bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hot and steady: Elevated temperatures do not enhance muscle disuse atrophy during prolonged aestivation in the ectotherm Cyclorana alboguttata
Authors: Young K.M. , Cramp R.L. , Franklin C.E. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAnimals that undergo prolonged dormancy experience minimal muscle disuse atrophy (MDA) compared to animals subjected to artificial immobilisation over shorter timeframes. An association between oxidative stress and MDA suggests that metabolic depression presumably affords dormant animals some protection against muscle disuse. Because aerobic metabolism is temperature sensitive, we proposed that MDA in dormant (aestivating) ectotherms would be enhanced at elevated temperatures. In the green‐striped burrowing frog, Cyclorana alboguttata, the thermal sensitivity of skeletal muscle metabolic rate is muscle‐specific. We proposed that the degree of atrophy experienced during aestivation would correlate with the thermal sensitivity of muscle metabolic rate such that muscles with a relatively high metabolic rate at high temperatures would experience more disuse atrophy. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of temperature and aestivation on the extent of MDA in two functionally different muscles: the M. gastrocnemius (jumping muscle) and M. iliofibularis (non‐jumping muscle), in C. alboguttata aestivating at 24 or 30°C for 6 months. We compared a range of morphological parameters from muscle cross‐sections stained with succinic dehydrogenase to show that muscle‐specific patterns of disuse atrophy were consistent with the relative rates of oxygen consumption of those muscle types. However, despite muscle‐specific differences in thermal sensitivity of metabolic rate, aestivation temperature did not influence the extent of atrophy in either muscle. Our results suggest that the muscles of frogs aestivating at high temperatures are defended against additional atrophy ensuring protection of muscle function during long periods of immobilisation. J. Morphol., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
BD PuraMatrix peptide hydrogel as a culture system for human fetal Schwann cells in spinal cord regeneration
Authors: Moradi Fateme , Bahktiari Mehrdad , Joghataei Mohammad Taghi , Nobakht Maliheh , Soleimani Masoud , Hasanzadeh Gholamreza , Fallah Ali , Zarbakhsh Sam , Hejazian Leila Beigom , Shirmohammadi Maryam , Maleki Fatemeh 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBD PuraMatrix peptide hydrogel, a three‐dimensional cell culture model of nanofiber scaffold derived from the self‐assembling peptide RADA16, has been applied to regenerative tissue repair in order to develop novel nanomedicine systems. In this study with PuraMatrix, self‐assembling nanofiber scaffold (SAPNS) and Schwann cells (SCs) were isolated from human fetal sciatic nerves, cultured within SAPNS, and then transplanted into the spinal cord after injury (SCI) in rats. First, the peptide nanofiber scaffold was evaluated via scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. With phase‐contrast microscopy, the appearance of representative human fetal SCs encapsulated in PuraMatrix on days 3, 5, and 7 in 12‐well plates was revealed. The Schwann cells in PuraMatrix were cultured for 2 days, and the SCs had active proliferative potential. Spinal cord injury was induced by placing a 35‐g weight on the dura of T9–T10 segments for 15 min, followed by in vivo treatment with SAPNS and human fetal SCs (100,000 cells/10 μl/injection) grafted into spinal cord 7 days after SCI. After treatment, the recovery of motor function was assessed periodically using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scoring system. Eight weeks after grafting, animals were perfusion fixed, and the survival of implanted cells was analyzed with antibody recognizing SCs. Immunohistochemical analysis of grafted lumber segments at 8 weeks after grafting revealed reduced asterogliosis and considerably increased infiltration of endogenous S100+ cells into the injury site, suggesting that PuraMatrix may play an important role in the repair observed after SAPNS and human fetal SC transplantation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Relationship between Structure and Mechanical Properties of Melt Processable PTFE: Influence of Molecular Weight and Comonomer Content
