bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mercury Films on Commercial Carbon Screen‐Printed Devices for the Analysis of Heavy Metal Ions: a Critical Evaluation
Authors: Pérez‐Ràfols Clara , Serrano Núria , Díaz‐Cruz José Manuel , Ariño Cristina , Esteban Miquel
Published: March 2015

The suitability of mercury films on commercial screen‐printed electrodes for the analysis of heavy metal ions is critically tested for the particular case of Pb(II)‐ions. Although determination is possible by anodic stripping voltammetry with a reasonable detection limit (8.9 µg L−1), important drawbacks are noticed as a consequence of the heterogeneous deposition of mercury on the rough surface of screen‐printed devices.
Negative Affect, Negative Urgency, Thought Suppression, and Bulimic Symptoms: A Moderated Mediation Analysis in a Sample at‐Risk for Bulimic Symptoms
Authors: Lavender Jason M. , Green Daniel , Anestis Michael D. , Tull Matthew T. , Gratz Kim L.
Published: March 2015

Research suggests that negative affect, negative urgency, and thought suppression are related to bulimic symptoms, either directly or indirectly. This study examined associations between these constructs in a sample at‐risk for bulimic symptoms. Participants (N = 80) recruited from a residential substance abuse treatment facility completed self‐report questionnaires. A regression‐based bootstrapping approach was used to examine the indirect effect of negative affect on bulimic symptoms through negative urgency and the moderating role of thought suppression in the association between negative affect and negative urgency. Results revealed a significant indirect effect, significant moderation, and a significant moderated mediation effect, with an indirect effect of negative affect on bulimic symptoms through negative urgency, conditional upon low to moderate (but not high) levels of thought suppression. These findings suggest that negative affect may promote rash actions, particularly in the context of low to moderate thought suppression, leading to increased risk of bulimic symptoms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
An improved algorithm for the shallow water equations model reduction: Dynamic Mode Decomposition vs POD
Authors: Bistrian D. A. , Navon I. M.
Published: March 2015

We propose an improved framework for dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) of 2‐D flows for problems originating from meteorology when a large time step acts like a filter in obtaining the significant Koopman modes, therefore, the classic DMD method is not effective. This study is motivated by the need to further clarify the connection between Koopman modes and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) dynamic modes. We apply DMD and POD to derive reduced order models (ROM) of the shallow water equations. Key innovations for the DMD‐based ROM introduced in this paper are the use of the Moore–Penrose pseudoinverse in the DMD computation that produced an accurate result and a novel selection method for the DMD modes and associated amplitudes and Ritz values. A quantitative comparison of the spatial modes computed from the two decompositions is performed, and a rigorous error analysis for the ROM models obtained is presented. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protecting soymilk flavor and nutrients from photodegradation
Authors: Bianchi Laurie M. , Duncan Susan E. , Webster Janet B. , Johnson Daryan S. , Chang Hao‐Hsun , Marcy Joseph E. , O'Keefe Sean F.
Published: March 2015

Five different packaging treatments were studied over a 36‐day period to determine if they protected soymilk from photo‐oxidation. Soymilk was packaged in high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles with and without light protective additives (LPA). Two controls [(1) no LPA (translucent appearance); (2) a light‐protected control (foil overwrap over no LPA control)] and three LPA‐containing treatments, Low (0.6% TiO2), Medium (1.3% TiO2), High (4.3% TiO2) were studied. Bottles were stored in a lighted refrigerated display case (average light intensity between 800 to 2200 lux; 3°C) for 36 days and evaluated weekly. Soymilk packaged in high LPA bottles was protected from developing light‐oxidized off‐flavors and odors for a minimum of 15 days. High LPA bottles provided protection for riboflavin and controlled development of photooxidative products for approximately 29 days.
White matter integrity of the cerebellar peduncles as a mediator of effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on eyeblink conditioning
Authors: Fan Jia , Meintjes Ernesta M. , Molteno Christopher D. , Spottiswoode Bruce S. , Dodge Neil C. , Alhamud Alkathafi A. , Stanton Mark E. , Peterson Bradley S. , Jacobson Joseph L. , Jacobson Sandra W.
Published: March 2015

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are characterized by a range of neurodevelopmental deficits that result from prenatal exposure to alcohol. These can include cognitive, behavioural, and neurological impairment, as well as structural and functional brain damage. Eyeblink conditioning (EBC) is among the most sensitive endpoints affected in FASD. The cerebellar peduncles, large bundles of myelinated nerve fibers that connect the cerebellum to the brainstem, constitute the principal white matter element of the EBC circuit. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is used to assess white matter integrity in fibre pathways linking brain regions. DTI scans of 54 children with FASD and 23 healthy controls, mean age 10.1 ± 1.0 years, from the Cape Town Longitudinal Cohort were processed using voxelwise group comparisons. Prenatal alcohol exposure was related to lower fractional anisotropy (FA) bilaterally in the superior cerebellar peduncles and higher mean diffusivity (MD) in the left middle peduncle, effects that remained significant after controlling for potential confounding variables. Lower FA and higher MD in these regions were associated with poorer EBC performance. Moreover, effects of alcohol exposure on EBC decreased significantly after inclusion of these DTI measures in regression models, suggesting that these white matter deficits partially mediate the relation of prenatal alcohol exposure to EBC. The associations of greater alcohol consumption with these DTI measures are largely attributable to greater radial diffusivity, possibly indicating poorer myelination. Thus, these data suggest that fetal alcohol‐related deficits in EBC are attributable, in part, to poorer myelination in key regions of the cerebellar peduncles. Hum Brain Mapp 36:2470–2482, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Similar striatal D2/D3 dopamine receptor availability in adults with Tourette syndrome compared with healthy controls: A [11C]‐(+)‐PHNO and [11C]raclopride positron emission tomography imaging study
Authors: Abi‐Jaoude Elia , Segura Barbara , Obeso Ignacio , Cho Sang Soo , Houle Sylvain , Lang Anthony E. , Rusjan Pablo , Sandor Paul , Strafella Antonio P.
Published: March 2015

