bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thalamic involvement in patients with neurologic impairment due to Shiga toxin 2
Authors: Meuth Sven G. , Göbel Kerstin , Kanyshkova Tatyana , Ehling Petra , Ritter Martin A. , Schwindt Wolfram , Bielaszewska Martina , Lebiedz Pia , Coulon Philippe , Herrmann Alexander M. , Storck Wiebke , Kohmann Denise , Müthing Johannes , Pavenstädt Hermann , Kuhlmann Tanja , Karch Helge , Peters Georg , Budde Thomas , Wiendl Heinz , Pape Hans‐Christian 
Published: November 2012

ObjectiveThe outbreak of hemolytic–uremic syndrome and diarrhea caused by Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli O104:H4 in Germany during May to July 2011 involved severe and characteristic neurologic manifestations with a strong female preponderance. Owing to these observations, we designed a series of experimental studies to evaluate the underlying mechanism of action of this clinical picture.MethodsA magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalographic study of patients was performed to evaluate the clinical picture in detail. Thereafter, combinations of different experimental settings, including electrophysiological and histological analyses, as well as calcium imaging in brain slices of rats, were conducted.ResultsWe report on 7 female patients with neurologic symptoms and signs including bilateral thalamic lesions and encephalopathic changes indicative of a predominant involvement of the thalamus. Experimental studies in rats revealed an enhanced expression of the Shiga toxin receptor globotriaosylceramide on thalamic neurons in female rats as compared to other brain regions in the same rats and to male animals. Incubation of brain slices with Shiga toxin 2 evoked a strong membrane depolarization and intracellular calcium accumulation in neurons, associated with neuronal apoptosis, predominantly in the thalamic area.InterpretationThese findings suggest that the direct cytotoxic effect of Shiga toxin 2 in the thalamus might contribute to the pathophysiology of neuronal complications in hemolytic–uremic syndrome. ANN NEUROL 2013;73:419–429
Mild method for the agglomeration of dispersed polycaprolactone microspheres via a genipin‐crosslinked gelatin hydrogel
Authors: Zhang Qingchun , Zhang Yan , Lang Meidong 
Published: November 2012

AbstractMicrosphere systems have been used to deliver drugs, proteins, and cells. However, dispersed microspheres can induce harmful effects after they are introduced into the body. To agglomerate these dispersed microspheres, an in situ forming system was developed to fabricate microsphere/hydrogel composites. Polycaprolactone microspheres with a porous surface and hollow core were physically incorporated into a genipin‐crosslinked gelatin hydrogel. The incorporation of microspheres reduced the swelling capacities and weakened the unexpected volume expansion, which is not favorable for in vivo implants. Additionally, the reacted genipin ratio increased with increasing gelatin concentration. The degradation of the composite was also determined, and it was proposed that the degradation mechanism of the composite was bulk collapse, whereas that for the pure hydrogel was surface erosion. The obtained microsphere/hydrogel composite might have a great potential application as an injectable system for tissue regeneration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Ethanol‐assisted dispersion of attapulgite and its effect on improving properties of alginate‐based superabsorbent nanocomposite
Authors: Wang Yizhe , Shi Xiaoning , Wang Wenbo , Wang Aiqin 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe dispersion of attapulgite (APT) as nanorod‐like single crystals is crucial to fully develop its functionality of one‐dimensional nanometer material as a filler of composite materials. In this study, APT was dispersed by the assistance of ethanol during the high‐pressure homogenization process to form individual nanorod‐like crystals. The dispersed APT was used to prepare new sodium alginate‐g‐poly(sodium acrylate‐co‐styrene)/attapulgite (NaAlg‐g‐P(NaA‐co‐St)/APT) superabsorbent nanocomposites. The effect of ethanol/water ratio on the dispersion of crystal bundles of APT was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, and the results indicate that APT crystal bundles were effectively disaggregated in ν(CH3CH2OH) : ν(H2O) − 5 : 5 solution after homogenized at 50 MPa. The better dispersion of APT in NaAlg‐g‐P(NaA‐co‐St) matrix has clearly improved the gel strength (from 1300 Pa to 1410 Pa, ω = 100 rad/s), swelling capacity (442–521 g/g), swelling rate (3.3303–4.5736 g/g/s), and reswelling ability of the superabsorbent nanocomposite. Moreover, the nanocomposites showed fast swelling–deswelling responsive behavior in different saline solutions. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
