bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peripheral and prefrontal stress system markers and risk of relapse in alcoholism
Authors: Blaine Sara K. , Seo Dongju , Sinha Rajita 
Published: November 2015

AbstractPrevious research has shown that hyperactivation in ventral medial prefrontal cortex (VmPFC) and rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and high cortisol to corticotrophin ratio (cort:ACTH ratio) during neutral‐relaxed states predict relapse in alcohol‐dependent (AD) patients. Other studies have shown that VmPFC/rACC deactivation and blunted cortisol release to stress and alcohol cues are predictive of time to relapse and relapse severity. However, no previous study has assessed the relationship between these markers of central and peripheral nervous system dysfunction in AD participants and their potential joint effects on relapse risk. Forty early abstinent, treatment engaged AD patients underwent a laboratory experiment with exposure to neutral, alcohol and stress cues and a separate functional magnetic resonance imaging scan with similar cue exposure. Neutral‐relaxed state cort:ACTH ratio was significantly associated with VmPFC hyperreactivity to neutral‐relaxing cues, and also with hypoactivation in response to alcohol and stress cues in AD patients. Basal heart rate, neutral cort:ACTH ratio and neutral VmPFC hyperreactivty were each associated with risk of relapse. However, abnormal VmPFC activation and elevated cort:ACTH ratio overlap in predicting risk for relapse, and dysfunctional VmPFC response was the sole significant predictor of odds of relapse in a joint model of relapse risk. These findings suggest that the cort:ACTH ratio may serve as a peripheral marker of VmPFC brain dysfunction, while aberrant VmPFC responses need further evaluation as a potential biomarker of alcohol relapse risk in clinical outcome studies.
Skeuomorphs, Pottery, and Technological Change
Authors: Blitz John H. 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTSkeuomorphs are copies of prototype artifacts replicated in different physical materials in the derivative objects. The skeuomorph copy may or may not have a utilitarian function, and the original function of the prototype attribute may change or become less functional with successive copying. Because skeuomorphs are an imitation of the prototype model, they are iconic representations. Archaeological examples of pottery vessel skeuomorphs are presented and interpreted with evidence from ethnography, psychology, and modern material culture. This review lends support to the proposal that skeuomorphism is a causal factor in technological change. Skeuomorphs facilitate acceptance of innovations in artifacts by (1) materializing the pre‐existing familiar value of prototypes as attributes transferred to unfamiliar derivative objects; (2) evoking positive social memories associated with the prototype; and (3) creating broader scales of value by creating novel variants of similar objects.
The immobilization of human spermatozoa bySTAT3 inhibitory compound V results from an excessive intracellular amount of reactive oxygen species
Authors: Lachance C. , Goupil S. , Tremblay R. R. , Leclerc P. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWe previously showed that Stattic V (Stat3 inhibitory compound V) reduces human sperm motility and cellularATPlevels, increases intracellular Ca2+concentration, and promotes mitochondrial membrane depolarization resulting in increased levels of extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). As these alterations in cellular function are highly similar to what is observed in a cell undergoing apoptosis, our goal was to determine if the immobilizing effect of Stattic V on spermatozoa results from apoptosis or was because of an oxidative stress. To address this question, spermatozoa were incubated with Stattic V in combination with a caspase inhibitor, a proteasome inhibitor or a cell permeantROSscavenger. Following incubation in different conditions, sperm motility was evaluated byCASA, acrosomal integrity byFITCconjugated Pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA‐FITC) labeling, intracellularpH, and mitochondrial superoxide production by flow cytometry usingBCECFand MitoSoxRed dye, respectively. Levels of reduced thiols were assessed by iodoacetamidofluorescein staining on total and on sperm surface proteins, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation was evaluated by western blot. The loss in sperm motility induced by Stattic V was associated with a slight intracellular acidification and an important increase in intracellular superoxide anion. Unlike caspase and proteasome inhibitors, low molecular weight thiols, such as N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC), prevented Stattic V‐induced sperm immobilization and increase responsiveness to acrosome reaction inducers.NACalso efficiently prevented the production of superoxide anion, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, intracellular acidification and the oxidation of protein free thiols caused by Stattic V. These results show that the deleterious effects of Stattic V on sperm functions are caused directly or indirectly by excessive intracellularROSproduction without causing sperm apoptosis or necrosis.
