bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Growth differentiation factor‐15 is associated with muscle mass in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and promotes muscle wasting in vivo
Authors: Patel Mehul S. , Lee Jen , Baz Manuel , Wells Claire E. , Bloch Susannah , Lewis Amy , Donaldson Anna V. , Garfield Benjamin E. , Hopkinson Nicholas S. , Natanek Amanda , Man William D‐C , Wells Dominic J. , Baker Emma H. , Polkey Michael I. , Kemp Paul R. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundLoss of muscle mass is a co‐morbidity common to a range of chronic diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several systemic features of COPD including increased inflammatory signalling, oxidative stress, and hypoxia are known to increase the expression of growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15), a protein associated with muscle wasting in other diseases. We therefore hypothesized that GDF‐15 may contribute to muscle wasting in COPD.MethodsWe determined the expression of GDF‐15 in the serum and muscle of patients with COPD and analysed the association of GDF‐15 expression with muscle mass and exercise performance. To determine whether GDF‐15 had a direct effect on muscle, we also determined the effect of increased GDF‐15 expression on the tibialis anterior of mice by electroporation.ResultsGrowth differentiation factor‐15 was increased in the circulation and muscle of COPD patients compared with controls. Circulating GDF‐15 was inversely correlated with rectus femoris cross‐sectional area (P < 0.001) and exercise capacity (P < 0.001) in two separate cohorts of patients but was not associated with body mass index. GDF‐15 levels were associated with 8‐oxo‐dG in the circulation of patients consistent with a role for oxidative stress in the production of this protein. Local over‐expression of GDF‐15 in mice caused wasting of the tibialis anterior muscle that expressed it but not in the contralateral muscle suggesting a direct effect of GDF‐15 on muscle mass (P < 0.001).ConclusionsTogether, the data suggest that GDF‐15 contributes to the loss of muscle mass in COPD.
Health information exchange systems and length of stay in readmissions to a different hospital
Authors: Flaks‐Manov Natalie , Shadmi Efrat , Hoshen Moshe , Balicer Ran D. 
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUNDReadmission to a different hospital than the original discharge hospital may result in breakdowns in continuity of care. In different‐hospital readmissions (DHRs), continuity can be maintained when hospitals are connected through health information exchange (HIE) systems.OBJECTIVETo examine whether length of readmission stay (LORS) differs between same‐hospital readmissions and DHRs, and whether in DHRs the LORS differs by the availability of HIE.DESIGNA retrospective cohort study of all internal medicine 30‐day readmissions in 27 Israeli hospitals between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010.SETTINGClalit Health Services—Israel's largest integrated healthcare provider and payer.POPULATIONAdult Clalit members (aged 18 and older) with at least 1 readmission during the study period.METHODSA multivariate marginal Cox model tested the likelihood for discharge during each readmission day in same‐hospital readmissions (SHRs), DHRs with HIE, and DHRs without HIE.RESULTSOf the 27,057 readmissions, 3130 (11.6%) were DHRs and 792 where DHRs with HIE in both the index and readmitting hospital. Partial continuity (DHRs with HIE) was associated with decreased likelihood of discharge on any given day compared with full continuity (SHRs) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79–0.91). Similar results were obtained for no continuity (DHRs without HIE) versus full continuity (HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86–0.94). The difference between DHRs with and without HIE was not significant.CONCLUSIONSThe prolonged LORS in DHRs versus SHRs was not mitigated by the existence of HIE systems. Future research is needed to further elucidate the effects of actual use of HIE on length of DHRs. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016;11:401–406. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine
Functional evolution of jumping in frogs: Interspecific differences in take‐off and landing
Authors: Reilly Stephen M. , Montuelle Stephane J. , Schmidt André , Krause Cornelia , Naylor Emily , Essner Richard L. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTAncestral frogs underwent anatomical shifts including elongation of the hindlimbs and pelvis and reduction of the tail and vertebral column that heralded the transition to jumping as a primary mode of locomotion. Jumping has been hypothesized to have evolved in a step‐wise fashion with basal frogs taking‐off with synchronous hindlimb extension and crash‐landing on their bodies, and then their limbs move forward. Subsequently, frogs began to recycle the forelimbs forward earlier in the jump to control landing. Frogs with forelimb landing radiated into many forms, locomotor modes, habitats, and niches with controlled landing thought to improve escape behavior. While the biology of take‐off behavior has seen considerable study, interspecific comparisons of take‐off and landing behavior are limited. In order to understand the evolution of jumping and controlled landing in frogs, data are needed on the movements of the limbs and body across an array of taxa. Here, we present the first description and comparison of kinematics of the hindlimbs, forelimbs and body during take‐off and landing in relation to ground reaction forces in four frog species spanning the frog phylogeny. The goal of this study is to understand what interspecific differences reveal about the evolution of take‐off and controlled landing in frogs. We provide the first comparative description of the entire process of jumping in frogs. Statistical comparisons identify both homologous behaviors and significant differences among species that are used to map patterns of trait evolution and generate hypotheses regarding the functional evolution of take‐off and landing in frogs. J. Morphol. 277:379–393, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Oligoethylenimine‐grafted chitosan as enhanced T1 contrast agent for in vivo targeted tumor MRI
Authors: Tong Xiaoyan , Liu Min , Zhang Kunchi , Cao Yi , Dong Jingjin , Jiang Bin , Lu Bo , Zheng Hua , Zhang Hailu , Pei Renjun 
Published: December 2015

