bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Amylase: Phadebas test, saliva
Authors: Mullen Carrie 
Published: March 2012

AbstractPhadebas is a presumptive test used in forensic science examinations for the detection of areas of possible saliva staining. The test is designed to react with amylase, a digestive enzyme present in saliva. Some caution is required when a positive test result is obtained, however, as saliva is not the only substance to contain amylase. Phadebas, therefore, cannot confirm that saliva is present upon the surface of interest, it simply suggests that there is amylase activity present. When interpreting a positive casework result some consideration must therefore be given to what substances other than saliva could be present and reacting with the Phadebas and also to the positioning of the staining; whether it fits with the transfer method described in the allegation and whether there might also be other innocent mechanisms which could explain the presence of the presumed saliva staining.
Stabel Isotope Analysis: Bone and Teeth
Authors: Meier‐Augenstein Wolfram , Kemp Helen F 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn most of the different body deposition scenarios but for cremation, bone and teeth are typically the human remains that remain intact the longest after death has occurred. In the absence of any distinguishing features or other evidence that could help with positive victim identification, stable isotope profiles or signatures can provide useful information about a person's diet and geographic life trajectory, which can bring focus to an investigation involving unidentified victims of serious crime or mass disasters. No matter what the case circumstance, victim identification is of paramount importance to provide closure for next of kin and to help dealing with legal processes ensuing from the death of a person. In cases of serious crime, identification of the victim is a major stepping stone toward identifying the perpetrator/s.
Stable Isotope Analysis: Drugs
Authors: Carter James F. , Meier‐Augenstein Wolfram 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
The stable isotopic composition of materials, often referred to as the “isotopic profile” or “isotopic signature”, provides a means to associate or discriminate samples with different geographical or synthetic orginis. Studies have measured the range and variation in the isotopic composition of seized controlled drugs and examined the effects of synthesis and chemical modification in order to assist the interpreting of data from samples of unknown origin. The technique has been applied to a range of natural, modified‐natural and synthetic controlled substances for law enforcement and forensic intelligence purposes.
Confocal Microendoscopy of Neuromuscular Synapses in Living Mice
Authors: Blanco Gonzalo , Ribchester Richard R. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractHere we describe a step‐by‐step method for vital imaging of neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) and axons using fiber‐optic confocal microendoscopy (CME). A commercially available system, the Cellvizio Lab, can be applied to transgenic mouse lines expressing yellow fluorescent protein in all or pseudorandom sub‐subsets of motor neurons. Microscopic imaging in vivo is achieved by means of a flexible optical fiber probe that excites and collects the emitted light from fluorescently labeled structures. The hand‐held probe is introduced through small skin incisions to visualize nerves and neuromuscular junctions from superficial muscles. Interpolation software then reconstructs the images in real time. The images are of sufficient quality to permit screening of axonal and neuromuscular synaptic integrity and other aspects of their phenotype in live animals. Curr. Protoc. Mouse Biol. 2:1‐8 © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Prognostic indicators of foot‐related disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Results of a prospective three‐year study
Authors: Hooper Lindsey , Bowen Catherine J. , Gates Lucy , Culliford David J. , Ball Carole , Edwards Christopher J. , Arden Nigel K. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the prevalence and natural history of foot‐related disability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A secondary aim was to identify explanatory variables, including forefoot bursae, that are either associated with or predictive of disabling foot complications in patients with RA.MethodsA longitudinal prospective cohort study recruited patients with RA from a rheumatology outpatient clinic. Data were collected at baseline (n = 149) and 1‐year (n = 120) and 3‐year followup (n = 60). Patient‐reported disabling foot complications were evaluated using the subscales of the Foot Impairment Score (FIS): foot impairment/footwear restriction (FISIF) and activity limitation/participation restriction (FISAP). Explanatory variables investigated included ultrasound‐detectable forefoot pathology and markers of disease activity.ResultsDisabling foot complications were highly prevalent on all occasions. Changes in foot impairment and activity limitation were significantly associated with fluctuations in disease activity (Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate [DAS28‐ESR]: r = 0.455, P < 0.0001; ESR: r = −0.356, P = 0.008 and DAS28‐ESR: r = 0.433, P = 0.001; ESR: r = −0.439, P = 0.001 for the FISIF and FISAP, respectively), and approaching a significant association with changes in forefoot bursae (FISIF: r = 0.255, P = 0.063 and FISAP: r = 0.255, P = 0.063). The presence of disease duration and forefoot bursae was a significant prognostic indicator of foot impairment (P = 0.009 and P = 0.012, respectively), explaining 16% of score variability in the final regression model. Disease duration, forefoot bursae, and erosion presence were identified as significant prognostic indicators of activity limitation (P = 0.002, P = 0.006, and P = 0.019, respectively), explaining 35% of score variability in the final regression model.ConclusionDespite advances in disease management, patients report disability associated with foot problems. Forefoot bursae should be considered for targeted therapy.
