bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Progesterone Regulation of Progesterone Receptor Membrane Component 1 (PGRMC1) Sumoylation and Transcriptional Activity in Spontaneously Immortalized Granulosa Cells
Authors: Peluso John J. , Lodde Valentina , Liu Xiufang
Published: June 2012

Progesterone (P4) receptor membrane component (PGRMC)1 is detected as a 22-kDa band as well as higher molecular mass bands (>50 kDa) in spontaneously immortalized granulosa cells. That these higher molecular mass bands represent PGRMC1 is supported by the findings that they are not detected when either the primary antibody is omitted or the PGRMC1 antibody is preabsorbed with recombinant PGRMC1. Some but not most of the higher molecular mass bands are due to oligomerization. At least one of the higher molecular mass bands is sumoylated, because PGRMC1 coimmunoprecipitates with small ubiquitin-like modifier protein-1. Moreover, in situ proximity ligation assays reveal a direct interaction between PGRMC1 and small ubiquitin-like modifier protein-1. This interaction is increased by P4. Finally, the higher molecular mass forms of PGRMC1 localize to the nucleus. An analysis of transcription factor activity demonstrates that P4 suppresses T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor (Tcf/Lef) activity through a PGRMC1-dependent mechanism, because treatment with PGRMC1 small interfering RNA depletes PGRMC1 levels and attenuates P4's effects on Tcf/Lef activity. In addition, transfection of a PGRMC1-Flag fusion protein enhances basal Tcf/Lef activity, which is suppressed by P4 treatment. Conversely, transfection of a PGRMC1-Flag protein in which all the sumoylation sites are mutated increases basal Tcf/Lef activity but attenuates P4's ability to suppress Tcf/Lef activity. Therefore, the ability to suppress Tcf/Lef activity is likely an essential part of the mechanism through which P4 activation of PGRMC1 regulates the gene cascades that control granulosa cell function with this action being dependent in part on the sumoylation status of PGRMC1.
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Improves Glucose and Lipid Metabolism and Delays Diabetes Onset in UCD-T2DM Rats
Authors: Cummings Bethany P. , Bettaieb Ahmed , Graham James L. , Stanhope Kimber L. , Kowala Mark , Haj Fawaz G. , Chouinard Michael L. , Havel Peter J.
Published: June 2012

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) has gained interest as a low morbidity bariatric surgery, which is effective in producing weight loss and causing type 2 diabetes resolution. However, the efficacy of VSG to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes has not been previously investigated. VSG or sham surgery was performed on 2-month-old prediabetic male University of California Davis-type 2 diabetes mellitus rats. Sham-operated animals were either sham-operated ad libitum fed (S-AL) or were weight-matched to VSG-operated animals (S-WM). Diabetes onset was determined by weekly nonfasting blood glucose measurements. Animals underwent oral glucose tolerance tests at 1 and 4 months after surgery and indirect calorimetry at 1.5 months after surgery. VSG surgery significantly delayed diabetes onset compared with both S-AL and S-WM animals. VSG-operated animals ate 23% less and weighed 20% less than S-AL. Energy expenditure did not differ between VSG-operated animals and controls. Results from the oral glucose tolerance tests demonstrate improved glucose tolerance and islet function in VSG-operated animals compared with S-AL and S-WM. Nutrient-stimulated glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, GLP-2, and peptide YY excursions were greater in VSG-operated animals. VSG surgery resulted in decreased fasting plasma insulin, ghrelin and lipid concentrations, and markedly higher fasting plasma adiponectin and bile acid concentrations, independent of body weight. Increases of circulating bile acid concentrations were due to selective increases of taurine-conjugated bile acids. Thus, VSG delays type 2 diabetes onset in the University of California Davis-type 2 diabetes mellitus rat, independent of body weight. This is potentially mediated by increases of circulating bile acids, adiponectin, and nutrient-stimulated GLP-1 secretion and decreased circulating ghrelin concentrations.
Suppression of Hydatidiform Molar Growth by Inhibiting Endogenous Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/Tyrosine Kinase B Signaling
Authors: Kawamura Kazuhiro , Kawamura Nanami , Kawagoe Yuta , Kumagai Jin , Fujimoto Toshio , Terada Yukihiro
Published: June 2012

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) receptor signaling promotes trophoblast growth in normal and abnormal pregnancy. It also regulates the growth of malignant trophoblastic, choriocarcinoma cells. However, possible involvement of this signaling system in hydatidiform mole, another major gestational trophoblastic disease, has not been determined. Here, we found the expression of BDNF in syncytiotrophoblasts and its receptor, TrkB, in cytotrophoblasts of hydatidiform mole using real-time RT-PCR and immunoassays. In molar explant cultures, treatment with soluble TrkB ectodomain or a Trk receptor inhibitor K252a inhibited trophoblast outgrowth as well as decreased cytotrophoblast proliferation and cellular viability based on histopathological analyses and glucose metabolism monitoring. These inhibitors also increased apoptosis and caspase-3/7 activities. In an in vivo model of hydatidiform molar growth based on xenotransplantation of molar tissues into kidney capsules of SCID mice, treatment with K252a suppressed molar growth as reflected by decreased trophoblast proliferation and their invasion into mouse kidney, reduced tissue levels of chorionic gonadotropin-β, and increased apoptosis. Based on PCR array analyses to identify changes in expression profiles of cell cycle- and apoptosis-related genes in cultured molar explants, suppression of endogenous TrkB signaling led to decreases in key cell cycle-stimulatory and checkpoint genes together with the down-regulation of different antiapoptotic genes. Our findings demonstrate the importance of paracrine signaling by the BDNF/TrkB system in the proliferation and survival of molar trophoblasts. Inhibition of BDNF/TrkB signaling could provide a novel medical treatment for hydatidiform mole.
Economic Incentives and Social Preferences: Substitutes or Complements?
Authors: Bowles Samuel , Polanía-Reyes Sandra
Published: June 2012

