bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An experimental protocol for in vivo imaging of neuronal structural plasticity with 2-photon microscopy in mice
Authors: Stetter Christian , Hirschberg Markus , Nieswandt Bernhard , Ernestus Ralf-Ingo , Heckmann Manfred , Sirén Anna-Leena 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Introduction
Structural plasticity with synapse formation and elimination is a key component of memory capacity and may be critical for functional recovery after brain injury. Here we describe in detail two surgical techniques to create a cranial window in mice and show crucial points in the procedure for long-term repeated in vivo imaging of synaptic structural plasticity in the mouse neocortex.

Methods
Transgenic Thy1-YFP(H) mice expressing yellow-fluorescent protein (YFP) in layer-5 pyramidal neurons were prepared under anesthesia for in vivo imaging of dendritic spines in the parietal cortex either with an open-skull glass or thinned skull window. After a recovery period of 14 days, imaging sessions of 45–60 min in duration were started under fluothane anesthesia. To reduce respiration-induced movement artifacts, the skull was glued to a stainless steel plate fixed to metal base. The animals were set under a two-photon microscope with multifocal scanhead splitter (TriMScope, LaVision BioTec) and the Ti-sapphire laser was tuned to the optimal excitation wavelength for YFP (890 nm). Images were acquired by using a 20×, 0.95 NA, water-immersion objective (Olympus) in imaging depth of 100–200 μm from the pial surface. Two-dimensional projections of three-dimensional image stacks containing dendritic segments of interest were saved for further analysis. At the end of the last imaging session, the mice were decapitated and the brains removed for histological analysis.

Results
Repeated in vivo imaging of dendritic spines of the layer-5 pyramidal neurons was successful using both open-skull glass and thinned skull windows. Both window techniques were associated with low phototoxicity after repeated sessions of imaging.

Conclusions
Repeated imaging of dendritic spines in vivo allows monitoring of long-term structural dynamics of synapses. When carefully controlled for influence of repeated anesthesia and phototoxicity, the method will be suitable to study changes in synaptic structural plasticity after brain injury.
Classification of FTLD-TDP cases into pathological subtypes using antibodies against phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated TDP43
Authors: Tan Rachel H , Shepherd Claire E , Kril Jillian J , McCann Heather , McGeachie Andrew , McGinley Ciara , Affleck Andrew , Halliday Glenda M 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
Two commercially available TDP43 antibodies (phosphorylated or pTDP43, non-phosphorylated or iTDP43) are currently in use for the neuropathological classification of FTLD-TDP cases into pathological subtypes. To date, no studies have performed direct comparisons between these TDP43 antibodies to determine if they identify the same FTLD-TDP subtypes. The reliability of subtype classification with the use of either of these antibodies has also not been investigated. The present study compares the severity of pathological lesions identified with pTDP43 and iTDP43 in a cohort of 14 FTLD-TDP cases, and assesses the accuracy and inter-observer reliability found with either of these antibodies.

Results
pTDP43 identified a greater severity of pathological inclusions across FTLD-TDP cases in comparison to iTDP43 and a higher inter-observer of subtype classification was found with this antibody.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates a higher consistency across independent observers in the pathological subtyping of FTLD-TDP cases with the use of a pTDP43 antibody in comparison to the iTDP43 antibody, and corroborates the use of pTDP43 for pathological classification of FTLD-TDP cases.
National medicines policies – a review of the evolution and development processes
Authors: Hoebert Joëlle M , van Dijk Liset , Mantel-Teeuwisse Aukje K , Leufkens Hubert GM , Laing Richard O 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Objectives
Continuous provision of appropriate medicines of assured quality, in adequate quantities, and at reasonable prices is a concern for all national governments. A national medicines policy (NMP) developed in a collaborative fashion identifies strategies needed to meet these objectives and provides a comprehensive framework to develop all components of a national pharmaceutical sector. To meet the health needs of the population, there is a general need for medicine policies based on universal principles, but nevertheless adapted to the national situation. This review aims to provide a quantitative and qualitative (describing the historical development) study of the development process and evolution of NMPs.