Pharmacological and anatomical evidence implicates striatal dopamine receptors in Tourette syndrome (TS). Nevertheless, results of positron emission tomography (PET) studies of the dopamine system in TS have been inconsistent. We investigated striatal D2/3 dopamine receptors in TS using the radioligands [11C]raclopride and [11C]‐(+)‐PHNO, an agonist that binds preferentially to D3 receptors, thus allowing higher sensitivity and measurement of receptors in a high affinity state. Eleven adults with TS and 11 matched healthy control (HC) participants underwent [11C]raclopride and [11C]‐(+)‐PHNO PET scans. General linear model was used for voxelwise contrasts of striatal binding potentials (BPND) between TS and HC participants. Analysis of variance was performed to investigate main effect of radioligand. In addition, BPND values were extracted for ventral, motor, and associative striatum. Finally, we examined the relationship between BPND measures and symptom severity in TS participants. Main effects analyses showed that [11C]‐(+)‐PHNO BPND was higher in ventral striatum, whereas [11C]raclopride BPND was higher in motor and associative striatum. There were no significant group differences between TS and HC. Furthermore, TS and HC participants had similar [11C]‐(+)‐PHNO and [11C]raclopride BPND in the three striatal subregions. Moreover, there was no significant correlation between BPND and symptom severity. TS and HC participants had similar striatal D2/3 receptor availability measures. These results challenge the assumption that striatal dopamine receptors have a major role in the pathophysiology of TS. Consistent with previous findings, [11C]‐(+)‐PHNO localized preferentially to ventral striatal, D3 receptor‐rich regions, in contrast to [11C]raclopride, which localized preferentially in the dorsal striatum. Hum Brain Mapp 36:2592–2601, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Oral ampicillin inhibits liver regeneration by breaking hepatic innate immune tolerance normally maintained by gut commensal bacteria
Authors: Wu Xunyao , Sun Rui , Chen Yongyan , Zheng Xiaodong , Bai Li , Lian Zhexiong , Wei Haiming , Tian Zhigang
Published: March 2015

Commensal bacteria have been proposed to play a role in liver repair after partial (67%) hepatectomy. However, the underlying immune mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that liver regeneration was impaired in antibiotic (Atb) water‐treated mice and this impairment strongly correlated with commensal bacterial load. Among the various Atbs used in our cocktail, ampicillin‐sensitive commensal bacterial was associated with normal liver regeneration. The number of CD1d‐dependent natural killer T (NKT) cells in Atb‐treated hepatectomized mice was markedly increased, and these NKT cells were functionally overactivated to produce higher interferon‐γ. Deficiency of NKT cells or antibody blockade of the CD1d‐NKT interaction increased hepatocyte proliferation, which improved liver regeneration. Importantly, an increased number of Kupffer cells were observed in Atb‐treated mice, and these Kupffer cells produced higher interleukin‐12, which then functioned to activate hepatic NKT cells. Interleukin‐12p40 deficiency or treatment with an anti‐interleukin‐12 antibody significantly inhibited NKT cell overactivation and recovered liver regeneration in Atb‐treated mice. Conclusion: Commensal bacteria play a critical role in maintaining Kupffer cells in a tolerant state, preventing subsequent NKT cell overactivation during liver regeneration. Moreover, our data suggest that long‐term Atb use, which can impair the gut microbiota, may influence liver function by retarding liver regeneration. (Hepatology 2015;62:253‐264)
Dose‐intensified bendamustine followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell support in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma with impaired bone marrow function
Authors: Breitkreutz Iris , Becker Natalia , Benner Axel. , Kosely Florentina , Heining Christoph , Hillengass Jens , Egerer Gerlinde , Ho Anthony D. , Goldschmidt Hartmut , Raab Marc S.
Published: March 2015

