bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Controlling the diameter, monodispersity, and solubility of ApoA1 nanolipoprotein particles using telodendrimer chemistry
Authors: He Wei , Luo Juntao , Bourguet Feliza , Xing Li , Yi Sun K. , Gao Tingjuan , Blanchette Craig , Henderson Paul T. , Kuhn Edward , Malfatti Mike , Murphy William J. , Cheng R. Holland , Lam Kit S. , Coleman Matthew A. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractNanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) are nanometer‐scale discoidal particles that feature a phospholipid bilayer confined within an apolipoprotein “scaffold,” which are useful for solubilizing hydrophobic molecules such as drugs and membrane proteins. NLPs are synthesized either by mixing the purified apolipoprotein with phospholipids and other cofactors or by cell‐free protein synthesis followed by self‐assembly of the nanoparticles in the reaction mixture. Either method can be problematic regarding the production of homogeneous and monodispersed populations of NLPs, which also currently requires multiple synthesis and purification steps. Telodendrimers (TD) are branched polymers made up of a dendritic oligo‐lysine core that is conjugated to linear polyethylene glycol (PEG) on one end, and the lysine “branches” are terminated with cholic acid moieties that enable the formation of nanomicelles in aqueous solution. We report herein that the addition of TD during cell‐free synthesis of NLPs produces unique hybrid nanoparticles that have drastically reduced polydispersity as compared to NLPs made in the absence of TD. This finding was supported by dynamic light scattering, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and cryo transmission electron microscopy (Cryo‐EM). These techniques demonstrate the ability of TDs to modulate both the NLP size (6–30 nm) and polydispersity. The telodendrimer NLPs (TD‐NLPs) also showed 80% less aggregation as compared to NLPs alone. Furthermore, the versatility of these novel nanoparticles was shown through direct conjugation of small molecules such as fluorescent dyes directly to the TD as well as the insertion of a functional membrane protein.
Joint optimization of sensing threshold and transmission power in wideband cognitive radio with energy detection
Authors: Liu Xin , Bi Guoan , Jia Min , Guan Yong Liang , Zhong Weizhi , Lin Rui 
Published: June 2013

AbstractIn this paper, we consider a wideband cognitive radio system that operates over multiple idle subchannels. A joint optimization of sensing threshold and transmission power is proposed, which maximizes the total throughput subject to the constraints on the total interference, the total power, and the probabilities of false alarm and detection of each subchannel. An alternative joint optimization is proposed, which minimizes the total interference under the constraint of the total throughput. The bilevel optimization method is used to solve the proposed optimization problems with a minimized iteration complexity. The mixed‐variable optimization problem is divided into two single‐variable convex optimization subproblems: the upper level for threshold optimization and the lower level for power optimization. Weighed cooperative sensing is proposed to maximize the detection probability by choosing the optimal weighed factors. The simulations show that the proposed joint optimization algorithm can achieve desirable improvement on the throughput of cognitive radio at the same interference level to primary user, or vice versa within the limits on the probabilities of false alarm and miss detection, and the weighed cooperative sensing can considerably improve sensing performance compared with the unweighed cooperative sensing and single‐user sensing.