Methods
The number of NMPs and their current status has been obtained from the results of the assessment of WHO Level I indicators. The policy formulation process is examined in more detail with case studies from four countries: Sri Lanka, Australia, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and South Africa.

Results
The number of NMPs worldwide has increased in the last 25 years with the highest proportional increase in the last 5–10 years in high-income countries. Higher income countries seem to have more NMP implementation plans available and have updated their NMP more recently. The four case studies show that the development of a NMP is a complex process that is country specific. In addition, it demonstrates that an appropriate political window is needed for the policy to be passed (for South Africa and the FYR Macedonia, a major political event acted as a trigger for initiating the policy development). Policy-making does not stop with the official adoption of a policy but should create mechanisms for implementation and monitoring. The NMPs of the FYR Macedonia and Australia provide indicators for monitoring.

Conclusions
To date, not all countries have a NMP since political pressure by national experts or non-governmental organizations is generally needed to establish a NMP. Case studies in four countries showed that the policy process is just as important as the policy document since the process must create a mechanism by which all stakeholders are brought together and a sense of collective ownership of the final policy may be achieved.
Factors affecting tumor 18 F-FDG uptake in longitudinal mouse PET studies
Authors: Sha Wei , Ye Hu , Iwamoto Keisuke S , Wong Koon-Pong , Wilks Moses Quinn , Stout David , McBride William , Huang Sung-Cheng 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background
Many biological factors of 2-[18 F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (18 F-FDG) in blood can affect 18 F-FDG uptake in tumors. In this study, longitudinal 18 F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) studies were performed on tumor-bearing mice to investigate the effect of blood glucose level and tumor size on 18 F-FDG uptake in tumors.

Methods
Six- to eight-week-old severe combined immunodeficiency mice were implanted with glioblastoma U87 (n = 8) or adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231 (MDA) (n = 11) in the shoulder. When the tumor diameter was approximately 2.5 mm, a 60-min dynamic 18 F-FDG PET scan was performed weekly until the tumor diameter reached 10 mm. Regions of interests were defined in major organs and tumor. A plasma curve was derived based on a modeling method that utilizes the early heart time-activity curve and a late-time blood sample. The 18 F-FDG uptake constant K

i
was calculated using Patlak analysis on the tumors without an apparent necrotic center shown in the PET images. For each tumor type, the measured K

i
was corrected for partial volume (PV), and multivariate regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of blood glucose level ([Glc]) and tumor growth. Corrected Akaike's information criterion was used to determine the best model.

Results
The regression model that best fit the PV-corrected K

i
for U87 data was K

i
/RC = (1/[Glc]) × (0.27 ± 0.027) mL/min/mL (where [Glc] is in mmol/L), and for MDA, it was K

i
/RC = (0.04 ± 0.005) mL/min/mL, where K

i
/RC denotes the PV-corrected K

i
using an individual recovery coefficient (RC). The results indicated that 18 F-FDG K

i
/RC for U87 was inversely related to [Glc], while [Glc] had no effect on 18 F-FDG K

i
/RC of MDA. After the effects of PV and [Glc] were accounted for, the data did not support any increase of 18 F-FDG K

i
as the tumor (of either type) grew larger in size.

Conclusions
The effect of [Glc] on the tumor 18 F-FDG K

i
was tumor-dependent. PV- and [Glc]-corrected 18 F-FDG K

i
did not show significant increase as the tumor of either type grew in size.
Compared effects of inhibition and exogenous administration of hydrogen sulphide in ischaemia-reperfusion injury
Authors: Issa Khodor , Kimmoun Antoine , Collin Solène , Ganster Frederique , Fremont-Orlowski Sophie , Asfar Pierre , Mertes Paul-Michel , Levy Bruno 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Haemorrhagic shock is associated with an inflammatory response consecutive to ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) that leads to cardiovascular failure and organ injury. The role of and the timing of administration of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) remain uncertain. Vascular effects of H2S are mainly mediated through K+ATP-channel activation. Herein, we compared the effects of D,L-propargylglycine (PAG), an inhibitor of H2S production, as well as sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS), an H2S donor, on haemodynamics, vascular reactivity and cellular pathways in a rat model of I/R. We also compared the haemodynamic effects of NaHS administered before and 10 minutes after reperfusion.