POSS/gelatin‐polyglutamic acid hydrogel composites: Preparation, biological and mechanical characterization
Authors: Renò Filippo , Carniato Fabio , Rizzi Manuela , Marchese Leonardo , Laus Michele , Antonioli Diego 
Published: November 2012

AbstractNovel hydrogel composites based on natural gelatin matrix and containing different loading of a water soluble octa‐ammonium POSS (POSS‐NH3+), (from 0.5 to 2 wt%) have been prepared in this work and their biocompatibility and mechanical behavior have been tested. The presence of 1 wt% of POSS‐NH3+ molecules in the hydrogel matrix increased the amount of human plasma proteins adsorption and human keratinocyte adhesion at 24 hours. In addition, the presence of increasing amounts of POSS in the hydrogel matrix allowed to a significantly increase of the matrix swelling degree at acid and neutral pH. Finally, a significant modulation of the mechanical characteristics (Young modulus, strain at break) of the hydrogel matrix induced by the presence of different amounts of POSS‐NH3+ was observed. The novel ability of POSS‐NH3+ to modulate both biological and mechanical properties of a natural hydrogel could be useful for the production of new composites of interest for soft tissue engineering. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Vasoactive exposures during pregnancy and risk of microtia
Authors: Van Bennekom Carla M. , Mitchell Allen A. , Moore Cynthia A. , Werler Martha M. ,   and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Published: November 2012

AbstractBACKGROUNDLittle is known about the etiology of nonsyndromic microtia. This study investigated the hypothesis that microtia is caused by vascular disruption.METHODSThe study analyzed data from the population‐based National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) for deliveries between 1997 and 2005. Four hundred eleven nonsyndromic cases of microtia, with or without additional defects, were compared to 6560 nonmalformed infants with respect to maternal exposures to vasoactive medications and smoking during the periconceptional period and conditions that have previously been associated with vascular events (multiple gestation, maternal history of type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes, and hypertension). Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated with multivariable models, controlling for the effects of race/ethnicity, education, periconceptional folic acid use, and study center.RESULTSRisk estimates for vasoactive medications and smoking were not meaningfully increased. Maternal type 1/2 diabetes was diagnosed before or during the index pregnancy in 4% and 1% of cases, respectively, compared to 1% and 0.05% of controls; the adjusted OR for these two groups combined was 7.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9–13.1). Gestational diabetes was observed for 9% of cases and 6% of controls; the OR was moderately elevated (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.9–2.0). ORs were also increased for multiple gestations (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5–4.2) and pre‐existing hypertension (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0–2.5).CONCLUSIONSBecause ORs were only elevated for diabetes and not for vasoactive exposures or other potential vascular events, findings suggest that some microtia occurrences may be part of the diabetic embryopathy rather than manifestations of vascular disruption. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Systems biology of pathogen‐host interaction: Networks of protein‐protein interaction within pathogens and pathogen‐human interactions in the post‐genomic era
Authors: Durmuş Tekir Saliha D. , Ülgen Kutlu Ö. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractInfectious diseases comprise some of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Interactions between pathogen and host proteins underlie the process of infection. Improved understanding of pathogen‐host molecular interactions will increase our knowledge of the mechanisms involved in infection, and allow novel therapeutic solutions to be devised. Complete genome sequences for a number of pathogenic microorganisms, as well as the human host, has led to the revelation of their protein‐protein interaction (PPI) networks. In this post‐genomic era, pathogen‐host interactions (PHIs) operating during infection can also be mapped. Detailed systematic analyses of PPI and PHI data together are required for a complete understanding of pathogenesis of infections. Here we review the striking results recently obtained during the construction and investigation of these networks. Emphasis is placed on studies producing large‐scale interaction data by high‐throughput experimental techniques.
