bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disulfide‐centered star‐shaped polypeptide‐PEO block copolymers for reduction‐triggered drug release
Authors: Chang Xiao , Liu Lisha , Guan Yanfei , Dong Chang‐Ming 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTDisulfide‐centered star‐shaped poly(ε‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐l‐lysine)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymers (i.e., A2B4 type Cy‐PZlys‐b‐PEO) were synthesized by the combination of ring‐opening polymerization and thiol‐yne chemistry. Their molecular structures and physical properties were characterized in detail by FTIR, 1H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscope. Despite mainly exhibiting an α‐helix conformation, the inner PZlys blocks within copolymers greatly prohibited the crystallinity of the outer PEO blocks and presented a liquid crystal phase transition behavior in solid state. These block copolymers Cy‐PZlys‐b‐PEO self‐assembled into nearly spherical micelles in aqueous solution, which had a hydrophobic disulfide‐centered PZlys core surrounded by a hydrophilic PEO corona. As monitored by means of DLS and TEM, these micelles were progressively reduced to smaller micelles in 10 mM 1,4‐dithiothreitol at 37 °C and finally became ones with a half size, demonstrating a reduction‐sensitivity. Despite a good drug‐loading property, the DOX‐loaded micelles of Cy‐PZlys‐b‐PEO exhibited a reduction‐triggered drug release profile with an improved burst‐release behavior compared with the linear counterpart. Importantly, this work provides a versatile strategy for the synthesis of the disulfide‐centered star‐shaped polypeptide block copolymers potential for intracellular glutathione‐triggered drug delivery systems. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 2000–2010
Dapoxetine: licensed treatment for premature ejaculation
Authors: Chaplin Steve , Mostyn Penny 
Published: April 2014

AbstractDapoxetine (Priligy) is a new treatment for premature ejaculation licensed for as‐required use. In our New products review, Steve Chaplin presents the data relating to its efficacy and adverse events, and Dr Penny Mostyn discusses its place in therapy.
Silicon nanostructures for thermoelectric devices: A review of the current state of the art
Authors: Schierning Gabi 
Published: April 2014

Silicon is the most important element of modern semiconductor industry. As a thermoelectric converter material, it would be able to promote applications dramatically since device integration and scaling of the fabrication processes could be borrowed from existing technology. Though the thermoelectric performance of single crystalline silicon is only poor, silicon nanostructures have demonstrated a competitive figure of merit. To make use of these nanostructures, novel device architectures are necessary. This review provides an overview over the physical background of silicon as thermoelectric converter material as well as different nanostructures like nanowires, porous nanomeshes, and nanocrystalline bulk and their thermoelectric properties, focusing mostly on experimental data. Further, different thermoelectric converter device concepts including nanowire device concepts, pn junction thermoelectric generators and integrated spot coolers are discussed and their realization with silicon nanostructures briefly sketched. (a) Nanowires, porous nanomeshes and nanocrystalline bulk with promising thermoelectric material's figure of merit. (b) Innovative device concepts using nanowires or large area pn junctions for thermoelectric heat‐to‐electricity conversion.
