bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interspecific interactions between wild felids vary across scales and levels of urbanization
Authors: Lewis Jesse S. , Bailey Larissa L. , VandeWoude Sue , Crooks Kevin R. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractOngoing global landscape change resulting from urbanization is increasingly linked to changes in species distributions and community interactions. However, relatively little is known about how urbanization influences competitive interactions among mammalian carnivores, particularly related to wild felids. We evaluated interspecific interactions between medium‐ and large‐sized carnivores across a gradient of urbanization and multiple scales. Specifically, we investigated spatial and temporal interactions of bobcats and pumas by evaluating circadian activity patterns, broad‐scale seasonal interactions, and fine‐scale daily interactions in wildland–urban interface (WUI), exurban residential development, and wildland habitats. Across levels of urbanization, interspecific interactions were evaluated using two‐species and single‐species occupancy models with data from motion‐activated cameras. As predicted, urbanization increased the opportunity for interspecific interactions between wild felids. Although pumas did not exclude bobcats from areas at broad spatial or temporal scales, bobcats responded behaviorally to the presence of pumas at finer scales, but patterns varied across levels of urbanization. In wildland habitat, bobcats avoided using areas for short temporal periods after a puma visited an area. In contrast, bobcats did not appear to avoid areas that pumas recently visited in landscapes influenced by urbanization (exurban development and WUI habitat). In addition, overlap in circadian activity patterns between bobcats and pumas increased in exurban development compared to wildland habitat. Across study areas, bobcats used sites less frequently as the number of puma photographs increased at a site. Overall, bobcats appear to shape their behavior at fine spatial and temporal scales to reduce encounters with pumas, but residential development can potentially alter these strategies and increase interaction opportunities. We explore three hypotheses to explain our results of how urbanization affected interspecific interactions that consider activity patterns, landscape configuration, and animal scent marking. Altered competitive interactions between animals in urbanized landscapes could potentially increase aggressive encounters and the frequency of disease transmission.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) influences muscle metabolism via stimulating mitochondrial biogenesis signaling in adult‐onset inactivity induced obese mice
Authors: Kim Yoo , Kim Daeyoung , Good Deborah J. , Park Yeonhwa 
Published: December 2015

Recently, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been reported to prevent body weight gain and fat accumulation in part by improving physical activity in mice. The current study was conducted to determine the role of CLA on skeletal muscle metabolism in nescient basic helix‐loop‐helix 2 knock‐out (N2KO) mice, an adult‐onset inactivity induced obese model. Five‐week‐old female N2KO and wild type mice were fed either control or CLA containing diet (0.5%) for 10 wk. Voluntary activity was determined biweekly and markers for muscle metabolisms were determined from the gastrocnemius muscle. CLA fed N2KO animals showed significant increased voluntary movement and gastrocnemius muscle mass compared to control group, whereas in wild type animals, no differences were observed. CLA treatment up‐regulated AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitochondria biogenic markers, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐δ (PPARδ), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) compared to control animals. These observations indicate that CLA supplementation activates AMPKα‐PPARδ and/or ‐Tfam signaling cascade for stimulating mitochondria biogenesis. Taken together, these results suggest that CLA may in part activate the underlying biomarkers involved in muscle metabolism via stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, resulting in increased voluntary activity and muscle mass, potentially contributing to regulating weight gain.Practical applications: Lack of physical activity is a global public health problem, which induces obesity and its associated pathologies. Approximately, 3.2 million deaths per year are attributable to lack of physical activity. CLA has previously been reported to increase voluntary and endurance activities in mice. However, the exact mode of action is not completely understood. Thus, the purpose of the study was to shed light on positive effects of CLA on physical activity through modulation of molecular targets in skeletal muscle of Nhlh2 knockout mice, which are an adult‐onset inactivity induced obesity model. The current results suggest that CLA acts as a potential exercise‐mimetic, resulting in increased voluntary activity and muscle mass, potentially contributing to regulating weight gain.Conjugated linoleic acid partially improves muscle metabolism via stimulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, resulting in increased voluntary activity.
