bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in thyroid system function: relevance to bipolar disorder and its treatment
Authors: Bauer Michael , Glenn Tasha , Pilhatsch Maximilian , Pfennig Andrea , Whybrow Peter C 
Published: November 2013

ObjectivesThyroid hormones play a critical role in the functioning of the adult brain, and thyroid diseases impair both mood and cognition. This paper reviews gender differences in thyroid system function that are relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder.MethodsThe study comprised a comprehensive literature review of gender differences in thyroid disease that are pertinent to mood disorders.ResultsThe prevalence of thyroid disease was found to be much higher in females than males, and to increase with age. The most commonly detected abnormality was subclinical hypothyroidism, which was found to occur in up to 20% of postmenopausal women. Females also had higher rates of thyroid autoimmunity. Individuals at risk for thyroid disease, such as adult females, may have had less ability to compensate for additional challenges to thyroid metabolism, including lithium treatment. Thyroid abnormalities were associated with a poorer response to standard treatments for mood disorders. Females with treatment‐resistant mood disorders may have responded better than males to adjunctive therapy with thyroid hormones.ConclusionsDisturbances of thyroid system function, which occur commonly in females, may complicate the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders. In particular, this is clinically relevant during lithium treatment because lithium may impair vital thyroid metabolic pathways secondary to its anti‐thyroid activity.
Pediatric Brainstem Gangliogliomas Show BRAFV600E Mutation in a High Percentage of Cases
Authors: Donson Andrew M. , Kleinschmidt‐DeMasters Bette K. , Aisner Dara L. , Bemis Lynne T. , Birks Diane K. , Levy Jean M. Mulcahy , Smith Amy A. , Handler Michael H. , Foreman Nicholas K. , Rush Sarah Z. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBrainstem gangliogliomas (GGs), often cannot be resected, have a much poorer prognosis than those located in more common supratentorial sites and may benefit from novel therapeutic approaches. Therapeutically targetable BRAF c.1799T>A (p.V600E) (BRAFV600E) mutations are harbored in roughly 50% of collective GGs taken from all anatomical sites. Large numbers of pediatric brainstem GGs, however, have not been specifically assessed and anatomic—and age‐restricted assessment of genetic and biological factors are becoming increasingly important. Pediatric brainstem GGs (n = 13), non‐brainstem GGs (n = 11) and brainstem pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) (n = 8) were screened by standard Sanger DNA sequencing of BRAF exon 15. Five of 13 (38%) pediatric GG harbored a definitive BRAFV600E mutation, with two others exhibiting an equivocal result by this method. BRAFV600E was also seen in five of 11 (45%) non‐brainstem GGs and one of eight (13%) brainstem PAs. VE1 immunostaining for BRAFV600E showed concordance with sequencing in nine of nine brainstem GGs including the two cases equivocal by Sanger. The equivocal brainstem GGs were subsequently shown to harbor BRAFV600E using a novel, more sensitive, RNA‐sequencing approach, yielding a final BRAFV600E mutation frequency of 54% (seven of 13) in brainstem GGs. BRAFV600E‐targeted therapeutics should be a consideration for the high percentage of pediatric brainstem GGs refractory to conventional therapies.
Characterization and Dielectric Properties of Novel Dielectric Ceramics CaxZn(1−x)Al2O4 for GPS Patch Antennas
Authors: Wan Jalal Wan Nasarudin , Abdullah Huda , Zulfakar Mohd Syafiq , Shaari Sahbudin , Islam Mohammad Thariqul 
Published: November 2013

A solgel method was used to prepare CaxZn(1−x)Al2O4 thin films and fabricate GPS patch antennas. The addition of calcium (Ca) has increased the εr, crystallite size, and grain size, to increase the ceramics density. The three highest Q × f values appear at the position of x = 0.05 (31,091 MHz), 0.15 (63,906 MHz), and 0.25 (40,609 MHz), respectively. The best combination of microwave dielectric properties (εr ~ 9.02), Q × f ~ 63,906 MHz and with the lowest return lost (−25 dB) is obtained for specimen using Ca0.15Zn0.85Al2O4 (x = 0.15) ceramics, which is the suggested material for GPS patch antennas.
Joining of Sintered Alumina Substrates and LTCC Green Tapes via Cold Low‐Pressure Lamination
Authors: Hambuch Michael , Gora Frieder , Beart Karin , Wittmann Frieder , Roosen Andreas 
Published: November 2013

