bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geriatric Vision Loss Due to Cataracts, Macular Degeneration, and Glaucoma
Authors: Eichenbaum Joseph W. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe major causes of impaired vision in the elderly population of the United States are cataracts, macular degeneration, and open‐angle glaucoma. Cataracts and macular degeneration usually reduce central vision, especially reading and near activities, whereas chronic glaucoma characteristically attacks peripheral vision in a silent way, impacting balance, walking, and driving. Untreated, these visual problems lead to issues with regard to taking medications, keeping track of finances and personal information, walking, watching television, and attending the theater, and often create social isolation. Thus, visually impaired individuals enter nursing homes 3 years earlier, have twice the risk of falling, and have 4× the risk of hip fracture. Consequently, many elderly with low vision exercise greater demands on community services. With the prospect of little improvement and sustained visual loss, in the face of poor tolerance of low‐vision services and not accepting magnification as the only way to read, clinical depression is common. In many instances, however, early and accurate diagnosis can result in timely treatment and can preserve quality of life. This review will look at current diagnostic and therapeutic considerations. Currently, about 20.5 million people in the United States have cataracts. The number will reach 30 million by 2020. About 1.75 million Americans currently have some form of macular degeneration, and the number is estimated to increase to 2.95 million in 2020. Approximately 2.2 million Americans have glaucoma, and by 2020 that number is estimated to be close to 3.4 million people. It is projected that by 2030 there will be 72.1 million seniors. With some overlap of the above 3 groups conservatively estimated (if you add the 2030 cataract group to the macular degeneration and glaucoma groups), then about 1 in 2 senior individuals by 2030 may have some significant ocular disease, which could account for about 50% of the healthcare budget for the elderly. Mt Sinai J Med 79:276–294, 2012. © 2012 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Do Carrots Work? Examining the Effectiveness ofEPA's Compliance Assistance Program
Authors: Stafford Sarah 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe role of compliance assistance in theU.S. EnvironmentalProtectionAgency's overall enforcement strategy has been quite variable over the past decade and a half, increasing in prominence under theBush administration and now slated for significantly reduced funding under theObama administration. While theoretical models and anecdotal evidence suggest that compliance assistance should play some role in a comprehensive enforcement strategy, to date there has been relatively little empirical evidence on the actual effectiveness of existing compliance assistance programs. To help inform the debate over the appropriate use of compliance assistance, this paper uses data on hazardous waste generators nationwide to assess the effect of federal compliance assistance programs in improving compliance with hazardous waste regulations. The paper also conducts a direct empirical analysis of the relationship between traditional enforcement tools and compliance assistance. The results show that federal compliance assistance efforts do increase compliance, but the evidence does not suggest any consistent relationship between traditional enforcement and compliance assistance. Also, while states do not appear to substitute federal compliance assistance for traditional enforcement, state compliance assistance programs do appear to decrease the likelihood of inspections among the smallest hazardous waste generators.
Reactivity of blood vessels in response to prostaglandin E2 in placentas from pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction
Authors: Luria Oded , Bar Jacob , Barnea Ofer , Golan Abraham , Kovo Michal 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe authors aimed to study the contractility responses of normal and fetal growth restriction (FGR) placentas to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and to correlate the results to subsequent placental histological analysis.MethodA dual‐perfused single cotyledon model was used. Placentas from pregnancies complicated by FGR and from normal pregnancies were obtained. Selected cotyledons were cannulated and dually perfused. Following stabilization, three concentrations of PGE2 (0.05, 0.1, and 0.15 mg/mL) were administered to the fetal arterial side causing contraction/relaxation response. Fetal perfusion pressure was measured continuously during these contraction and relaxation phases. Following the perfusion experiments, the placentas were analyzed for fetal or maternal origin vascular lesions.ResultsA total of 21 complete experiments were performed (16 normal, 5 FGR). In response to PGE2, FGR placentas exhibited lower change in the perfusion pressure and lower relaxation time constant. Basal perfusion pressure did not differ significantly between the two groups. Placental histopathology lesions, fetal or maternal origin, were more common in the FGR compared with the controls placentas, 80% versus 25%, respectively, P = 0.047.ConclusionsThe lower vascular reactivity in response to PGE2 and the presence of fetal and maternal vascular placental lesions suggest a mechanism explaining the altered vascular supply in FGR. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transient abnormal fetal cardiac flow patterns at 13 to 17 gestational weeks
Authors: Bronshtein Moshe , Zimmer Etan Z. , Blazer Shraga , Blumenfeld Zeev 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo report the outcome of transient abnormal cardiac flow patterns (ABCFP) at 13 to 17 weeks' gestation.Methods and ResultsObservational single operator study of transvaginal sonography scans of 13 183 fetuses. Of the 22 fetuses with ABCFP (1 : 600) high pulmonary valvular velocity was detected in 11 (8 of them transient), an abnormal blood flow in the coronary region in 6, mitral regurgitation in 3, and high aortic valvular velocity in 2 cases. In over 90%, these findings were transient. At birth, there were two cases of mild pulmonary stenosis, one meconium ileus, and two cases of asymptomatic bicuspid aortic valve without stenosis. All the remaining neonates were healthy.ConclusionsThe transient sonographic findings at 13 to 17 weeks' gestation of mitral regurgitation, pulmonary or aortic high valvular flow, and coronary sinus flow have a good prognosis, and in most cases are not associated with persistent cardiac anomalies. The etiology, incidence, and the prognosis of fetuses with transient ABCFP at 13 to 17 weeks' gestation are different from what is observed when the same occurs later in gestation. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
X‐ray evidence of a native state with increased compactness populated by tryptophan‐less B. licheniformis β‐lactamase
Authors: Risso Valeria A. , Acierno Juan P. , Capaldi Stefano , Monaco Hugo L. , Ermácora Mario R. 
