bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The potential impact of the pulmonary microbiome on immunopathogenesis of Aspergillus‐related lung disease
Authors: Kolwijck Eva , van de Veerdonk Frank L.
Published: September 2014

Aspergillosis is an infection or allergic response caused by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. The most common forms of aspergillosis are allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergillus also plays an important role in fungal sensitized asthma. Humans inhale Aspergillus spores every day and when the host is immunocompromised, Aspergillus spp. may cause severe pulmonary disease. There is increasing evidence that the microbiome plays a significant role in immune regulation, chronic inflammatory diseases, metabolism, and other physiological processes, including recovery from the effects of antibiotic treatment. Bacterial microbiome mediated resistance mechanisms probably play a major role in limiting fungal colonization of the lungs, and may therefore prevent humans from contracting Aspergillus‐related diseases. In this perspective, we review this emerging area of research and discuss the role of the microbiome in aspergillosis, role of Aspergillus in the microbiome, and the influence of the microbiome on anti‐Aspergillus host defense and its role in preventing aspergillosis.
Practical Syntheses of Both Enantiomers of the Conformationally Restricted GABA Analogue cis‐(2‐Aminocyclobutyl)acetic Acid
Authors: Awada Hawraà , Robin Sylvie , Guillot Régis , Yazbeck Ogaritte , Naoufal Daoud , Jaber Nada , Hachem Ali , Aitken David J.
Published: September 2014

Two efficient routes have been established for the preparation of both enantiomers of cis‐(2‐aminocyclobutyl)acetic acid, a conformationally restricted analogue of GABA. Both procedures converged on the racemic N‐tert‐butoxycarbonyl derivative of the target compound, which was resolved through chiral derivatization with an oxazolidinone auxiliary, which also allowed determination of the absolute configuration of the new compounds. The first route involved the homologation of cis‐2‐aminocyclobutanecarboxylic acid, whereas the second route employed an intramolecular photocyclization protocol, which provided an expedient, cis‐selective access to the lactam form of the target structure.
Attentional bias for pain‐ and period‐related symptom words in healthy women who experienced a recent painful period
Authors: Schoth D.E. , Williams S. , Liossi C.
Published: September 2014

Background

Attentional biases for pain‐related information have been commonly reported in patients with chronic pain. Biases may also exist in individuals who recently experienced an episode of acute clinical pain, although limited investigation has been conducted. The present study is the first to explore attentional biases in women who experienced recent menstrual pain.

Methods

Seventy healthy women were recruited who experienced a regular menstrual cycle and a recent painful period. All participants completed a visual‐probe task with pain‐related and period‐related symptom words, which were presented at subliminal (14 ms, followed by nonsensical consonant letter string for 286 ms) and supraliminal (300 ms, 1250 ms) exposure durations. Participants then completed a series of self‐report measures, including a measure of cyclical perimenstrual symptoms.

Results

Recent menstrual pain severity was found to be significantly predictive of attentional bias towards pain‐related words presented for 1250 ms. However, no significant evidence of bias was found towards period‐related symptom words.

Conclusions

Pain‐related attentional biases are associated with recent menstrual pain severity. The experience and severity of pain, rather than its duration (i.e., whether pain is chronic or acute), may be the primary determinants of pain‐related attentional bias. Future research could explore attentional biases in acute clinical pain samples to confirm this notion.
The avoidance cocoon: Examining the interplay between attachment and caregiving in predicting relationship satisfaction
Authors: Reizer Abira , Ein‐Dor Tsachi , Shaver Phillip
Published: September 2014

In the present research, we examined the hypothesis that low avoidance enables the activation of the caregiving system, and therefore, among people low in avoidance, caregiving would affect relationship satisfaction, whereas among people high in avoidance, caregiving would not affect relationship satisfaction. One‐hundred seventy‐nine Israeli adults, currently involved in romantic relationships, participated in Study 1, in which we examined whether attachment avoidance moderated the associations between caregiving and relationship satisfaction. In Study 2, we sought to replicate this finding in a sample of Israeli couples (N = 194). Finally, in Study 3 (N = 44), we examined links between attachment, caregiving, and relationship satisfaction over a period of 1 year among Israeli married couples. Results indicated that caregiving deactivation and/or hyperactivation predicted lower relationship satisfaction, yet only among people low in avoidance or among people whose partners were low in avoidance. Results are discussed in relation to the important interplay between behavioral systems on individual and dyadic levels. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent advances in combination of capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry: Methodology and theory
Authors: Klepárník Karel
Published: September 2014

This review focuses on the latest development of microseparation electromigration methods in capillaries and microfluidic devices with MS detection and identification. A wide selection of 183 relevant articles covers the literature published from June 2012 till May 2014 as a continuation of the review article on the same topic by Kleparnik [Electrophoresis 2013, 34, 70–86]. Special attention is paid to the new improvements in the theory of instrumentation and methodology of MS interfacing with capillary versions of zone electrophoresis, ITP, and IEF. Ionization methods in MS include ESI, MALDI, and ICP. Although the main attention is paid to the development of instrumentation and methodology, representative examples illustrate also applications in the proteomics, glycomics, metabolomics, biomarker research, forensics, pharmacology, food analysis, and single‐cell analysis. The combinations of MS with capillary versions of electrochromatography and micellar electrokinetic chromatography are not included.
Light irradiance and spectral distribution effects on microalgal bioreactors
Authors: Gutierrez‐Wing Maria Teresa , Silaban Athens , Barnett Jonathan , Rusch Kelly A.
Published: September 2014

