bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors and their clinical potential in the treatment of B-cell malignancies: focus on ibrutinib
Authors: Aalipour Amin , Advani Ranjana H.
Published: June 2014

Aberrant signaling of the B-cell receptor pathway has been linked to the development and maintenance of B-cell malignancies. Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), a protein early in this pathway, has emerged as a new therapeutic target in a variety of such malignancies. Ibrutinib, the most clinically advanced small molecule inhibitor of BTK, has demonstrated impressive tolerability and activity in a range of B-cell lymphomas which led to its recent approval for relapsed mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This review focuses on the preclinical and clinical development of ibrutinib and discusses its therapeutic potential.
Land Grabbing in Latin America: Another Natural Resource Curse?
Authors: Costantino Agostina
Published: June 2014

In recent years, land grabbing has become widespread in Latin America, following similar trends in Africa. Multilateral agencies have sought to explain this phenomenon by arguing that these investments in land are driven by the rich endowments of natural resources of the countries in the region. This article argues that this explanation is insufficient: the rich endowment of natural resources in Latin America cannot explain the rising transfer of land to foreign investors, as if it were a natural curse. By contrast, the deepening of development models based almost exclusively on the exploitation of these resources seems to be the key, such that the role of states becomes essential to the explanation. In fact, the emergence of many self-proclaimed ‘progressive’ or ‘left’ governments in the region has not reversed the established structural dependency, based on an extractivist development model, but has deepened it.
Asian Land Acquisitions in Africa: Beyond the ‘New Bandung’ or a ‘New Colonialism’?
Authors: Martin William G. , Palat Ravi Arvind
Published: June 2014

The ‘New Bandung’ framework presumes a stable North/South order and opposition to it. This article examines how reigning orthodoxies on the acquisition of land and agricultural investments in Africa by Asian states and corporations do not fit this model. This holds even for core-centric models such as ‘accumulation by dispossession’, which fail to capture the collapse of accumulation strategies in the global North as they relate to new powers, policies and movements in the South. Rather than a crisis of accumulation, Asian investment represents an attempt to cater to higher food demands of rising elites in the ‘emerging economies’ and a class collaboration between them and African elites. This represents the end of a process of expansion of the global North that had begun circa 1750. It follows that the future can no longer rely upon North/South polar models and theories.
Shifting Gender Dimensions and Rural Livelihoods after Zimbabwe’s Fast-Track Land Reform Programme
Authors: Mutopo Patience , Manjengwa Jeanette , Chiweshe Manase
Published: June 2014

Zimbabwe’s Agrarian livelihoods have drastically changed within the last decade due to the Fast-Track Land Reform Programme (FTLPR) that saw massive transfer of land from white commercial farmers to black farmers. The agricultural revolution led to re-peasantization processes coming back on the national agenda, with women participating in the process of land acquisition and investing in farming activities. In this article, we discuss the role that women have been playing in the new agricultural sphere in Zimbabwe, in light of land acquisition modes, the crops that are grown and the different entrepreneurial activities undertaken by women. The article demonstrates how re-peasantization processes have led to the recognition of land as a central resource shaping rural livelihoods, especially for women, in terms of contributing to the national and household food baskets.
China, Africa and the Bandung Idea, Then and Now
Authors: West Michael O.
Published: June 2014

What does China’s rise portend for Africa, and Africa’s place in the emerging, potentially Sino-centric, new world order? Will China’s engagements with Africa—economic and political—redound to the mutual benefit of both parties? Alternately, will Africa remain a downstream supplier of energy and raw materials, only now more and more to China? Put another way, does the road to African development run through China? Or will future writers, as others have done in the past in respect of Europe, be moved to essay on how China perpetuated Africa’s underdevelopment? These, today, are burning questions, much debated in African intellectual, political and policymaking circles, and also in Chinese ones. To pose the question in the language of another era, an era that may have implications for the current one, what role has the Bandung idea in contemporary Sino-African relations?
Residency Information Preferences of Recent Pharmacy Residency Applicants
Authors: McLaughlin Milena M. , Skoglund Erik , Gettig Jacob P.
Published: June 2014

Background: The increasing number of both postgraduate year (PGY)-1 and PGY-2 residency programs and applicants requires all parties to discriminate among the many options available in the marketplace. Studies assessing the information preferences of pharmacy students searching for residencies, including the utility and popularity of information sources (eg, school brochures, program Web sites, etc), are lacking. Objective: The preferences of recent residency applicants for types and sources of residency program information were assessed to improve the recruitment strategies of residency programs. Methods: A survey was distributed to 1515 residency program directors (RPDs). Questions solicited information regarding use of electronic resources and preference of information used to discriminate between residency programs prior to and during the application/interviewing process. Results: One hundred ninety-two RPDs responded and forwarded the survey to 522 PGY-1 residents and 207 PGY-2 residents. Completed surveys were submitted by 75.7% (n = 395) of PGY-1 residents and 57.5% (n = 119) of PGY-2 residents (overall response rate 71.3%). Participants ranked the program’s Web site followed by a flash drive containing information about the program as the most preferred sources of information. Participants noted that required (n = 464) and elective learning experiences (n = 463) and current positions of past residents (n = 310) were very important information when deciding to apply to a program. Overall, 68.3% (n = 341) of participants indicated that they agreed or strongly agreed that electronic information sources were preferred over paper information sources. Conclusion: Residency programs should dedicate resources to ensuring that their Web site includes information regarding learning experiences and the current positions of past residents.
Critical Assessment 5: Thermodynamic data for vacancies
Authors: Dinsdale A. T. , Khvan A. V. , Watson A.
Published: June 2014