Intramolecular Addition of Triarylmethanes to Alkynes Promoted by KOtBu/DMF: A Synthetic Approach to Indene Derivatives
Authors: Chen Yan‐yan , Chen Zhen‐yu , Zhang Niu‐niu , Chen Jia‐hua , Zhang Xue‐jing , Yan Ming 
Published: December 2015

AbstractA method for the intramolecular addition of triarylmethanes to alkynes has been developed. The reaction was efficiently promoted by KOtBu/DMF without any transition‐metal catalyst. A variety of indene derivatives were prepared in moderate to good yields. A cascade cyclization of 2‐alkyl‐substituted substrates at elevated reaction temperature gave bicyclic indene derivatives. The reaction is proposed to proceed through the generation of a triphenylmethyl radical.
TBHP/CoCl2‐Mediated Intramolec­ular Oxidative Cyclization of N‐(2‐Formylphenyl)amides: An Approach to the Construction of 4H‐3,1‐Benz­oxazin‐4‐ones
Authors: Yu Junchao , Zhang‐Negrerie Daisy , Du Yunfei 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe intramolecular oxidative cyclization of N‐(2‐formylphenyl)amides has been realized through an oxidative C(sp2)–O(sp2) bond‐forming reaction between an aldehyde carbon and amide oxygen. This new strategy, which uses tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant and CoCl2 as the catalyst, allows for the efficient Co‐catalyzed synthesis of useful benzoxazin‐4‐one derivatives and features readily available starting materials and mild reaction conditions.
Radical Cyclization of Arenesulfonyl Chlorides and Alkynes: A Rapid Access to π‐Conjugated Benzothio­phenes
Authors: Wan Danyang , Yang Yudong , Liu Xingyan , Li Mingliang , Zhao Siling , You Jingsong 
Published: December 2015

AbstractA metal‐free radical cyclization of arenesulfonyl chlorides with alkynes has been developed, which provides a rapid and practical access to a variety of π‐conjugated benzothiophenes with a broad reactive functional group tolerance. Furthermore, dialkynyl compounds could also undergo this transformation to give extended π‐systems in good yields.
Altered nociception and morphine tolerance in neuropeptide FF receptor type 2 over‐expressing mice
Authors: Lin Y.T. , Kao S.C. , Day Y.J. , Chang C.C. , Chen J.C. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe neuropeptide FF system is thought to act as an anti‐opioid modulator and plays a role in nociception, morphine antinociception and dependence. Two receptor subtypes, NPFFR1 and NPFFR2, have been identified, but their respective roles in these processes remain uncertain.MethodsIn the present study, the role of NPFFR2 was investigated using transgenic mice over‐expressing NPFFR2 in addition to a NPFFR2 agonist AC‐263093.ResultsNPFFR2 Tg mice exhibited increased sensitivity to both mechanical and thermal noxious stimuli compared to the WT mice, while the antinociceptive effects of morphine at three different doses (6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg, s.c.) were similar in both strains. The development of tolerance to morphine antinociception after chronic morphine treatment (12.5 mg/kg, s.c.; twice daily × 5 days) was attenuated in NPFFR2 Tg mice when compared to WT mice. Similarly, WT mice receiving AC‐263093 pretreatment (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) showed attenuated morphine tolerance compared to vehicle controls. Most naloxone‐precipitated morphine withdrawal symptoms were not attenuated in NPFFR2 Tg mice, with the exception of wet dog shake that was significantly reduced. Both NPFFR2 Tg and WT mice displayed similar degree of morphine rewarding.ConclusionsOur results suggest that neuropeptide FF R2 is mainly involved in the modulation of nociception and tolerance to morphine antinociception.
Electrochemical Magnetoimmunosensor for Progesterone Receptor Determination. Application to the Simultaneous Detection of Estrogen and Progesterone Breast‐cancer Related Receptors in Raw Cell Lysates.
