bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regenerative Therapy in Experimental Parkinsonism: Mixed Population of Differentiated Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells, Rather Than Magnetically Sorted and Enriched Dopaminergic Cells Provide Neuroprotection
Authors: Tripathy Debasmita , Verma Poonam , Nthenge‐Ngumbau Dominic N. , Banerjee Meghna , Mohanakumar Kochupurackal P. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryAimThe objective of the study was to develop regenerative therapy by transplanting varied populations of dopaminergic neurons, differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells (mES) in the striatum for correcting experimental parkinsonism in rats.MethodsmES differentiated by default for 7 days in serum‐free media (7D), or by enhanced differentiation of 7D in retinoic acid (7R), or dopaminergic neurons enriched by manual magnetic sorting from 7D (SSEA−) were characterized and transplanted in the ipsilateral striatum of 6‐hydroxydopamine‐induced hemiparkinsonian rats. Neurochemical, neuronal, glial and neurobehavioral recoveries were examined.Results7R and SSEA− contained significantly reduced NANOG and high MAP2 mRNA and protein levels as revealed, respectively, by reverse transcriptase‐PCR and immunocytochemistry, compared with 7D. Striatal engraftment of 7D resulted in a significantly better behavioral and neurochemical recovery, as compared to the animals that received either 7R or SSEA−. The 7R transplanted animals showed improvement neither in behavior nor in striatal dopamine level. The grafted striatum revealed increased GFAP staining intensity in 7D and SSEA−, but not in 7R cells transplanted group, suggesting a vital role played by glial cells in the recovery. Substantia nigra ipsilateral to the side of the striatum, which received transplants showed more tyrosine hydroxylase immunostained neurons, as compared to 6‐hydroxydopamine‐infused animals.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that default differentiated mixed population of cells are better than sorted, enriched dopaminergic cells, or cells containing more mature neurons for transplantation recovery in hemiparkinsonian rats.
Absence of subependymal nodules in patients with tubers suggests possible neuroectodermal mosaicism in tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Boronat Susana , Caruso Paul , Thiele Elizabeth A 
Published: June 2014

AimPatients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) with brain involvement usually have both tubers and subependymal nodules (SENs) and the occurrence of one lesion without the other seems to be rare. The aim of this study was to assess the specific clinical manifestations and genotype of patients with one type of lesion or the other but not both.MethodThe magnetic resonance images of 220 patients with TSC were reviewed, and patients with either tubers or SENs, but not both, were identified.ResultsOut of a total of 220 patients (95 males, 125 females; mean age 22y 9mo, range 9mo–81y), six (3%) had tubers without SENs (two males; four females; mean age 34y 10mo, range 11–48y); however, no patients with SENs and without tubers were identified. No mutation was identified (NMI) in any of the six patients who underwent mutational analysis of TSC1 and TSC2. Five of the six patients had three or fewer tubers.InterpretationWe found no patients with SENs but without tubers among our cohort. In all patients with tubers but without SENs, mutational studies of TSC1/TSC2 were negative, and the majority of these had three or fewer tubers. A possible mechanism for patients with NMI and an absence of SENs is a mosaicism with a first postzygotic mutation in the neuroectoderm.
Hepcidin in tumor‐related iron deficiency anemia and tumor‐related anemia of chronic disease: pathogenic mechanisms and diagnosis
Authors: Shu Tingting , Jing Changwen , Lv Zhigang , Xie Yuchun , Xu Jiaren , Wu Jianzhong 
Published: June 2014

AbstractObjectivesAnemia is a common hematological abnormality in patients with cancer. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and anemia of chronic disease (ACD) are the most prevalent, both characterized by hypochromic microcytic anemia and low serum iron (SI). Their differential diagnosis is difficult in clinical practice, hampering their treatment. Our objective was to evaluate the use of hepcidin to discriminate tumor‐related IDA and ACD and to investigate the mechanism of action of hepcidin in these anemias.MethodsBlood samples were collected at Jiangsu Cancer Hospital. Patients were divided into IDA and ACD groups by Prussian blue staining of bone marrow smears. Serum hepcidin was measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. SI, total iron‐binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TSAT), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) also determined in this study.ResultsAreas under the curve on receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of hepcidin to be better than those of SI, TIBC, and TSAT. In ACD, hepcidin was correlated positively with IL‐6 (r = 0.81, P < 0.01) and negatively with SI (r = −0.78, P < 0.01). In IDA, no significant relationship between IL‐6 and hepcidin was found (r = −0.20, P = 0.17), but hepcidin decreased with decreasing quartiles of SI (r = 0.89, P < 0.01). SI was positively correlated with hemoglobin (r = 0.89, P < 0.01; r = 0.84, P < 0.01) in both groups.ConclusionsHepcidin is a promising serological marker for the differential diagnosis of tumor‐related ACD and IDA, clarifying the pathogenesis of these anemias and guiding corrective treatment.
