bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brain iron quantification by MRI in mitochondrial membrane protein‐associated neurodegeneration under iron‐chelating therapy
Authors: Löbel Ulrike , Schweser Ferdinand , Nickel Miriam , Deistung Andreas , Grosse Regine , Hagel Christian , Fiehler Jens , Schulz Angela , Hartig Monika , Reichenbach Jürgen R. , Kohlschütter Alfried , Sedlacik Jan 
Published: December 2014

AbstractTherapeutic trials for Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation have aimed at a reduction of cerebral iron content. A 13‐year‐old girl with mitochondrial membrane protein‐associated neurodegeneration treated with an iron‐chelating agent was monitored by R2 relaxometry, R2* relaxometry, and quantitative susceptibility mapping to estimate the brain iron content. The highly increased brain iron content slowly decreased in the substantia nigra but remained stable for globus pallidus. The estimated iron content was higher by R2* compared to R2 and quantitative susceptibility mapping, a finding not previously observed in the brain of healthy volunteers. A hypothesis explaining this discrepancy is offered.
Lactoferrin during lactation protects the immature hypoxic‐ischemic rat brain
Authors: van de Looij Yohan , Ginet Vanessa , Chatagner Alexandra , Toulotte Audrey , Somm Emmanuel , Hüppi Petra S. , Sizonenko Stéphane V. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractObjectiveLactoferrin (Lf) is an iron‐binding glycoprotein secreted in maternal milk presenting anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It shows efficient absorption into the brain from nutritional source. Brain injury frequently resulting from cerebral hypoxia‐ischemia (HI) has a high incidence in premature infants with ensuing neurodevelopmental disabilities. We investigated the neuroprotective effect of maternal nutritional supplementation with Lf during lactation in a rat model of preterm HI brain injury using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), brain gene, and protein expression.MethodsModerate brain HI was induced using unilateral common carotid artery occlusion combined with hypoxia (6%, 30 min) in the postnatal day 3 (P3) rat brain (24–28 weeks human equivalent). High‐field multimodal MRI techniques were used to investigate the effect of maternal Lf supplementation through lactation. Expression of cytokine coding genes (TNF‐α and IL‐6), the prosurvival/antiapoptotic AKT protein and caspase‐3 activation were also analyzed in the acute phase after HI.ResultsMRI analysis demonstrated reduced cortical injury in Lf rats few hours post‐HI and in long‐term outcome (P25). Lf reduced HI‐induced modifications of the cortical metabolism and altered white matter microstructure was recovered in Lf‐supplemented rats at P25. Lf supplementation significantly decreased brain TNF‐α and IL‐6 gene transcription, increased phosphorylated AKT levels and reduced activation of caspase‐3 at 24 h post‐injury.InterpretationLf given through lactation to rat pups with cerebral HI injury shows neuroprotective effects on brain metabolism, and cerebral gray and white matter recovery. This nutritional intervention may be of high interest for the clinical field of preterm brain neuroprotection.
Evaluation of Mechanical, Friction, and Wear Characteristics of Nano‐SiC Filled Ortho Cresol Novalac Epoxy Composites under Dry Sliding Condition
Authors: Dass Kali , Chauhan S. R. , Gaur Bharti 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTIn this work, ortho cresol novalac resin was synthesized in the laboratory and this synthesized resin was further reacted with epichlorohydrin to obtain ortho cresol novalac epoxy resin (OCNE). The obtained resin can be characterized by FTIR analysis. The OCNE‐based composites were produced by filling the nano‐SiC particulates. To explore the mechanical and tribological characteristics of these composites under dry sliding conditions, the effects of nanoparticles on the mechanical, friction, and wear properties of the OCNE composites filled with 1–4 wt% of SiC particulates (40 nm) were evaluated using a pin‐on‐disk apparatus. The improvement in the mechanical and wear properties was attributed to high strength, high hardness, and good dispersion of nano‐SiC particulates, which can enhance the interfacial properties of nanofiller and the epoxy matrix. The lowest coefficient of friction and the specific wear rate of composites were 0.27 and 2.18 × 10−08 mm3/Nm, respectively. A positive synergetic effect was also found, and the proposed quaternary composites might be applicable in practice. The wear mechanisms of these composite specimens were examined with the help of a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive x‐ray analyzer and an x‐ray diffractometer .