Common technologies for the manufacture of ceramic‐based microelectronic devices are thick‐film hybrid technology and LTCC technology. The first one uses sintered ceramic substrates, mostly Al2O3, to provide very good heat conductivity, for example of 25 W/mK for alumina substrates; but there are only two sides to carry a metallization. An improved miniaturization can be accomplished by multilayer systems using the LTCC technology. A drawback of LTCCs is their low heat conductivity of typically 3 W/mK due to the high glass content. By combining hybrid and LTCC technology, the advantages of both methods can be joined. Because the failure rate is too high to laminate sintered substrates and ceramic green tapes via thermo compression, cold low‐pressure lamination (CLPL) has been used. CLPL is a lamination method, where the joining is performed at room temperature by application of very low pressure (<5 MPa) using a double‐sided adhesive tape. During heat treatment, the adhesive film keeps the tapes together until the adhesive is completely decomposed; during further temperature increase, the tapes are joined by sintering. The study describes the materials used and processing steps and discusses effects which occur during firing. These effects like edge curl and crack formation are mainly due to stresses which occur during constrained sintering.
Wide Circumferential versus Individual Isolation of Pulmonary Veins Using the Endoscopic Ablation System
Authors: WISSNER ERIK , METZNER ANDREAS , REISSMANN BRUNO , RAUSCH PETER , BARDYSZEWSKI ALEKSANDER , LEMES CHRISTINE , TILZ ROLAND RICHARD , RILLIG ANDREAS , MATHEW SHIBU , DEISS SEBASTIAN , OUYANG FEIFAN , KUCK KARL‐HEINZ 
Published: November 2013

Circumferential versus Individual Laserballoon PVIIntroductionThe endoscopic ablation system (EAS) allows for effective pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The feasibility of wide circumferential as compared to individual PVI using the EAS has not been formally assessed.MethodsPatients with paroxysmal or short‐persistent atrial fibrillation were assigned to individual PVI (group A) or wide circumferential PVI (group B). In group B, circumferential PVI was attempted only if the ipsilateral inferior PV was visualized while the ablation system targeted the superior PV and vice versa. Otherwise, individual PVI was performed.ResultsA total of 38 patients were enrolled (Group A: 20 patients, age 61 ± 7 years, LA‐diameter 43 ± 5 mm; Group B: 18 patients, age 62 ± 10 years, LA‐diameter 43 ± 4 mm). In group A, 20/20 (100%) right superior (RSPV) and inferior (RIPV) PVs, 18/19 (95%) left superior (LSPV) and inferior (LIPV) PVs, and 1/1 (100%) left common ostium (LCPV) were successfully isolated. First‐pass success rate was 95%, 85%, 68%, and 95% for the RSPV, RIPV, LSPV, and LIPV, respectively. Touch‐up radiofrequency ablation was required in 1/19 (5%) LSPV and LIPV. In group B, an attempt at circumferential PVI was feasible in 2/18 (11%) septal PVs and successful on first pass. Lateral circumferential PVI was attempted and successful on first‐pass in 7/13 (54%) LSPVs and LIPVs and 1/5 (20%) LCPVs.ConclusionsUsing the EAS in patients with AF, separate isolation of individual PVs rather than wide circumferential PVI should be the preferred ablation strategy.
Expression of interferon‐γ in decidual natural killer cells from women with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy
Authors: Zhou Juan , Xiao Xiao‐Min , Wu Ying‐Hua 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAimHypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP) is one of the most frequent and serious pregnancy‐related diseases, which is closely related to disorders of the maternal immune system, especially the local immune microenvironment of the maternal–fetal interface. Uterine decidual natural killer (dNK) cells are the major immune cells in the maternal–fetal interface and they play an important role in establishing and maintaining a normal pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenotype and function of dNK cells from women with HDCP.Material and MethodsDecidual tissues were collected from women with normal pregnancy (normal control group, n = 15 cases) and HDCP (HDCP group, n = 20 cases), respectively. The mononuclear cells were extracted from tissues and flow cytometry (FCM) was utilized to sort out dNK cells. The phenotypes of dNK cells (CD56brightCD16−CD3− vs CD56dimCD16+CD3−) were detected by FCM. After being co‐cultured with Phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate, ionomycin and monensin, the expression level of interferon (IFN)‐γ in the dNK cells was detected by FCM.ResultsThe phenotypes of dNK cells from the two groups were dominated by the CD56brightCD16−CD3− subset, with no significant statistical difference (P < 0.05). The expression level of IFN‐γ in the dNK cells from women with HDCP was on a lower trend than those from women with normal pregnancy, having significant statistical difference (P = 0.000 < 0.05).ConclusionsOur results indicated that although the phenotype of dNK cells from women with HDCP is of no difference, their functions are abnormal. Impaired cell function leads to a lower expression level of IFN‐γ and this may account for one of the pathogeneses of HDCP.
Genetic delineation between and within the widespread coccolithophore morpho‐species Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica (Haptophyta)
Authors: Bendif El Mahdi , Probert Ian , Carmichael Margaux , Romac Sarah , Hagino Kyoko , de Vargas Colomban 
Published: November 2013

Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica are abundant coccolithophore morpho‐species that play key roles in ocean carbon cycling due to their importance as both primary producers and cal‐cifiers. Global change processes such as ocean acidification impact these key calcifying species. The physiology of E. huxleyi, a developing model species, has been widely studied, but its genetic delineation from G. oceanica remains unclear due to a lack of resolution in classical genetic markers. Using nuclear (18S rDNA and 28S rDNA), mitochondrial (cox1, cox2, cox3, rpl16, and dam), and plastidial (16S rDNA, rbcL, tufA, and petA) DNA markers from 99 E. huxleyi and 44 G. oceanica strains, we conducted a multigene/multistrain survey to compare the suitability of different markers for resolving phylogenetic patterns within and between these two morpho‐species. The nuclear genes tested did not provide sufficient resolution to discriminate between the two morpho‐species that diverged only 291Kya. Typical patterns of incomplete lineage sorting were generated in phylogenetic analyses using plastidial genes. In contrast, full morpho‐species delineation was achieved with mitochondrial markers and common intra‐morpho‐species phylogenetic patterns were observed despite differing rates of DNA substitution. Mitochondrial genes are thus promising barcodes for distinguishing these coccolithophore morpho‐species, in particular in the context of environmental monitoring.
Genome skimming reveals the origin of the Jerusalem Artichoke tuber crop species: neither from Jerusalem nor an artichoke
Authors: Bock Dan G. , Kane Nolan C. , Ebert Daniel P. , Rieseberg Loren H. 
Published: November 2013

Summary

The perennial sunflower Helianthus tuberosus, known as Jerusalem Artichoke or Sunchoke, was cultivated in eastern North America before European contact. As such, it represents one of the few taxa that can support an independent origin of domestication in this region. Its tubers were adopted as a source of food and forage when the species was transferred to the Old World in the early 1600s, and are still used today.

Despite the cultural and economic importance of this tuber crop species, its origin is debated. Competing hypotheses implicate the occurrence of polyploidization with or without hybridization, and list the annual sunflower H. annuus and five distantly related perennial sunflower species as potential parents.

Here, we test these scenarios by skimming the genomes of diverse populations of Jerusalem Artichoke and its putative progenitors. We identify relationships among Helianthus taxa using complete plastomes (151 551 bp), partial mitochondrial genomes (196 853 bp) and 35S (8196 bp) and 5S (514 bp) ribosomal DNA.