Methods
Mechanically ventilated and instrumented rats were bled during 60 minutes in order to maintain mean arterial pressure at 40 ± 2 mmHg. Ten minutes prior to retransfusion, rats randomly received either an intravenous bolus of NaHS (0.2 mg/kg) or vehicle (0.9% NaCl) or PAG (50 mg/kg). PNU, a pore-forming receptor inhibitor of K+ATP channels, was used to assess the role of K+ATP channels.

Results
Shock and I/R induced a decrease in mean arterial pressure, lactic acidosis and ex vivo vascular hyporeactivity, which were attenuated by NaHS administered before reperfusion and PNU but not by PAG and NaHS administered 10 minutes after reperfusion. NaHS also prevented aortic inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nitric oxide production while increasing Akt and endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation. NaHS reduced JNK activity and p-P38/P38 activation, suggesting a decrease in endothelial cell activation without variation in ERK phosphorylation. PNU + NaHS increased mean arterial pressure when compared with NaHS or PNU alone, suggesting a dual effect of NaHS on vascular reactivity.

Conclusion
NaHS when given before reperfusion protects against the effects of haemorrhage-induced I/R by acting primarily through a decrease in both proinflammatory cytokines and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and an upregulation of the Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway.
Keywords: hydrogen sulphide, inflammation mediators, therapeutic use, shock, hemorrhagic/drug therapy, haemodynamics/drug effects
Network Analysis and the Sociology of Modernism
Authors: So Richard Jean , Long Hoyt 
Published: July 2013

Literary historians have long been interested in sociological approaches to literature. The field of modernism, a major aesthetic movement that flourished between 1915-40 primarily in the United States, England, and Europe, but the rest of the world as well, has been seen as a particularly compelling site to explore the sociological underpinnings of art. It is in this movement that many of our ideas of the “autonomy of art” and the “genius” of the artist emerged, and scholars such as Lawrence Rainey have produced excellent, archive-driven accounts of the institutions, patronage systems, and personal networks that conditioned and produced this field of production.
In this essay, we exploit new methods of aggregating vast amounts of bibliographic data and new network visualization tools to “scale up” this sociological approach to modernism. While scholars such as Rainey have been limited by the contours of specific institutional or writer archives, and the self-reported accounts of the field by the writers themselves, our approach transforms large empirical bibliographic data, regarding which poets published where and when, into network visualizations that provide a panoptic view of the modernist field as a whole. We then use these visualizations to develop a body of new conceptual categories, such as “brokerage” and “closure,” to analyze the structural relations between poets and how their interactions help to constitute the field of modernist poetry as a whole.
Oceanic navigation in Cory's shearwaters: evidence for a crucial role of olfactory cues for homing after displacement
Authors: Gagliardo Anna , Bried Joël , Lambardi Paolo , Luschi Paolo , Wikelski Martin , Bonadonna Francesco 
Published: July 2013

SUMMARY
Pelagic birds, which wander in the open sea most of the year and often nest on small remote oceanic islands, are able to pinpoint their breeding colony even within an apparently featureless environment, such as the open ocean. The mechanisms underlying their surprising navigational performance are still unknown. In order to investigate the nature of the cues exploited for oceanic navigation, Cory's shearwaters, Calonectris borealis, nesting in the Azores were displaced and released in open ocean at about 800 km from their colony, after being subjected to sensory manipulation. While magnetically disturbed shearwaters showed unaltered navigational performance and behaved similarly to unmanipulated control birds, the shearwaters deprived of their sense of smell were dramatically impaired in orientation and homing. Our data show that seabirds use olfactory cues not only to find their food but also to navigate over vast distances in the ocean.
Dokumentation im Online-Katalog – der Beitrag der Erschließung zur
Restaurierung, Digitalisierung und Identifizierung
Authors: Mangei Johannes 
Published: July 2013

