bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DYRK1A BAC Transgenic Mouse: A New Model of Thyroid Dysgenesis in Down Syndrome
Authors: Kariyawasam Dulanjalee , Rachdi Latif , Carré Aurore , Martin Mercè , Houlier Marine , Janel Nathalie , Delabar Jean-Maurice , Scharfmann Raphaël , Polak Michel 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The most common thyroid abnormality among Down syndrome (DS) children corresponds to a mildly elevated TSH, with T4 decreased or in the normal range and thyroid hypoplasia, from the neonatal period onward, which aggravate their mental impairment. Transgenic Dyrk1A mice, obtained by bacterial artificial chromosome engineering (mBACTgDyrk1A), have 3 copies of the Dyrk1A gene. The objective is to determine whether this transgenic Dyrk1A (Dyrk1A+/++) mouse is an adequate murine model for the study of thyroid dysgenesis in DS. Embryonic thyroid development from embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) to E17.5 was analyzed in wild-type (WT) and Dyrk1A+/++ mice by immunofluorescence with anti-Nkx2–1, anti-thyroglobulin, and anti-T4 antibodies, markers of early thyroid development, hormonogenesis, and final differentiation, respectively. The expression of transcription factors Nkx2–1, Pax8, and Foxe1 involved in thyroidogenesis were studied by quantitative RT-PCR at the same embryonic stages. We then compared the adult phenotype at 8 to 12 weeks in Dyrk1A+/++ and WT mice for T4 and TSH levels, thyroidal weight, and histological analysis. Regarding thyroidal development, at E15.5, Dyrk1A+/++ thyroid lobes are double the size of WT thyroids (P = .01), but the thyroglobulin stained surface in Dyrk1A+/++ thyroids is less than a third as large at E17.5 (P = .04) and their differentiated follicular surface half the size (P = .004). We also observed a significant increase in Nkx2–1, Foxe1, and Pax8 RNA levels in E13.5 and E17.5 Dyrk1A+/++ embryonic thyroids. Dyrk1A+/++ young adult mice have significantly lower plasma T4 (2.4 ng/mL versus WT, 3.7 ng/mL; P = 0.019) and nonsignificantly higher plasma TSH (114 mUI/L versus WT, 73mUI/L; P = .09). In addition, their thyroids are significantly heavier (P = .04) and exhibit large disorganized regions. Dyrk1A overexpression directly leads to thyroidal embryogenetic, functional and morphological impairment. The young adult thyroid phenotype is probably a result of embryogenetic impairment. The Dyrk1A+/++ mouse can be considered a suitable study model for thyroid dysgenesis in DS.
Primary and Metastatic Parathyroid Malignancies: A Rare or Underdiagnosed Condition?
Authors: Shifrin Alexander , LiVolsi Virginia , Shifrin-Douglas Svetlana , Zheng Min , Erler Brian , Matulewicz Theodore , Davis John 
Published: December 2014

Objective:
Parathyroid gland malignancies are considered rare. The most common of these tumor types is primary parathyroid carcinoma. Metastatic spread from other cancers may also occur with up to 10% of cancers from other sites showing parathyroid involvement at autopsy. Tumor-to-tumor metastases (metastatic spread to parathyroid neoplasm) from remote cancers to the parathyroid gland have been described.

Methods:
We did a PubMed literature review and analysis of our own experience of 392 consecutive parathyroidectomies.

Results:
Primary and secondary parathyroid malignancies can be grouped into three categories: primary parathyroid carcinoma (PPCa), spread of carcinoma into parathyroid glands by contiguous extension from the thyroid gland or other head and neck cancer, and metastatic disease to the parathyroid gland from distant cancers. Studies of tumor-to-tumor spread indicate a predilection of spread to endocrine tumors possibly because of the rich blood supply that is present in endocrine tumors. Two of our 392 parathyroidectomies (0.5%) had cancer: one metastatic (thymic neuroendocrine tumor) and another PPCa.