Fluoreszenzbildgebung mit chemischen Sensoren
Authors: Schäferling Michael 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDie analytische Bildgebung mithilfe von photolumineszierenden chemischen Sensoren ist für viele wissenschaftliche und technische Fragestellungen von großer Bedeutung, weil sie die Visualisierung von Messgrößen wie O2, pH‐Wert, CO2, H2O2 oder Ca2+ ermöglicht, die keine Farbe oder Eigenfluoreszenz aufweisen. Dieser Aufsatz zeigt den Stand der Technik der optischen Sensorik und Bildgebung, ausgehend von den grundlegenden Funktionsprinzipien von Fluoreszenzsonden (oder Indikatoren) und den Möglichkeiten des Aufbaus von Sensormaterialien. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Entwicklung von multiplen Sensoren und deren optischer Signalauslesung. Bildgebende Verfahren mit fluoreszierenden chemischen Sensoren finden beispielsweise Anwendung in der medizinischen Forschung und Diagnostik, der Aerodynamik oder der Meeresforschung.
Physical characterization and rheological behavior of polyurethane/poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) blends, prepared by solution blending using dimethylacetamide
Authors: Mostafavi F. , Golshan Ebrahimi N. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractBlending effects of thermoplastic polyurethane based on polycaprolactone diol, PU (PCL diol), and poly (ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) on the rheological properties and morphological behavior of the solvent‐cast blends were investigated by parallel plate rheometer. The amount of PCL was varied from 20 to 50% by weight. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) results showed existence of hydrogen bonding in PU/PCL blends. From FTIR, we also found the increase of PCL composition tends to reduction of intermolecular hydrogen bonding and enhancing of microphase separation in blends. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated that these blend systems are partially miscible. Based on rheological characterization, decrease can be seen in the moduli, zero shear viscosity and plateau modulus of blends, as compared with net PU. Using Cole‐Cole plots and composition dependencies of η0 and the other viscoelastic functions expressed variation of morphology of blends due to increase of PCL content. Frequency sweep tests on PU/PCL (80/20) at five temperatures showed validity of time‐temperature superposition in this blend. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Effects of different drying methods on the microstructure and thermal oxidative aging resistance of natural rubber
Authors: Mei Chen , Yong‐Zhou Wang , Guang Lu , Xiao‐Ping Wang 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn this work, the wet natural rubber granules were dried by hot air and by microwave at 115°C, respectively; the morphological structures of dried natural rubber granules were studied by using a scanning electronic microscope, whereas the thermal oxidative properties of dried natural rubber granules were investigated by comparison of variation in properties before and after aging, and the changes in the thermal oxidative decompose temperatures. The results showed that it needed 13.47 min for microwave drying and 210.00 min for hot air drying to reduce the moisture content of wet natural rubber to the required value. The granules of natural rubber dried by microwave were of rough surfaces and the cutting traces produced during the processing of wet natural rubber remained on the natural rubber surface; whereas, the natural rubber granules dried by hot air were of smooth surfaces, and the cutting traces produced during the processing of wet granules disappeared. The thermal oxidative resistance of vulcanized natural rubber dried by microwave improved significantly. The initial plasticity (P0), plasticity retention index, and thermo‐oxidative decomposition temperature of natural rubber dried by microwave were higher than those of natural rubber dried by hot air. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Characteristics of vermiculite‐reinforced thermoplastic starch composite films
