bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological assays reveal age-related changes in synaptic transmission at the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular junction that are modified by reduced insulin signalling
Authors: Mulcahy Ben , Holden-Dye Lindy , O'Connor Vincent 
Published: October 2012

Summary
Frailty is a feature of neuromuscular ageing. Here we provide insight into the relative contribution of pre and postsynaptic dysfunction to neuromuscular ageing using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Assays of C. elegans motility highlight a precipitous decline during ageing. We describe a novel deployment of pharmacological assays of C. elegans neuromuscular function to resolve pre and postsynaptic dysfunction that underpin this decreased motility during ageing. The cholinergic agonist levamisole and the cholinesterase inhibitor aldicarb elicited whole worm contraction and allowed a direct comparison of neuromuscular integrity, from 1 to 16 days old: Measurements could be made from aged worms that were otherwise almost completely immobile. The rapidity and magnitude of the drug-induced contraction provides a measure of neuromuscular signalling whilst the difference between levamisole and aldicarb highlights presynaptic effects. Presynaptic neuromuscular transmission increased between one and five days old in wild-type but not in the insulin/IGF1 receptor mutant daf-2 (e1370). Intriguingly, there was no evidence of a role for insulin-dependent effects in older worms. Notably in 16 day old worms, which were virtually devoid of spontaneous movement, the maximal contraction produced by both drugs was unchanged. Taken together the data support a maturation of presynaptic function and/or upstream elements during early ageing that is lost after genetic reduction of insulin signalling. Furthermore, this experimental approach has demonstrated a counterintuitive phenomenon: In aged worms neuromuscular strength is maintained despite the absence of motility.
Glucose uptake and metabolism by RBCs from fish with different extracellular glucose levels
Authors: Driedzic William R. , Clow Kathy A. , Short Connie E. 
Published: October 2012

Summary
The aim of the study was to assess if mechanisms of glucose trafficking by red blood cells (RBCs) relates to species specific extracellular glucose levels. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus), and short-horned sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) had plasma glucose levels of 4 mmol l-1, 4.1 mmol l-1, 1.95 mmol l-1, and 0.73 mmol l-1, respectively. Glucose uptake by isolated RBCs was measured by the initial incorporation of [6-14C]-glucose and steady state glucose metabolism was determined by the production of 3H2O from [2-3H]-glucose. Saturation kinetics of glucose uptake and inhibition of both glucose uptake and metabolism by cytochalasin B and phloretin revealed that Atlantic cod, cunner, and sculpin RBCs all had a facilitated transport component to glucose trafficking. RBCs from Atlantic salmon showed a linear relationship between glucose uptake and extracellular glucose level but exhibited clear inhibition of glucose metabolism by cytochalasin B and phloretin suggesting a component of facilitated glucose transport that is more elusive to detect. The production of 3H2O was linear for at least 6 hr and as such presents a rigorous approach to measuring glycolytic rate. Steady state rates of glucose metabolism were achieved at extracellular levels of approximately 1 mmol l-1 glucose for RBCs from all species showing that within species normal extracellular glucose level is not a primary determinant of basal level of glycolysis. At physiological levels of extracellular glucose the ratio of initial glucose uptake to glucose metabolism was 1.5 to 4 for all RBCs suggesting that there is scope to increase metabolic rate without alteration of the basal glucose uptake capacity.
Metal Nanoparticle Catalysts for Oxidation of Propene with Molecular Oxygen
Authors: Toshima Naoki , Kawashima Keisuke 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
AgPd bimetallic nanoparticles were prepared by the reduction of the salts of Ag+ and Pd2+ ions with NaBH4 in the presence of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) in an aqueous solution placed in an ice bath and were characterized with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS). The prepared AgPd bimetallic nanoparticles had higher catalytic activity and selectivity for aerobic oxidation of propene to propene oxide than did conventional Pd salts and Pd and Ag monometallic nanoparticles.
Fatigue Crack Assessment of Asphalt Concrete Pavement on a Single Span Highway Bridge Subjected to a Moving Truck
Authors: Seo Youngguk , Baek Cheolmin , Kim Y. Richard 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Characterization of fatigue crack in asphalt concrete (AC) pavement placed on the bridge is quite complex because it involves not only viscoelastic behavior of AC mixture but also dynamic interaction between bridge and traffic. In this study, a new approach that accounts for these material and structural aspects of the problem has been proposed to evaluate the fatigue crack potential of AC pavement on the bridge. A highway bridge surfaced with the 13-mm stone mastic asphalt (SMA) pavement that was subjected to a moving two-axle dump truck was selected as a simulation target and its equation of motion was derived using the Lagrange’s formulation. Given the range of testing variables, the maximum center deflections of the bridge were calculated and converted into the peak strains at the bottom of the SMA pavement. A simplified linear viscoelastic continuum damage model (S-VECD) was then implemented for the strains ranging from the largest peak strain to the specified allowable strain to predict the fatigue life of the SMA. The outputs showed that the fatigue life of the SMA got shorter as strain increases, and that hard SMA failed earlier than soft SMA. It was also found that SMA’s temperature was more influential than vehicle’s speed in causing fatigue cracks.
Reduced atherogenic indices in prepubertal girls with precocious adrenarche born appropriate for gestational age in relation to the conundrum of DHEAS
Authors: Uçar Ahmet , Saka Nurçin , Baş Firdevs , Hatipoğlu Nihal , Bundak Rüveyde , Darendeliler Feyza 
Published: October 2012

