Schiff, and masson staining, respectively. We found that airway remodeling and airway inflammation were evident in asthmatic mice. Moreover, low level of IL‐12 and high levels of IL‐13, IL‐4, OVA‐specific IgG1, IgE, and IgG2a and the fewer number of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells were present in asthmatic group. However, transplantation of BMSCs significantly decreased airway inflammation and airway remodeling and level of IL‐4, OVA‐specific IgE, and OVA‐specific IgG1, but elevated level of IL‐12 and the number of CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in asthma (P < 0.05). However, BMSCs did not contribute to lung regeneration and had no significant effect on levels of IL‐10, IFN‐Y, and IL‐13. In our study, BMSCs engraftment prohibited airway inflammation and airway remodeling in chronic asthmatic group. The beneficial effect of BMSCs might involved the modulation imbalance cytokine toward a new balance Th1–Th2 profiles and up‐regulation of protective CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in asthma, but not contribution to lung regeneration. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 1595–1605, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prenatal diagnosis of femoral‐facial syndrome: Case report
Authors: Castro Simon , Peraza Efren , Zapata Marco
Published: January 2013

Femoral‐facial syndrome (FFS), also known as femoral hypoplasia–unusual facies syndrome, is a rare condition characterized by a variable degree of unilateral or bilateral femoral hypoplasia associated with facial anomalies. This report describes a case of FFS diagnosed after 13 weeks of pregnancy following the detection of severe micrognathia and bilateral shortening of the femur in the fetus of a patient with DM. The sonographic evolution from the first trimester until birth is described. The clinical findings, the differential diagnosis with other pathologies characterized by hypoplasia femoral, and the prognosis are discussed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 42:49–52, 2014
The influence of pregnancy on heterotopic ossification post‐displaced acetabular fractures surgical repair
Authors: Mourad Waleed F. , Packianathan Satya , Shourbaji Rania A. , Jennelle Richard , Yang Claus (Chunli) , Mobit Paul , Zhang Zhen , Khan Majid A. , Graves Mathew , Russell George , Vijayakumar Srinivasan
Published: January 2013

Pregnancy is associated with maternal bone mineral density loss and modulation of calcium metabolism. We hypothesized that pregnancy may decrease the risk of heterotopic ossification (HO) after trauma. This is a single‐institution, University of Mississippi Medical Center, retrospective study investigating the effect of pregnancy on the incidence HO after surgical repair (SR) of displaced acetabular fractures. Between January 1998 and 2010, 257 non‐pregnant women (Group A) and 16 pregnant women (Group B) were identified. All the non‐pregnant women received radiation therapy (RT) ± indomethacin. None of the pregnant women in group B received any prophylaxis. After a median follow‐up of 6.6 years the incidence of HO in all patients was 27% (75/273). In Group A, non‐pregnant, women who received RT ± indomethacin, 29% developed HO; HO risk was 0.4. In Group B, 16 pregnant patients, only one developed HO (6%); HO risk was 0.06. Thus, the risk of HO appears to be nearly six‐fold higher in non‐pregnant women despite prophylactic RT ± indomethacin. Our data suggest that pregnancy may be associated with a reduced risk of HO after SR of displaced acetabular fractures. Further analysis with a larger pregnant patient sample is necessary to confirm this finding. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 944–948, 2013
Dual Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions of O,O‐Diethyl 2,4‐dinitrophenyl Phosphate and Thionophosphate Triesters
Authors: Aguayo Raul , Arias Felipe , Cañete Alvaro , Zuñiga Carolina , Castro Enrique A. , Pavez Paulina , Santos José G.
Published: January 2013

The reactions of the title compounds with phenoxides, secondary alicyclic (SA) amines, and pyridines, in 44 wt% ethanol–water, at 25°C and an ionic strength of 0.2 M, were subjected to kinetic and product studies. From analytical techniques (HPLC and NMR), two pathways were detected (nucleophilic attack at the phosphoryl center and at the C‐1 aromatic carbon) for the reactions of all the nucleophiles with the phosphate (2) and for the pyridinolysis of the thionophosphate (1). Only aromatic nucleophilic substitution was found for the reactions of 1 with phenoxides and SA amines. For the dual reactions, the nucleophilic rate constants (kN) were separated in two terms: \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$k_{\rm N}^{\rm P}$\end{document} and \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$k_{\rm N}^{{\rm Ar}}$\end{document}, which are the rate constants for the corresponding electrophilic centers. The absence of a break in the Brønsted‐type plots for the attack at P is consistent with concerted mechanisms. The Brønsted slopes, βAr 0.32–0.71, for the attack at the aromatic C‐1, are in agreement with stepwise mechanisms where formation of a Meisenheimer complex is the rate‐determining step. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 45: 202–211, 2013
The downside of ‘inappropriate messaging’: new insight into the development of testicular germ cell tumours in young men?
Authors: Sharpe Richard M , Mitchell Rod T
Published: January 2013

How invasive testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) develop from precursor carcinoma in situ/intratubular germ cell neoplasia unclassified (CIS/IGCNU) cells, and only after puberty, is unknown. In the current issue of The Journal of Pathology, Jørgensen and colleagues have compared the protein expression profile of CIS before and after puberty and in pre‐invasive versus invasive TGCT and show that the mitosis–meiosis controller DMRT1 switches off in CIS cells postpubertally and is associated with invasiveness. They also show that CIS cells express a ‘confusing’ mix of pro‐ and anti‐meiotic proteins; this may predispose CIS cells to accumulate extra chromosomal material which ultimately leads to tumourigenesis.
GDF15‐mediated upregulation of ferroportin plays a key role in the development of hyperferritinemia in children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Wu Jian‐Rong , Yuan Li‐Xing , Ma Zhi‐Gui , Chen Xiao‐Xi , Gu Ling , Gao Ju
Published: January 2013

Background

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), a divergent TGFβ superfamily, has recently been implicated in the modulation of iron homeostasis, acting as an upstream negative regulator of hepcidin, the key iron regulatory hormone produced primarily by hepatocytes. However, little is known about possible roles that GDF15 might play in the regulation of iron homeostasis and development of hyperferritinemia in children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).

Procedures

We compared serum GDF15 level and mRNA expressions of GDF15 and key molecules of iron metabolism, and made correlations between their expressions in children with HLH and control children.

Results

Serum GDF15 level was remarkably higher in HLH group than that in controls, with median serum concentration of 1,700 and 260 pg/ml, respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, GDF15 mRNA was significantly upregulated but independent of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐mediated oxygen signaling pathway. More importantly, GDF15 induction was positively correlated to upregulation of ferroportin, the only cellular iron exporter, and to upregulation of ferritin heavy chain.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that GDF15 induction helps suppress further activation of macrophages in stressful physiologic states as HLH, and is intimately implicated in the development of hyperferritinemia by modulating the hepcidin–ferroportin axis, resulting in enhanced ferroportin‐mediated iron efflux. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013; 60: 940–945. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.