bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Online Motor Correction Processing Revealed by High-density Electroencephalography
Authors: Dipietro Laura , Poizner Howard , Krebs Hermano I.
Published: February 2014

The ability to control online motor corrections is key to dealing with unexpected changes arising in the environment with which we interact. How the CNS controls online motor corrections is poorly understood, but evidence has accumulated in favor of a submovement-based model in which apparently continuous movement is segmented into distinct submovements. Although most studies have focused on submovements' kinematic features, direct links with the underlying neural dynamics have not been extensively explored. This study sought to identify an electroencephalographic signature of submovements. We elicited kinematic submovements using a double-step displacement paradigm. Participants moved their wrist toward a target whose direction could shift mid-movement with a 50% probability. Movement kinematics and cortical activity were concurrently recorded with a low-friction robotic device and high-density electroencephalography. Analysis of spatiotemporal dynamics of brain activation and its correlation with movement kinematics showed that the production of each kinematic submovement was accompanied by (1) stereotyped topographic scalp maps and (2) frontoparietal ERPs time-locked to submovements. Positive ERP peaks from frontocentral areas contralateral to the moving wrist preceded kinematic submovement peaks by 220–250 msec and were followed by positive ERP peaks from contralateral parietal areas (140–250 msec latency, 0–80 msec before submovement peaks). Moreover, individual subject variability in the latency of frontoparietal ERP components following the target shift significantly predicted variability in the latency of the corrective submovement. Our results are in concordance with evidence for the intermittent nature of continuous movement and elucidate the timing and role of frontoparietal activations in the generation and control of corrective submovements.
The Neural Coding of Feedback Learning across Child and Adolescent Development
Authors: Peters Sabine , Braams Barbara R. , Raijmakers Maartje E. J. , Koolschijn P. Cédric M. P. , Crone Eveline A.
Published: February 2014

The ability to learn from environmental cues is an important contributor to successful performance in a variety of settings, including school. Despite the progress in unraveling the neural correlates of cognitive control in childhood and adolescence, relatively little is known about how these brain regions contribute to learning. In this study, 268 participants aged 8–25 years performed a rule-learning task with performance feedback in a 3T MRI scanner. We examined the development of the frontoparietal network during feedback learning by exploring contributions of age and pubertal development. The pFC showed more activation following negative compared with positive feedback with increasing age. In contrast, our data suggested that the parietal cortex demonstrated a shift from sensitivity to positive feedback in young children to negative feedback in adolescents and adults. These findings were interpreted in terms of separable contributions of the frontoparietal network in childhood to more integrated functions in adulthood. Puberty (testosterone, estradiol, and self-report) did not explain additional variance in neural activation patterns above age, suggesting that development of the frontoparietal network occurs relatively independently from hormonal development. This study presents novel insights into the development of learning, moving beyond a simple frontoparietal immaturity hypothesis.
Cytotaxonomic Study of Hypodematium (Hypodematiaceae) from China
Authors: Wang Renxiang , Shao Wen , Liu Ling
Published: February 2014

Chromosome numbers and reproductive biology of nine species of the fern genus Hypodematium (Hypodematiaceae) from China were investigated. The chromosome numbers of eight species are reported here for the first time: H. daochengensis n=41 (41 II); H. fordii n=40 (40 II), n=80 (40 II+40 I), 2n=120; H. glanduloso-pilosum n=41 (41 II), 2n=82, 2n=123; H. gracile n=41 (41 II); H. hirsutum n= 41 (41 II); H. microleptoides n=41 (41 II); H. sinense n= 40 (40 II) and H. squamuloso-pilosum n=41 (41 II). Two cytotypes, n=82 (41 II+41 I) and 2n=123 in H. crenatum, are reported for the first time.  Our results showed that the species with these cytotypes are agamospermous triploids: H. crenatum n = 82 (41 II +41 I), H. glanduloso-pilosum n = 82 (41 II +41 I) and H. fordii n = 80 (40 II +40 I), based on the unequal size and presence of aborted spores in the sporangium, and the allotriploid hybrid chromosomes in the spore mother cell at the diakinesis stage of meiosis I. The remaining species are sexual diploids and tetraploids, based on the chromosome number n = 41 and n =82 at the diakinesis stage of meiosis I of spore mother cells. The relationships among habitat preferences, frond hairs and reproductive modes in Hypodematium are discussed and illustrated. It appears that plants with large fronds and sparse, thin hairs, living in humid and shady places undergo sexual reproduction, while small plants living in sunny and dry conditions with thick hairs undergo agamospermous reproduction. The distribution pattern and basic chromosome number all indicated the basic chromosome number x= 41 was plesiomorphic, whereas x=40 was apomorphic. Chromosome aneuploid changes occurred in this genus. The distribution of the sexual diploids and tetraploids and agamospermous triploids suggests that the genus might have originated in the Himalayas and dispersed from there to northeast Asia and Japan.
Validation of the name Heliconia ×rauliniana (Heliconiaceae)
Authors: Alvarenga Braga Joao Marcelo , Joffily Ana
Published: February 2014