PurposeTo synthesize and characterize an effective macromolecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent based on oligoethylenimine‐grafted chitosan with targeting capability.Materials and MethodsIn this study we synthesized and characterized oligoethylenimine‐grafted chitosan copolymers, followed by conjugating with Gd‐DTPA and folic acid. The toxicity was evaluated by WST assay, and in vitro MRI studies were performed in comparison with Gd‐DTPA. Finally, the contrast enhancement of the new macromolecular MRI contrast agent was then evaluated in the mice bearing KB xenografts.ResultsCompared to Gd‐DTPA (4.3 mM−1 s−1), this macromolecular contrast agent (mCA) exhibited much higher T1 relaxivity (14.4 mM−1 s−1), up to 3.3 times higher. Meanwhile, the WST assay illustrated that the viability of KB cells remained at 90% even when the Gd concentration was 1 mM. During the in vivo study, the image contrast produced by FA‐mCA was higher than one produced by mCA, up to 2.5 times higher.ConclusionOur results showed this macromolecular contrast agent has potential for developing sensitive and biocompatible MRI probe with targeting capability. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;44:23–29.
Numerical study on regional climate change due to the rapid urbanization of greater Ho Chi Minh City's metropolitan area over the past 20 years
Authors: Doan Quang‐Van , Kusaka Hiroyuki 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTThis study examines climatic impact of urbanization on the variability of the urban heat island (UHI) effect over Greater Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area (GHCM), since the late 1980s, using the dynamical downscaling with very high‐resolution regional climate model coupled to an urban canopy model (RCM/UCM). This is the first application of RCM/UCM to a city in developing countries in Southeast Asia in assessing the impacts of the past land‐use and anthropogenic heat release during the selected three periods (ca. 1989, 1999, and 2009). The main findings are as follows: First, agreement between simulated results (for case of ca. 2009 urban) and observation demonstrates that the RCM/UCM is able to reproduce the urban climate of GHCM. Second, the evolution of spatial distribution of UHI is closely associated with urban expansion. The increase in the surface air temperature was about 0.3 °C in the pre‐existing urbanized area and about 0.6 °C in newly urbanized area in the last 20 years. Main factor of these changes is conversion of agriculture or grassland into urban structure, which results in increase in sensible heating and decrease in latent heating. In addition, in the central GHCM, the urbanization impact was estimated at 0.31 °C, while the temperature increase was observed at 0.64 °C in the last 20 years. This suggests that the urbanization may contribute about half to the increase of surface air temperature in the central GHCM.
High prevalence of cam deformity in dysplastic hips: A three‐dimensional CT study
Authors: Kohno Yusuke , Nakashima Yasuharu , Hatano Takashi , Akiyama Mio , Fujii Masanori , Hara Daisuke , Kanazawa Masayuki , Haraguchi Akihisa , Iwamoto Yukihide 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTCam deformity could lead to suboptimal articulation by causing secondary femoroacetabular impingement after periacetabular osteotomy; however, the inherent femoral head‐neck morphology in dysplastic hips and the effect of an additional osteoarthritic deformity have not been well described. We compared femoral head‐neck morphology using three‐dimensional imaging of normal and dysplastic hips in pre/early (Tönnis grade 0 and 1) and advanced stage osteoarthritis (Tönnis grade 2). Using computed tomography, we measured the circumferential α‐angle and head‐neck offset ratio in 68 dysplastic hips and 24 normal hips. Locations of the head‐neck junction were represented by the clock position. In the pre/early group, the α‐angle was significantly larger at the anterosuperior and inferior aspects (1, 2, and 5–7 o'clock) and head‐neck offset ratio was smaller at the anterosuperior aspect (2 o'clock) than in the control group. The α‐angle was significantly larger at the anterior aspects (1–4 o'clock) in the advanced group than in the pre/early group. The maximum α‐angle was most commonly found at 2 o'clock (60%, 41/68 hips) in dysplastic hips. The prevalence of cam deformity (maximum α‐angle >55°) was 4.2% (1/24 hips) in the control group, 22% (11/50 hips) in the pre/early group, and 50% (9/18 hips) in the advanced group. Cam deformity, inherent in the pre/early group, was found with relatively high frequency. The higher prevalence in the advanced group reflected degeneration‐modified changes. When performing periacetabular osteotomy, preoperative radiographic assessments should include the femoral head‐neck junction to prevent secondary femoroacetabular impingement, especially in patients with advanced stage osteoarthritis. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1613–1619, 2016.
The potential of food protein‐derived anti‐inflammatory peptides against various chronic inflammatory diseases
Authors: Majumder Kaustav , Mine Yoshinori , Wu Jianping 
Published: December 2015