The irradiance and light spectral distribution affect the growth and productivity of microalgal cultures. In extensive open pond cultures, the light control has limited options, mainly the culture depth. In photobioreactors, besides the culture depth, the light source, configuration of the reactor, light pathway, and flow rate can be used to control the characteristics of the light available to the cultures. The change of light conditions can also be used to modify the composition of the microalgal biomass produced to optimize the production of bioproducts of interest. Additionally, in mixed cultures, the species composition can be influenced by the light quantity and quality. Determining the effect of the light quantity and quality in photosynthetic cultures will help to develop strategies to optimize the production of biomass, lipids, pigments, proteins, and other compounds of interest in photosynthetic microorganisms. Information obtained from bench scale cultures can rarely be applied directly to large‐scale bioreactors. Nonetheless, determining the kinetic parameters of microalgal cultures at bench scale will reduce the time needed to optimize the cultures in photobioreactors. In this work, a review of the main factors is presented, along with specific examples of the effect of light quality and quantity in cultures with single and multiple species. Additionally, some models to predict the effect of light on microalgal productivity are discussed.
Methylmercury accumulation and elimination in mink (Neovison vison) hair and blood: Results of a controlled feeding experiment using stable isotope tracers
Authors: Wang Wei , Evans R. Douglas , Hickie Brendan E. , Rouvinen-Watt Kirsti , Evans Hayla E.
Published: September 2014

Concentrations of metals in hair are used often to develop pharmacokinetic models for both animals and humans. Although data on uptake are available, elimination kinetics are less well understood; stable isotope tracers provide an excellent tool for measuring uptake and elimination kinetics. In the present study, methylmercury concentrations through time were measured in the hair and blood of mink (Neovison vison) during a controlled 60-d feeding experiment. Thirty-four mink were fed a standard fish-based diet for 14 d, at the end of which (day 0), 4 mink were sacrificed to determine baseline methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations. From day 0 to day 10, the remaining mink were fed a diet consisting of the base diet supplemented with 0.513 ± 0.013 µg Me199Hg/g and 0.163 ± 0.003 µg Me201Hg/g. From day 10 to day 60, mink were fed the base diet supplemented with 0.175 ± 0.024 µg Me201Hg/g. Animals were sacrificed periodically to determine accumulation of Me201Hg in blood and hair over the entire 60-d period and the elimination of Me199Hg over the last 50 d. Hair samples, collected from each mink and cut into 2.0-mm lengths, indicate that both isotopes of MeHg appeared in the hair closest to the skin at approximately day 10, with concentrations in the hair reaching steady state from day 39 onward. The elimination rate of Me199Hg from the blood was 0.05/d, and the ratio of MeHg in the hair to blood was 119. A large fraction of MeHg (22% to >100%) was stored in the hair, suggesting that in fur-bearing mammals the hair is a major route of elimination of MeHg from the body. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2873–2880. © 2014 SETAC
Thermal Reactions of Fullerenes with Cyclic Organosilicon and Organogermanium Compounds: Silylation and Germylation of C60 and C70
Authors: Kako Masahiro , Inaba Daiki , Minami Kazuya , Iida Ryosuke , Nakahodo Tsukasa , Akasaka Takeshi
Published: September 2014

Thermal reactions of empty fullerenes with disilirane (1) and digermirane (2) afforded the corresponding bis‐silylated and bis‐germylated derivatives. When a bicyclic fused silirane (3a) was heated in the presence of C70, two silylene adducts were obtained through thermal extrusion of silylenes. These results provide a complementary method to the photochemical addition of reactive silicon and germanium compounds, which have been long employed for derivatization of fullerenes. Electrochemical analyses revealed the redox properties of the silylated and germylated C70, indicating the electronic perturbation caused by silyl and germyl groups introduced on the fullerene cages. Theoretical calculations were also conducted for understanding of the electronic property of the fullerene derivatives.
The Mechanisms through Which Certain Variables Influence Customer Loyalty: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Value and Satisfaction
Authors: Petnji Yaya Luc Honore , Marimon Frederic , Casadesus Marti
Published: September 2014