Trends in excess mortality in follicular lymphoma at a population level
Authors: Mounier Morgane , Bossard Nadine , Belot Aurélien , Remontet Laurent , Iwaz Jean , Dandoit Mylène , Girard‐Boulanger Stéphanie , Herry Aurélie , Woronoff Anne‐Sophie , Casasnovas René‐Olivier , Maynadié Marc , Giorgi Roch ,   FRANCIM Network and MESURE Working Survival Group
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundSince the 1990s and since the development of humanised monoclonal antibodies in 1998, the treatment of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma has undergone profound changes. Follicular lymphoma (FL) was the first to benefit from this treatment, and several clinical trials have shown a significant improvement in overall survival, but little information is available at a population level.ObjectiveOur objective was to estimate changes in FL‐specific mortality at a population level, with an appropriate methodology.MethodsTwo French retrospective population‐based studies on FL were conducted, one from 1995 to 2004, in 1477 patients, and one from 1995 to 2010, in 451 patients. Trends in excess mortality rates (EMRs) according to age, sex, Ann Arbor stage and year of diagnosis were evaluated using the flexible model of Remontet et al.ResultsTrends in the EMR differed according to age at diagnosis and was higher in advanced stage (III, IV) in patients older than 65 yr. The EMR decreased linearly from 1995 to 2010. This decrease was more marked for advanced stages.ConclusionFL‐specific mortality decreased over the years of diagnosis, and the difference according to the lymphoma stage diminished in more recent years. However, progress in the management of FL was not able to erase age‐related differences.
Is climate an important driver of post‐European vegetation change in the Eastern United States?
Authors: Nowacki Gregory J. , Abrams Marc D. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractMany ecological phenomena combine to direct vegetation trends over time, with climate and disturbance playing prominent roles. To help decipher their relative importance during Euro‐American times, we employed a unique approach whereby tree species/genera were partitioned into temperature, shade tolerance, and pyrogenicity classes and applied to comparative tree‐census data. Our megadata analysis of 190 datasets determined the relative impacts of climate vs. altered disturbance regimes for various biomes across the eastern United States. As the Euro‐American period (ca. 1500 to today) spans two major climatic periods, from Little Ice Age to the Anthropocene, vegetation changes consistent with warming were expected. In most cases, however, European disturbance overrode regional climate, but in a manner that varied across the Tension Zone Line. To the north, intensive and expansive early European disturbance resulted in the ubiquitous loss of conifers and large increases ofAcer, Populus,andQuercusin northern hardwoods, whereas to the south, these disturbances perpetuated the dominance ofQuercusin central hardwoods.Acerincreases and associated mesophication inQuercus‐Pinussystems were delayed until mid 20th century fire suppression. This led to significant warm to cool shifts in temperature class where cool‐adaptedAcer saccharumincreased and temperature neutral changes where warm‐adaptedAcer rubrumincreased. In both cases, these shifts were attributed to fire suppression rather than climate change. Because mesophication is ongoing, eastern US forests formed during the catastrophic disturbance era followed by fire suppression will remain in climate disequilibrium into the foreseeable future. Overall, the results of our study suggest that altered disturbance regimes rather than climate had the greatest influence on vegetation composition and dynamics in the eastern United States over multiple centuries. Land‐use change often trumped or negated the impacts of warming climate, and needs greater recognition in climate change discussions, scenarios, and model interpretations.