Three‐dimensional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging assessment of cervix and vagina in women with uterine malformations
Authors: Bermejo C. , Martínez‐Ten P. , Recio M. , Ruiz‐López L. , Díaz D. , Illescas T. 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTObjectivesTo investigate the accuracy of three‐dimensional ultrasound (3D‐US) with respect to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and compared to clinical examination, in the assessment of cervix and vagina in women with uterine malformations.MethodsIn this prospective study, 16 patients diagnosed with uterine malformation with cervical involvement underwent 3D‐US examination. The acquisition of cervical volumes was transvaginal, with four cases repeated in the peri‐ovulation period, while vaginal volumes were acquired by transperineal imaging following filling of the vagina with gel. MRI was performed in 13 patients using endovaginal gel. All cases underwent clinical examination, comprising bimanual gynecological examination and speculoscopy. Diagnostic concordance of each of the methods with the gold standard was calculated.Results3D‐US cervical examinations revealed 12 cases of duplicate cervix, two of complete septate cervix and two of incomplete septate cervix. Images of the cervical canal in the peri‐ovulation period were judged subjectively to be better in quality, but did not lead us to change any diagnosis. 3D‐US vaginal examinations revealed four cases with a vaginal dividing wall and two with a blind hemivagina. None of the 3D‐US findings contradicted the clinical findings of the cervix; however, clinically we observed two cases with vaginal dividing wall that had not been diagnosed with 3D‐US. MRI diagnosed nine cases of duplicate cervix, three of complete septate cervix, one of incomplete septate cervix, five of vaginal dividing wall and two of blind hemivagina. One case diagnosed as complete septate cervix was in fact a duplicate cervix on 3D‐US and on clinical examination. Compared with the gold standard, both 3D‐US and MRI were highly efficient in the diagnosis of anomalies of the cervix and vagina. The overall diagnostic concordance of 3D‐US with clinical examination (kappa, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.62–1) was slightly inferior to that of MRI with clinical examination (kappa, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.72–1), but this difference was not statistically significant.ConclusionsThe acquisition of isolated cervical volumes, without including the uterus, defines the extent of the ectocervix and the limits of the cervical canal in uterine malformations. The use of endovaginal gel makes possible the diagnosis of associated vaginal anomalies with 3D‐US. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Excitable behavior in amoeboid chemotaxis
Authors: Shi Changji , Iglesias Pablo A. 
Published: June 2013

Chemotaxis, the directed motion of cells in response to chemical gradients, is a fundamental process. Eukaryotic cells detect spatial differences in chemoattractant receptor occupancy with high precision and use these differences to bias the location of actin‐rich protrusions to guide their movement. Research into chemotaxis has benefitted greatly from a systems biology approach that combines novel experimental and computational tools to pose and test hypotheses. Recently, one such hypothesis has been postulated proposing that chemotaxis in eukaryotic cells is mediated by locally biasing the activity of an underlying excitable system. The excitable system hypothesis can account for a number of cellular behaviors related to chemotaxis, including the stochastic nature of the movement of unstimulated cells, the directional bias imposed by chemoattractant gradients, and the observed spatial and temporal distribution of signaling and cytoskeleton proteins. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2013, 5:631–642. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1230This article is categorized under:

Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models
Biological Mechanisms > Cell Signaling
Analytical and Computational Methods > Dynamical Methods
Outcomes After Emergency Versus Elective Ventral Hernia Repair: A Prospective Nationwide Study
Authors: Helgstrand Frederik , Rosenberg Jacob , Kehlet Henrik , Bisgaard Thue 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundEarly surgical results after emergency repairs for the most frequent ventral hernias (epigastric, umbilical, and incisional) are not well described. Thus, the aim of present study was to investigate early results and risk factors for poor 30‐day outcome after emergency versus elective repair for ventral hernias.MethodsAll patients undergoing epigastric, umbilical, or incisional hernia repair registered in the Danish Hernia Database during the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2010 were included in the prospective study. Follow‐up was obtained through administrative data from the Danish National Patient Register.ResultsIn total, 10,041 elective and 935 emergency repairs were included. The risk for 30‐day mortality, reoperation, and readmission was significantly higher (by a factor 2–15) after emergency repairs than after elective repairs (p ≤ 0.003). In addition, there were significantly more patients with concomitant bowel resection after emergency repairs than after elective repairs (p < 0.001). Independent risk factors for emergency umbilical/epigastric hernia repair were female gender, older age, hernia defects >2–7 cm, and repair for a primary hernia (vs recurrent hernia) (all p < 0.05). Independent risk factors for emergency incisional hernia repair were female gender, increasing age, and hernia defects ≤7 cm (all p < 0.05).ConclusionsEmergency umbilical/epigastric or incisional hernia repair was beset with up to 15‐fold higher mortality, reoperation, and readmission rates than elective repair. Older age, female gender, and umbilical hernia defects between 2 and 7 cm or incisional hernia defects up to 7 cm were important risk factors for emergency repair.