This study surveyed 123 bank users who experienced problems with their banks’ online banking services, with the aim of understanding the mechanisms through which certain variables influence customer loyalty. Principally, the possible mediating roles of value and satisfaction on the relationships between recovery and loyalty and between ISO 9001 and loyalty were scrutinized. The dimensionalities of the scales were assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Thereafter, structural equation modeling and multiregression analyses were used to test the proposed model. The overall results showed that service recovery can be used to enhance customers’ satisfaction and perception of value and, therefore, customer loyalty. This study also confirmed the partial mediating roles of customers’ satisfaction and perception of value in the relationship between service recovery and loyalty. In contrast, ISO 9001 has no influence on perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty; the mediating roles of both perceived value and satisfaction were not supported in the relationship between ISO 9001 and loyalty. In practice, even though ISO 9001 appeared to offer few extras to satisfy and retain customers, its use is still advisable because of the other potential benefits that it provides.
Raman spectroscopy of blood serum for Alzheimer's disease diagnostics: specificity relative to other types of dementia
Authors: Ryzhikova Elena , Kazakov Oleksandr , Halamkova Lenka , Celmins Dzintra , Malone Paula , Molho Eric , Zimmerman Earl A. , Lednev Igor K.
Published: September 2014

The key moment for efficiently and accurately diagnosing dementia occurs during the early stages. This is particularly true for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this proof‐of‐concept study, we applied near infrared (NIR) Raman microspectroscopy of blood serum together with advanced multivariate statistics for the selective identification of AD. We analyzed data from 20 AD patients, 18 patients with other neurodegenerative dementias (OD) and 10 healthy control (HC) subjects. NIR Raman microspectroscopy differentiated patients with more than 95% sensitivity and specificity. We demonstrated the high discriminative power of artificial neural network (ANN) classification models, thus revealing the high potential of this developed methodology for the differential diagnosis of AD. Raman spectroscopic, blood‐based tests may aid clinical assessments for the effective and accurate differential diagnosis of AD, decrease the labor, time and cost of diagnosis, and be useful for screening patient populations for AD development and progression.

Multivariate data analysis of blood serum Raman spectra allows for the differentiation between patients with Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia and healthy individuals.

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Multivariate data analysis of blood serum Raman spectra allows for the differentiation between patients with Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia and healthy individuals.
Reporting standards for literature searches and report inclusion criteria: making research syntheses more transparent and easy to replicate
Authors: Atkinson Kayla M. , Koenka Alison C. , Sanchez Carmen E. , Moshontz Hannah , Cooper Harris
Published: September 2014

A complete description of the literature search, including the criteria used for the inclusion of reports after they have been located, used in a research synthesis or meta‐analysis is critical if subsequent researchers are to accurately evaluate and reproduce a synthesis' methods and results. Based on previous guidelines and new suggestions, we present a set of focused and detailed standards for reporting the methods used in a literature search. The guidelines cover five search strategies: reference database searches, journal and bibliography searches, searches of the reference lists of reports, citation searches, and direct contact searches. First, we bring together all the unique recommendations made in existing guidelines for research synthesis. Second, we identify gaps in reporting standards for search strategies. Third, we address these gaps by providing new reporting recommendations. Our hope is to facilitate successful evaluation and replication of research synthesis results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reduction of energy usage in postharvest horticulture through management of ethylene
Authors: Wills Ron BH , Golding John B
Published: September 2014

Cool chain management is the preferred technology to extend the postharvest life of horticultural produce, but with rising energy costs and community pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is a need to use less energy‐intensive technologies. Minimising the level of ethylene around horticultural produce inhibits ripening and senescence and therefore has the potential to reduce the use of refrigeration. The long‐distance transport of bananas within Australia and from Central America to Europe is used as a case study to show that the need for refrigeration could be reduced if the appropriate concentrations of ethylene were maintained around fruit during transit. Data are also presented to show a similar benefit of ethylene control with green beans, as well as another study showing that apples treated with the ethylene action inhibitor 1‐methylcyclopropene could be stored at a higher temperature without loss of quality to the consumer. The range of technologies available to manage ethylene levels is discussed. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains and different aging techniques on the polysaccharide and polyphenolic composition and sensorial characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon red wines
Authors: del Barrio‐Galán Rubén , Cáceres‐Mella Alejandro , Medel‐Marabolí Marcela , Peña‐Neira Álvaro
Published: September 2014

BACKGROUND

The objective of this work was to study the effect of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains with different capabilities of polysaccharide liberation during alcoholic fermentation in addition to subsequent aging on lees with or without oak wood chips as well as aging with commercial inactive dry yeast on the physical, chemical and sensorial characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon red wines.

RESULTS

The HPS (high levels of polysaccharides) yeast strain released higher amounts of polysaccharides (429 g L−1) than EC1118 (390 g L−1) during alcoholic fermentation, but the concentration equalized during the aging period (424 and 417 g L−1 respectively). All aging techniques increased the polysaccharide concentration, but the increase was dependent on the technique applied. A higher liberation of polysaccharides reduced the concentration of most of the phenolic families analyzed. Moreover, no clear effect of the different aging techniques used in this study on color stabilization was found. The HPS wines were better valued than the EC1118 wines by the panel of tasters after alcoholic fermentation.

