bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of LC3A autophagy protein in follicular and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas
Authors: Giatromanolaki Alexandra , Koukourakis Michael I , Pouliliou Stamatia , C Gatter Kevin , Pezzella Francesco , L Harris Adrian , Sivridis Efthimios 
Published: April 2013

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Autophagy is a self-degradation mechanism induced under stress conditions in all eukaryotic cells. Its activity in human lymphomas has not been studied as yet.

METHODS:
In this study, the autophagic activity of lymphoid cells was investigated in follicular lymphomas (FL; 48 cases), diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL; 78 cases), and in reactive follicular hyperplasias (41 cases), using the light chain 3A (LC3A) antibody and a standard immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTS:
In all cases, the pattern of LC3A reactivity was uniformly diffuse cytoplasmic, but expressed more frequently in FLs (68.8%) than in DLBCLs (41%) (p = 0.02), and much more commonly in DLBCLs than in reactive lymph nodes (24.3%) (p < 0.006). Interestingly, FLs expressing LC3A in >10% of lymphoid cells (high reactivity) were associated with the hypoxia-related protein HIF1α and the enzyme of anaerobic metabolism lactate dehydrogenase LDH5 (p = 0.004 and p = 0.003, respectively). Such associations, however, were not a feature in DLBCLs of increased LC3A activity.

CONCLUSIONS:
LC3A expression in FLs is hypoxia-induced, whereas its expression in DLBCLs may be regulated by other molecular mechanisms. The current study provides a tool for further assessment of autophagic activity in translational and autophagy targeting therapy studies.
A developmental perspective on adult hippocampal neurogenesis
Authors: Encinas Juan M. , Sierra Amanda , Valcárcel‐Martín Roberto , Martín‐Suárez Soraya 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe generation of new neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs) throughout adult life in the mammalian brain is a biological process that fascinates scientists for its uniqueness and restorative potential. In the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus NSCs are able to self‐renew and generate new granule cells and astrocytes through a complex and plastic mechanism that can be regulated by endogenous and exogenous cues at different levels. Unexpected recent findings suggest that the population of NSCs is heterogeneous in morphology and behavior. We herein explore the hypothesis that NSC heterogeneity and the neurogenic potential of the DG depends on their developmental origin. We provide an up‐to‐date picture of the process of neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus with an especial focus on NSCs and outline key unsolved aspects. Further, we discuss the origin of NSCs in the adult DG from a developmental perspective and explore the possibility of NSC heterogeneity being determined from early postnatal periods and being responsible for the neurogenic output of the DG in the long term.
The value implications of restrictions on asset sales
Authors: Sibilkov Valeriy , Straska Miroslava , Waller H. Gregory 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis paper examines the effect of restrictions over asset disposition, measured by the ratio of secured debt to fixed assets, on firm value. We find evidence consistent with two non‐mutually exclusive hypotheses. (1) Restrictions on the disposition of assets reduce firm value by limiting a firm's ability to restructure assets or to raise funds to finance higher NPV projects. (2) Restrictions on asset disposition increase firm value by limiting agency costs of managerial discretion over uncommitted assets. The net effect of restrictions over asset disposition on firm value is determined by potential agency problems and the need for operating flexibility.
Financial reforms and technical efficiency in Indian commercial banking: A generalized stochastic frontier analysis
Authors: Bhattacharyya Aditi , Pal Sudeshna 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIn this study we estimate technical efficiency of Indian commercial banks from 1989 to 2009, using a multiple‐output generalized stochastic production frontier and analyze the effects of financial reforms on estimated efficiency. The generalized method estimates technical efficiency in the presence of multiple outputs, filling a gap in the existing literature. Our results show that Indian commercial banks were operating with 64% efficiency on average during the sample period. The initial phase of reform had a positive impact on while the later phase adversely affected technical efficiency of banks. Public sector banks show higher efficiency levels compared to private and foreign banks.
Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) ion channel in the pathophysiology of peripheral diabetic neuropathy
Authors: Koivisto Ari , Pertovaara Antti 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background
Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a non-selective cation channel permeable to calcium that is expressed on pain-mediating primary afferent nerve fibers. Here we review recent experimental evidence supporting the hypothesis that activation of the TRPA1 channel by reactive compounds generated in diabetes mellitus, such as 4-hydroxynonenal and methylglyoxal, exerts an important role in the pathophysiology of peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PDN). The hypothesis includes development of the early diabetic pain hypersensitivity and the later loss of cutaneous nerve endings of pain fibers and their dysfunction, which are hallmarks of peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PDN).

