bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neurovascular unit alteration in somatosensory cortex and enhancement of thermal nociception induced by amphetamine involves central AT1 receptor activation
Authors: Occhieppo Victoria Belén , Marchese Natalia Andrea , Rodríguez Iara Diamela , Basmadjian Osvaldo Martin , Baiardi Gustavo , Bregonzio Claudia 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThe use of psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (Amph), is associated with inflammatory processes, involving glia and vasculature alterations. Brain Angiotensin II (Ang II), through AT1‐receptors (AT1‐R), modulates neurotransmission and plays a crucial role in inflammatory responses in brain vasculature and glia. Our aim for the present work was to evaluate the role of AT1‐R in long‐term alterations induced by repeated exposure to Amph. Astrocyte reactivity, neuronal survival and brain microvascular network were analysed at the somatosensory cortex. Thermal nociception was evaluated as a physiological outcome of this brain area. Male Wistar rats (250–320 g) were administered with AT1‐R antagonist Candesartan/vehicle (3 mg/kg p.o., days 1–5) and Amph/saline (2.5 mg/kg i.p., days 6–10). The four experimental groups were: Veh‐Sal, CV‐Sal, Veh‐Amph, CV‐Amph. On day 17, the animals were sacrificed and their brains were processed for Nissl staining and immunohistochemistry against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and von Willebrand factor. In another group of animals, thermal nociception was evaluated using hot plate test, in the four experimental groups, on day 17. Data were analysed with two‐way anova followed by Bonferroni test. Our results indicate that Amph exposure induces an increase in: neuronal apoptosis, astrocyte reactivity and microvascular network, evaluated as an augmented occupied area by vessels, branching points and their tortuosity. Moreover, Amph exposure decreased the thermal nociception threshold. Pretreatment with the AT1‐R blocker prevented the described alterations induced by this psychostimulant. The decreased thermal nociception and the structural changes in somatosensory cortex could be considered as extended neuroadaptative responses to Amph, involving AT1‐R activation.
Expertise shapes domain‐specific functional cerebral asymmetry during mental imagery: the case of culinary arts and music
Authors: Bensafi Moustafa , Fournel Arnaud , Joussain Pauline , Poncelet Johan , Przybylski Lauranne , Rouby Catherine , Tillmann Barbara 
Published: April 2017

AbstractMental imagery in experts has been documented in visual arts, music and dance. Here, we examined this issue in an understudied art domain, namely, culinary arts. Previous research investigating mental imagery in experts has reported either a stronger involvement of the right hemisphere or bilateral brain activation. The first aim of our study was to examine whether culinary arts also recruit such a hemispheric pattern specifically during odor mental imagery. In a second aim, we investigated whether expertise effects observed in a given sensory domain transfer to another modality. We combined psychophysics and neurophysiology to study mental imagery in cooks, musicians and controls. We collected response times and event‐related potentials (ERP) while participants mentally compared the odor of fruits, the timbre of musical instruments and the size of fruits, musical instruments and manufactured objects. Cooks were faster in imagining fruit odors, and musicians were faster in imagining the timbre of musical instruments. These differences were not observed in control participants. This expertise effect was reflected in the ERP late positive complex (LPC): only experts showed symmetric bilateral activation, specifically when cooks imagined odors and when musicians imagined timbres. In contrast, the LPC was significantly greater in the left hemisphere than in the right hemisphere for non‐expert participants in all conditions. These findings suggest that sensory expertise does not involve transfer of mental imagery ability across modalities and highlight for the first time that olfactory expertise in cooks induces a balance of activations between hemispheres as does musical expertise in musicians.
Magnetic resonance imaging connectivity for the prediction of seizure outcome in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Morgan Victoria L. , Englot Dario J. , Rogers Baxter P. , Landman Bennett A. , Cakir Ahmet , Abou‐Khalil Bassel W. , Anderson Adam W. 
Published: April 2017

