bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical and molecular characterization of chromosome 7p22.1 microduplication detected by array CGH
Authors: Chui Jacqueline V. , Weisfeld‐Adams James D. , Tepperberg James , Mehta Lakshmi 
Published: August 2011

AbstractA 28‐month‐old Peruvian male presented with speech delay and unusual facial features including prominent forehead, anteverted nares, ocular hypertelorism, and low‐set and posteriorly rotated ears with a unilateral preauricular pit. The patient had poor speech with no other developmental delays. Height and weight were normal, although closure of the anterior fontanel and bone age were delayed. Head circumference approximated the 95th centile for age. Following normal routine chromosome analysis and subtelomeric FISH, whole genome microarray revealed a novel interstitial duplication at 7p22.1, approximately 1.7 Mb in size, and containing 13 OMIM annotated genes. FISH studies on the propositus and his parents confirmed that the duplication had occurred de novo. This finding represents the smallest interstitial 7p duplication reported to date, and does not include genes previously implicated as candidates for a 7p duplication syndrome. Common phenotypic features of 7p duplication include distinctive facies with hypertelorism, large anterior fontanel, and intellectual disability. Based on the findings in our patient, and those in previously reported cases of 7p duplication, we propose that genes within this duplicated interval may have a role in skeletal maturation, craniofacial development, and speech acquisition. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A comparative study of the stress‐relaxation behavior of untreated and alkali‐treated jute fibers
Authors: Ray Dipa , Das Mahuya , Mitra Debarati 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIn this study, we examined the effect of alkali treatment and its variables, namely, the time (2, 4, 6, or 8 h) and the concentration of alkali (1, 5, or 17.5% w/w), on the linear density, strength, and stress‐relaxation properties of jute fiber. It was demonstrated that this kind of treatment led to the creation of several voids and fiber fibrillation. Properties were measured for the alkali‐treated and dewaxed fibers. The linear density and tenacity of the fibers were reduced at higher alkali concentration and at longer dipping times. The strength increased with treatment with mild alkali and decreased with treatment with the strong alkali. A very low alkali treatment (1%) rendered low relaxation. At a 5% alkali concentration, interfibrillar matrix softening also played an important role and was prominent in the stress‐relaxation behavior. The stress‐relaxation value was much higher in the fibers treated with 17.5% NaOH compared to the dewaxed fibers; this was probably due to a loss in the fibrillar arrangement. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Magnetic Silyl Scaffold Enables Efficient Recycling of Protecting Groups
Authors: Schaetz Alexander , Zeltner Martin , Michl Thomas D. , Rossier Michael , Fuhrer Roland , Stark Wendelin J. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractA novel organic/inorganic hybrid material comprising carbon‐coated cobalt nanoparticles and a poly(benzylchloride)styrene shell is the first magnetic support that complies with important requirements for immobilized reagents and scavengers, that is, stability under harsh conditions (e.g., acids), sufficient loading (up to 2 mmol g−1), and satisfying magnetization. The durability of the scaffold was demonstrated by immobilization of a trialkylsilane reagent, which served as a “magnetic” protecting group for a number of primary and secondary alcohols. Importantly, the scaffold could be efficiently separated, recycled, and reused after alcohol cleavage (HF⋅pyridine) via regeneration of the silyl chloride moiety with BCl3.