Context
An association between low birth weight, insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, and atherogenesis has been shown in girls with precocious adrenarche (PA).

Objective
To evaluate whether girls with PA born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) have increased risk for metabolic complications at initial evaluation.

Design/methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study on 69 AGA born girls with PA (mean (±s.d.) age 7.1±1 years) and 45 body mass index (BMI)- and waist circumference (WC)-matched prepubertal peers born AGA (mean (±s.d.) 7.5±1.9 years). A standard 2-h oral glucose tolerance test with insulin sampling was performed. Fasting plasma lipids and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were analyzed, and blood pressure was recorded. Insulin sensitivity (IS) index (ISIcomp), homeostasis model assessment of IR, and atherogenic index (AI) (triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were calculated.

Setting
The study was performed at University Hospital.

Results
AI was significantly lower in girls with PA than in controls (P<0.001), and it was correlated with BMI SDS (r=0.44, P=0.001) and WC (r=0.39, P=0.001). The significant correlation of AI with ISIcomp (r=−0.38, P=0.001) disappeared after correcting for BMI (r=−0.185, P=0.16). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that DHEAS was the only significant parameter influencing AI in girls with born AGA (R
2=0.475 β=−0.018, P=0.0001).

Conclusions
Metabolic screening in prepubertal AGA born girls with PA may yield favorable lipid profiles. AI in girls with PA is increased in relation to decreasing IS and increasing BMI and WC. DHEAS seems to have the most significant effect on AI.
Prednisolone reduces the ability of serum to activate the IGF1 receptor in vitro without affecting circulating total or free IGF1
Authors: Frystyk Jan , Schou Anders J , Heuck Carsten , Vorum Henrik , Lyngholm Mikkel , Flyvbjerg Allan , Wolthers Ole D 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveEnd-point bioassays based on thymidine or sulfate incorporation have demonstrated that glucocorticoid (GC) treatment inhibits serum IGF1 action, but the mechanism is unknown as serum IGF1 concentrations have been reported to either increase or remain unchanged.AimTo investigate whether GC treatment affects the ability of serum to activate the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) in vitro (i.e. bioactive IGF1), using a specific cell-based IGF1 kinase receptor activation assay.Subjects and methodsTwenty children with stable asthma (age 7.7–13.8 years) treated for 1 week with 5 mg prednisolone in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. Non-fasting serum samples were collected in the afternoon after each 7-day period and assayed for bioactive IGF1, free IGF1, total IGFs, IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), and insulin.ResultsPrednisolone treatment reduced IGF1 bioactivity by 12.6% from 2.22±0.18 to 1.94±0.15 μg/l (P=0.01) compared with placebo. In contrast, no changes were observed for (μg/l; placebo vs prednisolone) total IGF1 (215±27 vs 212±24), free IGF1 (1.50±0.16 vs 1.43±0.17), total IGF2 (815±26 vs 800±31), IGFBP3 (3140±101 vs 3107±95), IGFBP2 (238±21 vs 220±19), IGFBP1 (32±6 vs 42±10), or IGFBP1-bound IGF1 (24±5 vs 26±7). Insulin remained unchanged as did IGFBP levels as estimated by western ligand blotting. Prednisolone had no direct effects on IGF1R phosphorylation.ConclusionsOur study gives evidence that GC treatment induces a circulating substance that is able to inhibit IGF1R activation in vitro without affecting circulating free or total IGF1. This may be one of the mechanisms by which GC inhibits IGF1 action in vivo. However, the nature of this circulating substance remains to be identified.
Effects of Si and Ni nanoparticles in Brazing process on fracture surfaces of 304 stainless steels
Authors: Hdz-García H. M. , Acevedo-Dávila J. L. , García-Cerda L. A. , Pech-Canul M. I. , Muñoz-Arroyo R. , Reyes-Valdes F. A. , Hernández-García F. A. , Aguilar-Martínez J. A. 
Published: October 2012

