bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prominent system of RFamide immunoreactive neurons in the rhopalia of box jellyfish (cnidaria: Cubozoa)
Authors: Parkefelt Linda , Ekström Peter 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe four visual sensory structures of a cubomedusa, the rhopalia, display a surprisingly elaborate organization by containing two lens eyes and four bilaterally paired pigment cup eyes. Peptides containing the peptide sequence Arg‐Phe‐NH2 (RFamide) occur in close association with visual structures of cnidarians, including the rhopalia and rhopalial stalk of cubomedusae, suggesting that RFamide functions as a neuronal marker for certain parts of the visual system of medusae. Using immunofluorescence we give a detailed description of the organization of the RFamide‐immunoreactive (ir) nervous system in the rhopalia and rhopalial stalk of the cubomedusae Tripedalia cystophora and Carybdea marsupialis. The bilaterally symmetric RFamide‐ir nervous system contains four cell groups and three morphologically different cell types. Neurites spread throughout the rhopalia and occur in close vicinity of the pigment cup eyes and the lower lens eye. Two commissures connect the two sides of the system and neurites of one rhopalial cell group extend into the rhopalial stalk. The RFamide‐ir nervous system in the rhopalia of cubomedusae is more widespread and comprises more cells than earlier discerned. We suggest that the system might not only integrate visual input but also signals from other senses. One of the RFamide‐ir cell groups is favorably situated to represent pacemaker neurons that set the swimming rhythm of the medusa. J. Comp. Neurol. 516:157–165, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluating the maintenance of effect of duloxetine in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain
Authors: Skljarevski Vladimir , Desaiah Durisala , Zhang Qi , Chappell Amy S. , Detke Michael J. , Gross Jorge L. , Ziegler Dan 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackgroundTo evaluate the maintenance of effect of duloxetine 60 mg QD over 26 weeks in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP).MethodsAdult patients with DPNP and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) 24‐h average pain ≥4 were treated in this open‐label study with duloxetine 60 mg QD for 8 weeks. Responders (≥30% pain reduction) continued on duloxetine 60 mg QD (maintenance arm) for 26 weeks while non‐responders had duloxetine increased to 120 mg QD (rescue arm). The primary outcome measure was the mean change from baseline (Week 8) to endpoint (Week 34) in BPI average pain in the maintenance arm. A number of secondary efficacy measures, as well as safety and tolerability, were assessed.ResultsTwo hundred and sixteen patients entered the study and their baseline BPI average pain was 5.9. Thirty‐two patients (15%) discontinued during the acute phase. One hundred and fifteen (53%) patients were found to be responders to 60 mg dose and they entered the maintenance arm. During the maintenance period they reported a mean change of BPI average pain of 0.35, with 0.79 as the upper bound of the one‐sided 97.5% CI, which was less than the pre‐specified non‐inferiority margin of 1.5 (p < 0.001). Non‐responders, upon dose increase to 120 mg QD, reported a statistically significant pain reduction. Total of 119 patients completed either arm of the study. Twenty patients experienced 27 serious adverse events including one death.ConclusionIn this open‐label study, the effect of duloxetine 60 mg QD in patients with DPNP was maintained over 6‐month period. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationships between groundwater level and furbearer abundance in the Northern Arkansas Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Authors: Kidd John B. , Kissell Robert E. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractAbundances of hydrophilic furbearers, such as raccoons (Procyon lotor), are known to change with alterations in surface water availability. Unconfined aquifers dynamically interact with surface water, and surface water availability is often reduced when groundwater levels decline. However, the relationship between groundwater level and furbearer abundance is not well understood. Groundwater depths in the Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer have increased such that critical groundwater areas have been designated in the Arkansas portion of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. We tested the effect of groundwater level on furbearer abundance using three depth‐to‐groundwater categories: shallow (<6·4 m), medium (6·4–13·99 m) and deep (≥14·0 m). In each