Non‐Woven Fibrous Materials with Antibacterial Properties Prepared by Tailored Attachment of Quaternized Chitosan to Electrospun Mats from Maleic Anhydride Copolymer
Authors: Ignatova Milena , Petkova Zhanina , Manolova Nevena , Markova Nadya , Rashkov Iliya 
Published: August 2011

AbstractIn order to impart antibacterial properties to microfibrous electrospun materials from styrene/maleic anhydride copolymers, quaternized chitosan derivatives (QCh) containing alkyl substituents of different chain lengths are covalently attached to the mats. A complete inhibition of the growth of bacteria, S. aureus (Gram‐positive) and E. coli (Gram‐negative), for a contact time of 30–120 min or a decrease of the bacterial titer by 2–3 log units is observed depending on the quaternization degree, the chain length of the alkyl substituent, and the molar mass of QCh. The modified mats are also effective in suppressing the adhesion of pathogenic S. aureus bacteria. magnified image
MR‐compatible treadmill for exercise stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Foster Eric L. , Arnold John W. , Jekic Mihaela , Bender Jacob A. , Balasubramanian Vijay , Thavendiranathan Paaladinesh , Dickerson Jennifer A. , Raman Subha V. , Simonetti Orlando P. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThis article describes an MR‐safe treadmill that enables cardiovascular exercise stress testing adjacent to the MRI system, facilitating cardiac MR imaging immediately following exercise stress. The treadmill was constructed of nonferromagnetic components utilizing a hydraulic power system. Computer control ensured precise execution of the standard Bruce treadmill protocol commonly used for cardiovascular exercise stress testing. The treadmill demonstrated no evidence of ferromagnetic attraction and did not affect image quality. Treadmill performance met design specifications both inside and outside the MRI environment. Ten healthy volunteers performed the Bruce protocol with the treadmill positioned adjacent to the MRI table. Upon reaching peak stress (98 ± 8% of age‐predicted maximum heart rate), the subjects lay down directly on the MRI table, a cardiac array coil was placed, an intravenous line connected, and stress cine and perfusion imaging performed. Cine imaging commenced on average within 24 ± 4 s and was completed within 40 ± 7 s of the end of exercise. Subject heart rates were 86 ± 9% of age‐predicted maximum heart rate at the start of imaging and 81 ± 9% of age‐predicted maximum heart rate upon completion of cine imaging. The MRI‐compatible treadmill was shown to operate safely and effectively in the MRI environment. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Factors controlling T2 mapping from partially spoiled SSFP sequence: Optimization for skeletal muscle characterization
Authors: de Sousa Paulo Loureiro , Vignaud Alexandre , Caldas de Almeida Araújo Ericky , Carlier Pierre G. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractA fast and robust methodology for in vivo T2 mapping is presented. The approach is based on the partially spoiled steady state free precession technique recently proposed by Bieri et al. (Magn Reson Med 2011). The accuracy of this method was demonstrated in simulations and phantom experiments. Variations in skeletal muscle T2 relaxation time have been correlated with cell damage and inflammatory response. Nonetheless, the lack of easily implementable, fast, accurate and reproducible methods has hampered the adoption of T2 measurement as a noninvasive tool for skeletal muscle characterization. The applicability of the partially spoiled steady state free precession method for tissue characterization in muscle disease is illustrated in this work by several examples. Quantitative MRI, in particular T2 mapping based on partially spoiled steady state free precession acquisitions, might provide objective markers of muscle damage and degenerative changes, and an alternative to serial muscle biopsies. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS REVEALS ANTHROPOGENIC EFFECTS ON FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN A TEMPERATE RESERVOIR
Authors: Freedman J. A. , Curry R. A. , Munkittrick K. R. 
Published: August 2011

ABSTRACTEffluent from anthropogenic inputs can affect fish assemblages in aquatic ecosystems by altering species richness, diversity and trophic structure. To investigate the effects of a bleached kraft pulp mill effluent (PME) and municipal sewage treatment plant (STP) discharge on fish assemblages in a temperate reservoir, we combined standard ecological methodologies with stable isotope analysis of δ13C and δ15N. Total catch, species richness, diversity and coefficient of community loss indicated lower species richness and diversity at sites exposed to PME, whereas sewage‐exposed assemblages had intermediate richness and diversity relative to reference sites. Stable isotope analysis of δ13C and δ15N revealed that many species fed at higher relative trophic positions in the presence of both effluents and showed shifts towards increased reliance on littoral‐derived and benthic‐derived carbon at sites downstream of the PME discharge. Fishes at PME‐influenced sites had also generally higher condition factor whereas fishes at STP‐influenced sites were more variable in condition factor. These differences may, in part, be due to decreased species diversity at these sites and to nutrient enrichment manifest from the effluent discharge. While standard fisheries and ecological methodologies and stable isotope analysis have been separately used in other studies of anthropogenic effects on fishes, their integration in this study provides greater resolution than either could alone. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evidence of neutron leakage at the Fukushima nuclear plant from measurements of radioactive35S in California
Authors: Priyadarshi Antra , Dominguez Gerardo , Thiemens Mark H. 