The thermodynamic properties of crystalline phases are generally represented well in terms of the compound energy formalism and the model has been implemented in all the major software packages used to calculated phase equilibria. The formalism is particularly successful in modelling defects in crystals, both the formation of holes or vacancies on lattice sites, and the dissolution of atoms on interstitial sublattices. In the former case the formalism may require the definition of data for pure vacancy itself. In this assessment we investigate the possible values for the Gibbs energy of vacancy to be used in the compound energy formalism and show that a value of zero or negative will always lead to unwanted catastrophic stability of the phase.
Two independent killing mechanisms of Candida albicans by human neutrophils: evidence from innate immunity defects
Authors: Gazendam Roel P. , van Hamme John L. , Tool Anton T. J. , van Houdt Michel , Verkuijlen Paul J. J. H. , Herbst Martin , Liese Johannes G. , van de Veerdonk Frank L. , Roos Dirk , van den Berg Timo K. , Kuijpers Taco W.
Published: June 2014

Key Points

Human neutrophils use 2 independent mechanisms for the killing of unopsonized and serum-opsonized C albicans. Unopsonized Candida killing depends on CR3 and CARD9 but not dectin-1; opsonized Candida killing on FcγR, PKC, and NADPH oxidase activity.
Dietary regulation of PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Kitagishi Yasuko , Nakanishi Atsuko , Ogura Yasunori , Matsuda Satoru
Published: June 2014

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the formation of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of phosphorylated Tau. Several findings suggest that correcting signal dysregulation for Tau phosphorylation in AD may offer a potential therapeutic approach. The PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway has been shown to play a pivotal role in neuroprotection, enhancing cell survival by stimulating cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. This pathway appears to be crucial in AD because it promotes protein hyper-phosphorylation in Tau. Understanding those regulations may provide a better efficacy of new therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize advances in the involvement of the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathways in cell signaling of neuronal cells. We also review recent studies on the features of several diets and the signaling pathway involved in AD.
Outcome predictors of intra-articular glucocorticoid treatment for knee synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – a prospective cohort study
Authors: Weitoft Tomas , Rönnelid Johan , Knight Ann , Lysholm Jörgen , Saxne Tore , Larsson Anders
Published: June 2014

Introduction

Intra-articular glucocorticoid treatment (IAGC) is widely used for symptom relief in arthritis. However, knowledge of factors predicting treatment outcome is limited. The aim of the present study was to identify response predictors of IAGC for knee synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

In this study 121 RA patients with synovitis of the knee were treated with intra-articular injections of 20 mg triamcinolone hexacetonide. They were followed for six months and the rate of clinical relapse was studied. Non-responders (relapse within 6 months) and responders were compared regarding patient characteristics and knee joint damage as determined by the Larsen-Dale index. In addition, matched samples of serum and synovial fluid were analysed for factors reflecting the inflammatory process (C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, tumour necrosis factor alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor), joint tissue turnover (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, metalloproteinase 3), and autoimmunity (antinuclear antibodies, antibodies against citrullinated peptides, rheumatoid factor).

Results

During the observation period, 48 knees relapsed (40%). Non-responders had more radiographic joint damage than responders (P = 0.002) and the pre-treatment vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in synovial fluid was significantly higher in non-responders (P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Joint destruction is associated with poor outcome of IAGC for knee synovitis in RA. In addition, higher levels of VEGF in synovial fluid are found in non-responders, suggesting that locally produced VEGF is a biomarker for recurrence of synovial hyperplasia and the risk for arthritis relapse.
The PVH as a Site of CB1-Mediated Stimulation of Thermogenesis by MC4R Agonism in Male Rats
Authors: Monge-Roffarello Boris , Labbe Sebastien M. , Roy Marie-Claude , Lemay Marie-Laurence , Coneggo Estelle , Samson Pierre , Lanfray Damien , Richard Denis
Published: June 2014