Explicit economic incentives designed to increase contributions to public goods and to promote other pro-social behavior sometimes are counterproductive or less effective than would be predicted among entirely self-interested individuals. This may occur when incentives adversely affect individuals' altruism, ethical norms, intrinsic motives to serve the public, and other social preferences. The opposite also occurs—crowding in —though it appears less commonly. In the fifty experiments that we survey, these effects are common, so that incentives and social preferences may be either substitutes (crowding out) or complements (crowding in). We provide evidence for four mechanisms that may account for these incentive effects on preferences: namely that incentives may (i) provide information about the person who implemented the incentive, (ii) frame the decision situation so as to suggest appropriate behavior, (iii) compromise a control averse individual's sense of autonomy, and (iv) affect the process by which people learn new preferences. An implication is that the evaluation of public policy must be restricted to allocations that are supportable as Nash equilibria when account is taken of these crowding effects. We show that well designed fines, subsidies, and the like minimize crowding out and may even do the opposite, making incentives and social preferences complements rather than substitutes. (JEL D02, D03, D04, D83, E61, H41, Z13)
Micro and Macro Labor Supply Elasticities: A Reassessment of Conventional Wisdom
Authors: Keane Michael , Rogerson Richard
Published: June 2012

The response of aggregate labor supply to various changes in the economic environment is central to many economic issues, especially the optimal design of tax policies. Conventional wisdom based on studies in the 1980s and 1990s has long held that the analysis of micro data leads one to conclude that aggregate labor supply elasticities are quite small. In this paper we argue that this conventional wisdom does not hold up to empirically reasonable and relevant extensions of simple life cycle models that served as the basis for these conclusions. In particular, we show that several pieces of conventional wisdom fail in the presence of human capital accumulation or labor supply decisions that allow for adjustment along both the extensive and intensive margin. We conclude that previous estimates of small labor supply elasticities based on micro data are fully consistent with large aggregate labor supply elasticities. (JEL D91, E24, J22)
Consumer Protection and Contingent Charges
Authors: Armstrong Mark , Vickers John
Published: June 2012

Contingent charges for financial services, such as fees for unauthorized overdrafts, are often controversial. We study the economics of contingent charges in a stylized setting with naive and sophisticated consumers. We contrast situations where the naive benefit from the presence of sophisticated consumers with situations where competition works to subsidize the sophisticated at the expense of the naive, arguably unfairly. The case for regulatory intervention in these situations depends in good part, but not only, on the weight placed on distributional concerns. The economic and legal issues at stake are well illustrated by a case on bank charges recently decided by the U.K. Supreme Court. (JEL D14, D18, G21, G28, L51)
Generalized Look-Ahead Methods for Computing Stationary Densities
Authors: Braun R. Anton , Li Huiyu , Stachurski John
Published: June 2012

The look-ahead estimator is used to compute densities associated with Markov processes via simulation. We study a framework that extends the look-ahead estimator to a broader range of applications. We provide a general asymptotic theory for the estimator, where both L1 consistency and L2 asymptotic normality are established. The L2 asymptotic normality implies √n convergence rates for L2 deviation.
Model Predictive Control for Dynamic Resource Allocation
Authors: Ciocan Dragos Florin , Farias Vivek
Published: June 2012

The present paper develops a simple, easy to interpret algorithm for a large class of dynamic allocation problems with unknown, volatile demand. Potential applications include ad display problems and network revenue management problems. The algorithm operates in an online fashion and relies on reoptimization and forecast updates. The algorithm is robust (as witnessed by uniform worst-case guarantees for arbitrarily volatile demand) and in the event that demand volatility (or equivalently deviations in realized demand from forecasts) is not large, the method is simultaneously optimal. Computational experiments, including experiments with data from real-world problem instances, demonstrate the practicality and value of the approach. From a theoretical perspective, we introduce a new device—a balancing property—that allows us to understand the impact of changing bases in our scheme.
Abiraterone for the Treatment of Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Beckett Robert D , Rodeffer Kathryn M , Snodgrass Rachel
Published: June 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To review the clinical pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of abiraterone acetate for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and evaluate the drug for health-system formulary inclusion.

DATA SOURCES:

Literature was identified through a search of MEDLINE (1977-February 2012) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts(1977-February 2012) using the search term abiraterone. References of identified articles were reviewed.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:

All clinical trials published in English were evaluated. Studies conducted in the setting of mCRPC were included in the literature review.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Despite benefits from androgen deprivation for the treatment of prostate cancer, most patients experience disease progression within 12-48 months, a phase described as castrate resistant. Abiraterone is the only Food and Drug Administration–approved hormonal treatment option for mCRPC in men who have received docetaxel and is recommended as a second-line agent for this indication in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network prostate cancer guidelines. One Phase 3 study, 2 Phase 2 studies, and 2 Phase 1 studies conducted in the setting of second-line treatment of mCRPC were identified. Treatment with abiraterone was associated with at least a 50% reduction in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in 38-51% of patients; PSA progression ranged from 5.6-10.2 months. The only study assessing mortality outcomes found a 13% absolute reduction in mortality (ie, 42% vs 55%; HR 0.65; 95% CI 0.54 to 0.77), relative to placebo, over a median 12.8 months of follow-up. Abiraterone has been compared only to placebo, not to existing treatment options.

