bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilizing Natural Liner Materials for Heavy Metal Removal in Simulated Landfill Conditions
Authors: Turan Nurdan Gamze , Gümüşel E. Beril
Published: December 2012

Inorganic industrial waste landfills have the potential to contaminate subsurface groundwater supplies through migration of leachates down to the water table and into groundwater aquifers, despite the use of compacted low permeability clay or polyethene liners. This paper aims the removal of Cu2+ and Zn2+ in the leachate from an industrial waste landfill using natural materials (natural zeolite, expanded vermiculite, pumice, illite, kaolinite, and bentonite) as a liner material. Cu2+ and Zn2+ concentrations for all treatments decreased during the process. Of all the different natural materials, natural zeolite, expanded vermiculite and pumice, with bentonite, were effective in removing Cu2+ and Zn2+ present in the leachate. However, the use of illite and kaolinite with bentonite as liner materials could be of disadvantage in Cu2+ and Zn2+ removal from leachate. The adsorption kinetic models were also tested for the validity. The second order kinetics with the high correlation coefficients best described adsorption kinetic data.
Generation of Power by Microbial Fuel Cell with Ferricyanide in Biodegradation of Benzene
Authors: Wu Chih‐Hung , Lai Chi‐Yung , Lin Chi‐Wen , Kao Min‐Hsiu
Published: December 2012

The power generation potential of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) during the process of benzene biodegradation with potassium ferricyanide (0–200 mM) as the terminal electron acceptor was evaluated. Experimental results demonstrate that benzene was used as the sole carbon source in generating electricity by a mixed culture. The power density increased from 0.0276 to 2.1 mW m−2 as the concentration of potassium ferricyanide in the cathode chamber was increased from 0 to 200 mM. With a benzene concentration of 10.87 mg L−1 and a potassium ferricyanide concentration of between 0 and 150 mM, complete degradation of benzene was achieved in 22–24.5 h. However, when the concentration of potassium ferricyanide was raised to 200 mM, the time required for complete benzene degradation was prolonged to 35 h. The results of this investigation can be used as a basis for future assessments of the power generation capacity of MFCs that are used to treat benzene‐contaminated wastewater.
Functional and neurochemical development in the normal and degenerating mouse retina
Authors: Gibson Riki , Fletcher Erica L. , Vingrys Algis J. , Zhu Yuan , Vessey Kirstan A. , Kalloniatis Michael
Published: December 2012

The rd1 mouse is a well‐established animal model for human retinitis pigmentosa (RP). We used electroretinography (ERG) to evaluate retinal function and postembedding immunocytochemistry to determine the changes in cellular amino acid expression in the normal (C57Bl6) and degenerating mouse retina (rd1), as a function of age during development and the onset of degeneration. In the normal mouse retina, photoreceptoral and post‐photoreceptoral ERG responses improved simultaneously from eye‐opening until adult levels were achieved at approximately postnatal day (P) 30. Maturation of amino acid neurochemistry preceded the development of retinal function in the normal retina. Amino acid levels increased immediately from birth and reached stable levels by eye‐opening. In contrast, in the rd1 mouse, both rod and cone pathway function rapidly reduced from eye‐opening and by P21 became undetectable. Interestingly, at P18 cone responses were still comparable between the normal and degenerating retina. Before eye opening, the pattern of amino acid immunoreactivity in the rd1 retina was similar to the normal retina. Alterations in neurochemistry were observed after the onset of rod photoreceptor cell death. The most obvious change was the reduction in neurotransmitter immunoreactivity within the synaptic layers and some cell classes of the rd1 retina. Reduction of glutamine and glutamate was observed in Müller cells before established gliosis markers. Overall, these results suggest the rapid maturation of neurochemistry by eye opening followed by functional maturation by P30 in the normal retina. The dystrophic retina displays similar neurochemistry to control retina before eye opening but a subsequent decline. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:1251–1267, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
NMDA‐like receptors in the nervous system of the crab Neohelice granulata: A neuroanatomical description
Authors: Hepp Yanil , Tano Martín Carbó , Pedreira María Eugenia , Freudenthal Ramiro A.M.
Published: December 2012

N‐Methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are involved in learning and memory processes in vertebrates and invertebrates. In Neohelice granulata, NMDARs are involved in the storage of associative memories (see references in text). The aim of this work was to characterize this type of glutamate receptor in Neohelice and to describe its distribution in the central nervous system (CNS). As a first step, a detailed study of the CNS of N. granulata was performed at the neuropil level, with special focus on one of the main structures involved in this type of memory, the supraesophageal ganglion, called central brain. The characterization of the NMDAR was achieved by identifying the essential subunit of these receptors, the NR1‐like subunit. The NR1‐like signals were found via western blot and immunohistochemistry techniques in each of the major ganglia: the eyestalk ganglia, the central brain, and the thoracic ganglion. Western blots yielded two bands for the crab NR1‐like subunit, at ∼88 and ∼84 kDa. This subunit is present in all the major ganglia, and shows a strong localization in synaptosomal membranes. NMDARs are distributed throughout the majority of each ganglion but show prominent signal intensity in some distinguishable neuropils and neurons. This is the first general description of the N. granulata nervous system as a whole and the first study of NMDARs in the CNS of decapods. The preferential localization of the receptor in some neuropils and neurons indicates the presence of possible new targets for memory processing and storage. J. Comp. Neurol. 521:2279–2297, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lehrman's dictum: Information and explanation in developmental biology
Authors: Griffiths Paul E.
Published: December 2012