Continuous SSCF of AFEX™ pretreated corn stover for enhanced ethanol productivity using commercial enzymes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 424A (LNH‐ST)
Authors: Jin Mingjie , Gunawan Christa , Balan Venkatesh , Yu Xiurong , Dale Bruce E. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractHigh productivity processes are critical for commercial production of cellulosic ethanol. One high productivity process—continuous hydrolysis and fermentation—has been applied in corn ethanol industry. However, little research related to this process has been conducted on cellulosic ethanol production. Here, we report and compare the kinetics of both batch SHF (separate hydrolysis and co‐fermentation) and SSCF (simultaneous saccharification and co‐fermentation) of AFEX™ (Ammonia Fiber Expansion) pretreated corn stover (AFEX™‐CS). Subsequently, we designed a SSCF process to evaluate continuous hydrolysis and fermentation performance on AFEX™‐CS in a series of continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). Based on similar sugar to ethanol conversions (around 80% glucose‐to‐ethanol conversion and 47% xylose‐to‐ethanol conversion), the overall process ethanol productivity for continuous SSCF was 2.3‐ and 1.8‐fold higher than batch SHF and SSCF, respectively. Slow xylose fermentation and high concentrations of xylose oligomers were the major factors limiting further enhancement of productivity. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1302–1311. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Rethinking Concepts in Participatory Action Research and Their Potential for Social Transformation: Post‐structuralist Informed Methodological Reflections from LGBT and Trans‐Collective Projects
Authors: Johnson Katherine , Martínez Guzmán Antar 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTParticipatory Action Research (PAR) aims to articulate knowledge production and transformative action. In this paper, we outline the sociopolitical background to our interest in LGBT and trans‐collectives as an important territory where PAR might make some intervention in the social conditions of LGBT lives by transforming dominant forms of representation that have emerged from a history of psychological and medical pathology. We present two projects, from UK and Spain that utilize post‐structuralist informed methods (interviews, photo‐production, discourse analysis, narrative production) within a PAR framework. We examine their potential for problematising representations of sexuality and gender by reflecting on the knowledge produced and the transformative action they provoke. We rethink power relationships inherent in PAR concepts of ‘participation’ and ‘empowerment’ through a post‐structuralist lens and argue that the achievements of PAR projects can be better understood as ‘co‐produced artifacts’. These (e.g. photo‐exhibition) are co‐owned by community members and researchers and their deployment in different settings (e.g. community or university) impacts on the meanings they convey and the action they provoke. Finally, we argue that through the use of post‐structuralist methods PAR can enable effective transformative action, but caution against the practice of reinstating normative representations in the invitation to participate under specific identity categories (e.g. LGBT, Trans, mental health service user). PAR projects can do this by considering naturalized definitions of who is vulnerable or marginalized as the object and field of social transformation, and the starting point for collective and political action. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Testing the Cambridge Quality Checklists on a review of disrupted families and crime
Authors: Jolliffe Darrick , Murray Joseph , Farrington David , Vannick Claire 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTBackgroundSystematic reviews of the relationship between non‐manipulated factors (e.g. low empathy) and offending are becoming more common, and it is important to consider the methodological quality of studies included in such reviews.AimsTo assess aspects of the reliability and validity of the Cambridge Quality Checklists, a set of three measures for examining the methodological quality of studies included in systematic reviews of risk factors for offending.MethodsAll 60 studies in a systematic review of disrupted families and offending were coded on the CQC and codes compared with the effect sizes derived from the studies.ResultsOverall, the CQC was easy to score, and the relevant information was available in most studies. The scales had high inter‐rater reliability. Only 13 studies scored high on the Checklist of Correlates, 18 scored highly on the Checklist of Risk Factors and none scored highly on the Checklist of Causal Risk Factors. Generally, studies that were of lower quality had higher effect sizes.ConclusionsThe CQC could be a useful method of assessing the methodological quality of studies of risk factors for offending but might benefit from additional conceptual work, changes to the wording of some scales and additional levels for scoring. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Offender patients' opinions on placement in a forensic hospital
