bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developmentally regulated multisensory integration for prey localization in the medicinal leech
Authors: Harley Cynthia M. , Cienfuegos Javier , Wagenaar Daniel A. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYMedicinal leeches, like many aquatic animals, use water disturbances to localize their prey, so they need to be able to determine if a wave disturbance is created by prey or by another source. Many aquatic predators perform this separation by responding only to those wave frequencies representing their prey. As leeches' prey preference changes over the course of their development, we examined their responses at three different life stages. We found that juveniles more readily localize wave sources of lower frequencies (2 Hz) than their adult counterparts (8–12 Hz), and that adolescents exhibited elements of both juvenile and adult behavior, readily localizing sources of both frequencies. Leeches are known to be able to localize the source of waves through the use of either mechanical or visual information. We separately characterized their ability to localize various frequencies of stimuli using unimodal cues. Within a single modality, the frequency–response curves of adults and juveniles were virtually indistinguishable. However, the differences between the responses for each modality (visual and mechanosensory) were striking. The optimal visual stimulus had a much lower frequency (2 Hz) than the optimal mechanical stimulus (12 Hz). These frequencies matched, respectively, the juvenile and the adult preferred frequency for multimodally sensed waves. This suggests that, in the multimodal condition, adult behavior is driven more by mechanosensory information and juvenile behavior more by visual. Indeed, when stimuli of the two modalities were placed in conflict with one another, adult leeches, unlike juveniles, were attracted to the mechanical stimulus much more strongly than to the visual stimulus.
Ultrasound biomicroscopy for biomechanical characterization of healthy and injured triceps surae of rats
Authors: Peixinho C. C. , Ribeiro M. B. , Resende C. M. C. , Werneck-de-Castro J. P. S. , de Oliveira L. F. , Machado J. C. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARY
This work describes the use of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) to follow up the degeneration–regeneration process after a laceration injury induced in the lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and soleus (SOL) muscles of rats. UBM (40 MHz) images were acquired and used for biomechanical characterization of muscular tissue, specifically using pennation angle (PA) and muscle thickness (MT). The animals were distributed in three groups: the variability group (VG; N=5), the gastrocnemius injured group (GG; N=6) and the soleus injured group (SG; N=5). VG rats were used to assess data variability and reliability (coefficients of variation of 9.37 and 3.97% for PA and MT, respectively). GG and SG rats were submitted to the injury protocol in the LG and SOL muscles of the right legs, respectively. UBM images of muscles of both legs were acquired at the following time points: before and after injury (immediately, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days). We observed an increase in PA for the non-injured leg 28 days after injury for both GG and SG rats (GG=10.68 to 16.53 deg and SG=9.65 to 14.06 deg; P&lt;0.05). Additionally, MT presented a tendency to increase (GG=2.92 to 3.13 mm and SG=2.12 to 2.35 mm). Injured legs maintained pre-injury PA and MT values. It is suggested that a compensatory hypertrophic response due to the overload condition imposed to healthy leg. The results indicate that UBM allows qualitative and quantitative muscle differentiation among healthy and injured muscle at different stages after lesion.
An aphid's Odyssey – the cortical quest for the vascular bundle
Authors: Hewer Angela , Becker Alexander , van Bel Aart J. E. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYSensing pH and sucrose concentration (with a preference for pH values of 7.0–7.5 and sucrose concentrations of approximately 400 mmol l–1) enables aphids to recognise sieve tubes inside vascular bundles. However, it is still unclear how aphids find their way to the vascular bundles. Membrane potentials in the cortex of Vicia faba stems were measured along a radial transect from the epidermis to the sieve elements and there was no gradient detected that could be used by aphids to guide their stylets to the sieve elements. Additionally, aphids did not demonstrate a preference between artificial diets with low or high levels of dissolved oxygen, making it unlikely that oxygen gradients in the cortex assist orientation towards the phloem. Tracks of salivary sheaths indicate that aphids search for vascular bundles in a radial direction (perpendicular from the stem surface to the vascular bundle) with regular side punctures in a pre-programmed fashion. Optical examination and electrical penetration graph (EPG) recordings suggest that aphids (Megoura viciae) probe the vacuolar sap of cortex cells. Acidic pH (5.0–5.5) and low sucrose concentrations in vacuoles, therefore, may provoke aphids to retract their stylets and probe the next cell until a favourable cell sap composition is encountered. The importance of sucrose as a cue was demonstrated by the experimental manipulation of Ricinus communis plants that cause them to transport hexoses instead of sucrose. Aphids (Aphis fabae) ingested less phloem sap of plants transporting hexoses compared with plants transporting the normal sucrose. The proposed rejection–acceptance behaviour provides a universal plant-directed mode of how aphids orientate their stylets towards the phloem.
