bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Piglets produced from cloned blastocysts cultured in vitro with GM‐CSF
Authors: Lee Kiho , Redel Bethany K. , Spate Lee , Teson Jennifer , Brown Alana N. , Park Kwang‐Wook , Walters Eric , Samuel Melissa , Murphy Clifton N. , Prather Randall S. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractIn general, pig embryos established by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) are transferred at the one‐cell stage because of suboptimal embryo culture conditions. Improvements in embryo culture can increase the practical application of late embryo transfer. The goal of this study was to evaluate embryos cultured with granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) in vitro, and to track the in vivo developmental competency of SCNT‐derived blastocysts from these GM‐CSF embryos. The receptor for GM‐CSF was up‐regulated in in vitro‐produced embryos when compared to in vivo‐produced cohorts, but the level decreased when GM‐CSF was present. In vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos, supplemented with GM‐CSF (2 or 10 ng/ml), showed a higher frequency of development to the blastocyst stage compared to controls. The total cell numbers of the blastocysts also increased with supplementation of GM‐CSF. Molecular analysis demonstrates that IVF‐derived blastocysts cultured with GM‐CSF exhibit less apoptotic activity. Similarly, an increase in development to the blastocyst stage and an increase in the average total‐cell number in the blastocysts were observed when SCNT‐derived embryos were cultured with either concentration of GM‐CSF (2 or 10 ng/ml). When SCNT‐derived embryos, cultured with 10 ng/ml GM‐CSF, were transferred into six surrogates at Day 6, five of the surrogates became pregnant and delivered healthy piglets. Our findings suggest that supplementation of GM‐CSF can provide better culture conditions for IVF‐ and SCNT‐derived embryos, and pig SCNT‐derived embryos cultured with GM‐CSF in vitro can successfully produce piglets when transferred into surrogates at the blastocyst stage. Thus, it may be practical to begin performing SCNT‐derived embryo transfer at the blastocyst stage. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantitative characterization of nuclear overhauser enhancement and amide proton transfer effects in the human brain at 7 tesla
Authors: Liu Dapeng , Zhou Jinyuan , Xue Rong , Zuo Zhentao , An Jing , Wang Danny J. J. 
Published: December 2012

PurposeThis study aimed to quantitatively investigate two main magnetization transfer effects at low B1: the nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) and amide proton transfer in the human brain at 7 T.MethodsThe magnetization transfer effects in the human brain were characterized using a four‐pool proton model, which consisted of bulk water, macromolecules, an amide group of mobile proteins and peptides, and NOE‐related protons resonating upfield. The pool sizes, exchange rates, and relaxation times of these proton pools were investigated quantitatively by fitting, and the net signals of amide proton transfer and NOE were simulated based on the fitted parameters.ResultsThe results showed that the four‐pool model fitted the experimental data quite well, and the NOE effects in human brain at 7 T had a broad spectrum distribution. The NOE effects peaked at a B1 of ∼ 1–1.4 μT and were significantly stronger in the white matter than in the gray matter, corresponding to a pool‐size ratio ∼ 2:1. As the amide proton transfer effect was relatively small compared with the NOE effects, magnetization transfer asymmetry analysis yielded an NOE‐dominated contrast in the healthy human brain in this range of B1.ConclusionThese findings are important to identify the source of NOE effects and to quantify amide proton transfer effects in human brain at 7 T. Magn Reson Med, 70:1070–1081, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Predicting Coronary Heart Disease: From Framingham Risk Score to Ultrasound Bioimaging
