bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bioavailability of pharmaceuticals in waters close to wastewater treatment plants: Use of fish bile for exposure assessment
Authors: Lahti Marja , Brozinski Jenny-Maria , Segner Helmut , Kronberg Leif , Oikari Aimo 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous in surface waters as a consequence of discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants. However, few studies have assessed the bioavailability of pharmaceuticals to fish in natural waters. In the present study, passive samplers and rainbow trout were experimentally deployed next to three municipal wastewater treatment plants in Finland to evaluate the degree of animal exposure. Pharmaceuticals from several therapeutic classes (in total 15) were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in extracts of passive samplers and in bile and blood plasma of rainbow trout held at polluted sites for 10 d.
Each approach indicated the highest exposure near wastewater treatment plant A and the lowest near that of plant C. Diclofenac, naproxen, and ibuprofen were found in rainbow trout, and their concentrations in bile were 10 to 400 times higher than in plasma. The phase I metabolite hydroxydiclofenac was also detected in bile. Hence, bile proved to be an excellent sample matrix for the exposure assessment of fish. Most of the monitored pharmaceuticals were found in passive samplers, implying that they may overestimate the actual exposure of fish in receiving waters. Two biomarkers, hepatic vitellogenin and cytochrome P4501A, did not reveal clear effects on fish, although a small induction of vitellogenin mRNA was observed in trout caged near wastewater treatment plants B and C. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 1831–1837. © 2012 SETAC
Physical morbidity by surgical approach and tumor location in skull base surgery
Authors: de Almeida John R. , Witterick Ian J. , Gullane Patrick J. , Gentili Fred , Lohfeld Lynne , Ringash Jolie , Thoma Achilles , Vescan Allan D. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackgroundSkull base tumors are associated with physical symptoms that vary depending on location and surgical approach.MethodsSkull base surgery patients (n = 138) were retrospectively reviewed and physical symptoms were quantified. Patients were divided into 4 groups by surgical approach (open, endoscopic) and tumor location (anterior, central). Multivariate analyses determined odds for symptom development.ResultsPatients with anterior lesions presented with more nasal symptoms compared to those with central lesions (63% vs 6.8%; p < .001). Those with central lesions presented with more neurologic (41.1% vs 12.3%; p < .001) and endocrine symptoms (19.2% vs 0%; p < .001). Three of 4 groups experienced a reduction in neurologic and visual symptoms after surgery. One group (endoscopic/central) experienced a reduction in endocrine and an increase in nasal symptoms. Anterior tumors (p = .02) and endoscopic approaches (p = .002) predicted increased nasal morbidity.ConclusionPhysical morbidity from skull base tumors may vary based on tumor location and surgical approach. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Follow‐up of parotid pleomorphic adenomas treated by extracapsular dissection
Authors: Iro Heinrich , Zenk Johannes , Koch Michael , Klintworth Nils 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBackgroundThis study was carried out to evaluate tumor recurrence following extracapsular dissection of pleomorphic adenomas of the parotid gland.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective evaluation and clinical follow‐up of the patients who underwent extracapsular dissection of a pleomorphic adenoma as primary surgery in the otolaryngologic department of the Erlangen University Clinics during the period from 2000 to 2005.ResultsIn all, 601 surgical interventions on benign parotid tumors were carried out from 2000 to 2005, 219 of which were primary operations for removal of a pleomorphic adenoma. In 76 patients (34.7%), extracapsular dissection of a primary pleomorphic adenoma was carried out. Tumor recurrence has not been observed in any of these patients to date after an average monitoring period of 7.38 years (range, 5.05–10.52 years).ConclusionsExtracapsular dissection is a conservative and safe surgical procedure for extirpation of pleomorphic adenomas that should be firmly established in the repertoire of parotid gland surgery. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012
Infiltration, runoff and soil loss in Andisols affected by forest fire (Canary Islands, Spain)
Authors: Neris J. , Tejedor M. , Fuentes J. , Jiménez C. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractDepending on the severity of the fire, forest fires may modify infiltration and soil erosion processes. Rainfall simulations were used to determine the hydrological effects of fire on Andisols in a pine forest burned by a wildfire in 2007. Six burned zones with different fire severities were compared with unburned zones. Infiltration, runoff and soil loss were analysed on slopes of 10% and 30%. Forest floor and soil properties were evaluated. Unburned zones exhibited relatively low infiltration (23 and 16 mm h−1 on 10% and 30% slope angles, respectively) and high average runoff/rainfall ratios (43% and 50% on 10% and 30% slope angles, respectively), which were associated with the extreme water repellency of the forest floor. Nonetheless, this layer seems to provide protection against raindrop impact and soil losses were found to be low (8 and 16 g m−2 h−1 for 10% and 30% slope angles, respectively). Soil cover, soil structure and water repellency were the main properties affected by the fire. The fire reduced forest floor and soil repellency, allowing rapid infiltration. Moreover, a significant decrease was noted in soil aggregate stabilities in the burned zones, which limited the infiltration rates. Consequently, no significant differences in infiltration and runoff were found between the burned and the unburned zones. The decrease in post‐fire soil cover and soil stability resulted in order‐of‐magnitude increases in erosion. Sediment rates were 15 and 31 g m−2 h−1 on the 10% and 30% slope angles, respectively, in zones affected by light fire severity. In the moderate fire severity zones, these values reached 65 and 260 g m−2 h−1 for the 10% and 30% slope angles, respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A shifting hydrological regime: a field investigation of snowmelt runoff processes and their connection to summer base flow, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia
Authors: Beaulieu M. , Schreier H. , Jost G. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe annual hydrographs of British Columbian rivers are characterized by glacial, nival, pluvial or ‘hybrid’ sources of runoff. Climate change scenarios for the 2050s indicate that snow water equivalent could diminish by 50% to 80% in low‐elevation basins of the south coastal region of British Columbia. This could trigger a shift from a hybrid to a pluvial regime for many creeks originating in the coastal mountains and could negatively affect summer low flows. However, the connection between recharge occurring in the headwaters during snowmelt and late‐summer water yield remains unclear. A mountainous creek (Stephen's Creek) was monitored in a nested design from September 2008 to November 2009. A two‐component isotopic hydrograph separation method was developed by adapting the runoff‐corrected model to a semidistributed environment to account for both the spatial and the temporal variability of the isotopic release from the snowpack in the headwater catchment. Results show that snowmelt composed most of the streamflow both at the headwater site (66% ± 19%) and at the mouth (62% ± 23%) during the peak of the freshet, and its contribution to streamflow was significantly different in July (34% ± 11% at the headwater vs 7% ± 4% at the mouth). Streamflow recession analysis suggests that a snowmelt‐recharged headwater catchment can support a steadier summer base flow compared to a much larger but rainfed‐dominated watershed. This study concluded that the large input of meltwater during the spring was sufficient to ‘overturn’ shallow subsurface reservoirs and to recharge deeper flow paths at a rate that cannot be matched by rainfed‐dominated systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Filtered backprojection algorithm can outperform iterative maximum likelihood expectation‐maximization algorithm
Authors: Zeng Gengsheng L. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe iterative maximum‐likelihood expectation‐maximization (ML‐EM) algorithm is an excellent algorithm for image reconstruction and usually provides better images than the filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithm. However, a windowed FBP algorithm can outperform the ML‐EM in certain occasions, when the least‐squared difference from the true image, that is, the least‐squared error (LSE), is used as the comparison criterion. Computer simulations were carried out for the two algorithms. For a given data set the best reconstruction (compared to the true image) from each algorithm was first obtained, and the two reconstructions are compared. The stopping iteration number of the ML‐EM algorithm and the parameters of the windowed FBP algorithm were determined, so that they produced an image that was closest to the true image. However, to use the LSE criterion to compare algorithms, one must know the true image. How to select the optimal parameters when the true image is unknown is a practical open problem. For noisy Poisson projections, computer simulation results indicate that the ML‐EM images are better than the regular FBP images, and the windowed FBP algorithm images are better than the ML‐EM images. For the noiseless projections, the FBP algorithms outperform the ML‐EM algorithm. The computer simulations reveal that the windowed FBP algorithm can provide a reconstruction that is closer to the true image than the ML‐EM algorithm. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 114–120, 2012
Group inference of default‐mode networks from functional magnetic resonance imaging data: comparison of random‐ and mixed‐effects group statistics
Authors: Kim Yong‐Hwan , Lee Jong‐Hwan 
Published: May 2012

AbstractDefault‐mode network (DMN) activity measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) represents dominant intrinsic neuronal activations of the human brain during rest as opposed to task periods. Previous studies have demonstrated the utility of DMNs in identifying characteristic traits such as hyperactivation and hypoactivation from group‐level fMRI data. However, these group‐level spatial patterns (SPs) were mostly based on random‐effect (RFX) statistics determined using only the intersubject variability. To reduce the potentially significant level of variability in group‐level SPs in RFX due to intrasubject variability, we were motivated to adopt a mixed‐effects (MFX) statistics that is using both intrasubject and intersubject variability. Publicly available group fMRI database during resting state was analyzed using a temporal concatenation‐based group independent component (IC) analysis, and DMN‐related ICs at the group‐level were automatically selected. The individual‐level SPs of these DMN‐related ICs were subsequently estimated using a dual‐regression approach. Using these individual‐level SPs, we evaluated the reproducibility and potential variability of the DMNs from the RFX and MFX statistics using performance measures including (1) neuronal activation levels, (2) percentages of overlap, (3) Pearson's spatial correlation coefficients, and (4) the distances between center‐of‐clusters. The resulting SPs from the MFX‐based group inference showed a significantly greater level of reproducibility than those from the RFX‐based group inference as tested in a bootstrapping framework Family‐wise error (FWE)‐corrected p < 10−10, one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA)). The reported findings may provide a valuable supplemental option for investigating the neuropsychiatric group‐ or condition‐dependent characteristic traits implicated in DMNs. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 121–131, 2012