Authors: Frick Achim , Sich Dorota , Heinrich Gert , Stern Claudia , Gössi Matthias , Tervoort Theo A. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe influence of molecular weight and comonomer content on the mechanical properties of several melt‐processable polytetrafluoroethylene (MP PTFE) materials is studied. Additionally, a comparison of mechanical properties including tensile properties and their dependence on environment as well as fatigue life of PTFE, MP PTFE and perfluoroalkoxy copolymer (PFA) is made. PTFE homopolymer and PTFE copolymers exhibit considerably different mechanical properties. The small strain deformation behaviour up to yielding correlates with the degree of crystallinity and comonomer content, whereas the large strain deformation was found to depend on intercrystalline connections, such as tie molecules and chain entanglements. The special role of these elements in determining the fatigue life and sensitivity to environmental stress cracking is also demonstrated. magnified image
Polyoxazolines for Nonfouling Surface Coatings — A Direct Comparison to the Gold Standard PEG
Authors: Konradi Rupert , Acikgoz Canet , Textor Marcus 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe prevention of surface fouling is becoming increasingly important for the development of anti‐infective medical implants, biosensors with improved signal‐to‐noise ratios, and low‐fouling membranes to name a few examples. We review a direct comparison of poly(ethylene glycol), the gold standard polymer to impart surfaces with nonfouling properties, to an alternative polymer, poly(2‐methyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PMOXA), and show that both polymers are equally excellent in rendering surfaces nonfouling while PMOXA coatings are more stable in oxidative environments. We discuss prerequisites for the fabrication of nonfouling surface coatings and implications for the polymer choice according to application requirements.
The role of mass spectrometry in the analysis of vitamin D compounds
Authors: Gathungu Rose M. , Flarakos Caroline C. , Satyanarayana Reddy G. , Vouros Paul 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis review highlights the superseding role of mass spectrometry in the structural characterization and quantitation of vitamin D compounds in comparison to other analytical methods (e.g., UV, bioassays) that lack the sensitivity and specificity of mass spectrometry. After a short introduction to the biochemistry of vitamin D compounds, an overview of the current techniques to characterize and quantitate vitamin D compounds is given with emphasis on the contribution of mass spectrometry. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 32:72–86, 2013
Ara h 1 structure is retained after roasting and is important for enhanced binding to IgE
Authors: Nesbit Jacqueline B. , Hurlburt Barry K. , Schein Catherine H. , Cheng Hsiaopo , Wei Hui , Maleki Soheila J. 
Published: September 2012

ScopeAra h 1 from roasted peanut binds higher levels of serum immunoglobulin E than raw peanuts and this is likely due to the Maillard reaction. While Ara h 1 linear IgE epitopes have been mapped, the presence and importance of structural epitopes is not clear.Methods and resultsMass spectrometry, immunoblot, ELISA, circular dichroism (CD), and structural analysis were used to compare structural and subsequent IgE‐binding differences in Ara h 1 purified from raw (N) and roasted peanuts (R) and denatured Ara h 1 (D). Although N and R had similar CD spectra, the latter bound significantly more IgE. Decreased IgE binding was seen with the loss of secondary structure. This same IgE‐binding pattern [R > N > D] was seen for the sera of ten peanut allergic patients. While the majority of linear epitopes are located on surface and structured regions of Ara h 1, our study shows that conformational epitopes of Ara h 1 bind better to IgE than linear epitopes.ConclusionEnhanced IgE binding to roasted Ara h 1 could be due to alterations such as chemical modifications to individual amino acids or increased epitope exposure. IgE binding is significantly reduced with loss of structure.