Some results on disturbance attenuation for Hamiltonian systems via direct discrete‐time design
Authors: Yalçın Yaprak , Gören‐Sümer Leyla , Astolfi Alessandro 
Published: April 2014

SummaryThe disturbance attenuation and robust disturbance attenuation problems for Hamiltonian systems in the discrete‐time setting are considered and some new results are presented. The new results are derived utilizing the recently presented dissipativity equality obtained by adding the dissipation rate function to the classical dissipativity inequality. A selection of the dissipation rate function yields new results. These results include a condition on the dissipation structure of the system to achieve the desired disturbance attenuation level and gives direct construction of optimal control laws for any desired disturbance attenuation level. The results remove the need to solve Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaacs inequalities. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A class of nonlinear internal models for global robust output regulation problem
Authors: Lu Maobin , Huang Jie 
Published: April 2014

SummaryThe global robust output regulation problem of nonlinear systems in output feedback form has been studied via a linear internal model. In this paper, we study the same problem using a class of nonlinear internal models. An advantage of nonlinear internal models is that it exists even when the system contains nonpolynomial nonlinearity and the exosystem is nonlinear. Thus, the result of this paper applies to a larger class of nonlinear systems and a larger class of exosystems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Measurement of GABA using J‐difference edited 1H‐MRS following modulation of synaptic GABA concentration with tiagabine
Authors: Myers James F.M. , Evans C. John , Kalk Nicola J. , Edden Richard A.E. , Lingford‐Hughes Anne R. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTThough GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, involved in a wide variety of brain functions and many neuropsychiatric disorders, its intracellular and metabolic presence provides uncertainty in the interpretation of the GABA signal measured by 1H‐MRS. Previous studies demonstrating the sensitivity of this technique to pharmacological manipulations of GABA have used nonspecific challenges that make it difficult to infer the exact source of the changes. In this study, the synaptic GABA reuptake inhibitor tiagabine, which selectively blocks GAT1, was used to test the sensitivity of J‐difference edited 1H‐MRS to changes in extracellular GABA concentrations. MEGA‐PRESS was used to obtain GABA‐edited spectra in 10 male individuals, before and after a 15‐mg oral dose of tiagabine. In the three voxels measured, no significant changes were found in GABA+ concentration after the challenge compared to baseline. This dose of tiagabine is known to modulate synaptic GABA and neurotransmission through studies using other imaging modalities, and significant increases in self‐reported sleepiness scales were observed. Therefore, it is concluded that recompartmentalization of GABA through transport block does not have a significant impact on total GABA concentration. Furthermore, it is likely that the majority of the magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)‐derived GABA signal is intracellular. It should be considered, in individual interpretation of GABA MRS studies, whether it is appropriate to attribute observed effects to changes in neurotransmission. Synapse 68:355–362, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysing neurobiological models using communicating automata
Authors: Su Li , Gomez Rodolfo , Bowman Howard 
Published: April 2014

AbstractTwo important issues in computational modelling in cognitive neuroscience are: first, how to formally describe neuronal networks (i.e. biologically plausible models of the central nervous system), and second, how to analyse complex models, in particular, their dynamics and capacity to learn. We make progress towards these goals by presenting a communicating automata perspective on neuronal networks. Specifically, we describe neuronal networks and their biological mechanisms using Data-rich Communicating Automata, which extend classic automata theory with rich data types and communication. We use two case studies to illustrate our approach. In the first case study, we model a number of learning frameworks, which vary in respect of their biological detail, for instance the Backpropagation (BP) and the Generalized Recirculation (GeneRec) learning algorithms. We then used the SPIN model checker to investigate a number of behavioral properties of the neural learning algorithms. SPIN is a well-known model checker for reactive distributed systems, which has been successfully applied to many non-trivial problems. The verification results show that the biologically plausible GeneRec learning is less stable than BP learning. In the second case study, we presented a large scale (cognitive-level) neuronal network, which models an attentional spotlight mechanism in the visual system. A set of properties of this model was verified using Uppaal, a popular real-time model checker. The results show that the asynchronous processing supported by concurrency theory is not only a more biologically plausible way to model neural systems, but also provides a better performance in cognitive modelling of the brain than conventional artificial neural networks that use synchronous updates. Finally, we compared our approach with several other related theories that apply formal methods to cognitive modelling. In addition, the practical implications of the approach are discussed in the context of neuronal network based controllers.