CONCLUSIONS:

Abiraterone provides a moderate improvement in disease progression and mortality in a patient population with limited treatment options. It is recommended to add this medication to outpatient formularies restricted to second-line treatment of mCRPC.
Effects of Presentation Mode on Veridical and False Memory in Individuals with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Carlin Michael , Toglia Michael P. , Belmonte Colleen , DiMeglio Chiara
Published: June 2012

In the present study the effects of visual, auditory, and audio–visual presentation formats on memory for thematically constructed lists were assessed in individuals with intellectual disability and mental age–matched children. The auditory recognition test included target items, unrelated foils, and two types of semantic lures: critical related foils and related foils. The audio–visual format led to better recognition of old items and lower false-alarm rates for all foil types. Those with intellectual disability had higher false-alarm rates for all foil types and experienced particular difficulty discriminating presented items from those most strongly activated internally during acquisition (i.e., critical foils). Results are consistent with the activation-monitoring framework and fuzzy-trace theory and inform best practices for designing visual supports to maximize performance in educational and work environments.
Stress, Locus of Control, and Family Cohesion and Adaptability in Parents of Children with Down, Williams, Fragile X, and Prader-Willi Syndromes
Authors: Lanfranchi Silvia , Vianello Renzo
Published: June 2012

The present study analyzes differences in parental stress in families of children with Down, Williams, Fragile X, and Prader-Willi syndromes, exploring factors that influence parental stress, such as child's characteristics, parental locus of control, and family cohesion and adaptability. Differences between mothers and fathers are also investigated. Parents were given self-report questionnaires to assess family stress, parental locus of control, and family cohesion and adaptability. Results showed that stress levels were lower in families of children with Down syndrome and higher in those of children with Prader-Willi syndrome. Children's characteristics and their parents' locus of control were found to be related to family stress levels in all four syndromes, but several aspects specific to a given syndrome also came to light, as well as some shared and some gender-specific features relating to mothers and fathers.
Evidence for Reciprocal Interaction Effects Among Adults with Self-Injury and Their Caregivers
Authors: Wolff Jason J. , Clary Jamie , Harper Vickie N. , Bodfish James W. , Symons Frank J.
Published: June 2012

Patterns of caregiver responses to client adaptive behavior were compared between adults with intellectual disabilities with and without self-injurious behavior. Participants with moderate to profound intellectual disability and self-injury (n  =  89) and age/IQ matched control participants (n  =  20) were selected from a large sample of adults living in a regional residential center. Approximately 45 minutes of direct observation data were collected for each participant during unstructured leisure time. Data were sequentially analyzed and Yule's Q scores derived and compared among groups. Results indicated that caregivers were more responsive to prosocial initiations and adaptive engagement among individuals with severe self-injurious behavior than to those with mild or no self-injurious behavior and that these responses were more likely to be in the form of a demand.
A Qualitative Analysis of General Receptive Vocabulary of Adolescents with Down Syndrome
Authors: Facon Bruno , Nuchadee Marie-Laure , Bollengier Thérèse
Published: June 2012

This study aimed to discover whether general receptive vocabulary is qualitatively phenotypical in Down syndrome. Sixty-two participants with Down syndrome (M age  =  16.74 years, SD  =  3.28) were individually matched on general vocabulary raw total score with 62 participants with intellectual disability of undifferentiated etiology (M age  =  16.20 years, SD  =  3.08) and 62 typical children (M age  =  5.32 years, SD  =  0.82). Item analyses using the transformed item difficulties method to detect differential item functioning across groups showed that the groups' rank orders of item difficulty were highly similar. It was concluded that the general receptive vocabulary of older children and adolescents with Down syndrome is not qualitatively distinguished when its overall size is held constant. Methodological and theoretical implications of this finding are discussed.
Combined blockade of signalling pathways shows marked anti-tumour potential in phaeochromocytoma cell lines
Authors: Nölting Svenja , Garcia Edwin , Alusi Ghassan , Giubellino Alessio , Pacak Karel , Korbonits Márta , Grossman Ashley B
Published: June 2012

