bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Atoh1 induces auditory hair cell recovery in mice after ototoxic injury
Authors: Kraft Shannon , Hsu Chi , Brough Douglas E. , Staecker Hinrich 
Published: July 2011

AbstractObjectives/Hypothesis:To evaluate the ability of the Ad28.gfap.atoh1 to promote hair cell regeneration and hearing recovery in cochlea injured with kanamycin and furosemide.Study Design:In vivo model of hair cell ablation and subsequent treatment with Atoh1.Methods:The hair cells of C57BL/6 mice were ablated with systemic administration of kanamycin and furosemide. The left ears were treated with Ad28.gfap.atoh1. The right ears were not treated. Preablation audiograms and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were compared to 1‐ or 2‐month postablation studies. Harvested cochleae were examined for histologic evidence of hair cell regeneration and spiral ganglion cell survival.Results:Delivery of Ad28.gfap.atoh1 results in development of auditory hair cells. There was no recovery of DPOAEs at 1 or 2 months post‐treatment. Two months after delivery of Ad28.gfap.atoh1, the left ear exhibited a moderate recovery of hearing at 4 and 8 kHz (P < .01). There was no significant difference at 16 or 32 kHz. One month after treatment, myosin VII‐positive immunohistochemical staining can be seen in both the inner and outer hair cells of the treated ear. In the untreated ear, minimal myosin VII‐positive debris is seen, with no indication of normal hair cells. Two months after ablation, there is evidence of hair cell recovery on the treated side, whereas the untreated cochlea demonstrates a flattened epithelium. Untreated ears showed decreased spiral ganglion cell density at the basal turn compared to treated ears.Conclusions:Ad28.gfap.atoh1 promotes hair cell regeneration in cochlea ablated with kanamycin and furosemide resulting in moderate hearing recovery.
Group Modelling and Integration of Multiple Perspectives in the Functional Selection of a New Technology: The Case of a Next‐generation Electronic Portfolio System
Authors: Mu Enrique , Wormer Sallie , Barkon Beverly , Foizey Roberta , Vehec MarK 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACTUsing a group decision‐making structured approach as the discussion framework, this study focuses on an 18‐month long development of a model for the selection of a next‐generation electronic portfolio at a higher‐education institution. Emphasis is given to the group decision‐making process that led to the development of a next‐generation ePortfolio selection model and how analytic hierarchy process methodology, implemented in the Decision Lens™ software (Decision Lens Inc. 4250 North Fairfax Dr. Suite 1410, Arlington, VA 22203), allowed the development and integration of decision‐making models from the perspective of each of the stakeholders: faculty, administration and students. The group decision‐making process described in this paper can be applied to the functional selection of any new technology where different organizational perspectives are present. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analytical design of novel triple‐passband microwave filters using frequency transformations method
Authors: Chen Jia , Liang Chang‐Hong , Chen Jian‐Zhong , Wu Bian 
Published: July 2011

AbstractIn this article, a triple‐band filter is presented.This design is based on the suitably defined frequency transformations and uses well‐established prototype synthesis techniques, and the coupling coefficients and the external quality factors can be calculated analytically. In the realization, the triple‐band resonator is utilized to replace each capacitance in the low‐pass prototype circuit as the building block of the triple‐band filter. To validate the synthesis method, a practical triple‐passband filter is designed and fabricated with passbands at 3.3–3.4 GHz, 3.5–3.6 GHz, and 3.7–3.8 GHz, respectively, which has a maximum return loss of 20 dB in each passband. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:2199–2201, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26244
Convergence of certain class of enhanced spatial domain decompositions
Authors: Laviada Jaime , R. Pino Marcos , Las‐Heras Fernando 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe analysis as a stationary method of the spatial domain decomposition (SDD) technique with several enhancements is studied in this article. In particular, we consider two of the most popular modifications of the SDD method: (i) extension of the domains and (ii) introduction of a relaxation parameter. Despite both modifications, we show that the method can still be formulated as a stationary method and, therefore, the convergence study can be derived from the iteration matrix. Several examples for three‐dimensional geometries are considered to check the validity of the formulation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:2388–2393, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26245
Multiresonance coplanar waveguide‐fed monopole antennas with meander strips for GSM/GPS/PCS/DCS/WCDMA applications
Authors: Lee Kyunghaeng , Jee Yong 
Published: July 2011

