bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genotyping of exons 1 to 20 in Duchenne muscular dystrophy by universal multiplex PCR and short‐end capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Syu Jing‐Rou , Wang Chun‐Chi , Jong Yuh‐Jyh , Wu Shou‐Mei 
Published: August 2014

One rapid CE method was established to diagnose Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a severe recessive inherited disorder frequently caused by gene deletions. Among them, exons 1–20 account for nearly 30% of occurrences. In this study, the universal multiplex PCR was used to enhance the fluorescently labeling efficiency, which was performed only by one universal fluorescent primer. After PCR, a short‐end injection CE (short‐end CE) speeded up the genotyping of the DMD gene. This method involved no extra purification, and was completed within 9 min. The CE conditions contained a polymer solution of 1.5% hydroxylethylcellulose in 1× TBE buffer at 6 kV for separation. This method was applied to test six DMD patients and one healthy male person. The results showed good agreement with those of multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification. This method can be applied for clinical diagnosis of DMD disease. Accurate diagnosis of the DMD gene is the best way to prevent the disease.
Enhanced biogas production from coffee pulp through deligninocellulosic photocatalytic pretreatment
Authors: Corro Grisel , Pal Umapada , Cebada Surinam 
Published: August 2014

AbstractProduction of biogas utilizing agricultural wastes is one of the most demanding technologies for generating energy in sustainable manner considering environmental concerns. However, though the agricultural wastes are available in abundance, the technologies used for the production of biogas such as biological and thermochemical processes are not very efficient. In the present article, we describe a process for the production of biogas from coffee pulp utilizing Cu/TiO2 as an efficient photocatalyst in its solar photocatalytic pretreatment, producing biogas of high caloric value at enhanced rate. The pretreatment process enhances the coffee pulp–cattle manure codigestion, producing increased amounts of methane, propane, and other combustible components of biogas. The photocatalytic pretreatment was performed using 10%Cu/TiO2 as photocatalyst, bubbling air as oxidizing agent, and solar radiation as light source. The process enhances the degradation rate of lignocellulosic components of coffee pulp, consequently increasing the biogas production through anaerobic codigestion. The mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of lignocelluloses has been discussed. The results presented in this work indicate the photocatalytic pretreatment is a useful process to increase biogas generation from lignocelluloses‐rich natural wastes.
Understanding Amazonian fluvial rias based on a Late Pleistocene–Holocene analog
Authors: Bertani Thiago C. , Rossetti Dilce F. , Hayakawa Ericson H. , Cohen Marcelo C. L. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractFluvial rias are elongated lakes at tributary mouths that can reach dozens of kilometers in length, constituting one of the most remarkable features in the Amazonian landscape. Thus far, definitive data which documents the genesis of fluvial rias have not been published. The main goal of this work was to integrate morphological, sedimentological and chronological information in order to characterize fluvial paleorias in the interfluve of the Purus and Madeira Rivers and discuss the most likely hypothesis for their genesis. These paleorias were first observed through remote sensing imagery as several elongated and interconnecting belts of open vegetation that are in sharp contact with the surrounding dense forest. The belts are branched and form a dendritic pattern similar to many modern drainage networks. The sedimentary record of these belts revealed the prevalence of sharp‐based sandstones and mudstones arranged into fining‐upward successions, which are compatible with deposition within channels. Active channel and abandoned channel deposits were recognized. These are topped by continuous mudstones related to rapid channel abandonment and formation of a low energy basin or ria environment. Radiocarbon dating of these deposits recorded only Late Pleistocene and Holocene ages ranging from 21 547–22 285 cal yr bp to 5928–6124 cal yr bp. This chronology for sediment deposition is not compatible with the hypothesis of Amazonian rias being formed by fluvial erosion during the Last Glaciation Maximum low sea level, with sediment accumulation during the subsequent Holocene transgression. Instead, the studied paleorias record previous tributaries of the Madeira River that became abandoned as the position of this river shifted southeastward and its interfluve tilted northward, inverting the drainage systems. Therefore, a neotectonic origin of some Amazonian paleorias seems most likely. This hypothesis should be considered in further investigations aiming at understanding the origin of numerous modern fluvial rias that typify the Amazonian landscape. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variation in riparian consumer diet composition and differential bioaccumulation by prey influence the risk of exposure to elements from a recently remediated fly ash spill
Authors: Beck Michelle L. , Hopkins William A. , Jackson Brian P. 