Ecologically relevant measures of tolerance to potentially lethal temperatures
Authors: Terblanche John S. , Hoffmann Ary A. , Mitchell Katherine A. , Rako Lea , le Roux Peter C. , Chown Steven L. 
Published: October 2011

SummaryThe acute thermal tolerance of ectotherms has been measured in a variety of ways; these include assays where organisms are shifted abruptly to stressful temperatures and assays where organisms experience temperatures that are ramped more slowly to stressful levels. Ramping assays are thought to be more relevant to natural conditions where sudden abrupt shifts are unlikely to occur often, but it has been argued that thermal limits established under ramping conditions are underestimates of true thermal limits because stresses due to starvation and/or desiccation can arise under ramping. These confounding effects might also impact the variance and heritability of thermal tolerance. We argue here that ramping assays are useful in capturing aspects of ecological relevance even though there is potential for confounding effects of other stresses that can also influence thermal limits in nature. Moreover, we show that the levels of desiccation and starvation experienced by ectotherms in ramping assays will often be minor unless the assays involve small animals and last for many hours. Empirical data illustrate that the combined effects of food and humidity on thermal limits under ramping and sudden shifts to stressful conditions are unpredictable; in Drosophila melanogaster the presence of food decreased rather than increased thermal limits, whereas in Ceratitis capitata they had little impact. The literature provides examples where thermal limits are increased under ramping presumably because of the potential for physiological changes leading to acclimation. It is unclear whether heritabilities and population differentiation will necessarily be lower under ramping because of confounding effects. Although it is important to clearly define experimental methods, particularly when undertaking comparative assessments, and to understand potential confounding effects, thermotolerance assays based on ramping remain an important tool for understanding and predicting species responses to environmental change. An important area for further development is to identify the impact of rates of temperature change under field and laboratory conditions.
CRF treatment induces a readjustment in glucosensing capacity in the hypothalamus and hindbrain of rainbow trout
Authors: Conde-Sieira Marta , Librán-Pérez Marta , López Patiño Marcos A. , Míguez Jesús M. , Soengas José L. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARY
Stress conditions induced in rainbow trout a readjustment in the glucosensing response of the hypothalamus and hindbrain such that those sensors did not respond properly to changes in glucose levels, as demonstrated in previous studies. To evaluate the hypothesis that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) could be involved in that response, we have incubated the hypothalamus and hindbrain of rainbow trout at different glucose concentrations in the presence of different concentrations of CRF. Under those conditions, we evaluated whether parameters related to glucosensing [the levels of glucose, glycogen and glucose 6-phosphate, the activities of glucokinase (GK), glycogen synthase (GSase) and pyruvate kinase (PK), and mRNA abundance of transcripts for GK, Glut2, Kir.6-like and sulfonylurea receptor (SUR)-like] are modified in the presence of CRF in a way comparable to that observed under stress conditions. We obtained evidence allowing us to suggest that CRF could be involved in the interaction between stress and glucosensing as CRF treatment of the hypothalamus and hindbrain in vitro induced a readjustment in glucosensing parameters similar to that previously observed under stress conditions in vivo. We had also previously demonstrated that stress elicits alterations in food intake in parallel with the readjustment of glucosensing systems. Here, we provide evidence that the mRNA abundance of several of the neuropeptides involved in the regulation of food intake, such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) or cocaineand amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), is affected by CRF treatment, in such a way that their expression does not respond to changes in glucose levels in the same way as controls, allowing us to suggest that the food intake response that is integrated by changes in those peptides and known to be reduced by stress could be also mediated by CRF action in glucosensing areas.