category we surveyed furbearer relative abundance with scent station lines (N = 40) and minimum density estimates with aerial thermal infrared transects (N = 7). Relative abundance indices of furbearers collectively were not different (F = 2·67, P = 0·08), nor were minimum density estimates (F = 2·21, P = 0·22) among groundwater depths. Only relative abundance indices for Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana; F = 4·76, P = 0·01) were different among groundwater depths. More research is needed to discern if potential ecologically significant relationships exist between groundwater level and furbearer abundance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Role of Nanostructure in Improving the Performance of Electrodes for Energy Storage and Conversion
Authors: Centi Gabriele , Perathoner Siglinda 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe nanostructure is a critical element to improve the performance of electrodes and realize the demanding expectation for a more sustainable and efficient conversion and storage of energy. This microreview analyzes some examples related to advanced electrodes for Li‐ion batteries, PEM fuel cells, titania photoanodes and solar cells. The role of a proper nanoarchitecture and hierarchical organization in the electrode, which requires the understanding of the complex physicochemical phenomena occurring at the nanoscale level, is discussed. The need to use cost‐effective methods for a robust and scalable preparation is also mentioned. Specific materials and topics discussed are (i) nanostructured carbons (nanotubes and nanofibres, and tube‐in‐tube materials), (ii) their hybrid nanocomposites with oxides (TiO2, V2O5), (iii) their use as support for noble metal nanoparticles, and (iv) ordered or non‐ordered arrays of titania nanotubes and nanorods.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
On–Off Switchable Binuclear Chemosensor Based on Thiacalix[4]crown Armed with Pyrene Moieties
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Dhir Abhimanew , Bhalla Vandana 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA new fluorescent “on–off” switchable chemosensor 2 based on a thiacalix[4] arene with a 1,3‐alternate conformation and two different types of cation binding sites has been synthesized. Two pyrene moieties linked to a cation recognition unit composed of two imine groups form a strong excimer in solution. Of the metal ions tested, the fluorescence of 2 was strongly quenched by Hg2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions. The fluorescence was revived by the addition of only K+ to the Cu2+ ligand complex. Thus, metal‐ion exchange triggers an “on–off” switchable fluorescent chemosensor. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Characterization of de novo synthesized proteins released from human colorectal tumour explants
Authors: Shi Hong Jun , Stubbs Richard , Hood Kylie 
Published: July 2009

AbstractTumours release many proteins into their microenvironment. These proteins may enter the blood stream and have value as cancer biomarkers. We examined the range of proteins released by colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis (LM) specimens and normal colon mucosa during 16 h culture as explants in the presence of [35S]‐methionine. Proteins released into the conditioned media were isolated and separated by 2‐DE and detected by CBB stain and de novo synthesized proteins by autoradiography. The majority of proteins released by CRC LM explants in short‐term culture were plasma proteins from tumour interstitial fluid and tissue breakdown products including mitochondrial and nuclear proteins from pre‐existing necrotic cells within the tumours. De novo synthesized proteins were present at a lower abundance and included a high proportion of cytoplasmic proteins in addition to classically secreted proteins. Many cytoplasmic proteins were also present in the autoradiograph secretomes of four CRC cell lines examined, despite high cell viability (>97%), suggestive of an alternative release mechanism. The secretome profiles varied significantly between different patients, and also between different cell lines, despite low intra‐experimental variation. Quantitative analysis of the autoradiograph secretome profiles prepared from tumour and normal colon mucosa tissues revealed 32 protein spots that were differentially abundant between the normal and cancer tissue secretome, including desmocollin‐2 and fibrinogen γ chain, which were upregulated and downregulated in the CRC LM secretomes, respectively. Further characterization of de novo synthesized proteins released from human tumours may help to discover a novel set of serological markers for CRC.