AbstractInflammation is considered as one of the major causes for the initiation of various chronic diseases such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, osteoporosis and neurological diseases like Parkinson's disease. Increasing scientific evidence has delineated that inflammatory markers such as TNF‐α, IL‐1, IL‐6, IL‐8 and CRP and different transcription factors such as NF‐κB and STAT are the major key factors that regulate these inflammatory diseases. Food protein‐derived bioactive peptides have been shown to exhibit anti‐inflammatory activity by inhibiting or reducing the expression of these inflammatory biomarkers and/or by modulating the activity of these transcription factors. This review aims to discuss various molecular targets and underlying mechanisms of food protein‐derived anti‐inflammatory peptides and to explore their potential against various chronic inflammatory diseases. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Monolithic metal–organic framework MIL‐53(Al)‐polymethacrylate composite column for the reversed‐phase capillary liquid chromatography separation of small aromatics
Authors: Yusuf Kareem , Badjah‐Hadj‐Ahmed Ahmed Yacine , Aqel Ahmad , ALOthman Zeid Abdullah 
Published: December 2015

A monolithic capillary column containing a composite of metal–organic framework MIL‐53(Al) incorporated into hexyl methacrylate‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate was prepared to enhance the separation of mixtures of small aromatic compounds by using capillary liquid chromatography. The addition of 10 mg/mL MIL‐53(Al) microparticles increased the micropore content in the monolithic matrix and increased the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area from 26.92 to 85.12 m2/g. The presence of 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylate moieties within the structure of MIL‐53(Al) as an organic linker greatly influenced the separation of aromatic mixtures through π–π interactions. High‐resolution separation was obtained for a series of alkylbenzenes (with resolution factors in the range 0.96–1.75) in less than 8 min, with 14 710 plates/m efficiency for propylbenzene, using a binary polar mobile phase of water/acetonitrile in isocratic mode. A reversed‐phase separation mechanism was indicated by the increased retention factor and resolution as the water percentage in the mobile phase increased. A stability study on the composite column showed excellent mechanical stability under various conditions. The higher resolution and faster separation observed at increased temperature indicated an exothermic separation, whereas the negative values for the free energy change of transfer indicated a spontaneous process.
Dairy Cattle Manure Effects on Soil Quality: Porosity, Earthworms, Aggregates and Soil Organic Carbon Fractions
Authors: Yagüe María Rosa , Domingo‐Olivé Francesc , Bosch‐Serra Àngela Dolores , Poch Rosa Maria , Boixadera Jaume 
Published: December 2015