Therapeutic options in heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients are often very limited because of impaired bone marrow function. Bendamustine is effective in multiple myeloma and has a favourable toxicity profile. We hypothesized that dose‐intensified bendamustine (180 mg/m2, day 1 and 2) followed by autologous blood stem cell support (ASCS) would improve bone marrow function with low post‐transplant toxicity in patients with severely impaired haematopoiesis. We analyzed 28 consecutive myeloma patients, with a median of three prior lines of therapy (range 2–7), who had relapsed from the last treatment with very limited bone marrow function and were therefore ineligible for conventional chemotherapy, novel agents or trial enrolment. Dose‐intensified bendamustine with ASCS improved haematopoiesis as reflected by increased platelet counts (median 40/nl vs 94/nl, p = 0.0004) and white blood cell counts (3.0/nl vs 4.8/nl, p = 0.02) at day +100. The median time until engraftment of platelets (>50/nl) was 11 days (0–24 days) and of white cell counts (>1.0/nl) 0 days (0–24 days). At least, a minimal response was achieved in 36% of patients. The disease stabilization rate was 50% while the median progression‐free survival rate was limited to 2.14 months. Most importantly, patients were once again eligible for alternative treatments including enrolment into clinical trials. We conclude that dose‐intensified bendamustine followed by ASCS is safe and feasible for multiple myeloma patients with very limited bone marrow reserve. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Allogeneic stem cell transplantation using lymphoablative rather than myeloablative conditioning regimen for relapsed or refractory lymphomas
Authors: Yoon Jae‐Ho , Jeon Young‐Woo , Lee Sung‐Eun , Cho Byung‐Sik , Eom Ki‐Seong , Kim Yoo‐Jin , Lee Seok , Kim Hee‐Je , Min Chang‐Ki , Lee Jong‐Wook , Min Woo‐Sung , Cho Seok‐Goo
Published: March 2015

In relapsed or refractory non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) provides graft‐versus‐lymphoma activity resulting in fewer incidences of relapse. However, therapy‐related mortality (TRM) remains an important challenge. We attempted to introduce our reduced‐intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen. From 2007 to 2013, we treated 28 relapsed or refractory NHLs with allo‐HSCT. All were pre‐conditioned with fludarabine [FLU, 180 mg/body surface area (BSA)/6 days] and melphalan (MEL, 70 mg/BSA/1 day); 25 (all but 3) were additionally treated with total body irradiation (TBI, 800 cGy/4Fx/2 days). Peripheral blood stem cells were collected from matched siblings (n = 10) or suitably matched unrelated (n = 18) donors. There were eight diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas, seven peripheral T‐cell lymphoma not otherwise specified, give lymphoblastic lymphomas, two mantle cell lymphomas, and six various other lymphomas. Of these patients, 10 relapsed after auto‐HSCT, 5 relapsed after chemotherapy, and 13 were refractory lymphomas. After allo‐HSCT, complete remission was achieved in 22 (78.5%) patients. After a median follow‐up of 24.8 months, 3‐year overall survival and disease‐free survival were 62.4 and 59.2% and the 3‐year TRM and relapse incidence were 14.9 and 28.6% respectively. Acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host diseases (GVHDs) were identified in 17 (≥Grade II in 12 patients) and 18 patients respectively, and the group with chronic GVHD showed favourable survival outcomes. In relapsed or refractory NHL, RIC‐allo‐HSCT using FLU + MEL + 800 cGy TBI showed favourable survival outcomes with acceptable TRM and relapse incidence. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Health sector operational planning and budgeting processes in Kenya—“never the twain shall meet”
Authors: Tsofa Benjamin , Molyneux Sassy , Goodman Catherine
Published: March 2015

Operational planning is considered an important tool for translating government policies and strategic objectives into day‐to‐day management activities. However, developing countries suffer from persistent misalignment between policy, planning and budgeting. The Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) was introduced to address this misalignment. Kenya adopted the MTEF in the early 2000s, and in 2005, the Ministry of Health adopted the Annual Operational Plan process to adapt the MTEF to the health sector. This study assessed the degree to which the health sector Annual Operational Plan process in Kenya has achieved alignment between planning and budgeting at the national level, using document reviews, participant observation and key informant interviews. We found that the Kenyan health sector was far from achieving planning and budgeting alignment. Several factors contributed to this problem including weak Ministry of Health stewardship and institutionalized separation between planning and budgeting processes; a rapidly changing planning and budgeting environment; lack of reliable data to inform target setting and poor participation by key stakeholders in the process including a top‐down approach to target setting. We conclude that alignment is unlikely to be achieved without consideration of the specific institutional contexts and the power relationships between stakeholders. In particular, there is a need for institutional integration of the planning and budgeting processes into a common cycle and framework with common reporting lines and for improved data and local‐level input to inform appropriate and realistic target setting. © 2015 The Authors. International Journal of Health Planning and Management published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of the crystal packing of di‐tetrazine‐tetroxide (DTTO) energetic material
Authors: Mendoza‐Cortes Jose L. , An Qi , Goddard William A. , Ye Caichao , Zybin Sergey
Published: March 2015

Previous calculations suggested that di‐tetrazine‐tetroxide (DTTO), aka tetrazino‐tetrazine‐tetraoxide, might have a particularly large density (2.3 g/cm3) and high energy release (8.8 kJ/kg), but it has not yet been synthesized successfully. We report here density functional theory (DFT) (M06, B3LYP, and PBE‐ulg) on 20 possible isomers of DTTO. For the two most stable isomers, c1 and c2 we predict the best packings (i.e., polymorphs) among the 10 most common space groups for organic molecular crystal using the Universal force field and Dreiding force field with Monte Carlo sampling. This was followed by DFT calculations at the PBE‐ulg level to optimize the crystal packing. We conclude that the c1 isomer has the P212121 space group with a density of 1.96 g/cm3, while the c2 isomer has the Pbca space group with a density of 1.98 g/cm3. These densities are among the highest of current energetic materials, RDX (1.81 g/cm3) and CL20 (2.01 g/cm3). We observe that the stability of the polymorphs increases with the density while the planarity decreases. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The expression of an immune‐related phenoloxidase gene is modulated in Ciona intestinalis ovary, test cells, embryos and larva
Authors: Parrinello Daniela , Sanfratello Maria A. , Vizzini Aiti , Cammarata Matteo
Published: March 2015