Radiologic Evaluation of Pediatric Blunt Renal Trauma in Patients with Microscopic Hematuria
Authors: Brown Scott L. , Haas Christopher , Dinchman Kurt H. , Elder Jack S. , Spirnak J. Patrick 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAs a result of the rapid increase in medical costs, the efficacy of diagnostic imaging is under examination, and efforts have been made to identify patients who may safely be spared radiographic imaging. We reviewed the records of children who presented to our institution with suspected blunt renal injuries to determine if radiographic evaluation is necessary in children with microscopic hematuria and blunt renal trauma. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1200 children (ages less than 18 years) who sustained blunt abdominal trauma and who presented to our level I pediatric trauma center between 1995 and 1997. Urinalysis was performed in 299 patients (25%). Urinalysis results were correlated with findings on abdominal computed tomography (CT). All patients had more than three red blood cells per high power field (RBC/hpf) or gross hematuria. Renal injuries were graded according to the injury scale defined by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Sixty‐five patients had microscopic hematuria. Thirty‐five (54%) were evaluated with an abdominal CT scan. Three patients sustained significant renal injuries (grade II‐V), and 32 patients had normal findings or renal contusions. Therefore only 3 of 65 patients (4.6%) sustained a significant renal injury. All three patients had other associated major organ injuries. Of the three patients with gross hematuria evaluated with abdominal CT, one (33%) sustained a significant renal injury and had no associated injuries. The degree of hematuria did not correlate with the grade of renal injury. Pediatric patients with blunt trauma, microscopic hematuria, and no associated injuries do not require radiologic evaluation, as significant renal injuries are unlikely. However, children who present with associated injuries and microscopic hematuria after blunt trauma may have significant renal injuries and should undergo radiologic evaluation.
Comparison of Open and Endoscopic Treatment of Posttraumatic Posterior Urethral Strictures
Authors: Levine Jason , Wessells Hunter 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to compare the invasiveness, morbidity, and outcomes of open versus endoscopic treatment of posttraumatic posterior urethral strictures. We compared two groups of men with strictures of the posterior urethra after pelvic fracture: Group I (n = 6) underwent cut‐to‐the‐light procedures before 1995, and group II (n = 9) underwent perineal anastomotic urethroplasty after 1995. The operating time and blood loss were lower in the endoscopic group, but no other significant differences in morbidity or invasiveness were found. All six patients in group I required multiple secondary procedures: Three reached a stable voiding pattern after a mean of three interventions, two required subsequent urethroplasty, and one was lost to long‐term follow‐up. Normal voiding was achieved in all group II patients,
although two (22%) required single internal urethrotomy within 3
months after surgery. The data show the comparable morbidity of open urethroplasty and cut‐to‐the‐light procedures and support an aggressive surgical approach for the delayed treatment of posttraumatic posterior urethral strictures. Other than a reduced operating time, endoscopic procedures offered no compelling advantage over surgical reconstruction.
Increased Insufflation Pressure Enhances the Development of Liver Metastasis in a Mouse Laparoscopy Model
Authors: Ishida Hideyuki , Murata Nobuo , Idezuki Yasuo 
Published: April 2014

AbstractDespite the widespread use of laparoscopic techniques for colorectal cancer surgery, little is known about the potential risk of liver metastasis following CO2
pneumoperitoneum. We investigated the effect of different insufflation pressures and durations of CO2 pneumoperitoneum on the growth of liver metastasis in a mouse model. Six‐ to 7‐week old male BALB/C mice were intraportally inoculated with 2×104 Colon
26 cells and randomly allocated to receive either CO2
pneumoperitoneum at different pressures (5 mmHg, 10 mmHg, or 15 mmHg),
xiphoid‐pubic laparotomy, or no treatment other than tumor cell inoculation. Mice undergoing pneumoperitoneum or laparotomy were then subdivided by the duration of treatment (30 minutes or 60 minutes).
Cancer nodules on the liver surface from a total of 122 mice were evaluated on the 14th postoperative day. Similar to full laparotomy,
CO2 pneumoperitoneum at 10 mmHg and 15 mmHg for 60 minutes,
and pneumoperitoneum at 15 mmHg for 30 minutes significantly promoted the growth of cancer nodules on the liver surface. Enhancement of tumor growth was influenced by increased insufflation pressures
(p < 0.05) rather than the prolonged length of pneumoperitoneum (p = 0.53) without significant interaction (p = 0.49). These results suggest that an increased insufflation pressure promotes the growth of liver metastases as well as laparotomy in this animal model.