In the protologue, two specimens of Heliconia collected on different dates and locations were designated as a single holotype. Consequently, Heliconia ×rauliniana (pro sp.) must be considered an invalidly published name. This natural hybrid is widely cultivated and used in worldwide floriculture trade. The present work proposes to validate the name H. ×rauliniana.
Polyphasic characterization of Nostoc commune (Cyanobacteria, Nostocaceae) isolated from rice growing agro-ecosystems of Dima Hasao district of Assam, North-East India
Authors: Borah Dharitri , Rout Jayashree , Thajuddin Nooruddin
Published: February 2014

Two strains of Nostoc commune have been isolated from the soils of two different rice-growing agro-ecosystems, viz. flat and terrace paddy fields of Dima Hasao district of the state of Assam, North-East India. Phenotypic characterization was made for both the strains and their growth, pigments (chlorophyll a, total carotenoid content and phycobiliproteins) and biochemical properties (total carbohydrate and soluble proteins) were studied. Phylogenetic comparison was made utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequences. Both strains presented higher phycocyanin content than other biliprotein pigments. Total carotenoid content (TCC) was higher in the strain isolated from flat paddy field, while the isolate from terrace paddy field was richer in phycobiliproteins. 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolated N. commune strains were compared with available sequences of other strains of Nostoc and Anabaena from various geographical locations. Gene sequences were clustered according to their geographical origin, which also reflected the disputed taxonomic position of the Nostocacean genera Nostoc and Anabaena.
Two new species of Digamasellidae from Taiwan (Acari: Mesostigmata)
Authors: MA LI-MING , HO CHYI-CHEN , WANG SHUN-CHENG
Published: February 2014

This paper reports the occurrence of two new species of Digamasellidae from Taiwan, Dendroseius vulgaris n. sp. and Dendrolaelaps (Foveodendrolaelaps) linjianzheni n. sp. Dendroseius vulgaris is described based on the morphology of adult females, adult males and deutonymph, and D. linjianzheni is based on the morphology of adult females and males. This is the first report on the mite species of Digamasellidae from Taiwan.
New digeneans (Opecoelidae) from hydrothermal vent fishes in the south eastern Pacific Ocean, including one new genus and five new species
Authors: BRAY R. A. , WAESCHENBACH A. , DYAL P. , LITTLEWOOD D. T.J. , MORAND S.
Published: February 2014

A new genus and five new species of digeneans are reported from fishes at hydrothermal vent sites in the South East Pacific Rise region. Biospeedotrema n. gen. (Opecoelidae: Stenakrinae) is distinguished from other stenakrines by the more or less symmetrical testicular configuration, with the uterus passing between the testes, sometimes distinctly into the post-testicular region. Biospeedotrema jolliveti n. gen., n. sp. from Ventichthys biospeedoi (Ophidiidae) is distinguished by the vitelline fields which extend only slightly into the post-testicular region, the intestinal bifurcation is dorsal to the ventral sucker, the genital pore is slightly dextrally submedian or median, the cirrus sac is short and the caeca are broad and overlap the testes, usually reaching into the post-testicular region. Biospeedotrema parajolliveti n. sp. from Thermichthys hollisi differs from Biospeedotrema jolliveti in being squat, always just wider than long, the tegument is wrinkled, the testes are lobate, and the caeca only just reach to the testes. Biospeedotrema biospeedoi n. sp. from T. hollisi differs from its congeners in its body-shape, uterine extent posterior to the testes and the small vitellarium. Caudotestis ventichthysi n. sp. (Opecoelidae: Stenakrinae) from V. biospeedoi is distinguished from its five congeners in various combinations of caecal length, cirrus sac length, internal seminal vesicle shape, vitelline extent and distribution, forebody length and egg-size. Buticulotrema thermichthysi n. sp. (Opecoelidae: Opecoelininae) from T. hollisi (Bythitidae) is distinguished from its only congener by its very long, very strongly muscular oesophagus, bifurcating dorsally to the posterior part of the ventral sucker, the long, narrow pars prostatica and distal male duct and the sinistral genital pore at the level of the pharynx. The phylogenetic position for three of these species, Buticulotrema thermichthysi, Biospeedotrema jolliveti and Biospeedotrema biospeedoi, is assessed based on ssrDNA and lsrDNA sequences, which verify the position of these species in the Opecoelidae.
A new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Triacanthoneus Anker, 2010 (Crustacea: Alpheidae) from Belize
Authors: ALVAREZ FERNANDO , ILIFFE THOMAS M. , VILLALOBOS JOSÉ LUIS
Published: February 2014

A new species of the alpheid shrimp genus Triacanthoneus Anker, 2010, is described based on material collected in a marine cave off Caye Chapel, Belize. Triacanthoneus chapelianus sp. nov. is the fifth species in the genus and can be distinguished from the other four species by the position of the dorsolateral teeth on the carapace, which in the new species have an anterior (= submarginal) position, and by the configuration of the posterior margin of the telson, with a notch in the middle portion and two pairs of spines and one pair of plumose setae. A key to the five species of Triacanthoneus is provided.
Influence of the Reflected Rossby Waves on the Western Arabian Sea Upwelling Region
Authors: Tozuka Tomoki , Nagura Motoki , Yamagata Toshio
Published: February 2014