Our results refute the possibility that Jerusalem Artichoke is of H. annuus ancestry. We provide the first genetic evidence that this species originated recursively from perennial sunflowers of central‐eastern North America via hybridization between tetraploid Hairy Sunflower and diploid Sawtooth Sunflower.
Zebra and boxwork fabrics in hydrothermal dolomites of northern Canada: Indicators for dilational fracturing, dissolution or in situ replacement?
Authors: Morrow David W. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractZebra and boxwork fabrics in Manetoe and Presqu'ile hydrothermal dolomites provide critical data for discrimination between hypotheses for their origin. In a unique occurrence, sets of weakly imbricated, decimetre‐sized curvilinear lenticles of white dolospar are developed within sub‐metre sized tongues of greyish‐white dolomitized crinoidal packstone and grainstone. This nascent zebra fabric has developed along wavy to nodular intra‐bed sedimentary partings. Primary bedding can be traced through dolomitized masses containing these fabrics, into the surrounding undolomitized limestone. All zebra and boxwork fabrics are confined within single beds, consistent with an early burial time of origin. No change in bed thickness occurs across zebra or boxwork fabrics within beds; this indicates a dissolutional, rather than a dilational, origin for the creation of pore space partly cemented with white dolospar. The dolomitized groundmass displays an abruptly gradational or sharp transition to centripetal saddle dolomite cement, which partially to nearly completely, occludes vugs. Circulation of geothermally heated hypersaline Devonian Elk Point basinal sea water brines led to dissolution and replacive dolomitization of limestone adjacent to vugs, and near‐contemporaneous precipitation of white dolospar within dissolutional vugs, consistent with geochemical simulations. The presence of downward‐extending galleries of white dolospar‐cemented solution‐collapse breccia provides further support for an interpretation of regional thermally driven convection of hydrothermal evaporative sea water brines across a broad area of northern Canada. The absence of gases under pressure in vacuoles within fluid inclusions from Manetoe and Presqu'ile dolospars is also more consistent with a dissolutional and contemporaneous dolomitization origin for these fabrics, rather than an origin involving dilational fracturing for space creation and dolospar precipitation. The ubiquitous presence of zebra and boxwork fabrics in hydrothermal dolomite reservoirs indicates that they are not confined fault zones and instead occur wherever precursor limestones had relatively greater porosity and permeability prior to dolomitization.
Short‐Term Pain, Long‐Term Gain? The Effects of IMF Economic Reform Programs on Public Health Performance
Authors: Hoddie Matthew , Hartzell Caroline A. 
Published: November 2013

ObjectivesIn this study, we evaluate the effects of the International Monetary Fund's structural adjustment programs (SAPs) on the public health performance of countries. We test the claim made by proponents of SAPs that although these programs may produce short‐term hardship for the countries adopting them, they will generate positive developmental effects in the long term.MethodsOur study draws on a global data set and employs a model that takes into account the potential for selection bias in the adoption of SAPs by states.ResultsThe central finding of the article is that SAPs in the short term raise the exposure of populations to conditions that increase incidences of disability and death. Contrary to the assertions made by the advocates of SAPs, we also find evidence that these programs have attenuated but still harmful effect on public health performance in the long term.ConclusionsThis study highlights the negative influences of SAPs on public health and suggests that a need exists to reevaluate the claims that have been made regarding the developmental effects of these programs.
A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Phase I Inactivated Vaccines to Reduce Shedding of Coxiella burnetii From Sheep and Goats From Routes of Public Health Importance
Authors: O'Neill T. J. , Sargeant J. M. , Poljak Z. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryQ fever in humans and coxiellosis in livestock are both caused by Coxiella burnetii. The public health importance of vaccination against C. burnetii shedding from sheep and goats was evaluated using systematic review and meta‐analysis to provide evidence for policy direction to prevent potential zoonotic spread. Publications reporting shedding of C. burnetii in vaginal and uterine secretions, milk, placenta and faeces were included. A single observational (one goat) and seven experimental (four goat and three sheep) vaccine studies were included in the review. No relevant publications on other interventions were identified. Random effects meta‐analyses were performed for the risk of shedding in individuals in the control and vaccinated groups and for the mean difference in the level of bacterial shedding in sheep and goats stratified by age and previous exposure status. Limited data were available for further analytic evaluation. From the pooled analysis, an inactivated phase I vaccine significantly reduced the risk of shedding from uterine (RR = 0.10; 95%CI 0.05–0.20) secretions in previously sensitized goats. Individual studies reported significant risk reduction in milk (RR = 0.03; 95%CI 0.01–0.26), vaginal secretions (RR = 0.40; 95%CI 0.22–0.75) and faeces (RR = 0.79; 95%CI 0.63–0.97) from naïve goats. The pooled mean levels of bacteria shed from placental [mean difference (MD = −5.24 Log10; 95%CI −6.75 to −3.7)] and vaginal (MD = −1.78 Log10; 95%CI −2.19 to −1.38) routes were significantly decreased in vaccinated naïve goats compared with controls. Shedding through all other routes from vaccinated goats was not significantly different than shedding from control goats. No effect of vaccination was found on the risk of shedding or the mean level of shedding in vaccinated sheep compared with control sheep. Our conclusions are based on a limited amount of data with variable risk of systematic error.
Subunit‐specific inhibition of acid sensing ion channels by stomatin‐like protein 1
Authors: Kozlenkov Alexey , Lapatsina Liudmila , Lewin Gary R. , Smith Ewan St. John 
Published: November 2013

