bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lumbar Spine Intervertebral Disc Gene Delivery: A Pilot Study in Lewis Rats
Authors: Damle Sheela R. , Rawlins Bernard A. , Boachie-Adjei Oheneba , Crystal Ronald G. , Hidaka Chisa , Cunningham Matthew E. 
Published: January 2013

Background Basic research toward understanding and treating disc pathology in the spine has utilized numerous animal models, with delivery of small molecules, purified factors, and genes of interest. To date, gene delivery to the rat lumbar spine has only been described utilizing genetically programmed cells in a matrix which has required partial disc excision, and expected limitation of treatment diffusion into the disc. Purpose This study was designed to develop and describe a surgical technique for lumbar spine exposure and disc space preparation, and use of a matrix-free method for gene delivery. Methods Naïve or genetically programmed isogeneic bone marrow stromal cells were surgically delivered to adolescent male Lewis rat lumbar discs, and utilizing quantitative biochemical and qualitative immunohistological assessments, the implanted cells were detected 3 days post-procedure. Results Statistically significant differences were noted for recovery of the β-galactosidase marker gene comparing delivery of naïve or labeled cells (105 cells per disc) from the site of implantation, and between delivery of 105 or 106 labeled cells per disc at the site of implantation and the adjacent vertebral body. Immunohistology confirmed that the β-galactosidase marker was detected in the adjacent vertebra bone in the zone of surgical implantation. Conclusions The model requires further testing in larger cohorts and with biologically active genes of interest, but the observations from the pilot experiments are very encouraging that this will be a useful comparative model for basic spine research involving gene or cell delivery, or other locally delivered therapies to the intervertebral disc or adjacent vertebral bodies in rats.
Large‐scale isolation of human skeletal muscle satellite cells from post‐mortem tissue and development of quantitative assays to evaluate modulators of myogenesis
Authors: Scott Ian C. , Tomlinson Wendy , Walding Andrew , Isherwood Beverley , Dougall Iain G. 
Published: January 2013

BackgroundDuring aging, there is a decreased ability to maintain skeletal muscle mass and function (sarcopenia). Such changes in skeletal muscle are also co‐morbidities of diseases including cancer, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The loss of muscle mass results in decreased strength and exercise tolerance and reduced ability to perform daily activities. Pharmacological agents addressing these pathologies could have significant clinical impact, but their identification requires understanding of mechanisms driving myotube formation (myogenesis) and atrophy and provision of relevant assays. The aim of this study was to develop robust in vitro methods to study human myogenesis.MethodsSatellite cells were isolated by digestion of post‐mortem skeletal muscle and selection using anti‐CD56 MicroBeads. CD56+ cell‐derived myotubes were quantified by high content imaging of myosin heavy chains. TaqMan‐polymerase chain reaction arrays were used to quantify expression of 41 selected genes during differentiation. The effects of activin receptor agonists and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) on myogenesis and gene expression were characterised.ResultsLarge‐scale isolation of CD56+ cells enabled development of a quantitative myogenesis assay with maximal myotube formation 3 days after initiating differentiation. Gene expression analysis demonstrated expression of 19 genes changed substantially during myogenesis. TNFα and activin receptor agonists inhibited myogenesis and downregulated gene expression of muscle transcription factors, structural components and markers of oxidative phenotype, but only TNFα increased expression of pro‐inflammatory markers.ConclusionsWe have developed methods for large‐scale isolation of satellite cells from muscle and quantitative assays for studying human myogenesis. These systems may prove useful as part of a screening cascade designed to identify therapeutic agents for improving muscle function.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13539‐012‐0097‐z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Tree-ring-based reconstructions of North American glacier mass balance through the Little Ice Age — Contemporary warming transition
Authors: Malcomb Nathan L. , Wiles Gregory C. 
Published: January 2013