Two distinct Ciona intestinalis phenoloxidases (CinPO1, 2) had previously been cloned and sequenced. The CinPO2 is involved in innate immunity and is expressed by inflammatory hemocytes that populate the tunic and pharynx vessels as a response to LPS inoculation. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry assays on histological section, showed that the expression of this gene and the produced protein are shared with oogenesis, embryogenesis and larval morphogenesis. Intriguingly, upregulation of gene transcription was found in the test cell layer that envelopes the ovary follicle, ovulated egg, and gastrula, as well as it was modulated in the zygotic nucleus of outer balstomers of 32‐cell embryo, neurula presumptive epidermis tissue and larval mesenchyme. The anti‐CinPO2 antibodies, specific for adult inflammatory cells, recognize epitopes in the cytoplasm of ovarian oocytes, ovulated eggs, development stages and larval mesenchyme. The overall findings disclose the precocious activation of the CinPO2 immunity‐related gene, and show a developmentally programmed expression of this phenoloxidase. Furthermore, these findings support the multifunctional roles of immunity‐related genes and allows us to explore new perspectives on ascidian development and immunity. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 141–151, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spinal neuronal activation during locomotor‐like activity enabled by epidural stimulation and 5‐hydroxytryptamine agonists in spinal rats
Authors: Duru Paul O. , Tillakaratne Niranjala J.K. , Kim Jung A. , Zhong Hui , Stauber Stacey M. , Pham Trinh T. , Xiao Mei S. , Edgerton V. Reggie , Roy Roland R.
Published: March 2015

The neural networks that generate stepping in complete spinal adult rats remain poorly defined. To address this problem, we used c‐fos (an activity‐dependent marker) to identify active interneurons and motoneurons in the lumbar spinal cord of adult spinal rats during a 30‐min bout of bipedal stepping. Spinal rats were either step trained (30 min/day, 3 days/week, for 7.5 weeks) or not step trained. Stepping was enabled by epidural stimulation and the administration of the serotonergic agonists quipazine and 8‐OHDPAT. A third group of spinal rats served as untreated (no stimulation, drugs, or stepping) controls. The numbers of activated cholinergic central canal cluster cells and partition neurons were higher in both step‐trained and nontrained rats than in untreated rats and were higher in nontrained than in step‐trained rats. The latter finding suggests that daily treatment with epidural stimulation plus serotonergic agonist treatment without step training enhances the excitability of a broader cholinergic interneuronal population than does step training. The numbers of activated interneurons in laminae II–VI of lumbar cross‐sections were higher in both step‐trained and nontrained rats than in untreated rats, and they were highest in step‐trained rats. This finding suggests that this population of interneurons is responsive to epidural stimulation plus serotonergic treatment and that load‐bearing induced when stepping has an additive effect. The numbers of activated motoneurons of all size categories were higher in the step‐trained group than in the other two groups, reflecting a strong effect of loading on motoneuron recruitment. In general, these results indicate that the spinal networks for locomotion are similar with and without brain input. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Significance: We identified neurons within the spinal cord networks that are activated during assisted stepping in paraplegic rats. We stimulated the spinal cord and administered a drug to help the rats step. One group was trained to step and another was not trained. We observed a lower percentage of activated neurons in specific spinal cord regions in trained rats than in nontrained rats after a 1‐hr stepping bout, suggesting that step training reduces activation of some types of spinal neurons. This observation indicates that training makes the spinal networks more efficient and suggests a “learning” phenomenon in the spinal cord without any brain input.
Blood as the carrier of ischemic tolerance in rat brain
Authors: Bonova Petra , Gottlieb Miroslav
Published: March 2015

