bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physiological indices of seawater readiness in postspawning steelhead kelts
Authors: Buelow Jessica , Moffitt Christine M. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractManagement goals to improve the recovery of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stocks at risk of extinction include increasing the proportion of postspawning fish that survive and spawn again. To be successful, postspawning steelhead (kelts) migrating downstream to the ocean must prepare physiologically and physically for a seawater transition. We sampled blood, gill filaments, and evaluated the external condition of migrating kelts from an ESA‐listed population in the Snake/Columbia River system over two consecutive years to evaluate their physiological readiness for transition to seawater. We chose attributes often considered as measures of preparation for seawater in juveniles, including gill Na+,K+ ATPase activity, plasma electrolytes and hormones to consider factors related to external condition, size and sex. We found kelts in good external condition had plasma profiles similar to downstream‐migrating smolts. In addition, we found more than 80% of kelts ranked in good external condition had smolt‐like body silvering. We compared measures from migrating kelts with samples obtained from hatchery fish at the time of spawning to confirm that Na+, K+ ATPase activity in kelts was significantly elevated over spawning fish. We found significant differences in gill Na+, K+ ATPase activity in migrating kelts between the years of sampling, but little indication of influence of fish condition. We conclude that the postspawning steelhead sampled exhibited a suite of behaviours, condition and physiology characteristic of fish prepared for successful transition to a seawater environment.
Homocysteine induces cytotoxicity and proliferation inhibition in neural stem cells via DNA methylation in vitro
Authors: Lin Ningning , Qin Shanchun , Luo Suhui , Cui Shanshan , Huang Guowei , Zhang Xumei 
Published: February 2014

Mild to moderate hyperhomocysteinemia has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases in human studies. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of homocysteine (Hcy) neurotoxicity on the nervous system are not yet fully understood, inhibition of neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and alterations in DNA methylation may be involved. The aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of Hcy on DNA methylation in NSCs, and to explore how Hcy‐induced changes in DNA methylation patterns affect NSC proliferation. We found that d,l‐Hcy (30–1000 μm) but not l‐cysteine inhibited cell proliferation and reduced levels of global DNA methylation in NSCs from neonatal rat hippocampus and increased cell injury. High levels of Hcy also induced an increase in S‐adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), a decrease in the ratio of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) to SAH, and a reduction in protein expression of the DNA methyltransferases DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b and their enzymatic activity. Moreover, the DNMT inhibitor zebularine reduced the global DNA methylation level and inhibited NSC proliferation. Our results suggest that alterations in DNA methylation may be an important mechanism by which high levels of Hcy inhibit NSC viability in vitro. Hcy‐induced DNA hypomethylation may be caused by a reduction in the DNMT activity which is regulated by the cellular concentrations of SAM and SAH, or their protein expression levels. Our results also suggest that Hcy may play a role in the pathogenesis of certain nervous system diseases via a molecular mechanism that involves negative regulation of NSC proliferation and alterations in DNA methylation.
The peak stress method combined with 3D finite element models for fatigue assessment of toe and root cracking in steel welded joints subjected to axial or bending loading
Authors: Meneghetti G. , Guzzella C. , Atzori B. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTIn fatigue design of welded joints, the local approach based on the notch stress intensity factor (NSIF) assumes that the weld toe profile is a sharp V‐notch having a tip radius equal to zero, while the root side is a pre‐crack in the structure. The ratio between the mode I NSIF and the linear elastic opening peak stress evaluated at the point of singularity (i.e. the V‐notch tip) by the finite element (FE) method depends only on the type and size of the elements adopted in the discretization. The ratio between the mode II SIF and the linear elastic sliding peak stress evaluated at the crack tip has the same property. This useful property of the opening and sliding peak stresses evaluated by the FE method gives rise to the so‐called peak stress method (PSM). In the present paper, it is adopted as an engineering, FE oriented application of the NSIF approach to fatigue design of welded joints. Originally applied to 2D FE models, the peak stress method is combined here with 3D numerical models to assess the fatigue strength of steel welded joints having complex geometry and characterised by toe as well as root cracking. A properly defined design stress, that is, the equivalent peak stress, is shown to correlate with good approximation all analysed experimental data.