Authors: Eletxigerra U. , Martinez‐Perdiguero J. , Merino S. , Barderas R. , Ruiz‐Valdepeñas Montiel V. , Villalonga R. , Pingarrón J. M. , Campuzano S. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAn electrochemical magnetoimmunosensor for the determination of progesterone receptor (PR) making use of functionalized magnetic microbeads (MBs), a sandwich‐type immunoassay and amperometric detection at disposable screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) was described for the first time in this work. This selective and sensitive magnetoimmunosensor, with a detection limit of 22 pg mL−1, was successfully applied to the determination of PR in raw cell lysates with just a dilution as sample treatment and exhibiting no matrix effect. The advantageous performance in terms of simplicity and assay time over commercial ELISAs makes it competitive with conventional strategies providing rapidly quantitative and reliable results on this biomarker currently used in the clinical practice for diagnosis, follow‐up and monitoring of metastatic breast cancer. In addition, a dual magnetoimmunosensor using screen‐printed dual carbon electrode (SPdCE) has been implemented for the simultaneous determination of PR and estrogen receptor α (ERα) in cell lysates. This dual receptor determination allows a more accurate diagnosis enabling a more efficient treatment. The usefulness of this dual magnetoimmunosensing platform was demonstrated by discriminating raw lysates of two types of cancer cells (MCF‐7 and MDA‐MB‐436) with significantly different PR/ERα expression levels.
Improved specificity of hippocampal memory trace labeling
Authors: Cazzulino Alejandro S. , Martinez Randy , Tomm Nicole K. , Denny Christine A. 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTRecent studies have focused on the identification and manipulation of memory traces in rodent models. The two main mouse models utilized are either a CreERT2/loxP tamoxifen (TAM)‐ or a tetracycline transactivator/tetracycline‐response element doxycycline‐inducible system. These systems, however, could be improved to label a more specific population of activated neurons corresponding to behavior. Here, we sought to identify an improved selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator (SERM) in which we could label an individual memory trace in ArcCreERT2 mice. We found that 4‐hydroxytamoxifen (4‐OHT) is a selective SERM in the ArcCreERT2 × Rosa26‐CAG‐stopflox‐channelrhodospin (ChR2)‐enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) mice. The half‐life of 4‐OHT is shorter than TAM, allowing for more specificity of memory trace labeling. Furthermore, 4‐OHT allowed for context‐specific labeling in the dentate gyrus and CA3. In summary, we believe that 4‐OHT improves the specificity of memory trace labeling and will allow for refined memory trace studies in the future. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simulated water budget of a small forested watershed in the continental/maritime hydroclimatic region of the United States
Authors: Wei Liang , Link Timothy E. , Hudak Andrew T. , Marshall John D. , Kavanagh Kathleen L. , Abatzoglou John T. , Zhou Hang , Pangle Robert E. , Flerchinger Gerald N. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAnnual streamflows have decreased across mountain watersheds in the Pacific Northwest of the United States over the last ~70 years; however, in some watersheds, observed annual flows have increased. Physically based models are useful tools to reveal the combined effects of climate and vegetation on long‐term water balances by explicitly simulating the internal watershed hydrological fluxes that affect discharge. We used the physically based Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model to simulate the inter‐annual hydrological dynamics of a 4 km2 watershed in northern Idaho. The model simulates seasonal and annual water balance components including evaporation, transpiration, storage changes, deep drainage, and trends in streamflow. Independent measurements were used to parameterize the model, including forest transpiration, stomatal feedback to vapour pressure, forest properties (height, leaf area index, and biomass), soil properties, soil moisture, snow depth, and snow water equivalent. No calibrations were applied to fit the simulated streamflow to observations. The model reasonably simulated the annual runoff variations during the evaluation period from water year 2004 to 2009, which verified the ability of SHAW to simulate the water budget in this small watershed. The simulations indicated that inter‐annual variations in streamflow were driven by variations in precipitation and soil water storage. One key parameterization issue was leaf area index, which strongly influenced interception across the catchment. This approach appears promising to help elucidate the mechanisms responsible for hydrological trends and variations resulting from climate and vegetation changes on small watersheds in the region. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electrospun gelatin biopapers as substrate forin vitrobilayer models of blood−brain barrier tissue
Authors: Bischel Lauren L. , Coneski Peter N. , Lundin Jeffrey G. , Wu Peter K. , Giller Carl B. , Wynne James , Ringeisen Brad R. , Pirlo Russell K. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractGaining a greater understanding of the blood‐brain barrier (BBB) is critical for improvement in drug delivery, understanding pathologies that compromise the BBB, and developing therapies to protect the BBB.In vitrohuman tissue models are valuable tools for studying these issues. The standardin vitroBBB models use commercially available cell culture inserts to generate bilayer co‐cultures of astrocytes and endothelial cells (EC). Electrospinning can be used to produce customized cell culture substrates with optimized material composition and mechanical properties with advantages over off‐the‐shelf materials. Electrospun gelatin is an ideal cell culture substrate because it is a natural polymer that can aid cell attachment and be modified and degraded by cells. Here, we have developed a method to produce cell culture inserts with electrospun gelatin “biopaper” membranes. The electrospun fiber diameter and cross‐linking method were optimized for the growth of primary human endothelial cell and primary human astrocyte bilayer co‐cultures to model human BBB tissue. BBB co‐cultures on biopaper were characterized via cell morphology, trans‐endothelial electrical resistance (TEER), and permeability to FITC‐labeled dextran and compared to BBB co‐cultures on standard cell culture inserts. Over longer culture periods (up to 21 days), cultures on the optimized electrospun gelatin biopapers were found to have improved TEER, decreased permeability, and permitted a smaller separation between co‐cultured cells when compared to standard PET inserts. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 901–909, 2016.