Conclusion:
Metastatic disease to the parathyroid gland is poorly documented. When performing surgery for primary thyroid cancer, the search for parathyroid gland metastases is often overlooked because of the desire to preserve parathyroid function. Metastatic disease from other cancers to a benign parathyroid gland or to a parathyroid adenoma probably suggests a grave prognosis because it likely indicates widespread metastatic disease; however, isolated metastases to the parathyroid may occur. Although these lesions may be uncommon they may not be as rare as once thought.
Sclerostin Levels and Changes in Bone Metabolism After Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Muschitz Christian , Kocijan Roland , Marterer Christina , Nia Arastoo Rahbar , Muschitz Gabriela Katharina , Resch Heinrich , Pietschmann Peter 
Published: December 2014

Context:
The role of sclerostin as a key regulator of bone formation remains unknown after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG).

Objectives:
The study objectives were evaluation of sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) serum levels after surgery and correlations with bone turnover markers (P1NP, CTX), parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and areal bone mineral density (BMD), changes at total body, lumbar spine and total hip.

Design and Setting:
This was a prospective observational single-center two-arm study in premenopausal women with acute adipositas over 24 months.

Participants:
Participants were 52 premenopausal women (40 ± 8 years, BMI 43.4) after RYGB and 38 premenopausal women (41 ± 7 years, BMI 45.7) after SG.

Main Outcome Measures:
Prior to surgery and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery sclerostin, DKK-1, CTX, P1NP levels and BMD were measured.

Results:
Sclerostin, CTX and (to a lesser extent) P1NP increased after surgery and remained elevated during the entire study period (P &lt; 0.001). DKK-1 declined during months 3–9 (P &lt; 0.005) and then remained unchanged, serum phosphate continuously increased (P &lt; 0.001), iPTH remained within the upper normal limit. Sclerostin increases were significantly positively correlated with CTX and P1NP increases and negatively correlated with BMD loss. BMD independently declined regardless of RYGB and SG. Elevations of sclerostin, CTX, P1NP, and phosphate, but not DKK-1 and iPTH, were significant discriminating factors for BMD loss (AUC 0.920).

Conclusion:
Rapid and sustained increases of sclerostin, CTX, and to a lesser extent, P1NP cause an increase in bone metabolism and result in BMD loss at all skeletal sites.
The Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes in a Korean Metabolically Healthy Obese Population: The Role of Systemic Inflammation
Authors: Jung Chang Hee , Lee Min Jung , Kang Yu Mi , Jang Jung Eun , Leem Jaechan , Hwang Jenie Yoonoo , Kim Eun Hee , Park Joong-Yeol , Kim Hong-Kyu , Lee Woo Je 
Published: December 2014

Abstract

Objective:
This study sought to investigate whether the metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype is associated with an increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes in a Korean population and, if so, whether systemic inflammation affects this risk in MHO individuals.

Design and Methods:
The study population comprised 36 135 Koreans without type 2 diabetes. Participants were stratified by body mass index (cutoff value, 25.0 kg/m2) and metabolic health state (assessed using Adult Treatment Panel-III criteria). High-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was used as a surrogate marker of systemic inflammation. Subjects were classified into low (ie, hsCRP &lt; 0.5 mg/L) and high (ie, hsCRP ≥ 0.5 mg/L) systemic inflammation groups.

Results:
During a median followup of 36.5 months (range, 4.8–81.7 mo), 635 of the 36 135 individuals (1.8%) developed type 2 diabetes. The MHO group had a significantly higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes (multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–2.11) than the metabolically healthy nonobese (MHNO) group. However, the risk of the MHO group varied according to the degree of systemic inflammation. Compared with the MHNO/low systemic inflammation group, the risk of type 2 diabetes in the MHO/low systemic inflammation group was not significantly elevated (multivariate-adjusted HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 0.77–3.34). However, the MHO/high systemic inflammation group had an elevated risk of incident type 2 diabetes (multivariate-adjusted HR, 3.73; 95% CI 2.36–5.88).

