bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Organizational motifs for ground squirrel cone bipolar cells
Authors: Light Adam C. , Zhu Yongling , Shi Jun , Saszik Shannon , Lindstrom Sarah , Davidson Laura , Li Xiaoyu , Chiodo Vince A. , Hauswirth William W. , Li Wei , DeVries Steven H. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractIn daylight vision, parallel processing starts at the cone synapse. Cone signals flow to On and Off bipolar cells, which are further divided into types according to morphology, immunocytochemistry, and function. The axons of the bipolar cell types stratify at different levels in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and can interact with costratifying amacrine and ganglion cells. These interactions endow the ganglion cell types with unique functional properties. The wiring that underlies the interactions among bipolar, amacrine, and ganglion cells is poorly understood. It may be easier to elucidate this wiring if organizational rules can be established. We identify 13 types of cone bipolar cells in the ground squirrel, 11 of which contact contiguous cones, with the possible exception of short‐wavelength‐sensitive cones. Cells were identified by antibody labeling, tracer filling, and Golgi‐like filling following transduction with an adeno‐associated virus encoding for green fluorescent protein. The 11 bipolar cell types displayed two organizational patterns. In the first pattern, eight to 10 of the 11 types came in pairs with partially overlapping axonal stratification. Pairs shared morphological, immunocytochemical, and functional properties. The existence of similar pairs is a new motif that might have implications for how signals first diverge from a cone to bipolar cells and then reconverge onto a costratifying ganglion cell. The second pattern is a mirror symmetric organization about the middle of the IPL involving at least seven bipolar cell types. This anatomical symmetry may be associated with a functional symmetry in On and Off ganglion cell responses. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:2864–2887, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in China: An Overview and Comparison with Major Trends
Authors: Noronha Carlos , Tou Si , Cynthia M. I. , Guan Jenny J. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTGiven the scant literature of corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting on mainland China, especially in the Western academia, the present paper aims at providing an overview of the CSR reporting requirements in that country. A comparison with major reporting trends such as the adoption of GRI‐G3 is made to further understand the development of CSR in China. A literature review of prior studies is also conducted concerning CSR in China, especially those which are available only in the Chinese language. In summary, the overview indicates that CSR reporting in China is at a very preliminary stage and more empirical research in this area is urgently called for. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
OMIP‐006: Phenotypic subset analysis of human T regulatory cells via polychromatic flow cytometry
Authors: Murdoch David M. , Staats Janet S. , Weinhold Kent J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThis panel was optimized for the enumeration and phenotypic characterization of T regulatory cells (Tregs) within the CD4+ T‐cell pool using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using intranuclear and intracellular staining methods. The panel was optimized for HIV+ clinical trial specimens through the use of HIV‐infected and normal donor PBMC. Because the panel is to be used in the context of testing cryopreserved PBMC obtained from multiple sites participating in clinical trials, it was essential to develop an assay that performed well using cryopreserved PBMC. Other tissue types have not been tested. © 2012 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.
Diabetes and cancer: the mechanistic implications of epidemiological analyses from the Hong Kong Diabetes Registry
Authors: Yang Xilin , So Wing‐Yee , Ma Ronald CW , Kong Alice PS , Xu Gang , Chan Juliana CN 
Published: February 2012

SummaryDiabetes is a disorder of energy metabolism associated with increased cancer risk, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. In a prospective cohort of patients enrolled in the Hong Kong Diabetes Registry, we explored risk factors for cancer including drug usage in type 2 diabetes. In a series of published papers, we reported a linear risk association of cancer with glycated haemoglobin with a threshold at 6.0%–6.5% and non‐linear risk associations of body mass index, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride and white blood cell (WBC) count in V‐shaped or A‐shaped manners. Detailed pharmacoepidemiological analysis revealed markedly attenuated cancer risk in patients treated with insulin and oral anti‐diabetic drugs compared with non‐users of these drugs. We further observed significant drug–subphenotype interactions with attenuated cancer risk in metformin users with low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitor users with high WBC count and statin users with co‐presence of low low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol plus albuminuria or low triglyceride. These novel observations corroborate with experimental findings of possible consequences of hyperglycaemia on dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism, renin‐angiotensin system and adenosine 5′‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase pathways, all of which may be implicated in carcinogenesis. On the basis of these epidemiological and experimental findings, we argue for the strong need to strengthen the health care system to ensure that type 2 diabetes subjects receive appropriate drugs to optimize internal milieu to reduce all events including cancer. Apart from mechanistic studies, large‐scale, randomized clinical trials using medications such as statin, renin‐angiotensin system inhibitors and metformin in patients with risk‐conferring subphenotypes are needed to confirm their anti‐cancer effects. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
“Caging” Anions through Crystal Engineering to Avoid Polymerization: Structural, Conformational and Theoretical Investigations of New Halocadmate [Cd2X7]3– Anions (X = Cl/Br)
Authors: Sharma Raj P. , Singh Ajnesh , Venugopalan Paloth , Yanan Guo , Yu Jihong , Angeli Celestino , Ferretti Valeria 
Published: February 2012

AbstractTwo new discrete anionic species, [Cd2Cl7]3– and [Cd2Br7]3–, have been isolated in the form of cobalt(III) complex salts, [Co(phen)3][Cd2Cl7]·3H2O (1) and [Co(phen)3][Cd2Br7]·2H2O (2). The complex salts have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques and other investigations like TGA, solubility product measurements, conductance measurements, luminiscent study, DFT calculations and single crystal structure determinations. The new discrete [Cd2X7]3– anions reside in cavities that are formed by complex cations and are stabilized by different noncovalent interactions (hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, C–H···π and anion···π). With the help of DFT calculations, an in depth investigation has been conducted into what happens to the conformation of these anions in crystal, solution and gas phase, and the nature of the Cd–halogen bond has been elucidated.