Significance of miRNA‐122 in chronic hepatitis C patients with serotype 1 on interferon therapy
Authors: Kamo Yasuhiro , Ichikawa Tatsuki , Miyaaki Hisamitsu , Uchida Shinjirou , Yamaguchi Tohei , Shibata Hidetaka , Honda Takuya , Taura Naota , Isomoto Hajime , Takeshima Fuminao , Nakao Kazuhiko 
Published: February 2014

AimPeginterferon (PEG IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy is a curative treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and virological response to IFN therapy has been strongly associated with genetic variation in IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Recently, miRNA122 (miR‐122), which is the most abundant miRNA in the liver, has been reported to be important for the replication of HCV RNA. Therefore, we investigated the correlation of miR‐122 expression with virological response to IFN and other clinical data.MethodsA total of 51 patients with HCV infection who were treated with IFN therapy at Nagasaki University Hospital from 2006 to 2011 were included in this study. We investigated the correlation of miR‐122 expression in liver biopsy specimens with virological response to IFN therapy and other predictors of response, including IL28 SNP.ResultsmiR‐122 expression did not correlate with IL28 SNP. However, a significant difference was observed in miR‐122 expression between patients who showed a sustained virological response (SVR) and those who did not (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that miR‐122 is an independent predictor of SVR.ConclusionmiR‐122 expression could be a marker for predicting the outcome of IFN therapy. Therapies targeting miR‐122 may have positive effects not only by directly inhibiting viral propagation but also by ameliorating cholesterol and lipid abnormalities.
Multiple hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfections in HIV‐positive men who have sex with men: no influence of HCV genotype switch or interleukin‐28B genotype on spontaneous clearance
Authors: Ingiliz P , Krznaric I , Stellbrink H‐J , Knecht G , Lutz T , Noah C , Stocker H , Obermeier M , Dupke S , Boesecke C , Rockstroh JK , Baumgarten A , Hoffmann C 
Published: February 2014

ObjectivesThe incidence of sexually transmitted hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection is on the rise in HIV‐infected men who have sex with men (MSM). Data on natural history of acute hepatitis C and possible factors associated with spontaneous clearance are limited. The aim of this study was to analyse the outcome of HCV reinfections in HIV‐positive MSM.MethodsA retrospective analysis was carried out on patients with more than one sexually acquired HCV infection who were diagnosed at four major German HIV and hepatitis care centres. Reinfection was defined by genotype or phylogenetic clade switch, detectable HCV RNA after a sustained virological response (SVR) or after spontaneous clearance (SC).ResultsIn total, 48 HIV‐positive MSM were identified with HCV reinfection, among them 11 with a third episode and one patient with four episodes. At the first episode, 43 and five patients had an SVR and SC, respectively. The second episode was accompanied by a genotype switch in 29 patients (60%). Whereas 30 and nine patients showed an SVR and SC, respectively, eight patients developed chronic hepatitis. Neither HCV genotype switch nor interleukin‐28B genotype was associated with SC. However, SC rates at the second episode were higher for patients with SC at the first episode compared with patients without SC (60 vs. 14%, respectively; P = 0.03). Two patients with SC at the first episode were reinfected with the same genotype.ConclusionsMultiple reinfections in HIV‐infected MSM do occur, with or without genotype switch, and with prior SC of previous episodes. In this large case series, except for SC at the first episode, no factor was of value in clinical decision‐making for early therapeutic intervention in acute HCV reinfection.