The present study was designed to investigate the involvement of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in the stimulating effects of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) agonism on whole-body and brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. In a first series of experiments, whole-body and BAT thermogenesis were investigated in rats infused in the third ventricle of the brain with the MC4R agonist melanotan II (MTII) and the CB1 agonist δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (δ9-THC) or the CB1 antagonist AM251. Whole-body thermogenesis was measured by indirect calorimetry and BAT thermogenesis assessed from interscapular BAT (iBAT) temperature. δ9-THC blunted the effects of MTII on energy expenditure and iBAT temperature, whereas AM251 tended to potentiate the MTII effects. δ9-THC also blocked the stimulating effect of MTII on 14C-bromopalmitate and 3H-deoxyglucose uptakes in iBAT. Additionally, δ9-THC attenuated the stimulating effect of MTII on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α (Pgc1α), type II iodothyronine deiodinase (Dio2), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (Cpt1b), and uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1). In a second series of experiments, we addressed the involvement of the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) in the CB1-mediated effects of MTII on iBAT thermogenesis, which were assessed following the infusion of MTII in the PVH and δ9-THC or AM251 in the fourth ventricle of the brain. We demonstrated the ability of δ9-THC to blunt MTII-induced iBAT temperature elevation. δ9-THC also blocked the PVH effect of MTII on 14C-bromopalmitate uptake as well as on Pgc1α and Dio2 expression in iBAT. Altogether the results of this study demonstrate the involvement of the PVH in the CB1-mediated stimulating effects of the MC4R agonist MTII on whole-body and BAT thermogenesis.
Long Term Exendin-4 Treatment Reduces Food Intake and Body Weight and Alters Expression of Brain Homeostatic and Reward Markers
Authors: Yang Yan , Moghadam Alexander A. , Cordner Zachary A. , Liang Nu-Chu , Moran Timothy H.
Published: June 2014

Repeated administration of the long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist exendin-4 (EX-4) has been shown to reduce food intake and body weight and do so without a rebound increase in food intake after treatment termination. The current study examines the neural mechanisms underlying these actions. After 6 weeks of maintenance on a standard chow or a high-fat (HF) diet, male Sprague Dawley rats were treated with EX-4 (3.2 μg/kg, ip, twice a day) or vehicle for 9 consecutive days. Food intake and body weight (BW) were monitored daily. Expression of the genes for the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC) peptides proopiomelanocortin (POMC), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and agouti gene-related protein was determined. Expression of the dopamine precursor tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene in the ventral tegmental area and genes for dopamine receptors 1 (D1R) and dopamine receptor 2 in the nucleus accumbens were also determined. Pair-fed groups were included to control for the effects of reduced food intake and BW. Treatment with EX-4 significantly decreased food intake and BW over the 9-day period in both the standard chow and HF groups. HF feeding decreased POMC without changing NPY/agouti gene-related protein gene expression in the ARC. Treatment with EX-4 increased POMC and decreased NPY expression independent of the reduction of food intake and BW. Mesolimbic TH and D1R gene expression were decreased significantly in chronic HF diet-fed rats, and these changes were reversed in both EX-4 and pair-fed conditions. These results suggest a role for increased POMC and decreased NPY expression in the ARC in the effects of EX-4 on food intake and BW. Our findings also suggest that EX-4 induced the recovery of mesolimbic TH and D1R expression in HF diet-fed rats may be secondary to HF intake reduction and/or weight loss.
The cortical hem regulates the size and patterning of neocortex
Authors: Caronia-Brown Giuliana , Yoshida Michio , Gulden Forrest , Assimacopoulos Stavroula , Grove Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2014

The cortical hem, a source of Wingless-related (WNT) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in the dorsomedial telencephalon, is the embryonic organizer for the hippocampus. Whether the hem is a major regulator of cortical patterning outside the hippocampus has not been investigated. We examined regional organization across the entire cerebral cortex in mice genetically engineered to lack the hem. Indicating that the hem regulates dorsoventral patterning in the cortical hemisphere, the neocortex, particularly dorsomedial neocortex, was reduced in size in late-stage hem-ablated embryos, whereas cortex ventrolateral to the neocortex expanded dorsally. Unexpectedly, hem ablation also perturbed regional patterning along the rostrocaudal axis of neocortex. Rostral neocortical domains identified by characteristic gene expression were expanded, and caudal domains diminished. A similar shift occurs when fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 8 is increased at the rostral telencephalic organizer, yet the FGF8 source was unchanged in hem-ablated brains. Rather we found that hem WNT or BMP signals, or both, have opposite effects to those of FGF8 in regulating transcription factors that control the size and position of neocortical areas. When the hem is ablated a necessary balance is perturbed, and cerebral cortex is rostralized. Our findings reveal a much broader role for the hem in cortical development than previously recognized, and emphasize that two major signaling centers interact antagonistically to pattern cerebral cortex.
Initiation of Hippo signaling is linked to polarity rather than to cell position in the pre-implantation mouse embryo
Authors: Anani Shihadeh , Bhat Shivani , Honma-Yamanaka Nobuko , Krawchuk Dayana , Yamanaka Yojiro
Published: June 2014