AbstractGlacier mass-balance reconstructions provide a means of placing relatively short observational records into a longer-term context. In western North America, mass-balance records span four to five decades and capture a relatively narrow window of glacial behavior over an interval that was dominated by warming and ablation. We use temperature- and moisture-sensitive tree-ring series to reconstruct annual mass balance for six glaciers in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Mass-balance models rely on the climatic sensitivity of tree-ring chronologies and teleconnection patterns in the North Pacific. The reconstructions extend through the mid to latter portions of the Little Ice Age (LIA) and explore the role of climate variability in forcing mass balance across multiple environmental gradients. Synchronous positive mass-balance intervals coincide with regional moraine building and solar minima, whereas differences in LIA glacier behavior are related to synoptic climate forcing. Secular warming in the late 19th century to present corresponds with the only multi-decadal intervals of negative mass balance in all glacier reconstructions. This suggests that contemporary retreat in western North America is unique with respect to the last several centuries and that regional patterns of glacier variability are now dominated by global climate forcing.
Carbohydrate quality is not associated with liver enzyme activity and plasma TAG and HDL concentrations over 5 years in an older population
Authors: Goletzke Janina , Buyken Anette E. , Gopinath Bamini , Rochtchina Elena , Barclay Alan W. , Cheng Guo , Brand-Miller Jennie C. , Mitchell Paul 
Published: January 2013

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with insulin resistance and obesity. Hence, carbohydrate quality could be of relevance to the risk of NAFLD, but prospective data are lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate longitudinal associations between carbohydrate quality (including dietary glycaemic index (GI) and intakes of sugar, starch and fibre) and markers of liver function in an older Australian population. The analysis was based on 866 participants ( ≥ 49 years) of the Blue Mountains Eye Study with fasting blood specimens and dietary intake data at baseline and 5-year follow-up. Multi-level mixed regression analysis was used to relate dietary GI and sugar, starch and fibre intake to the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), as well as fasting TAG and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). After adjustment for potential confounding factors, a lower fibre intake was cross-sectionally related to higher GGT (P= 0·02) and fasting TAG (P= 0·002) levels, with fruit fibre being the most relevant fibre source (P= 0·095 for GGT; P= 0·003 for TAG). A higher dietary GI was associated with lower HDL-C (P= 0·046). Changes in carbohydrate quality during 5 years were not related to changes in ALT, GGT, TAG or HDL-C (P≥ 0·08). In conclusion, the absence of longitudinal associations between carbohydrate quality and liver enzymes and serum lipids in this older population does not support a major role of carbohydrate nutrition in liver function among the elderly.
Gait generation via unified learning optimal control of Hamiltonian systems
Authors: Satoh Satoshi , Fujimoto Kenji , Hyon Sang-Ho 
Published: January 2013

SUMMARYThis paper proposes a repetitive control type optimal gait generation framework by executing learning control and parameter tuning. We propose a learning optimal control method of Hamiltonian systems unifying iterative learning control (ILC) and iterative feedback tuning (IFT). It allows one to simultaneously obtain an optimal feedforward input and tuning parameter for a plant system, which minimizes a given cost function. In the proposed method, a virtual constraint by a potential energy prevents a biped robot from falling. The strength of the constraint is automatically mitigated by the IFT part of the proposed method, according to the progress of trajectory learning by the ILC part.
First reported case of fatal tuberculosis in a wild African elephant with past human–wildlife contact
Authors: OBANDA V. , POGHON J. , YONGO M. , MULEI I. , NGOTHO M. , WAITITU K. , MAKUMI J. , GAKUYA F. , OMONDI P. , SORIGUER R. C. , ALASAAD S. 
Published: January 2013

SUMMARYTuberculosis is emerging/re-emerging in captive elephant populations, where it causes morbidity and deaths, although no case of TB in wild African elephants has been reported. In this paper we report the first case of fatal TB in an African elephant in the wild. The infection withMycobacterium tuberculosiswas confirmed by post-mortem and histological examinations of a female sub-adult elephant aged >12 years that died in Tsavo East National Park, Kenya, while under treatment. This case is unique in that during its lifetime the elephant had contact with both humans and wild elephants. The source of the infection was unclear because the elephant could have acquired the infection in the orphanage or in the wild. However, our results show that wild elephants can maintain human TB in the wild and that the infection can be fatal.
Peer Relationships of Children with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Yeates Keith Owen , Gerhardt Cynthia A. , Bigler Erin D. , Abildskov Tracy , Dennis Maureen , Rubin Kenneth H. , Stancin Terry , Taylor H. Gerry , Vannatta Kathryn 
Published: January 2013

