bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of High‐Sensitive ELISA Method for Detection of Adipophilin Levels in Human Colostrum and Breast Milk
Authors: Mitrova Katarina , Karpisek Michal , Durilova Marianna , Dragusin Lavinia Gabriela , Nevoral Jiri , Bronsky Jiri
Published: February 2014

Aim

To develop and validate high‐sensitive (hs) ELISA method for detection of adipophilin (adipose differentiation‐related protein, ADRP) in human breast milk (BM) and to analyze adipophilin levels in BM during 12 months of lactation.

Methods

ADRP levels were determined using hsELISA method (Biovendor‐Laboratory Medicine, Inc.) in colostrum (D0) and BM of 72 mothers was collected 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following delivery (M1, 3, 6, 12).

Results

ADRP was detectable in BM up to 12 months of lactation. Mean levels at D0 were 1.98 ± 0.12; M1, 2.83 ± 0.21; M3, 2.39 ± 0.17; M6, 2.57 ± 0.16; and at M12 3.25 ± 0.21 μg/ml. Significantly higher levels of ADRP were found in M1 and M12 when compared to D0 and in M12 when compared to M3 (overall P = 0.0001). No significant correlation was seen between ADRP levels in BM and adiponectin, body weight of infants, their birth length, body weight gain during the first year of life, or BMI of mothers before pregnancy.

Conclusions

We developed and validated hsELISA for detection of ADRP in human BM. ADRP was detectable in human BM during the whole 12 months of lactation period and its levels were intraindividually well‐conserved.
Evaluation of the URiSCAN Super Cassette ACR Semiquantitative Urine Dipstick for Microalbuminuria Screening
Authors: Cho Min‐Chul , Ji Misuk , Kim So Young , Choe Wonho , Lee Woochang , Chun Sail , Min Won‐Ki
Published: February 2014

Background

Microalbuminuria tests are used as screening tools for diseases, such as diabetic nephropathy, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of a newly introduced semiquantitative urine dipstick, URiSCAN Super cassette ACR (URiSuper‐ACR [where ACR is albumin/creatinine ratio]; YD Diagnostics Corp., Korea), as a screening tool for microalbuminuria.

Methods

Albumin and creatinine levels in randomly selected spot urine samples of 1,040 patients were semiquantitatively measured using URiSuper‐ACR. Results using URiSuper‐ACR system were compared to measurements obtained by quantitative analyzer. We also calculated diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, precision, linearity, and categorical concordance rates for the diagnosis of microalbumiuria using this system. Furthermore, we performed interference tests using standard controls to evaluate possible influence of various factors.

Results

URiSuper‐ACR test showed 88.8% and 86.3% sensitivity and 90.1% and 93.8% specificity for albumin concentration and ACR, respectively. It also showed 91.1% and 92.6% positive predictive values and 87.6% and 88.5% negative predictive values, respectively. The concordance rate between URiSuper‐ACR and quantitative method for albumin and creatinine concentration within the same category were 78.4% and 67.1%, respectively, and for the ±1 category were 98.8% and 99.5%, respectively. For ACR, an 80.0% concordance rate was seen within the same category. The within‐run coefficients of variation (CVs) were 3.0∼15.4% and 5.2∼23.5% for albumin and creatinine, respectively, showing good linearity. In interference tests, no interference was observed except for cases with high specific gravity.

Conclusions

URiSuper‐ACR showed good diagnostic performance for the detection of microalbuminuria and may be a useful screening test in clinical laboratories.
Phase 3 efficacy and safety trial of gadobutrol, a 1.0 molar macrocyclic MR imaging contrast agent, in patients referred for contrast‐enhanced MR imaging of the central nervous system
Authors: Gutierrez Juan E. , Rosenberg Martin , Duhaney Michael , Simon Jeffrey A. , Brueggenwerth Guenther , Agris Jacob M. , Knopp Edmond A.
Published: February 2014

Purpose

Gadobutrol is a 1.0 M macrocyclic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent. A study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gadobutrol‐enhanced versus unenhanced imaging for central nervous system (CNS) lesion visualization and detection.

Materials and Methods

An international, multicenter, open‐label, Phase III clinical trial. Patients underwent unenhanced and gadobutrol 1.0 M‐enhanced (0.1 mmol/kg BW) MR imaging using a standardized protocol. Unenhanced and combined unenhanced/gadobutrol‐enhanced images were scored by three independent, blinded readers for degree of lesion enhancement, border delineation, internal morphology, and total number of lesions detected (primary efficacy variables). Exact match of the MR diagnoses with the final clinical diagnosis, detection of malignant CNS lesions, and confidence in diagnosis were secondary efficacy variables.

Results

Of 343 enrolled patients, 321 were evaluated for efficacy. All primary efficacy endpoints were met: superiority was demonstrated for gadobutrol‐enhanced versus unenhanced MR images (P < 0.0001 in all cases) for lesion enhancement, border delineation, and internal morphology. Noninferiority was met for mean number of lesions detected. There were improvements in the sensitivity of malignant lesion detection, without a loss in specificity, exact‐match diagnostic accuracy, and reader confidence. Treatment‐related adverse events were reported in 4.1% (n = 14); all were nonserious.