In the mouse embryo, asymmetric divisions during the 8-16 cell division generate two cell types, polar and apolar cells, that are allocated to outer and inner positions, respectively. This outer/inner configuration is the first sign of the formation of the first two cell lineages: trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM). Outer polar cells become TE and give rise to the placenta, whereas inner apolar cells become ICM and give rise to the embryo proper and yolk sac. Here, we analyze the frequency of asymmetric divisions during the 8-16 cell division and assess the relationships between cell polarity, cell and nuclear position, and Hippo signaling activation, the pathway that initiates lineage-specific gene expression in 16-cell embryos. Although the frequency of asymmetric divisions varied in each embryo, we found that more than six blastomeres divided asymmetrically in most embryos. Interestingly, many apolar cells in 16-cell embryos were located at outer positions, whereas only one or two apolar cells were located at inner positions. Live imaging analysis showed that outer apolar cells were eventually internalized by surrounding polar cells. Using isolated 8-cell blastomeres, we carefully analyzed the internalization process of apolar cells and found indications of higher cortical tension in apolar cells than in polar cells. Last, we found that apolar cells activate Hippo signaling prior to taking inner positions. Our results suggest that polar and apolar cells have intrinsic differences that establish outer/inner configuration and differentially regulate Hippo signaling to activate lineage-specific gene expression programs.
Essential role of the ERK/MAPK pathway in blood-placental barrier formation
Authors: Nadeau Valérie , Charron Jean
Published: June 2014

The mammalian genome contains two ERK/MAP kinase kinase genes, Map2k1 and Map2k2, which encode dual-specificity kinases responsible for ERK activation. Loss of Map2k1 function in mouse causes embryonic lethality due to placental defects, whereas Map2k2 mutants have a normal lifespan. The majority of Map2k1+/−Map2k2+/− embryos die during gestation from the underdevelopment of the placenta labyrinth, demonstrating that both kinases are involved in placenta formation. Map2k1+/−Map2k2+/− mutants show reduced vascularization of the labyrinth and defective formation of syncytiotrophoblast layer II (SynT-II) leading to the accumulation of multinucleated trophoblast giant cells (MTGs). To define the cell type-specific contribution of the ERK/MAPK pathway to placenta development, we performed deletions of Map2k1 function in different Map2k1 Map2k2 allelic backgrounds. Loss of MAP kinase kinase activity in pericytes or in allantois-derived tissues worsens the MTG phenotype. These results define the contribution of the ERK/MAPK pathway in specific embryonic and extraembryonic cell populations for normal placentation. Our data also indicate that MTGs could result from the aberrant fusion of SynT-I and -II. Using mouse genetics, we demonstrate that the normal development of SynT-I into a thin layer of multinucleated cells depends on the presence of SynT-II. Lastly, the combined mutations of Map2k1 and Map2k2 alter the expression of several genes involved in cell fate specification, cell fusion and cell polarity. Thus, appropriate ERK/MAPK signaling in defined cell types is required for the proper growth, differentiation and morphogenesis of the placenta.
Quantitative 4D analyses of epithelial folding during Drosophila gastrulation
Authors: Khan Zia , Wang Yu-Chiun , Wieschaus Eric F. , Kaschube Matthias
Published: June 2014

Understanding the cellular and mechanical processes that underlie the shape changes of individual cells and their collective behaviors in a tissue during dynamic and complex morphogenetic events is currently one of the major frontiers in developmental biology. The advent of high-speed time-lapse microscopy and its use in monitoring the cellular events in fluorescently labeled developing organisms demonstrate tremendous promise in establishing detailed descriptions of these events and could potentially provide a foundation for subsequent hypothesis-driven research strategies. However, obtaining quantitative measurements of dynamic shapes and behaviors of cells and tissues in a rapidly developing metazoan embryo using time-lapse 3D microscopy remains technically challenging, with the main hurdle being the shortage of robust imaging processing and analysis tools. We have developed EDGE4D, a software tool for segmenting and tracking membrane-labeled cells using multi-photon microscopy data. Our results demonstrate that EDGE4D enables quantification of the dynamics of cell shape changes, cell interfaces and neighbor relations at single-cell resolution during a complex epithelial folding event in the early Drosophila embryo. We expect this tool to be broadly useful for the analysis of epithelial cell geometries and movements in a wide variety of developmental contexts.
Analyses of the mouthpart kinematics in Periplaneta americana (Blattodea, Blattidae) by using Synchrotron-based X-ray cineradiography
Authors: Schmitt Christian , Rack Alexander , Betz Oliver
Published: June 2014

