bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic assessment of microneedle injection into the mouse cornea
Authors: Matthaei Mario , Meng Huan , Bhutto Imran , Xu Qingguo , Boelke Edwin , Hanes Justin , Jun Albert S 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackgroundCorneal intrastromal injection is an important mode of gene-vector application to subepithelial layers. In a mouse model, this procedure is substantially complicated by the reduced corneal dimensions. Furthermore, it may be difficult to estimate the corneal area reached by the volume of a single injection. This study aimed to investigate intrastromal injections into the mouse cornea using different microneedles and to quantify the effect of injecting varying volumes. A reproducible injection technique is described.MethodsForty eyes of 20 129 Sv/J mice were tested. India ink was intrastromally injected using 30° beveled 33 G needles, tri-surface 25° beveled 35 G needles, or hand-pulled and 25° beveled glass needles. Each eye received a single injection of a volume of 1 or 2 μL. Corneoscleral buttons were fixed and flat mounted for computer-assisted quantification of the affected corneal area. Histological assessment was performed to investigate the intrastromal location of the injected dye.ResultsA mean corneal area of 5.0 ±1.4 mm2(mean ± SD) and 7.7 ±1.4 mm2was covered by intrastromal injections of 1 and 2 μL, respectively. The mean percentage of total corneal area reached ranged from 39% to 53% for 1 μL injections, and from 65% to 81% for 2 μL injections. Injections using the 33 G needles tended to provide the highest distribution area. Perforation rates were 8% for 30° beveled 33 G needles and 44% for tri-surface beveled 35 G needles. No perforation was observed with glass needle; however, intrastromal breakage of needle tips was noted in 25% of these cases.ConclusionsIntracorneal injection using a 30° beveled 33 G needle was safe and effective. The use of tri-surface beveled 35 G needles substantially increased the number of corneal perforations. Glass needles may break inside the corneal stroma. Injections of 1 μL and 2 μL resulted in an overall mean of 49% and 73% respectively of total corneal area involved.
A new colorimetric method for the determination of nifedipine tablets by derivatization using 4-carboxyl-2,6-dinitrobenzene diazonium ion
Authors: Aderibigbe Segun Abidemi , Adegoke Olajire Aremu , Idowu Olakunle Sunday 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
A new sensitive colorimetric determination of nifedipine has been developed following azo dye formation with 4-carboxyl-2,6-dinitrobenzenediazonium ion (CDNBD). Judging from the various generic brands currently now available, this research was conceived as a means of developing an alternative cost-effective and readily adaptable method for the assay of nifedipine in tablets and for which official high performance liquid chromatographic technique may not be readily available.

Results
Nifedipine was reduced with Zn/HCl reduction system and then the diazo coupling reaction was carried out with the CDNBD reagent to generate a new azo adduct with optimal wavelength at 470 nm representing a bathochromic shift relative to nifedipine, reduced nifedipine and CDNBD reagent. Optimal temperature and time for coupling were selected as 50 oC and 15 minutes. A linear response was observed over 2.9 -14.5 µg/mL of nifedipine with a correlation coefficient of 0.9985 and the drug combined with CDNBD at a stoichiometric ratio of 2:1. The method has limits of detection and quantitation of 0.1344 µg mL-1 and 0.4074 µg mL-1 respectively. The Sandell’s sensitivity obtained is 4.673 ng/cm2 and the method was reproducible over a three day assessment. Intra- and inter-day accuracies (in terms of errors) were of the order -0.008 to 3.22 % while precisions were generally less than 3.1 % (RSD).