Authors: Lu Panfang , Zhang Min , Liu Yong , Li Jiuling , Xin Ming 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe thermoplastic starch–vermiculite (VER) composite films were prepared by solution‐casting technique in this study. First, the VER was used as the filler reinforcement for thermoplastic starch to enhance its properties. The modification of VER and the structure of films were investigated and characterized by X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope technology. Moreover, the Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed that the VER particles formed strong hydrogen bond interactions with starch matrix. According to TGA, differential scanning calorimetry study, and water absorption testing, the starch–VER composite films exhibited better improvement properties than did the starch matrix. It provides information on the use of VER to reinforce the properties of starch‐based materials. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Screening and Identification of Distant Metastasis‐Related Differentially Expressed Genes in Human Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Na , Zhou Fachen , Xiong Hai , Du Sha , Ma Jianwei , Okai Issac , Wang Jian , Suo Jing , Hao Lihong , Song Yang , Hu Jun , Shao Shujuan 
Published: March 2012

AbstractDistant metastasis is one of the leading causes of lung cancer death. Detecting the early‐stage molecular alternations in primary tumors, such as gene expression differences, provides a “prognostic” value to the precaution of tumor metastasis. The aim of this article is to screen and identify the metastasis‐related genes in human squamous cell lung carcinoma. Primary tumor tissues of nine patients with subsequent metastasis and eight patients without metastasis were selected to perform the gene microarray experiment. GO and pathway analyses were used to determine the differentially expressed genes. Two identified genes were further validated by real‐time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (real‐time qRT‐PCR). Two hundred and thirty‐eight differentially expressed genes were detected in gene chip experiment, including 51 up‐regulated genes and 187 down‐regulated genes. These genes were involved in several cellular processes, including cell adhesion, cell cycle regulation, and apoptosis. GO analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes participated in a wide ranging of metastasis‐related processes, including extracellular region and regulation of liquid surface tension. In addition, pathway analysis demonstrated that the differentially expressed genes were enriched in pathways related to cell cycle and Wnt signaling. Real‐time qRT‐PCR validation experiment of LCN2 and PDZK1IP1 showed a consistent up‐regulation in the metastasis group. The metastasis of human squamous cell lung carcinoma is a complex process that is regulated by multiple gene alternations on the expression levels. The 238 differentially expressed genes identified in this study presumably contain a core set of genes involved in tumor metastasis. The real‐time qRT‐PCR results of PDZK1IP1 and LCN2 validated the reliability of this gene microarray experiment. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The natural history of radiographic knee osteoarthritis: A fourteen‐year population‐based cohort study
Authors: Leyland K. M. , Hart D. J. , Javaid M. K. , Judge A. , Kiran A. , Soni A. , Goulston L. M. , Cooper C. , Spector T. D. , Arden N. K. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo establish the natural history of radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA) over 14 years in a community‐based cohort.MethodsWe examined women from the Chingford Women's Study, a community‐based cohort followed up for more than 14 years. We selected women for whom bilateral radiographs of the knees (with the legs in full extension) were obtained at approximately 5‐year intervals. Radiographs were scored for OA in a blinded manner, using Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grades. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios (ORs) were used to compare the incidence, worsening, and progression of radiographic knee OA.ResultsA complete radiography series was available for 561 of the original 1,003 subjects enrolled in the study. The median age of these subjects at baseline was 53 years (interquartile range 48–58 years). At baseline, 13.7% of the subjects had radiographic knee OA (K/L grade ≥2) in at least one knee, and the prevalence increased to 47.8% by year 15. The annual cumulative incidence of radiographic knee OA was 2.3% between baseline and year 15. The annual rates of disease progression and worsening between baseline and year 15 were 2.8% and 3.0%, respectively. Subjects with a K/L grade of 1 at baseline were more likely to experience worsening by year 15 compared with subjects with a baseline grade of 0 (OR 4.5, 95% confidence interval 2.7–7.4).ConclusionThis is the longest natural history study of radiographic knee OA to date. The results showed relatively low rates for the incidence and progression of radiographic knee OA; more than half of all subjects had no radiographic evidence of knee OA over a 15‐year period of time. Subjects with a baseline K/L grade of 1 were more likely than subjects with other baseline K/L grades to experience worsening of knee OA.