Currently, there is no completely effective therapy available for metastatic phaeochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas. In this study, we explore new molecular targeted therapies for these tumours, using one more benign (mouse phaeochromocytoma cell (MPC)) and one more malignant (mouse tumour tissue (MTT)) mouse PCC cell line – both generated from heterozygous neurofibromin 1 knockout mice. Several PCC-promoting gene mutations have been associated with aberrant activation of PI3K/AKT, mTORC1 and RAS/RAF/ERK signalling. We therefore investigated different agents that interfere specifically with these pathways, including antagonism of the IGF1 receptor by NVP-AEW541. We found that NVP-AEW541 significantly reduced MPC and MTT cell viability at relatively high doses but led to a compensatory up-regulation of ERK and mTORC1 signalling at suboptimal doses while PI3K/AKT inhibition remained stable. We subsequently investigated the effect of the dual PI3K/mTORC1/2 inhibitor NVP-BEZ235, which led to a significant decrease of MPC and MTT cell viability at doses down to 50 nM but again increased ERK signalling. Accordingly, we next examined the combination of NVP-BEZ235 with the established agent lovastatin, as this has been described to inhibit ERK signalling. Lovastatin alone significantly reduced MPC and MTT cell viability at therapeutically relevant doses and inhibited both ERK and AKT signalling, but increased mTORC1/p70S6K signalling. Combination treatment with NVP-BEZ235 and lovastatin showed a significant additive effect in MPC and MTT cells and resulted in inhibition of both AKT and mTORC1/p70S6K signalling without ERK up-regulation. Simultaneous inhibition of PI3K/AKT, mTORC1/2 and ERK signalling suggests a novel therapeutic approach for malignant PCCs.
The steroid metabolome of adrenarche
Authors: Rege Juilee , Rainey William E
Published: June 2012

Adrenarche is an endocrine developmental process whereby humans and select nonhuman primates increase adrenal output of a series of steroids, especially DHEA and DHEAS. The timing of adrenarche varies among primates, but in humans serum levels of DHEAS are seen to increase at around 6 years of age. This phenomenon corresponds with the development and expansion of the zona reticularis of the adrenal gland. The physiological phenomena that trigger the onset of adrenarche are still unknown; however, the biochemical pathways leading to this event have been elucidated in detail. There are numerous reviews examining the process of adrenarche, most of which have focused on the changes within the adrenal as well as the phenotypic results of adrenarche. This article reviews the recent and past studies that show the breadth of changes in the circulating steroid metabolome that occur during the process of adrenarche.
Extending Coalescent Theory to Autotetraploids
Authors: Arnold B , Bomblies K , Wakeley J
Published: June 2012

We develop coalescent models for autotetraploid species with tetrasomic inheritance. We show that the ancestral genetic process in a large population without recombination may be approximated using Kingman’s standard coalescent, with a coalescent effective population size 4N. Numerical results suggest that this approximation is accurate for population sizes on the order of hundreds of individuals. Therefore, existing coalescent simulation programs can be adapted to study population history in autotetraploids simply by interpreting the timescale in units of 4N generations. We also consider the possibility of double reduction, a phenomenon unique to polysomic inheritance, and show that its effects on gene genealogies are similar to partial self-fertilization.
Three Routes to Suppression of the Neurodegenerative Phenotypes Caused by Kinesin Heavy Chain Mutations
Authors: Djagaeva Inna , Rose Debra J , Lim Angeline , Venter Chris E , Brendza Katherine M , Moua Pangkong , Saxton William M
Published: June 2012

Kinesin-1 is a motor protein that moves stepwise along microtubules by employing dimerized kinesin heavy chain (Khc) subunits that alternate cycles of microtubule binding, conformational change, and ATP hydrolysis. Mutations in the Drosophila Khc gene are known to cause distal paralysis and lethality preceded by the occurrence of dystrophic axon terminals, reduced axonal transport, organelle-filled axonal swellings, and impaired action potential propagation. Mutations in the equivalent human gene, Kif5A, result in similar problems that cause hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2 (CMT2) distal neuropathies. By comparing the phenotypes and the complementation behaviors of a large set of Khc missense alleles, including one that is identical to a human Kif5A HSP allele, we identified three routes to suppression of Khc phenotypes: nutrient restriction, genetic background manipulation, and a remarkable intramolecular complementation between mutations known or likely to cause reciprocal changes in the rate of microtubule-stimulated ADP release by kinesin-1. Our results reveal the value of large-scale complementation analysis for gaining insight into protein structure–function relationships in vivo and point to possible paths for suppressing symptoms of HSP and related distal neuropathies.
Activity-Dependent A-to-I RNA Editing in Rat Cortical Neurons
Authors: Sanjana Neville E , Levanon Erez Y , Hueske Emily A , Ambrose Jessica M , Li Jin Billy
Published: June 2012

Changes in neural activity influence synaptic plasticity/scaling, gene expression, and epigenetic modifications. We present the first evidence that short-term and persistent changes in neural activity can alter adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing, a post-transcriptional site-specific modification found in several neuron-specific transcripts. In rat cortical neuron cultures, activity-dependent changes in A-to-I RNA editing in coding exons are present after 6 hr of high potassium depolarization but not after 1 hr and require calcium entry into neurons. When treatments are extended from hours to days, we observe a negative feedback phenomenon: Chronic depolarization increases editing at many sites and chronic silencing decreases editing. We present several different modulations of neural activity that change the expression of different mRNA isoforms through editing.
Patterns of Neutral Diversity Under General Models of Selective Sweeps
Authors: Coop Graham , Ralph Peter
Published: June 2012