Physical Properties of Eu2+‐Containing Cryptates as Contrast Agents for Ultrahigh‐Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Garcia Joel , Kuda‐Wedagedara Akhila N. W. , Allen Matthew J. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractThe kinetic stabilities and relaxivities of a series of Eu2+‐containing cryptates have been investigated. Transmetallation studies, which monitored the change in the longitudinal relaxation rate of water protons in the presence of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+, demonstrated that the cryptate structure influenced the stability, and two of the cryptates studied were inert to transmetallation in the presence of these endogenous ions. The efficacy of these cryptates was determined at different magnetic field strengths, temperatures, and pH values. Cryptate relaxivity was found to be higher at ultrahigh field strengths (7 and 9.4 T) relative to clinically relevant field strengths (1.4 and 3 T), but the efficiency of these cryptates decreased as the temperature increased. In addition, a variation in pH did not yield significant changes in the efficacy of the cryptates. These studies establish a foundation of important properties that are necessary to develop effective positive contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging from Eu2+‐containing cryptates.
Manganese(II) Complexes as Potential Contrast Agents for MRI
Authors: Drahoš Bohuslav , Lukeš Ivan , Tóth Éva 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMn2+ has five unpaired d electrons, a long electronic relaxation time, and labile water exchange, which make it an attractive alternative to Gd3+ in the design of contrast agents for medical Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In order to ensure in vivo safety and high contrast agent efficiency, the Mn2+ ion has to be chelated by a ligand that provides high thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness of the complex and has to have at least one free coordination site for a water molecule. Unfortunately, these two requirements are contradictory, as lower denticity of the ligands, which leads to more inner‐sphere water molecules often implies a decreased stability of the complex, and, therefore, it is necessary to find a balance between both requirements. In the last decade, a large amount of experimental data has been collected to characterize the physico‐chemical properties of Mn2+ chelates with variable ligand structures. They now allow for establishing trends of how the ligand structure, the rigidity of the ligand scaffold, and its donor–acceptor properties influence the thermodynamic, kinetic, and redox stability of the Mn2+ complex. This microreview surveys the current literature in this field.
Jatropha oil and karanja oil as carbon sources for production of sophorolipids
Authors: Wadekar Sushant D. , Kale Sandeep B. , Lali Arvind M. , Bhowmick Dipti Narayan , Pratap Amit P. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBiosurfactants like sophorolipids (SL) are mild and environmentally friendly surfactants to be used in cosmetics and health care products. In addition to surfactant properties, SL also possess antimicrobial and skin healing properties. SL are produced by microbial fermentation using refined vegetable oils with glucose as a carbon source. This affects the economics of the production of SL. In the present work, non‐traditional oils like jatropha oil, karanja oil, and neem oil were used as newer feedstock for fermentative production of SL using Starmerella bombicola (ATCC 22214). In the fermentation, jatropha oil and karanja oil gave 6.0 and 7.6 g/L of SL (mainly lactonic form), respectively. HPLC, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometer, and 1H NMR of crude SL obtained from fermentation broth showed lactonic form of two major SL. Oleic acid and linoleic acid were preferentially consumed over other fatty acids by the organism. Neem oil gave lower yield, i.e., 2.63 g/L of SL (mainly acidic form).Practical applications: Jatropha oil and karanja oil are one of the non‐traditional oils grown wildly in India that have large potential that is still to be explored. These oils contain non‐glycerides components that exclude their use as edible oil. These oils can be used as substrate for SL that can find novel applications like in soil remediation, skin care production, antimicrobial agents, low foaming detergents, and food additives. The current study has provided proof of concept work that has indicated the potential of these oils to be used as substrate for SL. It has opened new avenues and there is further scope to improve the yield by validating the process parameters like aeration rate, residual substrate recycle and pH control.