Conclusion

Gadobutrol 1.0M is an effective and well‐tolerated contrast agent for CNS MRI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:788–796. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Red pericarp introgression lines derived from interspecific crosses of rice: physicochemical characteristics, antioxidative properties and phenolic content
Authors: Sharma Neerja , Kaur Rimaljeet , Mangat Gurjit S , Singh Kuldeep
Published: February 2014

BACKGROUND

Antioxidative properties and physicochemical characteristics of introgression lines (ILs) and their recurrent parents were analyzed. In addition, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and free radical‐scavenging capacity were evaluated, since these are important antioxidative properties for developing nutraceutical and functional foods.

RESULTS

Comparative analysis of the brown and milled rice fractions of ILs with their respective recurrent parents revealed 2.26‐ and 1.22‐fold increase in total phenolics, 1.95‐ and 2.09‐fold increase in flavonoids, 8.38‐ and 6.80‐fold increase in proanthocyanidins and 1.55‐ and 1.20‐fold increase in tannins in brown and milled rice fractions respectively. Higher CAT (1.36‐ and 1.89‐fold) and SOD (1.71‐ and 2.02‐fold) activities and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC, 7.13‐ and 1.98‐fold) were observed in brown and milled rice fractions respectively of ILs compared with their respective recurrent parents. A high and positive correlation was obtained between TEAC and total phenols (0.73, P ≤ 0.01), flavonoids (0.66, P ≤ 0.05) and proanthocyanidins (0.69, P ≤ 0.05). The yield parameters and physicochemical characteristics of the grains, in general, were comparable in the ILs and their respective recurrent parents.

CONCLUSION

The ILs of rice reported in the present study exhibited significant positive differences in the content of phenolic constituents and antioxidant properties with good grain quality characteristics over their recurrent parents, indicating their potential as a natural source of phytochemicals for nutraceutical and functional food development. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Photochemically Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Using Polymeric Semiconductor Mesoporous Graphitic Carbon Nitride
Authors: Dadashi‐Silab Sajjad , Tasdelen Mehmet Atilla , Kiskan Baris , Wang Xinchen , Antonietti Markus , Yagci Yusuf
Published: February 2014

Photochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerization of vinyl monomers is successfully activated by ecofriendly heterogeneous mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg‐C3N4). This method pertains to the use of mpg‐C3N4 as photoactivator for reduction of initially loaded copper(II) species, thus promoting the in situ formation of the copper(I) species. The controlled nature of the polymerizations in both natural sunlight and UV‐light irradiation at ambient temperature is confirmed by the good agreement of the kinetics of the ­polymerization with theoretical values. The light on–off experiments ­demonstrate that polymerizations are clearly initiated and moderated by either UV light or sunlight.

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Design of multidimensional Shinnar–Le Roux radiofrequency pulses
Authors: Ma Chao , Liang Zhi‐Pei
Published: February 2014

Purpose

To generalize the conventional Shinnar–Le Roux method for the design of multidimensional radiofrequency pulses.

Methods

Using echo‐planar gradients, the multidimensional radiofrequency pulse design problem was converted into a series of one‐dimensional polynomial design problems. Each of the one‐dimensional polynomial design problems was solved efficiently. B0 inhomogeneity compensation and design of spatial‐spectral pulses were also considered.

Results

The proposed method was used to design two‐dimensional excitation and refocusing pulses. The results were validated through Bloch equation simulation and experiments on a 3.0 T scanner. Large‐tip‐angle, equiripple‐error, multidimensional excitation was achieved with ripple levels closely matching the design specifications.

Conclusion

The conventional Shinnar–Le Roux method can be extended to design multidimensional radiofrequency pulses. The proposed method achieves almost equiripple excitation errors, allows easy control of the tradeoff among design parameters, and is computationally efficient. Magn Reson Med 73:633–645, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization and modeling of creep behavior of a thermoset nanocomposite
Authors: Faraz M.I. , Besseling N.A.M. , Korobko A.V. , Picken S.J.
Published: February 2014

In this article, we report creep and recovery behavior of nanocomposites based on a high‐temperature‐resistant thermosetting matrix. Nanocomposites with up to 2 wt% of organically modified clay were prepared. The creep and recovery behavior was investigated under various stress levels and at various temperatures. Creep behavior was modeled by a modified Burgers model by introducing a stretched exponential function. This stretched Burgers model satisfactorily describes the creep behavior of the matrix and nanocomposites. The role of filler on the system dynamics has been also discussed and an interesting finding discovered from the stretched Burgers model results. The model results suggest that the dynamics of the filled system is independent of the filler, which is scientifically quite interesting in the field of nanocomposites. The multiple cycle creep and recovery behavior of the matrix were also investigated and the Boltzmann superposition principle was applied to describe the multistep loading creep response. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:322–329, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Formation of voids in composite laminates: Coupled effect of moisture content and processing pressure
Authors: Anderson J.P. , Altan M.C.
Published: February 2014