What's the Harm? Genetic Counselor Perceptions of Adverse Effects of Genetics Service Provision by Non‐Genetics Professionals
Authors: Bensend Tracy A. , Veach Patricia McCarthy , Niendorf Kristin B. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractAnecdotal accounts suggest some patients have experienced negative outcomes as a result of receiving genetics services from non‐genetics providers, but empirical evidence of these incidents and their outcomes is limited. This study examined genetic counselors’ perceptions of the occurrence of such incidents in the state of Minnesota. Twenty‐five genetic counselors completed an on‐line survey and 20 also participated in a semi‐structured telephone interview. The interviewees recalled and described 37 specific incidents they perceived as having negative outcomes for patients and/or their families. Inductive and cross‐case analysis revealed common themes including: adverse psychosocial effects, inadequate genetic counseling, genetic testing and screening errors, medical mismanagement, negative shifts in attitudes toward medical providers, and unnecessary use of health care resources. Commonly mentioned strategies for preventing/mitigating negative outcomes included: educational outreach and awareness programs for medical providers and the general public, standardized testing and screening processes, and implementing mechanisms for reporting and addressing adverse events. Additional findings, practice and policy implications, and research recommendations are discussed.
Synthesis of Infant Formula Fat Analogs Enriched with DHA from Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Tripalmitin
Authors: Pande Garima , Sabir Jamal S. M. , Baeshen Nabih A. , Akoh Casimir C. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractStructured lipids (SLs) containing palmitic, oleic, and docosahexaenoic acids for possible use in infant formulas were synthesized by enzymatic acidolysis reactions. The substrates used were tripalmitin, extra virgin olive oil free fatty acids (EVOOFFA), and docosahexaenoic acid single cell oil free fatty acids (DHASCOFFA) in 1:1:1, 1:2:1, 1:3:2, 1:4:2, and 1:5:1 molar ratios. Reactions were carried out at 65 °C for 24 h using Lipozyme® TL IM lipase. The products were analyzed for total and positional fatty acids by GC‐FID, triacylglycerol (TAG) molecular species by HPLC‐ELSD, and thermal behavior by DSC. The SLs, SL132, SL142, and SL151 had desirable fatty acid distribution for infant formula use with nearly 60 mol% palmitic acid at the sn‐2 position and oleic acid predominantly at the sn‐1,3 positions. The total DHA content of SL132, SL142, and SL151 were 7.54, 6.72, and 5.89 mol%, respectively. The major TAG molecular species in the SLs were PPP, OPO, and PPO. The melting completion temperature of SL132 was 37.1, 35.2 °C in SL142, and 32.9 °C in SL151. The SLs synthesized in this study have potential use in infant formulas.
Wii Fit Balance Board Playing Improves Balance and Gait in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Mhatre Priya V. , Vilares Iris , Stibb Stacy M. , Albert Mark V. , Pickering Laura , Marciniak Christina M. , Kording Konrad , Toledo Santiago 
Published: June 2013

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of exercise training by using the Nintendo Wii Fit video game and balance board system on balance and gait in adults with Parkinson disease (PD).DesignA prospective interventional cohort study.SettingAn outpatient group exercise class.ParticipantsTen subjects with PD, Hoehn and Yahr stages 2.5 or 3, with a mean age of 67.1 years; 4 men, 6 women.InterventionsThe subjects participated in supervised group exercise sessions 3 times per week for 8 weeks by practicing 3 different Wii balance board games (marble tracking, skiing, and bubble rafting) adjusted for their individualized function level. The subjects trained for 10 minutes per game, a total of 30 minutes training per session.Main Outcome MeasurementsPre‐and postexercise training, a physical therapist evaluated subjects' function by using the Berg Balance Scale, Dynamic Gait Index, and Sharpened Romberg with eyes open and closed. Postural sway was assessed at rest and with tracking tasks by using the Wii balance board. The subjects rated their confidence in balance by using the Activities‐specific Balance Confidence scale and depression on the Geriatric Depression Scale.ResultsBalance as measured by the Berg Balance Scale improved significantly, with an increase of 3.3 points (P = .016). The Dynamic Gait Index improved as well (mean increase, 2.8; P = .004), as did postural sway measured with the balance board (decreased variance in stance with eyes open by 31%; P = .049). Although the Sharpened Romberg with eyes closed increased by 6.85 points and with eyes opened by 3.3 points, improvements neared significance only for eyes closed (P = .07 versus P = .188). There were no significant changes on patient ratings for the Activities‐specific Balance Confidence (mean decrease, −1%; P = .922) or the Geriatric Depression Scale (mean increase, 2.2; P = .188).ConclusionsAn 8‐week exercise training class by using the Wii Fit balance board improved selective measures of balance and gait in adults with PD. However, no significant changes were seen in mood or confidence regarding balance.