1H‐NMR relaxometric studies of interaction between apoptosis specific MRI paramagnetic contrast agents and micellar models of apoptotic cells
Authors: Van Koninckxloo Aurore , Henoumont Céline , Laurent Sophie , Muller Robert N. , Vander Elst Luce 
Published: December 2015

Abstract1H‐NMR was previously used to analyze the interaction between peptides (E3 and R826) selected by phage display to target apoptotic cells and phospholipidic models of these cells. In order to avoid the use of apoptotic cells and to obtain a fast evaluation of the efficiency of the potential MRI contrast agents obtained by grafting these peptides and their scramble analogs on a paramagnetic gadolinium complex, their proton relaxometric behavior was investigated in the presence of micelles mimicking healthy and apoptotic cells. Their preferential interaction with 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phospho‐l‐serine micelles mimicking apoptotic cells as compared with 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine micelles modeling healthy cells was shown by nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion profiles and the enhancement of the transverse proton relaxation rates at 60 MHz. The association constant values confirm the stronger interaction of the selected conjugated peptides (Ka Gd‐PMN‐E3(gadolinium 2,2′,2′′,2′′′‐[((4‐carboxy)pyridine‐2,6‐diyl)bis(methylenenitrilo)]‐tetrakis acetate) grafted with E3 peptide): 2.43 104 m−1; Ka Gd‐DTPA‐R826(gadolinium ((1‐p‐isothiocyanatobenzyl)‐diethylenetriaminepentaacetate) grafted with R826 peptide): 2.91 104 m−1) as compared with their conjugated scrambles (Ka Gd‐PMN‐E3sc(gadolinium 2,2′,2′′,2′′′‐[((4‐carboxy)pyridine‐2,6‐diyl)bis(methylenenitrilo)]‐tetrakis acetate) grafted with E3 scramble peptide): 0.18 104 m−1; Ka Gd‐DTPA‐R826sc(gadolinium ((1‐p‐isothiocyanatobenzyl)‐diethylenetriaminepentaacetate) grafted with R826 scramble peptide): 0.32 104 m−1) even if the conjugation of E3 and R826 seems to decrease their interaction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Validation of the 15‐item myasthenia gravis quality of life questionnaire (MG‐QOL15) Persian version
Authors: Ostovan Vahid Reza , Fatehi Farzad , Davoudi Farnoush , Nafissi Shahriar 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTIntroductionThe 15‐item Myasthenia Gravis Quality Of Life (MG‐QOL15) questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluation of myasthenia gravis (MG) associated disability. Our study aim was to assess its validity and reliability in the Iranian population.MethodsWe enrolled 75 consecutive patients with established MG at 2 neuromuscular clinics in Tehran, Iran. All 75 patients completed the Persian MG‐QOL15 and SF‐36 questionnaire initially, and 30 filled out the MG‐QOL15 questionnaire from 2 to 4 weeks after the initial visit. Concurrent and construct validity, internal consistency, and test–retest repeatability of the questionnaire were evaluated.ResultsThe Persian MG‐QOL15 showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach alpha = 0.94) and test–retest reliability(r = 0.98; P < 0.001). It also demonstrated adequate concurrent and construct validity; moreover, the MG‐QOL15 scores were higher in patients with more severe conditions.ConclusionsThe Persian MG‐QOL15 is a valid and reliable questionnaire for determination of quality of life in Iranian MG patients. Muscle Nerve 54: 65–70, 2016
Prognosis of severe carpal tunnel syndrome with absent compound muscle action potential
Authors: Kamiya Hisao , Kimura Michio , Hoshino Satoshi , Kobayashi Masahito , Sonoo Masahiro 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTIntroductionOpponensplasty is a surgical option for patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We investigated prognostic factors of patients who lack a preoperative compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle to determine the necessity for single‐stage opponensplasty.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 22 hands of 22 CTS patients. Prognostic factors considered were age, diabetes mellitus, the median sensory nerve action potential, distal motor latency of the second lumbrical (2L) CMAP (2L‐DML), and its amplitude (2L‐Amp). Postoperative APB‐CMAP amplitude (post APB‐Amp) at 12 months was used as the outcome measure.ResultsOnly 2L‐DML showed a significant correlation with post APB‐Amp (r = ‐0.56). The contribution of 2L‐Amp was not significant, although 3 hands with absent 2L‐CMAP had a poor electrophysiological recovery.ConclusionsProlonged 2L‐DML and absent 2L‐CMAP seem to be poor prognostic factors. Concurrent opponensplasty may not be necessary in patients with 2L‐DML of 8 ms or less. Muscle Nerve 54: 427–431, 2016