Authors: Sillesen Henrik , Fuster Valentin 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAtherosclerosis is the leading cause of death and disabling disease. Whereas risk factors are well known and constitute therapeutic targets, they are not useful for prediction of risk of future myocardial infarction, stroke, or death. Therefore, methods to identify atherosclerosis itself have been tested and found useful (ie, coronary calcium detection by computed tomography scanning, reduction in ankle‐brachial index, and ultrasound scanning of the carotid arteries). This review will focus on the latter technique. Detection of thickened carotid intima‐media by ultrasound has been used in many large epidemiological studies, but although it has been found to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death, its clinical utility is limited. Detection of carotid plaque has, on the other hand, been found to be associated with a substantial risk of future events. Similarly, detection of plaque in the femoral arteries is associated with increased risk, and plaque in the femoral as well as carotid arteries predicts even higher risk. Furthermore, quantification of plaque size (plaque area), such as quantification of amount of coronary calcium on computed tomography scanning, improves predictability—the larger the plaques, the higher the risk. So far, studies using ultrasound all have been performed with 2‐dimensional ultrasound imaging. Recently, 3‐dimensional ultrasound imaging has been introduced, which allows for more accurate quantification of atherosclerosis. Small studies pioneering its use have indicated the utility of measuring changes in vessel‐wall volume and plaque volume with respect to treatment effect. The High‐Risk Plaque Initiative BioImage Study is currently investigating the predictive value of total carotid plaque volume with respect to prediction of future cardiovascular events. Mt Sinai J Med 79:654–663, 2012. © 2012 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Management of Atrial Fibrillation: Direct Factor IIa and Xa Inhibitors or “Warfarin Shotgun”?
Authors: Halperin Jonathan L. , Goyette Richert E. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractNonvalvular atrial fibrillation increases in prevalence with age and often requires long‐term oral anticoagulation to prevent ischemic stroke. Vitamin K antagonists are highly effective for stroke prevention. However, suboptimal risk assessment, variability in response, drug and food interactions, and monitoring requirements result in underprescription of warfarin by physicians and poor adherence to therapy by patients. In addition, the vitamin K antagonists modulate coagulation by inhibiting multiple coagulation factors (factors II, VII, IX, and X). New oral direct factor IIa and Xa inhibitors offer improved risk‐benefit profiles, simplifying thromboprophylaxis and overcoming some practical barriers to long‐term therapy. Their potential benefit is a function of targeting specific activated factors produced at key junctions of the coagulation system. However, important questions about patient management with these new agents have not been fully answered by studies completed to date and clinical inertia must yet be overcome. Mt Sinai J Med 79:705–720, 2012. © 2012 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Future of Electronic Health Records: Implications for Decision Support
Authors: Rothman Brian , Leonard Joan C. , Vigoda Michael M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe potential benefits of the electronic health record over traditional paper are many, including cost containment, reductions in errors, and improved compliance by utilizing real‐time data. The highest functional level of the electronic health record (EHR) is clinical decision support (CDS) and process automation, which are expected to enhance patient health and healthcare. The authors provide an overview of the progress in using patient data more efficiently and effectively through clinical decision support to improve health care delivery, how decision support impacts anesthesia practice, and how some are leading the way using these systems to solve need‐specific issues. Clinical decision support uses passive or active decision support to modify clinician behavior through recommendations of specific actions. Recommendations may reduce medication errors, which would result in considerable savings by avoiding adverse drug events. In selected studies, clinical decision support has been shown to decrease the time to follow‐up actions, and prediction has proved useful in forecasting patient outcomes, avoiding costs, and correctly prompting treatment plan modifications by clinicians before engaging in decision‐making. Clinical documentation accuracy and completeness is improved by an electronic health record and greater relevance of care data is delivered. Clinical decision support may increase clinician adherence to clinical guidelines, but educational workshops may be equally effective. Unintentional consequences of clinical decision support, such as alert desensitization, can decrease the effectiveness of a system. Current anesthesia clinical decision support use includes antibiotic administration timing, improved documentation, more timely billing, and postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis. Electronic health record implementation offers data‐mining opportunities to improve operational, financial, and clinical processes. Using electronic health record data in real‐time for decision support and process automation has the potential to both reduce costs and improve the quality of patient care. Mt Sinai J Med 79:757–768, 2012. © 2012 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Feedback or biofeedback to augment pelvic floor muscle training for urinary incontinence in women: Shortened version of a Cochrane systematic review