The integration of concepts from evolutionary developmental biology, such as the homology concept, into developmental psychobiology has great potential. However, evolutionary developmental biology is an attempt to integrate evolutionary and developmental explanation and developmental psychobiology has traditionally been concerned to avoid conflating these two kinds of explanation. This article examines a recent attempt to explain development in terms of “inherited information.” The resulting explanation is an evolutionary explanation of development of a kind typical of evolutionary developmental biology. But its proponent mistakes it for an actual developmental explanation. Any integration of evolutionary developmental biology and developmental psychobiology should pay close attention to longstanding concerns about conflating evolutionary and developmental explanations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 55: 22–32, 2013.
Deep sympatric mtDNA divergence in the autumnal moth (Epirrita autumnata)
Authors: Kvie Kjersti S. , Hogner Silje , Aarvik Leif , Lifjeld Jan T. , Johnsen Arild
Published: December 2012

Deep sympatric intraspecific divergence in mtDNA may reflect cryptic species or formerly distinct lineages in the process of remerging. Preliminary results from DNA barcoding of Scandinavian butterflies and moths showed high intraspecific sequence variation in the autumnal moth, Epirrita autumnata. In this study, specimens from different localities in Norway and some samples from Finland and Scotland, with two congeneric species as outgroups, were sequenced with mitochondrial and nuclear markers to resolve the discrepancy found between mtDNA divergence and present species‐level taxonomy. We found five COI sub‐clades within the E. autumnata complex, most of which were sympatric and with little geographic structure. Nuclear markers (ITS2 and Wingless) showed little variation and gave no indications that E. autumnata comprises more than one species. The samples were screened with primers for Wolbachia outer surface gene (wsp) and 12% of the samples tested positive. Two Wolbachia strains were associated with different mtDNA sub‐clades within E. autumnata, which may indicate indirect selection/selective sweeps on haplotypes. Our results demonstrate that deep mtDNA divergences are not synonymous with cryptic speciation and this has important implications for the use of mtDNA in species delimitation, like in DNA barcoding.
A Straightforward Route to Homoallyl‐Homocrotylamines Promoted by a Titanium Complex
Authors: Toulot Stéphanie , Bonnin Quentin , Comte Virginie , Adriaenssens Louis , Richard Philippe , Le Gendre Pierre
Published: December 2012

π‐Allyltitanium complexes, generated in situ from 1,3‐dienes and [Cp2TiH], react with benzotriazole derivatives to give homoallylic amines in good yields. Under similar conditions, triple cascade reactions (allyltitanation followed by cationic 2‐aza‐Cope rearrangement followed by a second allyltitanation) occur from bis(benzotriazolyl) compounds affording a straightforward route to homoallyl‐(E)‐homocrotylamines. A theoretical study provides further insight into the factors that govern the selectivity of this sequence of reactions.
Efficient Synthesis of Thiolactoside Glycoclusters by Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Cycloaddition Reaction of Disubstituted Alkynes on Carbohydrate Scaffolds
Authors: Cagnoni Alejandro J. , Varela Oscar , Uhrig María Laura , Kovensky José
Published: December 2012

Lectin‐carbohydrate interactions are responsible for several cellular processes involved in the immune system and the development of certain types of cancer. To further understanding of the cellular responses triggered by these interactions, complex carbohydrates are designed and prepared. Here, we describe the synthesis of a family of multivalent glycoclusters based on carbohydrate cores bearing thiolactosides or thiogalactosides as recognition elements with structural valencies ranging from 2 to 8. The synthetic strategy involves a key ruthenium‐catalyzed cycloaddition reaction between symmetric disubstituted alkynes bearing two thiosugar units and azide‐containing carbohydrate scaffolds. This methodology afforded high‐valency glycoconjugates in good to excellent yields. Binding affinities of the synthetic β‐thiolactosides for peanut lectin were measured by isothermal titration calorimetry. These titrations revealed micromolar affinities as well as a multivalent effect. A tetravalent glycoconjugate based on a trehalose scaffold displayed the highest binding affinity.
Variability in Affective Activation Predicts Non‐suicidal Self‐injury in Eating Disorders
Authors: Vansteelandt Kristof , Claes Laurence , Muehlenkamp Jennifer , De Cuyper Kathleen , Lemmens Jos , Probst Michel , Vanderlinden Johan , Pieters Guido
Published: December 2012