Published: August 2011

A recent earthquake and the subsequent tsunami have extensively damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant, releasing harmful radiation into the environment. Despite the obvious implication for human health and the surrounding ecology, there are no quantitative estimates of the neutron flux leakage during the weeks following the earthquake. Here, using measurements of radioactive35S contained in sulfate aerosols and SO2gas at a coastal site in La Jolla, California, we show that nearly 4 × 1011neutrons per m2leaked at the Fukushima nuclear power plant before March 20, 2011. A significantly higheractivity as measured on March 28 is in accord with neutrons escaping the reactor core and being absorbed by the coolant seawater35Cl to produce35S by a (n,p) reaction. Once produced,35S oxidizes toandand was then transported to Southern California due to the presence of strong prevailing westerly winds at this time. Based on a moving box model, we show that the observed activity enhancement inis compatible with long-range transport of the radiation plume from Fukushima. Our model predicts that, the concentration in the marine boundary layer at Fukushima, was approximately 2 × 105 atoms per m3, which is approximately 365 times above expected natural concentrations. These measurements and model calculations imply that approximately 0.7% of the total radioactive sulfate present at the marine boundary layer at Fukushima reached Southern California as a result of the trans-Pacific transport.
Improving the quality of e‐learning: lessons from the eMM
Authors: Marshall S. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractThe quality of e‐learning can be defined in many different ways, reflecting different stakeholders and the complexity of the systems and processes used in higher education. These different conceptions of quality can be mutually contradictory and, while politically significant, may also be beyond the direct control or influence of institutional leaders. The e‐learning maturity model (eMM) provides a framework for e‐learning quality improvement that measures the capability of institutions to sustainably engage in e‐learning and visualizes that capability in a way that assists leaders and managers using that information to undertake systematic and targeted improvements in their institution's e‐learning activities. This paper synthesizes the outcomes of multiple international eMM assessments to extract a set of starting points for institutions intending to improve the quality of e‐learning experienced by their students.
The relative contribution of band number to phylogenetic accuracy in AFLP data sets
Authors: GARCÍA‐PEREIRA M. J. , CABALLERO A. , QUESADA H. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractWe examined the effect of increasing the number of sampled amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) bands to reconstruct an accurate and well‐supported AFLP‐based phylogeny. In silico AFLP was performed using simulated DNA sequences evolving along balanced and unbalanced model trees with recent, uniform and ancient radiations and average branch lengths (from the most internal node to the tip) ranging from 0.02 to 0.05 substitutions per site. Trees were estimated by minimum evolution (ME) and maximum parsimony (MP) methods from both DNA sequences and virtual AFLP fingerprints. The comparison of the true tree with the estimated AFLP trees suggests that moderate numbers of AFLP bands are necessary to recover the correct topology with high bootstrap support values (i.e. >70%). Fewer numbers of bands are necessary for shorter tree lengths and for balanced than for unbalanced tree topologies. However, branch length estimation was rather unreliable and did not improve substantially after a certain number of bands were sampled. These results hold for different levels of genome coverage and number of taxa analysed. In silico AFLP using bacterial genomic DNA sequences recovered a well‐supported tree topology that mirrored an empirical phylogeny based on a set of 31 orthologous gene sequences when as few as 263 AFLP bands were scored. These results suggest that AFLPs may be an efficient alternative to traditional DNA sequencing for accurate topology reconstruction of shallow trees when not very short ancestral branches exist.
Effects of alpha‐lipoic acid supplementation on antioxidative ability and performance of sows and nursing piglets
Authors: Bai X. M. , Ma Q. G. , Zhao L. H. , Xi L. , Ji C. 