Zusammenfassung:
Metadaten zu Sammlungsgegenständen sind im Bibliotheksbetrieb ebenso
notwendig wie selbstverständlich. Dass die Erschließung im Verbundkatalog
aber auch wichtige Beiträge zu Projekten der Restaurierung, der
Digitalisierung und Identifizierung von historischen Drucken leisten kann,
wird gelegentlich übersehen. Dabei eignen sich Katalogdaten – außer für
Recherche und Verbuchung – auch dazu, spezifischere Angaben zu den vom Brand
betroffenen Beständen zu dokumentieren. Dafür stehen längst etablierte
Strukturen zur Verfügung. Der Beitrag spricht sich für die
regelwerksbasierte, standardisierte Verzeichnung solcher Sachverhalte
innerhalb bestehender Datenbanken aus.
Assessment of plasma aminothiol levels and the association with recurrent atherothrombotic events in patients hospitalized for an acute coronary syndrome: a prospective study
Authors: Focks Jeroen Jaspers , van Schaik Annie , Clappers Nick , van Dijk Eveline G.J.A. , van Oijen Martijn G.H. , Verheugt Freek W.A. , Peters Wilbert H.M. 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background: The aminothiols homocysteine and, to a lesser extent, cysteine have been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcome, whereas glutathione, as an antioxidant, may protect against atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Potentially, the combined assessment of these aminothiols may provide a more accurate association with future cardiovascular outcome. We evaluated the association between recurrent atherothrombotic events and the concentration of total plasma cysteine, homocysteine, and glutathione and their combination.

Methods: Respective aminothiols were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in blood plasma of consecutive first-day survivors admitted for an acute coronary syndrome between April 2002 and January 2004. The combined score was calculated using the combination of the individual aminothiols. The end point was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and/or stroke.

Results: A cohort of 375 consecutive patients (median age 66 years, 66% male) were followed for a median duration of 2.7 years. The end point occurred in 82 patients (22%). In univariate analyses, all aminothiols were significantly associated with the composite end point. After correction for possible confounders, only cysteine and glutathione remained significantly associated. The strongest association with the end point was observed for the combined score (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.40 per standard deviation increase; p=0.005).

Conclusions: Although homocysteine is generally considered the aminothiol of interest with respect to cardiovascular disease, in our prospective study, only cysteine and glutathione appeared independently associated with recurrent atherothrombotic events. Moreover, we showed that an imbalance in the combination of aminothiols could be of more importance than investigating the individual metabolites.
Child sexual abuse and the pathophysiology of suicide in adolescents and adults
Authors: O’Brien Betsy S. , Sher Leo 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is widespread and is associated with various psychopathologies, including Axis I and II disorders, maladaptive and impulsive behaviors, and suicidal behavior in adolescence and adults. The pathophysiology of this association is not well understood; however, it is clear that suicidal behavior in individuals with a history of CSA is a significant social and medical problem that warrants further investigation.
Methods: An electronic search of the major behavioral science databases (limited to the most recent studies in the last 20 years) was conducted to retrieve studies detailing the social, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of child sexual trauma and their relation to suicidal behavior in adolescents and adults.
Results: Studies indicate that CSA is related to an increase in Axis I and II diagnoses, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, conduct disorders, eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, panic disorders, and borderline personality disorder. CSA not just related to an increase in impulsivity and risky behaviors, it has also been linked to an increase in suicidality as well.
Conclusion: CSA makes both direct and indirect contributions to suicidal behavior. It is a complex process involving multiple variables, which include psychopathology, maladaptive personality features and the direct contribution of CSA itself. Psychopathologies, such as impulsivity and mood and personality disorders, may modulate the relationship between CSA and suicidal behavior. Some preventive measures for decreasing the prevalence of CSA and suicidality may include education as well as increased access to mental health services.
A comparison between a Tai Chi program and a usual medical care program in chronic cardiovascular disease participants in quality of life, psychological health, resilience, blood pressure and body mass index
Authors: Sun Jing , Buys Nicholas 
Published: July 2013