We examined whether affective variability can predict non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) in eating disorders. Affect was represented by valence (positive versus negative) and activation (high versus low). Twenty‐one patients with anorexia nervosa‐restricting type, 18 patients with anorexia nervosa‐binge‐purging type and 20 patients with bulimia nervosa reported their momentary affect at nine random times a day during a one week period using a hand‐held computer. Affective variability was calculated as the within‐person standard deviation of valence and activation over time. Results indicate that patients displaying greater variability in activation and using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have a higher probability to engage in lifetime NSSI after adjustment for depression and borderline personality disorder. Neither variability of valence nor mean level of valence and activation had any predictive association with engaging in NSSI. It is suggested that the treatment of NSSI should focus on affect stabilization rather than reducing negative affect. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Sulfated glycosaminoglycans from crown‐of‐thorns Acanthaster planci – extraction and quantification analysis
Authors: Bahrom Nur Afiqah , Sirajudeen K. N. S. , Yip George W. , Latiff Aishah A. , Ghazali Farid Che
Published: December 2012

In this article, the novel inventive steps for the extraction and quantification of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (GAG) from Acanthaster planci starfish, generally known as crown‐of‐thorns (COT), are reported. Starfish have been implicated with collagenous distributions within their body anatomy, thus making it a prima facie fact searching for the possibility that GAGs can be isolated from COT. In this study, total‐, N‐, and O‐sulfated GAGs were extracted from three anatomical regions of the COT (integument, internal tissue, and coelomic fluid) and comparison was made. The result showed that body region of COT seemed to contain higher amount of sulfated GAGs as opposed to the arm region (55.79 ± 0.65 μg/mg was the highest amount in the body extracted from its coelomic fluid and 32.28 ± 3.14 μg/mg was the highest amount in the arm extracted from its internal tissue). COT's integument and coelomic fluid from its body region possessed the highest total of sulfated GAGs content with no significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two. All GAGs from COT comprised a higher percentage of N‐sulfated GAGs than its counterpart, the O‐sulfated GAGs. When compared with a similar previous study that used sea cucumbers as the sulfated GAGs source, COT possessed more total sulfated GAGs content per milligram as compared with the sea cucumber generally. This result seems to unveil this marine species' advantage per se pertaining to GAGs extraction biomass applicability. Thus, COT could now be the better alternative source for production technology of total‐, N‐, and O‐sulfated GAGs.
β‐Glucan supplementation, allergy symptoms, and quality of life in self‐described ragweed allergy sufferers
Authors: Talbott Shawn M. , Talbott Julie A. , Talbott Tracy L. , Dingler Elaine
Published: December 2012

This randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study compared the effects of daily supplementation for 4 week with 250 mg Wellmune WGP® β‐1,3/1,6‐Glucan (WGP) with placebo 250 mg/day (rice flour) on physical and psychological health attributes of self‐described “moderate” ragweed allergy sufferers. Study participants (mean age = 36 ± 9 year; range 18–53 year) were recruited before the beginning of ragweed season (September) in Northeastern Ohio. Serum IgE concentration, allergy symptoms [via self‐report, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ)], psychological well‐being [Profile of Mood States (POMS)], and physical function (RAND SF‐36 Medical Outcomes Study) were measured immediately prior to and after supplementation with WGP (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA). Compared with placebo, WGP reduced total allergy symptoms (28%), symptom severity (52%), and symptom rating on the VAS (37%) (P < 0.05), but had no effect on serum IgE levels. As measured by the POMS, WGP increased participants' rating of vigor (10%), but reduced tension (34%), depression (45%), anger (41%), fatigue (38%), and confusion (34%) (P < 0.05). Study participants given WGP reported increased physical health (11%), energy (19%), and emotional well‐being (7%) compared with study participants given the placebo (RAND SF‐36 Medical Outcomes Study). The WGP group also reported decreased sleep problems (53%), reduced nasal symptoms (59%), eye symptoms (57%), non‐nasal symptoms (50%), activities (53%), emotions (57%), and improved quality of life (QOL) (56%), as well as improved global mood state (13%). Supplementation with WGP for 4 weeks improved allergy symptoms, overall physical health, and emotional well‐being compared with placebo in self‐described “moderate” ragweed allergy sufferers during ragweed allergy season.
Absence of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 prevents ethanol-induced liver injury
Authors: Roychowdhury Sanjoy , McMullen Megan R. , Pisano Sorana G. , Liu Xiuli , Nagy Laura E.
Published: December 2012

Hepatocyte cell death via apoptosis and necrosis are major hallmarks of ethanol-induced liver injury. However, inhibition of apoptosis is not sufficient to prevent ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury or inflammation. Because receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIP) 3–mediated necroptosis, a nonapoptotic cell death pathway, is implicated in a variety of pathological conditions, we tested the hypothesis that ethanol-induced liver injury is RIP3-dependent and RIP1-independent. Increased expression of RIP3 was detected in livers of mice after chronic ethanol feeding, as well as in liver biopsies from patients with alcoholic liver disease. Chronic ethanol feeding failed to induce RIP3 in the livers of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)-deficient mice, indicating CYP2E1-mediated ethanol metabolism is critical for RIP3 expression in response to ethanol feeding. Mice lacking RIP3 were protected from ethanol-induced steatosis, hepatocyte injury, and expression of proinflammatory cytokines. In contrast, RIP1 expression in mouse liver remained unchanged following ethanol feeding, and inhibition of RIP1 kinase by necrostatin-1 did not attenuate ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury. Ethanol-induced apoptosis, assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling–positive nuclei and accumulation of cytokeratin-18 fragments in the liver, was independent of RIP3.

