bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a Modified Polyvinylsilazane Preceramic Polymer
Authors: Coons Timothy P. , Reutenauer Justin W. , Richards Gavin , Frueh Samuel , Suib Steven L. 
Published: August 2012

This investigation focused on the synthesis and characterization of a modified polyvinylsilazane (PVSZ) polymer. Previously, our group synthesized the PVSZ polymer through the ammonolysis of vinyltrichlorosilane (VTS) in tetrahydrofuran (THF). This material showed promise as a precursor for silicon nitride–silicon carbide‐based ceramic materials. Due to the structure of the PVSZ polymer, the ability to stabilize (shelf‐life) and dope with metals and metalloids has proven to be difficult. To overcome these problems, a second chlorosilane precursor, dichloromethylsilane, was introduced into the ammonolysis reaction. This polymer proved to be more stable (>3 months before cross‐linking) and added a potential doping site on the backbone of the polymer while maintaining ceramic yields greater than 80%. The polymethylvinylsilazane (PMVSZ) polymer was characterized using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and elemental analysis. The results indicated that the ratio of chlorosilane precursors used plays an important role in the composition of crystallized ceramic material.
Li‐Rich Vapor Transport Equilibration Temperature Dependence of Surface Composition of Initially Congruent LiNbO3 Crystal
Authors: Zhang De‐Long , Wang Zhen , Hua Ping‐Rang , Pun Edwin Yue‐Bun 
Published: August 2012

The influence of Li‐rich vapor transport equilibration (VTE) on surface Li2O‐content of 1‐mm‐thick, congruent X‐, and Z‐cut LiNbO3 crystal plates was studied against the VTE temperature. The VTE‐induced surface Li2O‐content increase was evaluated from measured birefringence. The results show that the increase follows the traditional Arrhenius law with a surface Li2O‐content alteration constant (614 ± 136)/(91 ± 10) mol% and an activation energy (0.76 ± 0.05)/(0.53 ± 0.03) eV for the X/Z‐cut plate. An empirical expression that correlates the VTE‐induced surface Li2O‐content alteration with both the VTE temperature and duration is presented. The expression is useful for producing a near‐stoichiometric LiNbO3 plate with the desired surface Li2O‐content via balancing the VTE temperature and duration.
Immortalization of neuronal progenitors using SV40 large T antigen and differentiation towards dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Alwin Prem Anand A. , Gowri Sankar S. , Kokila Vani V. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTransplantation is common in clinical practice where there is availability of the tissue and organ. In the case of neurodegenerative disease such as Parkinson's disease (PD), transplantation is not possible as a result of the non‐availability of tissue or organ and therefore, cell therapy is an innovation in clinical practice. However, the availability of neuronal cells for transplantation is very limited. Alternatively, immortalized neuronal progenitors could be used in treating PD. The neuronal progenitor cells can be differentiated into dopaminergic phenotype. Here in this article, the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation of dopaminergic phenotype from the neuronal progenitors immortalized with SV40 LT antigen is discussed. In addition, the methods of generating dopaminergic neurons from progenitor cells and the factors that govern their differentiation are elaborated. Recent advances in cell‐therapy based transplantation in PD patients and future prospects are discussed.
Eph receptors and ephrins as targets for cancer therapy
Authors: Xi Hong‐Qing , Wu Xiao‐Song , Wei Bo , Chen Lin 
Published: August 2012

AbstractEph receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin ligands are involved in various signalling pathways and mediate critical steps of a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. Increasing experimental evidence demonstrates that both Eph receptor and ephrin ligands are overexpressed in a number of human tumours, and are associated with tumour growth, invasiveness and metastasis. In this regard, the Eph/ephrin system provides the foundation for potentially exciting new targets for anticancer therapies for Eph‐expressing tumours. The purpose of this review is to outline current advances in the role of Eph receptors and ephrin ligands in cancer, and to discuss novel therapeutic approaches of anticancer therapies.
Intravenous sulprostone infusion in the treatment of retained placenta
Authors: STEFANOVIC VEDRAN , PAAVONEN JORMA , LOUKOVAARA MIKKO , HALMESMÄKI ERJA , AHONEN JOUNI , TIKKANEN MINNA 
Published: August 2012