Published: August 2014

Abstract

Emerging aquatic insects play a key role in transporting aquatic nutrients and contaminants to riparian consumers. However, little is known about how within- and between-year variation in the diet or patterns of element bioaccumulation in emerging insect taxa may influence the risk of exposure to wildlife. During 2 breeding seasons, the composition of the diet of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) was examined at several colonies that were exposed to element contamination from a remediated coal fly ash spill to determine how variation in the diet influenced the risk of exposure to elements. The proportion of the diet that consisted of insects with an aquatic larval stage was positively related to concentrations of As, Fe, Se, and Tl in the samples. The proportion of the diet that consisted of Chironomidae (midges) was positively related to exposure to these elements at most colonies within and between years. Ephemeroptera (mayflies) contained higher concentrations of Se than midges, including 17 samples with concentrations of Se above 5 µg/g dry mass, the threshold of toxicological concern for birds. This was even the case at colonies several kilometers downstream from the spill. The results indicate that greater consideration should be given to the pattern of element bioaccumulation among different prey taxa and their relative importance in the diet to better assess the risk of contaminant exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2595–2608. © 2014 SETAC
Photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, and chlorophyll content of soybean seedlings under combined stress of bisphenol A and cadmium
Authors: Hu Huiqing , Wang Lihong , Wang Qingqing , Jiao Liya , Hua Weiqi , Zhou Qing , Huang Xiaohua 
Published: August 2014

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous in the environment because of its continual application in plastics and the epoxy resin industry. Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal element mainly used in smelting, electroplating, and plastic and dye manufacturing. Pollution as a result of BPA and Cd exists simultaneously in many agricultural regions. However, little information is available regarding the combined effects of BPA and Cd on plants. The combined effects of BPA and Cd on the photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and chlorophyll content of soybean seedlings were investigated using noninvasive technology. Combined treatment with 1.5 mg/L BPA and 0.2 mg/L Cd synergistically improved the net photosynthetic rate (Pn), initial fluorescence (F0), maximal photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII), photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR), and chlorophyll content. Combined treatment with 1.5 mg/L BPA and 3.0 mg/L Cd increased the F0 and decreased the Pn, Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, and ETR, whereas BPA and Cd exhibited an antagonistic effect. Furthermore, combined treatment with 17.2/50.0 mg/L BPA and 3.0/10.0 mg/L Cd synergistically decreased the Pn, Fv/Fm, ΦPSII, ETR, and chlorophyll content, although it increased the F0. Finally, the effects of BPA and Cd on photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and chlorophyll content ceased when BPA stress was stopped. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2455–2462. © 2014 SETAC
Lipocalin 2: A New Mechanoresponding Gene Regulating Bone Homeostasis
Authors: Rucci Nadia , Capulli Mattia , Piperni Sara Gemini , Cappariello Alfredo , Lau Patrick , Frings-Meuthen Petra , Heer Martina , Teti Anna 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACT

Mechanical loading represents a crucial factor in the regulation of skeletal homeostasis. Its reduction causes loss of bone mass, eventually leading to osteoporosis. In a previous global transcriptome analysis performed in mouse calvarial osteoblasts subjected to simulated microgravity, the most upregulated gene compared to unit gravity condition was Lcn2, encoding the adipokine Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), whose function in bone metabolism is poorly known. To investigate the mechanoresponding properties of LCN2, we evaluated LCN2 levels in sera of healthy volunteers subjected to bed rest, and found a significant time-dependent increase of this adipokine compared to time 0. We then evaluated the in vivo LCN2 regulation in mice subjected to experimentally-induced mechanical unloading by (1) tail suspension, (2) muscle paralysis by botulin toxin A (Botox), or (3) genetically-induced muscular dystrophy (MDX mice), and observed that Lcn2 expression was upregulated in the long bones of all of them, whereas physical exercise counteracted this increase. Mechanistically, in primary osteoblasts transfected with LCN2-expression-vector (OBs-Lcn2) we observed that Runx2 and its downstream genes, Osterix and Alp, were transcriptionally downregulated, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was less prominent versus empty-vector transduced osteoblasts (OBs-empty). OBs-Lcn2 also exhibited an increase of the Rankl/Opg ratio and IL-6 mRNA, suggesting that LCN2 could link poor differentiation of osteoblasts to enhanced osteoclast stimulation. In fact, incubation of purified mouse bone marrow mononuclear cells with conditioned media from OBs-Lcn2 cultures, or their coculture with OBs-Lcn2, improved osteoclastogenesis compared to OBs-empty, whereas treatment with recombinant LCN2 had no effect. In conclusion, our data indicate that LCN2 is a novel osteoblast mechanoresponding gene and that its regulation could be central to the pathological response of the bone tissue to low mechanical forces. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Population dose‐response analysis of daily seizure count following vigabatrin therapy in adult and pediatric patients with refractory complex partial seizures
Authors: Nielsen Jace C. , Hutmacher Matthew M. , Wesche David L. , Tolbert Dwain , Patel Mahlaqa , Kowalski Kenneth G. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractVigabatrin is an irreversible inhibitor of γ‐aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA‐T) and is used as an adjunctive therapy for adult patients with refractory complex partial seizures (rCPS). The purpose of this investigation was to describe the relationship between vigabatrin dosage and daily seizure rate for adults and children with rCPS and identify relevant covariates that might impact seizure frequency. This population dose–response analysis used seizure‐count data from three pediatric and two adult randomized controlled studies of rCPS patients. A negative binomial distribution model adequately described daily seizure data. Mean seizure rate decreased with time after first dose and was described using an asymptotic model. Vigabatrin drug effects were best characterized by a quadratic model using normalized dosage as the exposure metric. Normalized dosage was an estimated parameter that allowed for individualized changes in vigabatrin exposure based on body weight. Baseline seizure rate increased with decreasing age, but age had no impact on vigabatrin drug effects after dosage was normalized for body weight differences. Posterior predictive checks indicated the final model was capable of simulating data consistent with observed daily seizure counts. Total normalized vigabatrin dosages of 1, 3, and 6 g/day were predicted to reduce seizure rates 23.2%, 45.6%, and 48.5%, respectively.
Long‐term therapeutic and reporter gene expression in lentiviral vector treated cystic fibrosis mice
Authors: Cmielewski Patricia , Donnelley Martin , Parsons David W 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundPersistent reporter gene and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) nasal airway gene expression can be achieved with a single lentiviral (LV) gene vector dosing when coupled with a preparatory lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) airway pre‐treatment. In the present study, we characterised the duration of gene expression in individual cystic fibrosis (CF) knockout mice (cftrtm1unc) over their lifetimes.MethodsCF mouse nasal airways were treated with LV‐Rx, a mixture of a therapeutic LV‐CFTR gene vector and a LV‐luciferase reporter gene vector, after pre‐treatment with LPC. Control groups received either PBS sham pre‐treatment followed by LV‐Rx, or LPC prior to delivery of a LV vector containing no transgene (LV‐MT). Airway reporter gene expression was monitored by bioluminescence, and functional CFTR expression was assessed via nasal transepithelial potential difference measurements at regular intervals up to 21 months. The presence of the CFTR transgene in the nasal septa, liver and spleen tissues were assessed by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Circulating antibodies to the vector glycoprotein envelope and to the luciferase protein were also measured.ResultsThe combined use of LPC and LV gene vectors in the nasal airway produced enhanced and sustained luciferase and CFTR gene expression lasting at least 12 months. Improved survival was also observed in CF knockout mice treated with the LV vector mixture compared to all control CF mouse groups.ConclusionsThe present study showed that our airway pre‐treatment and gene delivery technique resulted in sustained functional CFTR expression and improved survival in CF mice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Soil P fractions in a volcanic soil chronosequence of Central Mexico and their relationship to foliar P in pine trees