AbstractIn the European Union, the maintenance of soil quality is a key point in agricultural policy. The effect of additions of dairy cattle (Bos taurus) manure (DCM) during a period of 11 years were evaluated in a soil under irrigated maize (Zea mays L.) monoculture. DCM was applied at sowing, at wet‐weight rates of 30 or 60 Mg ha−1yr−1 (30DCM or 60DCM). These were compared with a mineral‐N treatment (300 kg N ha−1, MNF), applied at six to eight emerged leaves and with a control (no N, no manure). Treatments were distributed in a randomized block design. Factors analysed were stability against wetting stress disaggregation, porosity, soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and earthworm abundance, studied eight months after the last manure application. The application rate of 30DCM increased aggregate stability and the light SOC fraction, but not the pore volume, nor the earthworm abundance, compared with MNF. The DCM rates did not result in unbalanced agronomic advantages versus MNF, as high yields (12–16 Mg ha−1 yr−1) were obtained. In Mediterranean environments, the use of DCM should be encouraged mainly because of its contribution to the light SOC fraction which protects dry macro‐aggregates from implosion (slaking) during the wetting process. Thus, in intensive agricultural systems, it protects soil from physical degradation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lake ice measurements from soil water content reflectometer sensors
Authors: Whitaker Emily C. , Reed David E. , Desai Ankur R. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractLake ice depth provides important information about local and regional climate change, weather patterns, and recreational safety, as well as impacting in situ ecology and carbon cycling. However, it is challenging to measure ice depth continuously from a remote location, as existing methods are too large, expensive, and/or time‐intensive. Therefore, we present a novel application that resolves size, cost, and automation issues using commercially‐available soil water content reflectometer sensors from multiple manufactures. Analysis of sensors deployed in an environmental chamber using a scale model of a lake demonstrated accurate measure of the change in ice depth over any time period to within 1 cm, through sensor response of liquid‐to‐solid phase change. A robust correlation exists between volumetric water content in time as a function of environmental temperature and ice growth. This relationship allows us to convert volumetric water content into ice depth. An array of these sensors can be used in lake or river settings to create a temporally high‐resolution ice depth record, which fills in a needed gap for ecological or climatological studies as well as increasing public recreational safety.
Violet 405 nm light: A novel therapeutic agent against β‐lactam‐resistant Escherichia coli
Authors: Rhodes Nathaniel L.R. , de la Presa Martin , Barneck Mitchell D. , Poursaid Ahrash , Firpo Matthew A. , Langell John T. 
Published: December 2015