Conclusions
The developed spectrophotometric method is of equivalent accuracy (p > 0.05) with USP 2007 HPLC method. It has the advantages of speed, simplicity, sensitivity and more affordable instrumentation and could find application as a rapid and sensitive analytical method for nifedipine. It is the first described method by azo dye derivatization for the analysis of nifedipine in bulk samples and dosage forms.
Zebrafish larvae exposed to ginkgotoxin exhibit seizure-like behavior that is relieved by pyridoxal-5′-phosphate, GABA and anti-epileptic drugs
Authors: Lee Gang-Hui , Sung Shian-Ying , Chang Wen-Ni , Kao Tseng-Ting , Tu Hung-Chi , Hsiao Tsun-Hsien , Safo Martin K. , Fu Tzu-Fun 
Published: June 2012

SUMMARY
The etiology of epilepsy is a very complicated, multifactorial process that is not completely understood. Therefore, the availability of epilepsy animal models induced by different mechanisms is crucial in advancing our knowledge and developing new therapeutic regimens for this disorder. Considering the advantages of zebrafish, we have developed a seizure model in zebrafish larvae using ginkgotoxin, a neurotoxin naturally occurring in Ginkgo biloba and hypothesized to inhibit the formation of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). We found that a 2-hour exposure to ginkgotoxin induced a seizure-like behavior in zebrafish larvae. This seizure-like swimming pattern was alleviated by the addition of either pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP) or GABA and responded quickly to the anti-convulsing activity of gabapentin and phenytoin, two commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Unexpectedly, the ginkgotoxin-induced PLP depletion in our experimental setting did not affect the homeostasis of folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism, another metabolic pathway playing a crucial role in neural function that also relies on the availability of PLP. This ginkgotoxin-induced seizure behavior was also relieved by primidone, which had been tested on a pentylenetetrazole-induced zebrafish seizure model but failed to rescue the seizure phenotype, highlighting the potential use and complementarity of this ginkgotoxin-induced seizure model for AED development. Structural and morphological characterization showed that a 2-hour ginkgotoxin exposure did not cause appreciable changes in larval morphology and tissues development. In conclusion, our data suggests that this ginkgotoxin-induced seizure in zebrafish larvae could serve as an in vivo model for epileptic seizure research and potential AED screening.
The Development and Evaluation of Blood Volume Measuring System for Blood Culture Quality Improvement
Authors: Shim Hun , Kim Kab Seung , Uh Young , Seo Dong Min , Kim Hyo Youl , Yoon Young Ro 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
The blood volume is the most important factor affecting the sensitivity of blood cultures. However, there has not been a system for measuring blood volume prior to starting the blood culture process. The aim of this study is to develop a blood volume measuring system and to evaluate its usability in a clinical setting. A system for measuring blood volume in a culture bottle using digital scales was designed. The suggested system was installed and evaluated in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. During the 13-month period, the weight of blood bottles before inoculation and blood volumes in 113 564 blood culture bottles were analyzed. The weight differences between bottles were up to 12 g and about 9 g for bottles distributed by BACTEC and bioMérieux, respectively. Of the 113 564 aforementioned bottles, 96 661 cultures were analyzed from patients over the ages of 18. After the application of blood volume measuring systems, the adequate blood volume submission ratio increased from 4.9 % to about 10 %. After the intervention, the proportions of bottles for adequate submissions showed an increasing trend. In routine clinical practice, providing regular feedback and education regarding the adequate blood volumes for culture to clinicians and nurses would be a good way to maintain quality of the blood culture results and to reduce culture bottles being submitted with an inadequate amount of sample.
Computation of Tensile Strain-Hardening Exponents through the Power-Law Relationship
Authors: Matusevich Ariel E. , Massa Julio C. , Mancini Reinaldo A. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Many metals flow in the region of uniform plastic deformation following a power-law relationship, which states that true stress is proportional to true-plastic strain raised to the power n. The exponent n, known as the tensile strain-hardening exponent, can be determined from a tension test through appropriate transformations of stress-strain data and least-squares fitting of a straight line. Procedures for the computation of n have been standardized by ASTM International and ISO. Current ASTM and ISO standards differ, most notably, in the type of strain used in calculations. The ASTM procedure permits the use of true strain (true-elastic strain plus true-plastic strain), when true-elastic strain represents less than 10 % of total strain. On the other hand, the ISO version stipulates the subtraction of true-elastic strain from true strain, using a formula whose derivation is not publicly available. In this work, we revisit the expressions that enable the transformation of engineering stress-strain data to true-stress and true-plastic-strain values. Using eight tension-test curves from several materials, obtained through ASCII files publicly available at the website of the National Physical Laboratory of the United Kingdom, we compare n-values obtained via three definitions of strain: (i) true strain, (ii) conventional definition of true-plastic strain, and (iii) true-plastic strain according to the ISO formula. In addition, we investigate the dependency of the results on the strain range over which n-values are calculated. To evaluate strain-range dependency, which arises when metals do not closely follow the power-law relationship, we analyze the effect of strain intervals of increasing length and study the variation of n-values when the range of interest is divided into subintervals. To improve the approximation given by the power-law relationship over the region under analysis, we propose an alternative formulation in which the strength coefficient and the strain-hardening exponent are functions of true-plastic strain.
Elliptical Hole-Crack Problems in an Infinite Plate Subjected to Internal Pressure
Authors: Yan Xiangqiao , Miao Chengqing 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
This paper deals with elliptical hole-crack problems in an infinite plate subjected to internal pressure by using a hybrid displacement discontinuity method (a boundary element method). Numerical results of the stress intensity factors (SIFs) are given. Especially, a few dimensionless parameters are introduced and it is illustrated using some examples that the dimensionless parameters have theoretically a guidance role for hole-crack design in an explosive engineering.
A Linear S-N Curve with Load Dependent Variance and Explicit Failure Probability
Authors: Dabiru Venkata Rambabu , Chatterjee Anindya 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
We reconsider standard uniaxial fatigue test data obtained from handbooks. Many S-N curve fits to such data represent the median life and exclude load-dependent variance in life. Presently available approaches for incorporating probabilistic aspects explicitly within the S-N curves have some shortcomings, which we discuss. We propose a new linear S-N fit with a prespecified failure probability, load-dependent variance, and reasonable behavior at extreme loads. We fit our parameters using maximum likelihood, show the reasonableness of the fit using Q-Q plots, and obtain standard error estimates via Monte Carlo simulations. The proposed fitting method may be used for obtaining S-N curves from the same data as already available, with the same mathematical form, but in cases in which the failure probability is smaller, say, 10 % instead of 50 %, and in which the fitted line is not parallel to the 50 % (median) line.
Wolfram von Richthofen, die Zerstörung Wieluńs und das Kriegsvölkerrecht
Authors: Volkmann Hans-Erich 
Published: June 2012