The sea surface temperature (SST) in the western Arabian Sea upwelling region is known to influence the amount of precipitation associated with the Indian summer monsoon. Thus, understanding what determines the SST in this region is an important issue. Using outputs from an ocean general circulation model with and without strong damping in the eastern equatorial Indian Ocean, this study examines how the reflection of semiannual Kelvin waves at the eastern boundary of the Indian Ocean may influence the western Arabian Sea upwelling region. The downwelling Kelvin waves generated in boreal spring are reflected at the eastern boundary and reach the western equatorial Indian Ocean as reflected Rossby waves about 6 months later. The resulting westward current along the equator in the western equatorial Indian Ocean transports warmer water to the western Arabian Sea upwelling region. Thus, the SST in this region becomes colder especially in boreal fall without the reflected Rossby waves. These results are further supported by the analysis of the mixed layer temperature balance. Surprisingly, vertical processes do not contribute to the SST difference, even though the thermocline becomes shallower without the downwelling Rossby waves. This is because the mixed layer is shoaling rapidly from September to November, and there is basically no entrainment of water from below. In contrast, the reflected Rossby waves do not have large impacts on the SST in other seasons mainly because the zonal SST gradient is not as strong and/or the amplitude of Rossby waves is weaker.
Sustainable Rural Development and Wealth Creation
Authors: Pender John L. , Weber Jeremy G. , Brown Jason P.
Published: February 2014

In this article, the authors argue that better data and research on rural wealth creation are greatly needed and present a conceptual framework to help guide such research. The authors then discuss five observations about rural wealth creation, based on examples drawn from the recent literature on emerging energy industries in rural America. The cases show that the types of data needed to draw conclusions about wealth effects of new development are highly contextual. The framework can help researchers think about the types of data needed to assess policy.
The Prevalence and Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Maternal Distress in a Community of Low-Income Bangladeshi and Displaced Ethnic Bihari Mothers
Authors: Azziz-Baumgartner Eduardo , Homaira Nusrat , Hamadani J. D. , Tofail Fahmida , Dahlberg Linda L. , Haque Rashidul , Luby Stephen P. , Naved Ruchira T.
Published: February 2014

Low-income, ethnic, and/or displaced mothers are frequently victimized; we explored the burden of intimate partner violence (IPV) among such women. Teams administered IPV and maternal distress questionnaires to quantify victimization after the birth of a child. Of 250 mothers reporting abuse, 133 (53%) reported their husband hitting; 111 (44%) kicking, dragging, or beating; 61 (24%) choking or burning; and 33 (13%) injuring them with a knife or gun (12 case-patients per 100 person-years). Women who experienced more forms of victimization reported more distress ( p = .01). Mothers in this low-income community experienced severe victimization and distress.
Subchronic and Developmental Toxicity of Aromatic Extracts
Authors: Dalbey Walden E. , McKee Richard H. , Goyak Katy Olsavsky , Charlap Jeffrey H. , Parker Craig , White Russell
Published: February 2014

Aromatic extracts (AEs; distillate AEs [DAEs] and residual AEs [RAEs]) are complex, highly viscous liquid petroleum streams with variable compositions derived by extraction of aromatic compounds from distillate and residual petroleum fractions from a vacuum distillation tower, respectively. The DAEs generally contain significant amounts of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and are carcinogenic. The RAEs typically contain lower concentrations of biologically active PACs. The PACs in refinery streams can cause effects in repeated-dose and developmental toxicity studies. In a 13-week dermal study, light paraffinic DAE had several dose-related effects involving multiple organs; no-observed-effect level was <5 mg/kg/d, with no overt toxicity. Predicted dose-responses at 10% (PDR10s), modeled doses causing a 10% effect on sensitive end points based on PAC content, ranged from 25 to 78 mg/kg/d for untested paraffinic DAEs. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for developmental toxicity for light paraffinic DAE was 5 mg/kg/d. Statistically significant developmental effects at higher doses were associated with maternal effects. The PDR10s for developmental toxicity of paraffinic DAEs ranged from 7 to >2000 mg/kg/d, reflecting differences due to variation in PACs. The NOAELs for RAEs were 500 mg/kg for 90-day studies and 2000 mg/kg for developmental toxicity. Reproductive toxicity is not considered to be a sensitive end point for AEs based on the toxicity tests with DAEs, RAEs, and other PAC-containing petroleum substances. In vivo micronucleus tests on heavy paraffinic DAE, RAEs, and a range of other petroleum substances have been negative. The exception to this general trend was a marginally positive response with light paraffinic DAE. Most DAEs are considered unlikely to produce chromosomal effects in vivo.
Shell-bead money and the mission period economy of Alta California
Authors: Patterson Thomas C.
Published: February 2014

This article investigates basic economic categories that are presupposed by archaeologists to connect archaeological data and to explain the sociocultural patterns and processes of change in past societies. Its topical foci are the concepts of exchange, value, and money; its societal focus is the mission period of Alta California; its goal is to use Marx’s concepts of value and money to articulate the concrete archaeological and historical evidence we use to understand the complicated economy of this era.
A pipeline to extract drug-adverse event pairs from multiple data sources
Authors: Yeleswarapu SriJyothsna , Rao Aditya , Joseph Thomas , Saipradeep Vangala Govindakrishnan , Srinivasan Rajgopal
Published: February 2014

Background

Pharmacovigilance aims to uncover and understand harmful side-effects of drugs, termed adverse events (AEs). Although the current process of pharmacovigilance is very systematic, the increasing amount of information available in specialized health-related websites as well as the exponential growth in medical literature presents a unique opportunity to supplement traditional adverse event gathering mechanisms with new-age ones.