Helping our patients take HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): a systematic review of adherence interventions
Authors: Marcus JL , Buisker T , Horvath T , Amico KR , Fuchs JD , Buchbinder SP , Grant RM , Liu AY 
Published: February 2014

ObjectivesAdherence is critical for maximizing the effectiveness of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV infection. Strategies for promoting adherence to HIV treatment, and their potential application to PrEP adherence, have received considerable attention. However, adherence promotion strategies for prevention medications have not been well characterized and may be more applicable to PrEP. We aimed to identify adherence support interventions that have been effective in other prevention fields and could be applied in the HIV prevention context to support pill taking among PrEP users.MethodsTo identify adherence support interventions that could be evaluated and applied in the PrEP context, we conducted a systematic review across the following prevention fields: hypertension, latent tuberculosis infection, hyperlipidaemia, oral contraceptives, osteoporosis, malaria prophylaxis, and post‐exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection. We included randomized controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy of interventions to improve adherence to daily oral medications prescribed for primary prevention in healthy individuals or for secondary prevention in asymptomatic individuals.ResultsOur searches identified 585 studies, of which 48 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review; nine evaluated multiple strategies, yielding 64 separately tested interventions. Interventions with the strongest evidence for improving adherence included complex, resource‐intensive interventions, which combined multiple adherence support approaches, and low‐cost, low‐intensity interventions that provided education or telephone calls for adherence support.ConclusionsOur review identified adherence interventions with strong evidence of efficacy across prevention fields and provides recommendations for evaluating these interventions in upcoming PrEP studies.
FISH analysis of MLL gene rearrangements: detection of the concurrent loss or gain of the 3′ signal and its prognostic significance
Authors: Lim J.‐H. , Jang S. , Park C.‐J. , Chi H.‐S. , Lee J.‐O. , Seo E.‐J. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryIntroductionThe rearrangement of the mixed‐lineage leukemia (MLL) gene occurs through translocations and insertions involving a variety of partner chromosome genes. However, there are few studies on aberrant MLL signal patterns such as concurrent 3ʹ MLL deletion.MethodsA total of 84 patients with acute leukemia (AL) who had MLL rearrangements detected by florescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were enrolled in the study. The distribution of MLL fusion partner genes was analyzed, and aberrant MLL signals were evaluated.ResultsSeventy‐seven (91.7%) patients had MLL rearrangements, involving previously described translocation partner genes (TPGs). Among these TPGs, the frequencies of MLLT3, AFF1, MLLT4, and ELL were 29.8%, 17.9%, 15.5%, and 13.1%, respectively. A high frequency of MLLT4 in our study was due to the high proportion of acute myeloid leukemia cases in pediatric and adult patients. Aberrant MLL signals were found in 18 patients: 11 (61.1%) with 3′ MLL signal loss and 7 with 3ʹ MLL signal gain. All cases with 3′ MLL signal gain were due to an extra derivative partner chromosome. The median overall survival period of patients with 3′ MLL gain was shorter than that in patients without aberrant MLL signal patterns.ConclusionAberrant MLL signals were frequently detected by FISH analysis. The 3′ MLL gain was associated with poor prognosis in patients with AL. Therefore, it is important to detect aberrant MLL signal patterns using FISH analysis.
Integrating ecosystem engineering and food webs
Authors: Sanders Dirk , Jones Clive G. , Thébault Elisa , Bouma Tjeerd J. , van der Heide Tjisse , van Belzen Jim , Barot Sébastien 
Published: February 2014

Ecosystem engineering, the physical modification of the environment by organisms, is a common and often influential process whose significance to food web structure and dynamics is largely unknown. In the light of recent calls to expand food web studies to include non‐trophic interactions, we explore how we might best integrate ecosystem engineering and food webs. We provide rationales justifying their integration and present a provisional framework identifying how ecosystem engineering can affect the nodes and links of food webs and overall organization; how trophic interactions with the engineer can affect the engineering; and how feedbacks between engineering and trophic interactions can affect food web structure and dynamics. We use a simple integrative food chain model to illustrate how feedbacks between the engineer and the food web can alter 1) engineering effects on food web dynamics, and 2) food web responses to extrinsic environmental perturbations. We identify four general challenges to integration that we argue can readily be met, and call for studies that can achieve this integration and help pave the way to a more general understanding of interaction webs in nature.SynthesisAll species are affected by their physical environment. Because ecosystem engineering species modify the physical environment and belong to food webs, such species are potentially one of the most important bridges between the trophic and non‐trophic. We examine how to integrate the so far, largely independent research areas of ecosystem engineering and food webs. We present a conceptual framework for understanding how engineering can affect food webs and vice versa, and how feedbacks between the two alter ecosystem dynamics. With appropriate empirical studies and models, integration is achievable, paving the way to a more general understanding of interaction webs in nature.