Authors: Galván‐Tejada Nadeshda Cosette , Peña‐Ramírez Víctor , Mora‐Palomino Lucy , Siebe Christina 
Published: August 2014

AbstractPhosphorus (P) is a major plant nutrient, however, its availability in volcanic ash soils is presumed to be small, due to its specific sorption on short‐range order minerals. We analyzed distinct P fractions in volcanic ash soils of different age (60 to > 100,000 y BP) under pine forests in Central Mexico to investigate their changes along a chronosequence of Regosols, Andosols, and Lixisols, and to evaluate if P availability limits tree growth at any particular stage. Top soil and subsoil samples were first analyzed by the Tiessen and Moir method, which failed to extract exhaustively “organic” and “occluded P”, and “P associated with apatite”. Therefore, we modified the fractionation scheme by including a “recalcitrant organic P” fraction obtained from the difference between P determined in air‐dried subsamples and subsamples burned at 300°C; P adsorbed to short‐range order minerals was assessed in an extraction with NH4‐oxalate, and P in primary minerals by subtracting the sum of all other fractions from total P contents determined by XRF. This we did after discovering that primary P occurred in the form of fluorapatite included in plagioclase, volcanic glass or olivine. We also measured P contents in pine needles and related these with the “mobile soil P” fractions. The results show that “organic P” reaches maximum contents in 10,000‐y old soil, as does P associated with short‐range order minerals, while P occluded into crystalline oxides increases constantly over time. After 100,000 y, 31% of total P still remains in the form of primary P in A horizons. “Mobile P” was constant > 40 mg kg−1 in Regosols and Andosols and related positively with foliar P contents, which were within adequate nutritional ranges. Only in Lixisols small “mobile P” concentrations in soil correspond with inadequate P contents in pine needles.
The role of biochar in retaining nutrients in amended tropical soils
Authors: Alling Vanja , Hale Sarah E. , Martinsen Vegard , Mulder Jan , Smebye Andreas , Breedveld Gijs D. , Cornelissen Gerard 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThis study investigated the effect of biochar amendments on the retention and availability of plant nutrients and Al in seven acidic tropical soils from Zambia and Indonesia. The experiments carried out investigated whether the adsorption capacity of NH$ _4^+ $in the soils increased upon the addition of biochar and which effect biochar had on available concentrations of NO$ _3^- $, K+, Mn2+, Mg2+, PO$ _4^{3&#x02010;} $, and Al3+. These nutrients were selected as they represent those important to plant growth and soil quality. No significant increases or decreases in aqueous NH$ _4^+ $‐N concentration with additions of biochar were detected. The Gaines–Thomas model was used in order to calculate selectivity coefficients for NH$ _4^+ $exchange (Kgtvalues). Following the addition of biochar to soil, Kgtvalues decreased showing a reduction in the selective binding of NH$ _4^+ $in the biochar amended soil compared to the control. The concentration of NO$ _3^- $increased following the addition of biochar to the soils. The addition of 5 and 10% biochar to the Indonesian soil did not significantly alter (t‐test confidence level 0.05) the sorption of PO$ _4^{3&#x02010;} $to the soil–biochar mixtures as compared to the soil alone. However, the addition of biochar to the soil from Zambia increased the sorption of PO$ _4^{3&#x02010;} $compared to the soil alone. The concentrations of K+and Mg2+were significantly increased for almost all soils (t‐test at the 0.05 confidence level) following the addition of biochar. Addition of biochar to all but two soils significantly decreased (t‐test confidence level 0.05) Mn2+concentrations. The concentration of Al3+in the soils decreased exponentially significantly (t‐test confidence level 0.05) following the amendment of biochar in accordance with the increase in pH observed when biochar was added to the soil. These results show that biochar has the ability to release essential plant growth nutrients as well as alleviate Al toxicity in these soils.
