bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building the discipline of nursing history in distance education: experience report
Authors: Camacho Alessandra Conceição Leite Funchal
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACT Objective: to report the experience on the implementation of online course in the History of Nursing Distance Education undergraduate course in Nursing at the University Estácio de Sá, RJ. Method: experience report on the implementation of a distance learning course for students of nursing. Results: the construction of Nursing History was through the pursuit of interactivity in distance education aimed at the continuous planning of the virtual learning environment with the development of skills and competencies of the discipline consistent with the teaching strategy of Project Political Course. Conclusion: construction and development of the discipline is developed based on tools available in the virtual environment, and develop critical and reflective of future professional nurses through the proposed historical contents. Descriptors: education; history of nursing; education of distance.RESUMOObjetivo: relatar a experiência sobre a implantação da disciplina on-line de História da Enfermagem na Educação à Distância do curso de graduação em Enfermagem da Universidade Estácio de Sá, RJ. Método: relato de experiência sobre a implantação de uma disciplina à distância para discentes de Enfermagem. Resultados: a construção da disciplina História da Enfermagem ocorreu através da busca da interatividade na educação à distância visando o planejamento contínuo do ambiente virtual de aprendizagem com o desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências da disciplina compatíveis com a estratégia de ensino do Projeto Político Pedagógico do Curso. Conclusão: construção e o desenvolvimento da disciplina é desenvolvida com base em ferramentas disponíveis no ambiente virtual e, o desenvolvimento crítico e reflexivo do futuro profissional enfermeiro através dos conteúdos históricos propostos. Descritores: educação; história da enfermagem; educação à distância.RESUMEN Objetivo: presentar la experiencia sobre la aplicación del curso virtual de Historia de la Enfermería en el curso de educación a distancia pregrado en Enfermería de la Universidad Estácio de Sá, RJ. Método: relato de experiencia sobre la aplicación de un curso a distancia para estudiantes de enfermería. Resultados: La construcción de la Historia de la Enfermería se produjo a través de la búsqueda de la interactividad en la educación a distancia dirigidos a la planificación continua del entorno virtual de aprendizaje con el desarrollo de habilidades y competencias de la disciplina consistente con la estrategia de enseñanza del Proyecto Político del curso. Conclusión: la construcción y desarrollo de la disciplina se desarrolla con base en las herramientas disponibles en el entorno virtual, y el desarrollo crítico y reflexivo de los futuros profesionales de enfermería a través de los contenidos históricos propuestos. Descriptores: educación; historia de la enfermería; educación a distancia.
The Death of Rachel and the Kingdom of Heaven:
Authors: Ellen Haskell
Published: January 2012

The thirteenth-century Spanish Jewish mystical classic Sefer ha-Zohar interprets the biblical matriarch Rachel's death in a manner distinct from earlier Jewish literature. Borrowing elements from Christianity, it presents a narrative that mirrors Christ's Passion, encouraging readers to compare and evaluate Jewish and Christian truth claims in relation to each other. Such comparison reveals a subtle but strategic critique of medieval Western Christianity's anti-Jewish polemic, which developed in innovative ways during the period of the Zohar's composition. Additionally, the Zohar's correlation of the feminine Rachel with the masculine Christ offers insight into differences between medieval and modern assumptions regarding gendered symbols.
The Relationship Between the Stages of Change for Exercise and Health Insurance Costs
Authors: Dunnagan Tim , Haynes George , Smith Vince
Published: January 2012

Objective: To determine the relationship between the stages of exercise participation and health insurance costs. Methods: A hurdle model was used to examine health survey and health insurance costs data by stage of exercise participation. Results: Employees classified
in the maintenance stage (regular exercisers) of exercise adoption had lower costs and a lower probability of being classified in the high-cost group than did employees classified in the other stages of change for exercise participation. Conclusion: This study offers evidence that the
health insurance of individuals classified in the maintenance stage of exercise costs less than does that of individuals classified in other stages of exercise adoption.
Using Simple Measures to Estimate Body Fat Percentage in College Men
Authors: Tucker Larry A. , Greenwell Scott D.
Published: January 2012

Objective: To develop a prediction equation to estimate the body fat percentage of young men using simple measurements. Methods: Subjects were 150 males, age 18 to 26 years. Self-reported lifestyle variables and measured circumferences were used to predict body fat percentage,
assessed using hydrostatic weighing. Results: The final model included 7 variables. The equation had a SEE of 2.66% and a PRESS SEE of 2.82%, and accounted for 80% of the variance in the criterion, body fat percentage. Conclusions: The regression equation developed in this study
accurately estimates body fat percentage in young men by using simple, inexpensive measures.
Factors Related to Publication Productivity in a Sample of Female Health Educators
Authors: Ransdell Lynda B. , Dinger Mary K. , Cooke Colleen , Beske Stacy
Published: January 2012