Method

We present a semi-automated pipeline to extract associations between drugs and side effects from traditional structured adverse event databases, enhanced by potential drug-adverse event pairs mined from user-comments from health-related websites and MEDLINE abstracts. The pipeline was tested using a set of 12 drugs representative of two previous studies of adverse event extraction from health-related websites and MEDLINE abstracts.

Results

Testing the pipeline shows that mining non-traditional sources helps substantiate the adverse event databases. The non-traditional sources not only contain the known AEs, but also suggest some unreported AEs for drugs which can then be analyzed further.

Conclusion

A semi-automated pipeline to extract the AE pairs from adverse event databases as well as potential AE pairs from non-traditional sources such as text from MEDLINE abstracts and user-comments from health-related websites is presented.
Diabetes in Algeria and challenges for health policy: a literature review of prevalence, cost, management and outcomes of diabetes and its complications
Authors: Lamri Larbi , Gripiotis Erofile , Ferrario Alessandra
Published: February 2014

Background

Diabetes has become an increasingly prevalent and severe public health issue in Algeria. This article investigates the prevalence, the cost and the management of this disease. Its first objective is to better understand the burden (both from an epidemiological and economic perspective) and management of diabetes. The second objective is to understand the health policy strategy adopted by Algeria in order to respond to the disease.

Methods

We conducted a literature review of prevalence, costs, management and outcomes of diabetes and its complications. This was complemented by data compilations and results of expert consultations.

Results

The epidemiology of diabetes is continually evolving and is becoming more problematic. The national evidence suggests that the prevalence of diabetes in Algeria has increased from 6.8% in 1990 to 12.29% in 2005, but is quite higher among certain groups and areas of the country. This disease affects all population groups, especially 35–70 year olds, who constitute a large segment of the working population. There are very few estimates of the cost of diabetes. These include a 1998 study on the total cost of type 1 diabetes (USD 11.6 million, which, inflated to 2013 value, totals to USD 16.6 million), a study on the cost of complications in 2010 (at 2013 value, ranging from USD 141 for first-year treatment of peripheral vascular disease to USD 30,441 for first-year cost of renal transplantation) and the 2013 IDF estimates of total cost of type 1 and type 2 diabetes (USD 513 million).

Conclusions

As the prevalence of diabetes continues to increase, the financial burden will increasingly weigh heavily on social security resources and the government budget. Future priorities must focus on empowering general practitioners in treating type 2 diabetes, improving screening of diabetes and its complications, tackling the growing obesity epidemic, strengthening health information systems and implementing the national diabetes prevention and control plan.
Expression of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase pi in canine mammary tumors
Authors: Leonel Camila , Gelaleti Gabriela B , Jardim Bruna V , Moschetta Marina G , Regiani Vitor R , Oliveira Juliana G , Zuccari Debora APC
Published: February 2014

Background

Glutathione (GSH) is one of the most important agents of the antioxidant defense system of the cell because, in conjunction with the enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione S transferase pi (GSTpi), it plays a central role in the detoxification and biotransformation of chemotherapeutic drugs. This study evaluated the expression of GSH and the GSH-Px and GSTpi enzymes by immunohistochemistry in 30 canine mammary tumors, relating the clinicopathological parameters, clinical outcome and survival of the bitches. In an in vitro study, the expression of the genes glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLC) and glutathione synthetase (GSS) that synthesize GSH and GSH-Px gene were verified by qPCR and subjected to treatment with doxorubicin, to check the resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy.

Results

The immunohistochemical expression of GSH, GSH-Px and GSTpi was compared with the clinical and pathological characteristics and the clinical outcome in the bitches, including metastasis and death.

The results showed that high immunoexpression of GSH was correlated to the absence of tumor ulceration and was present in dogs without metastasis (P < 0.05). There was significant correlation of survival with the increase of GSH (P < 0.05). The expression of the GSH-Px and GSTpi enzymes showed no statistically significant correlation with the analyzed variables (p > 0.05). The analysis of the relative expression of genes responsible for the synthesis of GSH (GCLC and GSS) and GSH-Px by quantitative PCR was done with cultured cells of 10 tumor fragments from dogs with mammary tumors.