Modeling of Anionic Polymerization in Flow With Coupled Variations of Concentration, Viscosity, and Diffusivity
Authors: Cortese Bruno , Noel Timothy , de Croon Mart H. J. M. , Schulze Simon , Klemm Elias , Hessel Volker 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis paper explains the reasons behind the very low polydispersity index (PDI) obtained in living anionic polymerizations in microstructured reactors. From the results, it can be explained that a narrow molecular weight distribution can be obtained due to the presence of a highly segregated flow behavior, even in microflow conditions, provided that the mean residence time is high enough. This paper investigates the feasibility of a living anionic polymerization reaction under micro‐fluidic conditions. This is accomplished using a multiphysics model that accounts for the changes in viscosity and diffusivity. These properties descend with the increase in weight of the polymer, and could not be un‐coupled from hydrodynamics and mass transfer. The results of the model are used to understand the reasons behind the very low PDI that can be experimentally obtained in microflow conditions. This leads to the conclusion that the increased viscosity almost “suppresses” the diffusion of the monomer, even at the very short characteristic lengths of a micro‐device. These conditions generate a fully segregated flow that yields an almost monodisperse polymer regardless of the effective residence time distribution encountered in the reactor. magnified image
Assessment of side effects coping practices of HIV‐infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Agu Kenneth Anene , Oparah Azuka Cyriacus , Ochei Uche M. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTPurposeThe study assessed coping practices to HIV treatment side effects among HIV‐infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in selected hospitals in Nigeria.MethodsIn a cross‐sectional study, Side Effects Coping (SECope) instrument was administered to 3650 HIV‐infected patients receiving ART in 36 hospitals. Patients were provided pre‐treatment information on side effects of antiretroviral drugs. Factor analysis was performed using principal components extraction with varimax rotation. Factors selected for rotation had eigenvalues >1. Mean scale scores above midpoint of 3.18 on five‐point scale were regarded as positive coping practices and below as negative practices. Chi‐Square was used for inferential statistics; P < 0.05 used to determine statistical significance.ResultsMean of SECope instrument return rates was 47.5% (95%CI, 37.1–57.9). Data from 2329 (63.8%) participants were analyzed: 63.1% females and 63.9% aged 25 to 44 years old. The mean SECope scale score (±SD) was 3.18 (±0.80); mean subscale scores (±SD) were 3.52 (±0.20) positive emotion focused coping, 2.82 (±0.18) information seeking, 2.57 (±0.30) social support seeking, 2.34 (±0.39) taking side effect medications, and 4.43 (±0.10) non‐adherence. Five extracted factors accounted for 67.2% of cumulative variability. All items had very significant loadings of 0.50 or greater. All subscales except positive emotion focused coping were associated with age (p < 0.05). Non‐adherence and information seeking subscales were associated with employment status (p < 0.05). Taking side effect medications was associated with educational status (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe study reported positive coping practices in positive emotion focused coping and non‐adherence subscales. Non‐adherence as a coping strategy was not significant contrary to previous research finding. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Study of donor–acceptor pair luminescence in highly doped and compensated Cz silicon
Authors: Rezgui Béchir Dridi , Veirman Jordi , Dubois Sébastien , Palais Olivier 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe photoluminescence (PL) of highly doped and compensated Czochralski silicon has been investigated. The low‐temperature PL spectra show a donor‐to‐acceptor zero‐phonon broad band and clearly distinguished phonon replica shifting to the blue side with increasing the net doping concentration in silicon crystal. The data are consistent with DAP luminescence involving an acceptor level of about 46 meV above the valence band edge in silicon. The analysis of temperature evolution of the PL spectra indicate that the observed PL spectra are due to a donor–acceptor pair recombination with a donor level located at 46 meV. The redshift of this band with increasing excitation power was also observed. The dependence of the emission peak energy on the excitation power is characteristic of highly compensated material in which potential fluctuations influence the band structure.
Electroluminescent characteristics of ZnGa2O4:Dy3+ thin film devices fabricated on glass substrates
Authors: Krishna K. Mini , Anoop G. , Jayaraj M. K. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAn alternating current thin film electroluminescent (ACTFEL) device was fabricated on commercial glass substrate with dysprosium doped zinc gallate as the active layer. The phosphor layer and the top dielectric layer were deposited using rf magnetron sputtering technique. The devices fabricated with an asymmetric double insulating structure gave a white electroluminescent (EL) emission when driven by a voltage pulse frequency of 1.5 kHz, even without post‐deposition annealing of the active layer. Such an emission resulted from the simultaneous occurrence of multicolor transitions, characteristic of the dopant ion. The exponential dependence of luminance on applied voltage was quite evident from the luminance–voltage (L–V) curves. Devices were also fabricated with a highly crystallized interfacial layer of ZnO in between the substrate and the phosphor layer. Such devices could withstand a wider range of applied voltage, henceforth resulting in enhanced device performance. The chromatic quality of the EL emissions from both the devices were gauged using chromaticity coordinates. magnified imageThe CIE coordinates of fabricated ZnGa2O4:Dy3+ ACTFEL devices (a) without and (b) with ZnO interfacial layer.