Proteomic identification of cytosolic proteins that undergo arginine methylation during rat liver regeneration
Authors: An Sinae , Yun Miyong , Park Yun Gyu , Park Gil Hong 
Published: July 2009

AbstractProtein arginine methylation plays a crucial role in signal transduction, protein–protein interactions, and transcriptional regulation. Previously, we showed that protein arginine methyltransferase activity increased significantly during rat liver regeneration. In the present study, in vivo arginine methylation during liver regeneration was investigated. The presence of symmetric or asymmetric dimethylarginine in proteins varied significantly at the early stage of regeneration after partial hepatectomy. The nature of the 31 proteins that showed significant variations in arginine methylation were identified using 2‐DE and MS. Many of these proteins were oxidative stress‐related or oxidation‐prone proteins that exhibited significant variations in arginine methylation without changes in their expression levels. The oxidation of some of the oxidation‐prone proteins under oxidative stress such as carbonic anhydrase 3 decreased with increased levels of arginine methylation, whereas normal levels of protein oxidation were recovered as arginine methylation subsided. Taken together, this study demonstrated that time‐dependent methylation events in hepatocytes during the early period of rat liver regeneration may participate in the regulation or protection of protein activities, thus presenting a significant new insight into the biology of proliferating cells at the post‐translational modification level and into a key population of proteins involved in these processes.
A relatively simple and economical protocol for proteomic analyses of human 20S proteasome: Compatible with both scaled‐up and scaled‐down purifications
Authors: Chen Guoqiang , Luo Yuanming , Wang Xinli , Zhao Zhiyun , Liu Hui , Zhang Haijing , Li Zhili 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe 20S core particle (CP) is composed of 28 subunits arranged in four stacked heptameric rings (α7β7β7α7) forming a symmetrical barrel‐shaped structure. Typically, in previous reports, the purification of CP mainly relied on the antibody, liquid chromatography and affinity tag‐based strategies. In this study, we report a relatively simple and economical protocol for proteomic analyses of CP, which combines differential centrifugations with native‐PAGE. Furthermore, it is compatible with both scaled‐up purification from erythrocytes and scaled‐down purification from low to around 3.0×107 pancreatic cancer cells, SW1990. In addition, a direct three‐dimensional gel electrophoresis approach that omits the interval procedure between native‐PAGE and IEF/SDS‐PAGE is introduced. The results obtained in this study show that this protocol has a valuable potential for the studies of CP and other protein complexes.
Microvalves actuated sandwich immunoassay on an integrated microfluidic system
Authors: Gao Xinghua , Jiang Lei , Su Xiaoou , Qin Jianhua , Lin Bingcheng 
Published: July 2009

AbstractIn this study, we developed an integrated and automatic microfluidic immunoassay system, which comprised a multi‐layer immunoassay microfluidic chip and a rotary confocal LIF scanner. The normally closed elastomeric microvalves were integrated on the multi‐layer microfluidic chip to realize flexible reagents delivery for the rapid immunoassay. The various operations of immunoassay including coating, blocking and washing could be performed on a single chip with reduced reagents consumption and analysis time. The homemade rotary LIF scanner was able to detect the signals from the multichannels sequentially in a short period of time, enabling the potential capability for high‐throughput immunoassay. The performance of this system was demonstrated by the sandwich immunoassay of human immunoglobulin G with a LOD <10 ng/mL (S/N=3). The linear range was from 500 ng/mL to 100 μg/mL. This system has also been applied to the measurement of human immunoglobulin G from 15 real samples, demonstrating the potential of this platform for biomedical applications.