Zusammenfassung
Der Angriff der deutschen Luftwaffe auf die polnische Kreisstadt Wieluń am 1. September 1939 besitzt unter zwei Aspekten einen festen Platz im polnischen Opfermythos. Er gilt als zeitlicher Beginn des Zweiten Weltkrieges und, vergleichbar der Zerstörung Guernicas, als völkerrechtswidriger Terrorakt gegen die Zivilbevölkerung eines militärisch unbedeutenden Ortes. Beide Annahmen halten einer historiografischen Überprüfung nicht Stand. Die erste basiert auf der Voraussetzung einer vermeintlichen Zeitdifferenz zwischen Polen und Deutschland, die nachweislich nicht bestand. Auch die völkerrechtliche Definition des Terrorangriffs trifft für die Bombardierung Wieluńs nicht zu. Es handelte sich vielmehr, in Übereinstimmung mit der Zerstörung der baskischen Stadt, um Lufteinsätze mit Übungscharakter. Bei diesen kam zum einen die Technik spezifischer Flugzeugtypen auf den Prüfstand. Zum anderen galt der Fliegereinsatz gegen Wieluń, wie übrigens während des gesamten Polenfeldzuges, als Generalprobe für die Tauglichkeit des Sturzkampfbombers („Stuka“) Junkers Ju 87 B zum Punktziel- wie Flächenbombardement in Vorbereitung auf spätere Kriegsschauplätze in Europa und Nordafrika. Gleichwohl verletzte der verantwortliche General, Wolfram von Richthofen, flagrant die Haager Landkriegsordnung. Dieser zufolge richtete sich die Behandlung der Zivilbevölkerung im Krieg an den Prinzipien aus, die bei gesitteten Völkern als Gebote der Menschlichkeit und als Forderung des öffentlichen Gewissens Gültigkeit beanspruchen konnten.
Allergic Reactions to Foods in Preschool-Aged Children in a Prospective Observational Food Allergy Study
Authors: Fleischer David M. , Perry Tamara T. , Atkins Dan , Wood Robert A. , Burks A. Wesley , Jones Stacie M. , Henning Alice K. , Stablein Donald , Sampson Hugh A. , Sicherer Scott H. 
Published: June 2012

OBJECTIVE:
To examine circumstances of allergic reactions to foods in a cohort of preschool-aged children.