The kinematics of the biting and chewing mouthparts of insects is a complex interaction of various components forming multiple jointed chains. The novel technique of in vivo cineradiography by means of Synchrotron radiation was used to elucidate the motion cycles in the cockroach Periplaneta americana. Digital X-ray footage sequences were used in order to calculate pre-defined angles and distances, each representing characteristic aspects of the movement pattern. We were able to analyze the interactions of the mouthpart components and to generate a functional model of maxillary movement by integrating kinematic results, morphological dissections, and fluorescence microscopy. During the opening and closing cycles that take 450-500 ms on average, we found strong correlations between the measured maxillary and mandibular angles, indicating a strong neural coordination of these movements, as manifested by strong antiphasic courses of the maxillae and the mandibles and antiphasic patterns of the rotation of the cardo about its basic articulation at the head and by the deflection between the cardo and stipes. In our functional model of the maxilla, its movement pattern is explained by the antagonistic activity of five adductor / promotor muscles and one adductor / remotor muscle. However, beyond the observed intersegmental and bilateral stereotypy, certain amounts of variation across subsequent cycles within a sequence were observed with respect to the degree of correlation between the various mouthparts and the maximum, minimum, and time course of the angular movements. Although generally correlated with the movement pattern of the mandibles and the maxillary cardo-stipes complex, such plastic behavior was especially observed in the maxillary palpi and the labium.
Tendon elastic strain energy in the human ankle plantar-flexors and its role with increased running speed
Authors: Lai Adrian , Schache Anthony G. , Lin Yi-Chung , Pandy Marcus G.
Published: June 2014

The human ankle plantar-flexors, soleus (SOL) and gastrocnemius (GAS), utilize tendon elastic strain energy to reduce muscle fiber work and optimize contractile conditions during running. However, studies to date have considered only slow to moderate running speeds up to 5 m/s. Little is known about how the human ankle plantar-flexors utilize tendon elastic strain energy as running speed is advanced towards maximum sprinting. We used data obtained from gait experiments in conjunction with musculoskeletal modeling and optimization techniques to calculate muscle-tendon unit (MTU) work, tendon elastic strain energy and muscle fiber work for the ankle plantar-flexors as participants ran at five discrete steady-state speeds ranging from jogging (~2 m/s) to sprinting (≥8 m/s). As running speed progressed from jogging to sprinting, the contribution of tendon elastic strain energy to the positive work generated by the MTU increased from 53% to 74% for SOL and from 62% to 75% for GAS. This increase was facilitated by greater muscle activation and the relatively isometric behavior of the SOL and GAS muscle fibers. Both of these characteristics enhanced tendon stretch and recoil, which contributed to the bulk of the change in MTU length. Our results suggest that as steady-state running speed is advanced towards maximum sprinting, the human ankle plantar-flexors continue to prioritize the storage and recovery of tendon elastic strain energy over muscle fiber work.
Altered regulation of sleep and feeding contribute to starvation resistance in Drosophila
Authors: Masek Pavel , Reynolds Lauren A. , Bollinger Wesley L. , Moody Catriona , Mehta Aradhana , Murakami Kazuma , Yoshizawa Masato , Gibbs Allen G. , Keene Alex C.
Published: June 2014

Animals respond to changes in food availability by adjusting sleep and foraging strategies to optimize their fitness. Wild populations of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, display highly variable levels of starvation resistance that are dependent on geographic location, food availability, and evolutionary history. How behaviors that include sleep and feeding vary in Drosophila with increased starvation resistance is unclear. We have generated starvation resistant flies through experimental evolution to investigate the relationship between foraging behaviors and starvation resistance. Outbred populations of D. melanogaster were selected for starvation resistance over 60 generations. This selection process resulted in flies with a three-fold increase in total lipids that survive up to 18 days without food. We tested starvation-selected (S) flies for sleep and feeding behaviors to determine the effect that selection for starvation resistance has had on foraging behavior. Flies from three replicated starvation-selected populations displayed a dramatic reduction in feeding and prolonged sleep duration compared to fed control (F) populations, suggesting that modified sleep and feeding may contribute to starvation resistance. A prolonged larval developmental period contributes to the elevated energy stores present in starvation-selected flies. By preventing S larvae from feeding longer than F larvae, we were able to reduce energy stores in adult S flies to levels seen in adult F flies, thus allowing us to control for energy storage levels. However, the reduction of energy stores in S flies fails to generate normal sleep and feeding behavior seen in F flies with similar energy stores. These findings suggest that the behavioral changes observed in S flies are due to genetic regulation of behavior rather than elevated lipid levels. Testing S-F hybrid individuals for both feeding and sleep revealed a lack of correlation between food consumption and sleep duration, indicating further independence in genetic factors underlying the sleep and feeding changes observed in S flies. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that starvation selection results in prolonged sleep and reduced feeding through a mechanism that is independent of elevated energy stores. These findings suggest changes in both metabolic function and behavior contribute to the increase in starvation resistance seen in flies selected for starvation resistance.
Learning to cope with degraded sounds: Female zebra finches can improve their expertise at discriminating between male voices at long distance
Authors: Mouterde Solveig C. , Elie Julie E. , Theunissen Frédéric E. , Mathevon Nicolas
Published: June 2014

