bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics of procaterol in thoroughbred horses
Authors: Kusano K. , Nomura M. , Toju K. , Ishikawa Y. , Minamijima Y. , Yamashita S. , Nagata S. 
Published: November 2015

Procaterol (PCR) is a beta‐2‐adrenergic bronchodilator widely used in Japanese racehorses for treating lower respiratory disease. The pharmacokinetics of PCR following single intravenous (0.5 μg/kg) and oral (2.0 μg/kg) administrations were investigated in six thoroughbred horses. Plasma and urine concentrations of PCR were measured using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Plasma PCR concentration following intravenous administration showed a biphasic elimination pattern. The systemic clearance was 0.47 ± 0.16 L/h/kg, the steady‐state volume of the distribution was 1.21 ± 0.23 L/kg, and the elimination half‐life was 2.85 ± 1.35 h. Heart rate rapidly increased after intravenous administration and gradually decreased thereafter. A strong correlation between heart rate and plasma concentration of PCR was observed. Plasma concentrations of PCR after oral administration were not quantifiable in all horses. Urine concentrations of PCR following intravenous and oral administrations were quantified in all horses until 32 h after administration. Urine PCR concentrations were not significantly different on and after 24 h between intravenous and oral administrations. These results suggest that the bioavailability of orally administrated PCR in horses is very poor, and the drug was eliminated from the body slowly based on urinary concentrations. This report is the first study to demonstrate the pharmacokinetic character of PCR in thoroughbred horses.
Evaluation of Nd:YAG laser device efficacy on onychomycosis: a case series of 30 patients
Authors: Helou J. , Maatouk I. , Hajjar M. A. , Moutran R. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryUntil recently, pharmacologic molecules have been the only available treatments for onychomycosis. Laser treatments were introduced for recurrent or resistant cases or in patients in whom oral treatments are contra‐indicated. Some devices were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Neodymium yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) is used for onychomycosis as a short‐pulse or a long‐pulse system. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of the short‐pulse Nd:YAG in treating onychomycosis, its side effects, cure rates, and 12‐month recurrence rates. Efficacy was evaluated based on a subjective measure of patient satisfaction on a scale from 1 to 10, and an objective measure based on the results of the mycologic cultures. Medical records of 30 patients were reviewed. Ages ranged from 22 to 85, with a mean of 44. Mycologic cure at 12 months was not achieved in 5 patients (16.67%) who had received laser treatment. None of these patients showed any signs of clinical improvement. Twenty patients (66.67%) were completely cured at 12 months, with corroborating negative mycologic cultures. The remaining five patients (16.67%) had discordance between their clinical cure status and their mycologic cultures. Side effects were reported by 7 patients out of 30 (33%): pain within 48 hours of the treatment session, burning sensation in the treated nail bed area. Our primary end point of negative mycologic cultures at 12 months was seen in 24 out of 30 (80%) of our patients. Similar culture cure rates have not been reported before, not even with systemic treatments with oral antifungals. However, few limitations should warrant us (False‐negative results in fungal cultures; time limitation; sample size…). Still, we propose that this alternative should be offered for patients in whom antifungals are contraindicated or for patients previously treated, but not cured by oral antifungals, and in elderly and polymedicated patients.
Neurodegeneration in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and motor neurone disease associated with expansions in C9orf72 is linked to TDP‐43 pathology and not associated with aggregated forms of dipeptide repeat proteins
Authors: Davidson Y. , Robinson A. C. , Liu X. , Wu D. , Troakes C. , Rollinson S. , Masuda‐Suzukake M. , Suzuki G. , Nonaka T. , Shi J. , Tian J. , Hamdalla H. , Ealing J. , Richardson A. , Jones M. , Pickering‐Brown S. , Snowden J. S. , Hasegawa M. , Mann D. M. A. 
Published: November 2015