Two major sources of stochasticity in the dynamics of neutral alleles result from resampling of finite populations (genetic drift) and the random genetic background of nearby selected alleles on which the neutral alleles are found (linked selection). There is now good evidence that linked selection plays an important role in shaping polymorphism levels in a number of species. One of the best-investigated models of linked selection is the recurrent full-sweep model, in which newly arisen selected alleles fix rapidly. However, the bulk of selected alleles that sweep into the population may not be destined for rapid fixation. Here we develop a general model of recurrent selective sweeps in a coalescent framework, one that generalizes the recurrent full-sweep model to the case where selected alleles do not sweep to fixation. We show that in a large population, only the initial rapid increase of a selected allele affects the genealogy at partially linked sites, which under fairly general assumptions are unaffected by the subsequent fate of the selected allele. We also apply the theory to a simple model to investigate the impact of recurrent partial sweeps on levels of neutral diversity and find that for a given reduction in diversity, the impact of recurrent partial sweeps on the frequency spectrum at neutral sites is determined primarily by the frequencies rapidly achieved by the selected alleles. Consequently, recurrent sweeps of selected alleles to low frequencies can have a profound effect on levels of diversity but can leave the frequency spectrum relatively unperturbed. In fact, the limiting coalescent model under a high rate of sweeps to low frequency is identical to the standard neutral model. The general model of selective sweeps we describe goes some way toward providing a more flexible framework to describe genomic patterns of diversity than is currently available.
Selective Sweeps in Multilocus Models of Quantitative Traits
Authors: Pavlidis Pavlos , Metzler Dirk , Stephan Wolfgang
Published: June 2012

We study the trajectory of an allele that affects a polygenic trait selected toward a phenotypic optimum. Furthermore, conditioning on this trajectory we analyze the effect of the selected mutation on linked neutral variation. We examine the well-characterized two-locus two-allele model but we also provide results for diallelic models with up to eight loci. First, when the optimum phenotype is that of the double heterozygote in a two-locus model, and there is no dominance or epistasis of effects on the trait, the trajectories of selected mutations rarely reach fixation; instead, a polymorphic equilibrium at both loci is approached. Whether a polymorphic equilibrium is reached (rather than fixation at both loci) depends on the intensity of selection and the relative distances to the optimum of the homozygotes at each locus. Furthermore, if both loci have similar effects on the trait, fixation of an allele at a given locus is less likely when it starts at low frequency and the other locus is polymorphic (with alleles at intermediate frequencies). Weaker selection increases the probability of fixation of the studied allele, as the polymorphic equilibrium is less stable in this case. When we do not require the double heterozygote to be at the optimum we find that the polymorphic equilibrium is more difficult to reach, and fixation becomes more likely. Second, increasing the number of loci decreases the probability of fixation, because adaptation to the optimum is possible by various combinations of alleles. Summaries of the genealogy (height, total length, and imbalance) and of sequence polymorphism (number of polymorphisms, frequency spectrum, and haplotype structure) next to a selected locus depend on the frequency that the selected mutation approaches at equilibrium. We conclude that multilocus response to selection may in some cases prevent selective sweeps from being completed, as described in previous studies, but that conditions causing this to happen strongly depend on the genetic architecture of the trait, and that fixation of selected mutations is likely in many instances.
Gene-Expression Changes Caused by Inbreeding Protect Against Inbreeding Depression in Drosophila
Authors: García Carlos , Ávila Victoria , Quesada Humberto , Caballero Armando
Published: June 2012

We present a transcriptomic analysis aimed at investigating whether the changes in gene expression that occur under inbreeding generally reduce or enhance inbreeding depression. Discerning between these two alternatives can be addressed only when both changes in expression due to inbreeding and to inbreeding depression are estimated simultaneously. We used Affymetrix 2.0 arrays to study the changes in gene expression associated with both inbreeding and inbreeding depression for fitness in four sets of inbred sublines of Drosophila melanogaster. We found that for most genes showing changes in expression associated with inbreeding, the least depressed sublines were those showing the largest departures in expression from that of the outbred control. This suggests a pattern consistent with a protective role of expression changes against inbreeding effects, and would reveal a new dimension of the transcriptomics of inbreeding. The variation in depression observed could then be due not only to the genetic damages primarily originating that depression, but also possibly to differences in the ability to carry out the appropriate adjustments in gene expression to cope with the inbreeding. We also found that these expression changes with a putative protective role against inbreeding effects show a clear specificity on RNA synthesis and splicing and energy derivation functions.
Delusion, belief, and conviction: The question of normality from the viewpoint of psychology, physiology, and molecular biology
Authors: Kéri Szabolcs
Published: June 2012

A téveszme hagyományos meghatározás szerint a valósággal ellentétes hiedelem, amely racionális érvekkel és tényekkel nem cáfolható. Ma inkább a hétköznapi hiedelemformálással rokonságot mutató folyamatokról beszélünk, amelyek létrejöttében szenzoros és kognitív torzítások is szerepet játszanak. Egyes társas jelzések súlyozott feldolgozása, a szokatlan érzékletek, a jelentés utáni kutatás, valamint az attribúciós és mentalizációs folyamatok sajátságai vezetnek a hiedelmekhez, amelyek az adott társas összefüggésben megerősítést kaphatnak, és öngerjesztő körré válhatnak. A közleményben adatokat mutatok be azzal kapcsolatban, hogy a téveszme-szerű jelenségek a populációban normális eloszlást mutatnak, hasonlóképpen a hozzájuk kapcsolódó élettani és molekuláris biológiai markerekhez (a vegetatív arousal habituációja, az AKT sejtszintű hírátvivő rendszer aktivációja). Neurokémiai szinten egyes neurológiai betegségekben a dopamin oldja az apátiát és a meglassultságot, de agonistái Parkinson-kórban pszichózisszerű jelenségeket indukálhatnak, beleértve a túlértékelt hiedelmeket. Ezek mögött egyszerű kondicionálási paradigmában az aberráns jelentőségtulajdonítás fokozódása igazolható. A jövő kutatásainak legfőbb kihívása, hogy megállapítsa e jelenségek betegségpredikciós értékét.
Individual and parental factors related to meaning in life in adolescence
Authors: Brassai László , Pikó Bettina
Published: June 2012