Effect of obesity on the reliability of age‐at‐death indicators of the pelvis
Authors: Wescott Daniel J. , Drew Jessica L. 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTDuring medicolegal investigations, forensic anthropologists commonly use morphological changes in the auricular surface of the ilium and the symphyseal face of the pubis to estimate age. However, obesity may impact the reliability of age estimations based on pelvic joints. Over the past several decades, the prevalence of obesity has dramatically increased in the United States (US). Since the rate of progression through age‐related stages of weight‐bearing joints may be influenced by excessive body mass, it is important that anthropologists understand how obesity affects age‐related morphological changes in the skeleton. This study investigates the effects of obesity on the validity of the estimated age‐at‐death based on the Buckberry–Chamberlin and Suchey–Brooks methods by comparing US adults considered normal BMI (BMI 18.5–24.9) and obese (BMI ≥ 30). The obese group exhibits overall greater bias (overestimation of age) and inaccuracy, less precision, and lower correlations between estimated and known age than the normal BMI group using both methods, although differences in the pubic symphysis are not statistically significant. For the auricular surface the age of transition from one phase to the next is lower and the standard deviations are greater for the obese as compared to normal weight individuals. This study helps to elucidate how obesity affects the rate of age‐related skeletal change of the human pelvis, and shows that the pubic symphysis may be a more reliable indicator of age in obese individuals and that greater standard deviations are needed for obese individuals when estimating age‐at‐death from the pelvis. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:595–605, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
New insights into the history of the C‐14010 lactase persistence variant in Eastern and Southern Africa
Authors: Macholdt Enrico , Slatkin Montgomery , Pakendorf Brigitte , Stoneking Mark 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTLactase persistence (LP), the ability to digest lactose into adulthood, is strongly associated with the cultural traits of pastoralism and milk‐drinking among human populations, and several different genetic variants are known that confer LP. Recent studies of LP variants in Southern African populations, with a focus on Khoisan‐speaking groups, found high frequencies of an LP variant (the C‐14010 allele) that also occurs in Eastern Africa, and concluded that the C‐14010 allele was brought to Southern Africa via a migration of pastoralists from Eastern Africa. However, this conclusion was based on indirect evidence; to date no study has jointly analyzed data on the C‐14010 allele from both Southern African Khoisan‐speaking groups and Eastern Africa. Here, we combine and analyze published data on the C‐14010 allele in Southern and Eastern African populations, consisting of haplotypes with the C‐14010 allele and four closely‐linked short tandem repeat loci. Our results provide direct evidence for the previously‐hypothesized Eastern African origin of the C‐14010 allele in Southern African Khoisan‐speaking groups. In addition, we find evidence for a separate introduction of the C‐14010 allele into the Bantu‐speaking Xhosa. The estimated selection intensity on the C‐14010 allele in Eastern Africa is lower than that in Southern Africa, which suggests that in Eastern Africa the dietary changes conferring the fitness advantage associated with LP occurred some time after the origin of the C‐14010 allele. Conversely, in Southern Africa the fitness advantage was present when the allele was introduced, as would be expected if pastoralism was introduced concomitantly. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:661–664, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Orbital parameters of the high‐mass X‐ray binary 4U 2206+54
Authors: Stoyanov K. A. , Zamanov R. K. , Latev G. Y. , Abedin A. Y. , Tomov N. A. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractWe present new radial velocities of the high‐mass X‐ray binary star 4U 2206+54 based on optical spectra obtained with the Coudé spectrograph at the 2 m RCC telescope of the Rozhen National Astronomical Observatory, Bulgaria in the period November 2011–July 2013. The radial velocity curve of the He I δ6678 Å line is modeled with an orbital period Porb = 9.568 d and an eccentricity of e = 0.3. These new measurements of the radial velocity resolve the disagreements of the orbital period discussions. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Constructing a synthetic metabolic pathway in Escherichia coli to produce the enantiomerically pure (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol
Authors: Ji Xiao‐Jun , Liu Lu‐Gang , Shen Meng‐Qiu , Nie Zhi‐Kui , Tong Ying‐Jia , Huang He 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTEnantiomerically pure (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol has unique applications due to its special chiral group and spatial configuration. Currently, its chemical production route has many limitations. In addition, no native microorganisms can accumulate (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol with an enantio‐purity over 99%. Herein, we constructed a synthetic metabolic pathway for enantiomerically pure (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. The fermentation results suggested that introduction of the synthetic metabolic pathway redistributed the carbon fluxes to the neutral (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol, and thus protected the strain against the acetic acid inhibition. Additionally, it showed that the traditionally used isopropyl beta‐D‐thiogalactoside (IPTG) induction displayed negative effect on (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol biosynthesis in the recombinant E. coli, which was probably due to the protein burden. With no IPTG addition, the (R, R)‐2,3‐butanediol concentration reached 115 g/L by fed‐batch culturing of the recombinant E. coli, with an enantio‐purity over 99%, which is suitable for the pilot‐scale production. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 1056–1059. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Simultaneous determination of 14 constituents of Radix polygoni multiflori from different geographical areas by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Lin Longfei , Ni Boran , Lin Hongmei , Zhang Miao , Yan Lei , Qu Changhai , Ni Jian 
Published: December 2014

AbstractRadix polygoni multiflori (RPM) has antioxidative, anti‐aging, liver‐protective and antihuman cytomegalovirus activity. It has been proved to be hepatotoxic. Considering multiple ingredients to control RPM quality is essential. The aim of this study was to establish a simple, rapid method using resolution liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadruple mass spectrometry to identify and quantify the major bioactive constituents in RPM. The method was applied to analyze 14 marker batches from manufacturers from the same province. The ultrasonic extracts of all samples were determined by LC‐MS/MS, and assessed by hierarchical cluster analysis. The proposed method was applied to analyze 21 batches of samples with acceptable linearity (R2, 0.9930–0.9998), precision (relative standard deviation, RSD, 0.45–4.73%) repeatability (RSD, 1.14–9.41%), stability (RSD, 1.29–12.88%) and recovery (RSD, 1.80–12.15%) of the 14 compounds. Furthermore, the hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to classify 21 samples on the basis of characteristics of the 14 compound markers. The developed method was demonstrated to be simple, sensitive and reproducible, and has significant importance and comprehensive evaluation for quality control of RPM and related preparations. Hierarchical cluster analysis clearly indicated that the RPM from the same province was similar, whereas samples of RPM from different provinces were significantly different. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metachronous pancreatic cancer originating from disseminated founder pancreatic intraductal neoplasias (PanINs)
Authors: Imai Koji , Karasaki Hidenori , Ono Yusuke , Sasajima Junpei , Chiba Shin‐ichi , Funakoshi Hiroshi , Muraki Miho , Hanaoka Hideki , Furukawa Takahisa , Furukawa Hiroyuki , Kono Toru , Nagashima Kazuo , Mizukami Yusuke 
Published: December 2014

AbstractClonal populations originated from benign‐looking ‘founder cells' may spread widely within pancreas instead of being localized in situ before frank pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) can be detected. Metachronous PDA is not common event, and we here sought to define potent origin of multiple PDAs developed in a woman using advanced genetics technologies. Curative resection of pancreatic head tumour was performed; however, ‘recurrent' lesions in the remnant pancreas were found 3.5 years later and total pancreatectomy was subsequently performed. The metachronous lesions were morphologically similar to the primary PDA. Using a next‐generation sequencing and digital PCR, all three PDAs were shown to possess rare somatic mutations in KRAS (p.T58I & p.Q61H). Curiously, identical KRAS mutations were found in low‐grade ‘intraepithelial' lesions, which localized in normal area of the pancreas and one of them possessed p53 mutation, which was also found in the PDAs. The footprint of the tumour evolution marked by mutational profiling supports a human correlate to the mouse models of ‘dissemination' occurring at the earliest stages of pancreatic neoplasia.