Void formation as a result of prepreg moisture content and processing pressure during cure was experimentally investigated in thermosetting composite laminates. This was achieved by determining the void contents of eight‐ply laminates fabricated from TenCate® BT250/7781 E‐glass/epoxy prepreg at processing pressures of 1.7, 3.0, 4.4, and 5.8 atm. At each processing pressure, three types of laminates were fabricated using: (i) unconditioned prepregs (direct from the storage bag); (ii) prepregs conditioned at 25% relative humidity; and (iii) 99% relative humidity. Dynamics of prepreg moisture uptake during conditioning was measured using a moisture analyzer and was shown to exhibit Fickian diffusion behavior. The void contents of the cured laminates were found to vary from 1.6% to 5.0% depending on humidity environment the prepregs were exposed and the pressure applied during fabrication. The void contents of all laminates were observed to approach an asymptotic value of ∼1.6% as pressure was increased. The experimental results indicated the processing pressure applied during fabrication was increasingly carried by the fiber bed, reducing resin pressure during cure. Therefore, an enhanced void formation model was proposed through the addition of a pressure reduction factor and an asymptotic void content term. The proposed model was found to accurately predict the void content of laminates made of prepregs exposed to constant/varying humidity environments and fabricated at a wide range of processing pressures. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:376–384, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
Fabrication and properties of chemically bonded polysilsesquioxane‐polyacrylate/silica hybrid latex films with high silicon content
Authors: Han Qingyu , Pei Yongbing , Zhong Ying , Zhang Kai , Tang Longcheng , Wu Lianbin
Published: February 2014

Polysilsesquioxane‐polyacrylate/silica hybrid latexes (PSQ‐PAS) with high silicon content were prepared by directly mixing colloidal silica with polysilsesquioxane‐polyacrylate emulsion (PSQ‐PA), which was prepared through seeded emulsion polymerization using polymethacryloxypropylsilsesquioxanes as the core and polyacrylate (PA) as the shell respectively. The chemically bonded PSQ‐PAS thin films were obtained via sol‐gel process after addition of hydrophilic cosolvent to PSQ‐PAS emulsion and subsequent drying at room temperature. The effects of silica/PSQ‐PA ratio (w/w) on the film properties of hardness, optical property and thermal stability were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the chemical composition and morphology of the resultant hybrid particles. DLS and TEM results indicated that both PSQ and PSQ‐PA particles had narrow size distribution and their average diameters were about 200 and 350 nm, respectively. Pendulum durometer, UV–vis spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the hardness, optical property and thermal stability of PSQ‐PAS latex films. The results showed that the PSQ‐PAS films hardness increased with the increasing ratio of silica/PSQ‐PA, whereas the transmittance decreased slightly. TGA curves demonstrated PSQ‐PAS films displayed excellent thermal stability, and the residual silicon weight exceeded 30%. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:389–396, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers
An evaluation of Knowledge and Understanding Framework personality disorder awareness training: Can a co‐production model be effective in a local NHS mental health Trust?
Authors: Davies Julie , Sampson Mark , Beesley Frank , Smith Debra , Baldwin Victoria
Published: February 2014

5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, in the Northwest of England, has trained over 500 staff in the Knowledge and Understanding Framework, level 1 personality disorder awareness training. This is a 3‐day nationally devised training programme delivered via an innovative co‐production model (i.e. co‐delivery and partnership working with service users who have lived experience). This paper provides quantitative and qualitative information on the effectiveness of training delivery and also serves to provide some insight into the impact of service‐user involvement via such a co‐production model. Information on 162 participants using the Knowledge and Understanding Framework bespoke questionnaire (Personality Disorder Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills Questionnaire) suggests that the training can be effectively delivered by and within a local NHS Mental Health Trust. Results immediately post‐training suggest an improvement in levels of understanding and capability efficacy and a reduction in negative emotional reactions. Indications from a 3‐month follow‐up suggest that while understanding and emotional reaction remain improved, capability efficacy regresses back to pre‐training levels, suggesting the need for ongoing supervision and/or support to consolidate skills. Discussion includes guidelines for the implementation of a truly integrated co‐production model of training provision, as well as advice relating to the maximization of long‐term benefits. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stiffness quantification of conductive polymers for bioelectrodes
Authors: Hassarati Rachelle T. , Goding Josef A. , Baek Sungchul , Patton Alexander J. , Poole‐Warren Laura A. , Green Rylie A.
Published: February 2014

Conductive polymer (CP) coatings can improve the performance of metallic bioelectrodes in implantable devices, a benefit which is partially attributed to the “softer” material interface. However, due to the nature of CP fabrication on metallic substrates, accurate quantification of mechanical properties has been difficult to achieve. This study demonstrates that peak‐force quantitative nanomechanical mapping (PF‐QNM) is a robust technique for determining the modulus of CP coatings. The effect of dopant size, chemistry, and film hydration on the mechanical properties of poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is also examined. Analysis of PEDOT doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) produced across five different thicknesses confirms the utility of PF‐QNM in yielding quantitative, repeatable moduli in both the dry and hydrated state. By doping PEDOT with paratoluene sulfonate and perchlorate (ClO4) it is shown that the hydrophilicity and the size of the dopant are both critical factors influencing CP mechanical properties in the hydrated environment. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys.2014,52, 666–675
Optical and electronic properties of nanosized BiTaO4 and BiNbO4 photocatalysts: Experiment and theory
Authors: Wang Baochang , Nisar Jawad , Almeida Cristiane Gomes , Mascarenhas Artur José Santos , Silva Luciana Almeida , David Denis Gilbert Francis , Bargiela Pascal , Araujo Carlos Moyses , Ahuja Rajeev , Ferreira da Silva Antonio
Published: February 2014