Conclusion :

CYP2E1-dependent RIP3 expression induces hepatocyte necroptosis during ethanol feeding. Ethanol-induced hepatocyte injury is RIP3-dependent, but independent of RIP1 kinase activity; intervention of this pathway could be targeted as a potential therapeutic strategy.
Fruits and vegetables consumption and risk of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma: A meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Chen Guo‐Chong , Lv Da‐Bing , Pang Zhi , Liu Qing‐Fang
Published: December 2012

Epidemiologic evidence suggests that intakes of fruits and/or vegetables may play a role in the etiology of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but the findings are inconsistent. We aimed to assess fruits and/or vegetables intakes in relation to risk of NHL by a meta‐analytic approach. We searched on PubMed database from January 1966 to September 2012 to indentify case‐control and cohort studies. We used a random‐effects model to compute summary risk estimates. For vegetables, the summary relative risks (RRs) of NHL for high versus low intake for case‐control, cohort and all studies were 0.75 (95% CI, 0.60–0.94; N = 8), 0.90 (95% CI, 0.81–1.00; N = 5) and 0.81 (95%CI, 0.71–0.92; N = 13) ; and the corresponding RRs for intake of 1 serving per day were 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80–0.96; N = 8), 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92–1.00; N = 5) and 0.92 (95%CI, 0.87–0.96; N = 13). For fruits and vegetables combined, the summary RR for high versus low intake was 0.78 (95%CI, 0.66–0.92; N = 4), and for intake of 1 serving per day was 0.95 (95%CI, 0.91–1.00; N = 4). Regarding histological subtypes, vegetables intake was significantly inversely associated with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, but not small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (high vs. low intake, RR = 0.70, 0.70 and 1.01, respectively; N = 7, 7 and 10, respectively). Fruits intake was generally not associated with total NHL, or any histological subtypes. Our findings suggest that intakes of vegetables, and fruits and vegetables combined, but not fruits alone, significantly reduce risk of NHL.
Analgesic efficacy and safety of the novel p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, losmapimod, in patients with neuropathic pain following peripheral nerve injury: a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Ostenfeld T. , Krishen A. , Lai R.Y. , Bullman J. , Baines A.J. , Green J. , Anand P. , Kelly M.
Published: December 2012

Background

Inhibitors of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase are undergoing evaluation as a novel class of anti‐rheumatic drugs, by virtue of their ability to suppress the production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Emerging data suggests that they may also attenuate peripheral or central sensitization in neuropathic pain. A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of losmapimod (GW856553), a novel p38α/β inhibitor, in subjects with neuropathic pain following traumatic peripheral nerve injury.

Methods

One hundred and sixty‐eight subjects with pain of at least moderate intensity (average daily score ≥4 on an 11‐point pain intensity numeric rating scale; PI‐NRS) at baseline were randomized to receive oral losmapimod, 7.5 mg BID or placebo for 28 days. Efficacy and safety assessments were undertaken at weekly clinic visits.

Results

The mean treatment difference for the change in average daily pain score from baseline to week 4 of treatment based on the PI‐NRS was −0.22 (95% CI −0.73, 0.28) in favour of losmapimod over placebo (p = 0.39). There were no statistically significant or clinically meaningful differences between the treatment groups over the 4‐week dosing period for either the primary or secondary efficacy variables. There were no unexpected safety or tolerability findings following dosing with losmapimod.

Conclusions

Losmapimod could not be differentiated from placebo in terms of a primary analgesia response in patients with pain following peripheral nerve injury. The lack of response could reflect inadequate exposure at central sites of action or differences between rodent and human with respect to the target or neuropathic pain mechanisms.
Measuring tumor cycling hypoxia and angiogenesis using a side‐firing fiber optic probe
Authors: Yu Bing , Shah Amy , Wang Bingqing , Rajaram Narasimhan , Wang Quanli , Ramanujam Nirmala , Palmer Gregory M. , Dewhirst Mark W.
Published: December 2012

Hypoxia and angiogenesis can significantly influence the efficacy of cancer therapy and the behavior of surviving tumor cells. There is a growing demand for technologies to measure tumor hypoxia and angiogenesis temporally in vivo to enable advances in drug development and optimization. This paper reports the use of frequency‐domain photon migration with a side‐firing probe to quantify tumor oxygenation and hemoglobin concentrations in nude rats bearing human head/neck tumors administered with carbogen gas, cycling hypoxic gas or just room air. Significant increase (with carbogen gas breathing) or decrease (with hypoxic gas breathing) in tumor oxygenation was observed. The trend in tumor oxygenation during forced cycling hypoxia (CH) followed that of the blood oxygenation measured with a pulse oximeter. Natural CH was also observed in rats under room air. The studies demonstrated the potential of the technology for longitudinal monitoring of tumor CH during tumor growth or in response to therapy. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Development of a miR‐92a delivery system for anti‐angiogenesis‐based cancer therapy
Authors: Ando Hidenori , Okamoto Ayaka , Yokota Masafumi , Shimizu Kosuke , Asai Tomohiro , Dewa Takehisa , Oku Naoto
Published: December 2012

Background

RNA interference has received much attention as a novel therapeutic strategy. MicroRNA (miRNA) appears to be promising as a novel nucleic‐acid medicine because it is able to suppress a series of protein expression that relates to a specific event such as angiogenesis. In the present study, we used dicetyl phosphate‐tetraethylenepentamine‐based polycation liposomes (TEPA‐PCL) as a delivery system for miR‐92a, one of the miRNAs regulating angiogenesis, and attempted to deliver miR‐92a to angiogenic endothelial cells for the development of cancer therapy by anti‐angiogenesis.