Authors: Margetić Branimir , Ivanec Dragutin , Žarković Palijan Tija , Kovačević Dražen 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTBackgroundPeople who become patients in secure hospitals may not understand their situation and have different opinions about the nature of institutionalisation from each other and from staff and the authorities. More knowledge of patient perspectives could improve treatment outcomes.AimsOur aim was to evaluate patients' beliefs about whether placement in an institution should be mainly punitive, therapeutic or a mixture of both and whether offence type should have any influence on the nature of the institutionalisation.MethodsInpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, from the Department of Forensic Psychiatry in Popovača, Croatia, were asked to report their personal opinions about appropriateness of placements according to three case vignettes related to psychotically motivated offences of (1) homicide; (2) property damage; and (3) arson.ResultsA total of 52 patients were eligible for participation and consenting. Their average age was 44 (±9.56) years and the mean duration of treatment in the specialist hospital was 7.7 (±5.59) years; just over a third of them (20 patients) had committed or attempted homicide. They were more likely than not to favour at least 5 years of detention in a secure hospital for a person with psychosis who had killed another, regardless of mental state, but that for minor property damage, improvement in mental state should be the key determinant of discharge. They were more equivocal about arsonists.ConclusionsPerceptions of male offenders with psychosis on determinants of length of stay in a secure hospital appear to have much in common with what one would expect in the wider community. The fact that in spite of generally having poor insight into their own situation, these men could make judgments about fictitious but similar patients that appeared so unremarkable raised the possibility of building on this vignette study towards an educationally therapeutic module in preparation for rehabilitation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Concurrent antegrade transseptal inoue‐balloon mitral and aortic valvuloplasty
Authors: Abdou Sayed M. , Chen Yung‐Lung , Wu Chiung‐Jen , Lau Kean‐Wah , Hung Jui‐Sung 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundThe Inoue balloon has been in use for many years for mitral valvuloplasty. Aortic valvuloplasty using the Inoue balloon via transseptal approach was developed in the hope of providing better results with less potential vascular access complications.Methods and ResultsIn this study, we present our experience in percutaneous valvuloplasty using the Inoue balloon in 14 patients with combined rheumatic mitral and aortic stenosis (AS) in a single stage procedure via antegrade transseptal approach. The study group was characterized by relatively young age (mean 37.5 ± 9.6 years). Aortic followed by mitral valvuloplasty via antegrade approach resulted in a fall of transaortic peak pressure gradient (PG) from 59.1 ± 11.2 mm Hg to 25.3 ± 12.5 mm Hg (P = 0.012) and mean from 49.0 ± 10.9 mm Hg to 16.6 ± 9.8 mm Hg (P = 0.043). Aortic valve areas increased significantly from 0.70 ± 0.25 cm2 to 1.41 ± 0.48 cm2 (P = 0.042). Mean transmitral PG decreased from 14.9 ± 2.1 mm Hg to 5.3 ± 1.5 with increase of mitral valve areas from 1.08 ± 0.45 to 1.92 ± 0.51 cm2. The procedures were well tolerated without development of significant valvular regurgitation or thromboembolism. During follow‐up, 2 patients died due to lung cancer and sudden death at months 48 and 100. Five patients received delayed surgery after mean duration of 73.4 ± 39.7 months.ConclusionsConcurrent antegrade, transseptal Inoue‐balloon aortic and mitral valvuloplasty, is feasible and safe, and provides excellent immediate results as one‐stage procedure. The study results also suggest that balloon aortic valvuloplasty can be more durable in younger patients with rheumatic AS than in elderly patients with degenerative, AS. However, the modified aortic valvuloplasty technique can be utilized only as bridging procedure to aortic valve replacement or recently developed transcatheter aortic‐valve implantation in unstable hemodynamic status, and as a palliative procedure before noncardiac surgery. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chiral Triazolium Salts and Ionic Liquids: From the Molecular Design Vectors to Their Physical Properties through Specific Supramolecular Interactions
Authors: Porcar Raul , Ríos‐Lombardía Nicolás , Busto Eduardo , Gotor‐Fernández Vicente , Montejo‐Bernardo Jose , García‐Granda Santiago , Luis Santiago V. , Gotor Vicente , Alfonso Ignacio , García‐Verdugo Eduardo 
Published: November 2012

AbstractAn exhaustive experimental study based on X‐ray diffraction analysis, NMR, FTIR‐ATR (attenuated total reflection), and Raman spectroscopy as well as theoretical calculations is reported in order to understand how the non‐covalent intermolecular contacts are fundamental to explain structure–property relationships and allowing us to correlate a basic macroscopic property (i.e., the melting point, Tm) with the structural variables of a family of enantiopure 1,4‐dialkyl‐1,2,4‐triazolium salts. The effect of different structural vectors such as the ring size, the spatial disposition of the substituent, the substitution on the oxygen atom, the nature of the anion, or the N4 alkylation of the triazole on the intermolecular interactions of these chiral salts of a well‐defined 3D structure is reported. The non‐covalent intermolecular contacts mainly implicating the triazolium H3 proton are fundamental to explain structure–property relationships and, therefore, the physical properties of these new chiral salts, rather than simple anion–cation interactions. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of the specific supramolecular interactions for the understanding of the physical properties of triazolium salts and ionic liquids.
