bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age‐related changes in male forearm skin‐to‐fat tissue dielectric constant at 300 MHz
Authors: Mayrovitz Harvey N. , Grammenos Alexandra , Corbitt Kelly , Bartos Simona 
Published: August 2015

SummaryPrior research suggests that tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values are useful to assess localized skin water in females for early diagnosing breast cancer treatment‐related lymphoedema and TDC values in young adults have shown gender differences. However, no TDC data are available for older males nor have ageing effects been studied despite known shifts in water state and other skin age‐related changes. Thus our goals were to (i) characterize TDC values at various skin depths in young and older males, (ii) determine the dependence of these values on body composition parameters and (iii) establish inter‐arm TDC ratios for use as normal male reference values. TDC measurements were made to depths of 0·5, 1·5, 2·5 and 5·0 mm bilaterally on volar forearm skin in 60 males in three groups of 20 that had mean ages ± SD of 24·0 ± 0·9, 40·0 ± 12·9 and 71·0 ± 8·0 years. Total body fat and water percentages were determined via bioimpedance at 50 KHz. Results showed that (i) for all age groups TDC values decreased with increasing depth, (ii) TDC values were not statistically different among age groups except at a depth of 0·5 mm, (iii) TDC values were highly negatively correlated with total body fat and (iv) inter‐arm ratios varied little among age groups and depths. It is concluded that (i) age‐related larger TDC values at only the shallowest depth is consistent with skin water shifting state from bound to more mobile in the oldest group and (ii) inter‐arm ratios at any depth provide a basis to test for unilateral oedema.
Methotrexate for topical application in an extemporaneous preparation
Authors: Wohlrab Johannes , Neubert Reinhard H.H. , Michael Julia , Naumann Sandy 
Published: August 2015

SummaryBackgroundThe antifolate agent methotrexate is routinely used for systemic therapy of cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Successful topical use has been described for individual therapeutic attempts, in case series, and small studies, especially for mycosis fungoides (premycotic stage) and lymphomatoid papulosis. With respect to its clinical use in selected treatment scenarios, there have been no approved preparations or regulated instructions for pharmaceutical compounding.Material and methodsTwo high performance liquid chromatography methods were established for the determination of the active substance within a galenic formulation as well as within extracts of biological material. Suitable vehicles for epicutaneous application were developed and preclinically tested for stability, release, and pharmacokinetics of the active substance as well as their safety.ResultsThe tests show that methotrexate may be readily incorporated into “Basiscreme DAC”. It remains stable up to a concentration of 0.5 %. This preparation releases enough active substance to achieve relevant local bioavailability in the respective target compartments of the skin. There is no evidence of safety risks due to relevant systemic bioavailability after topical application on a limited area of the skin.ConclusionsIn summary, this approved prescription for extemporaneous preparation complies with the requirements of the German Ordinance on the Operation of Pharmacies (Article 7 ApBetrO), and the available data proves its stability and pharmaceutical quality.
Vocal Learning in Songbirds and Humans: A Retrospective in Honor of Peter Marler
Authors: Soha Jill A. , Peters Susan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractPeter Marler made a number of significant contributions to the field of ethology, particularly in the area of animal communication. His research on birdsong learning gave rise to a thriving subfield. An important tenet of this growing subfield is that parallels between birdsong and human speech make songbirds valuable as models in comparative and translational research, particularly in the case of vocal learning and development. Decades ago, Marler pointed out several phenomena common to the processes of vocal development in songbirds and humans—including a dependence on early acoustic experience, sensitive periods, predispositions, auditory feedback, intrinsic reinforcement, and a progression through distinct developmental stages—and he advocated for the value of comparative study in this domain. We review Marler's original comparisons between birdsong and speech ontogeny and summarize subsequent progress in research into these and other parallels. We also revisit Marler's arguments in support of the comparative study of vocal development in the context of its widely recognized value today.