The culture cells showed a decrease in GCLC and GSS expression when compared with no treated cells (P < 0.05). High GSH immunoexpression was associated with better clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

Therefore, high expression of the GSH seems to play an important role in the clinical outcome of patients with mammary tumors and suggest its use as prognostic marker. The in vitro doxorubicin treatment significantly reduces the expression of GCLC and GSS genes so we can consider them to be candidates for predictive markers of therapeutic response in mammary cancer.
Gastric adenomas in familial adenomatous polyposis are common, but subtle, and have a benign course
Authors: Ngamruengphong Saowanee , Boardman Lisa A , Heigh Russell I , Krishna Murli , Roberts Maegan E , Riegert-Johnson Douglas L
Published: February 2014

Background

Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are known to have an increased risk for gastric adenomas. The clinical features of gastric adenomas in FAP have not been well characterized, and there is a lack of standardized approaches to the management of these lesions.

Aims

To study the endoscopic appearance, risk factors, clinical course, and response to therapy of gastric adenomas in patients with FAP.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 97 patients with FAP who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at Mayo Clinic (Florida, Rochester and Arizona) between 2004 and 2013.

Results

Nine patients (9%) had biopsy-proven gastric adenomas. Adenomas were located in the antrum (five patients), in the body and fundus in the setting of background fundic gland polyps (FGP) (three patients), and in the body not associated with FGP (one patient). Adenoma size was 3–40 mm and the number of adenomas per patient ranged from one to 20. Adenomas in the antrum were flat and subtle, whereas those in the gastric body or fundus were polypoid and difficult to differentiate from the cystic FGPs seen in patients with FAP. The performing endoscopists reported difficulty with identifying adenomas, and six patients had at least one EGD within the previous three years where gastric adenomas were not reported. Adenomas were classified as tubular in eight patients and tubulovillous in one patient. High grade dysplasia was noted in one patient. After a median follow-up of 63 months (interquartile range: 20–149 months), no patient in our entire cohort (with or without gastric adenomas) developed gastric cancer. The patients in whom gastric adenoma developed, compared to those without gastric adenoma, were more likely to be younger [36 ± 12 vs. 48 ± 15 years, p = 0.02], have concomitant chronic gastritis [22% vs. 0%, p = 0.008], and have desmoid tumors [5 (56%) vs. 19 (22%), p = 0.04].

Conclusions

Gastric adenomas are not uncommon in patients with FAP and are often difficult to identify endoscopically. Endoscopists should have a high degree of suspicion for gastric adenomas in these patients and a low threshold to biopsy. Given the benign clinical course, recommended initial management is conservative with endoscopic therapy and periodic surveillance.
Divergent dysregulation of gene expression in murine models of fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis
Authors: Kong Sek Won , Sahin Mustafa , Collins Christin D , Wertz Mary H , Campbell Malcolm G , Leech Jarrett D , Krueger Dilja , Bear Mark F , Kunkel Louis M , Kohane Isaac S
Published: February 2014

Background

Fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis are genetic syndromes that both have a high rate of comorbidity with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Several lines of evidence suggest that these two monogenic disorders may converge at a molecular level through the dysfunction of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity.

Methods

To explore the characteristics of transcriptomic changes in these monogenic disorders, we profiled genome-wide gene expression levels in cerebellum and blood from murine models of fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis.

Results

Differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways were distinct for the two murine models examined, with the exception of immune response-related pathways. In the cerebellum of the Fmr1 knockout (Fmr1- KO) model, the neuroactive ligand receptor interaction pathway and gene sets associated with synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation, gap junction, and axon guidance were the most significantly perturbed pathways. The phosphatidylinositol signaling pathway was significantly dysregulated in both cerebellum and blood of Fmr1-KO mice. In Tsc2 heterozygous (+/−) mice, immune system-related pathways, genes encoding ribosomal proteins, and glycolipid metabolism pathways were significantly changed in both tissues.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that distinct molecular pathways may be involved in ASD with known but different genetic causes and that blood gene expression profiles of Fmr1- KO and Tsc2+/− mice mirror some, but not all, of the perturbed molecular pathways in the brain.
ICMEg – the Integrated Computational Materials Engineering expert group – a new European coordination action
Authors: Schmitz Georg J , Prahl Ulrich
Published: February 2014

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering, or ICME, applies a range of software tools in simultaneous or consecutive combinations. Major successful developments in the area of ICME up to the present have been essentially driven by academic and industrial users of simulation software. Starting with a brief overview of the benefits provided by ICME, the present article will give a short outline of the ICMEg consortium, the I ntegrated C omputational M aterials E ngineering expert g roup, and the related European project. The vision and mission of this project is defined and its practical implementation detailed. The chief aim of ICMEg is to set up a global and open communication standard and protocols on the component scale, on the microstructural scale, as well as basic underlying thermodynamic models and discrete models on the electronic, atomistic and mesoscopic scales.
Soluble factors secreted by differentiating embryonic stem cells stimulate exogenous cell proliferation and migration
Authors: Ngangan Alyssa V , Waring James C , Cooke Marissa T , Mandrycky Christian J , McDevitt Todd C
Published: February 2014

Introduction

Stem cells are being investigated as catalysts of tissue regeneration to either directly replace or promote cellularity lost as a result of traumatic injury or degenerative disease. In many reports, despite low numbers of stably integrated cells, the transient presence of cells delivered or recruited to sites of tissue remodeling globally benefits functional recovery. Such findings have motivated the need to determine how paracrine factors secreted from transplanted cells may be capable of positively impacting endogenous repair processes and somatic cell responses.