Methods
The evidence for a role of the TRPA1 channel in PDN consists of in vitro patch clamp and calcium imaging data and assessments of pain behavior, axon reflex measurements, and immunohistochemical analyses of cutaneous innervation in an experimental animal model of diabetes. The experiments were combined with blocking the TRPA1 channel with selective antagonists Chembridge-5861528 or A-967079.

Results

In vitro studies indicate that under physiological concentration of Ca2+, methylglyoxal and 4-hydroxynonenal produce sustained activation of the TRPA1 channel and sustained inflow of calcium. In vivo studies indicate that diabetic pain hypersensitivity is maintained by the TRPA1 channel as indicated by the antihypersensitivity effect induced by acute blocking of the TRPA1 channel. Moreover, TRPA1 channel is involved in the development of diabetic hypersensitivity as indicated by prevention of the development of pain hypersensitivity in diabetic animals treated daily with Chembridge-5861528. The diabetes-induced loss of substance P-like cutaneous innervation and that of the TRPA1 channel-mediated cutaneous axon reflex function during the later phase of diabetes were also prevented or delayed by prolonged blocking of the TRPA1 channel. No motor impairment or other obvious side-effects were observed following block of the TRPA1 channel.

Conclusions
Together the in vitro and in vivo results indicate that reactive compounds generated in diabetes exert, through action on the TRPA1 channel, an important role in the pathophysiology of PDN. Sustained activation of the TRPA1 channel is a plausible mechanism that contributes to the early diabetic pain hypersensitivity and the later loss of cutaneous pain fiber endings and their dysfunction with prolonged diabetes.

Implications
Blocking the TRPA1 channel with a selective antagonist provides a promising disease-modifying treatment for PDN, with only minor, if any, side-effects.
Seasonal density and distribution of Octopus tehuelchus in the intertidal of North Patagonia
Authors: Storero Lorena P. , Narvarte Maite A. , González Raúl A. 
Published: April 2013

The abundance and distribution of coastal cephalopods are strongly influenced by the environmental conditions. This study evaluates the seasonal distribution and density of Octopus tehuelchus in three intertidal environments of San Matías Gulf (Patagonia). To estimate and compare density and distribution, monthly transects were carried out, and analysed in relation to the coastlines obtained with satellite images. Densities of O. tehuelchus ranged between 0 and 34 individuals per transect (0–0.11 octopus m−2), and varied between sites. Islote Lobos (IL) had the highest densities (mean octopus per transect 7.32 ± 1.16) followed by El Fuerte (EF) (5.55 ± 0.94) and San Antonio Bay (SAB) (3.40 ± 0.85). Within each site, octopus densities varied between seasons. The highest densities were observed during warm months (SAB = 5.96, EF = 9.52, IL = 14.15) and the lowest during cold ones (SAB = 1.45, EF = 2.6, IL = 3.32). Octopus tehuelchus showed an aggregated spatial distribution, and the nearest neighbour value varied between 0.21 and 0.83 in SAB, 0.27 and 0.78 in EF and 0.23 and 0.53 in IL. Considering the coast lines, the distribution pattern along the intertidal varied seasonally. During warm months this species is widely distributed throughout the intertidal, from the low-tide line to 300 m (in SAB), 500 m (in EL) and 200 m (in IL). On the contrary, during cold months most individuals were found near the low-tide line. These results may be associated with the availability of shelter in the intertidal and the activity and physiology of this species.
Hyperprolactinemia in antipsychotic-naive patients with first-episode psychosis
Authors: Riecher-Rössler A. , Rybakowski J. K. , Pflueger M. O. , Beyrau R. , Kahn R. S. , Malik P. , Fleischhacker W. W. 
Published: April 2013