Topology control‐based collaborative multicast routing algorithm with minimum energy consumption
Authors: Jiang Dingde , Xu Zhengzheng , Li Wenpan , Chen Zhenhua 
Published: December 2014

SummaryThis paper studies the multicast routing problem in the multi‐hop wireless network. We exploit topology control to put forward a multicast routing algorithm with minimum energy consumption. First, network nodes are classified as different clusters. Then, the end‐to‐end multicast routing is appropriately built by using the cooperation among clusters and in each cluster and by minimizing the energy consumption. Unlike previous methods, we employ the appropriate cooperation among/in clusters and the optimal cross‐layer design to attain the information from the different layers and the different nodes. In a result, on the basis of the information, the needed clusters of nodes are correctly created. This is helpful to avoid clustering blindly network nodes and to reduce computational overheads. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is promising and effective. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Maintaining microendemic primate species along an environmental gradient – parasites as drivers for species differentiation
Authors: Sommer Simone , Rakotondranary Solofomalla Jacques , Ganzhorn Jörg U. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractUnderstanding the drivers of species adaptations to changing environments on the one hand and the limits for hybridization on the other hand is among the hottest questions in evolutionary biology. Parasites represent one of the major selective forces driving host evolution and at least those with free‐living stages are at the same time dependent on the ecological conditions of their host's habitat. Local immunological adaptations of host species to varying parasite pressure are therefore expected and might represent the genetic basis for ecological speciation and the maintenance of recently diverged species. Madagascar provides one of the rare examples where two partially sympatric primate species (Microcebus griseorufus, M. murinus) and their hybrids, as well as an allopatric species (M. cfrufus) live in close proximity along a very steep environmental gradient ranging from southern dry spiny bush to gallery forest to evergreen eastern humid rain forest, thus mimicking the situation encountered during extensions and retreats of vegetation formations under changing climatic conditions. This system was used to study parasite infection and immune gene (MHC) adaptations to varying parasite pressure that might provide selective advantages to pure species over hybrids. Parasite burdens increased with increasing humidity.M. griseorufus,M. murinus,and their hybrids but notM. rufusshared the sameMHCalleles, indicating either retention of ancestral polymorphism or recent gene flow. The hybrids had much higher prevalence of intestinal parasites than either of the parent species living under identical environmental conditions. The different representation of parasites can indicate a handicap for hybrids that maintains species identities.
Disturbance, neutral theory, and patterns of beta diversity in soil communities
Authors: Maaß Stefanie , Migliorini Massimo , Rillig Matthias C. , Caruso Tancredi 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBeta diversity describes how local communities within an area or region differ in species composition/abundance. There have been attempts to use changes in beta diversity as a biotic indicator of disturbance, but lack of theory and methodological caveats have hampered progress. We here propose that the neutral theory of biodiversity plus the definition of beta diversity as the total variance of a community matrix provide a suitable, novel, starting point for ecological applications. Observed levels of beta diversity (BD) can be compared to neutral predictions with three possible outcomes: Observed BD equals neutral prediction or is larger (divergence) or smaller (convergence) than the neutral prediction. Disturbance might lead to either divergence or convergence, depending on type and strength. We here apply these ideas to datasets collected on oribatid mites (a key, very diverse soil taxon) under several regimes of disturbances. When disturbance is expected to increase the heterogeneity of soil spatial properties or the sampling strategy encompassed a range of diverging environmental conditions, we observed diverging assemblages. On the contrary, we observed patterns consistent with neutrality when disturbance could determine homogenization of soil properties in space or the sampling strategy encompassed fairly homogeneous areas. With our method, spatial and temporal changes in beta diversity can be directly and easily monitored to detect significant changes in community dynamics, although the method itself cannot inform on underlying mechanisms. However, human‐driven disturbances and the spatial scales at which they operate are usually known. In this case, our approach allows the formulation of testable predictions in terms of expected changes in beta diversity, thereby offering a promising monitoring tool.