AbstractA multiband multiresonance coplanar waveguide (CPW)‐fed monopole antenna is proposed in this article. The antenna consists of various monopole strips of including a meander strip, a w‐shape strip, and an m‐shape strip for the multiresonance operation and miniaturization of antenna. The operation modes are associated with the length and shape of loading strips, in which the lower frequency bands vary along a long meander and the higher bands along an m‐shape. Experimental results showed that the impedance bandwidths of the multiresonant antenna less than −10 dB return loss were 8.4, 2.5, 17.6, and 19.3 % with omni‐directional radiation patterns at 860, 1570, 1860, and 2140 MHz, respectively, and those antenna gains were −2.13, −0.77, 1.25, and 2.45 dBi, respectively. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:2438–2441, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26276
Theory and experiment on polarization‐dependent loss of magneto‐optical fiber Bragg grating system with a polarization controller
Authors: Chong‐Zhen L. I. , Bao‐Jian W. U. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThe compensation effect of the fiber‐type polarization controller (FPC) for the intrinsic polarization‐dependent loss (PDL) of the magneto‐optic fiber Bragg grating (MFBG) is experimentally investigated and the experimental results are explained by the theoretical model of MFBG presented in the article. The use of FPC may improve the PDL response of the MFBG system to applied magnetic field. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:2224–2228, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26287
Hydrogen–deuterium exchange in vivo to measure turnover of an ALS‐associated mutant SOD1 protein in spinal cord of mice
Authors: Farr George W. , Ying Zheng , Fenton Wayne A. , Horwich Arthur L. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractMutations of cytosolic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in humans and overexpression of mutant human SOD1 genes in transgenic mice are associated with the motor neuron degenerative condition known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; Lou Gehrig's disease). Gain‐of‐function toxicity from the mutant protein expressed in motor neurons, associated with its misfolding and aggregation, leads to dysfunction and cell death, associated with paralyzing disease. Here, using hydrogen–deuterium exchange in intact mice in vivo, we have addressed whether an ALS‐associated mutant protein, G85R SOD1–YFP, is subject to the same rate of turnover in spinal cord both early in the course of the disease and later. We find that the mutant protein turns over about 10‐fold faster than a similarly expressed wild‐type fusion and that there is no significant change in the rate of turnover as animals age and disease progresses.
A vision‐based approach to behavioural animation
Authors: Renault Olivier , Thalmann Nadia Magnenat , Thalmann Daniel 
Published: July 2011

AbstractThis paper presents an innovative way of animating actors at a high level based on the concept of synthetic vision. The objective is simple: to create an animation involving a synthetic actor automatically moving in a corridor avoiding objects and other synthetic actors. To simulate this behaviour, each synthetic actors uses a synthetic vision as its perception of the world and so as the unique input to its behavioural model. This model is based on the concept of displacement local automata (DLA), which is similar to the concept of a script for natural language processing. A DLA is an algorithm that can deal with a specific environment. Two DLAs, called follow‐the‐corridor and avoid‐the‐obstacle, are described in detail.
A Novel Image-Analysis Toolbox Enabling Quantitative Analysis of Root System Architecture
Authors: Lobet Guillaume , Pagès Loïc , Draye Xavier 
Published: July 2011