Recent Progress in Chemical Characterization of Supported Gold Catalysts: CO Adsorption on Au/Ceria–Zirconia
Authors: Delgado Juan J , Cíes José M , López-Haro Miguel , del Río Eloy , Calvino José J , Bernal Serafín 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
An approach correlating quantitative CO adsorption data with the nanostructural properties of Au/CeO2–ZrO2 catalysts is discussed. It has been used to show that the CO adsorption occurs on Au sites with coordination number ≤7, that Au dispersion has a dramatic influence on the amount of CO strongly chemisorbed on the support, and that a fully reversible SMSI effect may be induced by successive mild reduction and reoxidation treatments.
197Au Mössbauer Spectroscopy of Au25(SG)18− Revisited
Authors: Tsukuda Tatsuya , Negishi Yuichi , Kobayashi Yasuhiro , Kojima Norimichi 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Reanalysis of the 197Au Mössbauer spectrum of Au25(SG)18− (SG: glutathionate) based on the structure determined by single-crystal XRD analysis gave a reasonable fit, demonstrating that 197Au Mössbauer spectroscopy is a powerful tool for predicting the structural motifs of thiolate-protected Au clusters.
Size Regulation of Si Nanoparticles through Photon-enhanced Chemical Etching
Authors: Azuma Shogo , Sato Seiichi 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
A Si nanoparticle surface was etched in an aqueous HF solution under monochromatic light irradiation in the infrared-to-visible region. The average size of the nanoparticles was controlled by changing the photon energy of the irradiating light. After prolonged photoetching, the size distribution of the nanoparticles was narrowed significantly. The correlation between the photon energy and the final size of the nanoparticles indicated that the band gap energy change due to the quantum size effect played an important role in controlling nanoparticle size.
Novel Method for Surface Modification of Silicone-containing Hydrogel Using Addition Reaction
Authors: Yokota Mitsuru , Shimoyama Naoki , Fujisawa Kazuhiko , Nakamura Masataka , Ajiro Hiroharu , Akashi Mitsuru 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
We designed a novel surface modification method of shaped articles from silicone-containing hydrogel using hydrosilylation reaction between silicone component and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain in order to improve the surface wettability. For the introduction of –SiH group to hydrogel, in addition to copolymerization of –SiH-containing methacrylate, argon gas plasma treatment was found to be effective. Hydrosilylation reaction between shaped article and PEG easily proceeded in organic solvent, and the resultant hydrogel showed reduced contact angle after the hydration in water. FTIR-ATR measurement suggested the validity of our process design concept.
Atomic Oxygen-resistant Phosphorus-containing Polyimides Derived from Bis(4-aminophenoxy)phenylphosphine Oxide and Aromatic Dianhydrides
Authors: Xiao Fei , Wang Kai , Zhan Maosheng 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
A series of phosphorus-containing polyimides are prepared from p-DAPO3 and corresponding dianhydrides by two-stage polycondensation, and properties such as AO resistance are discussed in detail.
Unusually Long trans/gauche Conformational Equilibration Time during the Melting Process of BmimCl, a Prototype Ionic Liquid
Authors: Okajima Hajime , Hamaguchi Hiro-o 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
The melting process of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (bmimCl), a prototype room-temperature ionic liquid, has been studied with fast low frequency Raman spectroscopy. Simultaneous tracing of the lattice vibrations and trans/gauche conformational marker bands reveals that the conformational change in the butyl group occurs a few seconds after the loss of lattice vibrations. This finding indicates that the alkyl chain interaction in bmimCl is so strong that the butyl conformation hardly changes in the very early stage of melting.