BackgroundHyperprolactinemia is frequent in patients with schizophrenic psychoses. It is usually regarded as an adverse effect of antipsychotics but has recently also been shown in patients without antipsychotic medication. Our objective was to test whether hyperprolactinemia occurs in antipsychotic-naive first-episode patients (FEPs).MethodIn the framework of the European First Episode Schizophrenia Trial (EUFEST), 249 out of 498 FEPs were eligible for this study, of whom 74 were antipsychotic naive. All patients were investigated regarding their serum prolactin levels with immunoassays standardized against the 3rd International Reference Standard 84/500.ResultsTwenty-nine (39%) of the 74 antipsychotic-naive patients showed hyperprolactinemia not explained by any other reason, 11 (50%) of 22 women and 18 (35%) of 52 men.ConclusionsHyperprolactinemia may be present in patients with schizophrenic psychoses independent of antipsychotic medication. It might be stress induced. As enhanced prolactin can increase dopamine release through a feedback mechanism, this could contribute to explaining how stress can trigger the outbreak of psychosis.
Examinations of Oxidation and Sulfidation of Grain Boundaries in Alloy 600 Exposed to Simulated Pressurized Water Reactor Primary Water
Authors: Schreiber D.K. , Olszta M.J. , Saxey D.W. , Kruska K. , Moore K.L. , Lozano-Perez S. , Bruemmer S.M. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractHigh-resolution characterizations of intergranular attack in alloy 600 (Ni-17Cr-9Fe) exposed to 325°C simulated pressurized water reactor primary water have been conducted using a combination of scanning electron microscopy, NanoSIMS, analytical transmission electron microscopy, and atom probe tomography. The intergranular attack exhibited a two-stage microstructure that consisted of continuous corrosion/oxidation to a depth of ~200 nm from the surface followed by discrete Cr-rich sulfides to a further depth of ~500 nm. The continuous oxidation region contained primarily nanocrystalline MO-structure oxide particles and ended at Ni-rich, Cr-depleted grain boundaries with spaced CrS precipitates. Three-dimensional characterization of the sulfidized region using site-specific atom probe tomography revealed extraordinary grain boundary composition changes, including total depletion of Cr across a several nm wide dealloyed zone as a result of grain boundary migration.
SU‐8 micromachined WR‐3 band waveguide bandpass filter with low insertion loss
Authors: Chen Q. , Shang X. , Tian Y. , Xu J. , Lancaster M.J. 
Published: April 2013

Presented is a WR‐3 band (220–325 GHz) waveguide bandpass filter, which is constructed from three offset waveguide resonators operating at TE101 mode. This directly coupled resonator filter with Chebyshev response is designed to have a centre frequency of 300 GHz, a fractional bandwidth of 3.3% and a passband return loss of 20 dB. This filter is fabricated using thick SU‐8 photoresist micromachining technique and has been tested. The measured average passband insertion loss is as low as around 0.4 dB. The measured return loss is better than 15 dB across the whole passband.
InGaSb/AlSb p‐channel HFETs with hydrogen plasma treatment
Authors: Ho Han‐Chieh , Gao Zong‐Yan , Lin Heng‐Kuang , Chiu Pei‐Chin , Hsin Yue‐Ming , Chyi Jen‐Inn 
Published: April 2013

This reported work investigates InGaSb/AlSb p‐channel HFETs with hydrogen plasma treatment. The study found that hydrogen plasma treatment can effectively shift threshold voltage from 0.47 to 0 V. A 0.2 µm gate‐length device exhibited DC performances of a maximum drain current of 61 mA/mm, and a peak gm of 83 mS/mm.
Intensity and wavelength dependence of bimolecular recombination in P3HT:PCBM solar cells: A white-light biased external quantum efficiency study
Authors: Cowan Sarah R. , Wang Jian , Yi Juan , Lee Yun-Ju , Olson Dana C. , Hsu Julia W. P. 
Published: April 2013