Abstract
We present in this paper a novel, semiautomated image-analysis software to streamline the quantitative analysis of root growth and architecture of complex root systems. The software combines a vectorial representation of root objects with a powerful tracing algorithm that accommodates a wide range of image sources and quality. The root system is treated as a collection of roots (possibly connected) that are individually represented as parsimonious sets of connected segments. Pixel coordinates and gray level are therefore turned into intuitive biological attributes such as segment diameter and orientation as well as distance to any other segment or topological position. As a consequence, user interaction and data analysis directly operate on biological entities (roots) and are not hampered by the spatially discrete, pixel-based nature of the original image. The software supports a sampling-based analysis of root system images, in which detailed information is collected on a limited number of roots selected by the user according to specific research requirements. The use of the software is illustrated with a time-lapse analysis of cluster root formation in lupin (Lupinus albus) and an architectural analysis of the maize (Zea mays) root system. The software, SmartRoot, is an operating system-independent freeware based on ImageJ and relies on cross-platform standards for communication with data-analysis software.
The association between seeing retail displays of tobacco and tobacco smoking and purchase: findings from a diary‐style survey
Authors: Burton Suzan , Clark Lindie , Jackson Kristina 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACTAims  To assess the impact of retail displays of tobacco on tobacco smoking and purchase by smokers and attempting quitters.Design  Population‐based diary style survey.Setting  NSW, Australia.Participants  A total of 998 smokers and 111 attempting quitters.Measurements  Demographic measures and 4‐hourly records over 4 days: number of cigarettes smoked and bought; exposure to cigarette smoking by friends/family or other smokers; and exposure to retail displays of tobacco.Findings  Subjects reported seeing cigarettes for sale in more than 40% of the time‐periods when they were outside their home. After allowing for factors which are known to increase smoking, people who saw cigarettes for sale were more likely to smoke, and smoked more cigarettes, even if they did not buy cigarettes in the same time‐period. There was marginally significant evidence that people exposed to retail displays of tobacco in one time‐period were more likely to buy in the following time‐period.Conclusions  In an environment which permits point‐of‐sale displays, smokers were found to see tobacco displays in more than 40% of the 4‐hour periods that they were outside the home. Exposure to such tobacco displays was associated with a higher probability of smoking, and with higher levels of smoking, even when subjects did not purchase cigarettes.
Patient issues in health research and quality of care: an inventory and data synthesis
Authors: Teunissen Truus , Visse Merel , de Boer Pim , Abma Tineke A. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractAim  The purpose of this review is to generate an inventory of issues that matter from a patient perspective in health research and quality of care. From these issues, criteria will be elicited to support patient(s) (groups) in their role as advisor or advocate when appraising health research, health policy and quality of health care.Background  Literature shows that patients are beginning to develop their own voice and agenda’s with issues in order to be prepared for the collaboration with professionals. Yet, patient issues have not been investigated systematically. This review addresses what patients find important and help to derive patient criteria for appraising research and quality of care.Methods/search strategy  Information was gathered from Western countries with similar economic, societal and health‐care situations. We searched (from January 2000 to March 2010) for primary sources, secondary sources and tertiary sources; non‐scientific publications were also included.Results  The international inventory of issues that were defined by patients is covering a large array of domains. In total, 35 issue clusters further referred to as criteria were found ranging from dignity to cost effectiveness and family involvement. Issues from a patient perspective reveal patient values and appear to be adding to professional issues.Conclusions  Patient issues cover a broad domain, including fundamental values, quality of life, quality of care and personal development. Quite a few issues do not find its reflection in the scientific literature in spite of their clear and obvious appearance from tertiary sources. This may indicate a gap between the scientific research community and patient networks.
Effect of l‐carnitine on oxidative stress and platelet activation after major surgery
Authors: PIGNATELLI P. , TELLAN G. , MARANDOLA M. , CARNEVALE R. , LOFFREDO L. , SCHILLIZZI M. , PROIETTI M. , VIOLI F. , CHIRLETTI P. , DELOGU G. 
Published: July 2011