Objective: To examine factors related to success in academic publishing for women in health education and promotion. Methods: Ten participants, identified as productive authors, submitted a copy of their curriculum vita and completed a questionnaire related to publishing
productivity. Results: Factors that contributed to successful publication included personal attributes, such as self-discipline and effective time management, and situational factors, such as talented collaborators, access to mentoring, and grant funding. Tips for maximizing productivity
and enhancing collaborative efforts with colleagues are also presented. Conclusion: Findings support correlates of productivity in faculty members that have been reported in other academic disciplines.
Current and future management of pediatric venous thromboembolism
Authors: Kerlin Bryce A.
Published: January 2012

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an increasingly common complication encountered in tertiary care pediatric settings. The purpose of this review is to summarize the epidemiology, current and emerging pharmacotherapeutic options, and management of this disease. Over 70% of VTE occur in children with chronic diseases. Although they are seen in children of all ages, adolescents are at greatest risk. Pediatric VTE is associated with an increased risk of in‐hospital mortality; recurrent VTE and post‐thrombotic syndrome are commonly seen in survivors. In recent years, anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin has emerged as the mainstay of therapy, but compliance is limited by its onerous subcutaneous administration route. New anticoagulants either already approved for use in adults or in the pipeline offer the possibility of improved dose stability and oral routes of administration. Current recommended anticoagulation course durations are derived from very limited case series and cohort data, or extrapolations from adult literature. However, the pathophysiologic underpinnings of pediatric VTE are dissimilar from those seen in adults and are often variable within groups of pediatric patients. Clinical studies and trials in pediatric VTE are underway which will hopefully improve the quality of evidence from which therapeutic guidelines are derived. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Does inadequate sleep play a role in vulnerability to obesity?
Authors: Knutson Kristen L.
Published: January 2012

The prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly worldwide, which is cause for concern because obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, reduces life expectancy, and impairs quality of life. A better understanding of the risk factors for obesity is therefore a critical global health concern, and human biologists can play an important role in identifying these risk factors in various populations. The objective of this review is to present the evidence that inadequate sleep may be a novel risk factor associated with increased vulnerability to obesity and associated cardiometabolic disease. Experimental studies have found that short‐term sleep restriction is associated with impaired glucose metabolism, dysregulation of appetite, and increased blood pressure. Observational studies have observed cross‐sectional associations between short sleep duration (generally <6 h per night) and increased body mass index or obesity, prevalent diabetes, and prevalent hypertension. Some studies also reported an association between self‐reported long sleep duration (generally >8 h per night) and cardiometabolic disease. A few prospective studies have found a significant increased risk of weight gain, incident diabetes, and incident hypertension associated with inadequate sleep. Given the potential link between inadequate sleep and obesity, a critical next step is to identify the social, cultural, and environmental determinants of sleep, which would help to identify vulnerable populations. Future human biology research should consider variation in sleep characteristics among different populations and determine whether the associations between sleep and obesity observed in Western populations persist elsewhere. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adhesion strength and superhydrophobicity of polyurethane/organoclay nanocomposite coatings
Authors: Steele Adam , Bayer Ilker , Loth Eric
Published: January 2012

Substrate adhesion was investigated experimentally for superhydrophobic coatings fabricated from polyurethane modified with waterborne perfluoroalkyl methacrylic copolymer and a (fatty amine/amino‐silane surface modified) montmorillonite clay nanofiller. The superhydrophobic coatings were obtained by spray casting precursor solutions onto aluminum surfaces. Upon thermosetting, initial static water contact angles exceeding 160° and contact angle hysteresis values below 8° were measured, yielding antiwetting and self‐cleaning characteristics. Adhesion strength was then characterized with a 90° tape testing method and was analyzed with respect to changes in surface morphology via electron microscopy as well as changes in wettability. The coating remained adhered to the substrate after repeated adhesion testing with 3850 N/m tape (one of the strongest available), showing higher adhesion than any superhydrophobic coating reported to the author's knowledge. Superhydrophobic performance was also shown to be retained even after repeated tape testing. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Bone marrow–derived and synovium‐derived mesenchymal cells promote Th17 cell expansion and activation through caspase 1 activation: Contribution to the chronicity of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Eljaafari Assia , Tartelin Marie‐Laure , Aissaoui Hanaa , Chevrel Guillaume , Osta Bilal , Lavocat Fabien , Miossec Pierre
Published: January 2012

Objective

Th17 cells have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We hypothesized that the interaction of T cells with bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM‐MSCs) or with fibroblast‐ like synoviocytes (FLS) might, with the help of T cell–secreted inflammatory cytokines (i.e., interleukin‐17A [IL‐17A], tumor necrosis factor α [TNFα], and/or interferon‐γ [IFNγ]), promote Th17 cell expansion and activation.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy blood donors were cocultured with BM‐MSCs or FLS from RA patients or osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Cocultures were exposed to phytohemagglutinin with or without IL‐17A, TNFα, or IFNγ. Quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction analysis, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and cytofluorometry were used to measure IL‐17A production.