This study provides clear evidence that the factor inducing tolerance to ischemia is transmitted via the circulating blood. By using the remote ischemia and the cross‐circulation model, the tolerance to ischemia was transmitted from donor to recipient. For this study, the following experimental groups were designed: I, sham control group; II, group of tolerant hindlimb tourniquet‐treated rats; III, positive control group; IV, control for cross‐circulation influence; preconditioned animals: V, tolerant animals subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO); VI, tolerant animals cross‐circulated with SHC, followed by MCAO; VII, SHC animals cross‐circulated with tolerant animals and subsequently subjected to MCAO; VIII, tolerant animals cross‐circulated with ischemic rats, followed by MCAO; IX, SHC animals cross‐circulated with ischemic animals and subjected to MCAO; postconditioned animals: X, ischemic animals treated with a remote limb tourniquet; XI, ischemic animals cross‐circulated with SHC control rats; and XII, ischemic animals cross‐circulated with tolerant rats. Results confirmed that remote ischemia induced reduction of infarct volume in the preconditioned (V, 60%) as well as in the postconditioned group (X, 52%). Significant diminution was also observed in group XII (56.6%). In the preconditioned group, decreased infarct volume was detected in groups VI and VII (about 65%) and in group IX (about 50%). The greatest infarct reduction (84%) was induced by the presence of ischemic blood in a tolerant rat before ischemia induction. In summary, the factor inducing tolerance to ischemia is generated by remote ischemia and by ischemia itself; from the site of origin to the rest of the body, it is transported by the systemic blood circulation and can be transferred from animal to animal. The effect of conditioning with two different ischemic events (brain and hindlimb ischemia) led to a cumulative, stronger tolerance response. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Astrocyte‐neuronal interactions in epileptogenesis
Authors: Hadera Mussie Ghezu , Eloqayli Haytham , Jaradat Saied , Nehlig Astrid , Sonnewald Ursula
Published: March 2015

Pentylenetetrazol, kainic acid, or pilocarpine can be used to induce seizures in animal models of epilepsy. The present Review describes disturbances in astrocyte–neuron interactions in the acute, latent, and chronic phases analyzed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy of brain tissue extracts from rats injected with [1‐13C]glucose and [1,2‐13C]acetate. The most consistent change after onset of seizures was the decrease in 13C labeling of glutamate (GLU) from [1‐13C]glucose regardless of brain area, severity, or duration of the period with seizures and toxin used. In most cases this decrease was accompanied by a reduction in glutamine (GLN) labeling from [1‐13C]glucose, presumably as a direct consequence of the reduction in labeling of GLU and the GLU–GLN cycle. Amounts of GLN were never changed. Reduction in the content of N‐acetyl aspartate (NAA) was first detectable some time after status epilepticus but before the occurrence of spontaneous seizures. This decrease can be an indication of neuronal death and/or mitochondrial impairment and might indicate beginning gliosis. It is known that gliosis occurs in the chronic phase of temporal lobe epilepsy in hippocampus, but astrocyte metabolism appears normal in this phase, indicating that the gliotic astrocytes have a somewhat reduced metabolism per volume. A decrease in 13C labeling of GLU from [1‐13C]glucose is a very sensitive measure for the onset of epileptogenesis, whereas reduction of NAA is first detectable later. In the chronic phases of the hippocampal formation, astrocyte metabolism is upregulated given that the number of neurons is reduced. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Olfactory sphere cells are a cell source for γ‐aminobutyric acid‐producing neurons
Authors: Ohnishi Yu‐ichiro , Maruo Tomoyuki , Shinzawa Koei , Iwatsuki Koichi , Moriwaki Takashi , Oshino Satoru , Kishima Haruhiko , Yoshimine Toshiki
Published: March 2015

Olfactory sphere cells (OSCs) are stem cells generated by culturing olfactory mucosa. Adult rat OSCs express oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) markers and differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes. Although OSCs also express nestin, a marker of neural stem cells (NSCs), it remains unclear whether adult rat OSCs are multipotent and capable of giving rise to neurons as well as oligodendrocytes. Valproic acid (VPA) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that has the contradictory capacity to induce both differentiation of NSCs and dedifferentiation of OPCs. This study investigates a potential role for VPA in inducing either differentiation or dedifferentiation of adult rat OSCs. Treatment of OSCs with VPA induced hyperacetylation of histones and decreased cell proliferation in the absence of changes in the number of nestin‐positive cells. Furthermore, VPA promoted the genesis of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐producing neurons identified by expression of Tuj1/GAD67/GABA while repressing oligodendrocyte production. These findings suggest that OSCs treated with VPA did not exhibit stem cell properties indicative of dedifferentiation but rather switched to a neuronal identity during their terminal differentiation. OSCs were then transplanted into the hippocampus of rats with kainic acid‐induced temporal lobe epilepsy and were systemically given VPA. Although grafted OSCs expressed Tuj1 and GAD67, these cells did not sufficiently inhibit epileptic activity. These results suggest that OSCs are a transplantable cell source for GABA‐producing neurons that can be modulated by VPA. However, further investigation is required to develop them for clinical applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Raman spectra of water in fluid inclusions: II. Effect of negative pressure on salinity measurement
Authors: Tarantola Alexandre , Caumon Marie‐Camille
Published: March 2015

Salinity of fluid inclusions is usually determined by microthermometry, but it becomes unsuitable in case of metastability of the aqueous fluid because of thermodynamics indetermination. Raman microspectrometry of water in individual aqueous fluid inclusions can provide chemical information about fluid composition, in particular the concentration of chloride ions. The regular method consists in correlating the deformation of the OH stretching vibration band of liquid water in the region assigned to hydrogen‐bonded OH groups, with chloride concentration. In order to evaluate the ability of Raman spectroscopy to determine salinity of metastable fluid inclusions, the Raman spectra of water trapped in two natural fluid inclusions were recorded at various temperatures in two physical states of the liquid phase, at equilibrium with vapor or metastable at negative pressure. The difference in salinity measured in the two states increased when temperature decreased, i.e. when the intensity of metastability increased. Metastability was then expressed in negative pressure scale (MPa) by thermodynamic modeling of the fluid trapped in the inclusions and correlated to salinity relative difference. The quantification of this effect led us to conclude that salinity expressed in mass% NaCleq. was overestimated of about 1% per 10–15 MPa of negative pressure. If the negative pressure can be quantified, it is thus possible to determine the salinity of metastable fluid inclusions by Raman spectroscopy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microgeographic adaptation to toxic cyanobacteria in two aquatic grazers
Authors: Jiang Xiaodong , Liang Huishuang , Chen Ying , Xu Xing , Huang Di
Published: March 2015