Methods

Embryonic stem cells were differentiated as embryoid bodies (EBs) in vitro and media conditioned by EBs were collected at different intervals of time. Gene and protein expression analysis of several different growth factors secreted by EBs were examined by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis, respectively, as a function of time. The proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and endothelial cells treated with EB conditioned media was examined compared with unconditioned and growth media controls.

Results

The expression of several growth factors, including bone morphogenic protein-4, insulin-like growth factors and vascular endothelial growth factor-A, increased during the course of embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation as EBs. Conditioned media collected from EBs at different stages of differentiation stimulated proliferation and migration of both fibroblasts and endothelial cells, based on 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine incorporation and transwell assays, respectively.

Conclusions

Overall, these results demonstrate that differentiating ESCs express increasing amounts of various growth factors over time that altogether are capable of stimulating mitogenic and motogenic activity of exogenous cell populations.
Human Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells promote skin wound healing through paracrine signaling
Authors: Arno Anna I , Amini-Nik Saeid , Blit Patrick H , Al-Shehab Mohammed , Belo Cassandra , Herer Elaine , Tien Col Homer , Jeschke Marc G
Published: February 2014

Introduction

The prevalence of nonhealing wounds is predicted to increase due to the growing aging population. Despite the use of novel skin substitutes and wound dressings, poorly vascularized wound niches impair wound repair. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been reported to provide paracrine signals to promote wound healing, but the effect of human Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) has not yet been described in human normal skin.

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of human WJ-MSC paracrine signaling on normal skin fibroblasts in vitro, and in an in vivo preclinical model.

Methods

Human WJ-MSCs and normal skin fibroblasts were isolated from donated umbilical cords and normal adult human skin. Fibroblasts were treated with WJ-MSC-conditioned medium (WJ-MSC-CM) or nonconditioned medium.

Results

Expression of genes involved in re-epithelialization (transforming growth factor-β2), neovascularization (hypoxia-inducible factor-1α) and fibroproliferation (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) was upregulated in WJ-MSC-CM-treated fibroblasts (P ≤ 0.05). WJ-MSC-CM enhanced normal skin fibroblast proliferation (P ≤ 0.001) and migration (P ≤ 0.05), and promoted wound healing in an excisional full-thickness skin murine model.

Conclusions

Under our experimental conditions, WJ-MSCs enhanced skin wound healing in an in vivo mouse model.
Metabolic Influences on Reproduction: Adiponectin Attenuates GnRH Neuronal Activity in Female Mice
Authors: Klenke Ulrike , Taylor-Burds Carol , Wray Susan
Published: February 2014

Metabolic dysfunctions are often linked to reproductive abnormalities. Adiponectin (ADP), a peripheral hormone secreted by white adipose tissue, is important in energy homeostasis and appetite regulation. GnRH neurons are integral components of the reproductive axis, controlling synthesis, and release of gonadotropins. This report examined whether ADP can directly act on GnRH neurons. Double-label immunofluorescence on brain sections from adult female revealed that a subpopulation of GnRH neurons express ADP receptor (AdipoR)2. GnRH/AdipoR2+ cells were distributed throughout the forebrain. To determine the influence of ADP on GnRH neuronal activity and the signal transduction pathway of AdipoR2, GnRH neurons maintained in explants were assayed using whole-cell patch clamping and calcium imaging. This mouse model system circumvents the dispersed distribution of GnRH neurons within the forebrain, making analysis of large numbers of GnRH cells possible. Single-cell PCR analysis and immunocytochemistry confirmed the presence of AdipoR2 in GnRH neurons in explants. Functional analysis revealed 20% of the total GnRH population responded to ADP, exhibiting hyperpolarization or decreased calcium oscillations. Perturbation studies revealed that ADP activates AMP kinase via the protein kinase Cζ/liver kinase B1 pathway. The modulation of GnRH neuronal activity by ADP demonstrated in this report directly links energy balance to neurons controlling reproduction.
In Utero Exposure to the Endocrine Disruptor Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Induces Long-Term Changes in Gene Expression in the Adult Male Adrenal Gland
Authors: Martinez-Arguelles D.B. , Campioli E. , Lienhart C. , Fan J. , Culty M. , Zirkin B.R. , Papadopoulos V.
Published: February 2014

The plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is used to add flexibility to polyvinylchloride polymers and as a component of numerous consumer and medical products. DEHP and its metabolites have been detected in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood, suggesting fetal exposure. In the present study, we used an in utero exposure model in which pregnant rat dams were exposed to 1- to 300-mg DEHP/kg·d from gestational day 14 until birth. We previously reported that this window of exposure to environmentally relevant doses of DEHP resulted in reduced levels of serum testosterone and aldosterone in adult male offspring and that the effects on aldosterone were sustained in elderly rats and resulted in decreased blood pressure. Here, we characterized the long-term effects of in utero DEHP exposure by performing global gene expression analysis of prepubertal (postnatal d 21) and adult (postnatal d 60) adrenal glands. We found that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor and lipid metabolism pathways were affected by DEHP exposure. Expression of 2 other DEHP targets, hormone-sensitive lipase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (Pck1), correlated with reduced aldosterone levels and may account for the inhibitory effect of DEHP on adrenal steroid formation. The angiotensin II and potassium pathways were up-regulated in response to DEHP. In addition, the potassium intermediate/small conductance calcium-activated channel Kcnn2 and 2-pore-domain potassium channel Knck5 were identified as DEHP targets. Based on this gene expression analysis, we measured fatty acid-binding protein 4 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 in sera from control and DEHP-exposed rats and identified both proteins as putative serum biomarkers of in utero DEHP exposure. These results shed light on molecular targets that mediate DEHP long-term effects and, in doing so, provide means by which to assess past DEHP exposure.
Conditional Overexpression of Liver Receptor Homolog-1 in Female Mouse Mammary Epithelium Results in Altered Mammary Morphogenesis via the Induction of TGF-β
Authors: Lazarus Kyren A. , Brown Kristy A. , Young Morag J. , Zhao Zhe , Coulson Rhiannon S. , Chand Ashwini L. , Clyne Colin D.
Published: February 2014

Liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1) is an orphan nuclear receptor that belongs to the NR5A subgroup of nuclear receptors. LRH-1 induces key genes to regulate metabolic process, ovarian function, cancer cell proliferation, and steroidogenesis. In the breast, LRH-1 modulates and synergizes with endogenous estrogen signaling to promote breast cancer cell proliferation. We used small interfering RNA knockdown strategies to deplete LRH-1 in breast cancer cells and followed with microarray analysis to identify LRH-1–dependent mechanisms. We identified key genes involved in TGF-β signaling to be highly responsive to LRH-1 knockdown. This relationship was validated in 2 breast cancer cell lines overexpressing LRH-1 in vitro and in a novel transgenic mouse with targeted LRH-1 overexpression in mammary epithelial cells. Notably, TGF-β signaling was activated in LRH-1–overexpressing breast cancer cells and mouse mammary glands. Further analyses of mammary gross morphology revealed a significant reduction in mammary lateral budding after LRH-1 overexpression. These findings suggest that the altered mammary morphogenesis in LRH-1 transgenic animals is mediated via enhanced TGF-β expression. The regulation of TGF-β isoforms and SMAD2/3-mediated downstream signaling by LRH-1 also implicates a potential contribution of LRH-1 in breast cancer. Collectively, these data demonstrate that LRH-1 regulates TGF-β expression and downstream signaling in mouse mammary glands.
Scotsburn Dairy Group Uses a Hierarchical Production Scheduling and Inventory Management System to Control Its Ice Cream Production
Authors: Gunn Eldon A. , MacDonald Corinne A. , Friars Andrea , Caissie Glen
Published: February 2014

In this paper, we discuss a hierarchical production planning approach to schedule ice cream production, a continuous batch production process with sequence-dependent setup times and highly seasonal demand. We use mixed-integer linear programming models to optimize production plans for long-, medium-, and short-term planning. The long-term model, the monthly model, is used to plan aggregate production and inventory levels for the year to meet demand each month at the lowest cost possible. The medium-term model, the weekly model, is used to disaggregate the long-term plan to minimize weekly setup and holding costs over a 13-week period. The short-term model, the daily model, is a detailed scheduling model that determines an optimal daily production sequence for the products and run lengths determined by the second model, while meeting the labor schedule defined by the first model for the upcoming production week. When used together, the three decision models produce feasible results at each stage, and short-term operations reflect the goals of the long-term plan. Synchronizing the model breakdown with Scotsburn’s management hierarchy provides support at each decision-making level. The hierarchical plan reduces costs, improves production efficiency, and creates better linkages between the decisions of each management level.
When Kerry Met Sally: Politics and Perceptions in the Demand for Movies
Authors: Roos Jason M. T. , Shachar Ron
Published: February 2014

Movie producers and exhibitors make various decisions requiring an understanding of moviegoer's preferences at the local level. Two examples of such decisions are exhibitors' allocation of screens to movies and producers' allocation of advertising across different regions of the country. This study presents a predictive model of local demand for movies with two unique features. First, arguing that consumers' political tendencies have an unutilized predictive power for marketing models, we allow consumers' heterogeneity to depend on their voting tendencies. Second, instead of relying on the commonly used genre classifications to characterize movies, we estimate latent movie attributes. These attributes are not determined a priori by industry professionals but rather reflect consumers' perceptions, as revealed by their moviegoing behavior. Box-office data over five years from 25 counties in the U.S. Midwest provide support for this model. First, consumers' preferences are related to their political tendencies. For example, we find that counties that voted for congressional Republicans prefer movies starring young, Caucasian, female actors over those starring African American, male actors. Second, perceived attributes provide new insights into consumers' preferences. For example, one of these attributes is the movie's degree of seriousness. Finally, and most importantly, the two improvements proposed here have a meaningful impact on forecasting error, decreasing it by 12.6%.