AimsA hexanucleotide expansion in C9orf72 is the major genetic cause of inherited behavioural variant Frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and motor neurone disease (MND), although the pathological mechanism(s) underlying disease remains uncertain.MethodsUsing antibodies to poly‐GA, poly‐GP, poly‐GR, poly‐AP and poly‐PR proteins, we examined sections of cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, cerebellum and spinal cord, from 20 patients with bvFTD and/or MND bearing an expansion in C9orf72 for aggregated deposits of dipeptide repeat proteins (DPR).ResultsAntibodies to poly‐GA, poly‐GP and poly‐GR detected numerous rounded cytoplasmic inclusions (NCI) within granule cells of hippocampal dentate gyrus and those of the cerebellum, as well as ‘star‐burst’ shaped NCI in pyramidal neurones of CA3/4 region of hippocampus. NCI were uncommon in Purkinje cells, and only very rarely seen in anterior horn cells. Poly‐PA antibody detected occasional NCI within CA3/4 neurones alone, whereas poly‐PR antibody did not identify any NCI but immunostained the nucleus of anterior horn cells, CA3/4 neurones and Purkinje cells, in patients with or without expansion in C9orf72, as well as in normal controls. Poly‐GA antibody generally detected more DPR than poly‐GP, which in turn was greater than poly‐GR. All patients with bvFTD + MND or MND showed plentiful p62/TDP‐43 positive inclusions in remaining anterior horn cells.ConclusionDegeneration and loss of anterior horn cells associated with expansions in C9orf72 occurs in the absence of DPR, and implies that changes involving loss of nuclear staining for and a cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP‐43 are more likely to be the cause of this.
Factors underlying genotypic differences in the induction of photosynthesis in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]
Authors: Soleh Mochamad Arief , Tanaka Yu , Nomoto Yuko , Iwahashi Yu , Nakashima Keiichiro , Fukuda Yasuko , Long Stephen P. , Shiraiwa Tatsuhiko 
Published: November 2015

AbstractCrop leaves are subject to continually changing light levels in the field. Photosynthetic efficiency of a crop canopy and productivity will depend significantly on how quickly a leaf can acclimate to a change. One measure of speed of response is the rate of photosynthesis increase toward its steady state on transition from low to high light. This rate was measured for seven genotypes of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. After 10 min of illumination, cultivar ‘UA4805’ (UA) had achieved a leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn) of 23.2 μmol · m−2 · s−1, close to its steady‐state rate, while the slowest cultivar ‘Tachinagaha’ (Tc) had only reached 13.0 μmol · m−2 · s−1 and was still many minutes from obtaining steady state. This difference was further investigated by examining induction at a range of carbon dioxide concentrations. Applying a biochemical model of limitations to photosynthesis to the responses of Pn to intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), it was found that the speed of apparent in vivo activation of ribulose‐1:5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) was responsible for this difference. Sequence analysis of the Rubisco activase gene revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms that could relate to this difference. The results show a potential route for selection of cultivars with increased photosynthetic efficiency in fluctuating light.
Genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Sphaceloma rosarum (teleomorph Elsinoë rosarum) causing spot anthracnose on roses
Authors: Bagsic I. , Linde M. , Debener T. 
Published: November 2015

Roses produced or grown in the field, as well as pot‐grown and cut roses, are attacked by different fungal pathogens causing leaf spot diseases. The incorrect identification and scoring of these pathogens and the lack of information about their genetic and pathotype diversity hamper resistance breeding. This is especially true for the hemibiotrophic ascomycete Sphaceloma rosarum, which is often confused with other fungi. Here for the first time, the genetic variability between isolates at both the molecular and morphological level is analysed. Eighty leaf spot samples were collected from different rose genotypes at five different locations, and 15 single conidial isolates established. All of the samples showed high morphological similarities to the reference isolate CBS 213.33 that was obtained from a public repository. By sequencing a part of the large subunit (LSU) of the 28S ribosomal RNA and phylogenetic analysis, high sequence similarities were shown to other Sphaceloma species for 13 of the isolates and the CBS reference. One of the isolates clustered with Septoria species and another clustered with Seimatosporium species. UPGMA clustering with 145 polymorphic AFLP markers resulted in five distinct groups in the majority rule consensus tree for the 14 S. rosarum isolates, including the CBS reference. Jaccard similarities ranged from 0·31 to 0·91. A detached leaf assay using a differential set of five rose genotypes led to the classification of the five tested isolates as five distinct pathotypes. Therefore, grouping depending on the avirulence gene diversity was clearly different from clustering using selectively neutral AFLP markers that were evenly distributed throughout the genome.
The Theory and Practice of Welfare Partnerships: The Case of the Cultural Sector
Authors: McCall Vikki , Rummery Kirstein 
Published: November 2015