A Short-Range Scheduling Model for Blockbuster's Order-Processing Operation
Authors: Chung Casey , Dawande Milind , Rajamani Divakar , Sriskandarajah Chelliah 
Published: October 2011

Blockbuster Inc., a chain of VHS, DVD, Blu-ray, and video game rental stores, has developed a highly specialized distribution network. The company maintains a single distribution center in which it receives products from suppliers, and processes and packs them for shipping to stores across the United States. The volumes of particular products and the number of different products shipped in a week have significant week-to-week volatility. Short lead times are typical because of supplier manufacturing delays and strict in-store due-date requirements. At the distribution center, processing and packing are scheduled through multiple processing departments that compete for use of shared merge conveyors and shared sortation systems. Blockbuster's general processing and packing goal is on-time delivery of products to stores while controlling costs. In this paper, we describe the development and implementation of a mixed-integer programming model to schedule Blockbuster's short-range order-processing operations. Implemented beginning in January 2007, the model has helped Blockbuster to maintain timely shipping, reduce related labor and transportation costs, improve capacity utilization, and attain a better understanding of how to achieve further improvements. Blockbuster's structure, in which multiple processing departments compete for subsequent shared resources, such as merge conveyors and sortation systems, is common in other industries; therefore, we also discuss the relevance of this model to other organizations.
Multicentric Osteosarcoma
Authors: Corradi Domenico , Wenger Doris E. , Bertoni Franco , Bacchini Patrizia , Bosio Silvia , Goldoni Matteo , Unni K. Krishnan , Sim Franklin H. , Inwards Carrie Y. 
Published: October 2011

Abstract
Multicentric osteosarcoma (M-OGS) is characterized by multicentricity of osseous osteosarcomas, either synchronous or metachronous, without visceral involvement. The study’s purpose was to clinicopathologically and radiographically analyze 56 cases of M-OGS (22 synchronous and 34 metachronous). The distal femur was the most common site. Histologically, all tumors were high grade. Of 22 patients with synchronous M-OGS, 16 had 3 or more simultaneous tumors; the axial skeleton was involved in 14 (64%) of 22 cases. In metachronous M-OGS, the second malignancy occurred after a median of 22 months. Treatment was surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of these. Patients with metachronous osteosarcoma had a median survival longer than did patients with synchronous tumors. Overall, 8 long-term survivors were treated by aggressive surgery with wide margins (plus chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy). M-OGS combines multiple skeletal locations of high-grade conventional osteosarcomas and has a poor prognosis. Aggressive surgery may result in improved long-term survival, particularly in patients with metachronous disease.
Pharmacist-Led Group Medical Appointments for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes with Comorbid Depression in Older Adults
Authors: Taveira Tracey H , Dooley Andrea G , Cohen Lisa B , Khatana Sameed Ahmed M , Wu Wen-Chih 
Published: October 2011

Background:: Depression is associated with poor glycemic control, increased number of microvascular and macrovascular complications, functional impairment, mortality, and 4.5 times higher total health care costs in patients with diabetes. Shared medical appointments (SMAs) may be an effective method to attain national guideline recommendations for glycemic control in diabetes for patients with depression through peer support, counseling, problem solving, and improved access to care. Objective: To test the efficacy as assessed by attainment of a hemoglobin A1c (A1C) <7% of pharmacistted group SMA visits, Veterans Affairs Multidisciplinary Education in Diabetes and Intervention for Cardiac Risk Reduction in Depression (VA-MEDIC-D), in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial of VA-MEDIC-D added to standard care versus standard care alone in depressed patients with diabetes with A1C >6.5%. VA-MEDIC-D consisted of 4 once-weekly, 2-hour sessions followed by 5 monthly 90-minute group sessions. Each SMA session consisted of multidisciplinary education and pharmacist-led behavioral and pharmacologic interventions for diabetes, lipids, smoking, and blood pressure. No pharmacologic interventions for depression were provided. The change in the proportion of participants who achieved an A1C <7% at 6 months was compared. Results: Compared to standard care (n = 44), a lower proportion of patients in VA-MEDIC-D (n = 44) had systolic blood pressure (SBP) <130 mm Hg at baseline, but were similar in other cardiovascular risk factors and psychiatric comorbidity. The change in the proportion of participants achieving an A1C <7% was greater in the VA-MEDIC-D arm than in the standard care arm (29.6% vs 11.9%), with odds ratio 3.6 (95% CI 1.1 to 12.3). VA-MEDIC-D participants also achieved significant reductions in SBP, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non–high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol from baseline, whereas significant reductions were attained only in non–HDL cholesterol with standard care. There was no significant change in depressive symptoms for either arm. Conclusions: Pharmacist-led group SMA visits are efficacious in attainment of glycemic control in patients with diabetes and depression without change in depression symptoms.