Methods

Cholesterol‐grafted miR‐92a (miR‐92a‐C) was bound to TEPA‐PCL, and the ratio of nitrogen of TEPA‐PCL to phosphorus of miR‐92a‐C (N/P ratio) was optimized. This complex was transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and the intracellular localization of miR‐92a‐C was observed under a confocal laser‐scanning microscope by the use of fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled miR‐92a‐C. After transfection of HUVECs with miR‐92a‐C/TEPA‐PCL, the expression of miR‐92a‐target proteins (e.g. integrin α5, mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase 4, sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor 1) was examined by western blotting, and a tube formation assay was performed.

Results

The complex of miR‐92a‐C with TEPA‐PCL was formed and miR‐92a‐C remained stable with TEPA‐PCL at the N/P ratio of 10. After transfection of HUVECs with miR‐92a‐C complex, miR‐92a‐C spread into the whole cytoplasm of the cells without any change of cellular morphology, and the expression of several proteins encoded by miR‐92a‐target genes was suppressed. Furthermore, the capability of forming capillary tubes was impaired in complex‐treated HUVECs.

Conclusions

We have developed a miR‐92a delivery system into angiogenic endothelial cells by the use of TEPA‐PCL. These results suggest that miR‐92a‐C/TEPA‐PCL is promising for the treatment of tumors via the suppression of angiogenesis. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
3‐[(2,4‐dimethoxy)benzylidene]‐anabaseine dihydrochloride protects against 6‐hydroxydopamine‐induced parkinsonian neurodegeneration through α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor stimulation in rats
Authors: Suzuki Syuuichirou , Kawamata Jun , Matsushita Takashi , Matsumura Akihiro , Hisahara Shin , Takata Kazuyuki , Kitamura Yoshihisa , Kem William , Shimohama Shun
Published: December 2012

To explore a novel therapy against Parkinson's disease through enhancement of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of 3‐[(2,4‐dimethoxy)benzylidene]‐anabaseine dihydrochloride (DMXBA; GTS‐21), a functionally selective α7 nAChR agonist, in a rat 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA)‐induced hemiparkinsonian model. Microinjection of 6‐OHDA into the nigrostriatal pathway of rats destroys dopaminergic neurons selectively. DMXBA dose dependently inhibited methamphetamine‐stimulated rotational behavior and dopaminergic neuronal loss induced by 6‐OHDA. The protective effects were abolished by methyllycaconitine citrate salt hydrate, an α7 nAChR antagonist. Immunohistochemical study confirmed abundant α7 nAChR expression in the cytoplasm of dopaminergic neurons. These results indicate that DMXBA prevented 6‐OHDA‐induced dopaminergic neuronal loss through stimulating α7 nAChR in dopaminergic neurons. Injection of 6‐OHDA elevated immunoreactivities to glial markers such as ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1, CD68, and glial fibrillary acidic protein in the substantia nigra pars compacta of rats. In contrast, these immunoreactivities were markedly inhibited by comicroinjection of DMXBA. Microglia also expressed α7 nAChR in both resting and activated states. Hence, we hypothesize that DMXBA simultaneously affects microglia and dopaminergic neurons and that both actions lead to dopaminergic neuroprotection. The findings that DMXBA attenuates 6‐OHDA‐induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration and glial activation in a rat model of Parkinson's disease raisethe possibility that DMXBA could be a novel therapeutic compound to prevent Parkinson's disease development. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Conditional deletion of histone deacetylase‐4 in the central nervous system has no major effect on brain architecture or neuronal viability
Authors: Price Valerie , Wang Lulu , D'Mello Santosh R.
Published: December 2012

Evidence from different laboratories using cell culture and in vivo model systems indicates that histone deacetylase‐4 (HDAC4) plays an essential role in maintaining neuronal survival. Indeed, HDAC4 null knockout mice, which die within 2 weeks of birth, display cerebellar degeneration, whereas RNAi‐mediated knockdown of HDAC4 expression in the retina of normal mice leads to apoptosis of retinal neurons. As a step toward analyzing the role of HDAC4 in the regulation of neuronal survival in more detail, we generated two separate lines of conditional knockout mice by breeding HDAC4‐flox mice with mice expressing Cre recombinase through a Thy1 or nestin promoter. Surprisingly, both Thy1‐Cre/HDAC4−/− mice, in which HDAC4 is ablated in neurons of the cortex and hippocampus, as well as Nes‐Cre/HDAC4−/− mice, in which HDAC4 is ablated in neural progenitor cells of the CNS, appear normal at birth, have normal body weight, are fertile, and perform normally in locomotor activity assays. Histological analysis of the brains of Nes‐Cre/HDAC4−/− mice revealed no obvious abnormalities in cytoarchitecture. Immunohistological analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase and calbindin also showed no discernible defects. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end‐labeling staining showed no difference in the level of neuronal death in the cortex and cerebellum of Nes‐Cre/HDAC4−/− mice compared with controls. These results indicate that neurons are less dependent on HDAC4 expression for their survival than previously believed and suggest that neuronal death observed in HDAC4 null knockout mice and after RNAi injection may result from HDAC4 deficiency in nonneural cells. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
West Antarctica's sensitivity to natural and human‐forced climate change over the Holocene
Authors: Mayewski P. A. , Maasch K. A. , Dixon D. , Sneed S. B. , Oglesby R. , Korotkikh E. , Potocki M. , Grigholm B. , Kreutz K. , Kurbatov A. V. , Spaulding N. , Stager J. C. , Taylor K. C. , Steig E. J. , White J. , Bertler N. A. N. , Goodwin I. , Simões J. C. , Jaña R. , Kraus S. , Fastook J.
Published: December 2012