Central tarsal bone fractures in horses not used for racing: Computed tomographic configuration and long‐term outcome of lag screw fixation
Authors: Gunst S. , Del Chicca F. , Fürst A. E. , Kuemmerle J. M. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryReasons for performing studyThere are no reports on the configuration of equine central tarsal bone fractures based on cross‐sectional imaging and clinical and radiographic long‐term outcome after internal fixation.ObjectivesTo report clinical, radiographic and computed tomographic findings of equine central tarsal bone fractures and to evaluate the long‐term outcome of internal fixation.Study designRetrospective case series.MethodsAll horses diagnosed with a central tarsal bone fracture at our institution in 2009–2013 were included. Computed tomography and internal fixation using lag screw technique was performed in all patients. Medical records and diagnostic images were reviewed retrospectively. A clinical and radiographic follow‐up examination was performed at least 1 year post operatively.ResultsA central tarsal bone fracture was diagnosed in 6 horses. Five were Warmbloods used for showjumping and one was a Quarter Horse used for reining. All horses had sagittal slab fractures that began dorsally, ran in a plantar or plantaromedial direction and exited the plantar cortex at the plantar or plantaromedial indentation of the central tarsal bone. Marked sclerosis of the central tarsal bone was diagnosed in all patients. At long‐term follow‐up, 5/6 horses were sound and used as intended although mild osteophyte formation at the distal intertarsal joint was commonly observed.ConclusionsCentral tarsal bone fractures in nonracehorses had a distinct configuration but radiographically subtle additional fracture lines can occur. A chronic stress related aetiology seems likely. Internal fixation of these fractures based on an accurate diagnosis of the individual fracture configuration resulted in a very good prognosis.
Samaras and seedlings of Acer pseudoplatanus are potential sources of hypoglycin A intoxication in atypical myopathy without necessarily inducing clinical signs
Authors: Baise E. , Habyarimana J. A. , Amory H. , Boemer F. , Douny C. , Gustin P. , Marcillaud‐Pitel C. , Patarin F. , Weber M. , Votion D.‐M. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryReasons for performing studyIngestion of sycamore seeds (Acer pseudoplatanus) is the likely source of hypoglycin A in atypical myopathy (AM) but ingestion of seedlings in spring might also contribute to intoxication.ObjectivesTo test for hypoglycin A in seeds and seedlings collected on pastures where AM cases were reported and compare its concentration in serum of affected and healthy horses.Study designField investigation of clinical cases.MethodsWhenever present, samaras (the winged nuts that each contain one seed) and/or seedlings were collected from pastures of 8 AM cases and 5 unaffected horses from different premises. Two AM cases were each co‐grazing with an apparently healthy horse. Acylcarnitines and hypoglycin A were quantified in blood samples of all horses involved in the study.ResultsHypoglycin A was detected in serum of AM (5.47 ± 1.60 μmol/l) but not in healthy controls pasturing where A. pseudoplatanus trees were not present. However, hypoglycin A was detected at high concentrations (7.98 μmol/l) in serum of a clinically healthy horse grazing a pasture with seedlings and samaras and also in the 2 healthy horses co‐grazing with AM cases (0.43 ± 0.59 μmol/l). Hypoglycin A was detected in all samples of seeds and spring seedlings of A. pseudoplatanus.ConclusionsAtypical myopathy can be associated with the ingestion of sycamore samaras and also ingestion of seedlings. Hypoglycin A can be detected in the blood of horses with no detectable clinical signs at pasture in which there is A. pseudoplatanus. Determination of hypoglycin A concentration in blood is useful for screening for exposure in suspected cases of AM.