AbstractPartnership working in the welfare state has moved from the margins to the mainstream in terms of achieving policy objectives. Drawing on interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical developments in the field, this article presents a framework for analyzing welfare partnerships that give precedence to the issues of trust and interdependence. This article presents findings from a study of local authority museum services in Scotland, England and Wales to test this framework. A series of case studies revealed that partnerships have been driven by a number of factors including policy, power, funding and people. Partnerships could gain services credibility, but trust and interdependence were compromised by conflictual and unequal relationships. Partnerships were often short term, lacked ongoing maintenance plans and limited by their type of funding. The article proposes that further analysis of the level of individual agency at ground level be considered when thinking about partnerships in the cultural sector.
Disabling Ideas – Disabling Policies: The Case of Disability Employment Policy in the Newly Established Israeli State
Authors: Holler Roni 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBy integrating a social perspective of disability with an ideational approach to social policy, the present study seeks to illuminate the central role of ideas in shaping disability policy. Using employment policy towards civilian disabled people in the newly established Israeli State (1948–65) as a case study, this examination highlights the key role played by the Israeli welfare system in excluding disabled people and structuring the disability category. This case illustrates how the paradigmatic perception of disability, loaded with patronizing attitudes towards the new Mizrachi immigrants, operated both as ‘cognitive locks’ and as a means for gradual yet transformative change. It is argued that this kind of ideational change is best identified and interpreted by assuming that paradigms are relational in nature.
Biphasic decay of the Ca transient results from increased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca leak
Authors: Sankaranarayanan Rajiv , Li Yatong , Greensmith David J. , Eisner David A. , Venetucci Luigi 
Published: November 2015

Key points
Ca leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through the ryanodine receptor (RyR) reduces the amplitude of the Ca transient and slows its rate of decay.
In the presence of β‐adrenergic stimulation, RyR‐mediated Ca leak produces a biphasic decay of the Ca transient with a fast early phase and a slow late phase.
Two forms of Ca leak have been studied, Ca‐sensitising (induced by caffeine) and non‐sensitising (induced by ryanodine) and both induce biphasic decay of the Ca transient.
Only Ca‐sensitising leak can be reversed by traditional RyR inhibitors such as tetracaine.
Ca leak can also induce Ca waves. At low levels of leak, waves occur. As leak is increased, first biphasic decay and then slowed monophasic decay is seen. The level of leak has major effects on the shape of the Ca transient.
AbstractIn heart failure, a reduction in Ca transient amplitude and contractile dysfunction can by caused by Ca leak through the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca channel (ryanodine receptor, RyR) and/or decreased activity of the SR Ca ATPase (SERCA). We have characterised the effects of two forms of Ca leak (Ca‐sensitising and non‐sensitising) on calcium cycling and compared with those of SERCA inhibition. We measured [Ca2+]i with fluo‐3 in voltage‐clamped rat ventricular myocytes. Increasing SR leak with either caffeine (to sensitise the RyR to Ca activation) or ryanodine (non‐sensitising) had similar effects to SERCA inhibition: decreased systolic [Ca2+]i, increased diastolic [Ca2+]i and slowed decay. However, in the presence of isoproterenol, leak produced a biphasic decay of the Ca transient in the majority of cells while SERCA inhibition produced monophasic decay. Tetracaine reversed the effects of caffeine but not of ryanodine. When caffeine (1 mmol l−1) was added to a cell which displayed Ca waves, the wave frequency initially increased before waves disappeared and biphasic decay developed. Eventually (at higher caffeine concentrations), the biphasic decay was replaced by slow decay. We conclude that, in the presence of adrenergic stimulation, Ca leak can produce biphasic decay; the slow phase results from the leak opposing Ca uptake by SERCA. The degree of leak determines whether decay of Ca waves, biphasic or monophasic, occurs.
A New MPPT Algorithm for Vehicle Integrated Solar Energy System
Authors: Nakir Ismail , Durusu Ali , Akca Hakan , Ajder Ali , Ayaz Ramazan , Ugur Enes , Tanrioven Mugdesem 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) systems are considered as a support unit and eco-friendly energy source for the electric vehicles. If the surface of the electric vehicle is covered by PV cells, it is possible to store considerable amount of energy in the battery system. In this study, different maximum power point trackers (MPPT) with different maximum power point (MPP) tracking algorithms have been tested on a PV structure moving according to a predefined motion loop. Compatibility of each algorithm to moving systems, such as electric vehicles, is presented in a real experimental environment. As a result of these experiments, positive factors in each algorithm have been defined and a new MPP tracking algorithm convenient for moving vehicle has been proposed. The proposed MPPT algorithm shows a better performance than other MPPT algorithms under fast varying radiations. However, proposed algorithm brings slightly higher costs compared to usage of other MPPT algorithms since it requires the measurement of solar irradiance. The developed algorithm is described in detail and comparative analysis and performance evaluation with other algorithms are presented.
A Subset of CD4/CD8 Double-Negative T Cells Expresses HIV Proteins in Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: DeMaster Laura K. , Liu Xiaohe , VanBelzen D. Jake , Trinité Benjamin , Zheng Lingjie , Agosto Luis M. , Migueles Stephen A. , Connors Mark , Sambucetti Lidia , Levy David N. , Pasternak Alexander O. , O'Doherty Una 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACT

A major goal in HIV eradication research is characterizing the reservoir cells that harbor HIV in the presence of antiretroviral therapy (ART), which reseed viremia after treatment is stopped. In general, it is assumed that the reservoir consists of CD4
+
T cells that express no viral proteins. However, recent findings suggest that this may be an overly simplistic view and that the cells that contribute to the reservoir may be a diverse population that includes both CD4
+
and CD4
−
cells. In this study, we directly infected resting CD4
+
T cells and used fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and fiber-optic array scanning technology (FAST) to identify and image cells expressing HIV Gag. We found that Gag expression from integrated proviruses occurred in resting cells that lacked surface CD4, likely resulting from Nef- and Env-mediated receptor internalization. We also extended our approach to detect cells expressing HIV proteins in patients suppressed on ART. We found evidence that rare Gag
+
cells persist during ART and that these cells are often negative for CD4. We propose that these double-negative α/β T cells that express HIV protein may be a component of the long-lived reservoir.

IMPORTANCE
A reservoir of infected cells persists in HIV-infected patients during antiretroviral therapy (ART) that leads to rebound of virus if treatment is stopped. In this study, we used flow cytometry and cell imaging to characterize protein expression in HIV-infected resting cells. HIV Gag protein can be directly detected in infected resting cells and occurs with simultaneous loss of CD4, consistent with the expression of additional viral proteins, such as Env and Nef. Gag
+
CD4
−
cells can also be detected in suppressed patients, suggesting that a subset of infected cells express proteins during ART. Understanding the regulation of viral protein expression during ART will be key to designing effective strategies to eradicate HIV reservoirs.
Does physical exposure throughout working life influence chair-rise performance in midlife? A retrospective cohort study of associations between work and physical function in Denmark
Authors: Møller Anne , Reventlow Susanne , Hansen Åse Marie , Andersen Lars L , Siersma Volkert , Lund Rikke , Avlund Kirsten , Andersen Johan Hviid , Mortensen Ole Steen 
Published: November 2015