Development of a highly sensitive assay for enzyme-mediated reductive degradation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin
Authors: Suzuki Yuzo , Nakamura Masaya , Otsuka Yuichiro , Suzuki Nao , Ohyama Keisuke , Kawakami Takeshi , Sato Kanna , Kajita Shinya , Hishiyama Shojiro , Takahashi Atsushi , Katayama Yoshihiro 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
The degradation of 2-chloro-4,5-O-(4′-methyl-7′, 8′-diphenyl)ether (CMDPE), an analog of 2,7-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,7-DCDD), mediated by Geobacillus sp. UZO 3 cell-free extract was monitored. Ethyl acetate extracts of a complete reaction mixture incubated at 65°C for 18 h were analyzed either by thin layer chromatography (TLC) fractionation coupled with spectrometric detection or by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The reaction product 4-methylumbelliferone (4MU) was successfully isolated by TLC and visualized by a transilluminator at 450 nm. The 4MU, 4-chlorophenol, and reaction intermediate 6-chlorophenoxy-4-methylumbelliferone were all successfully detected by GC-MS. The presence of these compounds suggest that Geobacillus sp. UZO 3 cell-free extract also catalyzes the reductive cleavage of the diaryl ether bonds of CMDPE in a similar mechanism previously reported in 2,7-DCDD. In the present study, the authors describe a simple and highly sensitive fluorescent assay for a new dioxin degrading enzyme(s). Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1072–1075. © 2012 SETAC
Exposure time–dependent effects on the relative potencies and additivity of PAHs in the Ah receptor-based H4IIE-luc bioassay
Authors: Larsson Maria , Orbe Dan , Engwall Magnus 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
In the present study, relative potency factors (REPs) of 16 individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated using the H4IIE-luc bioassay. Exposure time-dependent effects on the REPs were examined using 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure. Seven different mixtures of PAHs were tested for additivity at an exposure time of 24 h. Three of the PAH mixtures were also studied at 48 and 72 h of exposure. The mixture toxicities were predicted using the REP concept and the concentration addition (CA) model. Relative potency factor values investigated in the present study were similar to those reported in earlier studies. Declining REPs with an increasing exposure time were shown for all PAHs, indicating that this bioassay approach could be developed to assess the persistency of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonistic PAHs and in the risk assessment of complex PAH mixtures. The results from the mixture studies indicated that additive interactions of PAHs are time dependent. Generally, 48- and 72-h exposures resulted in biological effects that were similar to the CA and REP model predictions, while these models tended to underestimate the effect, to some extent, in the 24-h exposure, at least for the mixtures containing two to four PAHs. Thus, it cannot be ruled out that in the 24-h exposures, the tested PAH mixtures had slight synergistic effects. Further research is needed to identify and test additional AhR activating PAHs and investigate whether the effects in the H4IIE-luc bioassay are additive for more complex samples containing both PAHs and other AhR-activating contaminants. Also, the observed superinduction of luciferase by PAH-mixes warrants studies of whether this also can occur for relevant AhR-mediated endpoints in vivo. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1149–1157. © 2012 SETAC
New invasive alien plant species in the forest‐steppe and northern steppe subzones of European Russia: secondary range patterns, ecology and causes of fragmentary distribution
Authors: Sukhorukov (Suchorukow) Alexander P. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractRecent floristic investigations in several provinces located in the northern steppe and forest‐steppe subzones of European Russia have examined the naturalisation and rapid spreading of 13 annual and perennial invasive herbs. They can be considered as (potentially) dangerous neophytes in different plant formations: Eriochloa villosa, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Eragrostis albensis, Rumex patientia, Amaranthus powellii, Papaver dubium, Erysimum repandum, Sophora alopecuroides, Galega orientalis, Chaerophyllum aureum, Centaurea majorovii, Senecio dubitabilis, Lactuca saligna. Only a decade ago, very few of the above listed species were present in Central Russia. Chaerophyllum aureum, the most successful invader forms monodominant populations, stands at forest margins and in meadows and is transforming the existing vegetation structure. Eragrostis albensis and Amaranthus powellii have been well‐established in dump sites, in contrast Galega orientalis and Rumex patientia prefer open grassland (meadows, etc.). The remaiming species occur along the railroad beds. The supposed fragmentary distribution pattern seems to be just a result of insufficient study of alien species and/or the absence of specialists in some provinces. Several species (e.g. Senecio dubitabilis, Centaurea majorovii) are recently invasive new for many parts of European Russia. The ecological attributes, respectively, the invasive status of the alien species, mentioned above, are compared between this investigation area and Central/Western Europe. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
VOLUNTARY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE AMONG THE OVER 50s IN EUROPE
