bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Targeted nanoparticles in mitochondrial medicine
Authors: Pathak Rakesh K. , Kolishetti Nagesh , Dhar Shanta 
Published: October 2014

Mitochondria, the so‐called ‘energy factory of cells’ not only produce energy but also contribute immensely in cellular mortality management. Mitochondrial dysfunctions result in various diseases including but not limited to cancer, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. In the recent years, targeting mitochondria emerged as an attractive strategy to control mitochondrial dysfunction‐related diseases. Despite the desire to direct therapeutics to the mitochondria, the actual task is more difficult due to the highly complex nature of the mitochondria. The potential benefits of integrating nanomaterials with properties such as biodegradability, magnetization, and fluorescence into a single object of nanoscale dimensions can lead to the development of hybrid nanomedical platforms for targeting therapeutics to the mitochondria. Only a handful of nanoparticles based on metal oxides, gold nanoparticles, dendrons, carbon nanotubes, and liposomes were recently engineered to target mitochondria. Most of these materials face tremendous challenges when administered in vivo due to their limited biocompatibility. Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles emerged as eminent candidates for effective drug delivery. In this review, we highlight the current advancements in the development of biodegradable nanoparticle platforms as effective targeting tools for mitochondrial medicine. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2015, 7:315–329. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1305This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Rational protein design: developing next‐generation biological therapeutics and nanobiotechnological tools
Authors: Wilson Corey J. 
Published: October 2014

Proteins are the most functionally diverse macromolecules observed in nature, participating in a broad array of catalytic, biosensing, transport, scaffolding, and regulatory functions. Fittingly, proteins have become one of the most promising nanobiotechnological tools to date, and through the use of recombinant DNA and other laboratory methods we have produced a vast number of biological therapeutics derived from human genes. Our emerging ability to rationally design proteins (e.g., via computational methods) holds the promise of significantly expanding the number and diversity of protein therapies and has opened the gateway to realizing true and uncompromised personalized medicine. In the last decade computational protein design has been transformed from a set of fundamental strategies to stringently test our understanding of the protein structure–function relationship, to practical tools for developing useful biological processes, nano‐devices, and novel therapeutics. As protein design strategies improve (i.e., in terms of accuracy and efficiency) clinicians will be able to leverage individual genetic data and biological metrics to develop and deliver personalized protein therapeutics with minimal delay. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2015, 7:330–341. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1310This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
Estimating ages of white‐tailed deer: Age and sex patterns of error using tooth wear‐and‐replacement and consistency of cementum annuli
Authors: Storm Daniel J. , Samuel Michael D. , Rolley Robert E. , Beissel Thomas , Richards Bryan J. , Van Deelen Timothy R. 
Published: October 2014