Solvent‐Free Hydrosilylation of Terminal Alkynes by Reaction with a Nonclassical Ruthenium Hydride Pincer Complex
Authors: Conifer Christopher , Gunanathan Chidambaram , Rinesch Torsten , Hölscher Markus , Leitner Walter 
Published: December 2014

AbstractUpon the simple addition of substrates, the ruthenium pincer complex [Ru(tBuPNP)(H2)(H)2] [1; tBuPNP = 2,6‐bis(di‐tert‐butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine] is an active and selective catalyst system for the hydrosilylation of terminal alkyl alkynes under mild, solvent‐free conditions. The reactivity of this system for other functionalized terminal alkynes was also investigated, and we observed competing catalytic cycles that produce both alkyne dimers and dehydrogenative silylation products. Kinetic measurements for the hydrosilylation of 1‐octyne show that the catalyst has an initial turnover frequency of 121 h–1 at room temperature. The stoichiometric reaction between 1 and H2SiPh2 yields [Ru(tBuPNP)(H)2(H2SiPh2)], which undergoes Si–H bond activation to yield the catalytically active species [Ru(tBuPNP)(HSiPh2)(H)]. The reaction of 1 with phenylacetylene yielded [Ru(tBuPNP)(H)2(HC≡CPh)] and [Ru(tBuPNP)(H)(C≡CPh)(HC≡CPh)], and we propose that the latter is the active species in the dimerization reaction.
Why the spring North Pacific Oscillation is a predictor of typhoon activity over the Western North Pacific
Authors: Chen Dong , Wang Huijun , Liu Jiping , Li Guoping 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTIn this study, we investigated the impact of the spring North Pacific Oscillation (NPO) on typhoon frequency over the Western North Pacific (WNP, north of the equator and west of dateline). To reduce the statistical uncertainty, all the data we used have been excluded the El Nino/Southern Oscillation signals. We found that the spring NPO positively correlated with the annual typhoon number over the WNP (hereafter TNWNP) during the period 1968–2010, with a correlation coefficient of 0.62 (above the 99% significance level). When the Northern Low and Southern High pattern over the north Pacific weakens, the TNWNP tends to increase. A positive phase of spring NPO is associated with the tropical circulation and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the North Pacific, which may lead to unfavorable dynamical and thermal conditions for typhoon genesis over the WNP during JJAS. The negative anomaly of SST over the WNP, associated with the positive spring NPO anomaly, is connected to the tropical atmospheric circulations from spring to summer via good oceanic seasonal persistence and air–sea interaction. Thus, the spring NPO‐related variability of the tropical atmospheric circulation as well as the SST can affect typhoon activity over the WNP. In addition, the spring NPO can also be adopted as a predictor for the summer rainfall in South China, since the spring NPO can modulate the WNP SST and western Pacific subtropical high from spring to summer.
Dietary iron depletion at weaning imprints low microbiome diversity and this is not recovered with oral nano Fe(III)
Authors: Pereira Dora I. A. , Aslam Mohamad F. , Frazer David M. , Schmidt Annemarie , Walton Gemma E. , McCartney Anne L. , Gibson Glenn R. , Anderson Greg J. , Powell Jonathan J. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAlterations in the gut microbiota have been recently linked to oral iron. We conducted two feeding studies including an initial diet‐induced iron‐depletion period followed by supplementation with nanoparticulate tartrate‐modified ferrihydrite (Nano Fe(III): considered bioavailable to host but not bacteria) or soluble ferrous sulfate (FeSO4: considered bioavailable to both host and bacteria). We applied denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and fluorescence in situ hybridization for study‐1 and 454‐pyrosequencing of fecal 16S rRNA in study‐2. In study‐1, the within‐community microbial diversity increased with FeSO4 (P = 0.0009) but not with Nano Fe(III) supplementation. This was confirmed in study‐2, where we also showed that iron depletion at weaning imprinted significantly lower within‐ and between‐community microbial diversity compared to mice weaned onto the iron‐sufficient reference diet (P < 0.0001). Subsequent supplementation with FeSO4 partially restored the within‐community diversity (P = 0.006 in relation to the continuously iron‐depleted group) but not the between‐community diversity, whereas Nano Fe(III) had no effect. We conclude that (1) dietary iron depletion at weaning imprints low diversity in the microbiota that is not, subsequently, easily recovered; (2) in the absence of gastrointestinal disease iron supplementation does not negatively impact the microbiota; and (3) Nano Fe(III) is less available to the gut microbiota.