Reliable transmission of acoustic information about individual identity is of critical importance for pair bond maintenance in numerous monogamous songbirds. However, information transfer can be impaired by environmental constraints such as external noise or propagation-induced degradations. Birds have been shown to use several adaptive strategies to deal with difficult signal transmission contexts. Specifically, a number of studies have suggested that vocal plasticity at the emitter's level allows birds to counteract the deleterious effects of sound degradation. Although the communication process involves both the emitter and the receiver, perceptual plasticity at the receiver's level has received little attention. Here, we explored the reliability of individual recognition by female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), testing whether perceptual training can improve discrimination of degraded individual vocal signatures. We found that female zebra finches are proficient in discriminating between calls of individual males at long distance, and even more so when they can train themselves with increasingly degraded signals over time. In this latter context, females succeed in discriminating between males as far as 250 m. This result emphasizes that adaptation to adverse communication conditions may not only involve the emitters' vocal plasticity, but also the receptors' decoding process through on-going learning.
Thermal effects on the performance, motor control, and muscle dynamics of ballistic feeding in the salamanderEurycea guttolineata
Authors: Anderson Christopher V. , Larghi Nicholas P. , Deban Stephen M.
Published: June 2014

Temperature strongly affects muscle contractile rate properties and thus may influence whole-organism performance. Movements powered by elastic recoil, however, are known to be more thermally robust than muscle-powered movements. We examined the whole-organism performance, motor control and muscle contractile physiology underlying feeding in the salamander Eurycea guttolineata. We compared elastically powered tongue projection to the associated muscle-powered retraction to determine the thermal robustness of each of these functional levels. We found that tongue-projection distance in Eurycea was unaffected by temperature across the entire 4-26°C range, tongue-projection dynamics were significantly affected by temperature across only the 4-11°C interval, and tongue retraction was affected to a higher degree across the entire temperature range. The significant effect of temperature on projection dynamics across the 4-11°C interval corresponds to a significant decline in projector muscle burst intensity and peak contractile force of the projector muscle across the same interval. Across the remaining temperature range, however, projection dynamics were unaffected by temperature with contractile muscle physiology showing typical thermal effects and motor patterns showing increased activity durations and latencies. These results reveal that elastically powered tongue-projection performance in Eurycea is maintained to a higher degree than muscle-powered tongue retraction performance across a wide temperature range. These results further indicate that thermal robustness of the elastically powered movement is dependent on motor control and muscle physiology that results in comparable energy being stored in elastic tissues across a range of temperatures.
Hydrodynamics and energetics of jumping copepod nauplii and copepodids
Authors: Wadhwa Navish , Andersen Anders , Kiørboe Thomas
Published: June 2014

Within its life cycle, a copepod goes through drastic changes in size, shape and swimming mode. In particular, there is a stark difference between the early (nauplius) and later (copepodid) stages. Copepods inhabit an intermediate Reynolds number regime (between approximately 1 and 100) where both viscosity and inertia are potentially important, and the Reynolds number changes by an order of magnitude during growth. Thus we expect the life stage related changes experienced by a copepod to result in hydrodynamic and energetic differences, ultimately affecting the fitness. To quantify these differences, we measured the swimming kinematics and fluid flow around jumping Acartia tonsa at different stages of its life cycle, using particle image velocimetry and particle tracking velocimetry. We found that the flow structures around nauplii and copepodids are topologically different, with one and two vortex rings, respectively. Our measurements suggest that copepodids cover a larger distance compared to their body size in each jump and are also hydrodynamically quieter, as the flow disturbance they create attenuates faster with distance. Also, copepodids are energetically more efficient than nauplii, presumably due to the change in hydrodynamic regime accompanied with a well adapted body form and swimming stroke.
Does urban life change blood oxidative status in birds?
Authors: Costantini David , Greives Timothy J. , Hau Michaela , Partecke Jesko
Published: June 2014

Cities may expose wild animals to new types of selection pressures potentially leading to differentiation among urban and rural populations. One cellular mechanism likely important in determining the viability of vertebrate populations is resistance to oxidative stress, as tissue degradation resulting from oxidative stress may decrease reproductive performance and survival. We hypothesize that city-thriving Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) would be more resistant to oxidative stress when exposed to stressful conditions than rural conspecifics. Hand-raised city and rural blackbirds kept under common garden conditions indeed differed in blood oxidative status when exposed to chronic stress: city birds had lower oxidative damage during stressful conditions compared to rural birds, but also tended to generally maintain lower levels of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants than rural birds. These findings show that individuals from urban and rural areas differ intrinsically in their blood oxidative status physiology, possibly as an adaptation to city life.
Opsin expression in Limulus eyes: A UV opsin is expressed in each eye type and co-expressed with a visible light-sensitive opsin in ventral larval eyes
Authors: Battelle Barbara-Anne , Kempler Karen E. , Harrison Alexandra , Dugger Donald R. , Payne Richard
Published: June 2014