Results

Interaction of PBMCs with BM‐MSCs inhibited Th1 and Th2 responses, but promoted Th17 cell expansion, as early as 24 hours, as demonstrated by increases in retinoic acid receptor–related orphan nuclear receptor γ or IL‐17A messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, IL‐17A secretion levels, and IL‐17A–secreting cell frequency, as well as by T cell switching to the Th17 pathway after 2 rounds of stimulation with MSCs. IL‐17A production was also increased in PBMCs stimulated with anti‐CD3 plus anti‐CD28 or in isolated CD3+ or CD45RO+ T cells, thus demonstrating the role of T cell activation. Levels of mRNA for IL‐6, IL‐8, and IL‐1β were further amplified when T cell–secreted inflammatory cytokines were added. Interestingly, OA FLS or RA FLS also enhanced IL‐17A and IL‐6 production, but only RA FLS enhanced IFNγ and IL‐1β production. We further demonstrated that MSC‐mediated Th17 promotion requires caspase 1 activation by using an inhibitory peptide and measuring its activity.

Conclusion

We found that the interaction of MSCs or FLS with T cells promotes the activation and expansion of Th17 cells through caspase 1 activation. Since proinflammatory and T cell–secreted inflammatory cytokines are also amplified, this mechanism may participate in the chronicity of RA.
Fibulin 3 peptides Fib3‐1 and Fib3‐2 are potential biomarkers of osteoarthritis
Authors: Henrotin Yves , Gharbi Myriam , Mazzucchelli Gabriel , Dubuc Jean‐Emile , De Pauw Edwin , Deberg Michelle
Published: January 2012

Objective

This study was undertaken to identify new biomarkers of osteoarthritis (OA) by proteomics analysis and to develop specific immunoassays to detect and quantify them.

Methods

Proteomics analysis was performed in urine samples from 10 women (mean ± SD age 76.0 ± 5.0 years) undergoing knee replacement surgery due to severe OA and 5 healthy women (mean ± SD age 25.6 ± 2.6 years). Protein content was analyzed by 2‐dimensional differential gel electrophoresis. Protein spots that exhibited an OA:control abundance ratio of ≥1.5 were identified by mass spectrometry. Specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays were developed and validated in serum obtained from 236 healthy subjects ages 20–64 years and from 76 patients with severe radiologic knee OA (mean ± SD age 68.8 ± 11.9 years). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on articular cartilage from tibial plateaus.

Results

Thirteen proteins within spots that were significantly modified between groups were identified. Two peptides of fibulin 3, named Fib3‐1 and Fib3‐2, were of particular interest. Two antisera directed against these peptides were used to develop immunoassays. Compared with age‐matched healthy subjects, median levels of serum Fib3‐1 and Fib3‐2 were elevated in OA patients (54.6 pM versus 85.1 pM [P < 0.0001] and 144.4 pM versus 191.4 pM [P < 0.0001], respectively). Using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we demonstrated that Fib3‐1 and Fib3‐2 levels discriminate between OA and normal populations. Immunostaining revealed the presence of Fib3‐1 and Fib3‐2 in chondrocytes and in the extracellular matrix of the superficial layer of the fibrillated cartilage.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that Fib3‐1 and Fib3‐2 are potential biochemical markers for the diagnosis of OA.
Heritability of articular cartilage regeneration and its association with ear wound healing in mice
Authors: Rai Muhammad Farooq , Hashimoto Shingo , Johnson Eric E. , Janiszak Kara L. , Fitzgerald Jamie , Heber‐Katz Ellen , Cheverud James M. , Sandell Linda J.
Published: January 2012

Objective

Emerging evidence suggests that genetic components contribute significantly to cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis pathophysiology, but little information is available on the genetics of cartilage regeneration. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate cartilage regeneration in genetic murine models using common inbred strains and a set of recombinant inbred (RI) lines generated from LG/J (healer of ear wounds) and SM/J (nonhealer) inbred mouse strains.

Methods

An acute full‐thickness cartilage injury was introduced in the trochlear groove of 8‐week‐old mice (n = 265) through microsurgery. Mouse knee joints were sagittally sectioned and stained with toluidine blue to evaluate regeneration. For the ear wound phenotype, a bilateral 2‐mm through‐and‐through puncture was created in 6‐week‐old mice (n = 229), and healing outcomes were measured after 30 days. Broad‐sense heritability and genetic correlations were calculated for both phenotypes.

Results

Time‐course analysis of the RI mouse lines showed no significant regeneration until 16 weeks after surgery; at that time, the strains could be segregated into 3 categories: good, intermediate, and poor healers. Analysis of heritability (H2) showed that both cartilage regeneration (H2 = 26%; P = 0.006) and ear wound closure (H2 = 53%; P < 0.00001) were significantly heritable. The genetic correlations between the two healing phenotypes for common inbred mouse strains (r = 0.92) and RI mouse lines (r = 0.86) were found to be extremely high.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that articular cartilage regeneration in mice is heritable, the differences between the mouse lines are due to genetic differences, and a strong genetic correlation between the two phenotypes exists, indicating that they plausibly share a common genetic basis. We therefore surmise that LG/J by SM/J intercross mice can be used to dissect the genetic basis of variation in cartilage regeneration.
Multifunctional Core–Shell Upconverting Nanoparticles for Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy of Liver Cancer Cells
Authors: Zhao Zengxia , Han Yuning , Lin Chenghong , Hu Dong , Wang Fang , Chen Xiaolan , Chen Zhong , Zheng Nanfeng
Published: January 2012