AbstractIn order to increase the wettability and capillary forces of the filler metal between micro-cracking and micro-porous on the fracture surfaces of 304 stainless steels, methods of impregnation of Si and growth of Ni nanoparticles were used. These nanoparticles have a role inside the Transient Liquid Phase (TLP) and the substrate when using Brazing process. TLP can react with the nanoparticles previously deposited between micro-cracking and micro-porous and therefore promotes the nucleation and growth sites of phases and decreases the formation of eutectic structures. This method increases the effectiveness of metallic components reparation using Brazing process. Such effectiveness is indicated by an inspection of microstructural failure analysis, as a first stage, in the covered zone by the filler metal.
Accuracy of radiographic vertebral heart score and sphericity index in the detection of pericardial effusion in dogs
Authors: Guglielmini Carlo , Diana Alessia , Santarelli Giorgia , Torbidone Alessandra , Di Tommaso Morena , Baron Toaldo Marco , Cipone Mario 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of radiographically derived measurements of vertebral heart score (VHS) and sphericity index (SI) in the detection of pericardial effusion (PE) in dogs.
Design—Retrospective case-control study.
Animals—51 dogs with PE associated with various cardiac disorders, 50 dogs with left- or right-sided cardiac disorders without PE, 50 dogs with bilateral cardiac disorders without PE, and 50 healthy dogs.
Procedures—Measurements of VHS on lateral (lateral VHS) and ventrodorsal (ventrodorsal VHS) radiographs, SI on lateral (lateral SI) and ventrodorsal (ventrodorsal SI) radiographs, and global SI (mean of lateral SI and ventrodorsal SI) were obtained. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the radiographic indexes at differentiating dogs with PE from those with other cardiac disorders without PE.
Results—Measurements of lateral and ventrodorsal VHS were significantly higher in dogs with PE, compared with values for all dogs without PE. Measurements of lateral, ventrodorsal, and global SI were significantly lower in dogs with PE, compared with values for all dogs without PE. Cutoff values of > 11.9, > 12.3, and ≤ 1.17 for lateral VHS, ventrodorsal VHS, and global SI, respectively, were the most accurate radiographic indexes for identifying dogs with PE.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Cardiac silhouettes of dogs with PE were larger and more rounded, compared with those of dogs with other cardiac disorders without PE. Objective radiographic indexes of cardiac size and roundness were only moderately accurate at distinguishing dogs with PE from dogs with other cardiac disorders without PE.
Tumor thrombus formation in two dogs with insulinomas
Authors: Hambrook Lydia E. , Kudnig Simon T. 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Case Description—A 9-year-old sexually intact male Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a 9-year-old neutered male Boxer were evaluated for intermittent neurologic signs including muscle tremors, ataxia, episodic collapse, disorientation, and seizures.
