bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of multiple freeze-thaw cycles on selected biochemical serum components
Authors: Gislefoss Randi E. , Lauritzen Marianne , Langseth Hilde , Mørkrid Lars 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackground:To maintain the best performance a frozen serum sample should be thawed once to prevent repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Archival biobanks often have one tube of a sample available, causing repeated freeze-thaw cycles when the sample is used in multiple research projects. In this study, we investigated potential effects of freeze-thaw cycles on several biochemical components in serum.Methods:Serum from 40 fasting donors of both genders, aged 30–60 years, were frozen at –25 °C. Aliquots of the 40 different samples went through 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 thaws, respectively. They were analyzed after 3 month of storage for 15 serum components including electrolytes and metabolites, proteins and enzymes, lipids, hormones and vitamins. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements and equivalence tests were used to examine differences in component levels.Results:Albumin, aspartate-aminotransferase (ASAT), cholesterol, creatinine, C-reactive protein, glucose, immunoglobulin G, potassium, testosterone, triglycerides, urea and vitamin B12 levels did not show significant difference for pairwise comparisons after 10 repeated thaws. Although albumin, ASAT, bilirubin, potassium, sodium, testosterone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) showed overall statistically significant changes in serum levels, only bilirubin, sodium and TSH were significant for the pairwise comparisons investigated. Clinical significance were shown for albumin, ASAT, bilirubin, sodium and testosterone.Conclusions:Twelve components (albumin, ASAT, cholesterol, creatinine, C-reactive protein, glucose, immunoglobulin G, potassium, testosterone, triglycerides, urea and vitamin B12) were robust to 10 repeated thaws compared to baseline level. Three components (bilirubin, sodium and TSH) showed statistical significant difference for pairwise comparisons, however, TSH was not clinically affected.
Definition of insulin resistance affects prevalence rate in pediatric patients: a systematic review and call for consensus
Authors: van der Aa Marloes P. , Knibbe Catherijne A.J. , Boer Anthonius de , van der Vorst Marja M.J. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackground:As a result of the rising prevalence of childhood obesity, there is an increasing interest in the type 2 diabetes mellitus precursor insulin resistance (IR). The aim of this study is to review definitions (methods and cutoff values) to define IR in children and to apply these definitions to a previously described obese pediatric population.Methods:A systematic literature review on prevalence and/or incidence rates in children was performed. The extracted definitions were applied to an obese pediatric population.Results:In the 103 identified articles, 146 IR definitions were reported based on 14 different methods. Fasted definitions were used 137 times, whereas oral/intravenous glucose tolerance test-derived methods were used nine times. The homeostasis model for the assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasted plasma insulin (FPI) were the most frequently used fasted methods (83 and 37 times, respectively). A wide range in cutoff values to define IR was observed, resulting in prevalence rates in the predefined obese pediatric population between 5.5% (FPI>30 mU/L) and 72.3% (insulin sensitivity indexConclusions:To compare IR incidence and prevalence rates in pediatric populations, a uniform definition of IR should be defined.
The Martyrdom of Yūḥannā, Physician of Ibn Abī ’l-Ḥusayn Ruler of the Island of Sicily. Editio Princeps and Historical Commentary
Authors: Mandalà Giuseppe 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe martyrdom of Yūḥannā, physician of Ibn Abī ’l-Ḥusayn ruler of the island of Sicily, is a text which is edited, analyzed and commented on here for the first time. Yūḥannā, after having refused to convert to Islam, is implicated in a trial for having blasphemed against the prophet Muḥammad, which is a crime punishable by death. At the end of his trial, Yūḥannā offers himself up as a voluntary martyr. Aside from the story itself, the aim of the present study is to establish the context in which the story was produced and disseminated. Yūḥannā’s account is an explicit call to resist the Islamization of the Melkite community (i. e. apostasy from Christianity and conversion to Islam), and to find examples of resistance beyond Fāṭimid Egypt or Syria-Palestine, in a land situated at the outer limits of the empire: Kalbid Sicily.
Crystal structure of tetrakis(μ2-acetato-κ2
O:O′)-bis[μ3-4-chloro-2,6-bis((methylimino)methyl)phenolato-κ2
N,O:O,N′]-(μ4-oxido)tetracopper(II), C28H32Cl2Cu4N4O11
Authors: Ma Ling , An Daoli , Lu Liping 
Published: December 2016