Published: April 2012

Abstractβ‐lactamases confer antibiotic resistance, one of the most serious world‐wide health problems, and are an excellent theoretical and experimental model in the study of protein structure, dynamics and evolution. Bacillus licheniformis exo‐small penicillinase (ESP) is a Class‐A β‐lactamase with three tryptophan residues located in the protein core. Here, we report the 1.7‐Å resolution X‐ray structure, catalytic parameters, and thermodynamic stability of ESPΔW, an engineered mutant of ESP in which phenylalanine replaces the wild‐type tryptophan residues. The structure revealed no qualitative conformational changes compared with thirteen previously reported structures of B. licheniformis β‐lactamases (RMSD = 0.4–1.2 Å). However, a closer scrutiny showed that the mutations result in an overall more compact structure, with most atoms shifted toward the geometric center of the molecule. Thus, ESPΔW has a significantly smaller radius of gyration (Rg) than the other B. licheniformis β‐lactamases characterized so far. Indeed, ESPΔW has the smallest Rg among 126 Class‐A β‐lactamases in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Other measures of compactness, like the number of atoms in fixed volumes and the number and average of noncovalent distances, confirmed the effect. ESPΔW proves that the compactness of the native state can be enhanced by protein engineering and establishes a new lower limit to the compactness of the Class‐A β‐lactamase fold. As the condensation achieved by the native state is a paramount notion in protein folding, this result may contribute to a better understanding of how the sequence determines the conformational variability and thermodynamic stability of a given fold.
Quantum dynamics of damped and driven anharmonic oscillators
Authors: Schrapp Michael , del Valle Elena , Finley Jonathan J. , Laussy Fabrice P. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractWe study various techniques to characterize the quantum states of a strongly dissipative system, namely, the an‐harmonic oscillator. One cannot directly access the quantum states themselves but only transitions between them. Various methods bring various advantages and inconvenients. We compare several observables under coherent and incoherent excitation.Incoherent excitation leads to huge broadening while coherent excitation quickly dresses the system at the energies required to access the excited states. Less perturbative methods such as four wave mixing appear to be superior but are, by construction, only usable for the lowest rungs. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Carrier storage in Ge nanoparticles produced by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Martín‐Sánchez J. , Chahboun A. , Gomes M. J. M. , Rolo A. G. , Pivac B. , Capan I. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn this work, we report on the electrical characterization of Ge nanoparticles (NPs) produced by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) at room temperature (RT) in Ar gas inert atmosphere using a shadowed off‐axis deposition geometry. Our results show that functional thin films of crystalline Ge NPs embedded between thin alumina films can be obtained on p‐type Si(100) substrates following a low temperature and short rapid thermal annealing (RTA) treatment. Metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) structures with and without Ge NPs embedded in the alumina were prepared for the electrical measurements. The results indicate a strong memory effect at relatively low programming voltages (±4 V) due to the presence of Ge NPs. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Student learning through journal writing in a general education chemistry course for pre‐elementary education majors
Authors: Dianovsky Michael T. , Wink Donald J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis paper describes research on the use of journals in a general education chemistry course for elementary education majors. In the journals, students describe their understanding of a topic, the development of that understanding, and how the topic connects to their lives. In the process, they are able to engage in reflection about several things. How the frequency and nature of those reflections relate to overall course outcomes, the content and quality of final exam essays on those topics, and student metacognition in problem solving are the basis of this paper. The following types of reflections were identified in the journals: action, prior knowledge, project ideas, text resources, classroom events, and monitoring of knowledge. A multiple linear regression analysis of the students' final course grade earned versus student grade point average (GPA), composite score on the ACT exam, the number of reflections made for each reflection type, and the total number of reflections made throughout all journals was used to determine the significance of the type of reflections made by students in relationship to their chemistry content understanding. The results indicate that students' prior GPA and their reflections on classroom events and their own knowledge correlate positively and significantly with a final course grade. However, student reflections on text resources have a negative and significant correlation with the final course grade. In addition, students' journal entries and final exam responses were coded for similarities in writing. The results indicate that those students who had strong similarities in writing for both their journal and final exam exhibited significantly stronger content understanding on the final exam essay. Finally, metacognition in problem solving, assessed with the Metacognitive Activities Inventory (MCA‐I) survey of metacognition, was also positively correlated with the types of reflection that correlate with overall course performance. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 96:543–565, 2012
Nanotube growth analysis in the interface between oxide film and titanium alloy substrate using STEM and FE‐SEM