Abstract

Background: There is increasing evidence that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is linked to a number of psychosocial risk factors and biophysiological risk factors such as metabolic syndrome. The development of effective therapeutic interventions for CVD patients, such as Tai Chi practice, to modify high-risk lifestyles and behaviours and reduce psychosocial and biophysiological risk factors, is a promising primary healthcare approach. This study compared Tai Chi programme CVD participants with CVD patients who did not participate in the Tai Chi programme as the control group in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), including physical health, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, and mental health. In addition, psychological distress and resilience, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were measured.

Methods: In 2012, a case-control study was conducted to compare a group of CVD patients participating in a community based meditation intervention programme with CVD patients who did not participate in the programme. Measures included the Short-Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ30), Resilience Scale, BMI, and blood pressure. Univariate analysis of variance was used to compare the difference between participants with cardiac chronic diseases who had taken part in 2 years regular Tai Chi and cardiac patients who did not participate in the Tai Chi programme.

Results: Outcomes differed in significance and magnitude across four HRQoL measures, psychological distress, and resilience. The Tai Chi group also showed fewer incidences of being overweight or suffering from obesity and psychological distress.

Conclusions: Regular and more than 2 years meditation exercises had a beneficial effect on HRQoL, reducing psychological distress, promoting resilience, managing and taking an active role in managing health condition, and reducing BMI and blood pressure level in CVD patients.
Individual and combined effects of modified starch, bentonite and their composite powder with HPMC on the performance of cement mortars
Authors: Yuan Ke , Liao Libing , Wang Yunhua , Zhang Zepeng , Chen Daimei , Wang Chunwei 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
A series of acetate starch was synthesized and mixed with bentonite to prepare acetate starch/bentonite composite as a novel additive in order to improve the thixotropic property of cement mortar. The thixotropic index and water retention value of the fresh cement mortar containing acetate starch, bentonite, and acetate starch/bentonite composite, respectively, were measured with and without hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose ether (HPMC). Acetate starch with the degree of substitution (DS) of about 0.5 provided the largest increase in the thixotropic index of the cement mortar. Application of HPMC gave high water retention ability and viscosity to the mortar, but the thixotropic property was not improved. Adding acetate starch or starch/bentonite composite to the mortar can increase its thixotropic index, whereas no significant improvements on the water retention ability and viscosity of mortars were observed. By the combined use of acetate starch/bentonite composite with HPMC, the water retention value (WRV) of the mortar was as high as 98%, and its thixotropic index increased from 4.06 to 5.30, with a high value of viscosity.
A MATLAB Toolbox for Large-Scale Networked Systems
Authors: Deroo Frederik , Hirche Sandra 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
In this article we present a MATLAB® toolbox to analyze networked systems from both a dynamical and a graph theoretical point of view in a user-friendly GUI tool. It is designed to allow easy creation, editing and simulation of models of networked dynamical systems, a large system class of practical interest. The main features of the software are described and several application examples are given.
Plug-and-Play Control — Definition and Realisation in MATLAB
Authors: Bodenburg Sven , Lunze Jan 
Published: July 2013

Abstract
Technological plants are live systems which are subject to persistent changes. For instance, instrumentations fail or are added, operation modes are changed or communication network topologies are modified. This paper presents a concept to adjust control algorithms to new configurations of the closed loop. The introduced Plug-and-Play Control utilises a communication network to exchange control algorithms between physically separated components. This paper elucidates the concept and describes a realisation of the algorithm exchange by remote procedure calls and model construction functions provided by MATLAB. Experiments on a fluid process illustrate the performance of Plug-and-Play Control and point out the necessary application requirements.