bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural Diversity of Copper(II) Coordination Polymers Based on Tosylated Isophthalic Ligands
Authors: Li Xinfa , Liu Qingyan 
Published: June 2013

AbstractTwo tosylated isophthalic ligands, namely, 5‐tosyloxy‐isophthalic acid (H2toip) and 5‐tosylamino‐isophthalic acid (H2taip) were synthesized. Self‐assembly of CuII ions with H2toip and H2taip ligands under different reaction conditions (temperature, solvents, and auxiliary ligands) gave rise to three coordination polymers formulated as [Cu(toip)(py)2]n (1), [Cu6(toip)6(H2O)6]n·8n(H2O) (2), and [Cu6(taip)6(py)4(dmf)2]n·n[(dmf)6(MeOH)2(H2O)2] (3) (py = pyridine, dmf = dimethylformamide). Compound 1 is a one‐dimensional (1D) coordination polymeric chain. Compounds 2 and 3 are two‐dimensional (2D) coordination networks featuring very similar Kagomé lattices based on the interconnection of paddle‐wheel [Cu2(COO)4] secondary building units (SBUs) and toip2–/taip2– ligands. However, the arrangement of adjacent Kagomé lattices in 2 and 3 are distinct, making them crystallize in different space groups and thereby have different crystal structures.
Contribution of quantitative changes in individual ionic current systems to the embryonic development of ventricular myocytes: a simulation study
Authors: Okubo Chikako , Sano Hitomi I. , Naito Yasuhiro , Tomita Masaru 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Early embryonic rodent ventricular cells exhibit spontaneous action potential (AP), which disappears in later developmental stages. Here, we used 3 mathematical models—the Kyoto, Ten Tusscher–Panfilov, and Luo–Rudy models—to present an overview of the functional landscape of developmental changes in embryonic ventricular cells. We switched the relative current densities of 9 ionic components in the Kyoto model, and 160 of 512 representative combinations were predicted to result in regular spontaneous APs, in which the quantitative changes in Na+ current (I
Na) and funny current (I
f) made large contributions to a wide range of basic cycle lengths. In all three models, the increase in inward rectifier current (I
K1) before the disappearance of I
f was predicted to result in abnormally high intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Thus, we demonstrated that the developmental changes in APs were well represented, as I
Na increased before the disappearance of I
f, followed by a 10-fold increase in I
K1.
Patient satisfaction with psychotropic drugs: Validation of the PAtient SAtisfaction with Psychotropic (PASAP) scale in patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Nordon C. , Falissard B. , Gerard S. , Angst J. , Azorin J.M. , Luquiens A. , Reed C. , Lukasiewicz M. , Gasquet I. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractPurpose:The PAtient SAtisfaction with Psychotropic (PASAP) scale is a self-completed questionnaire measuring satisfaction with psychotropic medication. The aim of the study was to describe its development in French and its psychometric properties.Materials and methods:Scale construction was based on an extensive search of the literature. The item reduction process required semi-structured interviews of psychiatric outpatients (n = 30). The final version of the PASAP is a 9-item, 5-point Likert-type scale, covering the scope of effectiveness and adherence. To assess the psychometric properties of the scale, French patients with an acute manic episode (n = 314) from a large European observational cohort completed the PASAP scale 3 months after psychotropic treatment initiation/change. Internal validity and reliability were assessed using principal component analysis (PCA). Concurrent validity was assessed using comparisons to physician-rated satisfaction with life, illness severity, mood relapse, compliance and side effects.Results:Participation rate was 68.4%. PCA was in favour of uni-dimensionality. Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.85 (95%CI 0.83–0.88). All five concurrent measures were significantly associated with the PASAP score.Conclusion:The PASAP scale showed good psychometric properties in a large bipolar population and thus seems adequate for evaluating treatment satisfaction. Its short length and good acceptability makes it suitable for clinical research.
Improved quality of life over one year is associated with improved adherence in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Hayhurst K.P. , Drake R.J. , Massie J.A. , Dunn G. , Barnes T.R.E. , Jones P.B. , Lewis S.W. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAim:Quality of life (QoL) is increasingly considered an important outcome in health research. We wished to explore the determinants of change in QoL in patients with schizophrenia over the course of a one-year RCT.Methods:Predictors of change in observer-rated QoL (Quality of Life Scale: QLS) were assessed in 363 patients with schizophrenia during the CUtLASS clinical trial.Results:Change in QLS score over the course of a year correlated with change in psychotic and depressive symptoms and treatment adherence. Linear regression showed that improvement in QoL was predicted by reduction in negative and depressive symptoms and improvement in adherence rating. These three change scores together explained 38% of the variance in QLS change. Exploration of the direction of any possible causal effect, using TETRAD, indicated that improved adherence leads to improved QoL, and that change in depression also leads to QoL change. The relationship between QoL and negative symptoms suggests that greater social activity (reflected as better QoL scores) improves negative symptoms. Such a direct relationship between treatment adherence and QoL has not been reported before.Conclusion:Improving adherence to medication would appear to be a key approach to improving measured quality of life in people with schizophrenia.
Social perception in people with eating disorders
Authors: Renwick B. , Dejong H. , Kenyon M. , Samarawickrema N. , Loomes R. , Watson C. , Ghelani S. , Schmidt U. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractObjectiveSocial perception is a key aspect of social cognition which has so far not been investigated in eating disorders (ED). This study aimed to investigate social perception in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN).MethodsOutpatients with AN (restricting subtype [AN-R]:n= 51; binge-purge subtype [AN-BP]:n= 26) or BN (n= 57) and 50 healthy control (HC) participants completed the Interpersonal Perception Task (IPT-15). This is an ecologically valid task, which consists of 15 video clips, depicting complex social situations relating to intimacy, status, kinship, competition and deception.The participants have to assess relationships between protagonists’ based on non-verbal cues.ResultsOverall, there was no difference between groups on the IPT total score and subscale scores. Group differences on the Intimacy subscale approached significance so post hoc comparisons were carried out. HCs performed significantly better than AN-R participants in determining the degree of intimacy between others.ConclusionsSocial perception is largely preserved in ED patients. Individuals with AN-R show impairments in identifying intimacy in social situations, this may be due to the lack of relationship experience. Further research into different aspects of social cognition is required to establish the link between interpersonal difficulties and ED psychopathology.
Effects of low-fat or full-fat fermented and non-fermented dairy foods on selected cardiovascular biomarkers in overweight adults
Authors: Nestel Paul J. , Mellett Natalie , Pally Suzana , Wong Gerard , Barlow Chris K. , Croft Kevin , Mori Trevor A. , Meikle Peter J. 
Published: June 2013

