bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Eastchester clapping sign: A novel test of parietal neglect
Authors: Ostrow Lyle W. , Llinás Rafael H. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractHand clapping is a motor program mastered in infancy. Inspired by a question posed by an Eastchester High School AP Psychology class, we present a case series of 14 patients with hemispatial neglect who, when asked to clap, repeatedly performed one‐handed motions stopping abruptly at the midline of the visual hemispace, as if pantomiming slapping an invisible board. In contrast, hemiplegic patients without neglect will reach across and clap against their plegic hands. This phenomenon provides an easy, rapid, and unambiguous test for neglect, applicable to patients of any ethnicity or age. Ann Neurol 2009;66:114–117
Lack of evidence of monomer/misfolded superoxide dismutase‐1 in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Liu Hsueh‐Ning , Sanelli Teresa , Horne Patrick , Pioro Erik P. , Strong Michael J. , Rogaeva Ekaterina , Bilbao Juan , Zinman Lorne , Robertson Janice 
Published: March 2009

AbstractObjectiveIn familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) harboring superoxide dismutase (SOD1) mutations (fALS1), SOD1 toxicity has been linked to its propensity to misfold and aggregate. It has recently been proposed that misfolded SOD1 may be causative of all types of ALS, including sporadic cases (sALS). In the present study, we have used a specific antibody to test for the presence of monomer/misfolded SOD1 in sALS.MethodsSections from lumbar spinal cords of 5 fALS1 cases, 13 sALS cases, and 1 non‐SOD1 fALS case were labeled immunocytochemically using SOD1‐exposed‐dimer‐interface (SEDI) antibody, which we have previously validated as being specific for pathological monomer/misfolded forms of SOD1.ResultsMonomer/misfolded SOD1 was detected with SEDI antibody in all 5 of the fALS1 cases, localizing predominantly to hyaline conglomerate inclusions, a specific pathological feature of fALS1. In contrast, monomer/misfolded SOD1 was not detected in any of the 13 sALS cases or in the non‐SOD1 fALS cases. These results were confirmed by immunoprecipitation.InterpretationAlthough SEDI antibody does not necessarily label all misfolded forms of SOD1, these findings show a distinct difference between fALS1 and sALS, and do not support that monomer/misfolded SOD1 is a common disease entity linking all types of ALS. This is important to our understanding of ALS disease pathogenesis and to considerations of the applicability of using therapeutics that target misfolded SOD1 to non‐SOD1‐related cases. Ann Neurol 2009;66:75–80
Foam fractionation of α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin from a whey solution
Authors: Shea A. P. , Crofcheck C. L. , Payne F. A. , Xiong Y. L. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWhey, a byproduct of cheese production, is often considered a waste stream. Separation and purification of whey proteins is a difficult and expensive task. Occasionally, it is transported out of the dairy plant for a per volume charge. One possible method to reduce the waste volume and disposal cost is to concentrate whey by foam fractionation and potentially produce a valuable coproduct, a concentrated whey protein solution. Foam fractionation is an adsorptive bubble separation method based on the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of proteins. In this study, foam fractionation was evaluated for the concentration of whey proteins, specifically α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin, from a dilute whey protein solution. The effects of initial whey protein concentration (0.075 and 0.15 mg/ml), pH (3.8–5.5), superficial gas velocity (0.85 and 0.95 cm/s) and temperature (4 and 65 °C) on protein enrichment and recovery were examined. Higher enrichment was achieved with the lower initial protein concentration (0.075 mg/ml), and at pH values that were near the isoelectric points (pI) of α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin (pH 3.8, 4.2, 4.5, and 5.2). Higher superficial gas velocity enhanced the amount of proteins recovered with a decrease in the enrichment. Cold temperature treatment and partial heat denaturation of whey proteins reduced enrichment and increased protein recovery simultaneously. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enhancement of oil droplet removal from o/w emulsion by adding methylated milk casein in flotation technique
Authors: Maruyama Hideo , Tada Yuhsuke , Seki Hideshi 
Published: March 2009