Nanosized BiTaO4 and BiNbO4 were prepared by the citrate method. The electronic and optical properties of BiTaO4 and BiNbO4 have been investigated by means of photo‐acoustic spectroscopy (PAS), X‐ray photo‐electron spectroscopy (XPS), and first‐principles calculations based on density functional theory. The measured valence band (from XPS) of both materials agreed well with the theoretical findings. It was also found that the calculated optical properties such as dynamical dielectric function and optical absorption spectra are in good agreement with the experimental findings. According to the absorption spectra, the absorption edges of BiNbO4 and BiTaO4 are located at 370 and 330 nm, respectively. Both phases have the ability to harvest UV light and relatively high surface area to volume ratio and can be used as UV/visible light‐driven photocatalysts.
Output capacitance on GaN HEMTs in correlation to its transistor geometry and sheet resistance
Authors: Jung Helmut , Abele Peter , Grünenpütt Jan , Hosch Michael , Schauwecker Bernd , Blanck Hervé , Rödle Thomas , Schäfer Michael
Published: February 2014

Output capacitance (Cout) measurements on AlGaN‐GaN HEMTs with different field plate (FP) sizes and different EPI configurations as well as different sheet resistances owing to surface preparation have been performed at VDS = 10 and 40 V. A model is proposed where Cout is composed by a horizontal intrinsic part C1 and a vertical FP part C2. It could be shown that in case of large FPs and at high voltage measurements Cout via C2 is very sensitive to the vertical layer‐sequence including surface preparation. Simulations performed on the same transistor structures and at same meas‐ urement conditions confirm well the measured values by assumption of surface traps in the 1012 cm‐2‐range. Additionally, it could be demonstrated that the output RF‐power of the transistors with FP and at high voltage is directly correlated to Cout on transistors with high SD‐voltage. It is proposed that by such Cout‐measurements important information can be deduced about the vertical layer configuration including surface states and the transistor performance, e.g. regarding output power. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Pseudomorphic AlxGa1‐xN MQW based deep ultraviolet light emitting diodes over sapphire
Authors: Asif Fatima , Chen Hung‐Chi , Coleman Antwon , Ahmad Iftikhar , Zhang Bin , Dion Joe , Heidari Ahmad , Adivarahan Vinod , Khan Asif
Published: February 2014

We report on the fabrication of AlGaN‐based pseudomorphic light‐emitting diodes over sapphire substrate with peak emission at 275 nm. A 0.6 µm thick n‐AlGaN contact layer was grown using a novel pulsed silicon modulation doping technique, which enabled us to achieve a sheet resistance of ∼500Ω/□. In order to mitigate current crowding and Joule heating issues, we implemented the pixel‐LED design with a total p‐active area of 360 µm x 360 µm. Packaged devices exhibited light output powers of ∼7 mW at 100 mA dc pump current. The forward voltage was ∼ 8.8 V. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
3D‐QSAR studies and molecular design on a novel series of pyrimidine benzimidazoles as Lck inhibitors
Authors: Xie Wen Guo , Fang Dan Qing , Wu Wen Juan , Zhang Rong , Zeng Guo Hua , Ma Shao Jie , Wu Jing Heng , Shen Yong
Published: February 2014

The development of selective lymphocyte‐specific kinase (Lck) inhibitors has attracted much attention for the research of the treatment of T‐cell mediated autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In the present work, three‐dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D‐QSAR) analyses are performed on a novel series of 4‐amino‐6‐benzimidazole‐pyrimidines acting as Lck inhibitors. The established 3D‐QSAR models show significant statistical quality and satisfactory predictive ability, with high q2 and R2 values: the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) model (q2 = 0.802, R2 = 0.991), and the comparative molecular similarity indexes analysis (CoMSIA) model (q2 = 0.731, R2 = 0.982). The systemic external validation indicates that both CoMFA and CoMSIA models are quite robust and possess high predictive abilities with
values of 0.881 and 0.877,
values of 0.897 and 0.847,
values of 0.897 and 0.850, and
values of 0.897 and 0.854, respectively. Several key structural features accounting for the inhibitory activities of these compounds are discussed. Based on established models and design considerations, six new compounds with significantly improved activities are theoretically designed, which still await experimental confirmation and evaluation. These theoretical results may provide a useful reference for understanding the action mechanism and designing novel potential Lck inhibitors. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Autonomous Multisensor Calibration and Closed‐loop Fusion for SLAM
Authors: Jacobson Adam , Chen Zetao , Milford Michael
Published: February 2014

The vast majority of current robot mapping and navigation systems require specific well‐characterized sensors that may require human‐supervised calibration and are applicable only in one type of environment. Furthermore, if a sensor degrades in performance, either through damage to itself or changes in environmental conditions, the effect on the mapping system is usually catastrophic. In contrast, the natural world presents robust, reasonably well‐characterized solutions to these problems. Using simple movement behaviors and neural learning mechanisms, rats calibrate their sensors for mapping and navigation in an incredibly diverse range of environments and then go on to adapt to sensor damage and changes in the environment over the course of their lifetimes. In this paper, we introduce similar movement‐based autonomous calibration techniques that calibrate place recognition and self‐motion processes as well as methods for online multisensor weighting and fusion. We present calibration and mapping results from multiple robot platforms and multisensory configurations in an office building, university campus, and forest. With moderate assumptions and almost no prior knowledge of the robot, sensor suite, or environment, the methods enable the bio‐inspired RatSLAM system to generate topologically correct maps in the majority of experiments.
CMOS‐Compatible Silicon Nanowire Field‐Effect Transistors for Ultrasensitive and Label‐Free MicroRNAs Sensing
Authors: Lu Na , Gao Anran , Dai Pengfei , Song Shiping , Fan Chunhai , Wang Yuelin , Li Tie
Published: February 2014