Synthesis and Up‐conversion Luminescence of Yb3+/Ln3+ (Ln = Er,Tm,Ho) Co‐Doped Strontium Cerate by Pechini Method
Authors: Xiao Quanlan , Dong Guoping , Qiu Jianrong 
Published: February 2014

Novel up‐conversion (UC) luminescent nanopowders, Sr2CeO4:Yb3+,Ln3+ (Ln = Er, Tm, Ho) were prepared with Pechini method. The Sr2CeO4:Yb3+,Ln3+ (Ln = Er, Tm, Ho) nanopowders had an orthorhombic crystal structure, and showed olive‐like morphology with the length of about 260 nm and width of about 130 nm. Under 980 nm lazer excitation, the Sr2CeO4:Yb3+/Er3+, Sr2CeO4:Yb3+/Tm3+, and Sr2CeO4:Yb3+/Ho3+ nanophosphors exhibit strong green, blue, and green UC luminescence, respectively. The luminescence mechanisms for the doped lanthanide ions were thoroughly analyzed.
A Novel Electrocardiographic Criterion for Differentiating a Left from Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia Origin: The V2S/V3R Index
Authors: YOSHIDA NAOKI , YAMADA TAKUMI , MCELDERRY H. THOMAS , INDEN YASUYA , SHIMANO MASAYUKI , MUROHARA TOYOAKI , KUMAR VINEET , DOPPALAPUDI HARISH , PLUMB VANCE J. , KAY G. NEAL 
Published: February 2014

V2S/V3R Index Distinguishes LVOT from RVOT OriginsIntroductionAlthough several ECG criteria have been proposed for differentiating between left and right origins of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (VA) originating from the outflow tract (OT‐VA), their accuracy and usefulness remain limited. This study was undertaken to develop a more accurate and useful ECG criterion for differentiating between left and right OT‐VA origins.Methods and ResultsWe studied OT‐VAs with a left bundle branch block pattern and inferior axis QRS morphology in 207 patients who underwent successful catheter ablation in the right (RVOT; n = 154) or left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT; n = 53). The surface ECGs during the OT‐VAs and during sinus beats were analyzed with an electronic caliper. The V2S/V3R index was defined as the S‐wave amplitude in lead V2 divided by the R‐wave amplitude in lead V3 during the OT‐VA. The V2S/V3R index was significantly smaller for LVOT origins than RVOT origins (P < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for the V2S/V3R index by a receiver operating characteristic analysis was 0.964, with a cut‐off value of ≤1.5 predicting an LVOT origin with an 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity. In the AUC and accuracy, the V2S/V3R index was superior to any previously proposed ECG criteria in an analysis of all OT‐VAs. This advantage of the V2S/V3R index over the V2 transition ratio and other indices also held true for a subanalysis of 77 OT‐VAs with a lead V3 precordial transition.ConclusionThe V2S/V3R index outperformed other ECG criteria to differentiate left from right OT‐VA origins independent of the site of the precordial transition.
