bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Biocompatible Glycodendrimer based on Fluorescent Perylene Bisimides and Its Bioimaging
Authors: Wang Ke‐Rang , An Hong‐Wei , Rong Rui‐Xue , Cao Zhi‐Ran , Li Xiao‐Liu 
Published: February 2014

A novel water‐soluble fluorescent glycodendrimer based on perylene bisimides is synthesized, which exhibits high fluorescence quantum yield of 54%. While the binding interactions of PBI‐Man with Concanavalin A (Con A) are studied by fluorescence spectra and CD spectra, which show strong binding affinity for Con A with the binding constant of 3.8 × 107m−1 for monomeric mannose, nearly four orders of magnitude higher affinity than the monovalent mannose ligand. Furthermore, the fluorescence imaging of macrophage cell with PBI‐Man is investigated, and shows selectively binding interaction with the mannose receptor‐medicated cell entry. Moreover, the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) activities of PBI‐Man show that PBI‐Man as a biocompatible agent is noncytotoxic to living cells.
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Stem‐Cell Challenges in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease: A Long Way from Bench to Bedside
Authors: Fan Xiaotang , Sun Dayu , Tang Xiaotong , Cai Yulong , Yin Zheng Qin , Xu Haiwei 
Published: February 2014

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent type of dementia, and its neuropathology is characterized by deposition of insoluble β‐amyloid peptides, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, and the loss of diverse neurons. Current pharmacological treatments for AD relieve symptoms without affecting the major pathological characteristics of the disease. Therefore, it is essential to develop new and effective therapies. Stem‐cell types include tissue‐specific stem cells, such as neural stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells derived from blastocysts, and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) reprogrammed from somatic cells. Recent preclinical evidence suggests that stem cells can be used to treat or model AD. The mechanisms of stem cell based therapies for AD include stem cell mediated neuroprotection and trophic actions, antiamyloidogenesis, beneficial immune modulation, and the replacement of the lost neurons. iPSCs have been recently used to model AD, investigate sporadic and familial AD pathogenesis, and screen for anti‐AD drugs. Although considerable progress has been achieved, a series of challenges must be overcome before stem cell based cell therapies are used clinically for AD patients. This review highlights the recent experimental and preclinical progress of stem‐cell therapies for AD, and discusses the translational challenges of their clinical application.
Accelerating parameter mapping with a locally low rank constraint
Authors: Zhang Tao , Pauly John M. , Levesque Ives R. 
Published: February 2014

PurposeTo accelerate MR parameter mapping using a locally low rank (LLR) constraint, and the combination of parallel imaging and the LLR constraint.Theory and MethodsAn LLR method is developed for MR parameter mapping and compared with a globally low rank method in a multiecho spin‐echo T2 mapping experiment. For acquisition with coil arrays, a combined LLR and parallel imaging method is proposed. The proposed method is evaluated in a variable flip angle T1 mapping experiment and compared with the LLR method and parallel imaging alone.ResultsIn the multiecho spin‐echo T2 mapping experiment, the LLR method is more accurate than the globally low rank method for acceleration factors 2 and 3, especially for tissues with high T2 values. Variable flip angle T1 mapping is achieved by acquiring datasets with 10 flip angles, each dataset accelerated by a factor of 6, and reconstructed by the proposed method with a small normalized root mean square error of 0.025.ConclusionsThe LLR method is likely superior to the globally low rank method for MR parameter mapping. The proposed combined LLR and parallel imaging method has better performance than the two methods alone, especially with highly accelerated acquisition. Magn Reson Med 73:655–661, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Successful endovascular treatment of bilateral intralobar pulmonary sequestration with a bridging isthmus in a child
Authors: Ahn Su Joa , Kim Eun Young , Kim Jeong Ho , Byun Sung Su , Kim Hyung Sik , Choi Hye‐Young , Sun Yong Han 
Published: February 2014