Term neonates with infection and shock display high cortisol precursors despite low levels of normal cortisol
Authors: Khashana Abdelmoneim , Ojaniemi Marja , Leskinen Markku , Saarela Timo , Hallman Mikko 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimNeonatal therapy‐resistant septic shock is a common problem in middle and low‐income countries. We investigated whether newborn infants with infection and therapy‐resistant hypotension showed evidence of abnormal levels of cortisol or cortisol precursors.MethodsA total of 60 term or near term neonates with evidence of infection were enrolled after informed consent. Of these, 30 had an infection and refractory shock and 30 had an infection without shock. There were no detectable differences between the groups in the length of gestation, birth weight or gender distribution. Serum was obtained during days four and 14 after birth. Cortisol and cortisol precursor concentrations were analysed using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry.ResultsThe cortisol concentrations were low considering the expected responses to stress and they did not differ between the groups. The infants with infection and shock had higher serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels than those without shock (319.0 ± 110.3 μg/dL, versus 22.3 ± 18.3 μg/dL; p < 0.0001) and they also had higher 17‐hydroxy‐pregnenolone, pregnenolone and progesterone concentrations. There were no detectable differences in the levels of 17‐hydroxy‐progesterone, 11‐deoxy‐cortisol, cortisol or cortisone.ConclusionSeptic newborn infants with therapy‐resistant hypotension had very high DHEA levels, suggesting that 3‐beta‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity limited the rate of cortisol synthesis.
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adults: a multicentre case series over 7 years
Authors: Schram Alison M. , Comstock Paige , Campo Meghan , Gorovets Daniel , Mullally Ann , Bodio Kelly , Arnason Jon , Berliner Nancy 
Published: November 2015

SummaryHaemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of uncontrolled immune activation that has gained increasing attention over the past decade. Although classically known as a familial disorder of children caused by mutations that affect cytotoxic T‐cell function, an acquired form of HLH in adults is now widely recognized. This is often seen in the setting of malignancy, infection or rheumatological disorders. We performed a retrospective review across 3 tertiary care centres and identified 68 adults with HLH. The average age was 53 years (range 18–77 years) and 43 were male (63%). Underlying disorders included malignancy in 33 patients (49%), infection in 22 (33%), autoimmune disease in 19 (28%) and idiopathic HLH in 15 (22%). Patients were treated with disease‐specific therapy and immunomodulatory agents. After a median follow‐up of 32·2 months, 46 patients had died (69%). The median overall survival was 4 months (95% CI: 0·0–10·2 months). Patients with malignancy had a worse prognosis compared to those without (median survival 2·8 months versus 10·7 months, P = 0·007). HLH is a devastating disorder with a high mortality. Further research is needed to improve treatment and outcomes.
The CD68+/H-ferritin+ cells colonize the lymph nodes of the patients with adult onset Still's disease and are associated with increased extracellular level of H-ferritin in the same tissue: correlation with disease severity and implication for pathogenesis
Authors: Ruscitti P , Ciccia F , Cipriani P , Guggino G , Di Benedetto P , Rizzo A , Liakouli V , Berardicurti O , Carubbi F , Triolo G , Giacomelli R 
Published: November 2015

Summary
In this work, we aimed to evaluate the levels of ferritin enriched in H subunits (H-ferritin) and ferritin enriched in L subunits (L-ferritin) and the cells expressing these two molecules in the lymph node (LN) biopsies obtained from adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) patients, and the possible correlation among these data and the severity of the disease. Ten patients with AOSD underwent LN biopsy. All the samples were stained by immunofluorescence. A statistical analysis was performed to estimate the possible correlation among both H-ferritin and L-ferritin tissue expression and the clinical picture of the disease. Furthermore, the same analysis was performed to evaluate the possible correlation among the number of CD68+/H-ferritin+ or CD68+/L-ferritin+ cells and the clinical picture. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated an increased tissue H-ferritin expression in the LNs of AOSD patients. This increased expression correlated with the severity of the disease. An increased number of CD68 macrophages expressing H-ferritin was observed in the LN samples of our patients. Furthermore, we observed that the number of CD68+/H-ferritin+ cells correlated significantly with the severity of the clinical picture. Our data showed an imbalance between the levels of H- and L-ferritin in LNs of AOSD patients and the evidence of an increased number of CD68+/H-ferritin+ cells in the same organs. Furthermore, a correlation among both the tissue H-ferritin levels and the CD68+/H-ferritin+ cells and the clinical picture was observed.
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation enhances the effects of motor imagery training in a finger tapping task
Authors: Saimpont Arnaud , Mercier Catherine , Malouin Francine , Guillot Aymeric , Collet Christian , Doyon Julien , Jackson Philip L. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractMotor imagery (MI) training and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the primary motor cortex can independently improve hand motor function. The main objective of this double‐blind, sham‐controlled study was to examine whether anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex could enhance the effects of MI training on the learning of a finger tapping sequence. Thirty‐six right‐handed young human adults were assigned to one of three groups: (i) who performed MI training combined with anodal tDCS applied over the primary motor cortex; (ii) who performed MI training combined with sham tDCS; and (iii) who received tDCS while reading a book. The MI training consisted of mentally rehearsing an eight‐item complex finger sequence for 13 min. Before (Pre‐test), immediately after (Post‐test 1), and at 90 min after (Post‐test 2) MI training, the participants physically repeated the sequence as fast and as accurately as possible. An anova showed that the number of sequences correctly performed significantly increased between Pre‐test and Post‐test 1 and remained stable at Post‐test 2 in the three groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the percentage increase in performance between Pre‐test and Post‐test 1 and Post‐test 2 was significantly greater in the group that performed MI training combined with anodal tDCS compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05). As a potential physiological explanation, the synaptic strength within the primary motor cortex could have been reinforced by the association of MI training and tDCS compared with MI training alone and tDCS alone.