Published: August 2011

SummaryThe current study was carried out to determine the effects of alpha‐lipoic acid (LA) supplementation during late‐gestation and lactation on antioxidative ability and performance of sows and their nursing piglets. A total of 160 multiparous sows were randomly allocated to four treatments with 40 replicates per treatment according to parity number and backfat (BF) thickness. Sows were fed 1 of 4 diets from day 85 of gestation to day 21 of lactation. Diets were control without LA; 400 ppm LA supplementation; 600 ppm LA supplementation; and 800 ppm LA supplementation. BF thickness of sows was determined on day 85 and 110 of gestation and days 1 and 21 of lactation. Piglet bodyweight was measured at birth, days 7, 14 and 21. Blood samples were obtained from the sows, and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of the sows during lactation was recorded. There were no differences in BF thickness or ADFI among treatment groups. Dietary LA supplementation resulted in a decrease in blood urea nitrogen (p < 0.01) concentration at days 110 of gestation. Dietary 800 ppm LA increased serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity (p < 0.05) and reduced maleic dialdehyde levels (p < 0.01) of sows compared with the control diet at days 21 of lactation. Alpha‐lipoic acid supplementation increased the birthweight and weaning weight of piglets (p < 0.01) compared with the control group. Weight gains of piglets from sows fed the 800 ppm LA diets were greater (p < 0.01) between days 7 and 14 compared with piglets from control sows. Weight gains of piglets from sows fed the LA‐supplemented diets were greater between days 14 and 21 (p < 0.05) and between days 1 and 21 (p < 0.01) compared with piglets from control‐fed sows. In conclusion, the results indicate that antioxidant LA was effective in enhancing antioxidant enzymes activity and improving the performance of sows and their nursing piglets.
Organophosphates dysregulate dopamine signaling, glutamatergic neurotransmission, and induce neuronal injury markers in striatum
Authors: Torres‐Altoro Melissa I. , Mathur Brian N. , Drerup Justin M. , Thomas Rachel , Lovinger David M. , O’Callaghan James P. , Bibb James A. 
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 303–313.AbstractThe neurological effects of organophosphate (OP) pesticides, commonly used on foods and in households, are an important public health concern. Furthermore, subclinical exposure to combinations of organophosphates is implicated in Gulf War illness. Here, we characterized the effects of the broadly used insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) on dopamine and glutamatergic neurotransmission effectors in corticostriatal motor/reward circuitry. CPF potentiated protein kinase A (PKA)‐dependent phosphorylation of the striatal protein dopamine‐ and cAMP‐regulated phosphoprotein of Mr 32 kDa (DARPP‐32) and the glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) subunit of α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors in mouse brain slices. It also increased GluR1 phosphorylation by PKA when administered systemically. This correlated with enhanced glutamate release from cortical projections in rat striatum. Similar effects were induced by the sarin congener, diisopropyl fluorophosphate, alone or in combination with the putative neuroprotectant, pyridostigmine bromide and the pesticide N,N‐diethyl‐meta‐toluamide (DEET). This combination, meant to mimic the neurotoxicant exposure encountered by veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, also induced hyperphosphorylation of the neurofibrillary tangle‐associated protein tau. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate and pyrodostigmine bromide, alone or in combination, also increased the aberrant activity of the protein kinase, Cdk5, as indicated by conversion of its activating cofactor p35 to p25. Thus, consistent with recent findings in humans and animals, organophosphate exposure causes dysregulation in the motor/reward circuitry and invokes mechanisms associated with neurological disorders and neurodegeneration.
Erythrocytapheresis versus phlebotomy in the initial treatment of HFE hemochromatosis patients: results from a randomized trial
Authors: Rombout‐Sestrienkova Eva , Nieman Fred H.M. , Essers Brigitte A.B. , van Noord Paulus A.H. , Janssen Mirian C.H. , van Deursen Cees Th.B.M. , Bos Laurens P. , Rombout Ferdinand , van den Braak Rogier , de Leeuw Peter W. , Koek Ger H. 