METHODS:
We conducted a prospective, 5-site observational study of 512 infants aged 3 to 15 months with documented or likely allergy to milk or egg, and collected data prospectively examining allergic reactions.

RESULTS:
Over a median follow-up of 36 months (range: 0–48.4), the annualized reaction rate was 0.81 per year (367/512 subjects reporting 1171 reactions [95% confidence interval: 0.76–0.85]). Overall, 269/512 (52.5%) reported &gt;1 reaction. The majority of reactions (71.2%) were triggered by milk (495 [42.3%]), egg (246 [21.0%]), and peanut (93 [7.9%]), with accidental exposures attributed to unintentional ingestion, label-reading errors, and cross-contact. Foods were provided by persons other than parents in 50.6% of reactions. Of 834 reactions to milk, egg, or peanut, 93 (11.2%) were attributed to purposeful exposures to these avoided foods. A higher number of food allergies (P &lt; .0001) and higher food-specific immunoglobulin E (P &lt; .0001) were associated with reactions. Of the 11.4% of reactions (n = 134) that were severe, 29.9% were treated with epinephrine. Factors resulting in undertreatment included lack of recognition of severity, epinephrine being unavailable, and fears about epinephrine administration.

CONCLUSIONS:
There was a high frequency of reactions caused by accidental and nonaccidental exposures. Undertreatment of severe reactions with epinephrine was a substantial problem. Areas for improved education include the need for constant vigilance, accurate label reading, avoidance of nonaccidental exposure, prevention of cross-contamination, appropriate epinephrine administration, and education of all caretakers.
Behavioral biology of trace fossils
Authors: Plotnick Roy E. 
Published: June 2012

The potential of the ichnofossil record for exploring the evolution of behavior has never been fully realized. Some of this is due to the nature of the trace fossil record itself. Equally responsible is the separation of ichnology from the relevant areas of modern behavioral biology. The two disciplines have virtually no concepts, methods, or literature in common. The study of animal behavior and its evolution is thus bereft of the rich data and insights of ichnologists.One potential pathway forward is for ichnologists to adopt and adapt the movement ecology paradigm proposed several years ago by Ran Nathan and colleagues. This approach views movement as resulting from interactions of the organism's internal state, its movement abilities, and its sensory capabilities with each other and with the external environment. These interactions produce a movement path. The adoption of this paradigm would place trace fossil studies in a far wider common context for the study of movement, while providing the dimension of the evolution of movement behavior in deep time to neontological studies.A second component of this integration would be for paleontologists to develop ataphonomy of behaviorthat places in a phylogenetic context the range of possible behaviors that organisms can carry out and assesses the potential of each of these behaviors in leaving a diagnostic trace. Parallel to other taphonomic concepts, this approach assesses the preservation potential of particular behaviors;behavioral fidelityis the extent to which trace fossils preserve these original behavioral signals.
Academic Research and Standard-Setting: The Case of Other Comprehensive Income
Authors: Rees Lynn L. , Shane Philip B. 
Published: June 2012