Conclusions:
MHO subjects show a substantially higher risk of incident type 2 diabetes than MHNO subjects. The level of systemic inflammation partially explains this increased risk.
Is a preoperative group and save necessary for enhanced recovery joint replacement patients?
Authors: Metcalfe Christopher W , Jayatilaka Malwattage LT , Cope Marcus R 
Published: December 2014

Aim: To consider the financial benefit to the authors' trust of omitting a preoperative group and save in enhanced recovery arthroplasty patients, and to estimate the scope for national savings. Patient safety was considered to determine acceptability for routine practice. Methods: A total of 121 patients receiving a total knee replacement or total hip replacement on the authors' enhanced recovery protocol were selected. Pre- and postoperative haemoglobin levels were obtained. The transfusion team were contacted when the postoperative haemoglobin level was ≤8 g/dl to determine whether blood products had been issued. Costs for group and save were obtained from the pathology department. Results: Mean postoperative reduction in haemoglobin level was 2.6 g/dl (P≤0.001) and 2.1 g/dl (P≤0.001) for total hip replacement and total knee replacement respectively. No patients were transfused. One group and save costs £12.00, and omission of this test in these patients would have saved £1452.00. Potentially, £1 605 408 could have been saved in the 133 784 patients undergoing NHS arthroplasty in 2012. Group and save omission would not affect management of intraoperative haemorrhage where O negative blood would be available. If a transfusion is required postoperatively it would take 100 minutes to issue crossmatched blood – a time delay unlikely to compromise patient safety. Conclusions: These results suggest that a preoperative group and save could be omitted in arthroplasty patients on this enhanced recovery programme to prevent needless expenditure, but more long-term follow up is required to ensure patients are not put at risk.
The Arab Spring re-visited: Why the western media got it wrong
Authors: Medzini Meron 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The momentous events that became known as the Arab Awakening or Arab Spring, or as some even called it the Arab Democratic Spring (2011–14) – although the Arabic term is thaura – meaning a revolution – were a historic development that took by surprise and later even stunned leaders, scholars, commentators and reporters in western countries, mainly in Europe and in North America. Part of the surprise and the inability of the western media to predict the uprisings and above all their dismal and totally unexpected outcome is the subject of this article. An attempt will be made to understand why the western media got it so wrong. Since it can be safely assumed that the Arab Spring has ended its run, certain questions regarding the reporting of this event are in order.
From the virgin land to the transnational identities of the twenty-first century: Exceptionalist rhetoric in the field of American studies
Authors: Vandivinit Gilles 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
In the age of globalization, American Exceptionalism remains a ubiquitous subject of debate within academic circles as well as society in general. The intention of this article is to reveal the coherent narrative that accompanies the notion of exceptionalism that stretches from the ‘city upon a hill’ in the seventeenth century to the War on Terror in the early 2000s.
Puritans like John Winthrop, historians like Alexis de Tocqueville and presidents like Woodrow Wilson embraced exceptionalism as a concept, but its most important base of support, other than political leaders and scholars, was America’s working class. The premise of this article is to explore the nature of this very concept, whether we call it an ideology, myth or God-given truth and why it has become such an imperative part of the political, cultural and intellectual life of the United States.
By looking at the work that has been administered in the field of American studies over the last decades, dating back to the mid-twentieth century, I wish to expose the malleability of exceptionalism, a quality that not only allows it to reject any definition but also enables it to turn into a metaconcept that will never lose its appeal, according to Donald E. Pease. I argue that the manifold qualities of this metaconcept, whether we call it a political doctrine or a national fantasy, enable the citizens of the United States to define themselves within the framework of a larger American identity.
I intend to highlight the problems around the United States’ self-proclaimed status as an exceptional nation in a postnational world defined by diasporic and transnational affiliations. By doing so, I will put emphasis on the punitive ideology of exclusion and demonization that surrounds the notion of American Exceptionalism.
Magnetoencephalographic accuracy profiles for the detection of auditory pathway sources
Authors: Bauer Martin , Trahms Lutz , Sander Tilmann 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe detection limits for cortical and brain stem sources associated with the auditory pathway are examined in order to analyse brain responses at the limits of the audible frequency range. The results obtained from this study are also relevant to other issues of auditory brain research. A complementary approach consisting of recordings of magnetoencephalographic (MEG) data and simulations of magnetic field distributions is presented in this work. A biomagnetic phantom consisting of a spherical volume filled with a saline solution and four current dipoles is built. The magnetic fields outside of the phantom generated by the current dipoles are then measured for a range of applied electric dipole moments with a planar multichannel SQUID magnetometer device and a helmet MEG gradiometer device. The inclusion of a magnetometer system is expected to be more sensitive to brain stem sources compared with a gradiometer system. The same electrical and geometrical configuration is simulated in a forward calculation. From both the measured and the simulated data, the dipole positions are estimated using an inverse calculation. Results are obtained for the reconstruction accuracy as a function of applied electric dipole moment and depth of the current dipole. We found that both systems can localize cortical and subcortical sources at physiological dipole strength even for brain stem sources. Further, we found that a planar magnetometer system is more suitable if the position of the brain source can be restricted in a limited region of the brain. If this is not the case, a helmet-shaped sensor system offers more accurate source estimation.