Authors: Herderschee Roselien , Hay‐Smith E. C. Jean , Herbison G. Peter , Roovers Jan Paul , Heineman Maas Jan 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundFeedback and biofeedback (BF) are common adjuncts to pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for women with stress, urgency, and mixed urinary incontinence (UI). An up to date systematic review of adjunctive feedback or BF was needed to guide practice and further research.ObjectivesTo determine whether feedback or BF add benefit to PFMT for women with UI.MethodsThe Cochrane Incontinence Group Specialised Trials Register was searched (May 2010) for randomised or quasi‐randomized trials in women with stress, urgency or mixed UI regardless of cause, which compared PFMT versus PFMT augmented with feedback or BF. Two reviewers independently undertook eligibility screening, risk of bias assessment and data extraction. Analysis was in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention (version 5.0.2).ResultsTwenty‐four trials were included, and many were at moderate to high risk of bias. Women who received BF were less likely to report they were not improved (RR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66–0.86), although there was no statistically significant difference for cure (RR 0.92, 95% CI: 0.81–1.05) and marginal statistical significance for leakage episodes (mean difference: −0.12 leaks/day, 95% CI: −0.22 to −0.01). It is possible the results are confounded because women in the BF group commonly had more contact with the health professional than those in the PFMT only arm.ConclusionBF may add benefit to PFMT but the observed effect could well be related to another variable, such as the amount of health professional contact rather than the BF per se. Neurourol. Urodynam. 32: 325–329, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of upper‐level dynamics and surface processes for the Pakistan flood of July 2010
Authors: Martius O. , Sodemann H. , Joos H. , Pfahl S. , Winschall A. , Croci‐Maspoli M. , Graf M. , Madonna E. , Mueller B. , Schemm S. , Sedláček J. , Sprenger M. , Wernli H. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractIn July and August 2010 floods of unprecedented impact afflicted Pakistan. The floods resulted from a series of intense multi‐day precipitation events in July and early August. At the same time a series of blocking anticyclones dominated the upper‐level flow over western Russia and breaking waves i.e. equatorward extrusions of stratospheric high potential vorticity (PV) air formed along the downstream flank of the blocks. Previous studies suggested that these extratropical upper‐level breaking waves were crucial for instigating the precipitation events in Pakistan. Here a detailed analysis is provided of the extratropical forcing of the precipitation. Piecewise PV inversion is used to quantify the extratropical upper‐level forcing associated with the wave breaking and trajectories are calculated to study the pathways and source regions of the moisture that precipitated over Pakistan. Limited‐area model simulations are carried out to complement the Lagrangian analysis.The precipitation events over Pakistan resulted from a combination of favourable boundary conditions with strong extratropical and monsoonal forcing factors. Above‐normal sea‐surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean led to an elevated lower‐tropospheric moisture content. Surface monsoonal depressions ensured the transport of moist air from the ocean towards northeastern Pakistan. Along this pathway the air parcel humidity increased substantially (60–90% of precipitated moisture) via evapotranspiration from the land surface. Extratropical breaking waves influenced the surface wind field substantially by enhancing the wind component directed towards the mountains which reinforced the precipitation.
Direct gas injection method: A simple modification to an elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometer for stable isotope analysis of N and C from N2O and CO2 gases in nanomolar concentrations
Authors: Machavaram Madhav V. , Beaulieu Jake J. , Mills Marc A. 