Long‐Term Quality of Life after Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Däster Silvio , Soysal Savas D. , Stoll Lea , Peterli Ralph , von Flüe Markus , Ackermann Christoph 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundEsophagectomy has a potentially high impact on physical, emotional, and social functions. The aim of this study was to assess long‐term health‐related quality of life (QOL) after esophageal cancer surgery.MethodsWe analyzed all patients who underwent an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy for resectable esophageal cancer in our hospital from 1999 to 2010. QOL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer general questionnaire QLQ‐C30 and esophagus‐specific questionnaire QLQ‐OES18.ResultsA total of 150 patients were operated in the surveyed 12‐year period. At the time of analysis, 46 patients (31 %) were eligible for assessment, 97 patients (65 %) had died or experienced tumor recurrence, and seven patients (5 %) were lost to follow‐up. Of the 46 eligible patients, 43 (94 %) returned the questionnaires. The median observation interval between the operation and QOL assessment was 40 (range 21–135) months. The QLQ‐C30 mean score of global health status and general QOL was similar to that of a healthy reference population. Most of the QLQ‐C30 mean scores of functional and symptom scales and QLQ‐OES18 symptom scales showed a worse result than for a healthy reference population. The highest mean scores were reflux and eating problems.ConclusionsIn the long term, Ivor Lewis esophagectomy provides a generally good QOL for patients with esophageal cancer, which is comparable to a healthy reference population. However, some patients suffer from significant symptoms. Reflux and eating problems were the most relevant complaints. Dietary counseling is therefore important in the postoperative course.
Evaluation of liquid and solid culture media for the recovery and enrichment of Burkholderia cenocepacia from distilled water
Authors: Ahn Youngbeom , Kim Jeong Myeong , Ahn Hyeri , Lee Yong-Jin , LiPuma John J , Hussong David , Cerniglia Carl E 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) presence has been the cause of recalls of both sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical products since these opportunistic pathogens have been implicated to cause infections to susceptible individuals. BCC are ubiquitous in nature, but in pharmaceutical settings the most common source is contaminated water systems. Some strains of BCC, previously described as Pseudomonas cepacia, were not readily detected by standard culture methods. We have explored different strategies to recover and enrich Burkholderia cenocepacia previously cultured in distilled water for 40 days. Enrichment media of varied nutrient concentrations and composition were used, including modified Tryptic Soy Agar or Broth (TSA or TSB), Reasoner’s 2nd Agar or Broth (R2A or R2AB), Brain–Heart Infusion Broth (BHIB), Mueller–Hinton Broth (MHB), and Ashdown’s (ASH) medium. Of the various broth media tested, cell growth was significantly greater in TSB and R2AB than in BHIB, MHB, or ASH broth. TSB and R2AB were also compared for their recovery efficiency. Generally, there was no significant difference between the numbers of B. cenocepacia grown on 15 differently modified TSA and five modified R2A solid media. Overall, however, diluted TSA and TSB media, and R2A and R2AB showed better recovery efficiency than TSA and TSB for inocula containing small numbers of cells. All strains persisted in distilled water for 40 days. Broth media were more effective than solid media for recovery of B. cenocepacia from distilled water. These results may assist in improving detection assays with recovery and enrichment strategies to maximize recovery of these fastidious organisms.
Ground Water Potential in Fractured Aquifers of Ophiolite Formations, Port Blair, South Andaman Islands using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES)
Authors: Balakrishna  , Maury S. Balaji Shrikant , Narshimulu G. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract:
Ground water occurs in weathered formations of unsaturated zone and fractured rocks of saturated zone. The ground water occurring in the unsaturated zone is not sustainable while the ground water occurring in the fractured rocks are sustainable if properly exploited. But, targeting the productive fractured rocks needs careful evaluation and systematic approach of geophysical survey owing to the heterogeneity, magmatic and metamorphic activities of multiple episodes of rocks. Hence, judicious planning in ground water exploration is warranted because of the huge money involved in drilling, manpower and time factor. In this context, an attempt has been made to locate the fractured rocks of ground water potential in the Ophiolite formations of Port Blair, South Andaman Islands using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) since the ground water database of Andaman and Nicobar islands is poor as not much work has been carried out so far and the ground water is not properly utilised. The ERT have been carried out along different azimuth of fractures to ascertain the resistivities in vertical and horizontal direction and the conductivity and/or the resistivity of the varied fractures was also evaluated by spot VES. The 2-D Electrical Resistivity Images in conjunction with the geoelectrical parameters brought out by VES revealed that E-W fractures are expected to be productive fractures showing more conductivity as it is compared with the NE-SW and NW-SE fractures. The potentiality of the E-W fractures was also validated with the borehole data.