Lanthanide‐doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted considerable attention for their application in biomedicine. Here, silica‐coated NaGdF4:Yb,Er/NaGdF4 nanoparticles with a tetrasubstituted carboxy aluminum phthalocyanine (AlC4Pc) photosensitizer covalently incorporated inside the silica shells were prepared and applied in the photodynamic therapy (PDT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cancer cells. These UCNP@SiO2(AlC4Pc) nanoparticles were uniform in size, stable against photosensitizer leaching, and highly efficient in photogenerating cytotoxic singlet oxygen under near‐infrared (NIR) light. In vitro studies indicated that these nanoparticles could effectively kill cancer cells upon NIR irradiation. Moreover, the nanoparticles also demonstrated good MR contrast, both in aqueous solution and inside cells. This is the first time that NaGdF4:Yb,Er/NaGdF4 upconversion‐nanocrystal‐based multifunctional nanomaterials have been synthesized and applied in PDT. Our results show that these multifunctional nanoparticles are very promising for applications in versatile imaging diagnosis and as a therapy tool in biomedical engineering.
Smart‐Bogie: Semi‐Active Lateral Control of Railway Vehicles
Authors: Spelta Cristiano , Savaresi Sergio M. , Codecà Fabio , Montiglio Mauro , Ieluzzi Michele
Published: January 2012

The topic of this paper is the design and analysis of a control system for the lateral movement of the carbody in a train. The control system is implemented via semi‐active electro‐hydraulic dampers located on the secondary‐suspension that links the bogie to the structure of the carbody of the train. The entire design procedure is outlined: the semi‐active damper is accurately modeled; using the actuator model, the control strategies are implemented and tuned on a vehicle simulator; the best control strategies then are implemented and tested on a realistic laboratory test‐bench, which accurately reproduces the lateral dynamics of a train. A wide range of semi‐active control strategies is tested. Among them, the best performing and most efficient is a recently‐proposed strategy which requires only a single sensor located cabin‐side.
Electrokinetic chromatographic estimation of the enantioselective binding of nomifensine to human serum albumin and total plasma proteins
Authors: Asensi‐Bernardi Lucía , Martín‐Biosca Yolanda , Sagrado Salvador , Medina‐Hernández María J.
Published: January 2012

This report is the first evidence of enantioselective binding of nomifensine to human serum albumin (HSA) and plasma proteins. The overall process with HSA included: (i) consistent experimental design along two independent sessions; (ii) incubation of nomifensine–HSA designed mixtures; (iii) ultrafiltration for separating the unbound enantiomers fraction; (iv) electrokinetic chromatography (EKC) using heptakis‐2,3,6‐tri‐O‐methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin as chiral selector to provide experimental data for enantiomers (first, E1, and second, E2, eluted ones); and (v) a recent direct equation allowing univariate tests and robust statistics to provide consistent parameters and uncertainty. A significant enantioselectivity to HSA (2.7 ± 0.1) was encountered, related to a 1:1 stoichiometry and log affinity constants of 3.24 ± 0.10 and 3.67 ± 0.08 for E1 and E2, respectively. The protein binding (PB) estimated at physiological concentration levels was 40 ± 5 and 63 ± 4% for E1 and E2, respectively. The use of synthetic human sera allowed in vitro estimation of the total plasma PB for the racemate (61 ± 5%; coincident with in vivo values), and its enantiomers (58 ± 7 and 64 ± 4% for E1 and E2, respectively). Comparison allowed the relative importance of HSA respect to other plasma proteins for binding nomifensine to be established. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is Our Way of Thinking about Excited States Correct? Time‐Resolved Dispersive IR Study on p‐Nitroaniline
Authors: Narra Sudhakar , Chang Shu‐Wei , Witek Henryk A. , Shigeto Shinsuke
Published: January 2012

Low‐lying excited electronic states of an important class of molecules known as push–pull chromophores are central to understanding their potential nonlinear optical properties. Here we report that a combination of high‐sensitivity nanosecond time‐resolved dispersive IR spectroscopy and DFT calculations on p‐nitroaniline (PNA), a prototypical push–pull molecule, reveals that PNA in the lowest excited triplet state has a partial quinoid structure. In this structure, the quinoid configuration is restricted to a part of the phenyl ring adjacent to the NO2 group. The partial quinoid structure of PNA cannot be explained by a commonly used hybrid of a neutral form and a zwitterionic charge‐transfer form. Our findings not only cast doubt on the general applicability of the classical way of looking at excited states, based exclusively on characteristic resonance structures, but also provide deeper insights into excited‐state structure of highly polarizable molecular systems.
Studies on Adsorptive Desulfurization by Activated Carbon
Authors: Rakesh Kumar D. , Srivastava Vimal Chandra
Published: January 2012