The location and intensity of the austral westerlies strongly influence southern hemisphere precipitation and heat transport with consequences for human society and ecosystems. With future warming, global climate models project increased aridity in southern mid‐latitudes related to continued poleward contraction of the austral westerlies. We utilize Antarctic ice cores to investigate past and to set the stage for the prediction of future behaviour of the westerlies. We show that Holocene West Antarctic ice core reconstructions of atmospheric circulation sensitively record naturally forced progressive as well as abrupt changes. We also show that recent poleward migration of the westerlies coincident with increased emission of greenhouse gases and the Antarctic ozone hole has led to unprecedented penetration, compared with >100,000 years ago, of air masses bringing warmth, extra‐Antarctic source dust and anthropogenic pollutants into West Antarctica. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic study of interactions between casein and polymethoxyflavones
Authors: He Lili , Zheng Jinkai , Labuza Theodore P. , Xiao Hang
Published: December 2012

Molecular interactions between dietary flavonoids and other food components play important roles in the biological fate and activities of flavonoids. Herein, surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to study the molecular interactions between casein, a major milk protein, and three structurally closely related polymethoxyflavones (PMFs), nobiletin, 5,3′,4′‐tridemethylnobiletin, and 3′,4′‐didemethylnobiletin. SERS was conducted after either conjugating casein onto silver (Ag) dendrites to interact with PMFs, or conjugating PMFs onto Ag to interact with casein. Our results show distinct selectivity of PMFs in binding to Ag dendrites and casein. Hydroxyl groups on PMFs played a key role in the interactions between PMFs and casein and Ag. Methylation reaction at certain positions of PMF structures reduced the binding capacity of PMFs to both casein and Ag. This rapid and simple method can be extended to study the interactions between other flavonoids and various food components, especially useful when there are a large number of samples. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Liver transplantation after stage II palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Authors: Feier Flavia H. , Neto Joao Seda , Porta Gilda , Fonseca Eduardo A. , Vincenzi Rodrigo , Cândido Helry L. , Benavides Marcel , Ketzer Bernardo , Pugliese Renata , Miura Irene K. , Baggio Vera , Guimarães Teresa , Porta Adriana , Foronda Gustavo , Donizete Enis , da Silva Jose P. , Faria Lucilia , Kondo Mario , Chapchap Paulo
Published: December 2012

The association of biliary atresia (BA) with congenital heart diseases has been extensively described, and there are a number of reports on the outcomes of patients in this group who undergo liver transplantation (LT). The intraoperative management and the timing of LT for patients with end-stage liver disease are matters of debate, especially when complex heart diseases are involved. This report describes the outcome after LT for a pediatric recipient with BA and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The patient underwent Norwood-Sano and Glenn procedures for heart palliation before LT. He was cyanotic, was severely malnourished, and had complications secondary to chronic liver failure. At the time of transplantation, the child was 16 months old and weighed 5175 g. Despite the critical clinical scenario and the long hospitalization period, there were no cardiac, vascular, or biliary complications after LT. At the age of 48 months, the patient was awaiting the final cardiac repair. In conclusion, the presence of complex cardiac malformations may not be a contraindication to LT. An experienced surgical team and a multidisciplinary approach are key to a successful outcome.
PEAK leadership
Authors: Conley Chip
Published: December 2012

Conley asks why business leaders don't think of themselves as engaging in a practice, as in medicine or law. Based on the hierarchy of needs and theory of peak potential of psychologist Abraham Maslow, Conley describes seven practices for organizations to reach the highest levels. These include taking a positive view of human nature, cultivating the ability to move between transactional and transformational leadership, and focusing on your customers' highest needs. “If you create a unique corporate culture,” he writes, “it tends to drive employee happiness that enhances customer loyalty that grows market share and leads to sustained profitability.”
Glad to be here: Lessons in high performance from the Blue Angels
Authors: Foley John
Published: December 2012

Foley, the former lead solo pilot of the Navy's elite Blue Angels shares their process and mind‐set for achieving the highest level of performance. It starts with the “Glad to Be Here” mind‐set, which underpins the Diamond Performance Framework. This is built around tactical or strategic CenterPoints. A high belief level is necessary for high achievement, and with this comes clarity of vision. Delivery of a brief, which “contains the relevant details that people need before they get started,” helps people know what is expected. Commitment is based on contracts, and after‐action debriefs are necessary, for “celebrating your victories and sharing your gratitude.”
Leading a culture of change and innovation
Authors: Hrabowski Freeman A.
Published: December 2012