Effects of two calcium silicate cements on cell viability, angiogenic growth factor release and related gene expression in stem cells from the apical papilla
Authors: Peters O. A. , Galicia J. , Arias A. , Tolar M. , Ng E. , Shin S. J. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimTo evaluate the effects of two types of calcium silicate cements on viability, angiogenic growth factor release, and angiogenic and inflammation‐related gene expression in human stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAP).MethodologySCAPs were grown for 7 days with either ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or Biodentine (BD). Cell viability and media concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF/VEGFA) and angiopoietin 1 (ANGPT1) were measured. The expression of genes related to angiogenic potential and inflammatory response was measured by quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). One‐way and two‐way analyses of variance with multiple comparisons Tukey's test were performed (P < 0.05).ResultsCells in contact with either cement were associated with increased cell viability compared with the no‐treatment group at day 1 but there were no differences amongst groups at days 3 and 7. Exposure to either cement significantly increased VEGF concentrations at day 3; however, ANGPT‐1 levels decreased significantly compared with the no‐treatment group at day 3. Exposure to MTA and BD stimulated expression of VEGFA and FIGF/VEGFD. Furthermore, exposure to both cements significantly decreased the mRNA levels of ANGPT1 and FGF2 relative to the no‐treatment group.ConclusionsBoth MTA and BD stimulated the expression of angiogenic genes and release of VEGF, inducing similar expression patterns; however, they appeared to inhibit the expression of specific genes, including ANGPT1 and FGF2.
Dental caries in individuals with Down syndrome: a systematic review
Authors: Moreira Maurício José Santos , Schwertner Carolina , Jardim Juliana Jobim , Hashizume Lina Naomi 
Published: November 2015

BackgroundMany studies have shown a lower experience of caries in people with Down syndrome compared to individuals without Down syndrome, but this issue has not been critically evaluated.AimTo conduct a systematic review of the international literature on dental caries experience in people with Down syndrome.DesignThree online databases (PubMed, LILACS, and Cochrane) were used to identify relevant studies on caries experience in people with Down syndrome published until May 2015. PICO (Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison group, and Outcome) criteria were used to screen studies by title and abstract. An assessment of the methodological study quality was performed according to the modified Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.ResultsThe search resulted in 226 studies. Thirteen publications were included in the systematic review. Ten studies reported results of lower caries experience in individuals with Down syndrome in at least one age group studied. Three studies reported no differences in caries experience among the groups. All studies, however, included in this systematic review had limitations that increased the likelihood of bias in the study results.ConclusionThere is no scientific evidence to support the hypothesis that people with Down syndrome have a lower experience of caries than non‐syndromic individuals.
Legitimacy and Multi‐Level Governance in European Union Competition Law: A Deliberative Discursive Approach
Authors: Cengiz Firat 
Published: November 2015

AbstractUnion competition law protects ‘consumer welfare’, but what role do consumers play in competition policy‐making? This is the question that this article seeks to answer. In the search for an answer, the article investigates the moral (output) and procedural (input) legitimacy of the recent competition law reforms. Following a discursive approach, the article looks into the roles played by institutions deliberating for citizens (consumer organizations, European Parliament and the Union Courts) in the reform process. This inquiry results in the questioning of the reforms’ legitimacy, and it also leads to broader conclusions regarding the legitimacy of multi‐level governance: expert discourses overshadow potential deliberative qualities of networks, which exacerbates networks’ legitimacy problems. Also, the input/output legitimacy dichotomy appears problematic, as expert policy‐making in the absence of citizen participation does not guarantee policies resonating with public interest.
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score in patients with psoriasis
Authors: Gisondi P. , Barba E. , Girolomoni G. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBackgroundPatients with psoriasis are at risk of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and likely liver fibrosis.ObjectiveInvestigate the prevalence of NAFLD in patients with psoriasis and measure their risk of liver fibrosis.MethodOne hundred and twenty‐four patients with psoriasis and 79 healthy controls were included in this cross‐sectional study. NAFLD was diagnosed in the presence of characteristic sonographic features of fatty liver after excluding other secondary causes of chronic liver disease. NAFLD fibrosis score (NAFLD‐FS) was scored in those with NAFLD to measure the risk of advanced liver fibrosis.ResultsPrevalence of NAFLD was greater in patients with psoriasis than in controls (44% vs. 26%, P < 0.001). NAFLD‐FS was higher in patients with psoriasis than in controls, suggesting a higher risk of liver fibrosis in those with psoriasis (−1.57 ± 1.4 vs. −3.10 ± 1.5, mean ± SD, P < 0.0001). Psoriasis resulted in a significant predictor of advanced liver fibrosis independently of age, sex, BMI, hypertension and diabetes in the multivariate analysis.ConclusionsPatients with psoriasis should be screened for common causes of liver disease, including NAFLD and liver fibrosis.