SYNOPSIS:
This paper links academic accounting research on comprehensive income reporting with the accounting standard-setting efforts of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). We begin by discussing the development of reporting other comprehensive income, and we identify a significant weakness in the FASB's Conceptual Framework, in the lack of a cohesive definition of any subcategory of comprehensive income, including earnings. We identify several attributes that could help allocate comprehensive income between net income, other comprehensive income, and other subcategories. We then review academic research related to remaining standard-setting issues, and identify gaps in academic research where hypotheses could be developed and tested. Our objectives are to (1) stimulate standard-setters to better conceptualize what is meant by other comprehensive income and to distinguish it from earnings, and (2) stimulate researchers to develop and test hypotheses that might help in that process.
Effects of inulin or yeast cell-wall extract on nutrient digestibility, fecal fermentative end-product concentrations, and blood metabolite concentrations in adult dogs fed raw meat–based diets
Authors: Beloshapka Alison N. , Duclos Laura M. , Vester Boler Brittany M. , Swanson Kelly S. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Objective—To determine the effects of raw meat–based diets with and without inulin or yeast cell-wall (YCW) extract on macronutrient digestibility, blood cell counts, serum metabolite concentrations, and fecal fermentative end-product concentrations in healthy adult dogs.
Animals—6 healthy adult spayed female dogs (mean ± SD age, 5.5 ± 0.5 years; mean body weight, 8.5 ± 0.5 kg).
Procedures—Dogs were fed each of the following 6 diets for 21 days, the order of which was randomly assigned in a Latin square design: beef control, beef and 1.4% inulin, beef and 1.4% YCW extract, chicken control, chicken and 1.4% inulin, and chicken and 1.4% YCW extract. Each diet trial consisted of a phase for diet adaptation (days 0 to 14) and a phase for measurement of urine and fecal output and content (days 15 to 20). On day 21, food was withheld for blood sample collection. Afterward, the next diet trial began immediately.
Results—All dogs maintained desirable fecal quality characteristics and produced low fecal volume. All diets were highly digestible (protein digestibility > 88%; fat digestibility > 97%). Differences in fermentative end-product concentrations among all diets were minor, but a significant increase in fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations was evident when dogs were fed beef-based diets with inulin and YCW extract. Fecal spermine concentrations were higher with diets containing inulin and YCW extract than with control diets. Blood cell counts and serum metabolite values were within reference limits after each trial. All diets resulted in maintenance of nitrogen balance.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested the raw meat–based diets evaluated were highly digestible in dogs. The increase in fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations achieved when inulin and YCW extract were included may be beneficial to canine health.
Frequency of spontaneous canine herpesvirus-1 reactivation and ocular viral shedding in latently infected dogs and canine herpesvirus-1 reactivation and ocular viral shedding induced by topical administration of cyclosporine and systemic administration of corticosteroids
Authors: Ledbetter Eric C. , da Silva Erotides C. , Kim Sung G. , Dubovi Edward J. , Schwark Wayne S. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Objective—To determine the frequency of spontaneous canine herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1) reactivation and ocular viral shedding in latently infected dogs and the effect of topical ocular administration of cyclosporine.
Animals—8 mature Beagles with experimentally induced latent CHV-1 infection.
Procedures—Following induction of primary ocular CHV-1 infection, the presence of reactivatable CHV-1 latency was confirmed by systemically administering prednisolone to the dogs. Dogs were then monitored for 36 weeks via clinical examination and conjunctival sample CHV-1 PCR assay performed at 4-day intervals and CHV-1 virus neutralization antibody assay performed at 2-week intervals. During weeks 16 to 32, dogs were administered 0.2% cyclosporine ointment in both eyes twice daily and blood cyclosporine concentrations were monitored. During weeks 33 to 36, the presence of reactivatable CHV-1 latency was reconfirmed via systemic administration of prednisolone.
Results—Reactivation of latent CHV-1 was not detected via clinical examination or viral shedding during the initial 32 weeks, including before and during topical ocular administration of cyclosporine, and there were no significant differences in CHV-1 virus neutralization titer increases between the study periods. Blood cyclosporine concentrations were less than assay detection limits in all dogs on the sampling days. Systemic administration of corticosteroids repeatedly resulted in ocular disease and viral shedding.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Spontaneous CHV-1 reactivation did not occur frequently in latently infected mature dogs, and this was not altered by topical ocular administration of cyclosporine. This characteristic may be a factor contributing to the lower frequency of recurrent herpetic ocular disease in dogs relative to other host species and their associated alphaherpesviruses.