Effect of emptying the vasculature before performing regional limb perfusion with amikacin in horses
Authors: Sole A. , Nieto J. E. , Aristizabal F. A. , Snyder J. R. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryReasons for performing studyEmptying the vasculature with an Esmarch bandage before i.v. regional anaesthesia is commonly performed in human patients to prevent leakage of the solution under the tourniquet but there is no evidence for its efficacy in horses for antimicrobial i.v. regional limb perfusion (IV‐RLP).ObjectivesTo determine the effect on synovial fluid concentration of amikacin of emptying the vasculature before performing IV‐RLP.Study designCrossover experiment.MethodsEight clinically healthy horses underwent 2 IV‐RLP with amikacin in a randomised, crossover design. Horses received an IV‐RLP with amikacin with or without exsanguination before applying a pneumatic tourniquet at the level of the forearm. Blood was collected from the jugular vein (before tourniquet removal) and synovial fluid from the radiocarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints (5 min after tourniquet removal and at 24 h) for amikacin determination. The procedure was video recorded to assess horse movement.ResultsThere was no difference in amikacin concentrations in the plasma or synovial fluid from the radiocarpal joint between groups. There was a higher concentration of amikacin in the synovial fluid from the metacarpophalangeal joint immediately after tourniquet removal in the group with exsanguination of the limb prior to IV‐RLP (mean ± s.d.: no exsanguination 49.7 ± 53.7 μg/ml, exsanguination 257.4 ± 149.7 μg/ml, P = 0.04). Horse movement did not differ significantly between groups.ConclusionsEmptying the vasculature with an Esmarch bandage before IV‐RLP can improve amikacin concentrations in the metacarpophalangeal joint of horses with no effect on the levels of amikacin in the radiocarpal joint.
De novo fatty acid biosynthesis and elongation in very long‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase‐deficient mice supplemented with odd or even medium‐chain fatty acids
Authors: Tucci Sara , Behringer Sidney , Spiekerkoetter Ute 
Published: August 2015

An even medium‐chain triglyceride (MCT)‐based diet is the mainstay of treatment in very long‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency (VLCADD). Previous studies with magnetic resonance spectroscopy have shown an impact of MCT on the average fatty acid chain length in abdominal fat. We therefore assume that medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are elongated and accumulate in tissue as long‐chain fatty acids. In this study, we explored the hepatic effects of long‐term supplementation with MCT or triheptanoin, an odd‐chain C7‐based triglyceride, in wild‐type and VLCAD‐deficient (VLCAD−/−) mice after 1 year of supplementation as compared with a control diet. The de novo biosynthesis and elongation of fatty acids, and peroxisomal β‐oxidation, were quantified by RT‐PCR. This was followed by a comprehensive analysis of hepatic and cardiac fatty acid profiles by GC‐MS. Long‐term application of even and odd MCFAs strongly induced de novo biosynthesis and elongation of fatty acids in both wild‐type and VLCAD−/− mice, leading to an alteration of the hepatic fatty acid profiles. We detected de novo‐synthesized and elongated fatty acids, such as heptadecenoic acid (C17:1n9), eicosanoic acid (C20:1n9), erucic acid (C22:1n9), and mead acid (C20:3n9), that were otherwise completely absent in mice under control conditions. In parallel, the content of monounsaturated fatty acids was massively increased. Furthermore, we observed strong upregulation of peroxisomal β‐oxidation in VLCAD−/− mice, especially when they were fed an MCT diet. Our data raise the question of whether long‐term MCFA supplementation represents the most efficient treatment in the long term. Studies on the hepatic toxicity of triheptanoin are still ongoing.
Modeling of Methane Migration in Shallow Aquifers from Shale Gas Well Drilling
Authors: Zhang Liwei , Soeder Daniel J. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe vertical portion of a shale gas well, known as the “tophole” is often drilled using an air‐hammer bit that may introduce pressures as high as 2400 kPa (350 psi) into groundwater while penetrating shallow aquifers. A 3‐D TOUGH2 model was used to simulate the flow of groundwater under the high hydraulic heads that may be imposed by such trapped compressed air, based on an observed case in West Virginia (USA) in 2012. The model realizations show that high‐pressure air trapped in aquifers may cause groundwater to surge away from the drill site at observable velocities. If dissolved methane is present within the aquifer, the methane can be entrained and transported to a maximum distance of 10.6 m per day. Results from this study suggest that one cause of the reported increase in methane concentrations in groundwater near shale gas production wells may be the transport of pre‐existing methane via groundwater surges induced by air drilling, not necessarily direct natural gas leakage from the unconventional gas reservoir. The primary transport mechanisms are advective transport of dissolved methane with water flow, and diffusive transport of dissolved methane.