AbstractThis study examined peer relationships in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) relative to children with orthopedic injuries (OI), and explored whether differences in peer relationships correlated with white matter volumes. Classroom procedures were used to elicit peer perceptions of social behavior, acceptance, and friendships for eighty-seven 8- to 13-year-old children, 15 with severe TBI, 40 with complicated mild/moderate TBI, and 32 with OI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) were used to investigate volumetric correlates of peer relationship measures. Children with severe TBI were rated higher in rejection-victimization than children with OI, and were less likely than children with OI to have a mutual friendship in their classroom (47% vs. 88%). Children with TBI without a mutual friend were rated lower than those with a mutual friend on sociability-popularity and prosocial behavior and higher on rejection-victimization, and had lower peer acceptance ratings. Mutual friendship ratings were related to white matter volumes in several posterior brain regions, but not to overall brain atrophy. Severe TBI in children is associated with detrimental peer relationships that are related to focal volumetric reductions in white matter within regions of the brain involved in social information-processing. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–10)
Low noise amplifier for radio astronomy
Authors: Smith David M.P. , Bakker Laurens , Witvers Roel H. , Woestenburg Bert E.M. , Palmer Keith D. 
Published: January 2013

A compact, microstrip, two-stage, room temperature, single-ended low noise amplifier (LNA) is designed using commercial components for Aperture Tile in Focus (APERTIF), a square kilometre array (SKA) pathfinder project. Various techniques are investigated to insert inductance between the source pad of the package and the ground plane of the printed circuit board (PCB), with the chosen design able to do this using standard manufacturing techniques. The desired noise temperature of 25 K (noise figure (NF) of 0.36 dB) is met over the 1.0–1.8 GHz band, with an input return loss better than 10 dB.
OCDMA receiver with built‐in all‐optical clock recovery
Authors: Idris S.K. , Osadola T.B. , Glesk I. 
Published: January 2013

A receiver that incorporates an all‐optical clock recovery approach for synchronisation suitable for use in incoherent OCDMA transmission is demonstrated. The developed solution was implemented and tested in a multiuser environment using the 2D‐WHTS coding scheme on incoherent OCDMA transmission with 2.5 Gbit/s data rate. The receiver with built‐in all‐optical clock recovery was tested by taking the BER for the received data when synchronised with the all‐optically recovered clock from the incoming OCDMA traffic and when an RF synthesiser was used to the generate the clock. Improvement of ∼7.5 dBm was observed with the all‐optical clock recovery approach. The related eye diagrams and the wavelength spectrum were also recorded.
Wideband and compact quasi‐Yagi antenna integrated with balun of microstrip to slotline transitions
Authors: Nguyen P. T. , Abbosh A. , Crozier S. 
Published: January 2013

A wideband quasi‐Yagi antenna utilising a microstrip‐to‐coplanar stripline balun is presented. The antenna is designed to be compact, directional and wideband so that it can be used to form a circular array for a microwave imaging system. The feeding structure of the antenna includes an ultra‐wideband balun that is formed using a pair of microstrip to slotline transitions. The simulated and measured results of the proposed antenna indicate more than 70% fractional bandwidth with more than 10 dB return loss, more than 18 dB front‐to‐back ratio and around 4 dBi gain.
Monolithic patch antenna for dedicated short‐range communications
Authors: Leonardi O. , Pavone M. , Cadili T. , Sorbello G. , Isernia T. 
Published: January 2013

Dedicated short‐range communications (DSRCs) is a novel short‐ to medium‐range wireless protocol designed for automotive use. The DSRC signals are circularly polarised and allocated in the 5.8 GHz band. Described is the development of a monolithic and compact patch antenna with left‐hand circular polarisation intended for the on‐board unit equipment of a DSRC system. The 40×60×2.455 mm fabricated prototype exhibits a circularly‐polarised gain of about 5.52 dBc with a cross‐polar discrimination of about 20 dB.
Inverse triangular‐shape CPW‐fed antenna loaded with EBG reflector
Authors: Alam M.S. , Islam M.T. , Misran N. 
Published: January 2013