Abstract
C28H32Cl2Cu4N4O11, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 9.115(3) Å, b = 12.769(4) Å, c = 14.870(5) Å, α = 93.796(5)°, β = 93.548(5)°, γ = 91.917(5)°, V = 1722.2(10) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt(F) = 0.0303, ω
Rref(F2) = 0.082, T = 298 K.
On the autocorrelation method of external parameter depending data-sets
Authors: Robben Lars 
Published: December 2016

Abstract
The autocorrelation method, proposed at first by [E. K. K. H. Salje, M. I. A. Carpenter, T. H. Malcherek, T. Boffa Ballaran, Eur. J. Min.
2000, 12, 503.] for the evaluation of FTIR data, is an efficient method the evaluation of data depending on external parameters like temperature, pressure, chemical composition etc. In this study a new single parameter value λ′(ω′) is proposed which is computational more efficient with a higher reproducibility than the Δcorr parameter proposed earlier. The method is additionally transferred from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to X-ray diffraction data. It is shown that the autocorrelation method has some beneficial properties compared to the often used Pearson’s r-value.
C-Terminal Region Truncation of RELN Disrupts an Interaction with VLDLR, Causing Abnormal Development of the Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus
Authors: Ha Seungshin , Tripathi Prem P. , Mihalas Anca B. , Hevner Robert F. , Beier David R. 
Published: December 2016

We discovered a hypomorphicreelin(Reln) mutant with abnormal cortical lamination and no cerebellar hypoplasia. This mutant,RelnCTRdel, carries a chemically induced splice-site mutation that truncates the C-terminal region (CTR) domain of RELN protein and displays remarkably distinct phenotypes fromreeler. The mutant does not have an inverted cortex, but cortical neurons overmigrate and invade the marginal zone, which are characteristics similar to a phenotype seen in the cerebral cortex ofVldlrnullmice. The dentate gyrus shows a novel phenotype: the infrapyramidal blade is absent, while the suprapyramidal blade is present and laminated. Genetic epistasis analysis showed thatRelnCTRdel/Apoer2nulldouble homozygotes have phenotypes akin to those ofreelermutants, whileRelnCTRdel/Vldlrnullmice do not. Given that the receptor double knock-out mice resemblereelermutants, we infer thatRelnCTRdel/Apoer2nulldouble homozygotes have both receptor pathways disrupted. This suggests that CTR-truncation disrupts an interaction with VLDLR (very low-density lipoprotein receptor), while the APOER2 signaling pathway remains active, which accounts for the hypomorphic phenotype inRelnCTRdelmice. A RELN-binding assay confirms that CTR truncation significantly decreases RELN binding to VLDLR, but not to APOER2. Together, thein vitroandin vivoresults demonstrate that the CTR domain confers receptor-binding specificity of RELN.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTReelin signaling is important for brain development and is associated with human type II lissencephaly.Relnmutations in mice and humans are usually associated with cerebellar hypoplasia. A newRelnmutant with a truncation of the C-terminal region (CTR) domain shows thatRelnmutation can cause abnormal phenotypes in the cortex and hippocampus without cerebellar hypoplasia. Genetic analysis suggested that CTR truncation disrupts an interaction with the RELN receptor VLDLR (very low-density lipoprotein receptor); this was confirmed by a RELN-binding assay. This result provides a mechanistic explanation for the hypomorphic phenotype of the CTR-deletion mutant, and further suggests thatRelnmutations may cause more subtle forms of human brain malformation than classic lissencephalies.
Genetic and Pharmacologic Manipulation of TLR4 Has Minimal Impact on Ethanol Consumption in Rodents
Authors: Harris R. Adron , Bajo Michal , Bell Richard L. , Blednov Yuri A. , Varodayan Florence P. , Truitt Jay M. , de Guglielmo Giordano , Lasek Amy W. , Logrip Marian L. , Vendruscolo Leandro F. , Roberts Amanda J. , Roberts Edward , George Olivier , Mayfield Jody , Billiar Timothy R. , Hackam David J. , Mayfield R. Dayne , Koob George F. , Roberto Marisa , Homanics Gregg E. 
Published: December 2016