Sulfur removal using adsorption requires a proper process parametric study to determine its optimal performance characteristics. In this study, response surface methodology was employed for sulfur removal from model oil (dibenzothiophene; DBT dissolved in iso‐octane) using commercial activated carbon (CAC) as an adsorbent. Experiments were carried out as per central composite design with four input parameters such as initial concentration (C0: 100–900 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (m: 2–22 g/L), time of adsorption (t: 15–735 min), and temperature (T: 10–50°C). Regression analysis showed good fit of the experimental data to the second‐order polynomial model with coefficient of determination R2‐value of 0.9390 and Fisher F‐value of 16.5. The highest removal of sulfur by CAC was obtained with m = 20 g/L, t = 6 h, and T = 30°C.
Synthesis of CaCO3 nanoparticles via citrate method and sequential preparation of CaO and Ca(OH)2 nanoparticles
Authors: Ghiasi M. , Malekzadeh A.
Published: January 2012

Calcium carbonate nanoparticles were synthesized via so‐called sol–gel citrate method using calcium nitrate as precursor in presence of different concentration of citric acid, selected to be 0.0, 0.5, 1.25 and 2.5 times of the concentration of the precursor, on calcining at 600 °C for 5 h. Stable phase of the calcite is formed in presence of citric acid. The roles of organic additive concentration, calcination temperature and sonication on the particle size of the products were investigated. Calcium oxide nanoparticles were prepared by facial calcination of the resulted product at 900 °C for 5 h. Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles, however, were synthesized on sonication of the product for 20 min in water at room temperature. Samples were characterized by XRD and FT‐IR studies. Crystallite size of samples was calculated by XRD data and was measured by TEM analysis. The specific surface are (SSA) of samples was calculated by the XRD data and compared by the measured BET. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Validity of a Protocol for Adult Self‐Report of Dyslexia and Related Difficulties
Authors: Snowling Margaret , Dawes Piers , Nash Hannah , Hulme Charles
Published: January 2012

Background

There is an increased prevalence of reading and related difficulties in children of dyslexic parents. In order to understand the causes of these difficulties, it is important to quantify the risk factors passed from parents to their offspring.

Method

417 adults completed a protocol comprising a 15‐item questionnaire rating reading and related skills and a scale assessing ADHD symptoms; 344 completed reading, nonword reading and spelling tests.

Results

A confirmatory factor analysis with four factors (Reading, Word Finding, Attention and Hyperactivity) provided a reasonable fit to the data. The Reading Factor showed robust correlations with measured literacy skills. Adults who reported as dyslexic, or rated their reading difficulties as more severe, gained lower scores on objective measures of literacy skills. Although the sensitivity of the new scale was acceptable, it tended to miss some cases of low literacy.

Conclusions

Self‐report scales of reading and of attention difficulties are useful for identifying adults with reading and attention difficulties which may confer risks on their children of related problems. It is important for research following children at family risk of dyslexia to be aware of these effects. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Severe anorexia nervosa in men: Comparison with severe AN in women and analysis of mortality
Authors: Gueguen Juliette , Godart Nathalie , Chambry Jean , Brun‐Eberentz Annick , Foulon Christine , Divac, PhD Snezana M. , Guelfi Julien‐Daniel , Rouillon Frédéric , Falissard Bruno , Huas Caroline
Published: January 2012

Objective:

To compare clinical characteristics of men and women with severe AN and to analyze mortality in men.

Method:

One thousand and nine patients including 23 anorectic males were hospitalized in St. Anne Hospital in Paris between 1988 and 2004. Data were collected during hospitalization. Fatal outcome was assessed in 2008.

Results:

Men presented significantly later age of onset, were more likely to have a history of premorbid overweight than women and less likely to have attempted suicide. Mortality in men was high (standardized mortality ratio: 8.08; 95% CI: 1.62–23.62). Several predictive factors for mortality in men were identified: lower admission body mass index (BMI), later age at admission, and AN‐R subtype. All the three deceased patients had dropped out from the inpatient unit. The 10‐year survival did not differ between men and women, but men died sooner after hospitalization.

Discussion:

Male inpatients should receive close follow‐up after their discharge, especially if they have a restrictive form of AN, present low BMI, or are older at admission. © 2012 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012)
Survival, mobility, and membrane-bound enzyme activities of freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica, exposed to synthetic and natural surfactants
Authors: Li Mei-Hui
Published: January 2012

Surfactants are a major class of emerging pollutants widely used in large quantities in everyday life and commonly found in surface waters worldwide. Freshwater planarian was selected to examine the effects of different surfactants by measuring mortality, mobility, and membrane-bound enzyme activities. Among the 10 surfactants tested, the acute toxicities of betaine and polyethylene glycol (PEG-200) to planarians were relatively low, with a median lethal concentration (LC50) greater than 10,000 mg/L. The toxicity to planarians of the other eight surfactants based on 48-h LC50 could be arranged in the descending order of cetylpyridinum chloride (CPC) > 4-tert-octylphenol (4-tert-OP) > ammonium lauryl sulfate > benzalkonium chloride > saponin > sodium lauroylsarcosinate > dioctyl sulfosuccinate > dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). Both CPC and 4-tert-OP were very toxic to planarians, with 48-h LC50 values <1 mg/L. The median effective concentrations (EC50s) of planarian mobility were in the 0.1 to 50 mg/L range and were in the same range as the 24-h LC50 of planarians exposed to different surfactants, except for DTAB. In addition, significant inhibition of cholinesterase activity activities was found in planarians exposed to 4-tert-OP at 2.5 and 5 mg/L and to saponin at 10 mg/L after 2-h treatments. This result suggests that planarian mobility responses can be used as an alternative indicator for acute toxicity of surfactants after a very short exposure period. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:843–850. © 2012 SETAC
Comparing predicted against measured steroid estrogen concentrations and the associated risk in two United Kingdom river catchments
Authors: Williams Richard J. , Churchley John H. , Kanda Rakesh , Johnson Andrew C.
Published: January 2012