Rosiglitazone and Pioglitazone for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Miller Benjamin W , Willett Kristine C , Desilets Alicia R 
Published: October 2011

Objective: To review the literature on the efficacy and safety of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Data Sources: Literature was accessed through MEDLINE (1948-August 2011 week 2) and EMBASE (1980-2011 week 32) using the search terms rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, and Alzheimer's disease. Results were limited to studies conducted in humans and published in English. Study Selection And Data Ektraction: Clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of rosiglitazone or pioglitazone in patients with AD were critically evaluated. Data Synthesis: The mechanism for development of AD has been linked to both inflammation and decreased insulin sensitivity. Because of this, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone have been evaluated as potential treatments for AD because of their insulin-sensitizing and antiinflammatory effects. Five clinical trials were evaluated (3 assessing rosiglitazone, 2 assessing pioglitazone); 1 trial evaluating rosiglitazone demonstrated a beneficial effect on cognition in patients with probable AD. However, the largest randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials conducted to date failed to demonstrate a difference between rosiglitazone and placebo when assessing primary endpoints. Two small trials evaluating pioglitazone produced conflicting results regarding efficacy in AD; numerous limitations make results difficult to interpret. The safety of these agents was also evaluated in these trials; edema was seen more commonly in patients receiving rosiglitazone or pioglitazone than in those receiving placebo; however, each drug was generally well tolerated. Conclusions: Resufts from clinical trials and current safety data suggest that rosiglitazone should not be used for the treatment of AD. Application of results from trials evaluating pioglitazone in the treatment of AD is limited because of major trial limitations; therefore, it should not be recommended at this time. Although these drugs are not commonly used in the treatment of AD, further pharmacoepidemiologic studies are warranted before their use can be recommended.
The Use of Activated Recombinant Factor VII in a Patient with Fulminant Hepatic Failure Requiring Placement of an Intracranial Pressure Monitor
Authors: Meadows Holly B , Krisl Jill C , Greenberg Charles S , Mazur Joseph E 
Published: October 2011

Objective: To evaluate the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in a patient with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) requiring placement of an intracranial pressure monitor. Case Summary: A 21-year-old female with no significant medical history was admitted to an outside hospital with elevated results of liver function tests. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis. Systemic corticosteroids were started, but her condition continued to decompensate. She was transferred to our tertiary care facility 5 days after initial presentation. The liver function test results remained elevated (eg, total bilirubin 27 mg/dL), and international normalized ratio (INR) was 3.57. The medical team decided to place an intracranial pressure monitor, with the neurosurgery team's goal being an INR less than 1.5 before placement of the monitor. After multiple units of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) failed to lower the patient's INR, rFVIIa 40 μg/kg was administered. A rapid decrease of the INR allowed the neurosurgery team to perform the procedure without complications. Discussion: The use of rFVIIa allowed for decrease of this patient's INR after multiple units of FFP had failed to correct it. The utility of INR as a marker of coagulopathy in fulminant hepatic failure has been debated, but it is currently used as the standard laboratory test prior to invasive procedures, as in the case presented here. Conclusions: The use of rFVIta for rapid decrease of INR in a patient with FHF prior to an invasive procedure was safe and efficacious. When considering the use of rFVIIa, clinicians should be aware of the risk of thrombosis. In our experience, and in the limited literature on the matter, rFVIIa 40 μg/kg appears to be an appropriate dose for decrease of the INR. Further studies are needed to confirm this finding.