Hrabowski, the longtime president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) details the culture change initiatives that were necessary in his institution for increasing minority participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. The Meyerhoff Scholars Program, instituted in 1989, partnered the school with Baltimore philanthropist Robert Meyerhoff and national agencies and foundations. The program initially focused on developing research careers in science and engineering for African American males, and later “broadened to include women, other minority students, and majority students interested in diversity issues, and it has been widely recognized as a national model in preparing students for research careers.”
Entrepreneurial leaders: Creating opportunity in an unknowable world
Authors: Greenberg Danna , McKone‐Sweet Kate , Wilson H. James
Published: December 2012

The authors believe that “organizations have entered an unknowable world in which current business problems bear little resemblance to the past.” Rather than endlessly gathering information, they must continually take action. Three principles of entrepreneurial leadership are outlined, starting with cognitive ambidexterity, which involves “integrating two diverse ways of making decisions into a single approach to pursuing opportunity.” Next is “commitment to social, environmental, and economic value creation,” in which leaders are “driven by their commitment to social, environmental, and economic responsibility and sustainability (SEERS).” Finally, leaders must develop self‐awareness, “a deep understanding of who they are to guide their actions.”
Environmental selection of protistan plankton communities in hypersaline anoxic deep‐sea basins,EasternMediterraneanSea
Authors: Filker Sabine , Stock Alexandra , Breiner Hans‐Werner , Edgcomb Virginia , Orsi William , Yakimov Michail M. , Stoeck Thorsten
Published: December 2012

High salt concentrations, absence of light, anoxia, and high hydrostatic pressure make deep hypersaline anoxic basins (DHABs) in theEasternMediterraneanSea one of the most polyextreme habitats onEarth. Taking advantage of the unique chemical characteristics of these basins, we tested the effect of environmental selection and geographic distance on the structure of protistan communities. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) analyses were performed on water samples from the brines and seawater/brine interfaces of five basins:Discovery,Urania,Thetis,Tyro, andMedee. Using statistical analyses, we calculated the partitioning of diversity among the ten individual terminal restriction fragment (T‐RF) profiles, based on peak abundance and peak incidence. While a significant distance effect on spatial protistan patterns was not detected, hydrochemical gradients emerged as strong dispersal barriers that likely lead to environmental selection in theDHABprotistan plankton communities. We identified sodium, magnesium, sulfate, and oxygen playing in concerto as dominant environmental drivers for the structuring of protistan plankton communities in theEasternMediterraneanDHABs.
Microarray analysis identifies COMP as the most differentially regulated transcript throughout in vitro follicle growth
Authors: Skory Robin M. , Bernabé Beatriz Peñalver , Galdones Eugene , Broadbelt Linda J. , Shea Lonnie D. , Woodruff Teresa K.
Published: December 2012

In vitro follicle growth has emerged as a technology that can provide new information about folliculogenesis and serve as part of a suite of methods currently under development to assist women whose fertility is threatened by cancer treatments. Though it has been shown that in vitro‐grown follicles secrete peptide and steroid hormones, much of the follicular transcriptome remains unknown. Thus, microarray analysis was performed to characterize the transcriptome and secretome of in vitro‐grown follicles. One prominently regulated gene product was cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (Comp): its mRNA was upregulated during the final 4 days of culture (P < 0.05) and COMP protein could be detected in medium from individual follicles. COMP expression localized to mural granulosa cells of large antral follicles both in vitro and in vivo, with maximal expression immediately preceding ovulation in cycling and chorionic gonadotropin‐primed female mice. COMP was co‐expressed with two known markers of follicle maturation, inhibin βA and gremlin, and was expressed only in TUNEL‐negative follicles. In addition to other gene products identified in the microarray, COMP has potential utility as a marker of follicle maturation. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exacerbation of myasthenia gravis with voriconazole
Authors: Azzam Raed , Shaikh Aasef G. , Serra Alessandro , Katirji Bashar
Published: December 2012

Introduction

We describe a patient with stable generalized myasthenia gravis who presented with new onset severe ophthalmoplegia and ptosis after initiation of voriconazole for aspergillosis.

Methods

Ligand‐protein docking software was used to simulate the interaction of voriconazole with the acetylcholine receptor (AChR). We tested voriconazole binding to AChR in comparison to high affinity and neutral compounds.

Results

There was no clinical improvement after intravenous immunoglobulin infusion and plasmapheresis. However, the patient improved slowly after withdrawal of voriconazole. Based on our results, voriconazole binds favorably to AChR and may putatively block muscle nicotinic AChRs. Other theoretical explanations include blocking potassium channels and reducing their intracellular trafficking.