Clinical Findings—Both dogs had low blood glucose and high serum insulin concentrations. Results of abdominal ultrasonography were unremarkable for both dogs. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a mass that extended from the body of the pancreas into the pancreaticoduodenal vein in each dog.
Treatment and Outcome—Marginal resection of pancreatic masses was performed, and tumor thrombi were removed via venotomy in both dogs. Histologic evaluation indicated the masses were pancreatic islet cell tumors with tumor thrombi. Clinical signs resolved following surgical resection of tumors and tumor thrombi, and the dogs were euglycemic during the follow-up period (17 and 45 months after surgery).
Clinical Relevance—Although gross tumor thrombus formation has been identified in humans with insulinomas, tumor thrombi have not been previously reported for dogs with insulinomas. Surgical removal of tumor thrombi via venotomy seemed to be well tolerated by the dogs. Tumor thrombus formation did not seem to adversely affect prognosis for the 2 dogs of this report.
Effect of orally administered electrolyte solution formulation on abomasal luminal pH and emptying rate in dairy calves
Authors: Smith Geof W. , Ahmed Ahmed F. , Constable Peter D. 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
Objective—To determine the effects of 3 commercially available, orally administered electrolyte solutions (OAEs) on abomasal luminal pH and emptying rate in dairy calves, compared with the effect of orally administered milk replacer.
Design—Randomized crossover study.
Animals—6 male dairy calves (age, 12 to 31 days).
Procedures—Calves were surgically instrumented with an abomasal cannula and were administered 4 treatments in randomized order: all-milk protein milk replacer, high-glucose high-bicarbonate OAE, high-glucose high-bicarbonate OAE containing glycine, and low-glucose OAE containing acetate and propionate. Abomasal luminal pH was measured with a miniature glass pH electrode prior to treatment administration and every second afterward for 24 hours.
Results—Feeding of orally administered milk replacer resulted in a rapid increase in mean abomasal luminal pH from 1.3 to 5.8, followed by a gradual decrease to preprandial values by 8 hours afterward (mean 24-hour pH, 3.2). High-glucose high-bicarbonate OAEs caused a large and sustained increase from 1.3 to 7.5 (mean 24-hour pH, 4.1 for the solution without glycine and 3.5 for the solution with glycine). In contrast, feeding of the acetate-containing OAE was followed by only a mild and transient increase (mean 24-hour pH, 2.1); luminal pH returned to preprandial values by 3 hours after ingestion.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Ingestion of a bicarbonate-containing OAE resulted in sustained abomasal alkalinization in dairy calves. Because persistently high abomasal luminal pH may facilitate growth of enteropathogenic bacteria, administration of OAEs containing a high bicarbonate concentration (> 70mM) is not recommended for calves with diarrhea.
Awake mapping for resection of cavernous angioma and surrounding gliosis in the left dominant hemisphere: surgical technique and functional results
Authors: Matsuda Ryosuke , Coello Alejandro Fernández , De Benedictis Alessandro , Martinoni Matteo , Duffau Hugues 
Published: October 2012