SummaryPulmonary sequestration refers to aberrant formation of segmental lung tissue that has no connection with the bronchial tree and receives a blood supply from a systemic artery. Bilateral pulmonary sequestration, especially with a bridging isthmus is extremely rare. Although endovascular treatment is regarded as the less invasive alternative for the treatment of pulmonary sequestration, all previously reported bilateral pulmonary sequestrations have been treated surgically. We report the case of a 13‐year‐old girl who underwent successful endovascular treatment for bilateral pulmonary sequestration with a bridging isthmus. Thoracic CT angiography showed a heterogeneous mass‐like consolidation in the both lower lobes connected each other via a bridging isthmus behind the heart. CT also demonstrated an aberrant artery, which originated from the celiac trunk, supplied the sequestration of the left lower lobe, and that a branch from the aberrant artery traversed to the sequestration in the right lower lobe. After percutaneous endovascular embolization using microcoils and gelfoam, the patient had no complications and the bilateral sequestration showed markedly decrease in the size. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:E126–E129. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PIKO‐6® vs. forced spirometry in asthmatic children
Authors: Gochicoa‐Rangel Laura , Larios‐Castañeda Pablo José , Miguel‐Reyes José Luis , Martínez Briseño David , Flores‐Campos Roberto , Sáenz‐López Juan Arturo , Torre‐Bouscoulet Luis 
Published: February 2014

SummaryBackgroundThe PIKO‐6® is an electronic device that measures forced expiratory volume at seconds 1 (FEV1) and 6 (FEV6) of a forced vital capacity (FVC) maneuver. This device could aid in diagnosing obstructive respiratory diseases.ObjectivesTo determine the concordance of FEV1, FEV6, and the FEV1/FEV6 quotient achieved with PIKO‐6® versus spirometric values from asthmatic patients, and compare results with measures from healthy children.MethodsA cross‐sectional study with asthmatic and healthy 6‐to‐14‐year‐old children, all of whom performed a forced spirometry as well as a PIKO‐6® test.ResultsThe study included 82 subjects (58 asthmatics, 24 healthy children). Except for the functional parameters, the basal characteristics of the two groups were similar. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) for FEV1 was 0.938 (P < 0.001), with 95% limits of agreement of −0.591 to 0.512 L, and an average of differences of −0.040 L. For FEV6, CCC was 0.927 (P < 0.001), and the 95% limits of agreement were −0.751 to 0.598 L with an average of differences of −0.077 L. The concordance analysis and the FEV1 and FEV6 associations were better in children with controlled asthma and healthy subjects, as well as in the post‐bronchodilator results.ConclusionsThe concordance between PIKO‐6® and spirometry was lower in patients with partially controlled or uncontrolled asthma compared to controlled or healthy children. The broad limits of agreement show that the FEV1, FEV6, and FEV1/FEV6 obtained with the PIKO‐6® are not interchangeable with spirometry results. Longitudinal evaluations of asthma patients are necessary to assess the utility of PIKO‐6®. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2014; 49:1170–1176. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Making abstract mathematics concrete in and out of school
Authors: Swanson David , Williams Julian 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe adopt a neo-Vygotskian view that a fully concretescientificconcept can only emerge from engaging in practice with systems of theoretical concepts, such as when mathematics is used to make sense of outside school or vocational practices. From this perspective, the literature on mathematics outside school tends to dichotomise in- and out-of-school practice and glamorises the latter as more authentic and situated than academic mathematics. We then examine case study ethnographies of mathematics in which this picture seemed to break down in moments of mathematical problem solving and modelling in practice: (1) when amateur or professional players decided to investigate the mathematics of darts scoring to develop their “outing” strategies and (2) when a prevocational mathematics course task challenged would-be mathematics teachers’ concept of fractions. These examples are used to develop the Vygotskian framework in relation to vocational and workplace mathematics. Finally, we propose that a unified view of mathematics, outside and inside school, on the basis of Vygotsky’s approach to everyday and scientific thought, can usefully orientate further research in vocational mathematics education.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the presence of right ventricular apical pacing: A case report
Authors: Matsumoto Manabu , Ohga Masanobu , Uemura Shumpo , Node Koichi 
Published: February 2014