Effect of carnitine‐orotate complex on glucose metabolism and fatty liver: A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Hong Eun Shil , Kim Eun Ky , Kang Seon Mee , Khang Ah Reum , Choi Sung Hee , Park Kyong Soo , Jang Hak Chul , Lim Soo 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackground and AimEffective medicines have not been introduced for insulin resistance‐related fatty liver. The efficacy and safety of treatment between a combination of metformin and carnitine‐orotate complex and metformin alone in a 12‐week, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study on drug‐naïve patients with impaired glucose metabolism and fatty liver were compared.MethodsFifty‐two patients with fasting glucose 100–240 mg/dL or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 6.0% and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 40–250 IU/L were randomized to receive metformin (250 mg t.i.d.), or metformin (250 mg t.i.d.) and carnitine‐orotate complex (300 mg t.i.d.) for 12 weeks (n = 26 per group). The primary end‐point was a change from baseline ALT level. Secondary end‐points were changes in fasting glucose, HbA1c, aspartate aminotransferase levels, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in the peripheral blood, and urinary output of 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidative stress.ResultsThe combined treatment reduced ALT level significantly more than metformin alone (–51.5 ± 33.2 IU/L vs −16.7 ± 31.3 IU/L, P = 0.001). The HbA1c levels also decreased significantly in both groups but there was no significant difference between them (–0.9% ± 1.0% vs −0.7% ± 0.9%). Treatment with the complex decreased the urinary 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine level and increased mtDNA copy number significantly compared with metformin alone (both P < 0.05). No severe adverse events were observed.ConclusionA 12‐week treatment with metformin and carnitine‐orotate complex significantly improved liver function enzyme levels. This was associated with changes in oxidative stress and mtDNA copy number compared with metformin alone in patients with impaired glucose metabolism and fatty liver (clinical trial number: KCT0000193).
Serum peptide pattern that differentially diagnoses hepatitis B virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma from liver cirrhosis
Authors: Wang Na , Cao Yuan , Song Wei , He Kun , Li Tao , Wang Jie , Xu Bin , Si Hai‐yan , Hu Cheng‐Jin , Li Ai‐Ling 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundAlthough alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful serologic marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is not sufficiently sensitive to differentiate HCC and liver cirrhosis (LC) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.AimsThe aim is to discover novel noninvasive specific serum biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of HBV‐related HCC and LC.MethodsWith a highly optimized peptide extraction and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometric approach, we investigated serum peptide profiles of 80 HCC and 67 LC patients. Three supervised machine learning methods were employed to construct classifiers. Receiver operator curves were plotted to evaluate the performance of classifiers.ResultsWith a support vector machine‐based strategy, we picked nine peaks with m/z ratios of 819.49, 1076.14, 1341.72, 2551.44, 3156.44, 3812.88, 4184.26, 4465.92, and 4776.41 to construct the classifier. We proposed a novel method for distinguishing HCC from cirrhosis, based on a multilayer perceptron (MLP) method. We obtained a sensitivity of 90.0%, specificity of 79.4%, and overall accuracy of 85.1% on an independent test set. The combination of the MLP model and serum AFP level outperformed serum AFP marker alone in distinguishing HCC patients from LC patients. In this experience, sensitivity increased from 62.5% to 87.5%, and specificity increased from 79.4% to 88.2%.ConclusionsOur results indicate that the MLP model is a novel and useful serum peptide pattern for distinguishing HCC and LC. The peptidome signature alone or together with serum AFP determination may be a more effective method for early diagnosis of HCC in patients with HBV‐related LC.
Quantification of Goods Purchases and Waste Generation at the Level of Individual Households
Authors: Harder Robin , Kalmykova Yuliya , Morrison Gregory M. , Feng Fen , Mangold Mikael , Dahlén Lisa 
Published: February 2014

SummaryQuantifying differences in resource use and waste generation between individual households and exploring the reasons for the variations observed implies the need for disaggregated data on household activities and related physical flows. The collection of disaggregated data for water use, gas use, electricity use, and mobility has been reported in the literature and is normally achieved through sensors and computational algorithms. This study focuses on collecting disaggregated data for goods consumption and related waste generation at the level of individual households. To this end, two data collection approaches were devised and evaluated: (1) triangulating shopping receipt analysis and waste component analysis and (2) tracking goods consumption and waste generation using a smartphone. A case study on two households demonstrated that it is possible to collect quantitative data on goods consumption and related waste generation on a per unit basis for individual households. The study suggested that the type of data collected can be relevant in a number of different research contexts: eco‐feedback; user‐centered research; living‐lab research; and life cycle impacts of household consumption. The approaches presented in this study are most applicable in the context of user‐centered or living‐lab research. For the other contexts, alternative data sources (e.g., retailers and producers) may be better suited to data collection on larger samples, though at a lesser level of detail, compared with the two data collection approaches devised and evaluated in this study.