Authors: Choe Han‐Cheol , Kim Jae‐Un , Jeong Yong‐Hoon 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTNanotube growth analysis in the interface between oxide film and titanium alloy substrate has been researched using scanning transmission electron microscope and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM). The Ti‐35Nb‐xHf (x =3, 7 and 15 wt.%) alloys were prepared using the sponges of Ti, Nb and Hf. The nanotube on the alloy surface was formed in 1.0 M H3PO4 with 0.8 wt.% NaF, using a potentiostat. The nanotube growth analysis on the titanium alloys was investigated using FE‐SEM, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Microstructures of Ti‐35Nb‐xHf alloys showed an equiaxed structure and the α” phase decreased with Hf content, whereas the β phase increased as Hf content increased. The nanotube surface mainly consisted of Nb and Ti oxide. The peaks of Nb and O elements exhibited higher intensities on the nanotube surface compared with the matrix, whereas peaks of Ti and Hf exhibited lower intensities on the matrix surface from EDS line profile. The shape of nanotube on the Ti‐35Nb‐xHf showed two scales of nanotubes; large (190 nm–220 nm) and small (91 nm–104 nm). The diameter of the nanotubes decreased with increasing the Hf content, whereas the length of the nanotubes increased with increasing Hf content. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Body Piercings and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Young Adults
Authors: Bui Eric , Rodgers Rachel , Simon Naomi M. , Jehel Louis , Metcalf Christina A. , Birmes Philippe , Schmitt Laurent 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBody piercing, which is prevalent in young adults, has been suggested to be associated with features usually related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) such as high‐risk behaviours and psychopathological symptoms and might be motivated by a wish to deal with prior traumatic experiences. However, to date, no research has investigated the relationship between this practice and PTSD symptoms. The present research aims to investigate the possible relationship between body piercing and PTSD symptoms in French‐speaking young adults. According to our results, having two or more body piercings was associated with a twofold increased risk for scoring above the cut‐off score for PTSD on the PTSD checklist. Our findings suggest that two or more body piercings might serve as an identifiable marker for PTSD symptoms and may have important implications for clinical screening. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells form Functional Neurons and Improve Recovery After Grafting in Stroke-Damaged Brain
Authors: Oki Koichi , Tatarishvili Jemal , Wood James , Koch Philipp , Wattananit Somsak , Mine Yutaka , Monni Emanuela , Tornero Daniel , Ahlenius Henrik , Ladewig Julia , Brüstle Oliver , Lindvall Olle , Kokaia Zaal 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Reprogramming of adult human somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is a novel approach to produce patient-specific cells for autologous transplantation. Whether such cells survive long-term, differentiate to functional neurons, and induce recovery in the stroke-injured brain are unclear. We have transplanted long-term self-renewing neuroepithelial-like stem cells, generated from adult human fibroblast-derived iPSCs, into the stroke-damaged mouse and rat striatum or cortex. Recovery of forepaw movements was observed already at 1 week after transplantation. Improvement was most likely not due to neuronal replacement but was associated with increased vascular endothelial growth factor levels, probably enhancing endogenous plasticity. Transplanted cells stopped proliferating, could survive without forming tumors for at least 4 months, and differentiated to morphologically mature neurons of different subtypes. Neurons in intrastriatal grafts sent axonal projections to the globus pallidus. Grafted cells exhibited electrophysiological properties of mature neurons and received synaptic input from host neurons. Our study provides the first evidence that transplantation of human iPSC-derived cells is a safe and efficient approach to promote recovery after stroke and can be used to supply the injured brain with new neurons for replacement.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Lmx1a Allows Context-Specific Isolation of Progenitors of GABAergic or Dopaminergic Neurons During Neural Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Nefzger Christian M. , Su Colin T. , Fabb Stewart A. , Hartley Brigham J. , Beh Siew J. , Zeng Wendy R. , Haynes John M. , Pouton Colin W. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
LIM homeobox transcription factor 1 alpha (Lmx1a) is required for the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, roof plate formation, and cortical hem development. We generated a reporter embryonic stem cell (ESC) line for Lmx1a and used it to track differentiation and extract neural progenitors from differentiating mouse ESCs. Lmx1a+ cells gave rise to functional cortical upper layer GABAergic neurons or dopaminergic neurons depending on the culture conditions used for differentiation. Under chemically defined neurobasal conditions, ESC differentiation resulted in widespread and transient expression of Lmx1a, without the addition of exogenous factors such as sonic hedgehog (Shh), Wnts, and/or bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs). Under neutral conditions, Lmx1a+ cells express genes known to be downstream of Lmx1a and cortical hem markers Wnt3a and p73. The majority of these cells did not express the ventral midbrain dopaminergic marker Foxa2 or dorsal roof plate marker BMP-2. Lmx1a+-Foxa2− cells were primed to become SatB2+ GABAergic neurons and appeared to be resistant to dopaminergic patterning cues. PA6 coculture produced a substantial population of Lmx1a+ progenitors that also expressed Foxa2 and on further differentiation gave rise to dopaminergic neurons at high frequency. We conclude that Lmx1a is a useful marker for the extraction of progenitors of GABAergic or dopaminergic neurons. We caution against the assumption that it indicates dopaminergic commitment during in vitro differentiation of ESCs. Indeed, in monolayer culture under neurobasal conditions, with or without the addition of Shh and fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8), Lmx1a+ cells were predominantly progenitors of forebrain GABAergic neurons. We obtained dopaminergic cells in large numbers only by coculture with PA6 cells.
Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Maintains a Niche-Dependent Population of Self-Renewing Highly Potent Non-adherent Mesenchymal Progenitors Through FGFR2c
Authors: Di Maggio Nunzia , Mehrkens Arne , Papadimitropoulos Adam , Schaeren Stefan , Heberer Michael , Banfi Andrea , Martin Ivan 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) are a heterogeneous population of multipotent progenitors currently under investigation for a variety of applications in regenerative medicine. While self-renewal of stem cells in different tissues has been demonstrated to be regulated by specialized microenvironments called niches, it is still unclear whether a self-renewing niche also exists for MSC. Here, we show that primary human BM cultures contain a population of intrinsically non-adherent mesenchymal progenitors (NAMP) with features of more primitive progenitors than the initially adhering colony-forming units-fibroblast (CFU-f). In fact, NAMP could generate an adherent progeny: (a) enriched with early mesenchymal populations (CD146+, SSEA-1+, and SSEA-4+); (b) with significantly greater proliferation and multilineage differentiation potential in vitro; and (c) capable of threefold greater bone formation in vivo than the corresponding CFU-f. Upon serial replating, NAMP were able to regenerate and expand in suspension as non-adherent clonogenic progenitors, while also giving rise to an adherent progeny. This took place at the cost of a gradual loss of proliferative potential, shown by a reduction in colony size, which could be completely prevented when NAMP were expanded on the initially adhering BM fraction. Mechanistically, we found that NAMP crucially depend on fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 signaling through FGFR2c for their survival and expansion. Furthermore, NAMP maintenance depends at least in part on humoral signals distinct from FGF-2. In conclusion, our data show a niche/progenitor organization in vitro, in which the BM adherent fraction provides a self-renewing microenvironment for primitive NAMP.
Free will and responsibility
Authors: Nahmias Eddy 
Published: April 2012

AbstractFree will is a set of capacities for conscious choice and control of actions and is essential for moral responsibility. While determinism is traditionally discussed as the main potential challenge to free will and responsibility, other potential challenges exist and need to be considered by philosophers and scientists. The cognitive sciences are relevant to free will both to study how people understand free will and potential challenges to it, and to study whether these challenges are supported by relevant scientific evidence.WIREs Cogn Sci2012, 3:439–449. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1181This article is categorized under:Philosophy > Action
Managing nesting by Chihuahuan ravens on H‐frame electric transmission structures
Authors: Dwyer James F. , Leiker Diana L. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractElectric utility structures occur widely in natural and human‐dominated landscapes and are often used by birds for nesting. Nests can cause power outages, fires, and electrocution of birds and their young, particularly if nests occur directly above energized equipment and incorporate metal wire. Chihuahuan raven (Corvus cryptoleucus) nests often contain metal wire and occur over energized equipment. To explore a proactive risk mitigation strategy we deployed novel nest diverters on 51 structures supporting a 230 kV H‐frame transmission line in Kiowa and Bent Counties, Colorado, USA, and compared nesting on these structures with nesting on 66 structures without nest diverters on the same line. Chihuahuan ravens placed nest material on 7% of treated structures and 43% of untreated structures and nested on 0% of treated structures and 34% of untreated structures. Chihuahuan ravens were less likely to attempt to nest on, or actually nest on, structures treated with nest diverters. Future research should evaluate nest diverters over larger spatial and temporal scales and compare prey populations in areas where ravens are excluded to prey populations in areas where ravens persist. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.