This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta, marketing.
Equilibrium in Queues Under Unknown Service Times and Service Value
Authors: Debo Laurens , Veeraraghavan Senthil
Published: February 2014

In the operations research literature, the queue joining probability is monotonic decreasing in the queue length; the longer the queue, the fewer consumers join. Recent academic and empirical evidence indicates that queue-joining probabilities may not always be decreasing in the queue length. We provide a simple explanation for these nonmonotonic queue-joining strategies by relaxing the informational assumptions in Naor's model. Instead of imposing that the expected service time and service value are common knowledge, we assume that they are unknown to consumers, but positively correlated. Under such informational assumptions, the posterior expected waiting cost and service value increase in the observed queue length. As a consequence, we show that queue-joining equilibria may emerge for which the joining probability increases locally in the queue length. We refer to these as “sputtering equilibria.” We discuss when and why such sputtering equilibria exist for discrete as well as continuously distributed priors on the expected service time (with positively correlated service value).
Using Strategic Idleness to Improve Customer Service Experience in Service Networks
Authors: Baron Opher , Berman Oded , Krass Dmitry , Wang Jianfu
Published: February 2014

The most common measure of waiting time is the overall expected waiting time for service. However, in service networks the perception of waiting may also depend on how it is distributed among different stations. Therefore, reducing the probability of a long wait at any station may be important in improving customers' perception of service quality. In a single-station queue it is known that the policy that minimizes the waiting time and the probability of long waits is nonidling. However, this is not necessarily the case for queueing networks with several stations. We present a family of threshold-based policies (TBPs) that strategically idle some stations. We demonstrate the advantage of strategically idling by applying TBP in a network with two single-server queues in tandem. We provide closed form results for the special case where the first station has infinite capacity and develop efficient algorithms when this is not the case. We compare TBPs with the nonidling and Kanban policies, and we discuss when a TBP is advantageous. Using simulation, we demonstrate that the analytical insights for the two-station case hold for a three-station serial queue as well.
Freshwater and Terrestrial Algae from Ny-Ålesund and Blomstrandhalvøya Island (Svalbard)
Authors: Kim Gwang Hoon , Klochkova Tatyana A. , Han Jong Won , Kang Sung-Ho , Choi Han Gu , Chung Ki Wha , Kim Song Ja
Published: February 2014

A field survey of algae and cyanobacteria from terrestrial and freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Ny-Ålesund and on Blomstrandhalvøya Island (Svalbard) was performed in June 2009, and results were compared with data from our fieldwork in June 2006. In total, we identified 30 taxa belonging to 23 genera from the specimens collected near Ny-Ålesund (26 taxa) and on Blomstrandhalvøya Island (24 taxa). Five species previously unrecorded from this locality are depicted, including astaxanthin-containing Haematococcus sp. collected from Blomstrandhalvøya Island. This is the first report on a Haematococcus species from the High Arctic.
Breeding Ecology of Birds at Teshekpuk Lake: A Key Habitat Site on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska
Authors: Liebezeit J.R. , White G.C. , Zack S.
Published: February 2014

The Teshekpuk Lake Special Area in the National Petroleum Reserve – Alaska (NPR-A) currently has no long-term protection from oil development. In this study, we provide novel information on nest density, productivity, and habitat use at Teshekpuk relative to a developed oilfield site at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to assess the importance of Teshekpuk for tundra-nesting birds and to provide recommendations regarding potential oil development. Mean annual nest density of all bird species combined was significantly higher at Teshekpuk than at Prudhoe Bay and was higher than any of five other sites with comparable data on the Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain. Nest densities were significantly higher at Teshekpuk than at Prudhoe Bay for Lapland longspurs (Calcarius lapponicus) and long-billed dowitchers (Limnodromus scolopaceus), although those for semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) were higher at Prudhoe Bay. Total shorebird nest densities at Teshekpuk were among the highest of any sites in the region. At Teshekpuk, shorebirds nested preferentially in wet and emergent habitats, including flooded low-center polygons, non-patterned tundra, and Carex aquatilis-dominated habitats. Therefore, we recommend that future oil infrastructure placement in this region avoid these habitats. Using data collected at Teshekpuk and Prudhoe Bay from 2005 to 2008, we modeled nest survivorship for 11 shorebird species and for Lapland longspurs. For longspurs, the best-supported models based on AICc values indicated that nest survival was always higher at Teshekpuk, but it was also higher elsewhere in years of high lemming abundance and later in the nesting season. For shorebirds, the best-supported models indicated that nest survivorship was highly variable among years and sites. Uniparental-nesting shorebirds had lower nest survivorship shortly after nest initiation followed by a rapid increase, while biparental survivorship was consistently high throughout the nest lifetime. We recommend that disturbances to nesting habitat be minimized during early June, when vulnerability to nest failure is higher. Because of their high importance to Arctic breeding birds, we recommend that areas within the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, including our study area and those that are currently under 10-year deferral, be considered for permanent protection.