Key points
Stomatin‐like protein 1 (STOML1) was found both at the plasma membrane and associated with vesicles in the neurites of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurones.
We found that STOML1 modulates ASIC1a and ASIC3. In the presence of STOML1 acid gated currents carried by ASIC1a were decreased and ASIC3 currents showed accelerated inactivation; STOML1 had no effects on other ASICs.
Among the stomatin family, only STOML1 has a sterol carrier protein‐2 domain and removal of this domain prevented inhibition of ASIC1a currents.
We generated a mouse with a β‐galactosidase‐neomycin cassette gene‐trap reporter driven from the STOML1 gene locus to demonstrate that STOML1 is expressed by approximately half of all DRG neurones.
Whole‐cell electrophysiology recordings from DRG neurones from STOML1 null mutant mice showed on average larger proton‐gated currents compared to neurones from wild‐type mice.
AbstractThere are five mammalian stomatin‐domain genes, all of which encode peripheral membrane proteins that can modulate ion channel function. Here we examined the ability of stomatin‐like protein 1 (STOML1) to modulate the proton‐sensitive members of the acid‐sensing ion channel (ASIC) family. STOML1 profoundly inhibits ASIC1a, but has no effect on the splice variant ASIC1b. The inactivation time constant of ASIC3 is also accelerated by STOML1. We examined STOML1 null mutant mice with a β‐galactosidase‐neomycin cassette gene‐trap reporter driven from the STOML1 gene locus, which indicated that STOML1 is expressed in at least 50% of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurones. Patch clamp recordings from mouse DRG neurones identified a trend for larger proton‐gated currents in neurones lacking STOML1, which was due to a contribution of effects upon both transient and sustained currents, at different pH, a finding consistent with an endogenous inhibitory function for STOML1.
Generation of virtual monochromatic CBCT from dual kV/MV beam projectionsa)
Authors: Li Hao , Liu Bo , Yin Fang‐Fang 
Published: November 2013

Purpose:To develop a novel on‐board imaging technique which allows generation of virtual monochromatic (VM) cone‐beam CT (CBCT) with a selected energy from combined kilovoltage (kV)/megavoltage (MV) beam projections.Methods:With the current orthogonal kV/MV imaging hardware equipped in modern linear accelerators, both MV projections (from gantry angle of 0°–100°) and kV projections (90°–200°) were acquired as gantry rotated a total of 110°. A selected range of overlap projections between 90° to 100° were then decomposed into two material projections using experimentally determined parameters from orthogonally stacked aluminum and acrylic step‐wedges. Given attenuation coefficients of aluminum and acrylic at a predetermined energy, one set of VM projections could be synthesized from two corresponding sets of decomposed projections. Two linear functions were generated using projection information at overlap angles to convert kV and MV projections at nonoverlap angles to approximate VM projections for CBCT reconstruction. The contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated for different inserts in VM CBCTs of a CatPhan phantom with various selected energies and compared with those in kV and MV CBCTs. The effect of overlap projection number on CNR was evaluated. Additionally, the effect of beam orientation was studied by scanning the CatPhan sandwiched with two 5 cm solid‐water phantoms on both lateral sides and an electronic density phantom with two metal bolt inserts.Results:Proper selection of VM energy [30 and 40 keV for low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), polymethylpentene, 2 MeV for Delrin] provided comparable or even better CNR results as compared with kV or MV CBCT. An increased number of overlap kV and MV projection demonstrated only marginal improvements of CNR for different inserts (with the exception of LDPE) and therefore one projection overlap was found to be sufficient for the CatPhan study. It was also evident that the optimal CBCT image quality was achieved when MV beams penetrated through the heavy attenuation direction of the object.Conclusions:A novel technique was developed to generate VM CBCTs from kV/MV projections. This technique has the potential to improve CNR at selected VM energies and to suppress artifacts at appropriate beam orientations.