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND:Standard treatment of newly diagnosed HFE hemochromatosis patients is phlebotomy. Erythrocytapheresis provides a new therapeutic modality that can remove up to three times more red blood cells per single procedure and could thus have a clinical and economic benefit.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:To compare the number of treatment procedures between erythrocytapheresis and phlebotomy needed to reach the serum ferritin (SF) target level of 50 µg/L, a two‐treatment‐arms, randomized trial was conducted in which 38 newly diagnosed patients homozygous for C282Y were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either erythrocytapheresis or phlebotomy. A 50% decrease in the number of treatment procedures for erythrocytapheresis compared to phlebotomy was chosen as the relevant difference to detect.RESULTS:Univariate analysis showed a significantly lower mean number of treatment procedures in the erythrocytapheresis group (9 vs. 27; ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25‐0.45; Mann‐Whitney p < 0.001). After adjustments for the two important influential factors initial SF level and body weight, the reduction ratio was still significant (0.43; 95% CI, 0.35‐0.52; p < 0.001). Cost analysis showed no significant difference in treatment costs between both procedures. The costs resulting from productivity loss were significantly lower for the erythrocytapheresis group.CONCLUSION:Erythrocytapheresis is highly effective treatment to reduce iron overload and from a societal perspective might potentially also be a cost‐saving therapy.
In situ Particle Generation and Splat Formation During Solution Precursor Plasma Spraying of Yttria‐Stabilized Zirconia Coatings
Authors: Govindarajan Sivakumar , Dusane Rajiv Onkar , Joshi Shrikant Vishwanath 
Published: August 2011

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) based on Yttria‐stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) deposited by the solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) technique have been claimed to exhibit superior durability compared to conventional plasma spraying and even electron‐beam physical vapor deposition. This has been attributed to the interesting features, like vertical cracks, nanosized pores, and fine splats that are inherent to SPPS‐deposited YSZ coatings. However, the mechanism of coating formation during SPPS processing is not yet well understood. This study is aimed at understanding the influence of some key SPPS process variables on in situ generated particles and subsequent splat formation to augment the current level of understanding. The plasma power employed was found to play a major role in governing the morphology and phase constitution of in situ generated particles. The shape and size of the YSZ splats were also significantly influenced by the plasma power, but the substrate pre‐heat was also noted to be a major determining factor. It was further observed that the SPPS typically involved in situ generation of very fine particulates (50–500 nm) and splats (typically 200–2000 nm), which lead to its nano‐porous and homogeneous microstructure. The YSZ coating characteristics were also found to correlate well with the above results.
Use of Computed Tomography Adrenal Gland Measurement for Differentiating ACTH Dependence from ACTH Independence in 64 Dogs with Hyperadenocorticism
Authors: Rodríguez Piñeiro M.I. , de Fornel‐Thibaud P. , Benchekroun G. , Garnier F. , Maurey‐Guenec C. , Delisle F. , Rosenberg D. 
Published: August 2011

Background:The measurement of adrenal gland size on computed tomography (CT) scan has been proposed for the etiological diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) in dogs. Symmetric adrenal glands are considered to provide evidence for ACTH‐dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADHAC), whereas asymmetry suggests ACTH‐independent hyperadrenocorticism (AIHAC). However, there are currently no validated criteria for such differentiation.Objective:The aim of this retrospective study was to compare various adrenal CT scan measurements and the derived ratios in ADHAC and AIHAC cases, and to validate criteria for distinguishing between these conditions in a large cohort of dogs.Animals:Sixty‐four dogs with HAC (46 ADHAC, 18 AIHAC).Methods:Dogs with confirmed HAC and unequivocal characterization of its origin were included. Linear measurements of adrenal glands were made on both cross‐sectional and reformatted images.Results:An overlap was systematically observed between the AIHAC and ADHAC groups for all measurements tested. Overlaps also were observed for ratios tested. For the maximum adrenal diameter ratio derived from reformatted images (rADR), only 1/18 AIHAC dogs had a rADR within the range for ADHAC. For a threshold of 2.08, the 95% confidence intervals for estimated sensitivity and specificity extended from 0.815 to 1.000 and from 0.885 to 0.999, respectively, for AIHAC diagnosis.Conclusion and Clinical Importance:Measurements from cross‐sectional or reformatted CT scans are of little use for determining the origin of HAC. However, rADR appears to distinguish accurately between ADHAC and AIHAC, with a rADR > 2.08 highly suggestive of AIHAC.