Estimation of vegetation photosynthetic capacity from space‐based measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence for terrestrial biosphere models
Authors: Zhang Yongguang , Guanter Luis , Berry Joseph A. , Joiner Joanna , van der Tol Christiaan , Huete Alfredo , Gitelson Anatoly , Voigt Maximilian , Köhler Philipp 
Published: June 2014

AbstractPhotosynthesis simulations by terrestrial biosphere models are usually based on the Farquhar's model, in which the maximum rate of carboxylation (Vcmax) is a key control parameter of photosynthetic capacity. Even though Vcmax is known to vary substantially in space and time in response to environmental controls, it is typically parameterized in models with tabulated values associated to plant functional types. Remote sensing can be used to produce a spatially continuous and temporally resolved view on photosynthetic efficiency, but traditional vegetation observations based on spectral reflectance lack a direct link to plant photochemical processes. Alternatively, recent space‐borne measurements of sun‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) can offer an observational constraint on photosynthesis simulations. Here, we show that top‐of‐canopy SIF measurements from space are sensitive to Vcmax at the ecosystem level, and present an approach to invert Vcmax from SIF data. We use the Soil‐Canopy Observation of Photosynthesis and Energy (SCOPE) balance model to derive empirical relationships between seasonal Vcmax and SIF which are used to solve the inverse problem. We evaluate our Vcmax estimation method at six agricultural flux tower sites in the midwestern US using spaced‐based SIF retrievals. Our Vcmax estimates agree well with literature values for corn and soybean plants (average values of 37 and 101 μmol m−2 s−1, respectively) and show plausible seasonal patterns. The effect of the updated seasonally varying Vcmax parameterization on simulated gross primary productivity (GPP) is tested by comparing to simulations with fixed Vcmax values. Validation against flux tower observations demonstrate that simulations of GPP and light use efficiency improve significantly when our time‐resolved Vcmax estimates from SIF are used, with R2 for GPP comparisons increasing from 0.85 to 0.93, and for light use efficiency from 0.44 to 0.83. Our results support the use of space‐based SIF data as a proxy for photosynthetic capacity and suggest the potential for global, time‐resolved estimates of Vcmax.
Nitrogen deposition contributes to soil acidification in tropical ecosystems
Authors: Lu Xiankai , Mao Qinggong , Gilliam Frank S. , Luo Yiqi , Mo Jiangming 
Published: June 2014

AbstractElevated anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition has greatly altered terrestrial ecosystem functioning, threatening ecosystem health via acidification and eutrophication in temperate and boreal forests across the northern hemisphere. However, response of forest soil acidification to N deposition has been less studied in humid tropics compared to other forest types. This study was designed to explore impacts of long‐term N deposition on soil acidification processes in tropical forests. We have established a long‐term N‐deposition experiment in an N‐rich lowland tropical forest of Southern China since 2002 with N addition as NH4NO3 of 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha−1 yr−1. We measured soil acidification status and element leaching in soil drainage solution after 6‐year N addition. Results showed that our study site has been experiencing serious soil acidification and was quite acid‐sensitive showing high acidification (pH(H2O)<4.0), negative water‐extracted acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) and low base saturation (BS,< 8%) throughout soil profiles. Long‐term N addition significantly accelerated soil acidification, leading to depleted base cations and decreased BS, and further lowered ANC. However, N addition did not alter exchangeable Al3+, but increased cation exchange capacity (CEC). Nitrogen addition‐induced increase in SOC is suggested to contribute to both higher CEC and lower pH. We further found that increased N addition greatly decreased soil solution pH at 20 cm depth, but not at 40 cm. Furthermore, there was no evidence that Al3+ was leaching out from the deeper soils. These unique responses in tropical climate likely resulted from: exchangeable H+ dominating changes of soil cation pool, an exhausted base cation pool, N‐addition stimulating SOC production, and N saturation. Our results suggest that long‐term N addition can contribute measurably to soil acidification, and that shortage of Ca and Mg should receive more attention than soil exchangeable Al in tropical forests with elevated N deposition in the future.