Morphological contrast index based on the Weber's law
Authors: Jiménez‐Sánchez Angélica R. , Santillán Israel , Resendiz Juvenal Rodriguez , Gonzalez‐Gutierrez Carlos A. , Mendiola‐Santibañez Jorge D. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIn this article, a morphological contrast index based on the Weber's law is proposed to quantify the contrast in a processed image. This measure involves the contours of the image along with its background. The proposal made here is applied to detect the image with higher contrast, and also identify the enhanced image most similar to the original. Moreover, the contrast index is compared with other four indexes reported in the current literature. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 137–144, 2012
Interest points localization for brain image using landmark‐annotated atlas
Authors: Lu Huanxiang , Nolte Lutz‐Peter , Reyes Mauricio 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe localization of clinically important points in brain images is crucial for many neurological studies. Conventional manual landmark annotation requires expertise and is often time‐consuming. In this work, we propose an automatic approach for interest point localization in brain image using landmark‐annotated atlas (LAA). The landmark detection procedure is formulated as a problem of finding corresponding points of the atlas. The LAA is constructed from a set of brain images with clinically relevant landmarks annotated. It provides not only the spatial information of the interest points of the brain but also the optimal features for landmark detection through a learning process. Evaluation was performed on 3D magnetic resonance (MR) data using cross‐validation. Obtained results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves the accuracy of ∼ 2 mm, which outperforms the traditional methods such as block matching technique and direct image registration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 22, 145–152, 2012
Charge‐conversional poly(amino acid)s derivatives as a drug delivery carrier in response to the tumor environment
Authors: Yoon Se Rim , Yang Hee‐Man , Park Chan Woo , Lim Sujin , Chung Bong Hyun , Kim Jong‐Duk 
Published: May 2012

AbstractA charge‐converting and pH‐dependent nanocarrier was achieved by conjugating 2,3‐dimethylmaleic anhydride (DMMA) to the amino group of an octadecyl grafted poly (2‐hydroxyethyl aspartamide) (PHEA‐g‐C18‐NH2) backbone, thereby forming a spherical micelle. PHEA, a poly(amino acid)s derivative, was derived from poly(succinimide), which is biocompatible and biodegradable. DMMA, a detachable component at the tumor site, was added, preventing aggregation with negative blood serum and enhancing the nanocarrier's cellular uptake. The polymeric micelle was comprehensively characterized and doxorubicin was encapsulated successively. The cellular uptake and anticancer therapeutic effect were evaluated by flow cytometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and a MTT assay. The properties of the nanocarrier can further be exploited to develop an early detection module for cancer. The present work is also expected to advance the study of designing smart carriers for drug and gene delivery. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Effect of macrophage classical (M1) activation on implant‐adherent macrophage interactions withStaphylococcus epidermidis: A murinein vitromodel system
Authors: Park Kyung R. , Bryers James D. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractA modelin vitrosystem was developed for eliciting classical (M1) activation of surface‐adherent murine macrophages, which was then used to study the interaction of the M1 macrophages withStaphylococcus epidermidis. Glass substrata were first covalently grafted with a mixture of methoxy‐ and biotin‐terminated silanated polyethylene glycol. Interferon (IFN)‐γ and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), ligands known to induce the highly microbicidal M1 activation state in macrophages, were biotinylated and immobilized by way of a streptavidin intermediate to the biotin‐PEG base substratum. Assessment of mouse bone marrow‐derived macrophage (BMDM) interleukin (IL)‐12(p40) and nitric oxide response to the fabricated surfaces confirmed that the model system achieved activation of adherent macrophage: IFN‐γ‐presenting surfaces primed cells for M1 activation, LPS‐presenting surfaces elicited innate activation, and surface presenting a combination of IFN‐γ and LPS induced M1 activation. The phagocytic and microbicidal capacity of activated, surface‐adherent BMDM was evaluated usingS. epidermidis, a bacterial species prevalent in implant‐associated infections. Results indicate that M1 activation of implant‐adherent macrophages trends towards diminishing their phagocytic capacity, but enhances their microbicidal capacity forS. epidermidis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Some aspects of the host response to methacrylic acid containing beads in a mouse air pouch