A new compact dual wideband CPW‐fed inverse triangular‐shape antenna is presented. The lower and upper bands are widened from 68.76 and 18.33% to 96.23 and 28.7%, respectively, using a triangular patch‐trapezoidal ground combination. The antenna performance is further enhanced by backing it with a dual‐band uni‐planar EBG reflector. The final design has been prototyped and measured. It sufficiently covers the frequency bands 1.5–5.63 GHz and 9.52–13.06 GHz with enhanced gain up to 5.2 dB. The radiation efficiency is improved to approximately 72%.
Experimental demonstration of high throughput, ultra‐low delay variation packet/circuit fusion network
Authors: Veisllari R. , Bjornstad S. , Hjelme D.R. 
Published: January 2013

Delay and packet delay variation are key parameters for real‐time applications and packet‐layer synchronisation. Demonstrated is an Ethernet integrated hybrid network enabling adding packet‐traffic to a 10 Gbit/s Ethernet circuit without impacting packet‐traffic delay, delay variation or packet loss. A scheduling algorithm increasing the throughput efficiency of integrated hybrid networks is demonstrated.
The Effects of Fresh Eggs, Egg White, and Egg Yolk, Separately and in Combination with Salt, on Mixogram Properties
Authors: Van Steertegem Bénédicte , Pareyt Bram , Brijs Kristof , Delcour Jan A. 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTSalt and eggs are common ingredients in some wheat flour‐based food systems and significantly impact dough mixing behavior. We evaluated the effect of either whole eggs, egg white, or egg yolk on dough formation and properties with the Mixograph. Inclusion of whole eggs in wheat flour dough recipes increased dough development time, dough stability, and dough strength upon further mixing less than inclusion of only egg white. In contrast, egg yolk addition decreased all of these parameters. Salt had a more pronounced impact on dough containing egg yolk than on dough containing egg white. The present observations can be explained in terms of shielding charges of the gluten protein's ionized groups, which largely affects dough mixing behavior. The work demonstrates that in some applications it can be useful to use egg fractions rather than whole eggs.
Mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles: A new material for biolistic bombardment
Authors: Hou Liyuan , Wang Pengyu , Kong Fantao , Park Hyunsun , Kobiro Kazuya , Ohama Takeshi 
Published: January 2013

SummaryTo date, only solid heavy metals such as gold or tungsten have been used as DNA carriers in biolistic bombardment of algae. In this study, we show that even a metal oxide of lower density can act as a DNA carrier. We investigated the potency of size‐controlled mesoporous titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles. Among the six tested gas pressures, TiO2 particles best facilitated transformation of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at 1100 psi (approximately 7.6 MPa) and 2000 psi (approximately 14 MPa). Surprisingly, a mesoporous metal oxide with a density of approximately only one‐tenth that of gold or tungsten could be effective as a DNA carrier in biolistic bombardment of a rigid cell wall‐containing alga. In addition, we found two peaks of gas pressures in the transformation ratio irrespective of whether the particles were made of gold, tungsten, or TiO2.
The Roles of Saving, Investment and the Renminbi in Rebalancing the Chinese Economy
Authors: Ma Guonan , McCauley Robert , Lam Lillie 
Published: January 2013

AbstractChina's current account surplus widened from the late 1990s, and its private consumption fell to one third of gross domestic product (GDP). We examine these domestic and external imbalances from two perspectives: the saving‐investment balance and the effective renminbi exchange rate. China's large external surplus has arisen neither from anaemic consumption nor from weak investment but rather from the saved windfalls from favorable demographics, market liberalization, robust restructuring and World Trade Organization (WTO) accession. Looking ahead, as these windfalls fade, saving will subside. The exchange rate is already playing a supporting role in rebalancing the Chinese economy, and the real effective exchange rate based on unit labor costs has appreciated very sharply. Prospective savings‐investment and exchange‐rate developments point to a higher consumption share and a narrowing of China's current account surplus.
Planktonic foraminifer biostratigraphy as a tool in constraining the timing of flysch deposition: Gurnigel flysch, Voirons massif (Haute‐Savoie, France)
Authors: Ospina‐ostios Lina M. , Ragusa Jérémy , Wernli Roland , Kindler Pascal 
Published: January 2013

