bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of Voriconazole Concentrations in Serum by GC‐MS
Authors: Smith Alisha , Leung‐Pineda Van 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundVoriconazole is a broad spectrum triazole antifungal drug used to treat systemic fungal infections. Therapeutic drug monitoring of voriconazole is necessary for achieving maximal efficiency without inducing toxic side effects. Other publications have reported methods for measuring voriconazole in serum using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Here, we report for the first time a method for the measurement of voriconazole in serum samples using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC‐MS).MethodsProtein precipitation with methanol was used to extract the antifungal that was derivatized with BSTFA (Sigma‐Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) and analyzed by GC‐MS. Linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and drug interferences were evaluated for this assay.ResultsOur method was linear up to 10 μg/ml of voriconazole. The LOQ was determined to be 0.4 μg/ml. CV for between‐day precision was <12%. Correlation with an established LC‐MS/MS yielded a R2 of 0.96. Tested drugs did not result in >10% error in measurement.ConclusionTo our knowledge, we report here the first GC‐MS method for voriconazole measurement with acceptable performance. We hope that this method allows clinical laboratories without HPLC or LC‐MS/MS instrumentation to measure voriconazole.
Loop‐Mediated Isothermal Amplification as a Fast Noninvasive Method of Helicobacter pylori Diagnosis
Authors: Yari Farideh , Abiri Ramin , Aryan Ehsan , Ahmadi Jouybari Touraj , Navabi Jafar , Alvandi Amirhooshang 
Published: September 2015

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori infection is etiologically associated with some important health problems such as gastric cancer. Because of the high clinical importance of H. pylori infection, development of a noninvasive test for the detection of H. pylori is desirable.MethodsIn this study, a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) targeted ureC of H. pylori was evaluated on 100 stool specimens and compared with a stool antigen test. Culture and rapid urease test were considered as gold standards.ResultsThe overall detection rate of the fecal antigen test and LAMP was 58% and 82%, respectively. The analytical sensitivity of the fecal antigen test and LAMP was 500 and 10 H. pylori cells/g and 10 fg DNA/reaction, which is equal to six H. pylori genome.ConclusionLAMP technique has been characterized by high sensitivity and low detection limit for the detection of H. pylori in stool specimen. Clinical diagnostic performance of LAMP was better than the stool antigen test.
Functional mechanics of beetle mandibles: Honest signaling in a sexually selected system
Authors: Mills Maria R. , Nemri Rahmi S. , Carlson Emily A. , Wilde William , Gotoh Hiroki , Lavine Laura C. , Swanson Brook O. 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTMale stag beetles possess colossal mandibles, which they wield in combat to obtain access to females. As with many other sexually selected weapons, males with longer mandibles win more fights. However, variation in the functional morphology of these structures, used in male‐male combat, is less well understood. In this study, mandible bite force, gape, structural strength, and potential tradeoffs are examined across a wide size range for one species of stag beetle, Cyclommatus metallifer. We found that not only does male mandible size demonstrate steep positive allometry, but the shape, relative bite force, relative gape, and safety factor of the mandibles also change with male size. Allometry in these functionally important mandibular traits suggests that larger males with larger mandibles should be better fighters, and that the mandibles can be considered an honest signal of male fighting ability. However, negative allometry in mandible structural safety factor, wing size, and flight muscle mass suggest significant costs and a possible limit on the size of the mandibles. J. Exp. Zool. 325A:3–12, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Immunodetection of telomerase‐like immunoreactivity in normal and regenerating tail of amphibians suggests it is related to their regenerative capacity
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTThe high regenerative power of amphibians suggests that numerous signaling pathways remain active in larvae and adult tissues, including those stimulated by telomerases. The protein component of Telomerase (TERT) shows high amino acid homology in numerous vertebrates and we have utilized an antibody made for a lizard telomerase to detect a putative telomerase in amphibians tissues based on 60–75% epitope identity. Western blotting studies indicate that telomerase is constitutionally present in normal and regenerating tails of tadpoles of the anuran Rana dalmatina. In the neotenic urodele Ambystoma mexicanum the enzyme is detectable in the normal tail and increases during tail regeneration. Immunofluorescence shows that telomerase is localized in both epidermal and mesenchymal cells of normal and regenerating tail of A. mexicanum, especially in their nuclei. The ultrastructural localization with gold or gold–silver intensified confirms that telomerase is mainly present in the nucleus, in particular in discrete regions of the nucleoplasm identified as Cajal bodies and in the nucleolus, sites known in mammalian cells to be involved in the processing of the enzyme. Telomerases are present in normal and even more in regenerating tissues, and are possibly implicated in the numerous cell replications needed for physiological or post‐amputation tissue regeneration in amphibians. