bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced electrosorption capacity for lead ion removal with polypyrrole and air‐plasma activated carbon nanotube composite electrode
Authors: Yang Lingfang , Shi Zhou 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTPolypyrrole (PPy) and air‐plasma activated carbon nanotube (CNT) composites (P‐CNT‐PPy) prepared via in situ chemical oxidative polymerization are studied to improve the electrosorption capacity of CNT‐based electrodes for the removal of lead ions. For comparison, the PPy prepared on the CNTs without plasma activation is labeled as CNT/PPy. The morphology of the composite was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and pore structures were studied by N2 adsorption‐desorption isotherms. The electrochemical capacitance properties of the composite were measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge‐discharge in lead solutions. With plasma‐activation, the specific surface area of the P‐CNT‐PPy composite is larger than that of CNT/PPy. Additionally, the P‐CNT‐PPy composites exhibit excellent electrochemical performance in lead solution, with a higher specific capacitance and smaller charge transfer resistance than that of CNT/PPy. XPS elemental analysis and electrosorption and regeneration results show that the electrosorption and desorption process is reversible under a voltage of 450 mV. The electrosorption kinetics of P‐CNT‐PPy electrodes abide by pseudo‐second‐order model reaction. The lead ion electrosorption experiments agree with the Langmuir model, and the equilibrium electrosorption capacity of the P‐CNT‐PPy electrodes is 3.6 and 1.3 times higher than that of the CNT and CNT/PPy, respectively. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41793.
Conserved expression of the GPR151 receptor in habenular axonal projections of vertebrates
Authors: Broms Jonas , Antolin‐Fontes Beatriz , Tingström Anders , Ibañez‐Tallon Ines 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTThe habenula is a phylogenetically conserved brain structure in the epithalamus. It is a major node in the information flow between fronto‐limbic brain regions and monoaminergic brainstem nuclei, and is thus anatomically and functionally ideally positioned to regulate emotional, motivational, and cognitive behaviors. Consequently, the habenula may be critically important in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders such as addiction and depression. Here we investigated the expression pattern of GPR151, a G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR), whose mRNA has been identified as highly and specifically enriched in habenular neurons by in situ hybridization and translating ribosome affinity purification (TRAP). In the present immunohistochemical study we demonstrate a pronounced and highly specific expression of the GPR151 protein in the medial and lateral habenula of rodent brain. Specific expression was also seen in efferent habenular fibers projecting to the interpeduncular nucleus, the rostromedial tegmental area, the rhabdoid nucleus, the mesencephalic raphe nuclei, and the dorsal tegmental nucleus. Using confocal microscopy and quantitative colocalization analysis, we found that GPR151‐expressing axons and terminals overlap with cholinergic, substance P‐ergic, and glutamatergic markers. Virtually identical expression patterns were observed in rat, mouse, and zebrafish brains. Our data demonstrate that GPR151 is highly conserved, specific for a subdivision of the habenular neurocircuitry, and constitutes a promising novel target for psychiatric drug development. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:359–380, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The evolution of Jen3 proteins and their role in dicarboxylic acid transport in Yarrowia
Authors: Dulermo Rémi , Gamboa‐Meléndez Heber , Michely Stéphanie , Thevenieau France , Neuvéglise Cécile , Nicaud Jean‐Marc 
Published: December 2014

AbstractJen proteins in yeast are involved in the uptake of mono/dicarboxylic acids. The Jen1 subfamily transports lactate and pyruvate, while the Jen2 subfamily transports fumarate, malate, and succinate. Yarrowia lipolytica has six JEN genes: YALI0B19470g, YALI0C15488g, YALI0C21406g, YALI0D20108g, YALI0D24607g, and YALI0E32901g. Through phylogenetic analyses, we found that these genes represent a new subfamily, Jen3 and that these three Jen subfamilies derivate from three putative ancestral genes. Reverse transcription‐PCR. revealed that only four YLJEN genes are expressed and they are upregulated in the presence of lactate, pyruvate, fumarate, malate, and/or succinate, suggesting that they are able to transport these substrates. Analysis of deletion mutant strains revealed that Jen3 subfamily proteins transport fumarate, malate, and succinate. We found evidence that YALI0C15488 encodes the main transporter because its deletion was sufficient to strongly reduce or suppress growth in media containing fumarate, malate, or succinate. It appears that the other YLJEN genes play a minor role, with the exception of YALI0E32901g, which is important for malate uptake. However, the overexpression of each YLJEN gene in the sextuple‐deletion mutant strain ΔYLjen1‐6 revealed that all six genes are functional and have evolved to transport different substrates with varying degrees of efficacy. In addition, we found that YALI0E32901p transported succinate more efficiently in the presence of lactate or fumarate.
Measuring the Effect of Probation and Parole Officers on Labor Market Outcomes and Recidivism
Authors: Andersen Lars H. , Wildeman Christopher 
Published: December 2014

Abstract

Objectives
Use a unique dataset to pair probation and parole officers and their clients in Denmark in 2002–2009 to identify causal effects of these officers on labor market outcomes and recidivism.