Conclusions

The mechanisms involved in ocular exacerbation may be multi‐factorial, reflecting the intricate dynamics of the neuromuscular junction. It is important to consider medications that harbor pyridine or pyrimidine moieties as potential causes of exacerbation in myasthenic patients, especially those who present with ocular symptoms. Muscle Nerve 47: 928–930, 2013
Longitudinal characterization of functional, morphologic, and biochemical adaptations in mouse skeletal muscle with hindlimb suspension
Authors: Hanson Andrea M. , Harrison Brooke C. , Young Mary H. , Stodieck Louis S. , Ferguson Virginia L.
Published: December 2012

Introduction

Hindlimb unloading‐induced muscle atrophy is often assessed after a homeostatic state is established, thus overlooking the early adaptations that are critical to developing this pattern of atrophy.

Methods

Muscle function and physiology were characterized at 0, 1, 3, 7, and 14 days of hindlimb suspension (HS).

Results

Reductions in muscle mass were maximal by Day 14 of HS. Functional strength and isolated muscle strength were reduced. MyHC‐I and ‐IIa expressing fibers were reduced in size by Day 7 in the soleus and by Day 14 in the gastrocnemius (MyHC‐I fibers only). Atrogin‐1 and MuRF1 expression was increased by Day 1 in both the calf and tibialis anterior while IGF‐1 expression was significantly reduced on Day 3. Phosphorylation of Akt was reduced on Day 14.

Conclusions

Insight into these early changes in response to HS improves understanding of the molecular and functional changes that lead to muscle atrophy. Muscle Nerve 48: 393–402, 2013
Effects of short‐term resistance training and subsequent detraining on the electromechanical delay
Authors: Costa Pablo B. , Herda Trent J. , Walter Ashley A. , Valdez Andrea M. , Cramer Joel T.
Published: December 2012

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the effects of 3 days of dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) and isokinetic (ISOK) training and subsequent detraining on the electromechanical delay (EMD). Methods: Thirty‐one men [age 22.2±4.2 years, body mass 77.9±12.9 kg, height 173.9±5.4 cm (mean±SD)] were randomly assigned to a DCER training group, ISOK training group, or control (CONT) group. Results: No significant changes were found for EMD from pre‐ to posttraining assessments 1, 2, and 3 [4.5±0.2 ms, 4.7±0.2 ms, 4.5±0.1 ms, 4.5±0.2 ms, respectively (mean±SE)] (P>0.05). Conclusions: It can be hypothesized that increases in strength observed after a short‐term resistance training program may not be attributed to stiffness changes in the series‐elastic component. Muscle Nerve, 2013
Optimization of ultraviolet laser doping for crystalline silicon solar cells with a novel segmented selective emitter design
Authors: Renshaw John S. , Upadhyaya Ajay , Upadhyaya Vijaykumar , Cooper Ian B. , Rohatgi Ajeet
Published: December 2012

This paper reports on the use of ultraviolet laser for forming segmented selective emitters on POCl 3 n  + –p–p  +  solar cells. Laser scan speed, pulse power, and repetition rate are optimized to minimize laser‐induced defects, which are found to enhance recombination and reduce the local open‐circuit voltage. Laser‐doped selective emitters formed by locally driving in additional phosphorous from the diffusion glass are well suited for an etchback process without the need for a mask. In this paper, we show a novel selective emitter design that is segmented instead of continuous, combined with an emitter etchback process gives an efficiency improvement of about 0.3% absolute over a standard industrial type solar cell and 0.2% absolute improvement over a non‐segmented selective emitter solar cell. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating Source Area Contributions from Aircraft Flux Measurements Over Heterogeneous Land Using Large-Eddy Simulation
Authors: Bertoldi Giacomo , Kustas William P. , Albertson John D.
Published: December 2012

The estimation of spatial patterns in surface fluxes from aircraft observations poses several challenges in the presence of heterogeneous land cover. In particular, the effects of turbulence on scalar transport and the different behaviour of passive (e.g. water vapour) versus active (e.g. temperature) scalars may lead to large uncertainties in the source area/flux-footprint estimation for sensible (H) and latent (LE) heat-flux fields. This study uses large-eddy simulation (LES) of the land–atmosphere interactions to investigate the atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) processes that are likely to create differences in airborne-estimated H and LE footprints. We focus on 32~m altitude aircraft flux observations collected over a study site in central Oklahoma during the Southern Great Plains experiment in 1997 (SGP97). Comparison between the aircraft data and traditional model estimates provide evidence of a difference in source area for turbulent sensible and latent heat fluxes. The LES produces reasonable representations of the observed fluxes, and hence provides credible evidence and explanation of the observed differences in the H and LE footprints. Those differences can be quantified by analyzing the change in the sign of the spatial correlation of the H and LE fields provided by the LES model as a function of height. Dry patterns in relatively moist surroundings are able to generate strong, but localized, sensible heating. However, whereas H at the aircraft altitude is still in phase with the surface, LE presents a more complicated connection to the surface as the dry updrafts force a convergence of the surrounding moist air. Both the observational and LES model evidence support the concept that under strongly advective conditions, H and LE measured at the top of the surface layer (≈50 m) can be associated with very different upwind source areas, effectively contradicting surface-layer self-similarity theory for scalars. The results indicate that, under certain environmental conditions, footprint models will need to predict differing source area/footprint contributions between active (H) and passive (LE) scalar fluxes by considering land-surface heterogeneity and ABL dynamics.