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been regarded as promising biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of early‐stage cancer as their expression levels are associated with different types of human cancers. However, it is a challenge to produce low‐cost miRNA sensors, as well as retain a high sensitivity, both of which are essential factors that must be considered in fabricating nanoscale biosensors and in future biomedical applications. To address such challenges, we develop a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)‐compatible SiNW‐FET biosensor fabricated by an anisotropic wet etching technology with self‐limitation which provides a much lower manufacturing cost and an ultrahigh sensitivity. This nanosensor shows a rapid (< 1 minute) detection of miR‐21 and miR‐205, with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 1 zeptomole (ca. 600 copies), as well as an excellent discrimination for single‐nucleotide mismatched sequences of tumor‐associated miRNAs. To investigate its applicability in real settings, we have detected miRNAs in total RNA extracted from lung cancer cells as well as human serum samples using the nanosensors, which demonstrates their potential use in identifying clinical samples for early diagnosis of cancer.
Remote Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Protects the Heart Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Preda Mihai Bogdan , Rønningen Torunn , Burlacu Alexandrina , Simionescu Maya , Moskaug Jan Øivind , Valen Guro
Published: February 2014

Cardioprotection can be evoked through extracardiac approaches. This prompted us to investigate whether remote transplantation of stem cells confers protection of the heart against ischemic injury. The cardioprotective effect of subcutaneous transplantation of naïve versus heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX-1)-overexpressing mouse mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to mice was investigated in hearts subjected to ischemia-reperfusion in a Langendorff perfusion system. Mice were transplanted into the interscapular region with naïve or HMOX-1 transfected MSC isolated from transgenic luciferase reporter mice and compared to sham-treated animals. The fate of transplanted cells was followed by in vivo bioluminescence imaging, revealing that MSC proliferated, but did not migrate detectably from the injection site. Ex vivo analysis of the hearts showed that remote transplantation of mouse adipose-derived MSC (mASC) resulted in smaller infarcts and improved cardiac function after ischemia-reperfusion compared to sham-treated mice. Although HMOX-1 overexpression conferred cytoprotective effects on mASC against oxidative stress in vitro, no additive beneficial effect of HMOX-1 transfection was noted on the ischemic heart. Subcutaneous transplantation of MSC also improved left ventricular function when transplanted in vivo after myocardial infarction. Plasma analysis and gene expression profile of naïve- and HMOX-1-mASC after transplantation pointed toward pentraxin 3 as a possible factor involved in the remote cardioprotective effect of mASC. These results have significant implications for understanding the behavior of stem cells after transplantation and development of safe and noninvasive cellular therapies with clinical applications. Remote transplantation of MSC can be considered as an alternative procedure to induce cardioprotection. Stem Cells  2014;32:2123–2134
Two Zinc(II) Coordination Polymers of Tetrazolate‐5‐carboxylate with Self‐penetrating Three‐dimensional Nets: Synthesis, Structure, and Luminescence Properties
Authors: Jia Qin‐Xiang , Tian Hua , Gao En‐Qing
Published: February 2014

Two coordination compounds of the ligand tetrazolate‐5‐carboxylate (tzc) with zinc(II), namely, [Zn2(tzc)2(bpp)] (1) and [Zn2(tzc)2(bpea)] (2) [bpp = 1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane, bpea = 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane] were synthesized by hydrothermal methods involving the in situ generation of the ligand from sodium ethyl tetrazolate‐5‐carboxylate. Both compounds 1 and 2 exhibit a three‐dimensional structure with 3,4‐connected self‐penetrating net topology in which two‐dimensional ZnII‐tzc layers are interlinked by the bpp or bpea spacers, with the tzc ligand being in the μ3‐N1,O1:N4,O2:N2 coordination mode. The luminescence properties of 1 and 2 were also investigated.
Local Melting of Charge Ordering in CaBaCo4O7 by Sr‐Doping
Authors: Seikh Md. Motin , Pralong Valérie , Caignaert Vincent , Raveau Bernard
Published: February 2014

The isovalent substitution of strontium for barium in CaBaCo4O7 destroys the ferrimagnetism in a striking way though it keeps the same orthorhombic crystal symmetry and cobalt valence as the parent phase. The gradual weakening of ferrimagnetism in CaBa1–xSrxCo4O7 (0 < x ≤ 0.10) leaves place to magnetic frustration together with antiferrimagnetism. The phase separation that appears, due to the strong competition between long range ferrimagnetic ordering and magnetic frustration, is interpreted by local melting of charge ordering. The latter originates from local structural distortion around the Ba(Sr) site. The dynamic scaling theory, τ = τ0(Tf/Tg – 1)–zv, suggests that the frustrated magnetic phase is cluster glass in nature with strongly interacting spins. This finding reveals that the orthorhombic symmetry in CaBaCo4O7 is not a sufficient condition to manifest ferrimagnetic ordering.
Zur Reaktion von 2,3‐Dihydro‐1,3,4,5‐tetraisopropylimidazol‐2‐yliden (Carb) mit Iod. Die Kristallstruktur von {[Carb–I3–Carb]I·2Carb‐I2·2CH2Cl2}
Authors: Göhner Martin , Kuhn Norbert , Ströbele Markus
Published: February 2014