Neoadjuvant therapy for high‐risk bulky regional melanoma
Authors: Tarhini Ahmad A. , Pahuja Shalu , Kirkwood John M. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractClinically detectable regional lymph node melanoma metastasis (AJCC stage IIIB‐C) carries a risk of relapse and death that approaches 70% at 5 years. Surgical management is the cornerstone of therapy, with postoperative adjuvant therapy utilizing high‐dose interferon alfa‐2b (HDI). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy in addition to surgery has been demonstrated to improve outcome in the management of patients with a variety of solid tumors. In patients with melanoma, the characteristics of the host immune response differ between patients with earlier stage and those with more advanced stages of disease (and particularly between those with measurable active disease and those without measurable gross disease) providing rationale for neoadjuvant approaches with immunotherapy. Host immune tolerance is now understood to impede the results of therapy for advanced disease, but appears to be less an issue for patients with microscopic high‐risk operable disease, where the host may be more susceptible to immunologic interventions. Phase II studies have shown that neoadjuvant biochemotherapy has limited activity in melanoma patients with local‐regional metastases, where chemotherapy may potentially alter the effects of immunotherapeutic agents. Studies of neoadjuvant HDI therapy for high‐risk melanoma patients with bulky regional stage IIIB‐C lymphadenopathy have shown unexpectedly high clinical and pathologic response rates, without increased morbidity. Through the design of neoadjuvant trials utilizing promising emerging melanoma therapeutics in which it is possible to obtain biopsy samples before and after therapy, a greater understanding of the dynamic interaction between tumors and the immune system is possible. This should lead to the identification of new targets for the treatment of melanoma and aid the development of new immunotherapy that may have greater specificity and less toxicity. This will simplify the evaluation of promising new combinations of agents with HDI to build on the clinical, immunologic, and molecular effect of this therapy for patients with melanoma. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:386–390. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Treatment of melanoma metastases in a limb by isolated limb perfusion and isolated limb infusion
Authors: Testori Alessandro , Verhoef Cornelis , Kroon Hidde M. , Pennacchioli E. , Faries Mark B. , Eggermont Alexander M.M. , Thompson John F. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractIn‐transit melanoma metastases are often confined to a limb. In this circumstance, treatment by isolated limb perfusion or isolated limb infusion can be a remarkably effective regional treatment option. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:397–404. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
PRIMO: Precise radiofrequency inference from multiple observations
Authors: Padormo Francesco , Beqiri Arian , Malik Shaihan J. , Hajnal Joseph V. 
Published: August 2014

PurposeThis paper presents Precise Radiofrequency Inference from Multiple Observations (PRIMO), a comprehensive reconstruction framework for calibrating MRI systems with parallel transmit and parallel receive radiofrequency capabilities.Theory and MethodsTo date, the vast majority of radiofrequency (RF) calibration methods have considered transmit and receive calibration separately, without acknowledging that transmit field calibration sequences measure sufficient data for receive calibration. PRIMO provides a method of extracting both transmit and receive fields from transmit calibration data without presuming knowledge of either. The method is tested for accuracy through simulation, comparison to a gold standard dataset, and is demonstrated on in‐vivo data acquired at 3T.ResultsPRIMO is shown to produce RF fields faithful to the gold standard with errors of less than 3% in realistic noise conditions. The in‐vivo reconstructions demonstrate the method's ability to produce high quality transmit and receive maps, with an 8 transmit/8 receive channel system being fully calibrated in three dimensions in approximately 2 minutes.ConclusionPRIMO provides a unified framework for estimating all transmit and receive fields in a single calibration step. This is becoming increasingly relevant in an era of MRI systems with highly parallel RF architectures. Magn Reson Med 74:372–383, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.