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 757–766, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multi‐lineage potential research of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from Bama miniature pig
Authors: Bai Chunyu , Chen Shuming , Gao Yuhua , Shan Zhiqiang , Guan Weijun , Ma Yuehui 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTBone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are easy to obtain and thought to be ideal candidate cells for reconstruction of tissues and organs. Pigs are an appropriate animal model because their physiological structure, organ size, nutritional metabolism, and pathological reactions are similar to those of humans. In this study, bone marrow was collection from Bama miniature pigs to isolate BMSCs (B‐BMSCs) by whole bone marrow culture method. We then examined their biological characteristics such as growth kinetics, surface antigen, and multi‐lineage potential. B‐BMSCs could be cultured for 36 passages in vitro. Growth kinetics and colony forming assay analyses indicated that B‐BMSCs had a strong capacity for self‐renewal in vitro and their proliferation rate appeared to decrease with passaging. These findings were supported by the animal cytophysiology in vitro. Surface antigen detection showed that B‐BMSCs expressed CD29, CD44, CD71, CD73, and CD90, but not the endothelial cell marker CD31 or hematopoietic cell‐specific marker CD34. This result was consistent with the characteristics of B‐BMSCs. Furthermore, under appropriate conditions for multidirectional differentiation, B‐BMSCs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes, osteoblasts, neuron‐like cells, islet cells, liver‐like cells, and endothelial cells as indicated by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and immunofluorescence. These results verified the differentiation potential of B‐BMSCs. In this study, B‐BMSCs were isolated from Bama miniature pigs, and the self‐renewal ability and differential potential was evaluated in vitro. The present study has important bearing on the potential application of B‐BMSCs as a stem cell source for regenerative therapies. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 671–685, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Indirect relativistic bridge and substituent effects from the ‘heavy’ environment on the one‐bond and two‐bond 13C1H spin–spin coupling constants
Authors: Rusakova Irina L. , Rusakov Yury Yu. , Krivdin Leonid B. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIndirect relativistic bridge effect (IRBE) and indirect relativistic substituent effect (IRSE) induced by the ‘heavy’ environment of the IV‐th, V‐th and VI‐th main group elements on the one‐bond and geminal 13C1H spin–spin coupling constants are observed, and spin‐orbit parts of these two effects were interpreted in terms of the third‐order Rayleigh–Schrödinger perturbation theory. Both effects, IRBE and IRSE, rapidly increase with the total atomic charge of the substituents at the coupled carbon. The accumulation of IRSE for geminal coupling constants is not linear with respect to the number of substituents in contrast to the one‐bond couplings where IRSE is an essentially additive quantity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical modelling of railway ballast at the particle scale
Authors: Ahmed Sharif , Harkness John , Le Pen Louis , Powrie William , Zervos Antonis 
Published: September 2015

SummaryThe paper describes the development of a technique to simulate triaxial tests on specimens of railway ballast numerically at the particle scale and its validation with reference to physical test data. The ballast particles were modelled using potential particles and the well‐known discrete element method. The shapes of these elemental particles, the particle size distribution and the number of particles (N = 2800) in each numerical triaxial specimen all matched closely to the real ballast material being modelled. Confining pressures were applied to the specimen via a dynamic triangulation of the outer particle centroids. A parametric study was carried out to investigate the effects on the simulation of timestep, strain rate, damping, contact stiffness and inter‐particle friction. Finally, a set of parameters was selected that provided the best fit to experimental triaxial data, with very close agreement of mobilized friction and volumetric strain behaviour. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical implementation and validation of a consistently homogenized higher order plasticity model