Methods
To identify these effects, we rely on data from all probationers and parolees in Copenhagen, where a rotational assignment process randomizes clients to officers. We apply OLS models to test whether the inclusion of probation and parole officer fixed effects improves model fit, and we show the impact of officer fixed effects by generating predicted values for one individual, varying only the officer.

Results
The first stage of the analysis shows that the assignment of a probation or parole officer is indeed random in Copenhagen—at least in regards to the vast majority of background characteristics—suggesting that we are able to identify causal effects of probationer and parolee assignment on labor market outcomes and recidivism. The second stage of our analysis shows that although to a lower degree than common sense might suggest, probation and parole officers do matter for their clients’ dependency on public benefit transfers (around 10 percentage points) and criminal recidivism (around 30 percentage points), whereas earnings are unaffected.

Conclusion
As no study has yet to identify causal effects of probation and parole officer assignment, this study makes a novel contribution to the literature on the effects of criminal justice contact on subsequent life-course outcomes. Although generalizability to the US context is uncertain because we rely on Danish data, our findings nonetheless point in interesting directions for future research.
Fertility Decline and Child Schooling in Urban Settings of Burkina Faso
Authors: Bougma Moussa , LeGrand Thomas K. , Kobiané Jean-François 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAs evidenced in Western rich countries, Asia, and Latin America, lower fertility allows couples to invest more in each of their children’s schooling. This postulate is the key rationale of family planning policies in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, most studies on Africa have found no correlation or even a positive relationship between the number of children in a family and their educational attainment. These mixed results are usually explained by African family solidarity and resource transfers that might reduce pressures on household resources occasioned by many births as well as methodological problems that have afflicted much research on the region. Our study aims to assess the impact of family size on children’s schooling in Ouagadougou (capital of Burkina Faso), using a better measure of household budget constraints and taking into account the simultaneity of fertility and schooling decisions. In contrast to most prior studies on sub-Saharan Africa, we find a net negative effect of sibship size on the level of schooling achieved by children—one that grows stronger as they progress through the educational system.
In vivo anticancer activity of rhomboidal Pt(II) metallacycles
Authors: Grishagin Ivan V. , Pollock J. Bryant , Kushal Swati , Cook Timothy R. , Stang Peter J. , Olenyuk Bogdan Z. 
Published: December 2014