AbstractIn Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), ST‐segment elevation, T‐wave inversion, and QTc prolongation are the most common electrocardiography (ECG) findings during acute and subacute periods. Right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing produces a left ventricular electrical activation sequence resembling a left bundle‐branch block, and the ST–T segment changes are usually discordant from the QRS complex. Several cases have reported that abnormal ECG manifestations in TCM could be detected even in patients with a paced ventricular rhythm. However, ECG manifestations in TCM have not been well characterized in patients with RVA pacing. Here, we report a case of a 76‐year‐old woman with RVA pacing who was diagnosed with TCM after she experienced acute bronchitis. To the best of our knowledge, this is a rare case, showing that significant QTc prolongation and concordant T‐wave inversions during full RVA pacing were longer and deeper when compared with ECG findings in past reports. The ECG findings eventually improved with a similar course as those in TCM patients without RVA pacing.
Long-term efficacy of spironolactone on pain, mood, and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia: An observational case series
Authors: Wernze Heinrich , Herdegen Thomas 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Objective
No single drug is broadly efficacious in the long-term treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Spironolactone is known to ameliorate mood and tension headache or migraine in women with premenstrual syndrome or clinical signs of hyperandrogenism. In a case series of women with treatment resistant FMS spironolactone was therefore added to their medication, and they were observed for at least 12 months.

Methods
31 women with treatment-resistant FMS received spironolactone as add-on medication to various pain modulating drugs. 15 women responded to spironolactone and baseline data were compared with assessments over 12–14 months on treatment with spironolactone (ALDACTONE®) in dose range 100–200 mg/day. The efficacy was evaluated by the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) total score and 8 FIQ subtests, a German mood inventory (BSKE-EWL), and further assessments of changes in relevant psychological and physical complaints. 16 women had no effect and stopped the treatment early.

Results
The subsequent data refer to the 15 responders. The FIQ total score (maximal score = 80) decreased from 56.6 ± 10.0 at baseline to 17.1 ± 11.9 (mean ± SD) 12–14 months later, and pain intensity on an 11 point numeric rating scale (NRS) decreased from 8.8 ± 1.6 to 2.6 ± 1.9 (mean ± SD). Similar changes in FIQ subscores were found for fatigue, morning tiredness, stiffness, anxiety, and depression. Emotional functioning consistently improved: positive mood from 20.0 ± 5.4 to 37.7 ± 5.4 (maximal score = 48), and negative mood from 35.4 ± 5.3 to 10.0 ± 4.4 (maximal score = 60) (each mean ± SD) as well as other mental and physical dysfunctions including non-restorative sleep. All these changes at 4–6 weeks remained on this level for 11–13 months. The drug was well-tolerated and safe, no serious adverse effects were observed. Regular monitoring of serum potassium did not reveal hyperkalemia. All 15 women were able to reduce or discontinue concomitant drugs.

Conclusion
Fifteen of 31 women with otherwise treatment-resistant FMS experienced a number of prolonged beneficial effects from spironolactone on their complex pain-condition.