SummaryObjectiveCurrently, approximately 60–70% of patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) remain seizure‐free 3 years after surgery. The goal of this work was to develop a presurgical connectivity‐based biomarker to identify those patients who will have an unfavorable seizure outcome 1‐year postsurgery.MethodsResting‐state functional and diffusion‐weighted 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was acquired from 22 unilateral (15 right, 7 left) patients with TLE and 35 healthy controls. A seizure propagation network was identified including ipsilateral (to seizure focus) and contralateral hippocampus, thalamus, and insula, with bilateral midcingulate and precuneus. Between each pair of regions, functional connectivity based on correlations of low frequency functional MRI signals, and structural connectivity based on streamline density of diffusion MRI data were computed and transformed to metrics related to healthy controls of the same age.ResultsA consistent connectivity pattern representing the network expected in patients with seizure‐free outcome was identified using eight patients who were seizure‐free at 1‐year postsurgery. The hypothesis that increased similarity to the model would be associated with better seizure outcome was tested in 14 other patients (Engel class IA, seizure‐free: n = 5; Engel class IB‐II, favorable: n = 4; Engel class III–IV, unfavorable: n = 5) using two similarity metrics: Pearson correlation and Euclidean distance. The seizure‐free connectivity model successfully separated all the patients with unfavorable outcome from the seizure‐free and favorable outcome patients (p = 0.0005, two‐tailed Fisher's exact test) through the combination of the two similarity metrics with 100% accuracy. No other clinical and demographic predictors were successful in this regard.SignificanceThis work introduces a methodologic framework to assess individual patients, and demonstrates the ability to use network connectivity as a potential clinical tool for epilepsy surgery outcome prediction after more comprehensive validation.
On the role of stress waves in dynamic rupture of cylindrical tubes
Authors: Mirzaei M. , Tavakoli S. , Najafi M. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractA systematic experimental/computational study was performed to investigate the role of stress waves in ductile fracture of cylindrical tubes. The stress waves were created by high‐speed moving load, which was produced by detonation of explosive cord inside two intact and two pre‐flawed steel tubes. Several distinct phenomena like cyclic crack growths in Modes I and III, crack flap bulging and crack curving/branching were observed and simulated by finite element (FE) method. The FE models were composed of 3D brick elements equipped with interface cohesive elements. The analysis results showed that the crack growths in Modes I and III were governed by the detonation‐induced stress waves. The crack speeds were obtained based on the increments of cyclic crack growth and the time period of the stress waves. The estimated crack speed range was 63–230 m s−1 for the axial growth, whereas the average speed for growth in Mode III was 100 m s−1.
Effects of temperature during processing with wine on chemical composition, antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibition activities of Angelica Sinensis Radix
Authors: Wang Ying , Chen Xuetao , Zhao Chengcheng , Miao Jing , Mao Xinhui , Li Xia , Gao Wenyuan 
Published: April 2017

SummaryThe effects of temperature (100 °C, 150 °C, 250 °C) during processing with wine on chemical composition, oil oxidative stability, inhibitory activities on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and pancreatic lipase (PL) of Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR), and the feasibility of melanoidins as a colour index to control the roasting intensities were investigated for the first time. The results showed that there were the highest content of ferulic acid, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of sample roasted at 150 °C, and the sample roasted at 250 °C had the highest content of polysaccharide and total phenolics. A continued reduction in volatile content has occurred in progressive roast. The oxidant stability of oil has a slight increase along with the strength of the roasting intensities, which was higher than unprocessed ASR. Inhibitory activities on acetylcholinesterase and pancreatic lipase were decreased firstly and then increased. Melanoidins can be used as a colour indicator for controlling the thermal processing.
Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on the antioxidant properties of porcine liver protein hydrolysates
Authors: Yu Hui‐Chuan , Tan Fa‐Jui 
Published: April 2017

SummaryIn this study, the effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on the antioxidant activity of porcine liver protein hydrolysates (PLPHs) was investigated. The results showed that the degree of hydrolysis (DH) and peptide contents of the PLPHs increased as the time of ultrasonication increased. The hydrolysate pretreated with ultrasonication for 60 s exhibited the highest DH and peptide contents. The hydrolysate pretreated with ultrasonication for 45 s exhibited the highest ferrous ion chelating ability and reducing power. The hydrolysate pretreated with ultrasonication for 30 s exhibited the highest 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the higher inhibitory activity in the linoleic acid autoxidation system. The molecular weight of peptides in the hydrolysates was less than 6.2 kDa. The results clearly demonstrated that ultrasonic pretreatment enhances the antioxidant activities of the PLPHs in a short period of time (15–30 s).
Investigating the oronasal contributions to metallic perception
Authors: Skinner M. , Lim M. , Tarrega A. , Ford R. , Linforth R. , Thomas A. , Hort J. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractMetallic taints elicited when consuming food can be unpleasant for the consumer and are therefore problematic to food manufacturers. Although metallic has been proposed as a taste in the past, evidence remains inconclusive. This study investigates the oral and nasal contributions to metallic perception using sensory evaluation and headspace analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). When sniffing the headspace over divalent salt solutions, some were discriminated from water. GC‐MS did not detect volatiles in the sample headspace, one hypothesis being that sample volatiles react with phospholipids in the nasal cavity and it is lipid oxidation products which are perceived. Copper sulphate was reported as metallic when tasted with the nose occluded to eliminate retronasal perception, suggesting a gustatory or trigeminal mechanism may be involved. This work indicates orthonasal stimulation is involved in metallic perception, and contributes to the ongoing debate over metallic being a taste, trigeminal or flavour response.
Spoilage of refrigerated (4 °C) Litopenaeus vannamei: cooperation between Shewanella species and contribution of cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu)‐dependent quorum sensing
Authors: Zhu Suqin , Zhang Caili , Wu Haohao , Jie Jinxin , Zeng Mingyong , Liu Zunying , Wang Changyun , Yang Huicheng 
Published: April 2017