CONCLUSION

In general, the HPS wines showed better physicochemical and sensorial characteristics than the EC1118 wines. According to the results obtained during the aging period, all aging techniques contributed to improve wine quality, but it was difficult to establish the technique that allowed the best wine to be obtained, because it depended on the aging technique used and the period of aging. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Trichoderma harzianum T‐78 supplementation of compost stimulates the antioxidant defence system in melon plants
Authors: Bernal‐Vicente Agustina , Pascual José A , Tittarelli Fabio , Hernández José A , Diaz‐Vivancos Pedro
Published: September 2014

BACKGROUND

Compost is emerging as an alternative plant growing medium in efforts to achieve more sustainable agriculture. The addition of specific microorganisms such as Trichoderma harzianum to plant growth substrates increases yields and reduces plant diseases, but the mechanisms of such biostimulants and the biocontrol effects are not yet fully understood. In this work we investigated how the addition of citrus and vineyard composts, either alone or in combination with T. harzianum T‐78, affects the antioxidant defence system in melon plants under nursery conditions.

RESULTS

Compost application and/or Trichoderma inoculation modulated the antioxidant defence system in melon plants. The combination of citrus compost and Trichoderma showed a biostimulant effect that correlated with an increase in ascorbate recycling enzymes (monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase) and peroxidase. Moreover, the inoculation of both composts with Trichoderma increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, especially those involved in ascorbate recycling.

CONCLUSION

Based on the long‐established relationship between ascorbic acid and plant defence responses as well as plant growth and development, it can be suggested that ascorbate recycling activities play a major role in the protection provided by Trichoderma and its biostimulant effect and that these outcomes are linked to increases in antioxidant enzymes. We can conclude that the combination of citrus compost and T. harzianum T‐78 constitutes a viable, environmentally friendly strategy for improving melon plant production. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Waveguides for Direct Optical Detection of Low‐Molecular‐Weight Analytes
Authors: Sharma Nityanand , Petri Christian , Jonas Ulrich , Bach Monika , Tovar Günter , Mrkvová Kateřina , Vala Milan , Homola Jiří , Knoll Wolfgang , Dostálek Jakub
Published: September 2014

New composite layer architecture of 3D hydrogel polymer network that is loaded with mole­cularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIP) is reported for direct optical detection of low‐molecular‐weight compounds. This composite layer is attached to the metallic surface of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor in order to simultaneously serve as an optical waveguide and large capacity binding‐matrix for imprinted target analyte. Optical waveguide spectroscopy (OWS) is used as a label‐free readout method allowing direct measurement of refractive index changes that are associated with molecular binding events inside the matrix. This approach is implemented by using a photo‐crosslinkable poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐based hydrogel and poly[(ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate)‐(methacrylic acid)] nanoparticles that are imprinted with l‐Boc‐phenylalanine‐anilide (l‐BFA, molecular weight 353 g mol−1). Titration experiments with the specific target and other structurally similar reference compounds show good specificity and limit of detection for target l‐BFA as low as 2 × 10−6
m.

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Self‐Storage: A Novel Family of Stimuli‐Responsive Polymer Materials for Optical and Electrochemical Switching
Authors: Dong Yixiao , Zhang Chaocan , Wu Lili , Chen Yanjun , Hu Yuanyuan
Published: September 2014

For most stimuli‐responsive polymer materials (SRPMs), such as polymer gels, micelles, and brushes, the responsive mechanism is based on the solubility or compatibility with liquid media. That basis always results in distorting or collapsing the material's appearance and relies on external liquids. Here, a novel kind of SRPMs is proposed. Unlike most SRPMs, liquid is stored within special domains rather than expelled, so it is deforming‐free and relying on no external liquid, which is referred to as self‐storage SRPMs (SS‐SRPMs). The facile and universal route to fabricate SS‐SRPMs allows for another novel family of SRPMs. Furthermore, it is validated that SS‐SRPMs can drastically respond to outside temperature like switchers, especially for optical and electrochemical responses. Those features hold prospects for applications in functional devices, such as smart optical lenses or anti‐self‐discharge electrolytes for energy devices.

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Influence of the Surfactant on the Hydrotalcite Dispersion in NBR/LDH Composites Produced by Coagulation
Authors: Braga Fernanda C. F. , Furtado Cristina R. G. , Oliveira Marcia G.
Published: September 2014

Dispersions of 10% wt hydrotalcite were prepared by mixing using an ultrasound probe and then incorporated into NBR latex for the purpose of evaluating the influence of the surfactant presence and dispersion stability of the hydrotalcite, both in water and in latex. The surfactant used was Pluronic F‐127 and its influence was determined on the size of the agglomerates, the degree of sedimentation and the viscosity of water/LDH dispersions and latex/LDH suspensions. Preliminary results showed the efficiency of the surfactant in promoting dispersion of water/LDH, presenting lower agglomerate diameter values and increased stability of the dispersion. For the latex/LDH suspension, the viscosity of the system containing surfactant was significantly greater due to a better dispersion of LDH. After coagulation, the systems were examined in detail using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and the results did not show differences in the degree of intercalation, but XRD pattern of LDH was not observed, indicating the breakdown of crystallinity and ordering of the clay crystallites. The ash content showed that the presence of surfactant was an important factor to optimize the incorporation of the clay during coagulation. The estimation of Payne effect from shear modulus indicated a better filler dispersion in NBR matrix when using Pluronic F‐127, this behavior was also confirmed by FESEM micrographs.
The median nerve consistently drives flexion of the distal phalanx of the ring and little fingers: Interest in finger flexion reconstruction by nerve transfers
Authors: Bertelli Jayme Augusto , Ghizoni Marcos Flávio , Tacca Cristiano Paulo
Published: September 2014