Dense gravity currents moving beneath progressive free-surface water waves
Authors: Robinson T. O. , Eames I. , Simons R. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe characteristics of dense gravity currents in coastal regions, where free-surface gravity waves are dominant, have yet to be studied in the laboratory. This paper provides a first insight into the dynamics of dense saline gravity currents moving beneath regular progressive free-surface water waves. The gravity currents were generated by releasing a finite volume of saline into a large wave tank with an established periodic wave field. After the initial collapse, the gravity currents propagated horizontally with two fronts, one propagating in the wave direction and the other against the wave direction. The fronts of the gravity currents oscillated with an amplitude and phase that correlated with the orbital velocities within a region close to the bed. To leading order, the overall length of the gravity current was found to be weakly affected by the wave action and the dynamics of the current could be approximated by simply considering the buoyancy of the released fluid. Other characteristics such as the position of the gravity current centre and the shape of the two leading profiles were found to be significantly affected by the wave action. The centre was displaced at constant speed dependent on the second-order wave-induced mean Lagrangian velocity. For long waves, the centre was advected downstream in the direction of wave propagation owing to the dominance of Stokes drift. For short waves, the gravity current centre moved upstream against the wave direction, as under these wave conditions Stokes drift is negligible at the bed. An asymmetry in the shape of the upstream and downstream current heads was observed, with the gravity current front moving against the waves being much thicker and the front steeper, similar to the case of a current moving in a stream.
Circulation-based models for Boussinesq internal bores
Authors: Borden Zachary , Meiburg Eckart 
Published: June 2013

AbstractExisting control-volume models for predicting the front velocity of internal bores enforce the conservation of mass and streamwise momentum, but not vertical momentum. Instead, they usually invoke an empirical assumption relating the up- and downstream energy fluxes to obtain an additional equation required for determining the pressure jump across a bore. The present investigation develops a control-volume model for internal bores on the basis of mass and momentum conservation alone, without the need for considering energy. This is accomplished by combining the streamwise and vertical momentum equations to obtain a vorticity relation that no longer involves pressure. Hence, this vorticity equation, in combination with the conservation of mass, is sufficient for evaluating the bore velocity. The energy loss across the bore can then be predicted by the streamwise energy equation and compared to the assumptions underlying earlier models. The flux of vorticity across the internal bore predicted by the new model is seen to be in close agreement with direct numerical simulation results. Any discrepancies with experimentally measured bore velocities are shown to be due to the effects of downstream mixing.
A real-time motion planning algorithm for a hyper-redundant set of mechanisms
Authors: Shvalb Nir , Moshe Boaz Ben , Medina Oded 
Published: June 2013

SUMMARYWe introduce a novel probabilistic algorithm (CPRM) for real-time motion planning in the configuration space${\EuScript C}$. Our algorithm differs from a probabilistic road map (PRM) algorithm in the motion between a pair of anchoring points (local planner) which takes place on the boundary of the obstacle subspace${\EuScript O}$. We define a varying potential fieldfon ∂${\EuScript O}$as a Morse function and follow$\vec{\nabla} f$. We then exemplify our algorithm on a redundant worm climbing robot withndegrees of freedom and compare our algorithm running results with those of the PRM.