Predicted concentrations of estrone, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinylestradiol generated from a geographical information systems-based model (LF2000-WQX) have previously been used to assess the risk of causing intersex in male fish in the rivers of England and Wales, United Kingdom. Few measured data of sufficient quality and spatial extent have been available to verify this risk assessment. New measured data have been collected from sewage treatment plant effluents and the receiving waters upstream and downstream of these discharges from the Erewash River and the Avon River systems in England. The model results for these rivers were in good agreement with the measured values in terms of estradiol equivalents. Critically, the risk assessment based on the measured data gave a risk assessment nearly identical to that derived from the modeled results. For individual estrogens, 17α-ethinylestradiol was modeled best and estrone worst. Poor simulations reflected poor estimates of the effluent concentrations, which were more variable from day to day and between works of nominally similar type than is assumed in the model. In support of this, model results for the Erewash River, calculated using observed effluent concentrations, were in excellent agreement with the measured data. The model has proved to be adequate in predicting overall estrogenic potency, and therefore risk, along these rivers; however, improvements are possible, particularly in predicting STP removal efficiency and therefore effluent concentrations. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:892–898. © 2012 SETAC
Neurotoxicity of two Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (cyanobacteria) strains to mice, Daphnia, and fish
Authors: Zagatto Pedro A. , Buratini Sandra V. , Aragão Márcia A. , Ferrão-Filho Aloysio S.
Published: January 2012

In recent decades, toxic cyanobacterial blooms have become frequent in the drinking water supply and have caused serious deleterious effects to domestic and wild animals, as well as to humans. Two strains of the cyanobacterium species Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (T2 and T3) were isolated from the Billings Reservoir (São Paulo, Brazil) and cultured in the laboratory for use in acute toxicity tests with mice, micro crustaceans, and fish. The results showed high toxicity of both strains in mouse bioassays (median lethal dose [LD50]; 24 h = 9.6 and 27 mg/kg; intraperitoneal injections). The symptomatology presented by mice was typical of neurotoxicosis, such as trembling, ataxia, convulsions and death by respiratory arrest. Acute and chronic effects were observed in Daphnia similis and Ceriodaphnia dubia, such as immobilization and reduced fitness, respectively. Although acute effects were not detected on the adult fish Danio rerio, chronic toxicity was observed for its larval stage. Although both strains showed high toxicity to all organisms, no consistent pattern was seen between the different bioassays and strains. The results also showed that C. raciborskii toxins are stable to heat and to extreme pH variations. Because of high toxicity of these strains and the potential risk to human health, the authors propose a revision of the legislation regarding safety factors for drinking water supply. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:857–862. © 2012 SETAC
Modeling and Optimization of Anode‐Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cells on Cell Parameters via Artificial Neural Network and Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Bozorgmehri S. , Hamedi M.
Published: January 2012

An artificial neural network (ANN) and a genetic algorithm (GA) are employed to model and optimize cell parameters to improve the performance of singular, intermediate‐temperature, solid oxide fuel cells (IT‐SOFCs). The ANN model uses a feed‐forward neural network with an error back‐propagation algorithm. The ANN is trained using experimental data as a black‐box without using physical models. The developed model is able to predict the performance of the SOFC. An optimization algorithm is utilized to select the optimal SOFC parameters. The optimal values of four cell parameters (anode support thickness, anode support porosity, electrolyte thickness, and functional layer cathode thickness) are determined by using the GA under different conditions. The results show that these optimum cell parameters deliver the highest maximum power density under different constraints on the anode support thickness, porosity, and electrolyte thickness.
Inhibitory effects of microRNA 19b in hepatic stellate cell-mediated fibrogenesis
Authors: Lakner Ashley M. , Steuerwald Nury M. , Walling Tracy L. , Ghosh Sriparna , Li Ting , McKillop Iain H. , Russo Mark W. , Bonkovsky Herbert L. , Schrum Laura W.
Published: January 2012

Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is a pivotal event in initiation and progression of hepatic fibrosis and a major contributor to collagen deposition driven by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). MicroRNAs (miRs), small noncoding RNAs modulating messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression, have emerged as key regulatory molecules in chronic liver disease. We investigated differentially expressed miRs in quiescent and activated HSCs to identify novel regulators of profibrotic TGF-β signaling. miR microarray analysis was performed on quiescent and activated rat HSCs. Members of the miR-17-92 cluster (19a, 19b, 92a) were significantly down-regulated in activated HSCs. Because miR 19b showed the highest fold-change of the cluster members, activated HSCs were transfected with miR 19b mimic or negative control and TGF-β signaling and HSC activation assessed. miR 19b expression was determined in fibrotic rat and human liver specimens. miR 19b mimic negatively regulated TGF-β signaling components demonstrated by decreased TGF-β receptor II (TGF-βRII) and SMAD3 expression. Computational prediction of miR 19b binding to the 3′ untranslated region of TGF-βRII was validated by luciferase reporter assay. Inhibition of TGF-β signaling by miR 19b was confirmed by decreased expression of type I collagen and by blocking TGF-β-induced expression of α1(I) and α2(I) procollagen mRNAs. miR 19b blunted the activated HSC phenotype by morphological assessment and decreased smooth muscle α-actin expression. Additionally, miR 19b expression was markedly diminished in fibrotic rat liver compared with normal liver; similarly, miR 19b expression was markedly down-regulated in fibrotic compared with normal human livers. Conclusion: miR 19b is a novel regulator of TGF-β signaling in HSCs, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for hepatic fibrosis. (HEPATOLOGY 2012;56:300–310)
Liver progenitor cell markers correlate with liver damage and predict short-term mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitis
Authors: Sancho-Bru Pau , Altamirano José , Rodrigo-Torres Daniel , Coll Mar , Millán Cristina , José Lozano Juan , Miquel Rosa , Arroyo Vicente , Caballería Juan , Ginès Pere , Bataller Ramon
Published: January 2012

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a severe condition developed in patients with underlying alcoholic liver disease. Ductular reaction has been associated with chronic alcohol consumption but there is no information regarding the extent of liver progenitor cell (LPC) proliferation in AH. The aim of this study was to investigate LPC markers in AH and its correlation with disease severity. Fifty-nine patients with clinical and histological diagnosis of AH were included in the study. LPC markers were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Standard logistic regression analysis and classification and regression trees (CART) analysis were used for statistical analysis. A microarray analysis showed an up-regulation of LPC markers in patients with AH. Real-time PCR demonstrated that

epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), Prominin-1, and

Keratin7

were significantly increased in patients with AH compared with normal livers (
P

≤ 0.01), chronic hepatitis C (
P

≤ 0.01), and HCV-induced cirrhosis (
P

≤ 0.01). Immunohistochemistry scores generated for Keratin7 and EpCAM demonstrated a good correlation with gene expression.

Keratin7

gene expression correlated with liver failure as assessed by model for endstage liver disease score (
r

= 0.41,

P

= 0.006) and Maddrey's discriminant function (
r

= 0.43,

P

= 0.004). Moreover,

Keratin7

(OR1.14,

P

= 0.004) and

Prominin-1

(OR1.14,

P

= 0.002), but not

EpCAM

(OR1.16,

P

= 0.06), were identified as independent predictors of 90-day mortality. CART analysis generated an algorithm based on the combination of

Keratin7

and

EpCAM

gene expression that stratified three groups of patients with high, intermediate, and low short-term mortality (89%, 33%, and 6%, respectively; area under the receiver operating curve 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.60–0.87). Keratin7 expression provided additional discrimination potential to the age, bilirubin, international normalization ratio, creatinine (ABIC) score.

Conclusion:

LPC markers correlate positively with severity of liver disease and short-term mortality in AH patients. This study suggests that LPC proliferation may be an important feature of AH pathophysiology.
Poly(amidoamine)s with pendant primary amines and flexible backbone for enhanced nonviral gene delivery: Transfection and intracellular trafficking
Authors: Liu Wen‐Ming , Liu Min , Xue Ya‐Nan , Peng Na , Xia Xi‐Ming , Zhuo Ren‐Xi , Huang Shi‐Wen
Published: January 2012

We synthesized poly(amidoamine)s with pendant primary amines and flexible backbone (polymers 1–3) by Michael polyaddition of N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl (N‐Boc) protected diamine to 1,6‐Bis(acrylamido)hexane, followed by the deprotection of N‐Boc under acidic conditions. The physicochemical properties of polymers 1–3, including buffer capacity, DNA‐binding capacity, cytotoxicity, particle sizes, and zeta potentials of polycation/DNA complexes, were explored. All the three polymers possess high buffer capacity and excellent DNA‐binding capacity. In vitro MTT assay revealed that these synthesized poly(amidoamine)s were less cytotoxic than commercial branched PEI (25 kDa). These poly(amidoamine)s with pendant primary amines and flexible backbone were evaluated as in vitro nonviral gene delivery vectors for 293T and COS‐7 cells. All the three polymers exhibited high transfection efficiencies, which were even higher than branched PEI (25 kDa) at optimized conditions. Further evidences from confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) demonstrated that the high transfection efficiencies of polymers 1–3 were due to the efficient uptake and intracellular trafficking of plasmid DNA in the cells during the transfection. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2012.
Encapsulation of drug microparticles with self‐assembled Fe3O4/alginate hybrid multilayers for targeted controlled release
Authors: Mu Bin , Zhong Wu , Dong Yun , Du Pengcheng , Liu Peng
Published: January 2012