Authors: Paccagnella Omar , Rebba Vincenzo , Weber Guglielmo 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTUsing data from Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we investigate the determinants of voluntary private health insurance (VPHI) among the over 50s in 11 European countries and their effects on healthcare spending. First, we find that the main determinants of VPHI are different in each country, reflecting differences in the underlying healthcare systems, but in most countries, education levels and cognitive abilities have a strong positive effect on holding a VPHI policy. We also analyse the effect of holding a voluntary additional health insurance policy on out‐of‐pocket (OOP) healthcare spending. We adopt a simultaneous equations approach to control for self‐selection into VPHI policy holding and find that, only in the Netherlands, VPHI policyholders have lower OOP spending than the rest of the population, whereas in some countries (Italy, Spain, Denmark and Austria), they spend significantly more. This could be due to not only increased utilisation but also cost‐sharing measures adopted by the insurers to counter the effects of moral hazard and to keep adverse selection under control. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
River–aquifer interactions in a semi‐arid environment stressed by groundwater abstraction
Authors: McCallum Andrew M. , Andersen Martin S. , Giambastiani Beatrice M. S. , Kelly Bryce F. J. , Ian Acworth R. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractRivers and aquifers are, in many cases, a connected resource and as such the interactions between them need to be understood and quantified for the resource to be managed appropriately. The objective of this paper is to advance the understanding of river–aquifer interactions processes in semi‐arid environments stressed by groundwater abstraction. This is performed using data from a specific catchment where records of precipitation, evapotranspiration, river flow, groundwater levels and groundwater abstraction are analysed using basic statistics, hydrograph analysis and a simple mathematical model to determine the processes causing the spatial and temporal changes in river–aquifer interactions. This combined approach provides a novel but simple methodology to analyse river–aquifer interactions, which can be applied to catchments worldwide.The analysis revealed that the groundwater levels have declined (~ 3 m) since the onset of groundwater abstraction. The decline is predominantly due to the abstraction rather than climatic changes (r = 0.84 for the relationship between groundwater abstraction and groundwater levels; r = 0.92 for the relationship between decline in groundwater levels and magnitude of seasonal drawdown). It is then demonstrated that, since the onset of abstraction, the river has changed from being gaining to losing during low‐flow periods, defined as periods with flow less than 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 GL/day (1 GL/day = 1 × 106 m3/day). If defined as < 1.0 GL/day, low‐flow periods constitute approximately 65% of the river flows; the periods where the river is losing at low‐flow conditions are thus significant. Importantly, there was a significant delay (> 10 years) between the onset of groundwater abstraction and the changeover from gaining to losing conditions. Finally, a relationship between the groundwater gradient towards the river and the river flow at low‐flow is demonstrated. The results have important implications for water management as well as water ecology and quality. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatial and temporal intensification of lateral hyporheic flux in narrowing intra‐meander zones
Authors: Han Bangshuai , Endreny Theodore A. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractMeander bends in alluvial rivers morphologically evolve towards meander cut‐off with narrowing intra‐meander necks, and this should steepen hydraulic gradients and intensify intra‐meander hyporheic flux. This research used dye tracking and head loss measurements in a 1 : 500 planimetrically scaled laboratory river table to quantify the spatial and temporal intensification of intra‐meander flux rates at two evolution ages. The younger meander bend, M1, had a sinuosity of 2.3, a river neck width of 0.39 cm, and 0.6% river slope, and the older meander bend, M3, had a sinuosity of 5.2, a river neck width of 0.12 cm, and 0.5% river slope. Flux into and out of the meander bend was estimated along the normalized curvilinear distance s*, with the meander neck at s* = 0.1 and s* = 0.9, the meander centroid at s* = 0.37 and s* = 0.63, and the apex at s* = 0.5. Between the meander centroid and neck, we documented a 60% spatial intensification for M1 and a 90% spatial intensification for M3. Between M1 and M3, we documented a 135% temporal intensification at the neck and a 100% intensification at the centroid. Our empirical spatial and temporal intensification rates involving the M1 and the M3 scenario were one to three times lower than theoretical rates derived from a river evolution model with equivalent M1 and M3 planimetry. Overestimation by the theoretical model was attributed to exaggerated head loss caused by the model neglecting groundwater contributions to river stage. Hyporheic exchange provides critical ecosystem services, and its spatial and temporal variation with meander evolution should be considered in river management. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.