ABSTRACTThe age structure of harvested animals provides the basis for many demographic analyses. Ages of harvested white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and other ungulates often are estimated by evaluating replacement and wear patterns of teeth, which is subjective and error‐prone. Few previous studies however, examined age‐ and sex‐specific error rates. Counting cementum annuli of incisors is an alternative, more accurate method of estimating age, but factors that influence consistency of cementum annuli counts are poorly known. We estimated age of 1,261 adult (≥1.5 yr old) white‐tailed deer harvested in Wisconsin and Illinois (USA; 2005–2008) using both wear‐and‐replacement and cementum annuli. We compared cementum annuli with wear‐and‐replacement estimates to assess misclassification rates by sex and age. Wear‐and‐replacement for estimating ages of white‐tailed deer resulted in substantial misclassification compared with cementum annuli. Age classes of females were consistently underestimated, while those of males were underestimated for younger age classes but overestimated for older age classes. Misclassification resulted in an impression of a younger age‐structure than actually was the case. Additionally, we obtained paired age‐estimates from cementum annuli for 295 deer. Consistency of paired cementum annuli age‐estimates decreased with age, was lower in females than males, and decreased as age estimates became less certain. Our results indicated that errors in the wear‐and‐replacement techniques are substantial and could impact demographic analyses that use age‐structure information. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Salivary cortisol response to infant distress in pregnant women with depressive symptoms
Authors: Murphy Susannah E. , Braithwaite Elizabeth C. , Hubbard Isabelle , Williams Kate V. , Tindall Elizabeth , Holmes Emily A. , Ramchandani Paul G. 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis has been proposed as a potential underlying biological mechanism linking prenatal depression with adverse offspring outcomes. However, it is unknown whether the reactivity of this system to stress is altered in pregnant women experiencing depression. The objective of this study was to investigate whether salivary cortisol response to a distressed infant film is enhanced in pregnant women with symptoms of depression compared with non-depressed controls. Salivary cortisol and subjective mood responses to the film were measured in 53 primiparous women, between 11 and 18 weeks gestation. Both groups showed similar increases in state anxiety in response to the film, but there was a significantly increased cortisol response in women experiencing symptoms of depression. Depression during pregnancy is associated with increased reactivity of the HPA axis. This is consistent with altered HPA axis functioning being a key mechanism by which prenatal mood disturbance can impact upon fetal development.
Ethical Considerations in Biobanks: How a Public Health Ethics Perspective Sheds New Light on Old Controversies
Authors: Virani Alice Hawkins , Longstaff Holly 
Published: October 2014

AbstractBiobanks, collections of biospecimens with or without linked medical data, have increased dramatically in number in the last two decades. Their potential power to identify the underlying mechanisms of both rare and common disease has catalyzed their proliferation in the academic, medical, and private sectors. Despite demonstrated public support of biobanks, some within the academic, governmental, and public realms have also expressed cautions associated with the ethical, legal, and social (ELSI) implications of biobanks. These issues include concerns related to the privacy and confidentiality of data; return of results and incidental findings to participants; data sharing and secondary use of samples; informed consent mechanisms; ownership of specimens; and benefit sharing (i.e., the distribution of financial or other assets that result from the research). Such apprehensions become amplified as more researchers seek to pursue national and cross‐border collaborations between biobanks. This paper provides an overview of two of the most contentious topics in biobank literature ‐informed consent and return of individual research results or incidental findings ‐ and explores how a public health ethics lens may help to shed new light on how these issues may be best approached and managed. Doing so also demonstrates the important role that genetic counselors can play in the ongoing discussion of ethically appropriate biobank recruitment and management strategies, as well as identifies important areas of ongoing empirical research on these unresolved topics.
Prenatal Diagnosis and Elucidation of a Novel Molecular Mechanism in Carpenter Syndrome
Authors: Movva Sireesha , Kotecha Udhaya H. , Sharma Deepak , Puri Ratna D. , Verma Ishwar C. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractCarpenter syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by craniosynostosis, polydactyly and syndactyly. The gene Rab23 was identified in 2007, following which there have been only four reports describing different types of mutations. The authors describe herein a case that was diagnosed solely on the basis of history, antenatal ultrasound findings and fetal photographs taken by a cellular phone. Subsequent molecular studies revealed a novel homozygous mutation in the Rab23 gene. This mutation which converted the stop codon into a coding one, results in the formation of a lengthened 307 amino acids protein in contrast to the wild type protein containing 237 amino acids. The secondary structure prediction by PSIpred revealed that the C-terminal region of the longer mutated Rab23 protein contains several helices/strands resulting in the loss of structural flexibility and consequently, prenylation. This made it possible to offer prenatal testing to this family in its next conception where the fetus was unaffected. This case reports a novel molecular mechanism and the utility of integrating the cellular phone into clinical practice.
Computational Prediction of MicroRNAs from Toxoplasma Gondii Potentially Regulating the Hosts’ Gene Expression
Authors: Saçar Müşerref Duygu , Bağcı Caner , Allmer Jens 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were discovered two decades ago, yet there is still a great need for further studies elucidating their genesis and targeting in different phyla. Since experimental discovery and validation of miRNAs is difficult, computational predictions are indispensable and today most computational approaches employ machine learning. Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite residing within the cells of its hosts like human, uses miRNAs for its post-transcriptional gene regulation. It may also regulate its hosts’ gene expression, which has been shown in brain cancer. Since previous studies have shown that overexpressed miRNAs within the host are causal for disease onset, we hypothesized that T. gondii could export miRNAs into its host cell. We computationally predicted all hairpins from the genome of T. gondii and used mouse and human models to filter possible candidates. These were then further compared to known miRNAs in human and rodents and their expression was examined for T. gondii grown in mouse and human hosts, respectively. We found that among the millions of potential hairpins in T. gondii, only a few thousand pass filtering using a human or mouse model and that even fewer of those are expressed. Since they are expressed and differentially expressed in rodents and human, we suggest that there is a chance that T. gondii may export miRNAs into its hosts for direct regulation.
Pharmacogenomics of Cisplatin Sensitivity in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Rose Maimon C. , Kostyanovskaya Elina , Huang R. Stephanie 
Published: October 2014