Abstract Objective. To analyze the effectiveness of intravenous sulprostone infusion for the treatment of retained placenta without massive primary hemorrhage among women at an university hospital over a three‐year period. Design. Retrospective observational study. Setting. University teaching hospital. Population. 126 consecutive women with placental retention and intravenous sulprostone infusion as primary treatment performed from October 2007 up to December 2011. Methods. Hospital records of women who received sulprostone infusion to attempt placental expulsion were reviewed. Main outcome measures. Primary endpoints of the study were expulsion of placenta and the total amount of blood loss during delivery. Results. The placenta was successfully expelled in 39.7% of cases, whereas 60.3% of women underwent manual removal of placenta. Blood loss was significantly lower in women with successful placental expulsion than in women who had manual removal of the placenta (582 ± 431 ml vs. 1275 ± 721 ml, p < 0.0001). Sulprostone infusion did not cause adverse effects or significant postpartum morbidity. Conclusions. Intravenous sulprostone infusion is safe and reduces both blood loss and the need for manual removal of the placenta.
Homocysteine, folate, vitamin B12 and B6 in mothers of children with neural tube defects in Xinjiang, China
Authors: Gu Qiang , Li Ying , Cui Zhi‐Li , Luo Xiao‐Ping 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAim:  To investigate the maternal homocysteine (Hcy), folate, vitamin B12 and B6, and their relations to neural tube defects (NTDs).Methods:  Thirty mothers of NTDs offspring and another 60 mothers of normal children were enrolled as the patient and control groups from Xinjiang, China, from January 2008 to May 2011. The plasma levels of Hcy, folate, vitamin B12 and B6 were measured and compared between the two groups.Results:  The morbidity of NTDs was 2.44% in Xinjiang. The Hcy was significantly higher in patient group than in control group (15.1 ± 7.8 vs. 8.5 ± 4.0 μmol/L, p < 0.001). The folate in patient group (9.7 ± 8.1 μg/L) was lower than in control group (15.0 ± 8.1 μg/L, p < 0.001). The vitamin B12 was 181.3 ± 107.7 and 394.3 ± 386.3 ng/L in patient and control groups, respectively, with a significant difference (p < 0.001). The abnormal frequency of Hcy and vitamin B12 was statistically different in two groups. The difference of vitamin B6 between the patients and controls was marginal (48.7 ± 16.5 vs. 42.0 ± 10.5 mg/L, p = 0.051). Moreover, folate and vitamin B12 levels were negatively correlated with Hcy while vitamin B6 was positively correlated with Hcy. Positive correlation was observed between folate and vitamin B12 levels.Conclusion:  Our data confirm that higher Hcy, lower folate and vitamin B12 are risk factors for NTDs. Besides folate, vitamin B12 should be supplied to decrease NTDs occurrence. Further study is required to investigate the levels and accurate role of vitamin B6.
Hyper‐temporal remote sensing helps in relating epiphyllous liverworts and evergreen forests
Authors: Jiang Yanbin , de Bie C.A.J.M. , Wang Tiejun , Skidmore A.K. , Liu Xuehua , Song Shanshan , Shao Xiaoming 
Published: August 2012

AbstractQuestionIs there, at the macro‐habitat scale, a relationship between the fraction of evergreen forests and the presence probability of epiphyllous liverworts? Can these two parameters be estimated and mapped using an NDVI‐based indicator that is derived from time‐series of SPOT‐VGT imagery?LocationSouthern China.MethodsApplying the ISODATA algorithm, we classified SPOT‐VGT NDVI time‐series imagery and produced an NDVI map at 1‐km2 resolution containing 128 NDVI classes. That map and the National Land Cover Map of China (2000) were used to prepare a scheme for field sampling. For 537 1‐km2 areas, located in 19 blocks of 100 km × 100 km, field data were collected. They represented 51 preselected NDVI classes that were assumed to contain evergreen forests. Data on the fractions of forest and evergreen forest, the fraction of evergreen forest in forest present and presence probability of epiphyllous liverworts were regressed against different NDVI class‐specific indicators by means of weighted least‐squares regression (WLSR).ResultsThe SPOT‐VGT NDVI for March was found to best explain the variation between 1‐km2 areas in the presence probability of epiphyllous liverworts (R2 = 0.64; linear relationship; RMSE = 0.38) as the area fraction (%) of evergreen forest (R2 = 0.90; exponential relationship; RMSE = 6.1%). Epiphyllous liverworts were only found within 1‐km2 areas when the SPOT‐VGT NDVI value for March was more than 0.50 (model estimate: 0.43 ± 0.20) and the fraction of evergreen forest in 1 km2 was above 14% (model estimate: 5 ± 35%). The estimation errors (with 95% confidence interval) of these two relationships were calculated using a bootstrap resampling method with 1000 replications; they were, respectively, 0.49–0.76 and 0.85–0.94 for R2, and 0.11–0.23 and 5.2–11.9% for RMSE. Other positive relationships were found between the presence probability of epiphyllous liverworts and the fraction of evergreen forest (R2 = 0.64, linear relationship; RMSE = 0.38) and between the fraction of evergreen forest and forest within 1‐km2 areas (R2 = 0.80, linear relationship; RMSE = 29%).ConclusionWe show that for southern China, the fraction of evergreen forest and the presence probability of epiphyllous liverworts can directly be inferred by making use of SPOT‐VGT NDVI imagery. The findings are fully consistent with earlier reported hotspots for epiphyllous liverworts. At the macro‐habitat scale, the presence probability of epiphyllous liverworts proved quantitatively related to the fraction of evergreen forest. This suggests causal relationships with patch size and/or rainfall patterns. We believe that the derived maps may serve as a foundation for a range of further studies.
NMR investigations of the dual targeting peptide of Thr‐tRNA synthetase and its interaction with the mitochondrial Tom20 receptor in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Ye Weihua , Spånning Erika , Unnerståle Sofia , Gotthold David , Glaser Elzbieta , Mäler Lena 
Published: August 2012

Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol as precursor proteins containing an N‐terminal targeting peptide and are imported into mitochondria through the import machineries, the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane (TOM) and the translocase of the inner mitochondrial membrane (TIM). The N‐terminal targeting peptide of precursor proteins destined for the mitochondrial matrix is recognized by the Tom20 receptor and plays an important role in the import process. Protein import is usually organelle specific, but several plant proteins are dually targeted into mitochondria and chloroplasts using an ambiguous dual targeting peptide. We present NMR studies of the dual targeting peptide of Thr‐tRNA synthetase and its interaction with Tom20 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our findings show that the targeting peptide is mostly unstructured in buffer, with a propensity to form α‐helical structure in one region, S6–F27, and a very weak β‐strand propensity for Q34–Q38. The α‐helical structured region has an amphiphilic character and a φχχφφ motif, both of which have previously been shown to be important for mitochondrial import. Using NMR we have mapped out two regions in the peptide that are important for Tom20 recognition: one of them, F9–V28, overlaps with the amphiphilic region, and the other comprises residues L30–Q39. Our results show that the targeting peptide may interact with Tom20 in several ways. Furthermore, our results indicate a weak, dynamic interaction. The results provide for the first time molecular details on the interaction of the Tom20 receptor with a dual targeting peptide.DatabaseThe backbone chemical shift assignments for ThrRS‐dTP(2–60) have been deposited with the Biological Magnetic Resonance Bank (BMRB) under the accession code 18248Structured digital abstract

ThrRS‐dTP and Tom20‐4 bind by nuclear magnetic resonance (View interaction)
Toxic cocktail: Methanol poisoning in a tourist to Indonesia
Authors: Gee Paul , Martin Elizabeth 
Published: August 2012

AbstractMethanol poisoning has become very uncommon in Australasia with regulations that have reduced its retail availability. This report describes a young tourist who developed sudden onset visual failure and rapid breathing 2 days after ingestion of a complimentary local drink called Arrack when travelling in Indonesia. She presented to a hospital in New Zealand with severe metabolic acidosis and a highly toxic methanol level at 17 mmol/L. The cocktail was consumed at a popular tourist bar but is likely to have been mixed from home‐brewed or ‘moonshine’ alcohol tainted with methanol. The aetiology of methanol poisoning, its optic toxicology and therapeutic measures are discussed, as is the concerning number of methanol poisoning cases among tourists to Indonesia over recent years.
Intended or Unintended Consequences? The Likely Implications of Raising the Bar for Sexual Dysfunction Diagnosis in the Proposed DSM-V Revisions: 2. For Women with Loss of Subjective Sexual Arousal
Authors: Clayton Anita H. , DeRogatis Leonard R. , Rosen Raymond C. , Pyke Robert 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Brotto proposes to combine female sexual desire and arousal disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition.

Aim
We provide evidence that the proposed criteria could potentially exclude from diagnosis or treatment a large number of women with distressing dysfunction in sexual arousal.

Methods
Rating scale data from nontreatment validation studies of patient-reported outcome measures including almost 500 women in North America and Europe, including 49 women diagnosed with arousal disorder only, were compared with the proposed criteria.

Main Outcome Measures
The main measures were an early version of the eDiary (an electronic diary on sexual activity) and four previously validated measures of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), the clinician-rated Sexual Interest and Desire Inventory—Female and the self-rated Female Sexual Function Index, Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, and Female Sexual Distress Scale.