Surgeons believe that in high ulnar nerve lesion distal interphalangeal joint (DIP) flexion of the ring and little finger is abolished. In this article, we present the results of a study on innervation of the flexor digitorum profundus of the ring and little fingers in five patients with high ulnar nerve injury and in 19 patients with a brachial plexus, posterior cord, or radial nerve injury. Patients with ulnar nerve lesion were assessed clinically and during surgery for ulnar nerve repair we confirmed complete lesion of the ulnar nerve in all cases. In the remaining 19 patients, during surgery, either the median nerve (MN) or the anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) was stimulated electrically and DIP flexion of the ring and little fingers evaluated. All patients with high ulnar nerve lesions had active DIP flexion of the ring and little fingers. Strength scored M4 in the ring and M3‐M4 in the little finger. Electrical stimulation of either the MN or AIN produced DIP flexion of the ring and little fingers. Contrary to common knowledge, we identified preserved flexion of the distal phalanx of the ring and little fingers in high ulnar nerve lesions. On the basis of these observations, nerve transfers to the AIN may provide flexion of all fingers. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:207–210, 2015.
Bifurcation analysis of a diffusive predator–prey system with a herd behavior and quadratic mortality
Authors: Xu Zhou , Song Yongli
Published: September 2014

In this paper, a diffusive predator–prey system, in which the prey species exhibits herd behavior and the predator species with quadratic mortality, has been studied. The stability of positive constant equilibrium, Hopf bifurcations, and diffusion‐driven Turing instability are investigated under the Neumann boundary condition. The explicit condition for the occurrence of the diffusion‐driven Turing instability is derived, which is determined by the relationship of the diffusion rates of two species. The formulas determining the direction and the stability of Hopf bifurcations depending on the parameters of the system are derived. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out to verify and extend the theoretical results and show the existence of spatially homogeneous periodic solutions and nonconstant steady states. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fatty acid chain length and saturation influences PPARα transcriptional activation and repression in HepG2 cells
Authors: Popeijus Herman E. , van Otterdijk Sanne D. , van der Krieken Sophie E. , Konings Maurice , Serbonij Kenrick , Plat Jogchum , Mensink Ronald P.
Published: September 2014

Scope

Fatty acids regulate peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) activity, however, most studies evaluated the binding ability of fatty acids to PPARα, which does not necessarily result in PPARα transactivation. We therefore examined dose–response relationships between fatty acids and PPARα transactivation in HepG2 cells. Secretion of apoA‐I protein as well as CPT1, ACO, and PPARα mRNA expression, all accepted PPARα targets, were determined as read‐outs.

Methods and results

HepG2 cells transfected with full‐length human PPARα and a PPAR response element luciferase reporter were exposed to different fatty acid concentrations. Lauric and lower doses of myristic acid increased PPARα transactivation. Palmitic and stearic acid inhibited and their monounsaturated counterparts, palmitoleic and oleic acid, increased PPARα transactivation. Linoleic and γ‐linolenic acid did not influence PPARα transactivation, while α‐linolenic acid strongly increased transactivation. Arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid all activated PPARα transactivation at lower doses, but acted at higher concentrations as PPARα repressors. In line with these results, α‐linolenic acid increased and docosahexaenoic acid decreased apoA‐I protein secretion and PPARα mRNA expression. Interestingly, ACO mRNA expression did not change while CPT1 mRNA expression showed the opposite pattern.

Conclusion

We found that fatty acids, reported to bind strongly to PPARα, could even repress PPARα transactivation illustrating that these binding assays should be interpreted with caution.
Zebrafish vasa is required for germ‐cell differentiation and maintenance
Authors: Hartung Odelya , Forbes Meredyth M. , Marlow Florence L.
Published: September 2014

Vasa is a universal marker of the germ line in animals, yet mutations disrupting vasa cause sexually dimorphic infertility, with impaired development of the ovary in some animals and the testis in others. The basis for this sexually dimorphic requirement for Vasa is not clear; in most animals examined, both the male and female gonad express vasa throughout the life of the germ line. Here we characterized a loss‐of‐function mutation disrupting zebrafish vasa. We show that maternally provided Vasa is stable through the first ten days of development in zebrafish, and thus likely fulfills any early roles for Vasa during germ‐line specification, migration, survival, and maintenance. Although zygotic Vasa is not essential for the development of juvenile gonads, vasa mutants develop exclusively as sterile males. Furthermore, phenotypes of vasa;p53 compound mutants are indistinguishable from those of vasa mutants, therefore the failure of vasa mutants to differentiate as females and to support germ‐cell development in the testis is not due to p53‐mediated apoptosis. Instead, we found that failure to progress beyond the pachytene stage of meiosis causes the loss of germ‐line stem cells, leaving empty somatic tubules. Our studies provide insight into the function of zebrafish vasa during female meiosis, differentiation, and maintenance of germ‐line stem cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 946–961, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structural imaging of the cervical spinal cord with suppressed CSF signal using DANTE pulse trains
Authors: Li Linqing , Kong Yazhuo , Zaitsu Yuri , Matthews Lucy , Palace Jacqueline , Jezzard Peter
Published: September 2014