Neuralgic amyotrophy: An update on diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment
Authors: Van Eijk Jeroen J.J. , Groothuis Jan T. , Van Alfen Nens 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTIn this review we provide a current overview of the clinical features, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in neuralgic amyotrophy (NA). The disorder has several phenotypic variations, with a classic form in 70% of the patients. It is not rare, with an incidence of 1 per 1,000 individuals, but it is still often missed. Recurrences are common, yet the proposed multifactorial etiology, which includes genetic, biomechanical, and immunologic factors, limits our capacity to predict or prevent them. NA is a clinical diagnosis, and ancillary studies serve to exclude infectious or malignant causes or to assess a differential diagnosis. If patients are seen early and are still in pain, a short trial of high‐dose oral corticosteroids is advised, and adequate analgesia may require opioids and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. Persistent complaints are common, and a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach focusing on scapular coordination, energy distribution strategies, and self‐management is indicated. Muscle Nerve 53: 337–350, 2016
A micro‐mechanical study of peak strength and critical state
Authors: Jerves Alex X. , Andrade José E. 
Published: December 2015

SummaryWe present a micro‐mechanical analysis of macroscopic peak strength, critical state, and residual strength in two‐dimensional non‐cohesive granular media. Typical continuum constitutive quantities such as frictional strength and dilation angle are explicitly related to their corresponding grain‐scale counterparts (e.g., inter‐particle contact forces, fabric, particle displacements, and velocities), providing an across‐the‐scale basis for a better understanding and modeling of granular materials. These multi‐scale relations are derived in three steps. First, explicit relations between macroscopic stress and strain rate with the corresponding grain‐scale mechanics are established. Second, these relations are used in conjunction with the non‐associative Mohr–Coulomb criterion to explicitly connect internal friction and dilation angles to the micro‐mechanics. Third, the mentioned explicit connections are applied to investigate, understand, and derive micro‐mechanical conditions for peak strength, critical state, and residual strength. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modeling the 2D behavior of dry‐stone retaining walls by a fully discrete element method
Authors: Oetomo James J. , Vincens Eric , Dedecker Fabian , Morel Jean‐Claude 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThe dry‐stone retaining walls (DSRW) have been tipped as a promising solution for sustainable development. However, before recently, their behavior is relatively obscure. In this study, discrete element method (DEM) approach was applied to simulate the plane strain failure of these walls. A commercial DEM package (PFC2D™) was used throughout this study. The authors used a fully discrete approach; thus, both the wall and the backfill were modeled as discrete elements. The methodology for obtaining the micromechanical parameters was discussed in detail; this includes the three mechanical sub‐systems of DSRWs: wall, backfill and interface. The models were loaded progressively until failure, and then the results were compared with the full‐scale experimental results where the walls were loaded, respectively, with hydrostatic load and backfill. Despite its complexity and its intensive calculation time, DEM model can then be used to validate a more simplified approach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.