SummaryThe spoilage potential of Shewanella putrefaciens and S. baltica isolated from spoiled refrigerated Litopenaeus vannamei was evaluated by in vitro assays for trimethylamine oxide reduction, extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm formation, and in vivo inoculation into surface‐sterilised shrimp followed by microbial, biochemical and sensory analyses during storage for 5 days at 4 °C. S. baltica displayed higher spoilage potential than S. putrefaciens both in vitro and in vivo. Shrimp co‐inoculated with them had one‐day shorter shelf life than those mono‐inoculated, based on the results of bacterial density, volatile base nitrogen, trimethylamine, volatile organic compounds and sensory analysis, which strongly suggests cooperation of Shewanella species in shrimp spoilage. Exogenous cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu) boosted bacterial growth, extracellular protease and collagenase activities, and biofilm formation of S. putrefaciens and S. baltica at least before they entered the stationary phase, indicating that cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu)‐dependent quorum sensing, a recently suggested communication mechanism between them, contributes to the cooperation.
Establishing reference intervals in the coagulation laboratory
Authors: Castellone D. D. 
Published: April 2017

SummaryIntroductionObtaining a reference interval (RI) is a challenge for any laboratory and becomes more complicated in the coagulation laboratory due to testing on samples with limited stability on reagents that are poorly standardized. Reference intervals are required to be able to evaluate results in relation to a patients’ hemostatic disorder. This becomes one of the most important tasks conducted in the coagulation laboratory. However, many laboratories lack the time, finances and in many cases the expertise to conduct this study.MethodsMany RI are obtained from package inserts, or from publications written by experts in lieu of laboratories conducting their own studies. An overview of validating reference intervals and options for verifying or transference of reference intervals is discussed.ResultsBased on the confidence interval and the acceptability of risk laboratories are willing to accept, coagulation laboratories have options to conduct robust studies for their RI. Data mining or global reference studies may help to provide data for age specific ranges.ConclusionsPre‐analytical variables and selection of healthy subjects have the largest impact on coagulation testing outcomes and need to be well controlled during the establishment of reference intervals. Laboratories have options in lieu of conducting a full validation on how to verify RI based on smaller RI studies or transference of RI after determining compatibility of the original RI study.
Diagnostic approach to microangiopathic hemolytic disorders
Authors: Kottke‐Marchant K. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractThrombotic micro‐angiopathies (TMA) are a group of related disorders that are characterized by thrombosis of the microvasculature and associated organ dysfunction, and encompass congenital, acquired, and infectious etiologies. A hall mark of TMAs is the fragmentation of erythrocytes by the microvascular thrombi, resulting in a hemolytic anemia. There are several distinct pathophysiologies leading to microangiopathic hemolysis, ranging from decreased degradation of von Willebrand factor as seen in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) to endothelial damage facilitated by Escherichia coli shiga toxin or complement dysregulation, seen in shiga toxin‐related hemolytic‐uremic syndrome (Stx‐HUS) and complement‐mediated TMA (also called atypical hemolytic‐uremic syndrome), respectively. Distinguishing these disorders is important, as many TMAs are life‐threatening, the treatments are distinct and selecting appropriate therapy can improve patient prognosis. Laboratory testing, including measurement of ADAMTS13, ADAMTS13 inhibitor, shiga toxin, and complement factors, can help establish diagnoses and guide therapy.
School‐based surveillance for influenza vaccine effectiveness during 2014‐2015 seasons in Hong Kong
Authors: Leung Ting F. , Chan Renee W. Y. , Kwok Angela , Ho Wendy C. S. , Tao Mars K. P. , Hon Kam L. , Cheng Frankie W. T. , Li Albert M. , Chan Paul K. S. 
Published: April 2017