From the reaction of 2,3‐dihydro‐1,3,4,5‐tetraisopropylimidazol‐2‐ylidene (4) (Carb) with iodine a compound of composition Carb·I2 was obtained. Crystals were isolated from dichloromethane and the X‐ray structure analysis revealed the presence of both Carb‐I2 (6) and [Carb–I3–Carb]I (7) moieties including disordered solvent according to the composition of {[Carb–I3–Carb]I·2Carb‐I2·2CH2Cl2} (5).
Synthesis of magneto-sensitive iron-containing nanoparticles by yeasts
Authors: Vainshtein Mikhail , Belova Natalia , Kulakovskaya Tatiana , Suzina Natalia , Sorokin Vladimir
Published: February 2014

Industrial production of magneto-sensitive nanoparticles, which can be used in the production of target drug delivery carriers, is a subject of interest for biotechnology and microbiology. Synthesis of these nanoparticles by microorganisms has been described only for bacterial species. At the same time, it is well known that yeasts can form various metal-containing nanoparticles used, for instance, in semiconductors, etc. This paper describes the first results of the biosynthesis of magneto-sensitive nanoparticles by yeasts. The organisms we used—Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cryptococcus humicola—represented two different genera. Magneto-sensitive nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature in bench-scale experiments. The study included transmission electron microscopy of the yeast cells and their energy dispersive spectrum analyses and revealed the presence of iron-containing nanoparticles. Both yeast cultures synthesized nanoparticles at high concentrations of dissolved iron. Electron microscopy showed that nanoparticles were associated mainly with the yeast cell wall. Formation of magneto-sensitive nanoparticles was studied under conditions of applied magnetic fields; a possible stimulating role of magnetic field is suggested. On the whole, the paper reports a novel approach to green biosynthesis of magneto-sensitive nanoparticles.
Content of Antioxidants, Antioxidant Capacity and Oxidative Stability of Grape Seed Oil Obtained by Ultra Sound Assisted Extraction
Authors: Malićanin Marko , Rac Vladislav , Antić Vesna , Antić Mališa , Palade Laurentiu Mihai , Kefalas Panagiotis , Rakić Vesna
Published: February 2014

The goal of this work was to investigate the relationship between antioxidants’ content and the oxidative stabilities of grape seed oils obtained from the Cabernet Sauvignon variety. The samples of grape seed oils were obtained by ultrasound assisted extraction. The time of extraction was varied, while the other relevant parameters: extraction temperature, solvent to solid ratio and sonication power were kept constant. For the sake of comparison, the extraction was also done using the conventional Soxhlet method. For all the oil samples obtained, the contents of total phenolic compounds (TPC), α‐tocopherol and fatty acids were determined using relevant analytic methods. Importantly, in the present study, the modern analytical techniques for estimation of antioxidant capacity (measuring the chemiluminescence intensity of a luminol‐hemin solution) and oxidative stability [differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), coupled with thermogravimetry (TG)] were proposed. The obtained results prove that ultrasonic irradiation enables effective extraction of grape seed oil. It was shown that the extractive yields and the amounts of total phenolic compounds and α‐tocopherol increase with time of extraction; the optimum time was determined. Results obtained in this work show that, for both oxidative stability and antioxidant capacity, TPC have a more important role then α‐tocopherol.
Integration of Tibetan Plateau ice-core temperature records and the influence of atmospheric circulation on isotopic signals in the past century
Authors: Yang Xiaoxin , Yao Tandong , Joswiak Daniel , Yao Ping
Published: February 2014

Temperature signals in ice-core δ18O on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), particularly in the central and southern parts, continue to be debated because of the large scale of atmospheric circulation. This study presents ten ice-core δ18O records at an annual resolution, with four (Malan, Muztagata, Guliya, and Dunde) in the northern, three (Puruogangri, Geladaindong, Tanggula) in the central and three (Noijin Kangsang, Dasuopu, East Rongbuk) in the southern TP. Integration shows commonly increasing trends in δ18O in the past century, featuring the largest one in the northern, a moderate one in the central and the smallest one in the southern TP, which are all consistent with ground-based measurements of temperature. The influence of atmospheric circulation on isotopic signals in the past century was discussed through the analysis of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and of possible connections between sea surface temperature (SST) and the different increasing trends in both ice-core δ18O and temperature. Particularly, El Niño and the corresponding warm Bay of Bengal (BOB) SST enhance the TP ice-core isotopic enrichment, while La Niña, or corresponding cold BOB SST, causes depletion. This thus suggests a potential for reconstructing the ENSO history from the TP ice-core δ18O.
Repetitive Negative Thinking in Anticipation of a Stressor
Authors: McEvoy Peter M. , Moulds Michelle L. , Mahoney Alison E.J.
Published: February 2014

Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) has been confirmed as a transdiagnostic phenomenon, but most measures of RNT are contaminated with diagnosis-specific content. The first aim of this study was to examine the structure of an anticipatory version of the Repetitive Thinking Questionnaire (RTQ-Ant) as a trans-emotional measure of anticipatory RNT. The original RTQ was completed with reference to a past stressor, whereas the RTQ-Ant instructs respondents to link their responses to a future stressor. The second aim was to test if the associations between a range of emotions (anxiety, depression, shame, anger, general distress) and the original post-stressor version of the RTQ would be replicated. Undergraduates (N = 175, 61% women) completed the RTQ-Ant, along with measures of various emotions, with reference to upcoming university exams. Principal axis factor analysis yielded many similarities between the original post-event RTQ and the RTQ-Ant, and some differences. The RTQ-Ant was comprised of two subscales: the RNT subscale measures engagement in repetitive thinking, negative thoughts about oneself, and ‘why’ questions; and the Isolated Contemplation (IC) subscale included items referring to isolating oneself and reflecting on negative thoughts, feelings, loneliness, and listening to sad music. RNT was more strongly related to negative emotions than IC. The RTQ-Ant appears to be a reliable measure of anticipatory RNT that is associated with a broad array of emotions.
An Efficacy Trial: Positive Parenting Program for Parents of Teenagers
Authors: Salari Raziye , Ralph Alan , Sanders Matthew R.
Published: February 2014

Studies on the efficacy of parent training programs have mostly been conducted with preadolescents, with only a few studies investigating family treatment models in adolescents. In this article, a study is described that evaluates Standard Teen Triple P (Positive Parenting Program), a behavioural family intervention for parents of 11- to 16-year-old teenagers. Participants were 46 families with a teenager who was experiencing detectable behavioural and emotional problems. Compared to parents in the waitlist control condition, parents participating in the intervention condition reported decreased levels of teen disruptive behaviours and parent adolescent conflict, as well as a reduction in the use of ineffective parenting strategies and conflict over child-rearing issues. These positive changes were maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Results suggest that Standard Teen Triple P is a promising parenting intervention for tackling adolescent externalising problems.
Cosmopolitan Bias: Salman Rushdie Reads Richard Burton
Authors: Horta Paulo Lemos
Published: February 2014

Taking as its point of departure Rushdie’s use of Burton’sNightsand South Asian travelogues inShameandThe Satanic Verses, this paper reads Burton and Rushdie against their cultural moments and their variant understandings of cosmopolitanism. Contra Appiah’s deployment of Burton in his seminal study of cosmopolitanism, it suggests that Burton’s prejudices were not as Appiah ventures “counter-cosmopolitan” but (because they were often acquired abroad) integral to his cosmopolitanism. In his fiction Rushdie repeatedly deploys the image of a boy’s discovery of Burton’sNightsin a patriarch’s library as emblematic of a neglected cosmopolitanism. Yet he may also be invoking Burton to critique the prejudices of Burton’s cosmopolitan personae in commenting on South Asia and theNights. In engaging the legacy of Burton’sNights, Rushdie’s narrators appear most certain of the dangers of neglecting the inheritance of a cosmopolitan tradition than of the virtues of embracing it.
Corpse, Stone, Door, Text
Authors: Mueggler Erik
Published: February 2014

Using tombstones as ethnographic sources, this article examines the introduction of writing into the field of death ritual in an Yi community in Yunnan Province, China. Most Tibeto-Burman-speaking peoples in Southwest China abandoned cremation in favor of burial in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, following a loss of political autonomy and a massive influx of immigrants from the interior. Inscriptions on stones, erected over buried corpses, shifted textual agency from skilled readers to knowledgeable or powerful writers and created links between state authority and the bodies of the dead. Stones became replacements for corpses, doors to the underworld, narratives of lives, and textual diagrams of kinship relations. Yi used stones to create new ways of conceptualizing and reaffirming social relations among living descendants. And they made much of the connection of writing with state authority, inserting their dead into the national time of revolution as the state's beneficiaries or victims.
Second-trimester maternal distress increases the risk of small for gestational age
Authors: Khashan A. S. , Everard C. , McCowan L. M. E. , Dekker G. , Moss-Morris R. , Baker P. N. , Poston L. , Walker J. J. , Kenny L. C.
Published: February 2014

Background

The effect of prenatal distress on the risk of a small for gestational age (SGA) infant is uncertain. We have addressed the influences of prenatal stress, anxiety and depression on the risk of SGA. We also examined the effects of infant sex and timing of distress during pregnancy on any observed associations.

Method

The study population comprised 5606 healthy nulliparous pregnant women who participated in the international prospective Screening for Obstetric and Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study. Women completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the short form of the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 15 ± 1 and 20 ± 1 weeks' gestation. SGA was defined as birthweight below the 10th customized percentile. Logistic regression was used for data analysis, adjusting for several potential confounders such as maternal age, body mass index (BMI), smoking, socio-economic status and physical exercise.