Alkaline Earth Metal Ion Induced Coil–Helix–Coil Transition of Lysine–Coumarin–Azacrown Hybrid Foldamers with OFF–OFF–ON Fluorescence Switching
Authors: Lin Yu‐Chen , Chen Chao‐Tsen 
Published: November 2012

AbstractA new metal‐ion‐responsive and fluorescent foldamer, OPLM8, composed of eight lysine–coumarin–azacrown units, has been designed and synthesized. The flexible OPLM8 can be forced into a well‐defined helix structure only upon the addition of alkaline earth metal ions. The structural change is based on the crown ether moieties being positioned in the requisite arrangement along the peptide chain, that is, at i, i+4 spacing, such that the alkaline earth metal ions can mediate the formation of four sandwich complexes between them. Moreover, varying the chelator‐to‐metal‐ion ratio from 2:1 to 1:1 resulted in disassembly of the sandwich complexes leading to collapse of the helical structure to a random coil. These metal‐ion‐induced structural transitions could not only be monitored by the CD amplitude change but also easily probed by unique “OFF–OFF–ON” fluorescence intensity changes from 0.7‐fold to 14‐fold as the structure changed from the folded helix to a random coil. To further verify that the helix formation was indeed induced by metal‐ion complexation, two kinds of control octamers with only four metal‐ion chelators on the side chains were studied. One, which was capable of forming two sandwich complexes between the i and i+4 residues, displayed a negative Cotton couplet with the magnitude of its A value close to half that of OPLM8, and the second had four metal‐ion chelators positioned in the same turn, and hence was incapable of forming intramolecular metal complexes and showed different induced CD signals. Collectively, the photospectroscopic data and the results of the control studies suggest that alkaline earth metal ions can efficiently promote the flexible octamer OPLM8 into a well‐organized helix by the formation of sandwich complexes between substituents at an i, i+4 spacing.
ChemInform Abstract: Sr2Mn3Sb2O2 Type Oxyselenides: Structures, Magnetism, and Electronic Properties of Sr2AO2M2Se2 (A: Co, Mn; M: Cu, Ag).
Authors: Jin Shifeng , Chen Xiaolong , Guo Jiangang , Lei Ming , Lin Jingjing , Xi Jianguo , Wang Wenjun , Wang Wanyan 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe four new Sr2Mn3Sb2O2‐type title compounds are synthesized from stoichiometric mixtures of SrO, A, M (A: Co, Mn; M: Cu, Ag), and Se (alumina crucible, 900—1000 °C, 24—72 h).
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of New Photocatalyst CdBiYO4.
Authors: Du Huiyang , Luan Jingfei 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe title compound is synthesized by solid state reaction of a stoichiometric mixture of CdO, Bi2O3, and Y2O3 (alumina crucible, 900 °C, 36 h) and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV/VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.
ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis, Structure, and Physical Properties of Ln(Cu,Al,Ga)13‐x (Ln: La—Pr, and Eu) and Eu(Cu,Al)13‐x.
Authors: Chan Julia Y. , et al. et al. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractSingle crystals of Ln(Cu,Al,Ga)13‐x (Ln: La—Pr, and Eu) are synthesized from the elements using Al/Ga as a flux (alumina crucible, 1100 °C, 10 h).
ChemInform Abstract: A Thermal Dehydrogenative Diels—Alder Reaction of Styrenes for the Concise Synthesis of Functionalized Naphthalenes.
Authors: Kocsis Laura S. , Benedetti Erica , Brummond Kay M. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractUnder microwave irradiation, a range of alkenynylbenzenes undergo an intramolecular cyclization reaction to give cyclopenta‐fused naphthalenes.