Significance
The design of new antitumor agents and the search for delivery vehicles for existing drugs are two problems in cancer therapy that are often solved separately. Drug delivery vehicles are typically nontherapeutic, leaving antitumor effects exclusively to the encapsulated drug. However, the combination of an anticancer drug and a delivery vehicle with inherent antitumor properties could produce a synergistic effect, thus enhancing the therapy. We describe herein the synthesis and characterization of two supramolecular coordination complexes with well-defined geometries, along with their in vitro localization and in vivo assessment of antitumor effects. These complexes are stable in cell culture and nontoxic to cells, yet show substantial reduction of the tumor growth and tumor burden in mouse xenograft models.
In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial efficacy of natural plant-derived compounds against Vibrio cholerae of O1 El Tor Inaba serotype
Authors: Kim Hyung-Ip , Kim Ji-Ae , Choi Eun-Jin , Harris Jason B , Jeong Seong-Yeop , Son Seok-Jun , Kim Younghoon , Shin Ok Sarah 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
In this study, we investigated antibacterial activities of 20 plant-derived natural compounds against Gram-negative enteric pathogens. We found that both flavonoids and non-flavonoids, including honokiol and magnolol, possess specific antibacterial activities against V. cholerae, but not against other species of Gram-negative bacterium which we tested. Using various antibacterial assays, we determined that there was a dose-dependent bactericidal and biofilm inhibitory activity of honokiol and magnolol against Vibrio cholerae. In addition to antibacterial activities, these molecules also induced an attenuating effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and pro-inflammatory responses generated by macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Additionally, Caenorhabditis elegans lethality assay revealed that honokiol and magnolol have an ability to extend a lifespan of V. cholerae-infected worms, contributing to prolonged survival of worms after lethal infection. Altogether, our data show for the first time that honokiol and magnolol may be considered as attractive protective or preventive food adjuncts for cholera.
Graphical Modeling of Biological Pathways in Genome-wide Association Studies
Authors: Chen Min , Cho Judy , Zhao Hongyu 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) are widely used to identify good candidates of disease-associated genes that are of interest for further follow-up studies. However, knowledge of biological pathways and interactions may improve the likelihood of making genuine discoveries in GWASs. A number of methods have been developed to incorporate prior biological knowledge when prioritizing genes. However, most methods treat genes in a specific pathway as an exchangeable set without considering the topological structure of the pathway. Based on results obtained from a standard association study on a Crohn’s disease cohort, it is first verified that neighboring genes in a pathway are more likely to share the same disease status. Then, a Markov Random Field (MRF) model is proposed, to incorporate pathway topology for association analysis. We show that the conditional distribution of our MRF model takes on a simple logistic regression form. Finally, we evaluate our model on real data.
Bayesian Networks in the Study of Genome-wide DNA Methylation
Authors: Singer Meromit , Pachter Lior 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThis chapter explores the use of Bayesian networks in the study of genome-scale deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation. It begins by describing different experimental methods for the genome-scale annotation of DNA methylation. The Methyl-seq protocol is detailed and the biases induced by this technique are depicted, which constitute as many challenges for further analysis. These challenges are addressed introducing a Bayesian network framework for the analysis of Methyl-seq data. This previous model is extended to incorporate more information from the genomic sequence. Genomic structure is used as a prior on methylation status. A recurring theme is the interplay between the model used to glean information from the technology, and the view of methylation that drives the model specification. Finally, a study is described, in which such models were used, leading to both interesting biological conclusions and to insights about the nature of methylation.
Latent Variable Models for Analyzing DNA Methylation
Authors: Houseman E. Andrés 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation is tightly linked with cellular differentiation. For instance, it has been observed that DNA methylation in tumor cells encodes phenotypic information about the tumor. Thus, understanding of tumor biology is fruitfully enhanced by the study of the multivariate structure of DNA methylation data. To the extent that such data possess discrete latent structure, it can be viewed as encoding different tumor subtypes (in cancer studies) or tissue types (more generally). However, in some cases there may be more evidence of continuous latent structure reflecting a continuous range of variation. This chapter discusses several specific latent variable models that have been used in the last decade to analyze DNA methylation data, including approaches for modeling DNA methylation data in low-dimensional settings such as in candidate gene studies and recursively partitioned mixture model approaches for modeling DNA methylation in high-dimensional settings.
Interrogation and negation with ši in North African and Levantine Arabic
Authors: Wilmsen David 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Polar and copular interrogatives ending in -š like those of Andalusi Arabic have been documented since the late 18th century in the peripheral Arabic dialect Maltese, that variety also negating with -š. This is significant because Maltese retains features of the North African dialect spoken in the 8th and10th centuries in what is now Tunis, Arabic speakers populating the Maltese islands in that era. For their parts, the old urban Tunisian dialects retain a polar interrogative šī, including copular interrogative 3rd person pronouns, and they negate with -š. Remnants of copular interrogatives persist in Moroccan and Egyptian vernacular Arabic, copular negation with -š remaining productive in Arabic dialects from the Yemen, the southern and highland Levant, and across coastal North Africa.
Proto-Semitic and Proto-Arabic origins of grammatical ši
Authors: Wilmsen David 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Grammatical šī in Arabic shares more surface similarities and functional affinities with Proto-Semitic 3rd person pronouns and other Semitic function words than it does with the Arabic word for ‘thing’, itself probably deriving later from an indefinite determiner šī. Of the few genuine cases of degrammaticalization, the best-supported is the movement from indefinite determiners to content words. The other functionalities of the existential particle šī arose from a Proto-Semitic demonstrative or presentative, not along a unidirectional cline but through a potentially overlapping series of lateral shifts, changes, neither more nor less grammatical, representing movement on the cline but not up or down it. The development of negative -š in Arabic conforms to Croft’s negative-indefinite cycle, not Jespersen’s.