Results

The risk of SGA was increased in relation to mild [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.71], moderate (aOR 1.26, 95% CI 1.06–1.49), high (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.08–1.95) and very high stress scores (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.03–2.37); very high anxiety score (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.13–1.86); and very high depression score (aOR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05–1.24) at 20 ± 1 weeks' gestation. Sensitivity analyses showed that very high anxiety and very high depression increases the risk of SGA in males but not in females whereas stress increases the risk of SGA in both males and females.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that prenatal stress, anxiety and depression measured at 20 weeks' gestation increase the risk of SGA. The effects of maternal anxiety and depression on SGA were strongest in male infants.
Outbreak of type A foodborne botulism at a boarding school, Uganda, 2008
Authors: VIRAY M. A. , WAMALA J. , FAGAN R. , LUQUEZ C. , MASLANKA S. , DOWNING R. , BIGGERSTAFF M. , MALIMBO M. , KIRENGA J. B. , NAKIBUUKA J. , DDUMBA E. , MBABAZI W. , SWERDLOW D. L.
Published: February 2014

Botulism has rarely been reported in Africa. In October 2008, botulism was reported in three Ugandan boarding-school students. All were hospitalized and one died. A cohort study was performed to assess food exposures among students, and clinical specimens and available food samples were tested for botulinum toxin. Three case-patients were identified; a homemade, oil-based condiment was eaten by all three. In the cohort study, no foods were significantly associated with illness. Botulinum toxin type A was confirmed in clinical samples. This is the first confirmed outbreak of foodborne botulism in Uganda. A homemade, oil-based condiment was the probable source. Consumption of homemade oil-based condiments is widespread in Ugandan schools, putting children at risk. Clinicians and public health authorities in Uganda should consider botulism when clusters of acute flaccid paralysis are seen. Additionally, schools should be warned of the hazard of homemade oil-based condiments, and take steps to prevent their use.
Women's Rights in Germany: Generations and Gender Quotas
Authors: Xydias Christina
Published: February 2014

Although previous research shows compellingly that female officeholders engage in advocacy for women, measured in a range of ways, at greater rates than their male colleagues, studies have also shown that the content of this advocacy is highly varied (Celis 2006; Chattopadhyay and Duflo 2004; Reingold 2000). Further, identifying the factors that shape which legislators engage in which kind of advocacy is more complex than merely distinguishing between women and men or between feminist and traditionalist orientations. Many diverse voices engage in the substantive representation of women, which is broadly defined as all of the ways in which representatives “act for” women (Mansbridge 1999; Phillips 1995; Pitkin 1967).
Peace Accords and the Adoption of Electoral Quotas for Women in the Developing World, 1990–2006
Authors: Anderson Miriam J. , Swiss Liam
Published: February 2014

The high percentage of women in Rwanda's parliament is well known. At 64%, it scores far above the world average of about 22% (IPU 2013). Rather than an anomaly, Rwanda is representative of many postconflict developing countries that feature women's political representation at above-average levels. A frequently identified correlate of this heightened representation has been the presence of electoral quotas for women (Bush 2011; Fallon, Swiss, and Viterna 2012; Paxton, Hughes, and Painter 2010). More generally, the role of societal rupture and transitions from conflict to peace or from authoritarianism to democracy have been a focus of gender and politics research in recent years (Fallon, Swiss, and Viterna 2012; Hughes 2007; 2009; Hughes and Paxton 2007; Viterna and Fallon 2008). Within such transitions, the role of women's participation has been identified as a key determinant of more beneficial posttransition outcomes for women (Viterna and Fallon 2008). Peace processes and the accords that they yield represent a mechanism through which transition and women's rights become linked and theoretically hold the potential to shape postconflict societies. However, the link between women's involvement in peace processes and the subsequent adoption of electoral quotas has not been explored. In this article, we seek to answer the question: What is the relationship between postconflict transition, peace processes, and quota adoption? To this end, we examine the role played by peace accords and, more specifically, accords with a focus on women's rights in leading countries to adopt electoral quotas for women.
Latino Gender and Generation Gaps in Political Ideology
Authors: Bejarano Christina E.
Published: February 2014

The 2012 U.S. presidential election reminded both political parties and political researchers about the electoral impact of racial/ethnic minorities and women. In addition, the 2013 U.S. Congress included for the first time in history a majority Democratic delegation made up of women and minorities, while the Republican delegation continued “to be overwhelmingly white and male” (Homan 2012).
Theorizing Sex Differences in Political Knowledge: Insights from a Twin Study
Authors: Hannagan Rebecca J. , Littvay Levente , Popa Sebastian Adrian
Published: February 2014

It is well established that women and men differ in their psychological orientation to politics (Burns, Schlozman, and Verba 2001; Dolan 2011; Fox and Lawless 2004; Thomas 2012). In addition to willingness to run for office, expressing interest in politics, and political efficacy, men and women tend to differ in reporting their factual knowledge of politics, but how do we explain the gap? This question is not merely important from a measurement standpoint (e.g., Mondak and Anderson 2004) but also has implications for our understanding of gendered political attitudes and behaviors. The gap can be reduced when controlling for a number of factors, but there remains a residual when measuring knowledge with the scale most widely used. This paper aims at providing insight on how we think not only about measuring something like “political knowledge” but also how we theorize gendered political behavior. We present a behavioral genetic analysis of sex differences in political knowledge using a genetically informative twin design to parse out the source of variation in knowledge. We do so predicated on a framework for thinking about gendered patterns in political behavior as well as findings from the existing literature on gender differences in the psychological orientation to politics. We believe our findings give us insight on what is wrong with current and seemingly gender-neutral measures of political knowledge.