Annak ellenére, hogy az élet értelmessége kiemelt fejlődés-lélektani cél, a szakirodalom elenyészően keveset foglalkozik az élet értelmességét meghatározó tényezőkkel serdülőkorban. Jelen tanulmányunkban egyéni szintű, szociokognitív és család szintű, kapcsolati tényezők szerepét vizsgáltuk az élet értelmességének a megélésében 15–19 éves (47,8%-a fiúk) erdélyi középiskolásoknál (N=1944). Míg az énhatékonyság, az önszabályozott viselkedés, a szülői társas támogatottsággal való elégedettség és az anyai elfogadó bánásmód pozitív, az apai ellenőrző bánásmód negatív összefüggést mutatott az élet megélt értelmességével, a vizsgált mintában. Ugyanakkor a társas összehasonlítás csak a fiúk, az apai elfogadó bánásmód pedig csak a lányok esetében függött össze az élet értelmességével. A talált eredmények felhívják a figyelmet azokra a szociokulturális hatásokra, amelyek a nemiszerep-szocializáció által érvényesülnek az élet értelmességének a megélésében serdülőkorban, egyben támpontokat adva a preventív és fejlesztő célú beavatkozások számára.
Visual imaginative synchrony
Authors: Varga S. Katalin , Varga Katalin
Published: June 2012

Kutatásunkban az imaginatív tevékenység szinkronizációs folyamatának vizuális modalitását, az interakciós partnerek által átélt Vizuális Imaginatív Szinkront (rövidítve: VIS) vizsgáljuk. A VIS olyan interakciós szinkronjelenség, mely az egymásra hangolódás egy jellegzetes formáját, a képzeleti tevékenység külső megítélő által is azonosítható harmonizációját jelenti. A VIS operacionalizálási folyamata alkalmazható hipnózis és éber helyzetben egyaránt. A Vizuális Imaginatív Szinkron vizsgálatához standardizált eljárás segítségével inger-szavakat nyertünk. Az esetleges szinkronjelenségek megismeréséhez kialakítottuk a rajz és leírás együttesét alkalmazó VIS tesztet, melyet a diádok résztvevői minden egyes, interakciós helyzetenként 5 darab motívum után külön kitöltöttek. A VIS értékeket a diádok VIS tesztjeinek független megítélők hasonlóság alapján történő megítélésével határoztuk meg. A tanulmányban ismertetjük a standardizált keretek között zajló hipnózis és éber vizsgálati helyzetek eredményeit, illetve a VIS kapcsolatát további tesztekkel mért pszichológiai ismérvekkel (Képzeleti Tevékenység Kérdőív (VVIQ), Archaikus Bevonódási Skála (ABS), Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory (PCI), Diádikus Interakciós Harmónia (DIH), Szemekből Olvasás Teszt (SZOT)). Az eredmények alapján kijelenthetjük, hogy egy új interakciós szinkronjelenséget azonosítottunk, mely megbízhatóan mérhető éber és hipnózis helyzetben egyaránt.
Protolinguistic fossils in aphasic speech production
Authors: Ladányi Enikő
Published: June 2012

Az evolúciós nyelvészeti szakirodalomban széles körben elfogadott nézet, hogy mai modern nyelvünket egy szintaxissal nem rendelkező egyszerűbb nyelvi rendszer, a protonyelv előzte meg. Ennek jellemzőire elsősorban mai nyelvi adatokból következtethetünk. A vizsgálati módszer jogosultsága azon a feltevésen alapul, hogy a nyelv korábbi állapotainak lenyomatai (fosszíliái) megtalálhatók a mai nyelvhasználatban is, elsősorban annak valamilyen módon sérült (pidzsin beszélők, farkasgyermekek, afáziások) vagy fejletlen (majmok nyelvtanulása, gyermeknyelv) formáiban.
Áttekintésem célja az afáziás nyelvi produkcióban feltételezett protonyelvi lenyomatok bemutatása. Mielőtt azonban erre rátérek, röviden felvázolom a protonyelvről alkotott két szemben álló elméletet: a szintetikus és a holisztikus nézetet. Ezt követően tárgyalom azt a kérdést, hogy a két elmélet az afáziás beszéd mely jelenségeit feltételezi protonyelvi lenyomatnak. A probléma szempontjából kiemelt fontosságúnak tartom az elméletek idegrendszeri megalapozottságát, ezért erre az aspektusra külön hangsúlyt igyekszem fektetni.
MicroRNAs in hepatocarcinogenesis
Authors: Lendvai Gábor , Kiss András , Kovalszky Ilona , Schaff Zsuzsa
Published: June 2012