Abstract
Cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapeutic drug, has been used for over 30 years in a wide variety of cancers with varying degrees of success. In particular, cisplatin has been used to treat late stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as the standard of care. However, therapeutic outcomes vary from patient to patient. Considerable efforts have been invested to identify biomarkers that can be used to predict cisplatin sensitivity in NSCLC. Here we reviewed current evidence for cisplatin sensitivity biomarkers in NSCLC. We focused on several key pathways, including nucleotide excision repair, drug transport and metabolism. Both expression and germline DNA variation were evaluated in these key pathways. Current evidence suggests that cisplatin-based treatment could be improved by the use of these biomarkers.
The effect of Reynolds number on mixing in Kelvin–Helmholtz billows
Authors: Rahmani M. , Lawrence G. A. , Seymour B. R. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractMixing induced through the life-cycle of Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) billows is studied for a range of low and intermediate Reynolds numbers using direct numerical simulations (DNS). The amount of stirring, and therefore mixing, is significantly controlled by the process of vortex pairing of two KH billows. For low Reynolds numbers, vortex pairing of the billows is complete in the pre-turbulent stage or early stages of turbulence, generating a high amount of stirring. At higher Reynolds numbers, vortex pairing is suppressed by the growth of three-dimensional instabilities, and the amount of stirring is significantly reduced. For single KH billows, as the Reynolds number increases, there is a transition in the characteristics of the mixing, similar to the laboratory measurements of Breidenthal (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 109, 1981, pp. 1–24) and Koochesfahani & Dimotakis (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 170, 1986, pp. 83–112). The transition in mixing is associated with the growth and sustainability of three-dimensional motions at sufficiently high Reynolds numbers. We examine this ‘mixing transition’ and the influence of vortex pairing on it by examining the flow properties at different stages and the exchange between the energy partitions. As the Reynolds number increases, three-dimensional motions develop over a wider range of length scales, and smaller scale eddies form. However, this does not necessarily result in a greater amount of mixing. The maximum total amount of mixing induced over the lifetime of a KH instability, for billows both with and without vortex pairing, occurs when the large-scale eddies that cause the stirring are the most energetic. The mixing efficiency reveals a non-monotonic dependence on the Reynolds number.
Boundary-Value Problems for Third-Order Lipschitz Ordinary Differential Equations
Authors: Graef John R. , Henderson Johnny , Luca Rodrica , Tian Yu 
Published: October 2014

AbstractFor the third-order differential equationy′″ = ƒ(t, y, y′, y″), where, questions involving ‘uniqueness implies uniqueness’, ‘uniqueness implies existence’ and ‘optimal length subintervals of (a, b) on which solutions are unique’ are studied for a class of two-point boundary-value problems.
Reduction in the structural instability of cloned eukaryotic tandem-repeat DNA by low-temperature culturing of host bacteria
Authors: THAPANA WATCHARAPORN , SUJIWATTANARAT PENPORN , SRIKULNATH KORNSORN , HIRAI HIROHISA , KOGA AKIHIKO 
Published: October 2014