The association between consumption of full-fat dairy foods and CVD may depend partly on the nature of products and may not apply to low-fat dairy foods. Increased circulating levels of inflammatory biomarkers after consumption of dairy product-rich meals suggest an association with CVD. In the present study, we tested the effects of low-fat and full-fat dairy diets on biomarkers associated with inflammation, oxidative stress or atherogenesis and on plasma lipid classes. Within full-fat dairy diets, we also compared fermented v. non-fermented products. In a randomised cross-over study, twelve overweight/obese subjects consumed during two 3-week periods two full-fat dairy diets containing either yogurt plus cheese (fermented) or butter, cream and ice cream (non-fermented) or a low-fat milk plus yogurt diet, with the latter being consumed between and at the end of the full-fat dairy dietary periods. The concentrations of six inflammatory and two atherogenic biomarkers known to be raised in CVD were measured as well as those of plasma F2-isoprostanes and lipid classes. The concentrations of six of the eight biomarkers tended to be higher on consumption of the low-fat dairy diet than on that of the fermented dairy diet and the concentrations of two plasmalogen lipid classes reported to be associated with increased oxidisability were also higher on consumption of the low-fat dairy diet than on that of the fermented dairy diet (P< 0·001), although plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations did not differ on consumption of any of the diets. On the other hand, the concentrations of plasma sphingomyelin and IL-6 were significantly higher on consumption of the non-fermented dairy diet than on that of the low-fat dairy diet (P< 0·02). In conclusion, short-term diets containing low-fat dairy products did not lead to a more favourable biomarker profile associated with CVD risk compared with the full-fat dairy products, suggesting that full-fat fermented dairy products may be the more favourable.
Orientation-singularity analysis and orientationability evaluation of a special class of the Stewart–Gough parallel manipulators
Authors: Cao Yi , Gosselin Clément , Zhou Hui , Ren Ping , Ji Weixi 
Published: June 2013