Results
The women with female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) scored as manifestly sexually dysfunctional and significantly sexually distressed. They had fewer satisfying sexual events (SSEs) vs. women with no FSD, with a lower proportion of SSEs, and significantly fewer orgasms.

Conclusion
Despite evidence presented that women with FSAD have clinically disordered sexual function, our data also suggest that the majority of these women with FSAD would meet none of the six proposed “A” criteria for Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder, raising new validity and utility concerns for the proposed diagnostic classification. Suggestions are made to modify the proposed new criteria so as to include such distressed women.
Excessive Penile Norepinephrine Level Underlies Impaired Erectile Function in Adenosine A1 Receptor Deficient Mice
Authors: Ning Chen , Qi Lin , Wen Jiaming , Zhang Yujin , Zhang Weiru , Wang Wei , Blackburn Michael , Kellems Rodney , Xia Yang 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Penile erection is a complex neurovascular physiological event controlled by multiple factors and signaling pathways. A considerable amount of evidence indicates that adenosine plays a significant role in cavernosal smooth muscle relaxation. However, the specific role of adenosine and its receptors in erectile physiology and pathology is not fully understood.

Aim
To determine the role of the adenosine A1 receptor (ADORA1) in penile erection.

Method
Adenosine A1 receptor deficient (Adora1-/-) mice and aged-matched wild-type (WT) mice were utilized. We evaluated the in vivo erectile function by measuring the intracavernosal pressure (ICP) in response to cavernous nerve stimulation (CNS). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the norepinephrine (NE) plasma concentration in the corpus cavernosum and systemic circulation. We also evaluated the myosin light chain phosphorylation (p-MLC) in penile tissue pre- and post-CNS.

Main Outcome Measurement
The main outcome measurement of this research was the evaluation of in vivo erectile response to CNS by measuring the ICP in Adora1-/- mice and WT mice and to identify the localization and specific neuron types of ADORA1 expression by dual immunostaining and immunofluorescence co-localization.

Result
In vivo, both the ratio of CNS-induced Maximum ICP to mean arterial pressure and CNS-induced slope in Adora1-/- mice were significantly lower than WT mice. At the cellular level in penile tissue, we determined that ADORA1 was highly abundant in neuronal cells. During penile erection, Adora1-/- mice exhibited a higher level of NE plasma concentration in the penis than WT mice. And WT mice had a significantly greater reduction in p-MLC compared to Adora1-/- mice.