Analysis of multiple abused drugs and hypnotics in urine by sweeping CE
Authors: Chiang Jui‐Feng , Hsiao Yu‐Tzu , Ko Wei‐Kung , Wu Shou‐Mei 
Published: July 2009

AbstractMultiple drugs usage is very common in addicts (AD). However, some parent drugs were undetectable in urine, it was necessary to monitor their metabolites simultaneously. A sweeping CE was established for the determination of several kinds of abused drug and their metabolites in AD urine. This method was developed using chemometric experimental design to simplify the CE optimization. The capillary was filled by separation buffer (phosphate buffer (75 mM, pH 2.5) and methanol (70:30 v/v)) and then hydrodynamically injected large volume of samples into capillary (1 psi, 200 s). Following was using sweeping buffer (phosphate buffer (75 mM, pH 2.5) and methanol (90:10 v/v) containing 65 mM SDS) to sweep and stack analytes. The separation voltage was set at −15 kV (anode at detector end). During method validation, calibration plots were linear (r≥0.992) over a range of 0.1–3 μg/mL for codeine, ketamine, and methamphetamine, 0.15–3 μg/mL for morphine, 0.1–1 μg/mL for alprazolam and oxazepam, and 0.1–1.2 μg/mL for other other benzodiazepines and its metabolites. During intra‐ and inter‐day analysis, relative standards and relative errors were less than 14%. The analytes could be simultaneously analyzed and have a detection limit down to 20–50 ng/mL (S/N=3). The results showed good coincidence with GC‐MS or LC‐ESI‐MS. This method was feasible for application to detect trace levels of abused drugs in AD' urine.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Water in Operating Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Tsushima S. , Hirai S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractWater management in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is extremely important for the high performance and durable operation of fuel cells. Therefore, fundamental understanding of water transport involved in operating PEMFCs is necessary. This article presents a review of in situ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualisation of water in operating PEMFCs, which is recognised as a powerful diagnostic tool for probing water behaviours, both in flow fields and in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). The basic principles and hardware related to MRI visualisation are described with emphasis on the design, construction and material selection of a PEMFC for MRI experiments. The MRI results reported by several groups are outlined to illustrate the versatility and potential usefulness of in situ visualisation of water in operating PEMFCs using MRI.
Corporate usage of financial derivatives, information asymmetry, and insider trading
Authors: Nguyen Hoa , Faff Robert , Hodgson Allan 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThis article investigates whether financial derivative usage by Australian corporations constitutes information asymmetry when proxied by profitable trading in the firms' securities by insiders. The findings show that insiders who trade in companies that employ derivatives make larger purchase returns compared to insiders in nonuser firms with regard to trading identity, trading intensity, variability of usage, volume of trading, and industry effects. A plausible explanation is that asymmetry is driven by derivative traders who undertake noisy transactions in firms where risk outcomes were previously transparent. Excess returns are confined to purchase transactions consistent with insiders primarily selling for noninformation reasons. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 30:25–47, 2010
A maximal affine stochastic volatility model of oil prices
Authors: Hughen W. Keener 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThis study develops and estimates a stochastic volatility model of commodity prices that nests many of the previous models in the literature. The model is an affine three‐factor model with one state variable driving the volatility and is maximal among all such models that are also identifiable. The model leads to quasi‐analytical formulas for futures and options prices. It allows for time‐varying correlation structures between the spot price and convenience yield, the spot price and its volatility, and the volatility and convenience yield. It allows for expected mean‐reversion in the short term and for an increasing expected long‐term price, and for time‐varying risk premia. Furthermore, the model allows for the situation in which options' prices depend on risk not fully spanned by futures prices. These properties are desirable and empirically important for modeling many commodities, especially crude oil. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 30:101–133, 2010
Dealing with downside risk in a multi‐commodity setting: A case for a “Texas hedge”?