SUMMARYThis paper addresses the orientation-singularity analysis and the orientationability evaluation of a special class of the Stewart–Gough parallel manipulators in which the moving and base platforms are two similar semi-symmetrical hexagons. Based on the half-angle transformation, an analytical polynomial of degree 13 that represents the orientation-singularity locus of this special class of parallel manipulators at a given position is derived. Graphical representations of the orientation-singularity locus of this class of manipulators are illustrated with examples to demonstrate the results. Based on the description of the orientation-singularity and nonsingular orientation region of this class of parallel manipulators, a performance index, referred to as orientationability, which describes the orientation capability of this class of manipulators at a given position, is introduced. A discretization algorithm is proposed for computing the orientationability of the special class of parallel manipulators at a given position in the workspace. Moreover, the effects of the design parameters and position parameters on the orientationability are also investigated in detail. Based on the orientationability performance index, another performance index, referred to as practical orientationability, representing the practical orientation capability of the manipulators at a given position, is introduced. In this performance index, singularities, the limitations of active and passive joints and link interferences are all taken into consideration. Furthermore, the practical orientationability of the special class of parallel manipulators studied here is also analyzed over several plane sections of the position-workspace in detail.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF ADHERENCE INTERVENTIONS FOR HIGHLY ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: Mathes Tim , Pieper Dawid , Antoine Sunya-Lee , Eikermann Michaela 
Published: June 2013

Objectives: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of interventions aiming to increase the adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in HIV-infected patients in developed countries (WHO stratum A).Methods: A systematic search for comparative health economic studies was conducted in the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, CINAHL, HEED, and EconLit. The identified publications were selected by two reviewers independently according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Furthermore, these were evaluated according to a standardized checklist and finally extracted, analyzed, and summarized.Results: After reviewing the abstracts and full texts four relevant studies were identified. Different educational programs were compared as well as the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT). A critical aspect to be considered in particular was the poor transparency of the cost data. In three cost-utility analyses the costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) in the baseline scenario were each under USD 15,000. The sensitivity analyses with a presumed maximum threshold of USD 50,000/QALY showed a predominantly cost-effective result. In one study that examined DOT the costs add up to over USD 150,000/QALY.Conclusions: It seems that adherence interventions for HAART in HIV-infected patients can be cost-effective. Nevertheless, the quality of the included studies is deficient and only a few of the possible adherence interventions are taken into consideration. A final assessment of the cost-effectiveness of adherence interventions in general is, therefore, not possible.
Invariants of topological relative right equivalences
Authors: AHMED IMRAN , RUAS MARIA APARECIDA SOARES , TOMAZELLA JOÃO NIVALDO 
Published: June 2013

AbstractLet (V,0) be the germ of an analytic variety in $\mathbb{C}^n$ and f an analytic function germ defined on V. For functions with isolated singularity on V, Bruce and Roberts introduced a generalization of the Milnor number of f, which we call Bruce–Roberts number, μBR(V,f). Like the Milnor number of f, this number shows some properties of f and V. In this paper we investigate algebraic and geometric characterizations of the constancy of the Bruce–Roberts number for families of functions with isolated singularities on V. We also discuss the topological invariance of the Bruce–Roberts number for families of quasihomogeneous functions defined on quasihomogeneous varieties. As application of the results, we prove a relative version of the Zariski multiplicity conjecture for quasihomogeneous varieties.
Critical water potentials for germination of wheat cultivars in the dryland Northwest USA
Authors: Singh Prabhakar , Ibrahim Hesham M. , Flury Markus , Schillinger William F. , Knappenberger Thorsten 
Published: June 2013

