bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Raman spectroscopy of blood serum for Alzheimer's disease diagnostics: specificity relative to other types of dementia
Authors: Ryzhikova Elena , Kazakov Oleksandr , Halamkova Lenka , Celmins Dzintra , Malone Paula , Molho Eric , Zimmerman Earl A. , Lednev Igor K. 
Published: September 2014

The key moment for efficiently and accurately diagnosing dementia occurs during the early stages. This is particularly true for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this proof‐of‐concept study, we applied near infrared (NIR) Raman microspectroscopy of blood serum together with advanced multivariate statistics for the selective identification of AD. We analyzed data from 20 AD patients, 18 patients with other neurodegenerative dementias (OD) and 10 healthy control (HC) subjects. NIR Raman microspectroscopy differentiated patients with more than 95% sensitivity and specificity. We demonstrated the high discriminative power of artificial neural network (ANN) classification models, thus revealing the high potential of this developed methodology for the differential diagnosis of AD. Raman spectroscopic, blood‐based tests may aid clinical assessments for the effective and accurate differential diagnosis of AD, decrease the labor, time and cost of diagnosis, and be useful for screening patient populations for AD development and progression.Multivariate data analysis of blood serum Raman spectra allows for the differentiation between patients with Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia and healthy individuals.magnified imageMultivariate data analysis of blood serum Raman spectra allows for the differentiation between patients with Alzheimer's disease, other types of dementia and healthy individuals.
Reduction of energy usage in postharvest horticulture through management of ethylene
Authors: Wills Ron BH , Golding John B 
Published: September 2014

AbstractCool chain management is the preferred technology to extend the postharvest life of horticultural produce, but with rising energy costs and community pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is a need to use less energy‐intensive technologies. Minimising the level of ethylene around horticultural produce inhibits ripening and senescence and therefore has the potential to reduce the use of refrigeration. The long‐distance transport of bananas within Australia and from Central America to Europe is used as a case study to show that the need for refrigeration could be reduced if the appropriate concentrations of ethylene were maintained around fruit during transit. Data are also presented to show a similar benefit of ethylene control with green beans, as well as another study showing that apples treated with the ethylene action inhibitor 1‐methylcyclopropene could be stored at a higher temperature without loss of quality to the consumer. The range of technologies available to manage ethylene levels is discussed. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Effect of selected Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains and different aging techniques on the polysaccharide and polyphenolic composition and sensorial characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon red wines
Authors: del Barrio‐Galán Rubén , Cáceres‐Mella Alejandro , Medel‐Marabolí Marcela , Peña‐Neira Álvaro 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe objective of this work was to study the effect of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strains with different capabilities of polysaccharide liberation during alcoholic fermentation in addition to subsequent aging on lees with or without oak wood chips as well as aging with commercial inactive dry yeast on the physical, chemical and sensorial characteristics of Cabernet Sauvignon red wines.RESULTSThe HPS (high levels of polysaccharides) yeast strain released higher amounts of polysaccharides (429 g L−1) than EC1118 (390 g L−1) during alcoholic fermentation, but the concentration equalized during the aging period (424 and 417 g L−1 respectively). All aging techniques increased the polysaccharide concentration, but the increase was dependent on the technique applied. A higher liberation of polysaccharides reduced the concentration of most of the phenolic families analyzed. Moreover, no clear effect of the different aging techniques used in this study on color stabilization was found. The HPS wines were better valued than the EC1118 wines by the panel of tasters after alcoholic fermentation.CONCLUSIONIn general, the HPS wines showed better physicochemical and sensorial characteristics than the EC1118 wines. According to the results obtained during the aging period, all aging techniques contributed to improve wine quality, but it was difficult to establish the technique that allowed the best wine to be obtained, because it depended on the aging technique used and the period of aging. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Trichoderma harzianum T‐78 supplementation of compost stimulates the antioxidant defence system in melon plants