Background: The surgical/anesthesia trauma is associated with an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This enhanced oxidative stress leads to cell damage resulting in various complications such as sepsis, myocardial injury and increased mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of antioxidant treatment with l‐carnitine in oxidative stress and platelet activation in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.
Methods: Forty patients scheduled for abdominal surgery were randomly allocated to l‐carnitine, administered with a rapid infusion (0.05 g/kg) diluted in 250 ml of saline solution, vs. placebo treatment just before the surgical intervention. At baseline and after treatment, oxidative stress was evaluated by detection of circulating levels of soluble NOX2‐derived peptide (sNOX2‐dp), a marker of NADPH oxidase activation, and by analyzing platelet ROS formation. Platelet activation was studied by dosing sCD40L.
Results: We observed an increase of soluble sNOX2‐dp, sCD40L and ROS production in the placebo group compared with the baseline after the surgical intervention. Conversely, in the l‐carnitine‐treated group, sNOX2‐dp, sCD40L and ROS production did not significantly differ from the baseline. A linear correlation analysis showed that Δ of ROS correlated with Δ of sNOX2 (Rs=0.817; P<0.001) and Δ of sCD40L (Rs=0.780; P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the only independent predictive variable associated with Δ of ROS was Δ of serum NOX2 levels (SE=0.05; standardized coefficient β=1.075; P<0.001).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that l‐carnitine could be helpful in modulating oxidative stress and platelet activation during major abdominal surgery‐dependent oxidative damage.
Insect vectors of the pinewood nematode: a review of the biology and ecology of Monochamus species
Authors: Akbulut S. , Stamps W. T. 
Published: July 2011

SummaryPine wilt disease (PWD), caused by the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle 1970, is a serious threat to susceptible pine forests of the world. The PWN is primarily vectored by Monochamus species (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The first occurrence of PWD was reported from Japan in the early 1900s. Following this report, Japanese scientists documented the community of bark‐ and phloem‐inhabiting insects associated with the nematodes in dying trees to determine possible vectors of the nematode. Monochamus alternatus was reported to be the most effective vector in Japan. The primary vector in North America is Monochamus carolinensis, and in Europe, it is Monochamus galloprovincialis. Further studies have been expanded through the nematode‐invaded countries of Korea, Taiwan, China and Portugal. There is an interspecific association between the PWN and its insect vectors, and it is an obligatory component of the disease cycle. It is crucial to understand this relationship as well as the population ecology of the beetle to aid in monitoring and control of this worldwide threat to pine forests. Studies to date indicate a remarkable similarity among beetle species around the globe for a variety of life‐history traits, including lifespan, adult emergence numbers, flight capability, nematode transmission rates and attraction to pine volatiles. Wherever pines are found, there is a beetle species capable of transmitting the nematode. Although flight performance and range is generally poor for this group of beetle vectors, the cryptic nature of the species and the lack of interest in the beetles by countries in the absence of the nematode have led to the disease establishing a foothold in a variety of countries such as Portugal. In this paper, studies conducted in different countries on Monochamus vector species of the PWN are compared and discussed.
Frequency and risk factors of renal impairment during long‐term adefovir dipivoxil treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Kim Yu Jin , Cho Hyun Chin , Sinn Dong Hyun , Gwak Geum‐Youn , Choi Moon Seok , Koh Kwang Cheol , Paik Seung Woon , Yoo Byung Chul , Lee Joon Hyeok 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  There are insufficient data on renal safety during long‐term adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment. We aimed to elucidate the incidence and risk factors of renal impairment in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with ADV.Methods:  We retrospectively enrolled 687 CHB patients (51.4% with compensated cirrhosis) treated with ADV alone (18.2%) or in combination with lamivudine (81.8%) for more than 12 months. Renal function was measured using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and renal dysfunction was defined as mild (20–30% decrease), moderate (30–50%), or severe (more than 50%).Results:  During the median treatment duration of 27 months, 72 patients (10.5%) developed renal impairment, which was mild in 77.8% of cases, moderate in 20.8% of cases, and severe in one patient. The cumulative incidence of renal impairment at 1, 3, and 5 years was 2.6%, 14.8%, and 34.7%, respectively. Modification of the dosing interval or discontinuation of ADV was required in seven and three patients, respectively, and none of them showed a further decline in the eGFR. Although a univariate analysis revealed age, the number of exposure to radio‐contrast dye, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma as risk factors of renal impairment, age was the only significant risk factor identified in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio = 1.048, 95% confidence interval = 1.019–1.076, P = 0.001).Conclusions:  Renal impairment in long‐term ADV users was relatively frequent, but serious renal toxicity was rare, and all cases were safely managed. Careful monitoring of renal function is required, especially in older patients.
Refuting the six‐genus classification of Penaeus s.l. (Dendrobranchiata, Penaeidae): a combined analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear genes
Authors: Ma Ka Yan , Chan Tin‐Yam , Chu Ka Hou 
Published: July 2011