SummaryFor accurate analyses of eukaryotic tandem-repeat DNA, it is often required to clone a genomic DNA fragment into a bacterial plasmid. It is, however, a serious problem that tandem-repeat DNA is frequently subjected to structural changes during maintenance or amplification in the host bacteria. Here, we show an example of a clear difference in the instability of tandem-repeat DNA between different culturing temperatures. A fragment of monkey centromeric DNA carried by pUC19 was considerably degraded by culturing bacteria at 37 °C, but the damage was reduced at 25 °C. Thus, culturing temperature is a significant factor for avoiding degradation, in addition to the genotype of the host bacteria.
Cultural group selection plays an essential role in explaining human cooperation: A sketch of the evidence
Authors: Richerson Peter , Baldini Ryan , Bell Adrian V. , Demps Kathryn , Frost Karl , Hillis Vicken , Mathew Sarah , Newton Emily K. , Naar Nicole , Newson Lesley , Ross Cody , Smaldino Paul E. , Waring Timothy M. , Zefferman Matthew 
Published: October 2014

AbstractHuman cooperation is highly unusual. We live in large groups composed mostly of non-relatives. Evolutionists have proposed a number of explanations for this pattern, including cultural group selection and extensions of more general processes such as reciprocity, kin selection, and multi-level selection acting on genes. Evolutionary processes are consilient; they affect several different empirical domains, such as patterns of behavior and the proximal drivers of that behavior. In this target article, we sketch the evidence from five domains that bear on the explanatory adequacy of cultural group selection and competing hypotheses to explain human cooperation. Does cultural transmission constitute an inheritance system that can evolve in a Darwinian fashion? Are the norms that underpin institutions among the cultural traits so transmitted? Do we observe sufficient variation at the level of groups of considerable size for group selection to be a plausible process? Do human groups compete, and do success and failure in competition depend upon cultural variation? Do we observe adaptations for cooperation in humans that most plausibly arose by cultural group selection? If the answer to one of these questions is “no,” then we must look to other hypotheses. We present evidence, including quantitative evidence, that the answer to all of the questions is “yes” and argue that we must take the cultural group selection hypothesis seriously. If culturally transmitted systems of rules (institutions) that limit individual deviance organize cooperation in human societies, then it is not clear that any extant alternative to cultural group selection can be a complete explanation.
Microstructural Characterization of Dehydrogenated Products of the LiBH4-YH3 Composite
Authors: Kim Ji Woo , Kim Kee-Bum , Shim Jae-Hyeok , Cho Young Whan , Oh Kyu Hwan 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe dehydrogenated microstructure of the lithium borohydride-yttrium hydride (LiBH4-YH3) composite obtained at 350°C under 0.3 MPa of hydrogen and static vacuum was investigated by transmission electron microscopy combined with a focused ion beam technique. The dehydrogenation reaction between LiBH4 and YH3 into LiH and YB4 takes place under 0.3 MPa of hydrogen, which produces YB4 nano-crystallites that are uniformly distributed in the LiH matrix. This microstructural feature seems to be beneficial for rehydrogenation of the dehydrogenation products. On the other hand, the dehydrogenation process is incomplete under static vacuum, leading to the unreacted microstructure, where YH3 and YH2 crystallites are embedded in LiBH4 matrix. High resolution imaging confirmed the presence of crystalline B resulting from the self-decomposition of LiBH4. However, Li2B12H12, which is assumed to be present in the LiBH4 matrix, was not clearly observed.
The liability market value as benchmark in pension fund performance measurement
Authors: BOLLA LIDIA , WITTIG HAGEN , KOHLER ALEXANDER 
Published: October 2014