Am I Abnormal? Relative Rank and Social Norm Effects in Judgments of Anxiety and Depression Symptom Severity
Authors: Melrose Karen L. , Brown Gordon D. A. , Wood Alex M. 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTOverdetection and underdetection of depression and anxiety in primary care are common and may partly reflect individuals' misperceptions of the severity of symptoms they experience. Here, we explore how people's judgments about the severity of their own symptoms are influenced by their beliefs about the distribution of symptoms experienced by the rest of the population. We apply the rank‐based decision by sampling cognitive model of judgment to symptom severity. The model proposes that judgments depend on the relative rank of an item within a mental sample of comparable items. It is predicted that judgments of symptom severity will be context dependent and more specifically that an individual's judgments will be invalid to the extent that the individual has inaccurate beliefs about the relevant social context. Two studies found that participants' assessments of symptom severity were rank based. Study 1 elicited participants' beliefs about the social distribution of symptoms and found that participants' judgments of whether they were depressed or anxious were mainly predicted not by their symptoms' objective severity but rather by where participants ranked the severity of their symptoms in comparison with the believed symptoms of others. Study 2 varied symptom distributions experimentally and again found relative rank effects as predicted. It is concluded that the real‐world application of contextual models of judgment requires investigation of individual differences in participants' background beliefs. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conflict of evidence: Carotenoids and other micronutrients in the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairment
Authors: Cristina Polidori Maria , De Spirt Silke , Stahl Wilhelm , Pientka Ludger 
Published: March 2012

AbstractCognitive impairment is a common age‐related disorder which affects in the stadium and type Alzheimer's Disease (AD) a steadily growing number of patients. AD is not curable and is not being easily diagnosed in its preclinical phase. This work aims at highlighting the complex though promising rationale for the use of selected micronutrients against age‐related cognitive impairment and its progression. The advances made in the last decades in both defining the etiopathogenesis of cognitive impairment and in revealing mechanisms of action underlying possible preventive effects of several vitamins and micronutrients—likely related to antioxidant activity and modulation of cellular signaling—is being accompanied by conflicting results of most clinical trials. Therefore, available data do not currently support the use of substances such as carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamin D, curcumin, vitamin E, vitamin C, or lipoic acid in AD prevention and/or treatment. This might be partly due to the fact that cognitive impairment and especially AD are extremely complex disorders. The main obstacle to the inclusion of micronutrients among anticognitive impairment drug strategies, however, is that studies conducted so far are poorly comparable and probably underestimate of the role of vascular damage in age‐related cognitive impairment. A possible clinical benefit of these substances in AD is not disproved to date, thus further better designed studies are needed.