The evolution of aquatic feeding in seals: insights from Enaliarctos (Carnivora: Pinnipedimorpha), the oldest known seal
Authors: Churchill M. , Clementz M. T. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe development of pierce‐feeding and loss of oral processing represented major adaptations for underwater feeding in marine mammals. We examined the evolution of pierce‐feeding and its association with changes in tooth spacing and tooth size to determine whether pierce‐feeding was practiced by the earliest known pinnipeds. Data on crown size and spacing in postcanine dentition were collected and 1) analysed by principal components analysis (PCA) to determine the tooth morphospace of arctoid carnivores, 2) analysed by least squares (LS) regression and phylogenetic independent contrasts (PIC) to determine what morphological variables were associated with increases in tooth spacing, and 3) used to reconstruct the evolution of feeding related traits within a phylogenetic context. The PCA analysis revealed that within arctoid carnivores, the greatest differences in morphospace were associated with pierce‐feeding, and the early‐diverging seal Enaliarctos was placed within the pinniped morphospace. Increased tooth spacing within Pinnipedia is a result of decreased postcanine crown size. When the evolution of dental characters is reconstructed, ‘enaliarctines’ were found to represent an intermediate stage in evolution between ‘fissiped’ and pinniped carnivores. They retained the limited tooth spacing of terrestrial carnivores, possessed postcanine crown lengths intermediate in size between pinnipeds and fissipeds, and possessed reduced heterodonty characteristic of crown pinnipeds. Our study indicated that pierce‐feeding evolved early within pinnipeds. This suggested either that pierce‐feeding evolved prior to the loss of mastication, or that pierce‐feeding evolved at the same time as loss of mastication, and well before simplification of the dentition was completed.
Fundamentals of Infrared Heating and Its Application in Drying of Food Materials: A Review
Authors: Pawar Sanjay B. , Pratape V.M. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractDrying is an energy‐intensive unit operation in chemical, food and allied industries. It is always desired to have low energy consumption for drying operation without compromising the quality of products. In this review, fundamental aspects of infrared heating are described in detail with the focus on its application to the drying of food materials. The modeling techniques are explained in detail to get emphasis on the design of large‐scale infrared dryers. This review also contains the investigations carried out by several researchers by experimentation and/or modeling to describe the infrared drying, infrared–convective drying, infrared–microwave drying and infrared–freeze drying. The present work describes the author's views regarding the capability and applicability of infrared source for drying of food materials. After going through a literature survey, it can be seen that infrared source especially in the far‐IR range has been widely used in convective hot air dryer than other types of dryers.Practical ApplicationsThe energy loss in convective air drying is found to be very large in chemical and allied food industries. Air, the drying medium, needs to be heated using air heaters, which generally have low thermal efficiency. On the contrary, as the infrared radiation is recognized as surface heater, it can be very suitable for drying of food materials whose drying is generally carried out in thin slices. Moreover, use of infrared heaters in other dryers is very beneficial to lower the drying time without significantly affecting the quality of the final products. Lowering the drying time can increase the productivity and decrease the cost of operation practically.
Effects of sodium sulfate on the freshwater microalgaChlamydomonas moewusii: implications for the optimization of algal culture media
Authors: Mera Roi , Torres Enrique , Abalde Julio 
Published: November 2015

The study of the microalgal growth kinetics is an indispensable tool in all fields of phycology. Knowing the optimal nutrient concentration is an important issue that will help to develop efficient growth systems for these microorganisms. Although nitrogen and phosphorus are well studied for this purpose, sulfur seems to be less investigated. Sulfate is a primary sulfur source used by microalgae; moreover, the concentration of this compound is increasing in freshwater systems due to pollution. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different sodium sulfate concentrations in the culture medium on growth and growth kinetics of the freshwater microalgaChlamydomonas moewusii. Production of biomass, chl content, kinetic equations, and a mathematical model that describe the microalgal growth in relation with the concentration of sodium sulfate were obtained. The lowest concentration of sodium sulfate allowing optimal growth was 0.1 mM. Concentrations higher than 3 mM generated a toxic effect. This work demonstrates that this toxic effect was not directly due to the excess of sulfate ion but by the elevation of the ionic strength. An inhibition model was successfully used to simulate the relationship between specific growth rate and sodium sulfate in this microalga.