Adaptive modulation and coding for Long Term Evolution‐based mobile satellite communication system
Authors: Hong Tae Chul , Yeo Sungmoon , Kim Sooyoung , Kang Kun‐Seok , Ku Bon‐Jun 
Published: September 2012

SUMMARYThe adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) scheme is mandatory for modern wireless communication systems to overcome inevitable channel impairments. Many of the limitations using AMC are due to the long round‐trip delay of a satellite system. This paper proposes an efficient AMC scheme with power control and symbol interleaving that can be effectively applied to satellite systems. In particular, we focus on mobile satellite systems that have maximum compatibility in a Long Term Evolution system. Simulations reveal that the proposed scheme can provide a maximum 10.2% increase of average beam spectral efficiency and a maximum of 8‐dB power gain compared with a conventional AMC scheme. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Trisomy 13 detection in the first trimester of pregnancy using a chromosome‐selective cell‐free DNA analysis method
Authors: Ashoor G. , Syngelaki A. , Wang E. , Struble C. , Oliphant A. , Song K. , Nicolaides K. H. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the performance of chromosome‐selective sequencing of maternal plasma cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) in non‐invasive prenatal testing for trisomy 13.MethodsTwo‐phase case–control study on a single plasma sample per case. The first phase was used to optimize the trisomy 13 algorithm, which was then applied to a second dataset to determine the risk score for trisomy 13 by laboratory personnel who were blinded to the fetal karyotype.ResultsIn the first phase, trisomy 13 risk scores were given for 11 cases of trisomy 13 and 145 euploid cases at 11–13 weeks' gestation. The test identified seven (63.6%) cases of trisomy 13 with no false positives. The trisomy 13 algorithm was subsequently modified and the trisomy 13 risk score was > 99% in all 11 cases of trisomy 13 and < 0.01% in all 145 euploid cases. In the second phase, the new algorithm was used to generate trisomy 13 risk scores for 10 cases of trisomy 13 and 1939 euploid cases. The trisomy 13 risk scores were > 99% in eight (80.0% (95% confidence interval (CI), 49.0–94.3%)) cases of trisomy 13. In the 1939 euploid cases the risk score for trisomy 13 was < 0.01% in 1937 (99.9%), 0.79% in one, and > 99% in one. Therefore, at the predefined risk cut‐off of 1% for classifying a sample as high or low risk, the false‐positive rate (FPR) was 0.05% (95% CI, 0.0–0.3%).ConclusionsChromosome‐selective sequencing of cfDNA can detect the majority of cases of trisomy 13 at an FPR of less than 0.1%.
Does the ‘Higgs’ have Spin Zero?
Authors: Ellis John , Hwang Dae Sung 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

The Higgs boson is predicted to have spin zero. The ATLAS and CMS experiments have recently reported of an excess of events with mass ~ 125 GeV that has some of the characteristics expected for a Higgs boson. We address the questions whether there is already any evidence that this excess has spin zero, and how this possibility could be confirmed in the near future. The excess observed in the γγ final state could not have spin one, leaving zero and two as open possibilities. We review the angular distribution of γγ pairs from the decays of a graviton-like spin-two boson produced in gluon-gluon collisions, which is well-defined and distinct from the spin-zero case. We also calculate the distributions for lepton pairs that would be produced in the W W
* decays of a spin-two boson, which are very different from those in Higgs decays, and note that the kinematics of the event selection currently used in the analysis of the W W
* final state have reduced efficiency for spin two.