The eyes of the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, are a model for studies of visual function and the visual systems of euarthropods. Much is known about the structure and function of Limulus photoreceptors; much less about their photopigments. Three visible light-sensitive Limulus opsins were characterized previously (LpOps1, 2 and 5). Here we characterize a UV opsin (LpUVOps1) that is expressed in all three types of Limulus eyes. It is expressed in most photoreceptors in median ocelli, the only Limulus eyes in which UV sensitivity was previously detected, and in the dendrite of eccentric cells in lateral compound eyes. Therefore, eccentric cells, previously thought to be non-photosensitive second order neurons, may actually be UV-sensitive photoreceptors. LpUVOps1 is also expressed in small photoreceptors in Limulus ventral larval eyes, and intracellular recordings from these photoreceptors confirm that LpUVOps1 is an active, UV-sensitive photopigment. These photoreceptors also express LpOps5 which we demonstrate is an active, long wavelength-sensitive photopigment. Thus small photoreceptors in ventral larval eyes, and probably those of the other larval eyes, have dual sensitivity to UV and visible light. Interestingly, the spectral tuning of small ventral photoreceptors may change day to night, since the level of LpOps5 in their rhabdoms is lower during the day than during the night, whereas LpUVOps1 levels show no diurnal change. These and previous findings show that opsin co-expression and the differential regulation of co-expressed opsins in rhabdoms is a common feature of Limulus photoreceptors.
Complexing Agents for Oxonium Anions of Mo and Re and Their Masking Effects on Extraction Using N-Donor Extractants
Authors: Sasaki Yuji , Suzuki Tomoya , Morita Keisuke , Tsubata Yasuhiro
Published: June 2014

Several complexing agents with a soft donor incomporated into their structures are examined for the masking effects of Mo and Re through solvent extraction. The available extractants are N,N,N′,N′,N′′,N′′-hexaoctylnitrilotriacetamide and N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctylmethyliminodiacetamide, whose extractants have high extractabilities. Mo and Re dissolved in HNO3 are clearly suppressed by masking agents with N-donor ligands, such as ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, and 1,3-diaminopropane, for extraction into the organic phase. Ligands that include a sulfur donor, e.g., thiourea, were also tested, but exhibited a weaker masking effect.
Case Report: Severe form of hemolytic-uremic syndrome with multiple organ failure in a child: a case report
Authors: Mijatovic Dino , Blagaic Ana , Zupan Zeljko
Published: June 2014

Introduction: Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a leading cause of acute renal failure in infants and young children. It is traditionally defined as a triad of acute renal failure, hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia that occur within a week after prodromal hemorrhagic enterocolitis. Severe cases can also be presented by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), toxic megacolon with ileus, pancreatitis, central nervous system (CNS) disorders and multiple organ failure (MOF).

Case presentation: A previously healthy 4-year old Caucasian girl developed acute renal failure, thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia following a short episode of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. By the end of the first week the diagnosis of the typical HUS was established. During the second week the disease progressed into MOF that included ileus, pancreatitis, hepatitis, coma and ARDS, accompanied by hemodynamic instability and extreme leukocytosis. Nonetheless, the girl made a complete recovery after one month of the disease. She was successfully treated in the intensive care unit and significant improvement was noticed after plasmapheresis and continuous veno-venous hemodialysis.

Conclusions: Early start of plasmapheresis and meticulous supportive treatment in the intensive care unit, including renal placement therapy, may be the therapy of choice in severe cases of HUS presented by MOF. Monitoring of prognostic factors is important for early performance of appropriate diagnostic and therapeutical interventions.
BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS OF INTEGRATED ACCOUNTING INFORMATION IN THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Authors: Мальсагов  , Malsagov Idris
Published: June 2014

Developing strategic management at the micro - and meso-levels on the example of holding structures of priority economic sectors, we should identify the critical areas, conjugate between a scientific tasks, the solution of which, in our view, would let to design and develop a new concept of integrated strategic management accounting, analysis and control. As deeper one or another direction of management accounting is developed, so more we determined the points of contact to him with information for other systems: forecasting, planning, budgeting, monitoring, analysis and etc. Therefore, even the main stages on the formulation of management accounting in the enterprise can not be perfectly adapted for each specific case. The necessity to integrate the information to solve the strategic problems led to the development of so-called integrated accounting and reporting systems. The article considered the theory and the possibility of rationale integrated accounting information in the management system, the central place in which is allocated to the strategic reporting and its indicators, developed in accordance with the concept of sustainable development of organizations. The formation of goals and enterprise strategies growth influence: economic and political situation in the country; demographic situation and social problems; suppliers, customers and the company’s market positioning; competition; demographic situation; as well as legislative and regulatory acts. It is clear that the formation of information, on which base management decisions is taken, is affected by a set of strategic objectives, which are carried out within the framework of current and operational management. It is necessary to focus on the performance indicators so thar to achieve sustainable development of the organization in the future.
APPLICATION OF LAUNCHING CULTURES IN HAM PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
Authors: Нестеренко  , Nesterenko Anton , Зайцева  , Zaytseva Yuliya
Published: June 2014

Nowadays, the creation of technologies, allowing to reduce the cost production of meat products, while ensuring the preservation of the consumer defined quality standards, are urgent issue. As the biotechnology development, so it is possible to develop and introduction of new technologies, aimed at intensifying the complex of complicated biochemical processes, that occur in the meat raw materials in the sausages production.
FOREST FUND IN THE RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL STRUCTURE OF KAMA REGION
Authors: Гибадуллин  , Gibadullin Nursil
Published: June 2014