Authors: Power Gabriel J. , Vedenov Dmitry 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThis study analyzes the problem of multi‐commodity hedging from the downside risk perspective. The lower partial moments (LPM2)‐minimizing hedge ratios for the stylized hedging problem of a typical Texas panhandle feedlot operator are calculated and compared with hedge ratios implied by the conventional minimum‐variance (MV) criterion. A kernel copula is used to model the joint distributions of cash and futures prices for commodities included in the model. The results are consistent with the findings in the single‐commodity case in that the MV approach leads to over‐hedging relative to the LPM2‐based hedge. An interesting and somewhat unexpected result is that minimization of a downside risk criterion in a multi‐commodity setting may lead to a “Texas hedge” (i.e. speculation) being an optimal strategy for at least one commodity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 30:290–304, 2010
Reversing the lead, or a series of unfortunate events? NYMEX, ICE, and Amaranth
Authors: Kofman Paul , Michayluk David , Moser James T. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA number of studies compare the efficiency and transparency of floor trading with automated/electronic trading systems in the competition for order flow. Although most of these studies find that electronic systems lead price discovery, a few studies highlight the weaknesses of electronic trading in highly volatile market conditions. A series of unusual events in 2006, sparking extreme volatility in natural gas futures trading, provide an ideal setting to revisit the resilience of trading system price leadership in the face of high volatility. We estimate time‐varying Hasbrouck‐style information shares to investigate the intertemporal and cross‐sectional dynamics in price discovery. The results strongly suggest that the information share is time‐dependent and contract‐dependent. Floor trading dominates price discovery in the less liquid longer‐maturity contracts, whereas electronic trading dominates price discovery in the most liquid spot‐month contract. We find that the floor trading information share increases significantly with realized volatility. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 29:1130–1160, 2009
Economic evaluation of cholinesterase inhibitor therapy for dementia: comparison of Alzheimer's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Gustavsson Anders , Van Der Putt Rohan , Jönsson Linus , McShane Rupert 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the cost effectiveness of cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) treatment in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).MethodWe used 4‐month open label follow‐up data from routine memory clinic patients. There were 852 patients with AD and 112 with DLB. We applied three predictive models to estimate clinical and economic outcomes at five years, comparing AD and DLB patients with hypothetical untreated controls.ResultsThe mean improvement in MMSE in 852 AD patients was 0.57 (SD 3.4) at 4 months, and in the subgroup with baseline MMSE of 10–20 (moderate) was 1.6 (SD 3.7). Overall, the 112 DLB patients improved by 1.4 (SD 3.7). DLB patients with an MMSE 10–20 improved by 3.1 (SD 4.5) points. These efficacy data were input into the SHTAC, microsimulation and Markov models and produced estimated costs per QALY gained (CQG) for all AD of £194,066, £67,904 and £123,935 respectively. In comparison, the CQGs for all DLB were £46,794, £2,706 and £35,922. For the moderate subgroups only the SHTAC and microsimulation models were applicable. These gave CQG estimates for moderate AD of £39,664 and cost saving respectively. For moderate DLB, both estimates were cost saving.ConclusionThe cost per QALY gained of cholinesterase treatment of all patients with DLB (including those with MMSE outside the 10–20 range) is comparable to that of patients with moderate AD, and is probably cost saving. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An investigation of associations between alcohol use disorder and polymorphisms on ALDH2, BDNF, 5‐HTTLPR, and MTHFR genes in older Korean men
Authors: Shin Sangmoon , Stewart Robert , Ferri Cleusa P , Kim Jae‐Min , Shin Il‐Seon , Kim Sung‐Wan , Yang Su‐Jin , Yoon Jin‐Sang 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the association of alcohol use disorder (AUD) with four candidate genes in older Korean men: aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2, 1/2), brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF, val66met), serotonin transporter gene linked polymorphic region (5‐HTTLPR, s/l), and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR, c.677C > T).MethodsA community sample of 300 men aged 65 or over were categorized into 68 subjects with AUD and 232 controls according to clinical examinations and DSM‐IV criteria. Genotype distributions and allele frequencies were compared.ResultsMen with AUD had significantly higher ALDH2*1 and BDNF met allele frequencies compared to controls (p‐values < 0.05). No significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies were found for 5‐HTTLPR or MTHFR (p‐values > 0.3).ConclusionsAUD was associated with ALDH2*1 and BDNF met alleles in older Korean men. The first is consistent with previous research and likely to be explained by a protective effect of unpleasant symptoms following alcohol consumption associated with ALDH2*2. The second finding is novel and might be accounted for by BDNF‐mediated serotonin or dopamine pathways. However, given the relatively small sample size, the results should be regarded as preliminary and requiring independent replication. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.