The magnetic‐targeted drug‐delivery system was developed with the Fe3O4 nanoparticles as the self‐assembling material to form the hybrid multilayer shells. Layer‐by‐Layer stepwise self‐assembly of the natural polyelectrolytes sodium alginate and the Fe3O4 nanoparticles was used to create the magnetic hybrid multilayers around drug microparticles (∼400 nm in diameter) for the purpose of targeted controlled release. The obtained drug microparticles encapsulated with hybrid multilayers were characterized with dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscope, and vibrating sample magnetometer. UV–vis spectroscopy was employed to monitor the drug releasing behaviors in pH 1.8 and 7.4 buffer solutions. It was found that the release of drug molecules from the pH‐sensitive magnetic‐targeted drug‐delivery system was mainly dependent on the following factors: the permeability of the hybrid multilayer shells and the solubility of the drug molecules in the bulk solutions. The results revealed that it could achieve the quick and continuous controlled release via the magnetically‐guide to the target tissue of organism. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2012.
On the efficiency of VBSCF algorithms, a comment on “An efficient algorithm for energy gradients and orbital optimization in valence bond theory”
Authors: van Lenthe J. H. , Broer‐Braam H. B. , Rashid Z.
Published: January 2012

We comment on the paper [Song et al., J. Comput. Chem. 2009, 30, 399]. and discuss the efficiency of the orbital optimization and gradient evaluation in the Valence Bond Self Consistent Field (VBSCF) method. We note that Song et al. neglect to properly reference Broer et al., who published an algorithm [Broer and Nieuwpoort, Theor. Chim. Acta 1988, 73, 405] to use a Fock matrix to compute a matrix element between two different determinants, which can be used for an orbital optimization. Further, Song et al. publish a misleading comparison with our VBSCF algorithm [Dijkstra and van Lenthe, J. Chem. Phys. 2000, 113, 2100; van Lenthe et al., Mol. Phys. 1991, 73, 1159] to enable them to favorably compare their algorithm with ours. We give detail timings in terms of different orbital types in the calculation and actual timings for the example cases. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Liquid properties of dimethyl ether from molecular dynamics simulations usingAb Initioforce fields
Authors: Wang Shi‐Bao , Li Arvin Huang‐Te , Chao Sheng D.
Published: January 2012

We have used molecular dynamic simulations to study the structural and dynamical properties of liquid dimethyl ether (DME) with a newly constructedab initioforce field in this article. Theab initiopotential energy data were calculated at the second order Møller‐Plesset (MP2) perturbation theory with Dunning's correlation consistent basis sets (up to aug‐cc‐pVQZ). We considered 17 configurations of the DME dime for the orientation sampling. The calculated MP2 potential data were used to construct a 3‐site united atom force field model. The simulation results are compared with those using the empirical force field of Jorgensen and Ibrahim (Jorgensen and Ibrahim, J Am Chem Soc 1981, 103, 3976) and with available experimental measurements. We obtain quantitative agreements for the atom‐wise radial distribution functions, the self‐diffusion coefficients, and the shear viscosities over a wide range of experimental conditions. This force field thus provides a suitable starting point to predict liquid properties of DME from first principles intermolecular interactions with no empirical data inputa priori. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The transformation of phytolith morphology as the result of their exposure to high temperature
Authors: Wu Yan , Wang Changsui , Hill David V.
Published: January 2012

Phytoliths are an important component for interpreting the ancient botanical record. However, phytoliths can be altered through heating, either as the result of such activities as firing ceramics, clay molds use for casting metal or in hearths. Phytoliths can also be altered through heating as the result of creating comparative sample from living plants. By heating phytoliths at graduated intervals it was found that different types of phytoliths lost their diagnostic morphological characteristics at significantly different temperatures. The phytoliths used in this study are derived from economically important plants to Chinese archaeology and culture. Given the consistent results of the alteration of different type of phytoliths at specific temperatures it should eventually be possible to use phytolith alterations as a proxy measure of the original firing temperature of ancient objects and features. Microsc. Res. Tech. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Single‐nucleotide polymorphism in Turkish patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Curve progression is not related with MATN‐1, LCT C/T‐13910, and VDR BsmI
Authors: Yilmaz Hurriyet , Zateri Coskun , Uludag Ahmet , Bakar Coskun , Kosar Sule , Ozdemir Ozturk
Published: January 2012

The role of genetics in the etiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between AIS and polymorphisms in MATN‐1, LCT C/T‐13910, and VDR BsmI genes. 53 Turkish adolescents with diagnosed AIS and 54 healthy adult individuals were included in the study. MATN‐1, LCT C/T‐13910, and VDR BsmI gene mutations were analyzed with real‐time PCR. We did not detect a statistically significant difference between AIS and control groups in respect to those three different gene polymorphisms (p < 0.05). We next evaluated the associations of all three SNPs with scoliosis curve severity. There was no significant difference between curve severity and gene polymorphisms (p < 0.05). In terms of gene polymorphisms, AIS patients with a family history of AIS did not significantly differ from AIS patients who did not have history (p < 0.05). AIS might be caused by many different gene mutations, biomechanical mechanisms that have been modified by environmental factors, different biological interactions, modulation of growth, or a synergy of different factors causing abnormal control of growth. However, the existing knowledge is still not enough to explain the etiopathogenesis of AIS. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:1459–1463, 2012