Ma, K. Y., Chan, T. ‐Y & Chu, K. H. (2011). Refuting the six‐genus classification of Penaeus s.l. (Dendrobranchiata, Penaeidae): a combined analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear genes. —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 498–508.The taxonomic revision in 1997 of the shrimps formerly classified in Penaeus s.l. has been one of the most controversial issues on systematics of the decapods in recent years. Since Pérez Farfante & Kensley (Penaeoid and Sergestoid Shrimps and Prawns of the World, 1997) split this long‐accepted taxon into six genera, much debate has been devoted to their proposed new classification scheme; this has taken place because there are serious doubts whether the said scheme could reflect the evolutionary relationships among the 29 Penaeus s.l. species. Although these shrimps can be easily separated into several groups morphologically, whether these subdivisions are truly monophyletic and warrant a generic rank continues to be hotly debated among taxonomists. This study examined a total of 2425 bp sequences from three nuclear protein genes (enolase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and sodium–potassium ATPase α‐subunit), and the mitochondrial 16S and 12S rRNA gene of 18 Penaeus s.l. shrimps and 13 other species in the family Penaeidae. Our phylogenetic analyses strongly support the monophyly of Penaeus s.l. and, concurring with previous studies that used the mitochondrial genes alone, the paraphyly of both Penaeus s.s. (sensu Pérez Farfante & Kensley, Penaeoid and Sergestoid Shrimps and Prawns of the World, 1997) and Melicertus, rendering them non‐natural groupings. Our study reveals two lineages: Penaeus s.s. + Fenneropenaeus + Litopenaeus + Farfantepenaeus and Melicertus + Marsupenaeus, which exhibit genetic divergences comparable with those among other penaeid genera. However, all the morphological characters, which are emphasized by Pérez Farfante and Kensley and used to separate Penaeus s.l., do not correlate with the grouping revealed by the present, perhaps decisive, phylogenetic result. Such disparity may arise from selection on the morphology of genitalia and convergent evolution. Our molecular data clearly refute the six‐genus classification, and we advocate the restoration of the old Penaeus genus (=Penaeus s.l.) definition which is the only classification scheme with both the morphological and the molecular data being in agreement.
Phylogeny and character evolution in Grania (Annelida, Clitellata)
Authors: De Wit Pierre , Rota Emilia , Erséus Christer 
Published: July 2011

De Wit, P., Rota, E. & Erséus, C. (2011) Phylogeny and character evolution in Grania (Annelida, Clitellata). —Zoologica Scripta, 40, 509–519.In this study, DNA sequences from six loci of twenty species are combined with a 54‐character morphological matrix coded for all 72 described species of the marine clitellate genus Grania (Enchytraeidae) in the first ever attempt to illuminate the phylogeny of the group. The data are found to be inadequate for resolving the phylogeny of the entire genus, but a well‐supported, fully resolved phylogeny of the subset of twenty species for which DNA data are available is found through both Bayesian inference and maximum parsimony. Using well‐supported nodes from the Bayesian analysis, we investigate the morphological character evolution using parsimony ancestral state reconstruction. We find that most morphological characters used in standard species descriptions are homoplasious. Morphological characters that are found to be homological within clades (although not globally) include chaetal characters, midventral glands, penial stylets, coloration and possession of a head organ. Surprisingly, the head organ is strongly suggested as having evolved at least twice within the genus, but an alternative hypothesis is that this structure is an ancestral feature of the genus that has been secondarily lost, or simply has not been optically detected, in some lineages. Also, the geographical distributions of the Grania species used in the DNA analysis tend to follow the phylogeny, indicating limited dispersal capabilities.