Bimolecular recombination is often a major photogenerated charge carrier loss mechanism in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices, resulting in lower fill factor (FF) compared to inorganic devices. The recombination parameter α can be obtained from the power law fitting of short-circuit current (Jsc) on illumination intensity (I), Jsc∝Iα, with α values less than unity taken as an indication of reduced photon-to-electron extraction efficiency and the presence of bimolecular recombination in OPV. Here, we show that this intensity-averaged measurement is inadequate. An external quantum efficiency (EQE) apparatus under constant white-light bias can be used to measure the recombination parameter (αEQE*) as a function of wavelength and carrier density (white-light intensity). Examining the dependence of α on background white-light bias intensity and excitation wavelength provides further understanding of photon-to-electron conversion loss mechanisms in P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction devices in standard and inverted architectures. In order to compare EQE and current-voltage (JV) measurements, we discuss the special case of devices exhibiting sub-linear intensity response (α &lt; 1). Furthermore, we demonstrate several important advantages of the white-light biased EQE method of measuring bimolecular recombination compared to existing methods, including sensitivity in probing intensity-dependent recombination compared to steady-state JV measurements, the correlation of αEQE* and FF in devices, elucidation of recombination mechanisms through spectral dependence of carrier loss, and the robustness of αEQE* obtained via integration over the entire absorption region. Furthermore, this technique for measuring recombination is immediately accessible to the vast majority of researchers as the EQE apparatus is ubiquitous in PV research laboratories.
Performance of United States Serologic Assays in the Diagnosis of Lyme Borreliosis Acquired in Europe
Authors: Branda John A. , Strle Franc , Strle Klemen , Sikand Nikhil , Ferraro Mary Jane , Steere Allen C. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackground.  Physicians in the United States sometimes need to evaluate a patient for suspected Lyme borreliosis (LB) who may have acquired the infection in Europe. Using serum samples from European LB patients, we compared the performance of European and US serodiagnostic tests, including newer-generation assays containing Vmp-like sequence, expressed or its C6 peptide.Methods.  The sensitivity of each assay was determined using 64 serum samples from LB patients with early or late disease manifestations who acquired the infection in Europe. Specificity was measured using 100 sera from healthy subjects from a nonendemic area.Results.  For the detection of European-acquired infection, conventional 2-tiered testing (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] followed by immunoblotting) using US assays had an overall sensitivity and specificity of 52% and 100%, compared with 81% (P = .0007) and 99% (P = 1.00) using analogous European tests. The sensitivity of a US C6 ELISA used as a stand-alone test (88% overall) was statistically comparable to that of conventional 2-tiered testing using European tests (P = .47) and was 100% specific. Similarly, an alternative 2-tiered algorithm using a standard US ELISA followed by a C6 ELISA was comparably sensitive (84% overall) compared with conventional 2-tiered testing using European assays (P = .82), and specificity remained 100%.Conclusions.  European assays outperformed analogous US assays in a conventional 2-tiered testing algorithm. However, a C6 ELISA used as a stand-alone test or in the second tier of a 2-tiered algorithm performed comparably to conventional 2-tiered testing using European assays, and can be used for evaluation of any patient, regardless of travel history.
Interacting Glutamate Receptor-Like Proteins in Phloem Regulate Lateral Root Initiation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Vincill Eric D. , Clarin Arielle E. , Molenda Jennifer N. , Spalding Edgar P. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Molecular, genetic, and electrophysiological evidence indicates that at least one of the plant Glu receptor-like molecules, GLR3.4, functions as an amino acid–gated Ca2+ channel at the plasma membrane. The aspect of plant physiology, growth, or development to which GLR3.4 contributes is an open question. Protein localization studies performed here provide important information. In roots, GLR3.4 and the related GLR3.2 protein were present primarily in the phloem, especially in the vicinity of the sieve plates. GLR3.3 was expressed in most cells of the growing primary root but was not enriched in the phloem, including the sieve plate area. GLR3.2 and GLR3.4 physically interacted with each other better than with themselves as evidenced by a biophotonic assay performed in human embryonic kidney cells and Nicotiana benthamiana leaf cells. GLR3.3 interacted poorly with itself or the other two GLRs. Mutations in GLR3.2, GLR3.4, or GLR3.2 and GLR3.4 caused the same and equally severe phenotype, namely, a large overproduction and aberrant placement of lateral root primordia. Loss of GLR3.3 did not affect lateral root primordia. These results support the hypothesis that apoplastic amino acids acting through heteromeric GLR3.2/GLR3.4 channels affect lateral root development via Ca2+ signaling in the phloem.
Perceptions of the design of voice output communication aids
Authors: Judge Simon , Townend Gillian 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundVoice output communication aids (VOCAs) are a key form of aided communication within the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). In recent years, rapid developments in technology have resulted in an explosion of devices available commercially, yet little research has been conducted into what people who use VOCAs think about them.AimsThe aim of this research was to explore the perceptions of communication aid design from the perspective of end users and AAC professionals, with the objective being to inform and influence the design of future devices.Methods & ProceduresA two‐part study was conducted: interviews were undertaken with people who use VOCAs, and questionnaires were distributed to those who use aided communication and to AAC professionals. Analysis of the interview data was carried out using a qualitative method based on framework analysis, whilst descriptive statistics were generated from the questionnaire data. Interview participants were an opportunity sample of VOCA users within a defined region of the UK. Those recruited were over the age of 12 years and able to engage in the interview process; they were identified through the caseloads of local Speech and Language Therapists specializing in AAC. The questionnaire was marketed to the AAC community throughout the UK. Respondents were self‐selecting as those using aided communication, their carers and AAC professionals.Outcomes & ResultsEighteen people participated in the interviews. Questionnaires were completed by 43 people who use aided communication and 68 AAC professionals. The data suggest that current devices are considered to be neither reliable nor durable by users and professionals. Although features given a higher importance ranking are more likely to be perceived as available, a number of important design deficits are identified by users and/or professionals. Simplicity of design (and use) and the desire for devices which support communication that is as fast and spontaneous as possible also emerge as key requirements. Synthesis of the data produced a framework with three main themes covering the range of issues which influence the successful use of a VOCA: specific aspects of the design of a device; the consideration of the wider picture around the person; and the personal context in which someone uses their device.Conclusions & ImplicationsAlthough the original aim of the project was to establish the user requirements of VOCA design, the data indicate that the characteristics of the device cannot be considered in isolation. Those factors uncovered highlight questions about whether the design of communication aids is truly effective in meeting the needs of the people who use them. Based on these data, an initial specification for future device design is proposed.