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a critical component of innate immune signaling and has been implicated in alcohol responses in preclinical and clinical models. Members of the Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism (INIA-Neuroimmune) consortium tested the hypothesis that TLR4 mediates excessive ethanol drinking using the following models: (1)Tlr4knock-out (KO) rats, (2) selective knockdown ofTlr4mRNA in mouse nucleus accumbens (NAc), and (3) injection of the TLR4 antagonist (+)-naloxone in mice. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) decreased food/water intake and body weight in ethanol-naive and ethanol-trained wild-type (WT), but notTlr4KO rats. There were no consistent genotypic differences in two-bottle choice chronic ethanol intake or operant self-administration in rats before or after dependence. In mice, (+)-naloxone did not decrease drinking-in-the-dark and only modestly inhibited dependence-driven consumption at the highest dose.Tlr4knockdown in mouse NAc did not decrease drinking in the two-bottle choice continuous or intermittent access tests. However, the latency to ethanol-induced loss of righting reflex increased and the duration decreased in KO versus WT rats. In rat central amygdala neurons, deletion ofTlr4altered GABAAreceptor function, but not GABA release. Although there were no genotype differences in acute ethanol effects before or after chronic intermittent ethanol exposure, genotype differences were observed after LPS exposure. Using different species and sexes, different methods to inhibit TLR4 signaling, and different ethanol consumption tests, our comprehensive studies indicate that TLR4 may play a role in ethanol-induced sedation and GABAAreceptor function, but does not regulate excessive drinking directly and would not be an effective therapeutic target.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTToll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a key mediator of innate immune signaling and has been implicated in alcohol responses in animal models and human alcoholics. Members of the Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism (INIA-Neuroimmune) consortium participated in the first comprehensive study across multiple laboratories to test the hypothesis that TLR4 regulates excessive alcohol consumption in different species and different models of chronic, dependence-driven, and binge-like drinking. Although TLR4 was not a critical determinant of excessive drinking, it was important in the acute sedative effects of alcohol. Current research efforts are directed at determining which neuroimmune pathways mediate excessive alcohol drinking and these findings will help to prioritize relevant pathways and potential therapeutic targets.
Contributions of the Ventral Striatum to Conscious Perception: An Intracranial EEG Study of the Attentional Blink
Authors: Slagter Heleen A. , Mazaheri Ali , Reteig Leon C. , Smolders Ruud , Figee Martijn , Mantione Mariska , Schuurman P. Richard , Denys Damiaan 
Published: December 2016

The brain is limited in its capacity to consciously process information, necessitating gating of information. While conscious perception is robustly associated with sustained, recurrent interactions between widespread cortical regions, subcortical regions, including the striatum, influence cortical activity. Here, we examined whether the ventral striatum, given its ability to modulate cortical information flow, contributes to conscious perception. Using intracranial EEG, we recorded ventral striatum activity while 7 patients performed an attentional blink task in which they had to detect two targets (T1 and T2) in a stream of distractors. Typically, when T2 follows T1 within 100–500 ms, it is often not perceived (i.e., the attentional blink). We found that conscious T2 perception was influenced and signaled by ventral striatal activity. Specifically, the failure to perceive T2 was foreshadowed by a T1-induced increase in α and low β oscillatory activity as early as 80 ms after T1, indicating that the attentional blink to T2 may be due to very early T1-driven attentional capture. Moreover, only consciously perceived targets were associated with an increase in θ activity between 200 and 400 ms. These unique findings shed new light on the mechanisms that give rise to the attentional blink by revealing that conscious target perception may be determined by T1 processing at a much earlier processing stage than traditionally believed. More generally, they indicate that ventral striatum activity may contribute to conscious perception, presumably by gating cortical information flow.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWhat determines whether we become aware of a piece of information or not? Conscious access has been robustly associated with activity within a distributed network of cortical regions. Using intracranial electrophysiological recordings during an attentional blink task, we tested the idea that the ventral striatum, because of its ability to modulate cortical information flow, may contribute to conscious perception. We find that conscious perception is influenced and signaled by ventral striatal activity. Short-latency (80–140 ms) striatal responses to a first target determined conscious perception of a second target. Moreover, conscious perception of the second target was signaled by longer-latency (200–400 ms) striatal activity. These results suggest that the ventral striatum may be part of a subcortical network that influences conscious experience.
Histological Underpinnings of Grey Matter Changes in Fibromyalgia Investigated Using Multimodal Brain Imaging
Authors: Pomares Florence B. , Funck Thomas , Feier Natasha A. , Roy Steven , Daigle-Martel Alexandre , Ceko Marta , Narayanan Sridar , Araujo David , Thiel Alexander , Stikov Nikola , Fitzcharles Mary-Ann , Schweinhardt Petra 
Published: December 2016