Airborne Thermal Remote Sensing for Estimation of Groundwater Discharge to a River
Authors: Liu Chuankun , Liu Jie , Hu Yue , Wang Heshun , Zheng Chunmiao 
Published: August 2015

AbstractTraditional methods for studying surface water and groundwater interactions have usually been limited to point measurements, such as geochemical sampling and seepage measurement. A new methodology is presented for quantifying groundwater discharge to a river, by using river surface temperature data obtained from airborne thermal infrared remote sensing technology. The Hot Spot Analysis toolkit in ArcGIS was used to calculate the percentage of groundwater discharge to a river relative to the total flow of the river. This methodology was evaluated in the midstream of the Heihe River in the arid and semiarid northwest China. The results show that the percentage of groundwater discharge relative to the total streamflow was as high as 28%, which is in good agreement with the results from previous geochemical studies. The data analysis methodology used in this study is based on the assumption that the river water is fully mixed except in the areas of extremely low flow velocity, which could lead to underestimation of the amount of groundwater discharge. Despite this limitation, this remote sensing‐based approach provides an efficient means of quantifying the surface water and groundwater interactions on a regional scale.
Broad‐Scale Evidence That pH Influences the Balance Between Microbial Iron and Sulfate Reduction
Authors: Kirk Matthew F. , Jin Qusheng , Haller Ben R. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractUnderstanding basic controls on aquifer microbiology is essential to managing water resources and predicting impacts of future environmental change. Previous theoretical and laboratory studies indicate that pH can influence interactions between microorganisms that reduce ferric iron and sulfate. In this study, we test the environmental relevance of this relationship by examining broad‐scale geochemical data from anoxic zones of aquifers. We isolated data from the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System for 19 principal aquifer systems. We then removed samples with chemical compositions inconsistent with iron‐ and sulfate‐reducing environments and evaluated the relationships between pH and other geochemical parameters using Spearman's rho rank correlation tests. Overall, iron concentration and the iron‐sulfide concentration ratio of groundwater share a statistically significant negative correlation with pH (P < 0.0001). These relationships indicate that the significance of iron reduction relative to sulfate reduction tends to increase with decreasing pH. Moreover, thermodynamic calculations show that, as the pH of groundwater decreases, iron reduction becomes increasingly favorable relative to sulfate reduction. Hence, the relative significance of each microbial reaction may vary in response to thermodynamic controls on microbial activity. Our findings demonstrate that trends in groundwater geochemistry across different regional aquifer systems are consistent with pH as a control on interactions between microbial iron and sulfate reduction. Environmental changes that perturb groundwater pH can affect water quality by altering the balance between these microbial reactions.
Prevalence of interdigital psoriasis of the feet (“psoriasis alba”) in mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis
Authors: Leibovici Vera , Lemster Natalya , Ramot Yuval , Siam Rula , Siam Ihab , Maly Alex , Strauss‐Liviatan N. , Hochberg Malka 
Published: August 2015

AbstractInterdigital psoriasis of the feet (“psoriasis alba”) is a rare form of inverse psoriasis. We conducted a cross‐sectional study of the prevalence of interdigital psoriasis in mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis, compared to atopic dermatitis and normal controls. Data were collected during 2010–2013 from 232 psoriatic patients, 190 patients with atopic dermatitis, and 202 normal controls. The psoriatic and atopic dermatitis patients were from the dermatology department and outpatient clinic of the Hadassah‐Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. The normal controls were healthy workers and volunteers from Hadassah Hospital who were not aware of any dermatological disease and had never consulted a general practitioner or dermatologist for skin problems of the feet. Our study revealed a prevalence of 2.6% of interdigital psoriasis of the feet in psoriatic patients, especially in men, and none in atopic dermatitis and normal controls. Three of the six affected patients with interdigital psoriasis of the feet complained of itching, both feet were involved in four patients, while two presented with additional palmoplantar psoriasis. The hematoxylin and eosin histopathological findings were in line with those found in inverse psoriasis. Dermatologists should be aware of this entity and treat it correctly. The diagnosis should be considered in psoriatic patients presenting with whitish plaque or patches in the toe‐webs, in whom the fungal test is negative and are not responding to antimycotic treatment.