The details of molecular alterations occurring during hepatocarcinogenesis have not been revealed yet. Nevertheless, it is known that microRNAs (miRNA), these short RNA molecules regulating gene expression mainly in a negative way, are also involved in this process. Altered miRNA expression levels are present in liver diseases when compared with normal liver tissue, and the observed alterations depend mainly on which is more advantegous for the disease: activation or inhibition of the genes (e.g. oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes) regulated by the altered miRNAs. The miRNA expression pattern described in hepatocellular carcinoma seems to differ the most from that found in the normal liver; however, remarkable alterations at miRNA levels have been published in early stages of hepatic tumor progression such as fibrosis and chronic hepatitis. For example, the expression of miR-21, miR-221, miR-222 and miR-199a showing characteristic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma also displayed deregulated expressions in these two early stages. The liver characteristic miRNA, miR-122, usually exhibits a decreased expression level upon liver injury as well as miR-122 expression tends to decrease as hepatic carcinogenesis progresses. Besides, miR-122 enhances the replication of hepatitis C virus and the initial low or high level of miR-122 seems to influence the efficiency of interferon therapy. Recently, statistically significant differences have been detected in the expression of several miRNAs being present in the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis, chirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma when compared with normal controls. It suggests that serum miRNAs could be potential biomarkers. In this article, the major and recent alterations of microRNA expression patterns in stages of hepatocarcinogenesis such as fibrosis, viral infections (hepatitis), cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are summarized. Orv. Hetil., 2012, 153, 978–989.
Sistema reprodutivo e polinização de Lepidagathis sessilifolia (Pohl) Kameyama ex Wassh. & J.R.I. Wood (Acanthaceae), em remanescente florestal da região sudoeste de Mato Grosso, Brasil
Authors: Silva Celice Alexandre , Nogueira Grecieli Aparecida
Published: June 2012

O gênero Lepidagathis apresenta distribuição pantropical com cerca de 100 espécies. No Brasil ocorrem 16 espécies, a maioria nas regiões Centro - Oeste e Sudeste. O estudo foi realizado em sub - bosque de remanescente florestal do município de Tangará da Serra - MT e teve como objetivo analisar a fenologia de floração, descrever a morfologia e biologia floral, verificar os visitantes florais e avaliar o sistema e o sucesso reprodutivo por meio de polinizações manuais. Lepidagathis sessilifolia apresenta inflorescências espiciformes, terminais, com cálice de cor rósea vistosa e corola de coloração branco-rósea. A floração ficou restrita aos meses de março a abril, durante a estação chuvosa. A senescência floral ocorreu após 24 ou 48 horas. A viabilidade dos grãos de pólen foi elevada (92,5%). O único polinizador observado visitando as flores de L. sessilifolia foi a abelha Partamona nhambiquara (Apidae - Meliponini). O sistema reprodutivo misto da espécie é caracterizado pela formação de frutos por meio de agamospermia, autopolinização e polinização cruzada. Esse sistema reprodutivo flexível é vantajoso, pois, garante a manutenção da espécie na área de estudo mesmo na ausência de polinizadores.
Comparação de tamanhos e distâncias de subparcelas aplicadas em processo de amostragem por conglomerado
Authors: Flores Oberdan Müller M. das , Queiroz Waldenei Travassos de , Pinheiro João Guimarães , Oliveira Francisco de Assis , Moraes Arlete , Valente Mário Diego Rocha
Published: June 2012

Realizou-se um estudo com unidades amostrais conglomeradas de estrutura cruzada usando banco de dados de inventário florestal 100% de uma Unidade de produção Anual (UPA-08), localizada na fazenda Martins no alto Pacajá, Município de Portel, Estado do Pará, para estudar os efeitos da variação entre e dentro dos conglomerados usando como referência três variáveis resposta: i) VT = Volume total de madeira das 77 espécies florestais encontradas na área de estudo; ii) VO = Volume Total das 10 espécies florestais de maior ocorrência e volume na área de estudo; e iii) VC = Volume Total das 10 espécies florestais mais comercializadas pela empresa Cikel, tendo como objetivo determinar o tamanho e a distância ideal de subparcelas a partir do Método da Curvatura Máxima, uma vez definido o tamanho, sua área é fixada e então são estudadas cinco diferentes valores para determinar a distancia ideal do centro do conglomerado até as subparcelas e entre as mesmas. Os resultados permitiram inferir que o tamanho de subparcela 0,10 ha, a distância de 50 m entre as subparcelas, e a estrutura cruzada com 8 (subparcelas) são eficientes para estimar os parâmetros estudados.
Interação com os pais e o uso do espaço por um infante de Alouatta fusca (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1812) em cativeiro
Authors: Navarro Fernanda Keley Silva Pereira , Navarro Rodrigo Diana , Pereira Valéria do Socorro , Rodrigues Flávio Henrique Guimarães
Published: June 2012