Chronic pain patients present with cortical gray matter alterations, observed with anatomical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Reduced regional gray matter volumes are often interpreted to reflect neurodegeneration, but studies investigating the cellular origin of gray matter changes are lacking. We used multimodal imaging to compare 26 postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia with 25 healthy controls (age range: 50–75 years) to test whether regional gray matter volume decreases in chronic pain are associated with compromised neuronal integrity. Regional gray matter decreases were largely explained by T1 relaxation times in gray matter, a surrogate measure of water content, and not to any substantial degree by GABAAreceptor concentration, an indirect marker of neuronal integrity measured with [18F] flumazenil PET. In addition, the MR spectroscopy marker of neuronal viability,N-acetylaspartate, did not differ between patients and controls. These findings suggest that decreased gray matter volumes are not explained by compromised neuronal integrity. Alternatively, a decrease in neuronal matter could be compensated for by an upregulation of GABAAreceptors. The relation between regional gray matter and T1 relaxation times suggests decreased tissue water content underlying regional gray matter decreases. In contrast, regional gray matter increases were explained by GABAAreceptor concentration in addition to T1 relaxation times, indicating perhaps increased neuronal matter or GABAAreceptor upregulation and inflammatory edema. By providing information on the histological origins of cerebral gray matter alterations in fibromyalgia, this study advances the understanding of the neurobiology of chronic widespread pain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTRegional gray matter alterations in chronic pain, as detected with voxel-based morphometry of anatomical magnetic resonance images, are commonly interpreted to reflect neurodegeneration, but this assumption has not been tested. We found decreased gray matter in fibromyalgia to be associated with T1 relaxation times, a surrogate marker of water content, but not with GABAAreceptor concentration, a surrogate of neuronal integrity. In contrast, regional gray matter increases were partly explained by GABAAreceptor concentration, indicating some form of neuronal plasticity. The study emphasizes that voxel-based morphometry is an exploratory measure, demonstrating the need to investigate the histological origin of gray matter alterations for every distinct clinical entity, and advances the understanding of the neurobiology of chronic (widespread) pain.
Presynaptic Neuronal Pentraxin Receptor Organizes Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses
Authors: Lee Sung-Jin , Wei Mengping , Zhang Chen , Maxeiner Stephan , Pak ChangHui , Calado Botelho Salome , Trotter Justin , Sterky Fredrik H. , Südhof Thomas C. 
Published: December 2016