Authors: Bernal‐Vicente Agustina , Pascual José A , Tittarelli Fabio , Hernández José A , Diaz‐Vivancos Pedro 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDCompost is emerging as an alternative plant growing medium in efforts to achieve more sustainable agriculture. The addition of specific microorganisms such as Trichoderma harzianum to plant growth substrates increases yields and reduces plant diseases, but the mechanisms of such biostimulants and the biocontrol effects are not yet fully understood. In this work we investigated how the addition of citrus and vineyard composts, either alone or in combination with T. harzianum T‐78, affects the antioxidant defence system in melon plants under nursery conditions.RESULTSCompost application and/or Trichoderma inoculation modulated the antioxidant defence system in melon plants. The combination of citrus compost and Trichoderma showed a biostimulant effect that correlated with an increase in ascorbate recycling enzymes (monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase) and peroxidase. Moreover, the inoculation of both composts with Trichoderma increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, especially those involved in ascorbate recycling.CONCLUSIONBased on the long‐established relationship between ascorbic acid and plant defence responses as well as plant growth and development, it can be suggested that ascorbate recycling activities play a major role in the protection provided by Trichoderma and its biostimulant effect and that these outcomes are linked to increases in antioxidant enzymes. We can conclude that the combination of citrus compost and T. harzianum T‐78 constitutes a viable, environmentally friendly strategy for improving melon plant production. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Waveguides for Direct Optical Detection of Low‐Molecular‐Weight Analytes
Authors: Sharma Nityanand , Petri Christian , Jonas Ulrich , Bach Monika , Tovar Günter , Mrkvová Kateřina , Vala Milan , Homola Jiří , Knoll Wolfgang , Dostálek Jakub 
Published: September 2014

New composite layer architecture of 3D hydrogel polymer network that is loaded with mole­cularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIP) is reported for direct optical detection of low‐molecular‐weight compounds. This composite layer is attached to the metallic surface of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor in order to simultaneously serve as an optical waveguide and large capacity binding‐matrix for imprinted target analyte. Optical waveguide spectroscopy (OWS) is used as a label‐free readout method allowing direct measurement of refractive index changes that are associated with molecular binding events inside the matrix. This approach is implemented by using a photo‐crosslinkable poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐based hydrogel and poly[(ethylene glycol dimethylacrylate)‐(methacrylic acid)] nanoparticles that are imprinted with l‐Boc‐phenylalanine‐anilide (l‐BFA, molecular weight 353 g mol−1). Titration experiments with the specific target and other structurally similar reference compounds show good specificity and limit of detection for target l‐BFA as low as 2 × 10−6
m.
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Self‐Storage: A Novel Family of Stimuli‐Responsive Polymer Materials for Optical and Electrochemical Switching
Authors: Dong Yixiao , Zhang Chaocan , Wu Lili , Chen Yanjun , Hu Yuanyuan 
Published: September 2014

For most stimuli‐responsive polymer materials (SRPMs), such as polymer gels, micelles, and brushes, the responsive mechanism is based on the solubility or compatibility with liquid media. That basis always results in distorting or collapsing the material's appearance and relies on external liquids. Here, a novel kind of SRPMs is proposed. Unlike most SRPMs, liquid is stored within special domains rather than expelled, so it is deforming‐free and relying on no external liquid, which is referred to as self‐storage SRPMs (SS‐SRPMs). The facile and universal route to fabricate SS‐SRPMs allows for another novel family of SRPMs. Furthermore, it is validated that SS‐SRPMs can drastically respond to outside temperature like switchers, especially for optical and electrochemical responses. Those features hold prospects for applications in functional devices, such as smart optical lenses or anti‐self‐discharge electrolytes for energy devices.image
Influence of the Surfactant on the Hydrotalcite Dispersion in NBR/LDH Composites Produced by Coagulation
Authors: Braga Fernanda C. F. , Furtado Cristina R. G. , Oliveira Marcia G. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryDispersions of 10% wt hydrotalcite were prepared by mixing using an ultrasound probe and then incorporated into NBR latex for the purpose of evaluating the influence of the surfactant presence and dispersion stability of the hydrotalcite, both in water and in latex. The surfactant used was Pluronic F‐127 and its influence was determined on the size of the agglomerates, the degree of sedimentation and the viscosity of water/LDH dispersions and latex/LDH suspensions. Preliminary results showed the efficiency of the surfactant in promoting dispersion of water/LDH, presenting lower agglomerate diameter values and increased stability of the dispersion. For the latex/LDH suspension, the viscosity of the system containing surfactant was significantly greater due to a better dispersion of LDH. After coagulation, the systems were examined in detail using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and the results did not show differences in the degree of intercalation, but XRD pattern of LDH was not observed, indicating the breakdown of crystallinity and ordering of the clay crystallites. The ash content showed that the presence of surfactant was an important factor to optimize the incorporation of the clay during coagulation. The estimation of Payne effect from shear modulus indicated a better filler dispersion in NBR matrix when using Pluronic F‐127, this behavior was also confirmed by FESEM micrographs.