Authors: Patel Riteshkumar J. , Sefton Michael V. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractExudate analysis indicated that both hydroxamated methacrylic acid‐based (HX‐MAA) and methacrylic acid‐based (MAA) beads without hydroxamation, implanted in an air pouch with gelatin discs, elicited similar biological responses, with both resulting in high cell counts and chemokine (MCP3) levels, relative to control, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) beads. HX‐MAA beads had been used elsewhere to restore homeostatic levels of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes, matrix metalloproteases, whereas the MAA beads (without hydroxamation) promoted angiogenesis in wound healing models. Furthermore, both beads appeared to activate exudate macrophages in the classical manner (high IL12/IL10 ratio) at day 4. Exudate macrophages, which were isolated by a magnetic bead protocol and analyzed by RT‐PCR, showed a mixed response: elevated levels of an alternative marker (mannose receptor C type lectin) and a classical marker (IL6) were seen, in macrophages from the HX‐MAA and MAA group compared to the PMMA group at day 4. A partial shift to an alternatively activated phenotype was seen by day 10. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Layer‐by‐layer assembly of antibacterial coating on interbonded 3D fibrous scaffolds and its cytocompatibility assessment
Authors: Tang Yanwei , Zhao Yan , Wang Hongxia , Gao Yuan , Liu Xin , Wang Xungai , Lin Tong 
Published: May 2012

AbstractBonded fibrous matrices have shown great potential in tissue engineering because of their unique 3D structures and pore characteristics. For some applications, bacterial infections must be taken into account, and antibacterial function is highly desired. In this study, an antibacterial polymer, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), was applied onto the fiber surface of a bonded poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) fibrous matrix with the objective to achieve both strong antibacterial effect and good cell compatibility. The coatings were prepared by using an electrostatic layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly technique, which allowed the control of PHMB loading and coating uniformity on the fiber surface. The PHMB coating provided antibacterial activities, but had no toxicity on mammalian cells. This bonded PCL fibrous matrix with electrostatically self‐assembled PHMB may provide a new antiinfective tissue scaffold for various biomedical applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Copolymer nanoparticles composed of sulfobetaine and poly(ε‐caprolactone) as novel anticancer drug carriers
Authors: Cao Jun , Xiu Ke‐Mao , Zhu Kun , Chen Yuan‐Wei , Luo Xiang‐Lin 
Published: May 2012

AbstractNovel ABA type amphiphilic copolymers (PCL‐APS‐PCL) consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL) (A) as hydrophobic block and N,N′‐bis (2‐hydroxyethyl) methylamine ammonium propane sulfonate (APS) (B) as hydrophilic segment, self‐assembled into nanoparticles (NPs) with solvent evaporation method. The sizes and size distributions of NPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering. The morphology of NPs was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was determined by fluorescent probe. The drug loading content (DLC) and the drug release amount were characterized by UV–visible spectrophotometer. The cytotoxicity of the NPs was measured by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenylte‐trazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. It was found that the NPs were spherical in shape with sizes around 100 nm. The CMCs of the copolymers were quite low (×10−4 mg/mL). The DLC decreased with lengthening of hydrophobic PCL block. In vitro drug release experiment demonstrated that the release rate of paclitaxel sped with the decrease of PCL length. MTT results showed that NPs were nontoxic to osteoblast and human epithelial carcinoma (hela) cells. After drug loading, NPs could restrain the growth of hela or even kill hela cells. Therefore, these preliminary studies suggest that the novel PCL‐APS‐PCL NPs have a great potential application as anticancer drug‐delivery carriers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Investigating the role of substrate stiffness in the persistence of valvular interstitial cell activation
Authors: Quinlan Angela M. Throm , Billiar Kristen L. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractDuring heart valve remodeling and in many disease states, valvular interstitial cells (VICs) shift to an activated myofibroblast phenotype characterized by enhanced synthetic and contractile activity. Pronounced alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA)‐positive stress fibers, the hallmark of activated myofibroblasts, are also observed in VICs cultured on stiff substrates especially in the presence of transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGF‐β1), however, the detailed relationship between stiffness and VIC phenotype has not been explored. The goal of this study was to characterize VIC activation as a function of substrate stiffness over a wide range of stiffness levels including that of diseased valves (stiff), normal valves (compliant), and hydrogels for heart valve tissue engineering (very soft). VICs obtained from porcine aortic valves were cultured on stiff tissue culture plastic to activate them, then, cultured on collagen‐coated polyacrylamide substrates of predefined stiffness in a high‐throughput culture system to assess the persistence of activation. Metrics extracted from regression analysis demonstrate that relative to a compliant substrate, stiff substrates result in higher cell numbers, more pronounced expression of αSMA‐positive stress fibers, and larger spread area which is in qualitative agreement with previous studies. Our data also indicate that VICs require a much lower substrate stiffness level to “deactivate” them than previously thought. The high sensitivity of VICs to substrate stiffness demonstrates the importance of the mechanical properties of materials used for valve repair or for engineering valve tissue. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 100A: 2474–2482, 2012.