In this article shows the results of the research of forest fund of Bugulma-Belebey hill. It was established that modern character of forest vegetation is defined by elevation of territory, complexity of soil cover and strong influence of anthropogenic activities. Forest fund is characterized by excess of broadleaved woodland with good silvicultural-survey indexes, but with affected age-related structure. Squares of greenbelt forests is within range of 9.8 to 26.9% of whole square of forests. The mature and maturing pine and oak forests are characterized by low prosperity of young growth of mother species. Artificial ecosystems (up to 24% of forest square) are mainly presented by stands of high-productivity pine and birch. Involving the recreational potential of Bugulma-Belebey hill forests into the general system of touristic and recreational complex, we can highly increase its investive attraction.
INTEGRAL EVALUATION OF PROSPECT OF CONIFEROUS INTRODUCERS AT DENDROLOGIAL GARDEN OF SABY TRAINING AND EXPERIMENTAL FORESTRY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TATARSTAN.
Authors: Газизуллин  , Gazizullin Akhmadulla , Игнатьева  , Ignateva Leylya
Published: June 2014

The peculiarity of the chosen theme is the necessity to increase the resource potential of forests and forest parks in the Republic of Tatarstan, by introducing the prospective types of coniferous introducers. The arboreal and shrubby plantations play an important role in the urban ecosystem. They perform many functions, such as: aesthetic, sanitary and hygienic and other functions. Many of introduced woody plants are the basis of landscaping. The paper discusses the coniferous introducers, its status, survival in dendrological garden of Saby forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as inventory was held on. The measures for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainability of coniferous woods were described in the paper.
WINTER WHEAT CROP FORMATION, DEPENDING ON THE FERTILIZER SYSTEM WHILE MINIMIZING BASIC TILLAGE
Authors: Шаронова  , Sharonova Natalya , Яппаров  , Yapparov Akhtam , Ильясов  , Ilyasov Mars , Шайхутдинов  , Shaykhutdinov Farit , Хисамутдинов  , Khisamutdinov Nurulla
Published: June 2014

The article presents data of field research of fertilizers systems and tillage on heavy leached chernozem at planting winter wheat in the Republic of Tatarstan. The paper shows the positive effects of organomineral fertilizer system on crop growth and quality of winter wheat, compared with mineral fertilizer system. The improvement of water and soil nutrient status was revealed. The layered and chisel tillage systems were the most effective methods. The study showed, that the use of organomineral fertilizer system had a stronger positive impact on the yield and quality of winter wheat, compared with mineral fertilizer system. The most winter wheat yield was obtained by applying the organomineral fertilizer system at layered plowing - 4.49 tons per hectare (the increase relative to the control is 0.64 tons per hectare). The best indicators of water and food regime of leached chernozem also marked at using organomineral fertilizer system, especially in layered tillage .
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF OAT GRAINS OF ULOV AND VYATSKIY VARIETIES
Authors: Фатыхов  , Fatykhov Ildus , Колесникова  , Kolesnikova Vera , Тихонова  , Tikhonova Olga
Published: June 2014

Oat grain has a great national economic significance. Firstly, it is a concentrated feed for farm animals. Secondly, it is the raw material for food production, most of all, for baby diet. In this regard, when used for feed purpose or for food production, it is necessary to knowledge the chemical composition of the oat grain. Our results demonstrated that by the content of chemical elements, among 70 species the differences were in membranous and hull-less oats. The grain of membranous oat of Ulov variety contained more silicon, potassium and calcium, comparing with the content of hull-less oat grains of Vyatkskiy variety. In a relatively favorable weather conditions of 2010 year, the Ulov oat grains contained more boron, sodium, aluminum, potassium, calcium. Vyatskiy hull-less oat grains at relatively favorable weather conditions of 2011 year, have a higher content of magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, manganese and zinc. Chemical composition of Ulov and Vyatskiy oat grain according to the 70 element have differs and depends on the meteorological conditions of the vegetation period. The membranous and hull-less oat grains did not contain heavy metals above the permissible values, regulated by Sanitary rules and norms 2.3.2.1078-01.
Efficient Use of Semidefinite Programming for Selection of Rotamers in Protein Conformations
Authors: Burkowski Forbes , Cheung Yuen-Lam , Wolkowicz Henry
Published: June 2014

Determination of a protein's structure can facilitate an understanding of how the structure changes when that protein combines with other proteins or smaller molecules. In this paper we study a semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation of the (NP-hard) side chain positioning problem presented in Chazelle et al [Chazelle B, Kingsford C, Singh M (2004) A semidefinite programming approach to side chain positioning with new rounding strategies. INFORMS J. Comput. 16:380-392]. We show that the Slater constraint qualification (strict feasibility) fails for the SDP relaxation. We then show the advantages of using facial reduction to regularize the SDP. In fact, after applying facial reduction, we have a smaller problem that is more stable both in theory and in practice. We include cutting planes to improve the rounded SDP approximate solutions.