Authors: Poh L. H. , Phan V. T. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryA homogenization theory was developed earlier that starts with a meso‐scale gradient plasticity model at the bottom and recovers a macroscopically continuous micromorphic model at the top. Through the scale transition framework, the granular mechanics are smeared consistently over a single grain such that the fine scale properties, microstructural length scale (l), and grain size (L) manifest themselves naturally in the homogenized relations, a point of departure from many continuous higher order theories that assume the constitutive relations a priori. This paper elaborates on the numerical implementation of the homogenized model and benchmark its performance through a plane indentation example against detailed numerical simulations. For the two limiting cases of microfree and microhard condition at grain boundaries, the excellent predictive capability of the homogenized model is demonstrated for a range of l/L ratios, at a significantly lower computational cost. It is furthermore highlighted that a more realistic response at grain boundaries can be achieved easily in the homogenized model, by changing the interfacial resistance parameter. In contrast, a non‐trivial numerical treatment is required at the grain boundaries with meso‐scale models. Finally, the homogenized model is shown to perform well even in the absence of a strong scale separation between meso and macro. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Isotopic Perspective on Animal Husbandry at the Xinzhai Site During the Initial Stage of the Legendary Xia Dynasty (2070–1600 BC)
Authors: Dai L. L. , Li Z. P. , Zhao C. Q. , Yuan J. , Hou L. L. , Wang C. S. , Fuller B. T. , Hu Y. W. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractLocated in the Central Plains of China, the early Xia Dynasty site of Xinzhai (2050 BC–1750 BC) with large archaeological features and exquisite artifacts of jade and copper is pivotal for probing the origin and formation of Chinese civilisation. Here, stable isotope ratios analysis, supplemented by zooarchaeological results, was used to investigate the exploitation and management of animals utilised by humans. It was demonstrated that a diverse pattern of animal raising and exploitation was present at the Xinzhai site. The domestic pigs were fed with substantial amounts of millets or their byproducts to guarantee a food source for the dietary demands of the humans. Dogs were also found to have consumed large amounts of C4 protein sources, likely in the form of human food scraps or leftovers. The domestic herbivores, sheep and cattle, showed different dietary characteristics in that the former mainly grazed in the natural environment, while the latter species were fed with large amounts of C4 products. This intra‐species variation was somewhat related to their physiological characteristics but seems to have been more determined by their different status in social and ritual activities. Thus, this research at Xinzhai provides a glimpse of the organisation of animal resources during the initial formation of Chinese civilisation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electronic Property Modulation of One‐Dimensional Extended Graphdiyne Nanowires from a First‐Principle Crystal Orbital View
Authors: Zhu Ying , Bai Hongcun , Huang Yuanhe 
Published: September 2015

AbstractGraphdiyne and derivatives with delocalized π‐electron systems are of particular interest owing to their structural, electronic, and transport properties, which are important for potential applications in next‐generation electronics. Inspired by recently obtained extended graphdiyne nanowires, explorations of the modulation of the band gap and carrier mobility of this new species are still needed before application in device fabrication. To provide a deeper understanding of these issues, herein we present theoretical studies of one‐dimensional extended graphdiyne nanowires using first‐principle calculations. Modulation of the electronic properties of the extended graphdiyne nanowire was investigated systemically by considering several chemical and physical factors, including electric field, chemical functionalization, and carbo‐merization. The band gap was observed to increase upon application of an electric field parallel to the plane of the synthesized graphdiyne nanowire in a non‐periodic direction. Although chemical functionalization and carbo‐merization caused the band gaps to decrease, the semiconducting property of the nanowires was preserved. Band gap engineering of the extended graphdiyne nanowires was explored regarding the field strength and the number of −C≡C− units in the carbon chain fragments. The charge carrier mobility of chemically functionalized and carbo‐merized extended graphdiyne nanowires was also calculated to provide a comparison with pristine nanowire. Moreover, crystal orbital analysis was performed in order to discern the electronic and charge transport properties of the extended graphdiyne nanowires modified by the aforementioned chemical and physical factors.