Implications and discussion
We hypothesise that spironolactone affects several central and peripheral neurotransmitter systems such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity and dopaminergic transmission. The high rate of non-responsive patients underlines that FMS may represent several subgroups. Pain relief and improvement of associated FHS-symptoms and positive effects on additional diseases or dysfunctions give reasons for marked and sustained improvement in the quality of life.
Well-controlled, double-blind, and randomised trials are necessary to confirm our potentially very important observations.
The concentration of strontium and other minerals in animal feed ingredients
Authors: Browning L.C. , Cowieson A.J. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryVariance in macro- and micro-mineral concentration in feed ingredients for farmed livestock contributes to sub-optimal performance and may compromise health and welfare. Although routine quality assurance and quality control procedures in feed mills or integrated poultry or swine businesses may track variance in the concentration of minerals of immediate nutritional importance, such as phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na), micro-minerals such as strontium (Sr) attract less attention. In order to create a framework for further study, the mineral concentration in more than 130 animal feed ingredients commonly used in Australia were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Due to a dearth of information, the principal focus of the survey was Sr, but the concentration of Ca, P, magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), potassium (K), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), sulphur (S) and Na were analysed concurrently. Generally the minerals present at the highest concentrations in the various feed ingredients examined were Ca, P and Mg. As anticipated, the ingredients with the highest concentrations of Ca and P were inorganic phosphates, limestone and meat and bone meal. The average Ca concentration in limestone was 393 g/kg but a range of 376–415 g/kg was observed which may be nutritionally important. Furthermore, the Mg concentration in limestone ranged from 7–535 mg/kg suggesting some contamination by dolomite lime sources. A total of 24 meat and bone meal samples were included in the analysis and mean Ca and P concentrations were 109 and 54 g/kg respectively. However, the range of Ca and P in meat and bone meal was considerable with Ca concentrations from 51–148 g/kg and P concentrations from 26–66 g/kg. A total of 81 cereal, grain legume and cereal by-product samples were included as part of the survey and these vegetable feed ingredients contained relatively low concentrations of most minerals with Ca, P, Mg and K dominating. The K concentration of soybean meal was found to be around 23 g/kg and ranged from approximately 22–27 g/kg. In comparison, the Sr concentration in the feed ingredients was low relative to other minerals, with limestone having the highest level of strontium at 329 mg/kg. Overall those feed ingredients from a mineral origin had the highest level of Sr. In addition, meat and bone meal had a relatively high concentration of Sr (around 159 mg/kg).
A New 1.4 GHz Radio Continuum Map of the Sky South of Declination +25°
Authors: Calabretta Mark R. , Staveley-Smith Lister , Barnes David G. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractArchival data from the HI Parkes All-Sky Survey (HIPASS) and the HI Zone of Avoidance (HIZOA) survey have been carefully reprocessed into a new 1.4 GHz continuum map of the sky south of δ = +25°. The wide sky coverage, high sensitivity of 40 mK (limited by confusion), resolution of 14.4 arcmin (compared to 51 arcmin for the Haslam et al. 408 MHz and 35 arcmin for the Reich et al. 1.4 GHz surveys), and low level of artefacts make this map ideal for numerous studies, including: merging into interferometer maps to complete large-scale structures; decomposition of thermal and non-thermal emission components from Galactic and extragalactic sources; and comparison of emission regions with other frequencies. The new map is available for download.
Tidal Stability of Giant Molecular Clouds in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Authors: Thilliez E. , Maddison S. T. , Hughes A. , Wong T. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractStar formation does not occur until the onset of gravitational collapse inside giant molecular clouds. However, the conditions that initiate cloud collapse and regulate the star formation process remain poorly understood. Local processes such as turbulence and magnetic fields can act to promote or prevent collapse. On larger scales, the galactic potential can also influence cloud stability and is traditionally assessed by the tidal and shear effects.In this paper, we examine the stability of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) against shear and the galactic tide using CO data from the Magellanic Mopra Assessment (MAGMA) and rotation curve data from the literature. We calculate the tidal acceleration experienced by individual GMCs and determine the minimum cloud mass required for tidal stability. We also calculate the shear parameter, which is a measure of a cloud's susceptibility to disruption via shearing forces in the galactic disk. We examine whether there are correlations between the properties and star forming activity of GMCs and their stability against shear and tidal disruption.We find that the GMCs are in approximate tidal balance in the LMC, and that shear is unlikely to affect their further evolution. GMCs with masses close to the minimal stable mass against tidal disruption are not unusual in terms of their mass, location, or CO brightness, but we note that GMCs with large velocity dispersion tend to be more sensitive to tidal instability. We also note that GMCs with smaller radii, which represent the majority of our sample, tend to more strongly resist tidal and shear disruption. Our results demonstrate that star formation in the LMC is not inhibited by to tidal or shear instability.
Leishmania mexicanalipophosphoglycan activates ERK and p38 MAP kinase and induces production of proinflammatory cytokines in human macrophages through TLR2 and TLR4
Authors: ROJAS-BERNABÉ A. , GARCIA-HERNÁNDEZ O. , MALDONADO-BERNAL C. , DELEGADO-DOMINGUEZ J. , ORTEGA E. , GUTIÉRREZ-KOBEH L. , BECKER I. , AGUIRRE-GARCIA M. 
Published: February 2014