ObjectivesOur aim was to study associations between physical exposures throughout working life and physical function measured as chair-rise performance in midlife.MethodsThe Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank (CAMB) provided data about employment and measures of physical function. Individual job histories were assigned exposures from a job exposure matrix. Exposures were standardised to ton-years (lifting 1000 kg each day in 1 year), stand-years (standing/walking for 6 h each day in 1 year) and kneel-years (kneeling for 1 h each day in 1 year). The associations between exposure-years and chair-rise performance (number of chair-rises in 30 s) were analysed in multivariate linear and non-linear regression models adjusted for covariates.ResultsMean age among the 5095 participants was 59 years in both genders, and, on average, men achieved 21.58 (SD=5.60) and women 20.38 (SD=5.33) chair-rises in 30 s. Physical exposures were associated with poorer chair-rise performance in both men and women, however, only associations between lifting and standing/walking and chair-rise remained statistically significant among men in the final model. Spline regression analyses showed non-linear associations and confirmed the findings.ConclusionsHigher physical exposure throughout working life is associated with slightly poorer chair-rise performance. The associations between exposure and outcome were non-linear.
Automated PCR detection ofBRAFmutations in colorectal adenocarcinoma: a diagnostic test accuracy study
Authors: Colling Richard , Wang Lai Mun , Soilleux Elizabeth 
Published: November 2015

BackgroundTesting forBRAFmutations in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is important in the screening pathway for Lynch syndrome and is of prognostic value to guide management. This is a diagnostic accuracy study of the Idylla system, a novel and automated alternative PCR system.Methods100 consecutive formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded CRC resection cases were tested forBRAFmutations using the Idylla automated platform and compared with standard (Cobas) PCR.ResultsThe sensitivity of the IdyllaBRAFtest was 100% and the specificity was 96%. Only one discordant Idylla positive/standard PCR negative result occurred and on Droplet Digital PCR demonstrated a mutation not identified by traditional PCR in this case.ConclusionThis study has validated the Idylla system forBRAFtesting in CRC and demonstrated a possibly greater sensitivity, in addition to cost effectiveness and shorter turnaround time, when compared with standard PCR.
Challenges in assessing seismic hazard in intraplate Europe
Authors: Stein Seth , Liu Mian , Camelbeeck Thierry , Merino Miguel , Landgraf Angela , Hintersberger Esther , Kübler Simon 
Published: November 2015

Abstract

Intraplate seismicity is often characterized by episodic, clustered and migrating earthquakes and extended after-shock sequences. Can these observations – primarily from North America, China and Australia – usefully be applied to seismic hazard assessment for intraplate Europe? Existing assessments are based on instrumental and historical seismicity of the past
c.
1000 years, as well as some data for active faults. This time span probably fails to capture typical large-event recurrence intervals of the order of tens of thousands of years. Palaeoseismology helps to lengthen the observation window, but preferentially produces data in regions suspected to be seismically active. Thus the expected maximum magnitudes of future earthquakes are fairly uncertain, possibly underestimated, and earthquakes are likely to occur in unexpected locations. These issues particularly arise in considering the hazards posed by low-probability events to both heavily populated areas and critical facilities. For example, are the variations in seismicity (and thus assumed seismic hazard) along the Rhine Graben a result of short sampling or are they real? In addition to a better assessment of hazards with new data and models, it is important to recognize and communicate uncertainties in hazard estimates. The more users know about how much confidence to place in hazard maps, the more effectively the maps can be used.
Learning to Remove Soft Shadows
Authors: Gryka Maciej , Terry Michael , Brostow Gabriel J. 
Published: November 2015

Manipulated images lose believability if the user's edits fail to account for shadows. We propose a method that makes removal and editing of soft shadows easy. Soft shadows are ubiquitous, but remain notoriously difficult to extract and manipulate. We posit that soft shadows can be segmented, and therefore edited, by learning a mapping function for image patches that generates shadow mattes. We validate this premise by removing soft shadows from photographs with only a small amount of user input.
Given only broad user brush strokes that indicate the region to be processed, our new supervised regression algorithm automatically unshadows an image, removing the umbra and penumbra. The resulting lit image is frequently perceived as a believable shadow-free version of the scene. We tested the approach on a large set of soft shadow images, and performed a user study that compared our method to the state-of-the-art and to real lit scenes. Our results are more difficult to identify as being altered and are perceived as preferable compared to prior work.