Bayesian estimation of the accuracy of ICD‐9‐CM‐ and CPT‐4‐based algorithms to identify cholecystectomy procedures in administrative data without a reference standard
Authors: Jafarzadeh S. Reza , Warren David K. , Nickel Katelin B. , Wallace Anna E. , Fraser Victoria J. , Olsen Margaret A. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractPurposeTo estimate the accuracy of two algorithms to identify cholecystectomy procedures using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT‐4) codes in administrative data.MethodsPrivate insurer medical claims for 30 853 patients 18–64 years with an inpatient hospitalization between 2006 and 2010, as indicated by providers/facilities place of service in addition to room and board charges, were cross‐classified according to the presence of codes for cholecystectomy. The accuracy of ICD‐9‐CM‐ and CPT‐4‐based algorithms was estimated using a Bayesian latent class model.ResultsThe sensitivity and specificity were 0.92 [probability interval (PI): 0.92, 0.92] and 0.99 (PI: 0.97, 0.99) for ICD‐9‐CM‐, and 0.93 (PI: 0.92, 0.93) and 0.99 (PI: 0.97, 0.99) for CPT‐4‐based algorithms, respectively. The parallel‐joint scheme, where positivity of either algorithm was considered a positive outcome, yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 0.99 (PI: 0.99, 0.99) and 0.97 (PI: 0.95, 0.99), respectively.ConclusionsBoth ICD‐9‐CM‐ and CPT‐4‐based algorithms had high sensitivity to identify cholecystectomy procedures in administrative data when used individually and especially in a parallel‐joint approach. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Critical Evaluation of the Updated Evidence for Casting for Equinus Deformity in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Tustin Kylee , Patel Anita 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackground and PurposeEquinus deformity is common in ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP). Although lower leg casting is frequently used, the physiological basis for casting and effects beyond range of motion (ROM) gains are unclear. This review critically evaluates the updated evidence for casting in the management of ankle equinus in children with CP.MethodsComprehensive searches were conducted using electronic databases AMED, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, PEDro and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, publication years 2005–2014, in order to identify literature published since an earlier comprehensive systematic review. Only studies evaluating lower leg casting for conservative management of equinus deformity in children with CP were considered. Two independent raters critically appraised studies against the hierarchy of levels of evidence and rigour of study conduct questions proposed by the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine's methodology for systematic review.ResultsFour relevant systematic reviews were identified, although these largely concerned earlier literature. Five original studies were included, all demonstrating improvement in dorsiflexion ROM. Combined treatment with botulinum toxin and casting offered greater and/or more sustained ROM gains than botulinum toxin alone in three studies. Effects on gait parameters and motor function were inconsistent. Participation outcomes were not evaluated. Methodological limitations make firm conclusions difficult.ConclusionsRecent years have offered little progress in the state of evidence for casting in the management of equinus deformity. Casting appears to offer at least short‐term improvement in ankle dorsiflexion, although the proposition that this improves function or avoids surgery is not well substantiated. Future research needs to ensure more robust study design and broader evaluation across domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to determine the functional and long‐term effect of casting for equinus deformity. Greater knowledge is required of the effect of casting on muscle structure and function in spastic CP. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Toxicity of Lavandula angustifolia oil constituents and spray formulations to insecticide‐susceptible and pyrethroid‐resistant Plutella xylostella and its endoparasitoid Cotesia glomerata