Fatty acid chain length and saturation influences PPARα transcriptional activation and repression in HepG2 cells
Authors: Popeijus Herman E. , van Otterdijk Sanne D. , van der Krieken Sophie E. , Konings Maurice , Serbonij Kenrick , Plat Jogchum , Mensink Ronald P. 
Published: September 2014

ScopeFatty acids regulate peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α (PPARα) activity, however, most studies evaluated the binding ability of fatty acids to PPARα, which does not necessarily result in PPARα transactivation. We therefore examined dose–response relationships between fatty acids and PPARα transactivation in HepG2 cells. Secretion of apoA‐I protein as well as CPT1, ACO, and PPARα mRNA expression, all accepted PPARα targets, were determined as read‐outs.Methods and resultsHepG2 cells transfected with full‐length human PPARα and a PPAR response element luciferase reporter were exposed to different fatty acid concentrations. Lauric and lower doses of myristic acid increased PPARα transactivation. Palmitic and stearic acid inhibited and their monounsaturated counterparts, palmitoleic and oleic acid, increased PPARα transactivation. Linoleic and γ‐linolenic acid did not influence PPARα transactivation, while α‐linolenic acid strongly increased transactivation. Arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid all activated PPARα transactivation at lower doses, but acted at higher concentrations as PPARα repressors. In line with these results, α‐linolenic acid increased and docosahexaenoic acid decreased apoA‐I protein secretion and PPARα mRNA expression. Interestingly, ACO mRNA expression did not change while CPT1 mRNA expression showed the opposite pattern.ConclusionWe found that fatty acids, reported to bind strongly to PPARα, could even repress PPARα transactivation illustrating that these binding assays should be interpreted with caution.
Zebrafish vasa is required for germ‐cell differentiation and maintenance
Authors: Hartung Odelya , Forbes Meredyth M. , Marlow Florence L. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryVasa is a universal marker of the germ line in animals, yet mutations disrupting vasa cause sexually dimorphic infertility, with impaired development of the ovary in some animals and the testis in others. The basis for this sexually dimorphic requirement for Vasa is not clear; in most animals examined, both the male and female gonad express vasa throughout the life of the germ line. Here we characterized a loss‐of‐function mutation disrupting zebrafish vasa. We show that maternally provided Vasa is stable through the first ten days of development in zebrafish, and thus likely fulfills any early roles for Vasa during germ‐line specification, migration, survival, and maintenance. Although zygotic Vasa is not essential for the development of juvenile gonads, vasa mutants develop exclusively as sterile males. Furthermore, phenotypes of vasa;p53 compound mutants are indistinguishable from those of vasa mutants, therefore the failure of vasa mutants to differentiate as females and to support germ‐cell development in the testis is not due to p53‐mediated apoptosis. Instead, we found that failure to progress beyond the pachytene stage of meiosis causes the loss of germ‐line stem cells, leaving empty somatic tubules. Our studies provide insight into the function of zebrafish vasa during female meiosis, differentiation, and maintenance of germ‐line stem cells. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 946–961, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Structural imaging of the cervical spinal cord with suppressed CSF signal using DANTE pulse trains
Authors: Li Linqing , Kong Yazhuo , Zaitsu Yuri , Matthews Lucy , Palace Jacqueline , Jezzard Peter 
Published: September 2014