SUMMARYProtozoan parasites of genusLeishmaniaare the causative agents of leishmaniasis.Leishmaniapromastigotes primarily infect macrophages in the host, where they transform into amastigotes and multiply. Lipophosphoglycan (LPG), the most abundant surface molecule of the parasite, is a virulence determinant that regulates the host immune response. Promastigotes are able to modulate this effect through LPG, creating a favourable environment for parasite survival, although the mechanisms underlying this modulation remain unknown. We analysed the participation of TLR2 and TLR4 in the production of cytokines and explored the possible phosphorylation of ERK and/or p38 MAP kinase signalling cascades in human macrophages stimulated withLeishmania mexicanaLPG. The results show that LPG induced the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12p40, IL-12p70 and IL-10 and led to phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAP kinase. Specific inhibitors of ERK or p38 MAP kinases and mAbs against TLR2 and TLR4 reduced cytokine production and phosphorylation of both kinases. Our results suggest thatL. mexicanaLPG binds TLR2 and TLR4 receptors in human macrophages, leading to ERK and MAP kinase phosphorylation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Early predictive biomarkers for postpartum depression point to a role for estrogen receptor signaling
Authors: Mehta D. , Newport D. J. , Frishman G. , Kraus L. , Rex-Haffner M. , Ritchie J. C. , Lori A. , Knight B. T. , Stagnaro E. , Ruepp A. , Stowe Z. N. , Binder E. B. 
Published: February 2014

BackgroundPostpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 13% of women and has a negative impact on mother and infant, hence reliable biological tests for early detection of PPD are essential. We aimed to identify robust predictive biomarkers for PPD using peripheral blood gene expression profiles in a hypothesis-free genome-wide study in a high-risk, longitudinal cohort.MethodWe performed a genome-wide association study in a longitudinal discovery cohort comprising 62 women with psychopathology. Gene expression and hormones were measured in the first and third pregnancy trimesters and early postpartum (201 samples). The replication cohort comprised 24 women with third pregnancy trimester gene expression measures. Gene expression was measured on Illumina-Human HT12 v4 microarrays. Plasma estradiol and estriol were measured. Statistical analysis was performed in R.ResultsWe identified 116 transcripts differentially expressed between the PPD and euthymic women during the third trimester that allowed prediction of PPD with an accuracy of 88% in both discovery and replication cohorts. Within these transcripts, significant enrichment of transcripts implicated that estrogen signaling was observed and such enrichment was also evident when analysing published gene expression data predicting PPD from a non-risk cohort. While plasma estrogen levels were not different across groups, women with PPD displayed an increased sensitivity to estrogen signaling, confirming the previously proposed hypothesis of increased sex-steroid sensitivity as a susceptibility factor for PPD.ConclusionsThese results suggest that PPD can be robustly predicted in currently euthymic women as early as the third trimester and these findings have implications for predictive testing of high-risk women and prevention and treatment for PPD.
Generation and characterization of regulatory dendritic cells derived from murine induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Zhang Qi , Fujino Masayuki , Iwasaki Shizue , Hirano Hiroshi , Cai Songjie , Kitajima Yuya , Xu Jinhua , Li Xiao-Kang 
Published: February 2014

AbstractRegulatory dendritic cells (DCregs) represent a potential therapeutic tool for assessing a variety of immune overreaction conditions; however, current approaches for generating DCregs for therapeutic purposes are limited. We attempted to generate and characterize DCregs from murine induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The iPS cells co-cultured with OP9 cells displayed mesodermally differentiated flat colonies. GM-CSF drove most of the colonies exhibiting a differentiated morphology. Thereafter, cells became morphologically heterologous under the effects of TGF-β and IL-10. Most of the floating cells developed an irregular shape with areas of protrusion. The generated iPS-DCregs demonstrated high CD11b/c and low CD40, CD80, CD86 and MHC-II expressions with a high antigen uptake ability and poor T-cell stimulatory function. Importantly, iPS-DCregs showed immune responsiveness regulation effects both in vitro and in vivo and the ability to generate regulatory T-cells in vitro. Our result illustrates a feasible approach for generating functional DCregs from murine iPS cells.