AbstractLow soil water potential limits or prevents germination and emergence of rainfed winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the winter wheat–summer fallow region of the US Inland Pacific Northwest, where wheat is routinely sown deep to reach moisture with 12–15 cm of soil covering the seed. Wide differences in seedling emergence among winter wheat cultivars have been reported, but few previous experiments have examined germination differences among cultivars as a function of water potential. The objective of our laboratory study was to quantify seed germination of five commonly sown winter wheat cultivars (Moro, Xerpha, Eltan, Buchanan and Finley) at seven water potentials, ranging from 0 to − 1.5 MPa. Germination was measured as a function of time for a period of 30 d. At higher water potentials (0 to − 0.5 MPa), all cultivars had germination of more than 90%. At the lowest water potentials ( − 1.0 to − 1.25 MPa), however, Moro consistently exceeded the other cultivars for speed and extent of germination, with total germination of 74% at − 1.0 MPa and 43% at − 1.25 MPa. Since its release in 1966, Moro has been sown by farmers when seed-zone water conditions are marginal. Scientists have long known that coleoptile length is an important factor controlling winter wheat seedling emergence from deep sowing depths. In addition to having a long coleoptile, our data suggest that Moro's known excellent emergence ability from deep sowing depths in dry soils can also be attributed to the ability to germinate at lower water potentials than other cultivars.
Sodium butyrate improves the cloned yak embryo viability and corrects gene expression patterns
Authors: Xiong Xian-rong , Lan Dao-liang , Li Jian , Wang Yong , Zhong Jin-cheng 
Published: June 2013

SummaryInterspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT), a powerful tool in basic scientific research, has been used widely to increase and preserve the population of endangered species. Yak (Bos grunniens) is one of these species. Development to term of interspecies cloned yak embryos has not been achieved, possibly due to abnormal epigenetic reprogramming. Previous studies have demonstrated that treatment of intraspecies cloned embryos with (NaBu) significantly improves nuclear–cytoplasmic reprogramming and viability in vitro. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effect of optimal NaBu concentration and exposure time on preimplantation development of yak iSCNT embryos and on the expression patterns of developmentally important genes. The results showed that 8-cell rate, blastocyst formation rate and total cell number increased significantly compared with their untreated counterparts when yak iSCNT embryos were treated with 5 nM NaBu for 12 h after activation, but that the 2-cell stage embryo rate was not significantly different. The treatment of NaBu also increased significantly the expression levels of Oct-4 and decreased the expression levels of HDAC-2, Dnmt-1 and IGF-1; the expression patterns of these genes were more similar to that of their bovine–yak in vitro fertilization (BY-IVF) counterparts. The results described above indicated that NaBu treatment improved developmental competence in vitro and ‘corrected’ the gene expression patterns of yak iSCNT embryos.
Quantitative analysis in LC3-II protein in vitro maturation of porcine oocyte
Authors: Lee SeungHoon , Hiradate Yuuki , Hoshino Yumi , Tanemura Kentaro , Sato Eimei 
Published: June 2013

SummaryMicrotubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II is a marker of autophagosome. In this study, LC3-II expression was used to identify autophagy, during the in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes. In a time-course experiment, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in NCSU23 medium for 0 h, 14 h, 28 h or 42 h. The cumulus cells were removed and denuded oocytes were processed for western blotting or immunostaining. Western blotting showed that the LC3-II levels changed over time, with maximum levels observed at 14 h and minimum levels at 42 h. Immunostaining of LC3 showed the signals with dot shapes and ring shapes in oocytes at every group that probably represent autophagosomes. To ascertain whether autophagic induction and degradation were occurring, we treated the cultures with autophagic inhibitors. Lysosomal protease inhibitor E64d and pepstatin A increased the LC3-II levels and wortmannin, inhibitor of autophagic induction, decreased the LC3-II levels. Western blotting and immunostaining demonstrated that LC3-II is present in porcine oocytes cultured in vitro. The decreased LC3-II levels after wortmannin treatment suggest that it is newly generated in porcine oocytes, a phenomenon that represents autophagic induction. Furthermore, increased LC3-II levels after E64d and pepstatin A addition imply that LC3-II is degraded by lysosomal proteases, an indication of autophagic degradation. Our results suggest that autophagy, which is a dynamic process whereby autophagosomes are newly generated and subsequently degraded, is probably occurring in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation.
Relationship between olfactory function and social cognition in euthymic bipolar patients
Authors: Lahera Guillermo , Ruiz-Murugarren Salvador , Fernández-Liria Alberto , Saiz-Ruiz Jerónimo , Buck Benjamin E. , Penn David L. 
Published: June 2013

Objective/IntroductionThere is a close functional and neuroanatomical relationship between olfactory ability and emotional processing. The present study seeks to explore the association between olfactory ability and social cognition, especially facial emotion perception, in euthymic bipolar patients.MethodsThirty-nine euthymic outpatients meeting DSM-IV-TR criteria for bipolar disorder and 40 healthy volunteers matched on socio-demographic criteria were recruited. Both groups were assessed at one time point with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), the Emotion Recognition Test, and The Faux Pas Recognition Test, as well as measures of general cognition and functioning.ResultsThe bipolar patients showed a significant impairment in olfactory identification (UPSIT) and social cognition measures compared to healthy controls. Analyses revealed significant relationships between olfactory identification and facial emotion recognition, theory of mind, general cognition, and a trend-level relationship with functioning. Controlling for age and cigarettes smoked, relationships remained significant between olfactory function and facial emotion recognition.ConclusionThere is a deficit of olfactory identification in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder that is correlated with a deficit in both verbal and non-verbal measures of social cognition.
Heart rate variability is a trait marker of major depressive disorder: evidence from the sertraline vs. electric current therapy to treat depression clinical study
Authors: Brunoni Andre Russowsky , Kemp Andrew H. , Dantas Eduardo M. , Goulart Alessandra C. , Nunes Maria Angélica , Boggio Paulo S. , Mill José Geraldo , Lotufo Paulo A. , Fregni Felipe , Benseñor Isabela M. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractDecreased heart rate variability (HRV) is a cardiovascular predictor of mortality. Recent debate has focused on whether reductions in HRV in major depressive disorder (MDD) are a consequence of the disorder or a consequence of pharmacotherapy. Here we report on the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-pharmacological intervention, vs. sertraline to further investigate this issue. The employed design was a double-blind, randomized, factorial, placebo-controlled trial. One hundred and eighteen moderate-to-severe, medication-free, low-cardiovascular risk depressed patients were recruited for this study and allocated to either active/sham tDCS (10 consecutive sessions plus two extra sessions every other week) or placebo/sertraline (50 mg/d) for 6 wk. Patients were age and gender-matched to healthy controls from a concurrent cohort study [the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)]. The impact of disorder, treatment and clinical response on HRV (root mean square of successive differences and high frequency) was examined. Our findings confirmed that patients displayed decreased HRV relative to controls. Furthermore, HRV scores did not change following treatment with either a non-pharmacological (tDCS) or pharmacological (sertraline) intervention, nor did HRV increase with clinical response to treatment. Based on these findings, we discuss whether reduced HRV is a trait-marker for MDD, which may predispose patients to a host of conditions and disease even after response to treatment. Our findings have important implications for our understanding of depression pathophysiology and the relationship between MDD, cardiovascular disorders and mortality.