Background and ObjectiveApproximately 1.7 million patients are affected by hospital‐acquired infections every year in the United States. The increasing prevalence of multidrug‐resistant bacteria associated with these infections prompts the investigation of alternative sterilization and antibacterial therapies. One method currently under investigation is the antibacterial properties of visible light. This study examines the effect of a visible light therapy (VLT) on β‐lactam‐resistant Escherichia coli, a common non‐skin flora pathogen responsible for a large percentage of indwelling medical device‐associated clinical infection.Materials and Methods405 nm light‐emitting diodes were used to treat varying concentrations of a common laboratory E. coli K‐12 strain transformed with the pCIG mammalian expression vector. This conferred ampicillin resistance via expression of the β‐lactamase gene. Bacteria were grown on sterile polystyrene Petri dishes plated with Luria‐Bertani broth. Images of bacterial growth colonies on plates were processed and analyzed using ImageJ. Irradiance levels between 2.89 ± 0.19 and 9.45 ± 0.63 mW cm−2 and radiant exposure levels between 5.60 ± 0.39 and 136.91 ± 4.06 J cm−2 were tested.ResultsVLT with variable irradiance and constant treatment time (120 minutes) demonstrated significant reduction (P < 0.001) in E. coli between an irradiance of 2.89 mW cm−2 (81.70%) and 9.37 mW cm−2 (100.00%). Similar results were found with variable treatment time with constant irradiance. Log10 reduction analysis produced between 1.98 ± 0.53 (60 minute treatment) and 6.27 ± 0.54 (250 minute treatment) log10 reduction in bacterial concentration (P < 0.001).ConclusionsWe have successfully demonstrated a significant bacterial reduction using high intensity 405 nm light. Illustrating the efficacy of this technology against a β‐lactam‐resistant E. coli is especially relevant to the need for novel methods of sterilization in healthcare settings. These results suggest that VLT using 405 nm light could be a suitable clinical option for eradication of β‐lactam‐resistant E. coli. Lasers Surg. Med. 48:311–317, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Visible light kills statistically significant concentrations of E. coli.
Antibiotic‐resistant Gram‐negative bacteria exhibits sensitivity to 405 nm light.
Greater than 6 log10 reduction in β‐lactam‐resistant E. coli when treated with visible light therapy.
Selective diffusion spectroscopy using excitation sculpting
Authors: Howe Peter W. A. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractDiffusion spectroscopy NMR provides a sensitive and fast way of determining diffusion coefficient. The coefficient is measured by fitting attenuation of resonance intensities to the Stejskal–Tanner equation, but, because it is an exponential equation, this fitting is quite sensitive to experimental artefacts. Intense resonances in NMR spectra, such as solvent signals, are a particular problem because small fractions of intensity of the intense resonances can significantly change the intensities of minor resonances and distort their calculated diffusion coefficients. This problem can be overcome by selective excitation of only the minor resonances, and the method of choice for this is excitation sculpting. This paper shows that the conventional excitation sculpting pulse sequence can be used directly for DOSY spectroscopy with minimal modification. The sequence suppresses intense resonances very effectively, allowing the reproducible measurement of diffusion coefficients of minor solutes in a solvent containing five separate resonances. It is sensitive and robust to convection. Excitation sculpting will allow the application of diffusion spectroscopy to samples which include multiple intense resonances, such as polymeric solvents. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combining phase images from array coils using a short echo time reference scan (COMPOSER)
Authors: Robinson Simon Daniel , Dymerska Barbara , Bogner Wolfgang , Barth Markus , Zaric Olgica , Goluch Sigrun , Grabner Günther , Deligianni Xeni , Bieri Oliver , Trattnig Siegfried 
Published: December 2015

PurposeTo develop a simple method for combining phase images from multichannel coils that does not require a reference coil and does not entail phase unwrapping, fitting or iterative procedures.Theory and MethodsAt very short echo time, the phase measured with each coil of an array approximates to the phase offset to which the image from that coil is subject. Subtracting this information from the phase of the scan of interest matches the phases from the coils, allowing them to be combined. The effectiveness of this approach is quantified in the brain, calf and breast with coils of diverse designs.ResultsThe quality of phase matching between coil elements was close to 100% with all coils assessed even in regions of low signal. This method of phase combination was similar in effectiveness to the Roemer method (which needs a reference coil) and was superior to the rival reference‐coil‐free approaches tested.ConclusionThe proposed approach—COMbining Phase data using a Short Echo‐time Reference scan (COMPOSER)—is a simple and effective approach to reconstructing phase images from multichannel coils. It requires little additional scan time, is compatible with parallel imaging and is applicable to all coils, independent of configuration. Magn Reson Med 77:318–327, 2017. © 2015 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Outcome of a right aortic arch diagnosed in utero
Authors: Bronshtein Moshe , Blumenfeld Zeev , Naroditsky Inna , Gover Ayala 
Published: December 2015

What's Already Known About This Topic?

RAA may be associated with other anomalies, with double aortic arch, or be asymptomatic.
RAA is associated with DiGeorge syndrome.
There is scarce information regarding the incidence of each of these presentations.
What Does This Study Add?

The probability of prenatal diagnosis of a RAA is 1:615.
Seventy‐three percent are isolated.
Surgery is required in 4.6%.
The probability of DiGeorge syndrome with an isolated RAA is 4.6%.