Purpose

We propose DANTE (Delays Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation) moving fluid attenuation preparation pulse trains, in conjunction with T1, T2, and proton‐density‐weighted fast spin‐echo (T1w‐TSE, T2w‐TSE and PDw‐TSE) imaging readout, and three‐dimensional fast low flip angle shots (3D‐FLASH) T1‐weighted imaging readout to achieve CSF‐suppressed high‐spatial resolution multicontrast cervical spinal cord images.

Methods

DANTE pulse trains, consisting of a rapid series of low flip angle radiofrequency pulses interspersed with gradients, were used to substantially attenuate the longitudinal magnetization of flowing spins relative to static tissue/fluid, whose longitudinal magnetization is mostly preserved. We hypothesized that the contrast between spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be maximized due to moving CSF signal suppression.

Results

We demonstrate that metrics of contrast‐to‐noise ratio between spinal cord, nerve root, and CSF regions (CNRcord‐CSF and CNRnerve‐CSF) are improved by at least a factor of 2 when compared with images acquired with non‐prepared approaches and with 2D multiple‐echo data image combination (MEDIC) imaging. In addition, we find that sagittal image quality can be significantly improved due to flow suppression effects from the DANTE preparation pluses.

Conclusion

DANTE prepared imaging techniques for moving CSF signal attenuation are promising tools for cervical spinal cord imaging. Magn Reson Med 74:971–977, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dental Wear and Pathology in the Precolonial Caribbean: Evidence for Dietary Change in the Ceramic Age
Authors: Mickleburgh H. L.
Published: September 2014

This study investigates temporal changes in dietary practices in the Caribbean archipelago during the Ceramic Age (400 BC–AD 1500), through analyses of dental wear and pathology. Some previous studies in the region have suggested that diet and subsistence practices changed over time due to increasing sociopolitical complexity, climate change, or adaptation to island environments rich in marine resources. Both horticultural/agricultural intensification and increased marine focus of the diet over time have been posited, based among other things on faunal and botanical remains, and early ethnohistorical accounts. Local and micro‐regional stable isotope studies of temporal dietary variation have found few indications for change over time, and large regional isotope studies are still lacking.

Dentitions from sites throughout the region dating to the Early Ceramic Age (400 BC–AD 600/800) and the Late Ceramic Age (AD 600/800–1500) were analysed in order to assess temporal differences. Intra‐individual rates of wear were calculated using the difference in degree of wear between the adjacent molars and the two groups were compared with principal axis analysis. Caries, antemortem tooth loss, abscesses and dental calculus were recorded per individual and per tooth/socket, and population caries and antemortem tooth loss rates were assessed and compared by age group, tooth class and sex.

Comparisons between the two occupation periods revealed significant differences in the rate of dental wear and pathology, indicating a shift in dietary practices over time, coinciding with known social changes. The increase in pathology rates suggests a rise in the consumption of cariogenic foods or preparation techniques that increase cariogenicity. The decrease in rate of wear over time indicates a reduction in abrasivity of the diet. Together these data suggest that there was a growing focus on refined, cariogenic foods, likely horticultural/agricultural produce. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pathogenesis of varicelloviruses in primates
Authors: Ouwendijk Werner JD , Verjans Georges MGM
Published: September 2014

Varicelloviruses in primates comprise the prototypic human varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) and its non‐human primate homologue, simian varicella virus (SVV). Both viruses cause varicella as a primary infection, establish latency in ganglionic neurons and reactivate later in life to cause herpes zoster in their respective hosts. VZV is endemic worldwide and, although varicella is usually a benign disease in childhood, VZV reactivation is a significant cause of neurological disease in the elderly and in immunocompromised individuals. The pathogenesis of VZV infection remains ill‐defined, mostly due to the species restriction of VZV that impedes studies in experimental animal models. SVV infection of non‐human primates parallels virological, clinical, pathological and immunological features of human VZV infection, thereby providing an excellent model to study the pathogenesis of varicella and herpes zoster in its natural host. In this review, we discuss recent studies that provided novel insight in both the virus and host factors involved in the three elementary stages of Varicellovirus infection in primates: primary infection, latency and reactivation. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of UDP‐glucosylceramide synthase in mice prevents Gaucher disease‐associated B‐cell malignancy
Authors: Pavlova Elena V , Archer Joy , Z Wang Susan , Dekker Nick , Aerts Johannes MFG , Karlsson Stefan , Cox Timothy M
Published: September 2014