Neoproterozoic Siliciclastic Sedimentation around Kampa-Tenpa Area, Pranhita Godavari Graben (PGG), Central India: Facies Analysis, Petrography and Depositional Environment
Authors: Murkute Y. A. , Joshi S. P. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract:
The Pranhita-Godavari Graben (PGG) represents a major lineament in south Indian Peninsular cratonic province, which preserves a thick column of sediments. In geological time scale, these sedimentary units correspond to Mesoproterozoic to Mesozoic period. The Mesoproterozoic sedimentation has been confined mainly to southern part of the PGG, while Neoproterozoic sediments are exposed at northern tip of the graben. In the area of investigation siliciclastic sedimentation units are exposed, wherein five major lithofacies have been marked out. These lithofacies are i) breccia (Br), ii) large scale trough cross-bedded sandstone (Ls), iii) small-scale trough cross-bedded sandstone (Sss), iv) horizontal bedded sandstone (Hs) and v) ripple laminated sandstone (Rs). The amalgamation of these lithofacies strongly divulges that the lower part of the succession was deposited in braided-streams, whereas the upper part was deposited in erg environment.
The unimodal paleocurrent is evident in lower part of the succession while bimodal paleocurrent is noticed from sandstones at upper part of the succession. In general, the sandstones exhibit northwesterly paleocurrent direction. The petrographic studies point out that the sandstones are arenites and were deposited in interior type of continental block provenance under semi-arid to hot humid palaeoclimate. The high percentage of floating grains and the low percentage of interpenetrative contacts as well as the low value of contact index for these sandstones divulge that the grains did not suffer much compaction thereby pointing to shallow burial. The sub-angular zircon and tourmaline suggest that these minerals have travelled short distance from the source rocks. The high percentage of garnet and presence of epidote, staurolite, sillimanite, zoisite, amphibole and kyanite indicate that the sediments were derived from the nearby metamorphic source rocks.
Revisiting Southam Street: Class, Generation, Gender, and Race in the Photography of Roger Mayne
Authors: Brooke Stephen 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThis article examines pictures taken by the British photographer Roger Mayne of Southam Street, London, in the 1950s and 1960s. It explores these photographs as a way of thinking about the representation of urban, working-class life in Britain after the Second World War. The article uses this focused perspective as a line of sight on a broader landscape: the relationship among class, identity, and social change in the English city after the Second World War. Mayne's photographs of Southam Street afford an examination of the representation of economic and social change in the postwar city and, not least, the intersections among class, race, generation, and gender that reshaped that city.
Did Soldiers Really Enlist to Desert Their Wives? Revisiting the Martial Character of Marital Desertion in Eighteenth-Century London
Authors: Hurl-Eamon Jennine 
Published: April 2014

AbstractMany historians of plebeian marriage have accepted David Kent's findings that married men in eighteenth-century London enlisted to desert their wives. This article argues that this was far from always the case. Enlistment could serve as a family survival strategy for pauper husbands, particularly during mobilization periods. Bounties, shorter terms of service, and pensions could entice responsible providers. The militia or guards regiments appealed to family men because of their stable income and low risk of foreign deployment. Accounts of agonized quayside partings indicate that some married recruits who left British soil had expected the army to allow their wives to accompany them. Kent considered every army wife who sought parish relief as abandoned, yet resort to the parish might form part of a complex family survival strategy that included wives’ begging and soldiers’ taking on extra work and sending home their pay. Some men used military service as a way to fulfill husbandly duties, not to avoid them.