Three neuronal pentraxins are expressed in brain, the membrane-bound “neuronal pentraxin receptor” (NPR) and the secreted proteins NP1 and NARP (i.e., NP2). Neuronal pentraxins bind to AMPARs at excitatory synapses and play important, well-documented roles in the activity-dependent regulation of neural circuits via this binding activity. However, it is unknown whether neuronal pentraxins perform roles in synapses beyond modulating postsynaptic AMPAR-dependent plasticity, and whether they may even act in inhibitory synapses. Here, we show that NPR expressed in non-neuronal cells potently induces formation of both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic specializations in cocultured hippocampal neurons. Knockdown of NPR in hippocampal neurons, conversely, dramatically decreased assembly and function of both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic specializations. Overexpression of NPR rescued the NPR knockdown phenotype but did not in itself change synapse numbers or properties. However, the NPR knockdown decreased the levels of NARP, whereas NPR overexpression produced a dramatic increase in the levels of NP1 and NARP, suggesting that NPR recruits and stabilizes NP1 and NARP on the presynaptic plasma membrane. Mechanistically, NPR acted in excitatory synapse assembly by binding to the N-terminal domain of AMPARs; antagonists of AMPA and GABA receptors selectively inhibited NPR-induced heterologous excitatory and inhibitory synapse assembly, respectively, but did not affect neurexin-1β-induced synapse assembly as a control. Our data suggest that neuronal pentraxins act as signaling complexes that function as general trans-synaptic organizers of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses by a mechanism that depends, at least in part, on the activity of the neurotransmitter receptors at these synapses.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTNeuronal pentraxins comprise three neuronal proteins, neuronal pentraxin receptor (NPR) which is a type-II transmembrane protein on the neuronal surface, and secreted neuronal pentraxin-1 and NARP. The general functions of neuronal pentraxins at synapses have not been explored, except for their basic AMPAR binding properties. Here, we examined the functional role of NPR at synapses because it is the only neuronal pentraxin that is anchored to the neuronal cell-surface membrane. We find that NPR is a potent inducer of both excitatory and inhibitory heterologous synapses, and that knockdown of NPR in cultured neurons decreases the density of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Our data suggest that NPR performs a general, previously unrecognized function as a universal organizer of synapses.
Analysis of the results of surgical management of traumatic paraplegia
Authors: Nitesh Kumar , Mahto Ajay Kumar 
Published: December 2016

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> <span lang="EN-IN">Thoracolumbar spine fractures are common injuries that can result in significant disability, deformity and neurological deficit. Aim of this study was to evaluate the results of surgical management of traumatic paraplegia, complete or incomplete as classified by Frankel scoring.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A prospective study was conducted in patients attending outdoor and emergency department of orthopaedics of a tertiary care teaching institute in Katihar Medical College, Katihar (Bihar) with traumatic paraplegia involving the dorsolumbar spine. The duration of the study was July 2014 to July 2016. The important objectives are the time for recovery of various functions like sensory, motor and bowel and bladder function, comparison between early and late decompression, results of posterolateral fusion and time taken for solid bony fusion after operation. Cases selected for these studies were those treated surgically between July 2014 to July 2016. Total 46 cases were selected within a minimum of 6 month post-operative follow up of which 4 cases lost in follow up. Data collected from patients records including age, sex, time from injury to hospitalization, initial neurological status as per Frankel score, MRI findings, surgery performed, postoperative course and neurological status at the time of discharge and latest follow up. Patients lost to follow up were not studied for outcome analysis.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> When decompression done within 1<sup>st</sup> week in incomplete paraplegia 80% of the patients showed return of grade 3 power. In complete paraplegia cases, 11% of the patients had return to power upto grade 3 when decompression done within 1 week where no cases return of grade 3 power when decompression done after2nd and 3<sup>rd</sup> week<span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> After recovery from spinal shock, the earlier the surgical decompression done, the better the neurological and bowel/bladder function recovery both in complete and incomplete paraplegic cases. Reduction is better and easy and less time consuming in early decompression than in late. Motor recovery can continue for over 6 month after decompression<span lang="EN-IN">.</span></p><p> </p>
Self-help Group (SHGs) Activities under DAY-NRLM at Kolar district of Karnataka
Authors: Chatterjee Shankar 
Published: December 2016

<em><span>This article is based on field study based carried out in Kolar district of Karnataka by contacting Self-help Group (SHGs) formed under Deendayal Antyaodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)/Aajeevika which is presently in implementation in the country. This DAY-NRLM is the massive self-employment programme which is the off-shoot of restructured scheme of Swarnajayanati Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY). It was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India based on Prof Radhakrishna Committee. </span><span lang="EN-IN">The study reveals that DAY-NRLM is yet to start with full swing in Kolar district, Karnataka. However, by contacting the two SHGs formed and nurtured under DAY-NRLM it was observed that they were matured enough and earning substantially. It is pertinent to mention that initially the name of the programme was National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM)/Aajeevika but from 26 February 2016, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India through a notification has rechristened as Deendayal Antyaodaya Yojana so presently it is known as Deendayal Antyaodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). </span></em>