AbstractOften performance of pension funds is assessed based on the development of the assets only, neglecting the simultaneous development of the liabilities. This especially is the case in Switzerland, one of the world's largest markets for corporate pension funds. We create a new liability benchmark for referencing the asset performance. Measuring the asset performance with respect to the liability benchmark yields the Asset-Liability-Result. We apply the model to (i) the Swiss pension fund market as a whole and (ii) an individual Swiss pension fund. With our new approach, we are able to show that the pension funds’ recovery from the recent financial crisis took much longer than the value increase of the asset portfolios suggests. We strongly advocate the use of a liability benchmark for analyzing the entire pension fund markets’ performance and specifically as operational tool for individual pension funds.
Gaining pounds by losing pounds: preferences for lifestyle interventions to reduce obesity
Authors: Ryan Mandy , Yi Deokhee , Avenell Alison , Douglas Flora , Aucott Lorna , van Teijlingen Edwin , Vale Luke 
Published: October 2014

AbstractWhile there is evidence that weight-loss interventions reduce morbidity, indications of their acceptability are limited. Understanding preferences for lifestyle interventions will help policymakers design interventions. We used a discrete choice experiment to investigate preferences for lifestyle interventions to reduce adult obesity. Attributes focused on: the components of the programme; weight change; short-term and longer-term health gains; time spent on the intervention and financial costs incurred. Data were collected through a web-based questionnaire, with 504 UK adults responding. Despite evidence that dietary interventions are the most effective way to lose weight, respondents preferred lifestyle interventions involving physical activity. While the evidence suggests that behaviour change support improves effectiveness of interventions, its value to participants was limited. A general preference to maintain current lifestyles, together with the sensitivity of take up to financial costs, suggests financial incentives could be used to help maximise uptake of healthy lifestyle interventions. An important target group for change, men, required more compensation to take up healthier lifestyles. Those of normal weight, who will increase in weight over time if they do not change their lifestyle, required the highest compensation. Policymakers face challenges in inducing people to change their behaviour and adopt healthy lifestyles.
The Choosing People: Interpreting the Puzzling Politics of American Jewry
Authors: Wald Kenneth D. 
Published: October 2014

AbstractThe political liberalism of American Jews is puzzling because it contradicts the assumption that economic self-interest drives political behavior. Attempts to solve this puzzle with “Judaic” explanations compound the problem by offering theories that are static and universal while American Jewish political behavior is dynamic and situational. Using both historical and behavioral data, I argue that the solution to these puzzles is found in the overriding concern of American Jews with maintaining their equal citizenship in a society with a classic liberal regime of religion and state. This situational model also helps integrate work on Jewish political studies with theories and concepts commonly used by political scientists to explain mass political behavior.
Overt and Subtle Discrimination, Subjective Well-Being and Physical Health-Related Quality Of Life in an Obese Sample
Authors: Magallares Alejandro , Benito de Valle Pilar , Irles Jose Antonio , Jauregui-Lobera Ignacio 
Published: October 2014

AbstractObesity represents a serious health issue affecting millions of people in Western industrialized countries. The severity of the medical problems it causes is paralleled by the fact that obesity has become a social stigma that affects the psychological health-related quality of life of individuals with weight problems. Our study, with 111 obese patients of a Spanish hospital, focused specifically on how overt and subtle discrimination is related to subjective well-being (affect balance and life satisfaction) and physical health-related quality of life. It was shown that overt (r = –.28, p < .01 with affect balance; r = –.26, p < .01 with life satisfaction) and subtle discrimination (r = –.28, p < .01 with affect balance; r = –.27, p < .01 with life satisfaction) were negatively linked with subjective well-being, and that there was a negative correlation between overt discrimination and physical health-related quality of life (r = –.26, p < .01). Additionally, it was found that overt discrimination was a mediator variable in the relationship between physical health-related quality of life and subjective well-being using the Baron and Kenny procedure. Finally, it is discussed the relationship between discrimination, subjective well-being and physical health-related quality of life in obese people.