AbstractTo clarify oil‐in‐water (o/w) emulsion, flotation experiments were conducted by adding methylated milk casein (MeCS), which is a biodegradable flocculant. Emulsion used in this study was prepared by ultrasonic emulsification of heavy oil (bunker‐A) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution. It was found that addition of MeCS enhanced clarification of oil droplets from o/w emulsion solution due to floc formation by adding MeCS. An optimum dosage of MeCS to form effective floc was determined by the relative turbidity in a clarification experiment. In flotation experiments, clarification ability was evaluated by removal rate constant, k, obtained by fitting of turbidity data to a pseudo‐first‐order kinetic equation. In case of varying dosage of MeCS and keeping superficial gas velocity, Ug, at constant value (5.48 × 10−2 cm/s), removal rate was greatly influenced by amount of MeCS dosage. The maximum value of k was also obtained at the most optimum dosage of MeCS, and k decreased with adding lesser or larger amount of MeCS than the optimum dosage. On the other hand, in case of keeping the dosage of MeCS at the optimum dosage, and varying superficial gas velocity, up to Ug < ca. 0.2 cm/s, k was increased with increasing superficial gas velocity, and increase in removal rate of oil droplets was mostly proportional with increase in bubble surface area production rate. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Removal of Basic Blue 3 by sorption onto a weak acid acrylic resin
Authors: Bârsănescu Adriana , Buhăceanu Rodica , Dulman Viorica 
Published: March 2009

AbstractA weak acid acrylic resin was used as an adsorbent for the investigation of Basic Blue 3 (BB3) adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic parameters. Batch adsorption studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of pH, contact time, initial concentration (28–100 mg/g), adsorbent dose (0.05–0.3 g), and temperature (290–323 K) on the removal of BB3. The adsorption equilibrium data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Temkin, and Freundlich isotherm models, with the best fitting being the first one. The adsorption capacity (Qo) increased with increasing initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, and temperature; the highest maximum Qo (59.53 mg/g) was obtained at 323 K. Pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models and intraparticle diffusion models were used to analyze the kinetic data; good agreement between the experimental and calculated amounts of dye adsorbed at equilibrium were obtained for the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic models for the entire investigated concentrations domain. Various thermodynamic parameters, such as standard enthalpy of adsorption (ΔHo = 88.817 kJ/mol), standard entropy of adsorption (ΔSo = 0.307 kJ mol−1 K−1), and Gibbs free energy (ΔGo < 0, for all temperatures investigated), were evaluated and revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic and favorable. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Adsorption of anionic textile dye Acid Green 9 from aqueous solution onto weak or strong base anion exchangers
Authors: Dulman Viorica , Simion Catinca , Bârsănescu Adriana , Bunia Ion , Neagu Violeta 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe aim of this work is to study the thermodynamic and kinetic studies with regard to the adsorption of Acid Green 9 (AG9) on the most efficient resin, namely, acrylic weak base anion exchange resin with ethylenediamine‐functional groups (A1) selected from several anion exchange resins. The influence of the various experimental parameters such as, pH, initial dye concentration, contact time, temperature, and adsorbent dose was investigated by batch experiments. The extent of the dye adsorption increased with the decrease of the initial dye concentration and the increase of the contact time, temperature, and amount of the adsorbent. Adsorption process was quantitative and very fast at low concentrations of the dye. To investigate the mechanism of the adsorption and potential rate‐controlling steps, pseudo first‐ and second‐order, as well as intraparticle diffusion kinetic equations have been used. The adsorption kinetic of AG9 dye from aqueous solution onto A1 could be described by the pseudo second‐order reaction model. The obtained results are in agreement with the Langmuir and Freundlich models. In the optimum conditions established, an adsorption capacity of 500 mg textile dye (72% purity) g−1 adsorbent (at 293 K) was reached. Desorption experiments by batch and dynamic methods were performed using a solution of 0.05 mol L−1 NaOH. A series of 13 adsorption–desorption cycles were carried out by the dynamic method with a quantitative adsorption and the desorption efficiency higher than 95%. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Normal Right Ventricular Three‐Dimensional Architecture, as Assessed with Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is Preserved During Experimentally Induced Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