Published: December 2012

RATIONALEStable isotope analyses of trace amounts of nitrous oxide gas require special instrumentation and laborious sample preparation methods that have hindered many laboratories from measuring this potent greenhouse gas. A simple modification to an Elemental Analyzer (EA) coupled to an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) setup that allows users to measure the N and C isotopic ratios of nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) by injecting the gases directly into the EA is described.METHODSThe standard EA was fitted with a gas injection port and a home‐made packed column filled with Hayesep Q polymer. A gas mixture of 3.1% N2O in helium (He) was injected directly into the EA. This method allowed large volumes of sample to be injected without saturating the column.RESULTSThe use of the home‐made column resulted in better resolution of sample peaks and allowed smaller concentrations of the analyte to be injected. This study showed that this method produced accurate and reproducible stable isotope measurements with sample injection volumes ranging from 100 to 5000 μL, containing between 20 and 1000 nmol of analyte.CONCLUSIONSThis simple, inexpensive method can be useful for the laboratories that do not have access to more advanced and expensive interfaces to analyze nanomolar quantities of N2O and CO2 from microbiological and ecological studies and offers a simple alternative for in‐house measurements of these trace gases. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Precision and long‐term stability of clumped‐isotope analysis of CO2 using a small‐sector isotope ratio mass spectrometer
Authors: Yoshida Naohiro , Vasilev Mikhail , Ghosh Prosenjit , Abe Osamu , Yamada Keita , Morimoto Maki 
Published: December 2012

RATIONALEThe ratio of the measured abundance of 13C–18O bonding CO2 to its stochastic abundance, prescribed by the δ13C and δ18O values from a carbonate mineral, is sensitive to its growth temperature. Recently, clumped‐isotope thermometry, which uses this ratio, has been adopted as a new tool to elucidate paleotemperatures quantitatively.METHODSClumped isotopes in CO2 were measured with a small‐sector isotope ratio mass spectrometer. CO2 samples digested from several kinds of calcium carbonates by phosphoric acid at 25 °C were purified using both cryogenic and gas‐chromatographic separations, and their isotopic composition (δ13C, δ18O, Δ47, Δ48 and Δ49 values) were then determined using a dual‐inlet Delta XP mass spectrometer.RESULTSThe internal precisions of the single gas Δ47 measurements were 0.005 and 0.02 ‰ (1 SE) for the optimum and the routine analytical conditions, respectively, which are comparable with those obtained using a MAT 253 mass spectrometer. The long‐term variations in the Δ47 values for the in‐house working standard and the heated CO2 gases since 2007 were close to the routine, single gas uncertainty while showing seasonal‐like periodicities with a decreasing trend. Unlike the MAT 253, the Delta XP did not show any significant relationship between the Δ47 and δ47 values.CONCLUSIONSThe Delta XP gave results that were approximately as precise as those of the MAT 253 for clumped‐isotope analysis. The temporal stability of the Delta XP seemed to be lower, although an advantage of the Delta XP was that no dependency of δ47 on Δ47 was found. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid quantitation of ascorbic and folic acids in SRM 3280 multivitamin/multielement tablets using flow‐injection tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Bhandari Deepak , Kertesz Vilmos , Van Berkel Gary J. 
Published: December 2012

RATIONALEAscorbic acid (AA) and folic acid (FA) are water‐soluble vitamins and are usually fortified in food and dietary supplements. For the safety of human health, proper intake of these vitamins is recommended. Improvement in the analysis time required for the quantitative determination of these vitamins in food and nutritional formulations is desired.METHODSA simple and fast (~5 min) in‐tube sample preparation was performed, independently for FA and AA, by mixing extraction solvent with a powdered sample aliquot followed by agitation, centrifugation, and filtration to recover an extract for analysis. Quantitative detection was achieved by flow‐injection (1 μL injection volume) electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS/MS) in negative ion mode using the method of standard addition.RESULTSThe method of standard addition was employed for the quantitative estimation of each vitamin in a sample extract. At least 2 spiked and 1 non‐spiked sample extract were injected in triplicate for each quantitative analysis. Given an injection‐to‐injection interval of approximately 2 min, about 18 min was required to complete the quantitative estimation of each vitamin. The concentration values obtained for the respective vitamins in the standard reference material (SRM) 3280 using this approach were within the statistical range of the certified values provided in the NIST Certificate of Analysis. The estimated limit of detections of FA and AA were 13 and 5.9 ng/g, respectively.CONCLUSIONSFlow‐injection ESI‐MS/MS was successfully applied for the rapid quantitation of FA and AA in SRM 3280 multivitamin/multielement tablets. Published 2012. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratios of whole wood, cellulose and lignin methoxyl groups of Picea abies as climate proxies
Authors: Gori Y. , Wehrens R. , Greule M. , Keppler F. , Ziller L. , La Porta N. , Camin F. 