PurposeWe propose DANTE (Delays Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation) moving fluid attenuation preparation pulse trains, in conjunction with T1, T2, and proton‐density‐weighted fast spin‐echo (T1w‐TSE, T2w‐TSE and PDw‐TSE) imaging readout, and three‐dimensional fast low flip angle shots (3D‐FLASH) T1‐weighted imaging readout to achieve CSF‐suppressed high‐spatial resolution multicontrast cervical spinal cord images.MethodsDANTE pulse trains, consisting of a rapid series of low flip angle radiofrequency pulses interspersed with gradients, were used to substantially attenuate the longitudinal magnetization of flowing spins relative to static tissue/fluid, whose longitudinal magnetization is mostly preserved. We hypothesized that the contrast between spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be maximized due to moving CSF signal suppression.ResultsWe demonstrate that metrics of contrast‐to‐noise ratio between spinal cord, nerve root, and CSF regions (CNRcord‐CSF and CNRnerve‐CSF) are improved by at least a factor of 2 when compared with images acquired with non‐prepared approaches and with 2D multiple‐echo data image combination (MEDIC) imaging. In addition, we find that sagittal image quality can be significantly improved due to flow suppression effects from the DANTE preparation pluses.ConclusionDANTE prepared imaging techniques for moving CSF signal attenuation are promising tools for cervical spinal cord imaging. Magn Reson Med 74:971–977, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dental Wear and Pathology in the Precolonial Caribbean: Evidence for Dietary Change in the Ceramic Age
Authors: Mickleburgh H. L. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThis study investigates temporal changes in dietary practices in the Caribbean archipelago during the Ceramic Age (400 BC–AD 1500), through analyses of dental wear and pathology. Some previous studies in the region have suggested that diet and subsistence practices changed over time due to increasing sociopolitical complexity, climate change, or adaptation to island environments rich in marine resources. Both horticultural/agricultural intensification and increased marine focus of the diet over time have been posited, based among other things on faunal and botanical remains, and early ethnohistorical accounts. Local and micro‐regional stable isotope studies of temporal dietary variation have found few indications for change over time, and large regional isotope studies are still lacking.Dentitions from sites throughout the region dating to the Early Ceramic Age (400 BC–AD 600/800) and the Late Ceramic Age (AD 600/800–1500) were analysed in order to assess temporal differences. Intra‐individual rates of wear were calculated using the difference in degree of wear between the adjacent molars and the two groups were compared with principal axis analysis. Caries, antemortem tooth loss, abscesses and dental calculus were recorded per individual and per tooth/socket, and population caries and antemortem tooth loss rates were assessed and compared by age group, tooth class and sex.Comparisons between the two occupation periods revealed significant differences in the rate of dental wear and pathology, indicating a shift in dietary practices over time, coinciding with known social changes. The increase in pathology rates suggests a rise in the consumption of cariogenic foods or preparation techniques that increase cariogenicity. The decrease in rate of wear over time indicates a reduction in abrasivity of the diet. Together these data suggest that there was a growing focus on refined, cariogenic foods, likely horticultural/agricultural produce. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pathogenesis of varicelloviruses in primates
Authors: Ouwendijk Werner JD , Verjans Georges MGM 
Published: September 2014

AbstractVaricelloviruses in primates comprise the prototypic human varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) and its non‐human primate homologue, simian varicella virus (SVV). Both viruses cause varicella as a primary infection, establish latency in ganglionic neurons and reactivate later in life to cause herpes zoster in their respective hosts. VZV is endemic worldwide and, although varicella is usually a benign disease in childhood, VZV reactivation is a significant cause of neurological disease in the elderly and in immunocompromised individuals. The pathogenesis of VZV infection remains ill‐defined, mostly due to the species restriction of VZV that impedes studies in experimental animal models. SVV infection of non‐human primates parallels virological, clinical, pathological and immunological features of human VZV infection, thereby providing an excellent model to study the pathogenesis of varicella and herpes zoster in its natural host. In this review, we discuss recent studies that provided novel insight in both the virus and host factors involved in the three elementary stages of Varicellovirus infection in primates: primary infection, latency and reactivation. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibition of UDP‐glucosylceramide synthase in mice prevents Gaucher disease‐associated B‐cell malignancy