Authors: Nielsen Eva , Smerup Morten , Agger Peter , Frandsen Jesper , Ringgard Steffen , Pedersen Michael , Vestergaard Peter , Nyengaard Jens R. , Andersen Johnnie B. , Lunkenheimer Paul P. , Anderson Robert H. , Hjortdal Vibeke 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe three‐dimensional architecture of the right ventricular myocardium is a major determinant of function, but as yet no investigator‐independent methods have been used to characterize either the normal or hypertrophied state. We aimed to assess and compare, using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging, the normal architecture with the arrangement induced by chronic hypertrophy. We randomized 20 female 5 kg piglets into pulmonary trunk banding (N = 16) and sham operation (N = 4). Right ventricular hypertrophy was assessed after 8 weeks. The excised and fixed hearts were subject to diffusion tensor imaging to determine myocyte helical angles, and the presence of any reproducible tracks formed by the aggregated myocytes. All banding animals developed significant right ventricular hypertrophy, albeit that no difference was observed in terms of helical angles or myocardial pathways between the banded animals and sham group animals. Helical angles varied from ∼70 degrees endocardially to −50 degrees epicardially. Very few tracks were circular, with helical angles approximating zero. Reproducible patterns of chains of aggregated myocytes were observed in all hearts, regardless of group. The architecture of the myocytes aggregated in the walls of the right ventricle is comparable to that found in the left ventricle in terms of endocardial and epicardial helical angles, however the right ventricle both in the normal and the hypertrophied state lacks the extensive zone of circular myocytes seen in the mid‐portion of the left ventricular walls. Without such beneficial architectural remodelling, the porcine right ventricle seems unsuited structurally to sustain a permanent increase in afterload. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Angioarchitecture of the venous and capillary system in heart defects induced by retinoic acid in mice
Authors: Ratajska Anna , Ciszek Bogdan , Zajączkowska Agnieszka , Jabłońska Anna , Juszyński Michał 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: Corrosion casting and immunohistochemical staining with anti‐alpha smooth muscle actin and anti‐CD34 was utilized to demonstrate the capillary plexus and venous system in control and malformed mouse hearts. METHODS: Outflow tract malformations (e.g., double outlet right ventricle, transposition of the great arteries, and common truncus arteriosus) were induced in progeny of pregnant mice by retinoic acid administration at day 8.5 of pregnancy. RESULTS: Although control hearts exhibited areas in which capillaries tended to be oriented in parallel arrays, the orientation of capillaries in the respective areas of malformed hearts was chaotic and disorganized. The major branch of a conal vein in control hearts runs usually from the left side of the conus to its right side at the root of the pulmonary trunk and opens to the right atrium below the right auricle; thus, it has a curved course. On the other hand, a conal vein in malformed hearts courses from the left side or from the anterior side of the conus and tends to traverse straight upwards along the dextroposed aorta or along the aortopulmonary groove with its proximal part located outside of the heart. Other cardiac veins in outflow tract malformations are positioned in the same locations as in control hearts. CONCLUSIONS: We postulate that the changed location of the conal vein and disorganized capillary plexus result from malformed morphogenesis of the outflow tract and/or a disturbed regulation of angiogenic growth factor release from the adjacent environment. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Developmental and reproductive toxicity studies on artemisone
Authors: Schmuck G. , Klaus A.‐M. , Krötlinger F. , Langewische F.W. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: In order to justify clinical studies in women of child‐bearing age with artemisone, a new artimisinin derivative, studies to assess fertility and early embryonic development in rats, developmental toxicity in rats and rabbits, and peri‐post natal development in rats were performed. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the study on fertility and early embryonic development (dose levels 0‐5‐20‐80 mg/kg bw/day), doses inducing clinical and organ toxicity were used. Only in severe toxicity conditions, a reduction of the number of estruses, a prolonged time to insemination, decreased numbers of corpora lutea, implantation sites, and viable fetuses were found. Two developmental toxicity studies were performed in rats (dose levels 0‐1‐2 mg/kg bw/day) and rabbits (dose levels 0‐2.5‐5.0‐7.5 mg/kg bw/day). It was shown that rats were about 5 times more sensitive than rabbits. In rats, artemisone induced total litter loss (late resorptions) at 2 mg/kg body weight and above with an increased incidence of a common vascular variation and retarded ossification at this dose. In rabbits, maternal toxicity, abortion and a slightly increased incidence of cardiac ventricular septal defects was observed at 7.5 mg/kg body weight. In a pre‐ and postnatal developmental toxicity study in rats (dose levels 0‐1‐2‐4 mg/kg bw/day), 4 mg/kg body weight artemisone induced clinical symptoms and affected postnatal survival, body weight gain in the F1 pups, and motor activity. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, artemisone was shown to be embryo‐ and fetotoxic and induced cardiac ventricular septal defects and retarded ossification in dosages where total litter loss and abortions were observed. However, no effect on reproductive and developmental parameters below severe toxic dosages could be observed. Birth Defects Res (Part B)86: 131‐143, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Recent developments in testicular germ cell tumor research
Authors: van de Geijn Gert‐Jan M. , Hersmus Remko , Looijenga Leendert H. J. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractTesticular germ cell tumors of adolescents and adults (TGCTs; the so‐called type II variant) are the most frequent malignancies found in Caucasian males between 20 and 40 years of age. The incidence has increased over the last decades. TGCTs are divided into seminomas and nonseminomas, the latter consisting of the subgroups embryonal carcinoma, yolk‐sac tumor, teratoma, and choriocarcinoma. The pathogenesis starts in utero, involving primordial germ cells/gonocytes that are blocked in their differentiation, and develops via the precursor lesion carcinoma in situ toward invasiveness. TGCTs are totipotent and can be considered as stem cell tumors. The developmental capacity of their cell of origin, the primordial germ cells/gonocyte, is demonstrated by the different tumor histologies of the invasive TGCTs. Seminoma represents the germ cell lineage, and embryonal carcinoma is the undifferentiated component, being the stem cell population of the nonseminomas. Somatic differentiation is seen in the teratomas (all lineages), whereas yolk‐sac tumors and choriocarcinoma represent extra‐embryonal differentiation. Seminomas are highly sensitive to irradiation and (DNA damaging) chemotherapy, whereas most nonseminomatous elements are less susceptible to radiation, although still sensitive to chemotherapy, with the exception of teratoma. To allow early diagnosis and follow up, appropriate markers are mandatory to discriminate between the different subgroups. In this review, a summary will be given related to several recent developments in TGCT research, especially selected because of their putative clinical impact. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 87:96–113, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gonocytes, the forgotten cells of the germ cell lineage
Authors: Culty Martine 
Published: March 2009

AbstractMale germ cells, the repository cells of the genome, comprise several successive developmental stages starting in the embryo and ending up with the spermatozoon. Gonocytes represent the fetal and neonatal stages preceding the formation of spermatogonial stem cells. Recent findings shows that germline stem cells can be driven to pluripotency and used as alternative for embryonic stem cells prompted more effort in identifying the processes regulating the development of their precursors, the testicular gonocytes. Also called pre‐ or pro‐spermatogonia, gonocytes represent not one, but several successive developmental stages between the time at which the germ cell becomes resident in the forming fetal testis to the time it migrates to the basement membrane of the seminiferous cord to adopt a spermatogonial phenotype. This review summarizes the findings regarding the genetic identity of gonocytes, providing a description of the “common” gene expression profiles of fetal and neonatal gonocytes, as well as information on the main regulatory factors of gonocyte functions. A better comprehension of gonocyte development should help in the understanding of how germline stem cells are formed, possibly providing valuable clues on the origins of germ cell tumors or infertility. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 87:1–26, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gonadoblastoma locus and the TSPY gene on the human Y chromosome
Authors: Lau Yun‐Fai Chris , Li Yunmin , Kido Tatsuo 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe gonadoblastoma (GBY) locus is the only oncogenic locus on the human Y chromosome. It is postulated to serve a normal function in the testis, but could exert oncogenic effects in dysgenetic gonads of individuals with intersex and/or dysfunctional testicular phenotypes. Recent studies establish the testis‐specific protein Y‐encoded (TSPY) gene to be the putative gene for GBY. TSPY serves normal functions in male stem germ cell proliferation and differentiation, but is ectopically expressed in early and late stages of gonadoblastomas, testicular carcinoma in situ (the premalignant precursor for all testicular germ cell tumors), seminomas, and selected nonseminomas. Aberrant TSPY expression stimulates