Published: December 2012

RATIONALECarbon, hydrogen and oxygen (C, H and O) stable isotope ratios of whole wood and components are commonly used as paleoclimate proxies. In this work we consider eight different proxies in order to discover the most suitable wood component and stable isotope ratio to provide the strongest climate signal in Picea abies in a southeastern Alpine region (Trentino, Italy).METHODSδ13C, δ18O and δ2H values in whole wood and cellulose, and δ13C and δ2H values in lignin methoxyl groups were measured. Analysis was performed using an Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometer coupled with an Elemental Analyser for measuring 13C/12C and a Pyrolyser for measuring 2H/1H and 18O/16O. The data were evaluated by Principal Component Analysis, and a simple Pearson's correlation between isotope chronologies and climatic features, and multiple linear regression were performed to evaluate the data.RESULTSEach stable isotope ratio in cellulose and lignin methoxyl differs significantly from the same stable isotope ratio in whole wood, the values begin higher in cellulose and lignin except for the lignin δ2H values. Significant correlations were found between the whole wood and the cellulose fractions for each isotope ratio. Overall, the highest correlations with temperature were found with the δ18O and δ2H values in whole wood, whereas no significant correlations were found between isotope proxies and precipitation.CONCLUSIONSδ18O and δ2H values in whole wood provide the best temperature signals in Picea abies in the northern Italian study area. Extraction of cellulose and lignin and analysis of other isotopic ratios do not seem to be necessary. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigations of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial compounds with proton‐transfer‐reaction mass spectrometry for a real‐time threat monitoring scenario
Authors: Kassebacher Thomas , Sulzer Philipp , Jürschik Simone , Hartungen Eugen , Jordan Alfons , Edtbauer Achim , Feil Stefan , Hanel Gernot , Jaksch Stefan , Märk Lukas , Mayhew Chris A. , Märk Tilmann D. 
Published: December 2012

RATIONALESecurity and protection against terrorist attacks are major issues in modern society. One especially challenging task is the monitoring and protection of air conditioning and heating systems of buildings against terrorist attacks with toxic chemicals. As existing technologies have low selectivity, long response times or insufficient sensitivity, there is a need for a novel approach such as we present here.METHODSWe have analyzed various chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and/or toxic industrial compounds (TICs) and related compounds, namely phosgene, diphosgene, chloroacetone, chloroacetophenone, diisopropylaminoethanol, and triethyl phosphate, utilizing a high‐resolution proton‐transfer‐reaction time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (PTR‐TOFMS) instrument with the objective of finding key product ions and their intensities, which will allow a low‐resolution quadrupole mass spectrometry based PTR‐MS system to be used with high confidence in the assignment of threat agents in the atmosphere.RESULTSWe obtained high accuracy PTR‐TOFMS mass spectra of the six compounds under study at two different values for the reduced electric field in the drift tube (E/N). From these data we have compiled a table containing product ions, and isotopic and E/N ratios for highly selective threat compound detection with a compact and cost‐effective quadrupole‐based PTR‐MS instrument. Furthermore, using chloroacetophenone (tear gas), we demonstrated that this instrument's response is highly linear in the concentration range of typical Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs).CONCLUSIONSOn the basis of the presented results it is possible to develop a compact and cost‐effective PTR‐QMS instrument that monitors air supply systems and triggers an alarm as soon as the presence of a threat agent is detected. We hope that this real‐time surveillance device will help to seriously improve safety and security in environments vulnerable to terrorist attacks with toxic chemicals. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.