AbstractNew biostratigraphic, sedimentological and petrographic data and a thorough review of existing literature modify existing knowledge on the age, the sedimentology, the petrography and the palaeogeographic origin of the Gurnigel flysch from the Voirons massif (Haute Savoie, France). Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy assigns the flysch to the upper Middle Eocene (zones P12 to P14) through to Lower Oligocene (zones P16 to P20) stages. This result contrasts with previous work, which assigned the unit to the Lower Palaeocene to upper Middle Eocene on the basis of calcareous nannofossil and dinoflagellate assemblages. The following findings suggest that the Voirons massif comprises several stacked flysch units that do not have exactly the same palaeogeographic origin: (i) the occurrence of flysch exposures in reverse stratigraphic order combined with the lack of evidence for bed overturning; (ii) the variability of palaeo‐depositional settings inferred from different flysch outcrops of similar age; (iii) the differences in the heavy mineral content; and (iv) the anomalous superimposition of distal turbidites and/or basinal contourites (Saxel Marls) over proximal turbidites (Vouan Conglomerates). The young age of these kilometre‐sized flysch slices precludes their hitherto postulated locus of deposition in the South‐Penninic Ocean, and rather indicates a provenance from the Ultrahelvetic and/or North‐Penninic (Valais) palaeogeographical domains. Finally, none of the nannofossil assemblages are contemporaneous with the observed planktonic foraminifera associations, suggesting that they have been reworked, dissolved, or just simply diluted and not found by earlier researchers. This study from the Voirons massif shows that planktonic foraminifera associations are a highly reliable biostratigraphic tool for obtaining accurate ages of flysch successions.
Sulfatide Attenuates Experimental Staphylococcus aureus Sepsis through a CD1d-Dependent Pathway
Authors: Kwiecinski Jakub , Rhost Sara , Löfbom Linda , Blomqvist Maria , Månsson Jan Eric , Cardell Susanna L. , Jin Tao 
Published: January 2013

ABSTRACTNatural killer T (NKT) lymphocytes are implicated in the early response to microbial infection. Further, sulfatide, a myelin self-glycosphingolipid, activates a type II NKT cell subset and can modulate disease in murine models. We examined the role of NKT cells and the effect of sulfatide treatment in a murine model ofStaphylococcus aureussepsis. The lack of CD1d-restricted NKT cells did not alter survival after a lethal inoculum ofS. aureus. In contrast, sulfatide treatment significantly improved the survival rate of mice withS. aureussepsis, accompanied by decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 in the blood. The protective effect of sulfatide treatment depended on CD1d but not on type I NKT cells, suggesting that activation of type II NKT cells by sulfatide has beneficial effects on the outcome ofS. aureussepsis in this model.
While We Were Sleeping: From Dystopia to Global Awakening
Authors: Abney-Korn Karen , Cassiman Shawn , Fleetham Dana 
Published: January 2013

AbstractActivists and academics have been sounding the alarms for years: climate change, globalization, capitalism, human rights abuses, and more. The alarms appeared to fall upon the deaf ears of the slumbering “multitude.” The Arab Spring, European movements, global and local attacks upon labor, and the Occupy Wall Street movement have awakened us from a slumber reliant upon vacuous media, consumption, alienation and isolationism. In shattering this spell, Occupy Wall Street has called us into the streets in record numbers, opening space for a newopportunity to imagine. Some scholars argue, “. . . we need Marxism to understand the structure of society and anarchism to prefigure or anticipate a new society” (Lynd and Grubacic 2008:xiii). We agree. In this article, we employ a local Occupy case study to briefly discuss 1) the historical contributions to Occupy Wall Street, 2) and to argue that it is precisely the opportunity to imagine, to anticipate, to challenge the “real” that holds the most promise for the development, and future, of the Occupy Wall Street movement.