Production of recombinantAgaricus bisporustyrosinase inSaccharomyces cerevisiaecells
Authors: Lezzi Chiara , Bleve Gianluca , Spagnolo Stefano , Perrotta Carla , Grieco Francesco 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIt has been demonstrated that Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase is able to oxidize various phenolic compounds, thus being an enzyme of great importance for a number of biotechnological applications. The tyrosinase-coding PPO2 gene was isolated by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using total RNA extracted from the mushroom fruit bodies as template. The gene was sequenced and cloned into pYES2 plasmid, and the resulting pY-PPO2 recombinant vector was then used to transform Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by enzymatic activity staining with l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) indicated that the recombinant tyrosinase is biologically active. The recombinant enzyme was overexpressed and biochemically characterized, showing that the catalytic constants of the recombinant tyrosinase were higher than those obtained when a commercial tyrosinase was used, for all the tested substrates. The present study describes the recombinant production of A. bisporus tyrosinase in active form. The produced enzyme has similar properties to the one produced in the native A. bisporus host, and its expression in S. cerevisiae provides good potential for protein engineering and functional studies of this important enzyme.
Recovering plane curves of low degree from their inflection lines and inflection points
Authors: Pacini Marco , Testa Damiano 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
In this paper we consider the following problem: is it possible to recover a smooth plane curve of degree d ≥ 3 from its inflection lines? We answer the posed question positively for a general smooth plane quartic curve, making the additional assumption that also one inflection point is given, and for any smooth plane cubic curve.
Serological muscle loss biomarkers: an overview of current concepts and future possibilities
Authors: Nedergaard Anders , Karsdal Morten A. , Sun Shu , Henriksen Kim 
Published: September 2012

BackgroundThe skeletal muscle mass is the largest organ in the healthy body, comprising 30–40 % of the body weight of an adult man. It confers protection from trauma, locomotion, ventilation, and it represents a “sink” in glucose metabolism and a reservoir of amino acids to other tissues such as the brain and blood cells. Naturally, loss of muscle has dire consequences for health as well as functionality. Muscle loss is a natural consequence of especially aging, inactivity, and their associated metabolic dysfunction, but it is strongly accelerated in critical illness such as organ failure, sepsis, or cancer. Whether this muscle loss is considered a primary or secondary condition, it is known that muscle loss is a symptom that predicts morbidity and mortality and one that is known to impact quality of life and independence. Therefore, monitoring of muscle mass is relevant in a number of pathologies as well as in clinical trials as measures of efficacy as well as safety.Methods and resultsExisting biomarkers of muscle mass or muscle loss have shown to be either too unreliable or too impractical in relation to the perceived clinical benefit to reach regular clinical research or use. We suggest serological neoepitope biomarkers as a possible technology to address some of these problems. Blood biomarkers of this kind have previously been shown to respond with high sensitivity and shorter time to minimum significant change than available biomarkers of muscle mass. We provide brief reviews of existing muscle mass or function biomarker technologies, muscle protein biology, and existing neoepitope biomarkers and proceed to present tentative recommendations on how to select and detect neoepitope biomarkers.ConclusionWe suggest that serological peptide biomarkers whose tissue and pathology specificity are derived from post‐translational modification of proteins in tissues of interest, presenting so‐called neoepitopes, represents an exciting candidate technology to fill out an empty niche in biomarker technology.
The Ottoman Empire and the Imperial Turn
Authors: Mikhail Alan , Philliou Christine M. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAs a polity that existed for over six centuries and that ruled on three continents, the Ottoman Empire is perhaps both the easiest and hardest empire to compare in world history. It is somewhat paradoxical then that the Ottoman Empire has only recently become a focus of students of empires as historical phenomena. This approach to the Ottoman Empire as an empire has succeeded in generating an impressive profusion of scholarship. This article critically assesses this literature within the larger context of what we term the Imperial Turn to explain how comparative perspectives have been used to analyze the empire. In doing so, it sheds new light on some older historiographical questions about the dynamics of imperial rule, periodization, and political transformation, while at the same time opening up new avenues of inquiry and analysis about the role of various actors in the empire, the recent emphasis on the empire's early modern history, and the scholarly literature of comparative empires itself. Throughout, the authors speak both to Ottoman specialists and others interested in comparative imperial histories to offer a holistic picture of recent Ottoman historiography and to suggest many possible directions for future scholarship. Instead of accepting comparison for comparison's sake, the article offers a bold new vocabulary for rigorous comparative work on the Ottoman Empire and beyond.