Clonal B‐cell proliferation is a frequent manifestation of Gaucher disease – a sphingolipidosis associated with a high risk of multiple myeloma and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Gaucher disease is caused by genetic deficiency of acid β‐glucosidase, the natural substrates of which (β‐d‐glucosylceramide and β‐d‐glucosylsphingosine) accumulate, principally in macrophages. Mice with inducible deficiency of β‐glucosidase [Gba(tm1Karl/tm1Karl)Tg(MX1‐cre)1Cgn/0] serve as an authentic model of human Gaucher disease; we have recently reported clonal B‐cell proliferation accompanied by monoclonal serum paraproteins and cognate tumours in these animals. To explore the relationship between B‐cell malignancy and the biochemical defect, we treated Gaucher mice with eliglustat tartrate (GENZ 112638), a potent and selective inhibitor of the first committed step in glycosphingolipid biosynthesis. Twenty‐two Gaucher mice received 300 mg/kg of GENZ 112638 daily for 3–10 months from 6 weeks of age. Plasma concentrations of β‐d‐glucosylceramide and the unacylated glycosphingolipid, β‐d‐glucosylsphingosine, declined. After administration of GENZ 112638 to Gaucher mice for 3–10 months, serum paraproteins were not detected and there was a striking reduction in the malignant lymphoproliferation: neither lymphomas nor plasmacytomas were found in animals that had received the investigational agent. In contrast, 14 out of 60 Gaucher mice without GENZ 112638 treatment developed these tumours; monoclonal paraproteins were detected in plasma from 18 of the 44 age‐matched mice with Gaucher disease that had not received GENZ 112638. Long‐term inhibition of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis suppresses the development of spontaneous B‐cell lymphoma and myeloma in Gaucher mice. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating the incident user design in the HIV population: incident use versus naive?
Authors: Brouwer Emily S. , Moga Daniela C. , Eron Joseph J. , Napravnik Sonia
Published: September 2014

Introduction

The incident user design is the preferred study design in comparative effectiveness (CER) research. Usually, 180–365 days of exposure free time is adequate to remove biases associated with inclusion of prevalent users. In HIV research, the use of antiretrovirals (ARVs) at any time in the past may influence future treatment choices and CER results; thus, identifying naive as opposed to incident users is of importance. We examined misclassification of antiretroviral naive status based on Medicaid administrative data through linkage to the UNC CFAR HIV Clinical Cohort (UCHCC).

Methods

We identified Medicaid patients with incident exposure to common first‐line ARV regimens between 2002 and 2008 that were also patients enrolled in the UCHCC. We calculated the proportion of antiretroviral naive patients based on the UCHCC, among patients identified as having incident exposure in Medicaid and examined factors associated with being antiretroviral naive in both data sources using logistic regression to generate prevalence odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Of the 3500 Medicaid patients with incident antiretroviral (ARV) exposure, 1344 were also enrolled in the UCHCC. In this sample, 34% were antiretroviral naive at the time of first exposure in the Medicaid data based on the UCHCC. In multivariable models, higher CD4 cell counts and log HIV RNA values were associated with being antiretroviral naive in both data sources.

Conclusions

Administrative data are an important source of information related to HIV treatment. As the construction of a durable and long‐lasting HIV treatment plan involves knowledge of current and past antiretroviral therapy, augmentation of this data with comprehensive clinical cohort information is necessary. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A glucose sensor via stable immobilization of the GOx enzyme on an organic transistor using a polymer brush
Authors: Welch M. Elizabeth , Doublet Thomas , Bernard Christophe , Malliaras George G. , Ober Christopher K.
Published: September 2014

Recently, there has been significant research in the area of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) because of their superior aptitude of chemical and biological sensing. Here it is shown for the first time the incorporation of polymer brushes to a transistor. Polymer brushes were chosen for their biocompatible properties and their ability to covalently tether enzymes and other biomolecules to different surfaces. OECTs were fabricated from the conducting polymer poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrene sulfonate), PEDOT:PSS, and polymerized from the surface a mixed polymer brush of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The brushes were functionalized with glucose oxidase and measured in terms of electrical performance and long‐term stability. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 372–377
Biodegradable photocrosslinkable poly(depsipeptide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) for tissue engineering: Synthesis, characterization, and In vitro evaluation
Authors: Elomaa Laura , Kang Yunqing , Seppälä Jukka V. , Yang Yunzhi
Published: September 2014

Stereolithography has become increasingly popular in scaffold fabrication due to automation and well‐controlled geometry complexity, and consequently, there is a great need for new suitable biodegradable photocrosslinkable polymers. In this study, a new type of photocrosslinkable poly(ester amide) was synthesized based on ε‐caprolactone and l‐alanine‐derived depsipeptide and was applied to fabrication of three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds by stereolithography. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infra‐red analysis confirmed the formation of new bonds during the polymer synthesis. Incorporation of depsipeptide increased the glass transition temperature and hydrophilicity of the polymer and accelerated hydrolytic degradation compared with the poly(ε‐caprolactone) homopolymer. The compressive strength of the 3D scaffolds increased with the increasing depsipeptide content. This work demonstrated that incorporation of depsipeptide into photocrosslinkable polyesters resulted in excellent cytocompatibility and tunable degradation rates and mechanical properties and thus expanded the repertoire of biomaterials suitable for 3D photofabrication of high‐resolution tissue engineering scaffolds. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 3307–3315
Supramolecular inclusion complexes of a star polymer containing cholesterol end‐capped poly(ε‐caprolactone) arms with β‐cyclodextrin
Authors: Doganci Erdinc , Gorur Mesut , Uyanik Cavit , Yilmaz Faruk
Published: September 2014