Vitamin K, an emerging nutrient in brain function
Authors: Ferland Guylaine 
Published: March 2012

AbstractHistorically discovered for its role in blood coagulation, there is now convincing evidence that vitamin K has important actions in the nervous system. As a unique cofactor to the γ‐glutamyl carboxylase enzyme, vitamin K contributes to the biological activation of proteins Gas6 and protein S, ligands for the receptor tyrosine kinases of the TAM family (Tyro3, Axl, and Mer). Functionally, Gas6 has been involved in a wide range of cellular processes that include cell growth, survival, and apoptosis. In brain, vitamin K also participates in the synthesis of sphingolipids, an important class of lipids present in high concentrations in brain cell membranes. In addition to their structural role, sphingolipids are now known to partake in important cellular events such as proliferation, differentiation, senescence and cell–cell interactions. In recent years, studies have linked alterations in sphingolipid metabolism to age‐related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Emerging data also point to unique actions of the K vitamer menaquinone‐4 (MK‐4) against oxidative stress and inflammation. Finally, there is now data to suggest that vitamin K has the potential to influence psychomotor behavior and cognition. This review presents an overview of what is known of the role of vitamin K in brain function.
Brain Circuits of Methamphetamine Place Reinforcement Learning: The Role of the Hippocampus‐VTA Loop
Authors: Keleta Yonas B. , Martinez Joe L. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe reinforcing effects of addictive drugs including methamphetamine (METH) involve the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA). VTA is primary source of dopamine (DA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the ventral hippocampus (VHC). These three brain regions are functionally connected through the hippocampal‐VTA loop that includes two main neural pathways: the bottom‐up pathway and the top‐down pathway. In this paper, we take the view that addiction is a learning process. Therefore, we tested the involvement of the hippocampus in reinforcement learning by studying conditioned place preference (CPP) learning by sequentially conditioning each of the three nuclei in either the bottom‐up order of conditioning; VTA, then VHC, finally NAc, or the top‐down order; VHC, then VTA, finally NAc. Following habituation, the rats underwent experimental modules consisting of two conditioning trials each followed by immediate testing (test 1 and test 2) and two additional tests 24 h (test 3) and/or 1 week following conditioning (test 4). The module was repeated three times for each nucleus. The results showed that METH, but not Ringer's, produced positive CPP following conditioning each brain area in the bottom‐up order. In the top‐down order, METH, but not Ringer's, produced either an aversive CPP or no learning effect following conditioning each nucleus of interest. In addition, METH place aversion was antagonized by coadministration of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist MK801, suggesting that the aversion learning was an NMDA receptor activation‐dependent process. We conclude that the hippocampus is a critical structure in the reward circuit and hence suggest that the development of target‐specific therapeutics for the control of addiction emphasizes on the hippocampus‐VTA top‐down connection.
Customer reactions to encountering consecutive service failures
Authors: Wu Cou‐Chen , Lo Yu Husan 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTAccording to previous studies, many consumers in Taiwan have experienced consecutive service failures. Despite these failures, many consumers still remain loyal to a service provider for a variety of reasons, such as money deposits, contractual agreements, associated costs, time constrains, and health concerns. We attempt to investigate the emotional reactions and expectations of consumers after they have experienced two consecutive service failures. Our findings reveal that for high‐involvement services, although customers display strong negative emotional reactions after each service failure, the reaction to the second service failure is less intensive than that to the first one. Furthermore, our findings show that as long as the products or services remain in use, customers tend to retain high levels of expectation in regard to the service provider. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Warning! The following packet contains shocking images: The impact of mortality salience on the effectiveness of graphic cigarette warning labels
Authors: Veer Ekant , Rank Tracy 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTThis research looks at a recent initiative to encourage smokers to quit smoking and to discourage nonsmokers from starting to smoke. Evidence has shown that text‐based warning labels are ineffective in drawing attention to the dangers of tobacco consumption; therefore, some governments are looking to draw current smokers and potential smokers away from cigarettes by displaying graphic images of various smoking ailments. This research draws on Terror Management Theory as a means of understanding the effects of graphic visual images in cigarette packaging and offers implications for public health researchers, social marketers, and antismoking campaigners to help smokers to quit and reduce the likelihood of potential smokers becoming smokers. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.