Os primatas são animais que possuem elo social entre a mãe e sua prole, diferente de outras ordens de mamíferos. A sobrevivência do infante primata é completamente dependente do cuidado provido por membros de seu grupo social, particularmente do cuidado materno. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a utilização do recinto por um infante de bugio e sua proximidade com os pais. O grupo de bugios era composto por um casal de adultos e seu filhote fêmea com quatro meses de idade. O período de observações foi de agosto a dezembro/2006, perfazendo uma média de 96 horas de esforço de amostragem. O método de observação foi o animal focal com registro instantâneo, com intervalos de 30 segundos durante uma hora por dia. O local do estudo foi o recinto de exposição da Fundação Zoo-Botânica de Belo Horizonte, com 7m de altura, 6 m de largura, 7 m de profundidade com presença de paisagismo interno. As observações revelaram um contato maior do infante com a mãe em relação ao pai e um distanciamento significativo (P < 0,05) do filhote em relação ao contato materno, com o aumento da idade e maior independência. O local mais utilizado durante os três primeiros meses de cativeiro foi a pérgola. No mês de dezembro, período de maior pluviosidade, o filhote aumentou interações ventrais com a mãe, e permaneceu mais tempo no cano. As informações obtidas neste trabalho contribuem para um melhor entendimento em relação aos infantes de Alouatta fusca, suas interações sociais e uso do espaço que podem ser utilizados para aprimorar o manejo ex-situ dos animais, criando melhores condições para a estadia dos mesmos em cativeiro, utilizando-se de estruturas adequadas que simulem o ambiente natural, a fim de garantir o bem-estar dos bugios e assim, a sobrevivência da espécie.
Toxicity and repellency of essential oils to Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae) in Phaseolus vulgaris L
Authors: França Solange Maria de , Oliveira José Vargas de , Esteves Filho Alberto Belo , Oliveira Cynara Moura de
Published: June 2012

The effects of tangerine (Phaseolus vulgaris Blanco), lemon (Citrus medica limonum Lush), pear orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck), red copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.), rosemary (Baccharis dracunculifolia De Candole), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labillardière and E. citriodora Hook), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf.) and citronella (Cimbopogon nardus Linnaeus) oils at several concentrations on Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman) were studied. In toxicity tests, grains of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Rajadinho were impregnated with oils and infested with adults of Z. subfasciatus up to 24 hours old. All tested oils were effective in reducing the viable egg-laying and adult emergence of this pest, in function of the concentrations used, highlighting E. citriodora and E. globulus oils which caused 100% effectiveness from 0.5 mL Kg-1 concentration. In repellency tests, two arenas consisting of plastic containers, connected symmetrically to a central box by two plastic tubes were used. In one of the boxes, untreated beans were placed and on the other ones beans treated with each oil concentration were used. In the central box, five couples of Z. subfasciatus were released. Grains of P. vulgaris treated with oils of E. citriodora, C. citratus and C. oleifera reduced the attraction percentage of Z. subfasciatus adults, while the E. globulus increased this percentage. The percentages of reduced viable eggs ranged from 17.9% (C. medica limonum) to 93.3% (C. nardus), while the reduction on the number of emerged insects was 23.9% and 95.9%, respectively for these same oils.
Emissão de fluxos foliares, floração e ciclagem de nutrientes em clones de copa de Hevea pauciflora
Authors: Moraes Larissa Alexandra Cardoso , Moraes Vicente Haroldo de Figueiredo , Magalhães Francisco Exigidras Leite , Moreira Adônis
Published: June 2012

A fenologia foliar tem sido utilizada como uma característica importante na seleção dos clones de Hevea spp., enquanto o teor de nutrientes na serapilheira é um bom indicador da ciclagem de nutrientes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito da periodicidade de emissão de fluxos foliares na floração de copa de Hevea pauciflora, estado nutricional e qualidade da serapilheira. Foram avaliadas 15 plantas de 10 anos de idade dos clones de copa CNS G 112, CNS G 124 e CBA 2. Nas condições edafoclimáticas da Amazônia tropical úmida, a emissão de folhas e de floração de H. pauciflora ocorre com maior intensidade no segundo semestre (início do período chuvoso). A H. pauciflora apresenta maior acúmulo de serapilheira que a floresta primária e os teores foliares de 22,18 g kg-1 de N, 1,47 g kg-1 de P, 5,77 g kg-1 de K, 3,79 g kg-1 de Ca, 2,09 g kg-1 de Mg, 16,15 mg kg-1 de B, 6,14 mg kg-1 de Cu, 53,87 mg kg-1 de Fe, 66,20 mg kg-1 de Mn e 48,44 mg kg-1 de Zn podem ser utilizados como referência para essa espécie de seringueira.
Calagem e adubação fosfatada para formação de mudas de araçá-boi
Authors: Macedo Sheron Torres de , Teixeira Paulo César
Published: June 2012

O araçá-boi (Eugenia stipitata McVaugh) é uma espécie frutífera cultivada em escala doméstica na região Amazônica. Entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre seu requerimento nutricional na fase de muda. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da calagem e da adubação fosfatada sobre o crescimento e nutrição de mudas de araçá-boi. O experimento foi conduzido em viveiro, com amostras de um Latossolo Amarelo distrófico, em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados e esquema fatorial 5 x 5: cinco doses de calcário (0; 1,37; 2,83; 4,29 e 5,75 g por muda) e cinco de fósforo (0, 100, 200, 400 e 600 mg kg-1 de P), com quatro repetições. Dez meses após o transplante, foram avaliados o crescimento em altura e em diâmetro, a matéria seca da parte aérea e das raízes e o acúmulo de nutrientes na parte aérea das plantas. As doses de calcário influenciaram significativamente a altura, o diâmetro, a matéria seca da parte aérea, das raízes e total das mudas. As doses de fósforo influenciaram apenas o crescimento em diâmetro a matéria seca da parte aérea e total. Houve efeito significativo das doses de calcário e de fósforo sobre o acúmulo de macro e micronutrientes na parte aérea das plantas, exceto para o Cu, influenciado apenas pelas doses de calcário. O melhor desenvolvimento das mudas de araçá-boi pode ser obtido com a aplicação de até 3,77 g de calcário e 6,21 g de superfosfato triplo por muda.