A novel hexa‐armed and star‐shaped polymer containing cholesterol end‐capped poly(ε‐caprolactone) arms emanating from a phosphazene core (N3P3‐(PCL‐Chol)6) was synthesized by a combination of ring‐opening polymerization and “click” chemistry techniques. For this purpose, the terminal OH groups of the synthesized precursor (N3P3‐(PCL‐OH)6) were converted into –Chol through a series of reaction. Both N3P3‐(PCL‐OH)6 and N3P3‐(PCL‐Chol)6 were then employed in the preparation of supramolecular inclusion complexes (ICs) with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD). The latter formed ICs with β‐CD in higher yield. The host–guest stoichiometry (ε‐CL:β‐CD, mol:mol) in the ICs of N3P3‐(PCL‐Chol)6 was found to be 1.2. The formation of supramolecular ICs of N3P3‐(PCL‐Chol)6 with β‐CD was confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic methods, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and thermal analysis techniques. WAXD data showed that the obtained ICs with N3P3‐(PCL‐Chol)6 had a channel‐type crystalline structure, indicating the suppression of the original crystallization of N3P3‐(PCL‐Chol)6 in β‐CD cavities. Moreover, the thermal stabilities of ICs were found to be higher than those of the free star polymer and β‐CD. Furthermore, the surface properties of N3P3‐(PCL‐Chol)6 and its ICs with β‐CD were investigated by static contact angle measurements. The obtained results proved that the wettability of N3P3‐(PCL‐Chol)6 successfully increased with the formation of its ICs with β‐CD. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 3406–3420
Stress and doping impact on intrinsic point defect behavior in growing single crystal silicon
Authors: Sueoka Koji , Kamiyama Eiji , Vanhellemont Jan , Nakamura Kozo
Published: September 2014

For the mass‐production of 450 mm‐diameter defect‐free Si crystals, one has to take into account the impact of thermal stress on intrinsic point defect properties and behavior during single crystal growth from a melt. Very recently, first experimental evidence was published that the compressive thermal stress near the melt/solid interface makes a growing 300 mm diameter Czochralski Si crystal more vacancy‐rich. In order to explain these experimental results quantitatively, the dependence of the formation enthalpies of the vacancy (V) and the self‐interstitial (I) on compressive plane stress was determined using density functional theory (DFT) based calculations. It is found that compressive plane stress gives a higher stress dependence of the so‐called “Voronkov criterion” compared to isotropic stress. The calculated plane stress dependence is in excellent agreement with the published experimental values and should be taken into account in the development of pulling processes for 450 mm diameter defect‐free Si crystals. Also, the mechanisms behind the experimentally observed impact of the type and concentration of substitutional dopants on intrinsic point defect behavior and formation of grown‐in defects are clarified. On the basis of the DFT calculated results, an appropriate model of intrinsic point defect behavior in heavily doped Si is proposed. (i) The incorporated total V and I concentrations at the melting point depend on the types and concentrations of dopants. (ii) Most of the total V and I concentrations contribute to Frenkel pair recombination during Si crystal growth at temperatures much higher than those to form grown‐in intrinsic point defect clusters. The Voronkov model, while taking into account the present improvements, clearly explains all reported experimental results on grown‐in defects for heavily doped Si. The most important remaining problems with respect to intrinsic point defect behavior and properties during single crystal growth from a melt are also discussed.
Anti‐Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activity of Urera aurantiaca
Authors: Riedel R. , Marrassini C. , Anesini C. , Gorzalczany S.
Published: September 2014

Urera aurantiaca Wedd. (Urticaceae) is a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional medicine to relieve pain in inflammatory processes. In the present study, the in vivo anti‐inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of U. aurantiaca methanolic extract and its possible mechanisms of action were investigated. The extract showed anti‐inflammatory activity in the ear edema in mice test (34.3% inhibition), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was markedly reduced in animals administered with the extract: within 49.6% and 68.5%. In the histological analysis, intense dermal edema and intense cellular infiltration of inflammatory cells were markedly reduced in the ear tissue of the animals treated with the extract. In the carrageenan‐induced hind paw edema in rats assay the extract provoked a significant inhibition of the inflammation (45.5%, 5 h after the treatment) and the MPO activity was markedly reduced (maximum inhibition 71.7%), The extract also exhibited significant and dose‐dependent inhibitory effect on the increased vascular permeability induced by acetic acid. The extract presented antioxidant activity in both 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′‐azinobis 3‐ethylbenzothiazoline 6‐sulfonic acid tests and its total phenol content was 35.4 ± 0.06 mg GAE/g of extract. Also, the extract produced significant inhibition on nociception induced by acetic acid (ED50: 8.7 mg/kg, i.p.) administered intraperitoneally and orally. Naloxone significantly prevented this activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.