The hypothesis that zooplankton display local adaptations to toxic cyanobacteria was tested by investigating the performance of 24 clones from six populations of the large‐bodied Daphnia pulex and 13 clones from four populations of the small‐bodied Chydorus sphaericus. They were fed a pure nutritious green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa (good food) and a mixed diet with a toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa (poor food). The grazer performances feeding on the poor food significantly differed among their populations over a small geographic scale (7–10 km for D. pulex and 15–20 km for C. sphaericus). Both the absolute tolerance (performance on poor food) and relative tolerance (performance on poor food relative to good food) to toxic M. aeruginosa were enhanced with increasing microcystin concentrations in the sediments and finally reached the maximum values. Additionally, the significant food × clone interactions indicated that phenotypic plasticity in response to toxic cyanobacteria had a genetic basis in two grazers. The significant food × population interactions and correlations between growth plasticity and microcystin concentrations indicated that this phenotypic plasticity evolved across grazer populations. The reduced plasticity was evidenced by both the reduced slope of reaction norms and the enhanced mean performance for both diets. D. pulex had more evolutionary potential for the reduced plasticity than C. sphaericus. These results suggest that zooplankton populations developed evolutionary tolerance to toxic cyanobacteria on a microgeographic level.
Trophic discrimination of nitrogen stable isotopes in amino acids varies with diet quality in a marine fish
Authors: McMahon Kelton W. , Thorrold Simon R. , Elsdon Travis S. , McCarthy Matthew D.
Published: March 2015

Analysis of individual amino acid (AA) δ15N values is increasingly common in studies of food web architecture, movement ecology, and biogeochemical cycling. However, observations that nitrogen isotope fractionation of AAs may vary across species and trophic positions (TP) complicate the application of compound‐specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) in studies of aquatic food webs. We reared a common estuarine fish (Fundulus heteroclitus) on four diets to test the hypothesis that diet composition significantly affects AA trophic discrimination factors (TDFs) derived from normalizing fractionation of trophic AAs to the canonical source AA phenylalanine. Phenylalanine showed little trophic fractionation regardless of diet composition, confirming its use as a proxy for δ15N values at the base of food webs. However, TDF values showed significant negative relationships with two important measures of diet quality, protein content and AA imbalance between diet and consumer. As a result, consumers feeding on high protein diets with AA compositions matching their own had significantly lower TDF values than previous literature values, while consumers feeding on contrasting low quality diets had significantly higher TDF values than previously reported. Our results provide an explanation for the apparent relationship between TDF value and TP, and highlight a significant limitation when using a single TDF value among all trophic transfers within a food web. Accurate determination of TPs using CSIA will likely require multiple TDF values across trophic levels or further exploration of other trophic AAs, such as proline, that may show less variation in TDF with diet composition than glutamic acid.
Fast processing of diel oxygen curves: Estimating stream metabolism with BASE (BAyesian Single‐station Estimation)
Authors: Grace Michael R. , Giling Darren P. , Hladyz Sally , Caron Valerie , Thompson Ross M. , Mac Nally Ralph
Published: March 2015

The measurement of stream metabolism (gross primary production and respiration) has become more feasible with the availability of more reliable dissolved oxygen (DO) probes. Such metabolic measurements offer important opportunities in fundamental and applied research, especially in relating stream metabolic responses to human and other pressures. The accurate determination of the reaeration coefficient is one challenge for making reliable ecological inferences from DO measurements made over many diel periods (i.e., months or years). We outline three methods for calculating atmospheric reaeration but concentrate on the use of statistical estimation to simultaneously estimate reaeration and metabolic rates using Bayesian model fitting. While there are existing programs (ModelMaker and Bayesian Metabolic Model [BaMM]), these are either slow or unable to be used easily for fitting multiple days of metabolic data (one to many months). Our implementation, BAyesian Single‐station Estimation (BASE), uses freely available software (R and OpenBUGS), includes a batch mode that can fit data for many days, and provides visual and statistical measures of “goodness‐of‐fit.” We compare the results of the BASE, ModelMaker, and BaMM programs.
A low‐cost, versatile data logging system for ecological applications
Authors: Gandra Miguel , Seabra Rui , Lima Fernando P.
Published: March 2015