Authors: Yi Chang Geun , Hieu Tran Trung , Lee Si Hyeock , Choi Byeoung‐Ryeol , Kwon Min , Ahn Young‐Joon 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBACKGROUNDPlutella xylostella is one of the most serious insect pests of cruciferous crops. This study was conducted to determine the toxicity of 21 constituents from Lavandula angustifolia essential oil (LA‐EO) and another 16 previously known LA‐EO constituents and the toxicity of six experimental spray formulations containing the oil (1–6 g L−1 sprays) to susceptible KS‐PX and pyrethroid‐resistant JJ‐PX P. xylostella larvae, as well as to its endoparasitoid Cotesia glomerata adults.RESULTSLinalool and linalool oxide (LC50 = 0.016 mg cm−3) were the most toxic fumigant compounds and were 10.7‐fold less toxic than dichlorvos to KS‐PX larvae. Either residual or fumigant toxicity of these compounds was almost identical against larvae from either of the two strains. Against C. glomerata, dichlorvos (LC50 = 7 × 10−6 mg cm−3) was the most toxic insecticide. LA‐EO was ∼1430 times less toxic than dichlorvos. The oil applied as 6 g L−1 spray and emamectin benzoate 21.5 g L−1 emulsifiable concentrate provided 100% mortality against larvae from either of the two strains.CONCLUSIONReasonable P. xylostella control in greenhouses can be achieved by a spray formulation containing the 6 g L−1 oil as potential contact‐action fumigant. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Comparing Short‐ and Long‐Term Learning Effects Between Stereoscopic and Two‐Dimensional Film at a Planetarium
Authors: PRICE C. AARON , LEE HEE‐SUN , SUBBARAO MARK , KASAL EVAN , AGUILERA JULIETA 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTScience centers such as museums and planetariums have used stereoscopic (“three‐dimensional”) films to draw interest from and educate their visitors for decades. Despite the fact that most adults who are finished with their formal education get their science knowledge from such free‐choice learning settings very little is known about the effect of stereoscopic film presentation on their science learning. We explored this issue by designing a quasi‐experimental field trial with a short film about the shape of the Milky Way galaxy. The film was produced based on a set of stereoscopic design principles derived from spatial cognition and cognitive load literature with the goal of lowering the audience's extraneous cognitive load. The film was randomly shown in either two‐dimensional (2D) or stereoscopic format to 498 adults who visited a large, urban planetarium. To investigate the extent of audience's change related to galaxy‐related spatial concepts, an identical set of questions was asked on iPads before and after the film was shown. A delayed posttest was given to 123 of those adults approximately 6 months later. Test performances were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of covariances (ANCOVAs) with demographic and spatial visualization ability measures as covariates. Results show identical short‐term learning gains in both the 2D and stereoscopic groups. However, only the stereoscopic group exhibited long‐term learning gains. Findings were interpreted through the lenses of cognitive load theory and the limited capacity model of mediated message processing.
Pruned nodes in ternary key tree during batch rekeying in group key agreement for cognitive radio ad hoc networks
Authors: Renugadevi N , Mala C 
Published: September 2015

AbstractCognitive radio networks need stringent and secure group communication as nodes dynamically access the free portions of radio frequency spectrum to solve the spectrum scarcity in wireless networks. The cognitive radio ad hoc networks can use group key agreement to achieve security in group communication and tree topology to organize the group members in order to reduce the complexity of group operations. This paper proposes a ternary key tree model for tree‐based group key agreement in cognitive radio ad hoc networks, and it considers batch rekeying scheme. The range of ids for member, non‐member and pruned nodes in the ternary key tree are analysed in this paper. This paper proposes the analysis of two types of leave operations in the key tree, and the concept of subtree structure is used to analyse the total number of internal nodes that are pruned during leave operations in the key tree through mathematical expressions. This pruned nodes analysis can be used in finding the total number of renewed nodes in the key tree during rekeying process to measure the communication complexity of tree‐based group key agreement protocol. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.