Oil and tastant concentrations affect saltiness and bitterness perception of oil‐in‐water emulsions
Authors: Torrico Damir D. , Carabante Kennet M. , Pujols Kairy D. , Chareonthaikij Phantipha , Prinyawiwatkul Witoon 
Published: August 2015

SummarySaltiness of NaCl and KCl and bitterness of KCl and caffeine were evaluated in emulsions prepared with varying oil (20/40/60%) and tastant [NaCl (0.50/0.75/1.00%), KCl (0.50/1.00/1.50%) or caffeine (0.05/0.10/0.15%)] concentrations. A panel (N = 16) evaluated saltiness and bitterness intensities of emulsions using the modified short‐version Spectrum™ descriptive analysis. Viscosity and pH of emulsions were measured. The type of tastant (NaCl/KCl/caffeine) and its concentration had significant effects on saltiness and/or bitterness intensities. At a given tastant concentration, NaCl had higher saltiness intensity compared to KCl in emulsions. Increasing oil concentration increased saltiness of both NaCl and KCl, while it slightly increased bitterness of KCl, but did not significantly affect bitterness of caffeine in emulsions. RSM plots indicated that saltiness enhancement of NaCl and KCl imparted by oil was more pronounced between 20% and 40% oil. Viscosity was the discriminating property among emulsions and possibly contributed to changes in salty and bitter perception.
Specialized Stroke Rehabilitation Services in Seven Countries
Authors: Langhammer Birgitta , Becker Frank , Sunnerhagen Katharina S. , Zhang Tong , Du Xiaoxia , Bushnik Tamara , Panchenko Maria , Keren Ofer , Banura Samir , Elessi Khamis , Luzon Fuad , Lundgren-Nilsson Åsa , Li Xie , Sällström Susanne , Stanghelle Johan Kvalvik 
Published: August 2015

Background There is a lack of defined levels of rehabilitation, indicating possibly random content and access to specialized services. Aims and/or hypothesis The aim of the study was to perform a multinational descriptive study of specialized rehabilitation in persons with stroke, to elucidate what the different centers define as prerequisites for specialized rehabilitation, and to analyze whether these descriptions map to currently applied standards or constructs of specialized rehabilitation. A secondary aim was to look for similarities and differences between therapies and services for persons with stroke in the sub-acute stage in the different institutions. Methods Descriptive data of the collaborating centers regarding structure and processes of services were recorded and compared with the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine and Specialized Services National Definitions sets. Results Comparisons of the definitions showed that all centers admitted severely disabled persons with stroke, in need of complex rehabilitation, and provided high levels of physical services, with specialized equipment and facilities. However, funding, size, university affiliation, quality accreditation, staffing levels, specialist training, cognitive and vocational services, coordination of the professional teams, admission procedures, time and type of therapies, estimated length of stay, and follow-up procedures differed between the centers. Conclusion This multinational study of specialized stroke rehabilitation centers shows that a universal definition of specialized rehabilitation is possible, even in quite different countries and settings, in terms of general principles. There were however differences in structures and procedures, which may influence patients' outcomes, indicating a need for refinement of the definitions to be globally applicable.