An EEG/EOG-based hybrid brain-neural computer interaction (BNCI) system to control an exoskeleton for the paralyzed hand
Authors: Soekadar Surjo R. , Witkowski Matthias , Vitiello Nicola , Birbaumer Niels 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe loss of hand function can result in severe physical and psychosocial impairment. Thus, compensation of a lost hand function using assistive robotics that can be operated in daily life is very desirable. However, versatile, intuitive, and reliable control of assistive robotics is still an unsolved challenge. Here, we introduce a novel brain/neural-computer interaction (BNCI) system that integrates electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) to improve control of assistive robotics in daily life environments. To evaluate the applicability and performance of this hybrid approach, five healthy volunteers (HV) (four men, average age 26.5±3.8 years) and a 34-year-old patient with complete finger paralysis due to a brachial plexus injury (BPI) used EEG (condition 1) and EEG/EOG (condition 2) to control grasping motions of a hand exoskeleton. All participants were able to control the BNCI system (BNCI control performance HV: 70.24±16.71%, BPI: 65.93±24.27%), but inclusion of EOG significantly improved performance across all participants (HV: 80.65±11.28, BPI: 76.03±18.32%). This suggests that hybrid BNCI systems can achieve substantially better control over assistive devices, e.g., a hand exoskeleton, than systems using brain signals alone and thus may increase applicability of brain-controlled assistive devices in daily life environments.
Der Wiedergänger. Jens Baggesens Nachleben in der deutschen Literatur
Authors: Penke Niels 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
This article traces the marks Jens Baggesen has left in German literature and its history. It depicts Baggesen’s relations and strong bounds to his contempories around 1800, the feud with the Romantic poet Achim von Arnim and the gradual shift into oblivion in the progress of the 19th century, and at last the enigmatic glimpse that is given in R.M. Rilkes Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge. Moreover it asks for reasons why Baggesen fell through the cracks of literary history, which can be explained through the rising nationalism and the according formation of strict national philologies, to which the bilingual Baggesen emerged as a figure of neither-nor.
”I känslofulla sköna!” Bengt Lidner, Göttingen och den kvinnliga läsaren
Authors: Cullhed Anna 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe Swedish poet Bengt Lidner (1757‒1793) studied in Göttingen in 1780‒1781. A spatial analysis of the poet’s global biography and his poetical geography points to Enlightenment universalism as well as to the poetical ideals expressed in Göttingen – the Göttinger Hain, Göttinger Musenalmanach, and the teachings of Professor Christian Gottlob Heyne. Even Lidner’s opera libretto
Evaluation of the Magnetic Permeability for the Microstructural Characterization of a Duplex Stainless Steel
Authors: de Macedo Silva Edgard , Leite Josinaldo P. , de França Neto Francisco A. , Leite João P. , Fialho Walter M. L. , de Albuquerque Victor Hugo C. , Tavares João Manuel R. S. 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
Non-destructive testing has been commonly used to assess the presence of discontinuities that may affect the integrity of materials in service. In this study, a Hall-effect sensor is used in a methodology developed to study, in a non-destructive manner, the microstructural variations of a material that occur because of the single-phase decomposition. The material selected was the UNS S31803 duplex stainless steel, particularly because of its behavior at temperatures below 525°C. Measurements of magnetic permeability based on Hall voltage values were performed, as well as hardness measurements and x-ray diffraction studies. The results confirm that the magnetic permeability can be used to successfully track the formation of α′ phase from α phase in a duplex stainless steel.
Effect of Concrete Strength Class on Performance of CFRP-Confined Concrete under Compression
Authors: Sallam Yassin Shaher , Ahmad Shamsad 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
This paper presents results of an experimental study on the effect of concrete strength class on performance of carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP)-strengthened concrete subjected to compression. Test results indicated that the strength of CFRP-confined concrete increases with increase in number of confining layers; however, the increase in strength as a result of CFRP confinement was more significant for the lower strength class of concrete than the higher strength class of concrete. Using the experimental data obtained from the present work and from the literature, an empirical equation is derived that correlates the confinement effectiveness coefficient and unconfined compressive strength of concrete.
Genotyping of Endosperms to Determine Seed Dormancy Genes Regulating Germination Through Embryonic, Endospermic, or Maternal Tissues in Rice
Authors: Gu Xing-You , Zhang Jinfeng , Ye Heng , Zhang Lihua , Feng Jiuhuan 
Published: December 2014