Conclusion
Our results show that ADORA1 is enriched on neuron cells where it functions to control NE release. Activation of this receptor during penile erection results in reduced NE release and reduced cavernosal smooth muscle contraction, therefore facilitating penile erection.
The genetic contribution of HLA‐DRB5*01:01 to systemic lupus erythematosus in Thailand
Authors: Louthrenoo W. , Kasitanon N. , Wichainun R. , Wangkaew S. , Sukitawut W. , Ohnogi Y. , Hong G. H. , Kuwata S. , Takeuchi F. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryHuman leucocyte antigen (HLA) study in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been investigated in various countries, but the results are still inconclusive. This study was performed to investigate the association between HLA‐DR and SLE in patients in northern Thailand. HLA‐DR subtyping was performed in 70 patients with SLE and 99 normal healthy controls living in northern Thailand using the INNO‐LiPA HLA‐DR Decoder kit (Innogenetics) and MICRO SSP HLA DNA Typing kit (One Lambda) for reconfirmation. The allele frequency (AF) of DRB5*01:01 in SLE was significantly higher than in the controls [25.7% vs. 14.6%, P = 0.012, Pc = 0.048, OR = 2.02 (95%CI = 1.17–3.48)]. The AF of DRB1*15:01 and DRB1*16:02 showed a nonsignificant tendency to be higher in SLE (10.7% vs. 8.1%, and 17.9% vs. 11.1%). Interestingly, the DRB5*01:01 allele linked to DRB1*16:02 in 47.2% of SLE and 37.9% of controls, and the prevalence of the DRB1*16:02‐DRB5*01:01 haplotype was higher in the patients with SLE [12.1% vs. 5.6%, P = 0.044, OR = 2.35 (95%CI = 1.06–5.19)]. The DRB1*16:02 linked to DRB5*02:02 and *02:03 in 18.2% and 31.8% of controls, respectively, and linked to DRB5*02:03 in 32.0% of SLE patients. The frequency of DRB1*03:01 and *15:02 alleles was not increased in Thai SLE. There was no significant association between DRB5*01:01 and any auto‐antibodies or clinical manifestations of SLE. DRB5*01:01 is associated with Thai SLE, and the association is stronger than that of DRB1*15:01. The genetic contribution of DRB5*01:01 is due partially to the linkage disequilibrium between DRB1*16:02 and DRB5*01:01 in the northern Thai population.
Recognition of a Caucasoid HLA‐B locus allele, B*44:55, in a Taiwanese/Chinese bone marrow stem cell donor
Authors: Yang K. L. , Lee S. K. , Kao R. H. , Lin C. L. , Lin P. Y. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryWe detected a Caucasoid HLA‐B allele, HLA‐B*44:55, in a potential Taiwanese/Chinese bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell donor during our routine HLA SBT (sequence‐based typing) practice. The sequence of B*44:55 varies with B*44:02:01:01 with one nucleotide in exon 2 at position 97 (T‐>C), while it differs from B*44:03:01 with one nucleotide in exon 2 at position 97 (T‐>C) and three nucleotides in exon 3 at residues 538–540 (CTG‐>GAC). The nucleotide replacements caused one amino acid variation with B*44:02:01:01 at residue 9 (Y‐>H) and two amino acid variations with B*44:03:01 at residue 9 (Y‐>H) and residue 156 (L‐>D). The formation of B*44:55 is probably the result of a nucleotide substitution involving B*44:02:01:01 at position 97 (T‐>C). The Taiwanese/Chinese donor with B*44:55 claims having no kinship with Caucasian. Our speculations on the origin of the Taiwanese/Chinese B*44:55 will be presented.
Assessment of transgene flow in tomato and potential effects of genetically modified tomato expressing Cry3Bb1 toxins on bumblebee feeding behaviour
Authors: Arpaia S. , Battafarano R. , Chen L.‐Y. , Devos Y. , Di Leo G.M. , Lu B.‐R. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractOne of the concerns surrounding the commercial release of genetically modified (GM) crops is the escape of transgenes into agricultural or semi‐natural habitats through vertical gene flow, as this may cause environmental or economic problems. There is also the concern that GM crops may affect pollinators and the pollination services they provide. Despite the growing commercial interest of GM tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), gene flow has been assessed only sparsely in tomato. To evaluate the likelihood of gene flow from GM tomato plants to sexually compatible plants, and to assess whether bumblebee activity is affected by GM tomato, three experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions, using a Bt‐tomato expressing the insecticidal Cry3Bb1 protein as model system: (a) artificial crosses between a GM tomato line, two wild tomato relatives (Solanum hirsutum and Solanum nigrum) and a non‐GM tomato variety; (b) bumblebee‐mediated crosses between GM and non‐GM tomato plants and (c) visual observations of bumblebees' feeding behaviour. No hybrids were obtained between the GM tomato line and S. hirsutum and S. nigrum. In an experimental design where non‐GM receptor plants outnumbered GM plants by approximately 3:1, the bumblebee‐mediated cross‐fertilisation rate between GM and non‐GM tomato plants was measured at 4.3 ± 5.47%. No significant differences in feeding behaviour of bumblebees foraging on GM and non‐GM tomato plants were observed. Therefore, we conclude that: (a) the probability of transgene introgression between the GM tomato line used in this study and its wild relatives S. hirsutum and S. nigrum is negligible; (b) bumblebee activity can mediate cross‐fertilisation between GM and non‐GM tomato and (3) the Cry3Bb1‐expressing tomato line tested does not adversely affect the feeding behaviour of bumblebees.
Elevated CO2 may impair the beneficial effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the mineral and phytochemical quality of lettuce
Authors: Baslam Marouane , Garmendia Idoia , Goicoechea Nieves 
Published: August 2012

AbstractArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve growth and nutritional quality of greenhouse‐grown lettuces cultivated at ambient CO2. Moreover, mycorrhizal symbiosis is predicted to be important in defining plant responses to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Our main objective was to assess the effects of elevated CO2 on growth and nutritional quality of greenhouse‐grown lettuces inoculated or not with AMF. Results showed that the accumulation of mineral nutrients (e.g. P, Cu, Fe) and antioxidant compounds (carotenoids, phenolics, anthocyanins, ascorbate) induced by AMF in leaves of lettuces cultivated at ambient CO2 may diminish or disappear under elevated CO2. It is hypothesized that a relevant quantity of photoassimilates could be used for improving shoot growth and spreading mycorrhizal colonization in detriment to the secondary metabolism. However, important differences can be found among different cultivars of lettuces.