Interactive effects of elevated CO2 and nitrogen deposition on fatty acid molecular and isotope composition of above‐ and belowground tree biomass and forest soil fractions
Authors: Griepentrog Marco , Eglinton Timothy I. , Hagedorn Frank , Schmidt Michael W. I. , Wiesenberg Guido L. B. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractAtmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and reactive nitrogen (N) concentrations have been increasing due to human activities and impact the global carbon (C) cycle by affecting plant photosynthesis and decomposition processes in soil. Large amounts of C are stored in plants and soils, but the mechanisms behind the stabilization of plant‐ and microbial‐derived organic matter (OM) in soils are still under debate and it is not clear how N deposition affects soil OM dynamics. Here, we studied the effects of 4 years of elevated (13C‐depleted) CO2 and N deposition in forest ecosystems established in open‐top chambers on composition and turnover of fatty acids (FAs) in plants and soils. FAs served as biomarkers for plant‐ and microbial‐derived OM in soil density fractions. We analyzed above‐ and belowground plant biomass of beech and spruce trees as well as soil density fractions for the total organic C and FA molecular and isotope (δ13C) composition. FAs did not accumulate relative to total organic C in fine mineral fractions, showing that FAs are not effectively stabilized by association with soil minerals. The δ13C values of FAs in plant biomass increased under high N deposition. However, the N effect was only apparent under elevated CO2 suggesting a N limitation of the system. In soil fractions, only isotope compositions of short‐chain FAs (C16+18) were affected. Fractions of ‘new’ (experimental‐derived) FAs were calculated using isotope depletion in elevated CO2 plots and decreased from free light to fine mineral fractions. ‘New’ FAs were higher in short‐chain compared to long‐chain FAs (C20−30), indicating a faster turnover of short‐chain compared to long‐chain FAs. Increased N deposition did not significantly affect the quantity of ‘new’ FAs in soil fractions, but showed a tendency of increased amounts of ‘old’ (pre‐experimental) C suggesting that decomposition of ‘old’ C is retarded by high N inputs.
Strong Influences of Melting Time and Tm3+ Concentration on Blue Up‐Conversion Photoluminescence for Tm3+/Yb3+ Co‐Doped TeO2–TlO0.5–ZnO Glass
Authors: Uchida Masayuki , Hayakawa Tomokatsu , Suhara Toshiki , Duclère Jean‐Rene , Thomas Philippe 
Published: June 2014

In this study, by a conventional melt quenching method, we synthesized novel up‐conversion phosphors of 60TeO2–30TlO0.5–(9−x)ZnO–xTm2O3–1Yb2O3 (x = 0.1–0.5) glasses, whose system was recently developed in our collaborative group, and their blue up‐conversion photoluminescence (UCPL) of Tm3+ ions via three‐step energy transfer from near‐infrared (NIR) sensitizer of Yb3+ ions was observed. In particular, the substantial rate of the energy transfer <γd5> in the third step from Yb3+ to Tm3+ under excitation at 975 nm, which determined the final blue UCPL intensity, was estimated as a function of the rare‐earth concentration. With an aid of analytical methods of PL lifetime and Judd–Ofelt theory, it was revealed that the highest energy transfer rate <γd5> was achieved to be 2.07 × 10−17 cm3/s for x = 0.2, and further increasing Tm2O3 content x in the fixed Yb2O3 resulted in the decrease in the energy transfer rate <γd5>. One of the plausible causes was concentration quenching of Yb3+ ions. The other was back‐transfer from Tm3+ to Yb3+ ions. The influence of the condition of glass synthesis and the melting time on <γd5> was also discussed.