BackgroundInfluenza imposes substantial healthcare burden in children, which can be prevented by vaccination. Influenza vaccination coverage varies widely among childhood populations worldwide, which has significant impact on herd immunity and usefulness of influenza vaccine. However, there are limited real‐life data on influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children.ObjectiveThis prospective study aimed to investigate clinical spectrum of childhood influenza and VE in preventing influenza in Hong Kong children.MethodsA total of 623 children were recruited from 15 kindergartens and primary schools. Parents completed a questionnaire on subjects’ health and influenza vaccination history. Flocked nasopharyngeal swabs (FNPSs) were collected in biweekly school visits during 2014‐2015 influenza seasons. Influenza A and B viruses were detected and typed by molecular assays.ResultsA total of 2633 FNPS samples were collected, with two or more samples being obtained from 607 (97.4%) of subjects. Thirty‐six (11.2%) subjects had influenza A or B in 2014, whereas all 19 (6.3%) subjects identified in 2015 had influenza A. Ninety‐nine subjects reported influenza‐like illness (ILI), and nine illness visits were arranged. Influenza vaccination was protective against ILI but not mild laboratory‐confirmed influenza by surveillance. Moderate overall influenza VE of 42%‐52% was observed for ILI, and subgroup analyses showed much higher VE for both ILI (70.9% vs 34.6%) and mild laboratory‐confirmed influenza (44.0% vs −6.2%) in school‐age children than preschoolers who were vaccinated within 12 months.ConclusionsMild laboratory‐confirmed influenza infection is common in children during influenza seasons. Influenza vaccination is effective against ILI but not mild infection identified by surveillance.
The evolution of the Georgian social protection system since independence: An unclear future despite recent expansion
Authors: Gugushvili Dimitri 
Published: April 2017

AbstractIn the first decade of transition, the Georgian social protection system experienced a major retrenchment as the government struggled to finance welfare provision in the face of massive economic contraction and the near collapse of public institutions. Since 2004, this trend has been reversed, with the economy returning to a fast growth path and public administration improving considerably. Recent reforms, including the notable introduction of universal public health insurance, are welcome steps towards building a modern welfare state. Major challenges still remain, however, especially in relation to the system's limited effect on widespread poverty. Decelerating growth, the lack of strong pro‐welfare actors, and the absence of positive external pull factors may stall or prevent future growth, but the changing nature of the social contract between the people and government, as well as Georgian politicians' growing recognition of the importance of the welfare system for inclusive growth, leaves ample space for optimism.
Interfacial microstructure evolution of glass‐based coating on IC10 superalloy with a Ni3Al bond‐coat at 1050°C
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhu Shenglong , Li Zhengxian , Zhang Yusheng , Chen Minghui , Wang Fuhui 
Published: April 2017

AbstractA glass‐based composite coating incorporating YSZ, corundum, and Ni3Al was prepared on IC10 superalloy with a sputtering Hf‐modified Ni3Al bond‐coat. Sealing effect of the glass‐based top‐coat and reactive elemental effect of Hf facilitated the formation of columnar α‐Al2O3 at 1050°C. Furthermore, a discontinuous gahnite interlayer formed at the α‐Al2O3/top‐coat interface due to interfacial reactions. However, because of the discontinuous microstructure of gahnite, the α‐Al2O3 suffered durative attack by the active glass matrix, which caused severe internal oxidation of Hf and Al within the bond‐coat. In addition, the oxygen barrier ability of the top‐coat changed with its microstructure evolution.
Paediatric melanoma
Authors: Stefanaki C. , Chardalias L. , Soura E. , Katsarou A. , Stratigos A. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractPaediatric melanoma, although rare, is the most common skin cancer in children. Our current knowledge on paediatric melanoma incidence trends is expanding, as several studies have addressed this issue with conflicting results. Known risk factors for paediatric melanoma include family history of melanoma, a previous history of malignancy, large congenital nevi, numerous melanocytic nevi, sunburns, increased UV exposure and a sun‐sensitive phenotype. In younger children, melanoma more often presents with atypical features, such as a changing, amelanotic or uniformly coloured, often bleeding lesion, not fulfilling in most cases the conventional ABCDE criteria. The major differential diagnoses are melanocytic nevi, proliferative nodules in congenital nevi and atypical Spitz tumours. Moreover, in the younger age group non‐Caucasian children are over‐represented, tumours tend to be thicker and lymph nodes are often involved. Despite the frequent diagnosis at an advanced stage, the overall survival is fair in paediatric melanoma. Specific guidelines for management of melanoma in children do not exist, and most often the disease is treated similarly to melanoma in adults.
Betanodavirus: Dissection of the viral life cycle
Authors: Low C‐F , Syarul Nataqain B , Chee H‐Y , Rozaini M Z H , Najiah M 
Published: April 2017

AbstractProgressive research has been recently made in dissecting the molecular biology of Betanodavirus life cycle, the causative pathogen of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy in economic important marine fish species. Establishment of betanodavirus infectious clone allows the manipulation of virus genome for functional genomic study, which elucidates the biological event of the viral life cycle at molecular level. The betanodavirus strategizes its replication by expressing anti‐apoptosis/antinecrotic proteins to maintain the cell viability during early infection. Subsequently utilizes and controls the biological machinery of the infected cells for viral genome replication. Towards the late phase of infection, mass production of capsid protein for virion assembly induces the activation of host apoptosis pathway. It eventually leads to the cell lysis and death, which the lysis of cell contributes to the accomplishment of viral shedding that completes a viral life cycle. The recent efforts to dissect the entire betanodavirus life cycle are currently reviewed.