This work introduces a new lightweight, small, and modular data logger that can be used to record a vast array of environmental and physiological parameters in the field or in the laboratory, together with the corresponding software. The device, named NanoLogger, is based on the open‐source platform Arduino, featuring a custom‐made circuit board with easily serviceable connectors, a real‐time clock and a MicroSD memory card. The assemblage of the entire system does not require extensive electronics knowledge and can be done spending under $150 in parts, contrasting with most commercially available scientific loggers, which are at least one or two orders of magnitude more expensive. To demonstrate the system's capabilities and limitations, we connected the NanoLogger with (i) a triple‐axis accelerometer to log the effect of wave action on Fucus spiralis, (ii) a thermocouple to register the body temperature of intertidal gastropods (Patella depressa and P. vulgata) during a low tide, and (iii) an infrared sensor to record the heartbeat of a mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in the laboratory. NanoLogger's relative low price and versatility can contribute to build networks of environmental loggers to monitor multiple environmental parameters across large geographical scales.
Renal safety of intravenous gadolinium‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients awaiting liver transplantation
Authors: Shaffer Katherine M. , Parikh Mehul R. , Runge Thomas M. , Perez Sebastian D. , Sakaria Sonali S. , Subramanian Ram M.
Published: March 2015

Renal dysfunction in cirrhosis carries a high morbidity and mortality. Given the potential risk of contrast‐induced nephropathy associated with iodinated intravenous contrast used in computed tomography (CT), alternate contrast modalities for abdominal imaging in liver transplant candidates need to be examined. The purpose of this study was to examine the renal safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium in patients awaiting liver transplantation. The study involved a retrospective analysis of 352 patients of abdominal MRI with low‐dose gadobenate dimeglumine (MultiHance) (0.05 mmol/kg) in patients with cirrhosis and without renal replacement therapy at a single center during the period from 2007 to 2013. For each case, serum creatinine before and within a few days after the MRI were compared. In addition, the patients were analyzed for the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a reported complication of gadolinium in chronic kidney disease. The pre‐MRI serum creatinine values ranged from 0.36 to 4.86 mg/dL, with 70 patients (20%) having values ≥ 1.5 mg/dL. A comparison of the pre‐ and post‐MRI serum creatinine values did not demonstrate a clinically significant difference (mean change = 0.017 mg/dL; P = 0.38), including those patients with a pre‐MRI serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg/dL. In addition, no cases of NSF were noted. In conclusion, our findings suggest that MRI with low‐dose gadobenate dimeglumine (MultiHance) is a nonnephrotoxic imaging modality in liver transplant candidates, and its use can be cautiously expanded to liver transplant candidates with concomitant renal insufficiency. Liver Transpl 21:1340‐1346, 2015. © 2015 AASLD.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the primary motor cortex in the treatment of motor signs in Parkinson's disease: A quantitative review of the literature
Authors: Zanjani Anosha , Zakzanis Konstantine K. , Daskalakis Zafiris J. , Chen Robert
Published: March 2015

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive disorder characterized by the emergence of motor deficits. In light of the voluminous and conflicting findings in the literature, the aim of the present quantitative review was to examine the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) in the treatment of motor signs in PD. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were analyzed using meta‐analytic techniques and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) sections II and III were used as outcome measures. In order to determine the treatment effects of rTMS, the UPDRS II and III scores obtained at baseline, same day, to 1 day post rTMS treatment (short‐term follow‐up) and 1‐month post stimulation (long‐term follow‐up) were compared between the active and sham rTMS groups. Additionally, the placebo effect was evaluated as the changes in UPDRS III scores in the sham rTMS groups. A placebo effect was not demonstrated, because sham rTMS did not improve motor signs as measured by UPDRS III. Compared with sham rTMS, active rTMS targeting the M1 significantly improved UPDRS III scores at the short‐term follow‐up (Cohen's d of 0.27, UPDRS III score improvement of 3.8 points). When the long‐term follow‐up UPDRS III scores were compared with baseline scores, the standardized effect size between active and sham rTMS did not reach significance. However, this translated into a significant nonstandardized 6.3‐point improvement on the UPDRS III. No significant improvement in the UPDRS II was found. rTMS over the M1 may improve motor signs. Further studies are needed to provide a definite conclusion. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Pain Management Programmes for Non‐English‐Speaking Black and Minority Ethnic Groups With Long‐Term or Chronic Pain
Authors: Burton A. E. , Shaw R. L.
Published: March 2015

Increasing ethnic diversity in the UK means that there is a growing need for National Health Service care to be delivered to non‐English‐speaking patients. The aims of the present systematic review were to: (1) better understand the outcomes of chronic pain management programmes (PMPs) for ethnic minority and non‐English‐speaking patients and (2) explore the perspectives on and experiences of chronic pain for these groups. A systematic review identified 26 papers meeting the inclusion criteria; no papers reported on the outcomes of PMPs delivered in the UK. Of the papers obtained, four reported on PMPs conducted outside the UK; eight reported on ethnic differences in patients seeking support from pain management services in America; and the remaining papers included literature reviews, an experimental pain study, a collaborative enquiry, and a survey of patient and clinician ratings of pain. The findings indicate a lack of research into UK‐based pain management for ethnic minorities and non‐English‐speaking patients. The literature suggests that effective PMPs must be tailored to meet cultural experiences of pain and beliefs about pain management. There is a need for further research to explore these cultural beliefs in non‐English‐speaking groups in the UK. Culturally sensitive evaluations of interpreted PMPs with long‐term follow‐up are needed to assess the effectiveness of current provision. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement of intramuscular fat by muscle echo intensity
Authors: Young Hui‐Ju , Jenkins Nathan T. , Zhao Qun , Mccully Kevin K.
Published: March 2015