AbstractSeed dormancy is imposed by one or more of the embryo, endosperm, and maternal tissues that belong to two generations and represent two ploidy levels. Many quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been identified for seed dormancy as measured by gross effects on reduced germination rate or delayed germination in crop or model plants. This research developed an endosperm genotype−based genetic approach to determine specific tissues through which a mapped QTL regulates germination using rice as a model. This approach involves testing germination velocity for partially after-ripened seeds harvested from single plants heterozygous for a tested QTL and genotyping endosperms from individual germinated and nongerminated seeds with a codominant DNA marker located on the QTL peak region. Information collected about the QTL includes genotypic frequencies in germinated and/or nongerminated subpopulations; allelic frequency distributions during a germination period; endosperm or embryo genotypic differences in germination velocity; and genotypic frequencies for gametes involved in the double fertilization to form the sampled seeds. Using this approach, the seed dormancy loci SD12, SD1-2, and SD7-1 were determined to regulate germination through the embryo, endosperm, and maternal tissues, respectively; SD12 and SD1-2 acted additively on germination velocity in the offspring tissues; and SD12 also was associated with the preferential fertilization of male gametes in rice. This new genetic approach can be used to characterize mapped genes/QTL for tissue-specific functions in endospermic seeds and for marker-assisted selection of QTL alleles before or immediately after germination in crop breeding.
Genetic Architecture of Natural Variation of Telomere Length inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Fulcher Nick , Teubenbacher Astrid , Kerdaffrec Envel , Farlow Ashley , Nordborg Magnus , Riha Karel 
Published: December 2014

AbstractTelomeres represent the repetitive sequences that cap chromosome ends and are essential for their protection. Telomere length is known to be highly heritable and is derived from a homeostatic balance between telomeric lengthening and shortening activities. Specific loci that form the genetic framework underlying telomere length homeostasis, however, are not well understood. To investigate the extent of natural variation of telomere length in Arabidopsis thaliana, we examined 229 worldwide accessions by terminal restriction fragment analysis. The results showed a wide range of telomere lengths that are specific to individual accessions. To identify loci that are responsible for this variation, we adopted a quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping approach with multiple recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations. A doubled haploid RIL population was first produced using centromere-mediated genome elimination between accessions with long (Pro-0) and intermediate (Col-0) telomere lengths. Composite interval mapping analysis of this population along with two established RIL populations (Ler-2/Cvi-0 and Est-1/Col-0) revealed a number of shared and unique QTL. QTL detected in the Ler-2/Cvi-0 population were examined using near isogenic lines that confirmed causative regions on chromosomes 1 and 2. In conclusion, this work describes the extent of natural variation of telomere length in A. thaliana, identifies a network of QTL that influence telomere length homeostasis, examines telomere length dynamics in plants with hybrid backgrounds, and shows the effects of two identified regions on telomere length regulation.