Differential Levels of Soluble Inflammatory Markers by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Controller Status and Demographics
Authors: Li Jonathan Z. , Arnold Kelly B. , Lo Janet , Dugast Anne-Sophie , Plants Jill , Ribaudo Heather J. , Cesa Kevin , Heisey Andrea , Kuritzkes Daniel R. , Lauffenburger Douglas A. , Alter Galit , Landay Alan , Grinspoon Steven , Pereyra Florencia 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackground.  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 elite controllers (ECs) represent an ideal population to study the effects of HIV persistence on chronic inflammation in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART).Methods.  Twenty inflammatory markers measured in cohorts of ECs, HIV suppressed noncontrollers, and HIV-uninfected controls were compared using rank-based tests and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA). Spearman correlations were determined among the inflammatory markers, residual viremia by the single-copy assay, and CD4+ T cell slope.Results.  Significant differences were seen between cohorts in 15 of the soluble inflammatory markers. Human immunodeficiency virus-1 ECs were found to have the highest levels for all of the markers with the exception of RANTES. In particular, median levels of 7 inflammatory markers (soluble CD14 [sCD14], interferon [IFN]-γ, IFN-γ-inducible protein [IP]-10, interleukin [IL]-4, IL-10, sCD40L, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) were twice as high in the HIV-1 ECs compared with either of the HIV-suppressed or uninfected groups. Multivariate PLSDA analysis of inflammatory markers improved differentiation between the patient cohorts, discerning gender differences in inflammatory profile amongst individuals on suppressive ART. Soluble markers of inflammation in ECs were not associated with either levels of residual HIV-1 viremia or CD4+ T cell decline.Conclusions.  Despite maintaining relatively low levels of viremia, HIV-1 ECs had elevated levels of a set of key inflammatory markers. Additional studies are needed to determine whether ECs may benefit from ART and to further evaluate the observed gender differences.
Levocetirizine and rupatadine in chronic idiopathic urticaria
Authors: Johnson Madhulika , Kwatra Gagandeep , Badyal Dinesh K. , Thomas Emy A. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackgroundChronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a common dermatological condition. Its pathogenesis involves mainly histamine and also other mediators, including platelet‐activating factor (PAF) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). In the absence of an exact etiology, H1‐antihistaminics are the mainstay of treatment. Levocetirizine is widely prescribed for CIU. Rupatadine, a newer antihistaminic, has PAF receptor antagonist activity and has shown anti‐TNF‐α activity in vitro. These additional anti‐inflammatory effects may improve its efficacy.ObjectivesThis study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of rupatadine and levocetirizine, respectively, in CIU patients.MethodsA prospective, open, comparative, randomized study was conducted in 100 patients, of whom 50 were treated with levocetirizine and 50 were treated with rupatadine. Efficacy parameters used were urticarial activity score (UAS) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) values. Safety was evaluated by monitoring for adverse drug reactions and by using the critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT) test and a visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline, and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks.ResultsThe mean UAS decreased to 0.10 in the levocetirizine group and to 0.38 in the rupatadine group. Patients in the levocetirizine group showed a more significant (P < 0.001) improvement, although symptoms improved in both groups. Significant reductions in mean DLQI scores were observed in both groups, but the decrease was statistically significant in the levocetirizine group (P < 0.05). Somnolence was the most common side effect in both groups. Patients in the levocetirizine group showed more psychomotor impairment based on the CFFT test. Findings on the VAS showed sedative effects in both groups (P < 0.05).ConclusionsLevocetirizine was found to be more efficacious than rupatadine in CIU patients, but both drugs caused mild sedation.
Inter‐ and intrarater reliability of the Chicago Classification in pediatric high‐resolution esophageal manometry recordings
Authors: Singendonk M. M. J. , Smits M. J. , Heijting I. E. , van Wijk M. P. , Nurko S. , Rosen R. , Weijenborg P. W. , Abu‐Assi R. , Hoekman D. R. , Kuizenga‐Wessel S. , Seiboth G. , Benninga M. A. , Omari T. I. , Kritas S. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe Chicago Classification (CC) facilitates interpretation of high‐resolution manometry (HRM) recordings. Application of this adult based algorithm to the pediatric population is unknown. We therefore assessed intra and interrater reliability of software‐based CC diagnosis in a pediatric cohort.MethodsThirty pediatric solid state HRM recordings (13M; mean age 12.1 ± 5.1 years) assessing 10 liquid swallows per patient were analyzed twice by 11 raters (six experts, five non‐experts). Software‐placed anatomical landmarks required manual adjustment or removal. Integrated relaxation pressure (IRP4s), distal contractile integral (DCI), contractile front velocity (CFV), distal latency (DL) and break size (BS), and an overall CC diagnosis were software‐generated. In addition, raters provided their subjective CC diagnosis. Reliability was calculated with Cohen's and Fleiss’ kappa (κ) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).Key ResultsIntra‐ and interrater reliability of software‐generated CC diagnosis after manual adjustment of landmarks was substantial (mean κ = 0.69 and 0.77 respectively) and moderate‐substantial for subjective CC diagnosis (mean κ = 0.70 and 0.58 respectively). Reliability of both software‐generated and subjective diagnosis of normal motility was high (κ = 0.81 and κ = 0.79). Intra‐ and interrater reliability were excellent for IRP4s, DCI, and BS. Experts had higher interrater reliability than non‐experts for DL (ICC = 0.65 vs ICC = 0.36 respectively) and the software‐generated diagnosis diffuse esophageal spasm (DES, κ = 0.64 vs κ = 0.30). Among experts, the reliability for the subjective diagnosis of achalasia and esophageal gastric junction outflow obstruction was moderate‐substantial (κ = 0.45–0.82).Conclusions & InferencesInter‐ and intrarater reliability of software‐based CC diagnosis of pediatric HRM recordings was high overall. However, experience was a factor influencing the diagnosis of some motility disorders, particularly DES and achalasia.