Authors: Pavlova Elena V , Archer Joy , Z Wang Susan , Dekker Nick , Aerts Johannes MFG , Karlsson Stefan , Cox Timothy M 
Published: September 2014

AbstractClonal B‐cell proliferation is a frequent manifestation of Gaucher disease – a sphingolipidosis associated with a high risk of multiple myeloma and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Gaucher disease is caused by genetic deficiency of acid β‐glucosidase, the natural substrates of which (β‐d‐glucosylceramide and β‐d‐glucosylsphingosine) accumulate, principally in macrophages. Mice with inducible deficiency of β‐glucosidase [Gba(tm1Karl/tm1Karl)Tg(MX1‐cre)1Cgn/0] serve as an authentic model of human Gaucher disease; we have recently reported clonal B‐cell proliferation accompanied by monoclonal serum paraproteins and cognate tumours in these animals. To explore the relationship between B‐cell malignancy and the biochemical defect, we treated Gaucher mice with eliglustat tartrate (GENZ 112638), a potent and selective inhibitor of the first committed step in glycosphingolipid biosynthesis. Twenty‐two Gaucher mice received 300 mg/kg of GENZ 112638 daily for 3–10 months from 6 weeks of age. Plasma concentrations of β‐d‐glucosylceramide and the unacylated glycosphingolipid, β‐d‐glucosylsphingosine, declined. After administration of GENZ 112638 to Gaucher mice for 3–10 months, serum paraproteins were not detected and there was a striking reduction in the malignant lymphoproliferation: neither lymphomas nor plasmacytomas were found in animals that had received the investigational agent. In contrast, 14 out of 60 Gaucher mice without GENZ 112638 treatment developed these tumours; monoclonal paraproteins were detected in plasma from 18 of the 44 age‐matched mice with Gaucher disease that had not received GENZ 112638. Long‐term inhibition of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis suppresses the development of spontaneous B‐cell lymphoma and myeloma in Gaucher mice. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating the incident user design in the HIV population: incident use versus naive?
Authors: Brouwer Emily S. , Moga Daniela C. , Eron Joseph J. , Napravnik Sonia 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIntroductionThe incident user design is the preferred study design in comparative effectiveness (CER) research. Usually, 180–365 days of exposure free time is adequate to remove biases associated with inclusion of prevalent users. In HIV research, the use of antiretrovirals (ARVs) at any time in the past may influence future treatment choices and CER results; thus, identifying naive as opposed to incident users is of importance. We examined misclassification of antiretroviral naive status based on Medicaid administrative data through linkage to the UNC CFAR HIV Clinical Cohort (UCHCC).MethodsWe identified Medicaid patients with incident exposure to common first‐line ARV regimens between 2002 and 2008 that were also patients enrolled in the UCHCC. We calculated the proportion of antiretroviral naive patients based on the UCHCC, among patients identified as having incident exposure in Medicaid and examined factors associated with being antiretroviral naive in both data sources using logistic regression to generate prevalence odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals.ResultsOf the 3500 Medicaid patients with incident antiretroviral (ARV) exposure, 1344 were also enrolled in the UCHCC. In this sample, 34% were antiretroviral naive at the time of first exposure in the Medicaid data based on the UCHCC. In multivariable models, higher CD4 cell counts and log HIV RNA values were associated with being antiretroviral naive in both data sources.ConclusionsAdministrative data are an important source of information related to HIV treatment. As the construction of a durable and long‐lasting HIV treatment plan involves knowledge of current and past antiretroviral therapy, augmentation of this data with comprehensive clinical cohort information is necessary. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.