protein synthetic activities, accelerates cell proliferation, and promotes tumorigenicity in athymic mice. TSPY binds to type B cyclins, enhances an activated cyclin B‐CDK1 kinase activity, and propels a rapid G2/M transition in the cell cycle. TSPY also counteracts the normal functions of its X‐homologue, TSPX, which also binds to cyclin B and modulates the cyclin B‐CDK1 activity to insure a proper G2/M transition in the cell cycle. Hence, ectopic expression and actions of the Y‐located TSPY gene in incompatible germ cells, such as those in dysgenetic or ovarian environments and dysfunctional testis, disrupt the normal cell cycle regulation and predispose the host cells to tumorigenesis. The contrasting properties of TSPY and TSPX suggest that somatic cancers, such as intracranial germ cell tumors, melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma, with detectable TSPY expression could exhibit sexual dimorphisms in the initiation and/or progression of the respective oncogenesis. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 87:114–122, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immune physiology and oogenesis in fetal and adult humans, ovarian infertility, and totipotency of adult ovarian stem cells
Authors: Bukovsky Antonin , Caudle Michael R. , Virant‐Klun Irma , Gupta Satish K. , Dominguez Roberto , Svetlikova Marta , Xu Fei 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIt is still widely believed that while oocytes in invertebrates and lower vertebrates are periodically renewed throughout life, oocytes in humans and higher vertebrates are formed only during the fetal/perinatal period. However, this dogma is questioned, and clashes with Darwinian evolutionary theory. Studies of oogenesis and follicular renewal from ovarian stem cells (OSCs) in adult human ovaries, and of the role of third‐party bone marrow‐derived cells (monocyte‐derived tissue macrophages and T lymphocytes) could help provide a better understanding of the causes of ovarian infertility, its prevention, and potential treatment. We have reported differentiation of distinct cell types from OSC and the production of new eggs in cultures derived from premenopausal and postmenopausal human ovaries. OSCs are also capable of producing neural/neuronal cells in vitro after sequential stimulation with sex steroid combinations. Hence, OSC represent a unique type of totipotent adult stem cells, which could be utilized for autologous treatment of premature ovarian failure and also for autologous stem cell therapy of neurodegenerative diseases without use of allogeneic embryonic stem cells or somatic cell nuclear transfer. The in vivo application of sex steroid combinations may augment the proliferation of existing neural stem cells and their differentiation into mature neuronal cells (systemic regenerative therapy). Such treatment may also stimulate the transdifferentiation of autologous neural stem cell precursors into neural stem cells useful for topical or systemic regenerative treatment. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 87:64–89, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genomic landscape of developing male germ cells
Authors: Lee Tin‐Lap , Pang Alan Lap‐Yin , Rennert Owen M. , Chan Wai‐Yee 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSpermatogenesis is a highly orchestrated developmental process by which spermatogonia develop into mature spermatozoa. This process involves many testis‐ or male germ cell‐specific gene products whose expressions are strictly regulated. In the past decade the advent of high‐throughput gene expression analytical techniques has made functional genomic studies of this process, particularly in model animals such as mice and rats, feasible and practical. These studies have just begun to reveal the complexity of the genomic landscape of the developing male germ cells. Over 50% of the mouse and rat genome are expressed during testicular development. Among transcripts present in germ cells, 40% ‐ 60% are uncharacterized. A number of genes, and consequently their associated biological pathways, are differentially expressed at different stages of spermatogenesis. Developing male germ cells present a rich repertoire of genetic processes. Tissue‐specific as well as spermatogenesis stage‐specific alternative splicing of genes exemplifies the complexity of genome expression. In addition to this layer of control, discoveries of abundant presence of antisense transcripts, expressed psuedogenes, non‐coding RNAs (ncRNA) including long ncRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) and Piwi‐interacting RNAs (piRNAs), and retrogenes all point to the presence of multiple layers of expression and functional regulation in male germ cells. It is anticipated that application of systems biology approaches will further our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of spermatogenesis. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 87:43–63, 2009. Published by Wiley‐Liss, Inc.