A rat-like robot for interacting with real rats
Authors: Shi Qing , Ishii Hiroyuki , Kinoshita Shinichi , Konno Shinichiro , Takanishi Atsuo , Okabayashi Satoshi , Iida Naritoshi , Kimura Hiroshi 
Published: June 2013

SUMMARYWe developed a novel small rat-like robot calledWasedaRat No.4(WR-4) to interact with real rats. WR-4 can perform both rearing (rising up on its hind limbs) and rotating (body bending during movement) actions faster than live mature rats. After robot–rat interaction involving rearing and body grooming (body cuddling and head curling) actions of WR-4, real rats showed more activity and greater interest in the robot. Similar results evident from rat–rat interaction suggest that a rat-like robot is able to interact with rats in the same way as real rats. Furthermore, lower variances between the rat subjects in robot–rat interaction reveals that a rat-like robot can more effectively impact rat's behavior in a controllable, predictable way.
Preclinical models of antipsychotic drug action
Authors: Moreno José L. , González-Maeso Javier 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
One of the main obstacles faced by translational neuroscience is the development of animal models of psychiatric disorders. Behavioural pharmacology studies indicate that psychedelic drugs, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and dissociative drugs, such as phencyclidine (PCP), induce in healthy human volunteers psychotic and cognitive symptoms that resemble some of those observed in schizophrenia patients. Serotonin 5-HT2A and metabotropic glutamate 2 receptors have been involved in the mechanism of action of psychedelic and dissociative drugs. Here we review recent advances using LSD-like and PCP-like drugs in rodent models that implicate these receptors in the neurobiology of schizophrenia and its treatment.
Conformational changes in the catalytically inactive nucleotide-binding site of CFTR
Authors: Csanády László , Mihályi Csaba , Szollosi Andras , Töröcsik Beáta , Vergani Paola 
Published: June 2013

A central step in the gating of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel is the association of its two cytosolic nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) into a head-to-tail dimer, with two nucleotides bound at the interface. Channel opening and closing, respectively, are coupled to formation and disruption of this tight NBD dimer. CFTR is an asymmetric adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette protein in which the two interfacial-binding sites (composite sites 1 and 2) are functionally different. During gating, the canonical, catalytically active nucleotide-binding site (site 2) cycles between dimerized prehydrolytic (state O1), dimerized post-hydrolytic (state O2), and dissociated (state C) forms in a preferential C→O1→O2→C sequence. In contrast, the catalytically inactive nucleotide-binding site (site 1) is believed to remain associated, ATP-bound, for several gating cycles. Here, we have examined the possibility of conformational changes in site 1 during gating, by studying gating effects of perturbations in site 1.
Previous work showed that channel closure is slowed, both under hydrolytic and nonhydrolytic conditions, by occupancy of site 1 by N6-(2-phenylethyl)-ATP (P-ATP) as well as by the site-1 mutation H1348A (NBD2 signature sequence). Here, we found that P-ATP prolongs wild-type (WT) CFTR burst durations by selectively slowing (&gt;2×) transition O1→O2 and decreases the nonhydrolytic closing rate (transition O1→C) of CFTR mutants K1250A (∼4×) and E1371S (∼3×). Mutation H1348A also slowed (∼3×) the O1→O2 transition in the WT background and decreased the nonhydrolytic closing rate of both K1250A (∼3×) and E1371S (∼3×) background mutants. Neither P-ATP nor the H1348A mutation affected the 1:1 stoichiometry between ATP occlusion and channel burst events characteristic to WT CFTR gating in ATP. The marked effect that different structural perturbations at site 1 have on both steps O1→C and O1→O2 suggests that the overall conformational changes that CFTR undergoes upon opening and coincident with hydrolysis at the active site 2 include significant structural rearrangement at site 1.
Journal print subscription price increases no longer reflect actual costs
Authors: GANTZ Paula 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTJournal subscription prices and their annual increases have traditionally been reported as and based on institutional print prices. This methodology for calculating price inflation and its budgetary impact on libraries no longer reflects the actual costs to the purchasing institution. Other factors – particularly digital acquisition, bundled licensing and consortia deals, a large growth in published content and the commensurate growth in usage – have altered and significantly changed the real cost of scholarly journals. While the print‐based method of evaluating subscription price increases shows a three‐fold increase in costs from 1990 to 2010, the real effect is only 9% after taking all these factors into consideration. Librarians and publishers should work together to adopt a more reasoned and transparent approach to evaluating institutional investment in serials collections