Role of individual's T‐cell immunome in controlling HIV‐1 progression
Authors: Grifoni Alba , Montesano Carla , Palma Paolo , Giovannetti Marta , Castelli‐Gattinara Guido , Ciccozzi Massimo , Mattei Maurizio , Mancino Giorgio , Salerno Alfredo , Colizzi Vittorio , Amicosante Massimo 
Published: June 2014

SummaryViral and host factors can influence HIV‐1 progression, among them human leucocyte antigen (HLA) has shown the strongest effect. However, studies on the functional contribution of HLA in controlling HIV progression toward AIDS are limited by multiple issues, including the viral strain variability within the study subjects. In this study, in a cohort of children infected with a monophyletic strain (CRF02_AG) during an outbreak, we evaluated the HIV‐1 Gag, Vif, Vpr, Tat and hepatitis C virus E1/E2 (as control) proteins circulating in a cohort for the capability to be presented by the HLA molecules in the same population. A total of 70 Non‐progressors and 37 Progressors to AIDS were evaluated. In the presence of a constant capability of HIV‐1 to mutate in the region containing epitopes of Gag protein, the number of epitopes recognized in silico by the combination of the HLA alleles along the Gag consensus sequence is significantly higher in the Non‐progressors compared with Progressors (HLA‐A: Non‐progressors = 1·532 ± 1·211, Progressors = 0·7714± 1·031, P = 0·0016; HLA‐B: Non‐progressors = 1·556 ± 1·298, Progressors = 1·000 ± 0·817, P = 0·0319; HLA‐DR: Non‐progressors = 13·30± 9·488, Progressors = 7·294 ± 6·952, P = 0·0006). Similar results were obtained for the other HIV‐1 proteins Vif and Vpr, whereas no differences were obtained in the number of epitopes for the hepatitis C virus E1/E2 protein sequence or for the scrambled HIV‐1 sequence. Finally, the results were confirmed also in a subgroup of subjects where both HLA typing and Gag sequence were available. In conclusion, in the absence of bias due to viral strain diversity, it is the overall fitting of the HLA molecules that are capable of better binding HIV‐1 proteins in determining the major role in the control of HIV‐1 replication and progression to AIDS.
Trends in parent‐ and teacher‐rated emotional, conduct and ADHD problems and their impact in prepubertal children in Great Britain: 1999–2008
Authors: Sellers Ruth , Maughan Barbara , Pickles Andrew , Thapar Anita , Collishaw Stephan 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundEvidence from Western countries indicates marked increases in diagnosis and treatment of childhood psychiatric disorders in recent years. These could reflect changes in prevalence of mental health problems, changes in their impact or increased clinical recognition and help‐seeking. Epidemiological cross‐cohort comparisons are required to test possible changes in prevalence, but are lacking for pre‐adolescent children in Great Britain.MethodsParent and teacher Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) ratings were used to compare rates of emotional, conduct and hyperactivity problems in 7‐year‐old children across three nationally representative British samples assessed in 1999 (n = 1033), 2004 (n = 648) and 2008 (n = 13 857). The SDQ impact supplement was used to assess associated distress, social, and educational impairment. Stratified analyses examined trends by gender and socio‐economic group.ResultsThere was a decline in mean problem scores and a fall in the percentages scoring in the ‘abnormal’ range for all symptom types across the period of study. This decline was observed for all demographic groups, for parent and teacher reports, and was more marked for boys than girls. Both parent‐ and teacher‐rated impact scores differed across the three cohorts for boys. Teacher‐rated impact scores differed across cohorts for girls.ConclusionsThe first decade of the 21st Century saw a reduction in perceived levels of emotional and behaviour problems in pre‐adolescent children in Great Britain. The threshold at which mental health problems have an impact on children's distress and classroom learning has changed over time. Continued monitoring of child mental health remains a priority.
A systematic review of CAD/CAM fit restoration evaluations
Authors: Boitelle P. , Mawussi B. , Tapie L. , Fromentin O. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryThe evolution and development of CAD/CAM systems have led to the production of prosthetic reconstructions by going beyond the use of traditional techniques. Precision adjustment of prosthetic elements is considered essential to ensure sustainable restoration and dental preparation. The purpose of this article was to summarise the current literature on the fitting quality of fixed prostheses obtained by CAD/CAM technology.