Object
Maximal resection of symptomatic cavernous angioma (CA), including its surrounding gliosis if possible, has been recommended to minimize the risk of seizures or (re)bleeding. However, despite recent neurosurgical advances, such extensive CA removal is still a challenge in eloquent areas. The authors report a consecutive series of patients who underwent awake surgery for CA within the left dominant hemisphere in which intraoperative cortical–subcortical electrical stimulation was used.

Methods
Nine patients harboring a CA that was revealed by seizures in 6 cases and bleeding in 3 cases underwent resection. All CAs were located in the left dominant hemisphere: 3 temporal, 2 insular, 2 parietal, and 2 in the parietotemporal region. Awake mapping was performed in all cases by using intraoperative cortical–subcortical electrical stimulation and ultrasonography (except in 1 insular CA in which a neuronavigation system was used).

Results
Total removal of the CA was achieved in all patients, with identification and preservation of language and sensory-motor structures. In addition, the pericavernomatous gliosis was removed in 7 cases, according to the functional boundaries provided by intraoperative subcortical stimulation. In 2 cases, subcortical mapping revealed eloquent areas within the surrounding gliosis, which was voluntarily avoided. There was no postsurgical permanent deficit, no rebleeding, and no epilepsy in 7 cases (2 patients had rare seizures in the 1st year or two after surgery, and then complete arrest), with a mean follow-up of 28.5 months (range 3–64 months).

Conclusions
These results suggest that intraoperative cortical–subcortical stimulation in awake patients represents a valuable adjunct to image-guided surgery with the aim of selecting the safer surgical approach for CAs involving eloquent areas. Moreover, such online mapping can be helpful when removing the pericavernomatous gliosis while preserving functional structures, which can persist within the hemosiderin rim. Thus, the authors propose that awake surgery be routinely considered, both to optimize the resection and to improve the quality of life through seizure control and avoidance of (re)bleeding for CAs located in the left dominant hemisphere.
Accessible Internet-of-Things and Internet-of-Content Services for All in the Home or on the Move
Authors: Tektonidis Dimitris , Koumpis Adamantios 
Published: October 2012

Public authorities and national healthcare service providers across the European Union and beyond are increasingly under pressure to deliver better services with diminishing resources. Users, quite rightly, demand a high standard of service and increasingly also convenience focused on the needs of the users rather than how the services are organised to deliver them. Users, on the whole, also prefer to be supported in their homes, and be free to move as much as possible. While users without impairments and generally well provided for, there are increasingly also users who have special needs, including the aged and those with a range of physical and mental disabilities who are unable to make effective use of such services from their homes due to the lack of proactive and accessible services.
The idea we promote in the chapter is to provide better support to users with disabilities and impairments from the comfort of their home by means of providing them with a set of scalable services which can be either offered for free or purchased through some central form of a marketplace repository.
Chiral Tridentate P,N,N Ligands for Highly Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed Propargylic Amination with both Primary and Secondary Amines as Nucleophiles
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Wang Ya‐Hui , Hu Xin‐Hu , Zheng Zhuo , Xu Jie , Hu Xiang‐Ping 
Published: September 2012

AbstractChiral tridentate P,N,N ligands have been demonstrated to be highly efficient for the copper‐catalyzed enantioselective propargylic amination of propargylic acetates with both primary and secondary amines as nucleophiles, affording the corresponding propargylic amines in high yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 97% ee for secondary amines, and up to 96% ee for primary amines). Furthermore, the present catalytic system was also effective for the more challenging aliphatic propargylic acetate substrates.
Association between work–family conflict and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care workers
Authors: Kim Seung‐Sup , Okechukwu Cassandra A. , Buxton Orfeu M. , Dennerlein Jack T. , Boden Leslie I. , Hashimoto Dean M. , Sorensen Glorian 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundA growing body of evidence suggests that work–family conflict is an important risk factor for workers' health and well‐being. The goal of this study is to examine association between work–family conflict and musculoskeletal pain among hospital patient care workers.MethodsWe analyzed a cross‐sectional survey of 1,119 hospital patient care workers in 105 units in two urban, academic hospitals. Work–family conflict was measured by 5‐item Work–Family Conflict Scale questionnaire. Multilevel logistic regression was applied to examine associations between work–family conflict and self‐reported musculoskeletal pain in the past 3 months, adjusting for covariates including work‐related psychosocial factors and physical work factors.ResultsIn fully adjusted models, high work–family conflict was strongly associated with neck or shoulder pain (OR: 2.34, 95% CI: 1.64–3.34), arm pain (OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.64–4.75), lower extremity pain (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.54–3.15) and any musculoskeletal pain (OR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.56–3.85), and a number of body areas in pain (OR: 2.47, 95% CI: 1.82–3.36) in the past 3 months. The association with low back pain was attenuated and became non‐significant after adjusting for covariates.ConclusionsGiven the consistent associations between work–family conflict and self‐reported musculoskeletal pains, the results suggest that work–family conflict could be an important domain for health promotion and workplace policy development among hospital patient care workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:488–495, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.