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare ultrasound echo intensity (EI) with high‐resolution T1‐weighted MRI and to establish calibration equations to estimate percent intramuscular fat from EI. Methods: Thirty‐one participants underwent both ultrasound and MRI testing of 4 muscles: rectus femoris (RF); biceps femoris (BF); tibialis anterior (TA); and medial gastrocnemius (MG). Results: Strong correlations were found between MRI percent fat and muscle EI after correcting for subcutaneous fat thickness (r = 0.91 in RF, r = 0.80 in BF, r = 0.80 in TA, r = 0.76 in MG). Three types of calibration equations were established. Conclusions: Muscle ultrasound is a practical and reproducible method that can be used as an imaging technique for examination of percent intramuscular fat. Future ultrasound studies are needed to establish equations for other muscle groups to enhance its use in both research and clinical settings. Muscle Nerve 52: 963–971, 2015
Analysis of an aggregation‐based algebraic two‐grid method for a rotated anisotropic diffusion problem
Authors: Chen Meng‐Huo , Greenbaum Anne
Published: March 2015

A two‐grid convergence analysis based on the paper [Algebraic analysis of aggregation‐based multigrid, by A. Napov and Y. Notay, Numer. Lin. Alg. Appl. 18 (2011), pp. 539–564] is derived for various aggregation schemes applied to a finite element discretization of a rotated anisotropic diffusion equation. As expected, it is shown that the best aggregation scheme is one in which aggregates are aligned with the anisotropy. In practice, however, this is not what automatic aggregation procedures do. We suggest approaches for determining appropriate aggregates based on eigenvectors associated with small eigenvalues of a block splitting matrix or based on minimizing a quantity related to the spectral radius of the iteration matrix. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Persistent racial and ethnic differences in location of death for children with cancer
Authors: Cawkwell Philip B. , Gardner Sharon L. , Weitzman Michael
Published: March 2015

Background

Approximately one in 285 children will be diagnosed with cancer before reaching their 20th birthday. While both oncologists and parents report a preference that these children die at home rather than in a hospital, there are limited data exploring this issue in depth.

Procedure

We performed a retrospective analysis of national‐level data from 1999 to 2011 from the National Center for Health Statistics “Underlying Cause of Death” database. Characteristics investigated included sex, race, age, ethnicity, cancer type, geographic location, and population density where the child lived.

Results

Of the 2,130 children with a death attributable to neoplasm in 2011, 37.6% (95% CI, 35.5–39.6%) died at home compared to 36.9% (95% CI, 35.0–38.8%) in 1999. In 2011, there were statistically significant racial differences between white, black, and Hispanic children across nearly every age group, with white children consistently most likely to die at home. Children of non‐Hispanic origin were significantly more likely to die at home than Hispanic children (40.3% vs. 29.3%, P < 0.001). Children with CNS tumors are more likely to die at home than children with neoplasms as a whole, while children with leukemia are less likely. Statistically significant differences by race and ethnicity persist regardless of cancer type.

Conclusions

There has been no significant change in the rate of children with cancer who die at home over the past decade. Racial and ethnic differences have persisted in end of life care for children with cancer with white non‐Hispanic children being most likely to die at home. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1403–1408. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Radioguided localization of neuroblastomas in laparoscopic surgery using 123I‐ radiolabeled metaiodobenzylguanidine
Authors: Hishiki Tomoro , Saito Takeshi , Terui Keita , Mitsunaga Testuya , Nakata Mitsuyuki , Hayashi Hideki , Yoshida Hideo
Published: March 2015

Minimally invasive surgery has become widely recognized and is commonly used for the diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastoma. However, in post‐chemotherapy status or during reoperations, it is occasionally difficult to precisely locate small neuroblastoma lesions, and this becomes prominent in endoscopic surgeries, in which tactile sense is essentially lost. Herein, we report our preliminary experience in two abdominal neuroblastoma cases undergoing laparoscopic tumor resection with aid of intraoperative 123I‐ metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) radioguidance using a specifically designed gamma‐probe. The procedure enables easier localization of viable neuroblastoma tissue, provided that the tumor shows moderate to high MIBG uptake. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1297–1299. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Study on a new polymer/graphene oxide/clay double network hydrogel with improved response rate and mechanical properties
Authors: Huang Weishi , Shen Jianfeng , Li Na , Ye Mingxin
Published: March 2015

pH‐ and temperature‐responsive double network hydrogels (DN hydrogels) were prepared by using poly (N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) as a tightly crosslinked network (1st network), polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a loosely crosslinked network (2nd network), with clay and graphene oxide as effective crosslinkers and reinforcing fillers. The structure and morphology of the hydrogels were characterized by SEM, FTIR, DSC, and TGA. The synergetic effects of clay, GO and DN structure on various physical properties were investigated. With the increasing of crosslinking densities, the swelling ratios of DN hydrogels gradually decreased by increasing the contents of graphene oxide and PAA. While the DN hydrogels had much better mechanical properties than that of the conventional chemically cross‐linked PNIPAM hydrogels. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1361–1366, 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers