bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Presence of ethanol‐sensitive glycine receptors in medium spiny neurons in the mouse nucleus accumbens
Authors: Förstera B. , Muñoz B. , Lobo M. K. , Chandra R. , Lovinger D. M. , Aguayo L. G.
Published: May 2017

Key points

The nucleus accumbens (nAc) is involved in addiction‐related behaviour caused by several drugs of abuse, including alcohol.

Glycine receptors (GlyRs) are potentiated by ethanol and they have been implicated in the regulation of accumbal dopamine levels.

We investigated the presence of GlyR subunits in nAc and their modulation by ethanol in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the mouse nAc.

We found that the GlyR α1 subunit is preferentially expressed in nAc and is potentiated by ethanol.

Our study shows that GlyR α1 in nAc is a new target for development of novel pharmacological tools for behavioural intervention in drug abuse.

Alcohol abuse causes major social, economic and health‐related problems worldwide. Alcohol, like other drugs of abuse, increases levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (nAc), facilitating behavioural reinforcement and substance abuse. Previous studies suggested that glycine receptors (GlyRs) are involved in the regulation of accumbal dopamine levels. Here, we investigated the presence of GlyRs in accumbal dopamine receptor medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of C57BL/6J mice, analysing mRNA expression levels and immunoreactivity of GlyR subunits, as well as ethanol sensitivity. We found that GlyR α1 subunits are expressed at higher levels than α2, α3 and β in the mouse nAc and were located preferentially in dopamine receptor 1 (DRD1)‐positive MSNs. Interestingly, the glycine‐evoked currents in dissociated DRD1‐positive MSNs were potentiated by ethanol. Also, the potentiation of the GlyR‐mediated tonic current by ethanol suggests that they modulate the excitability of DRD1‐positive MSNs in nAc. This study should contribute to understanding the role of GlyR α1 in the reward system and might help to develop novel pharmacological therapies to treat alcoholism and other addiction‐related and compulsive behaviours.
ANALISIS DE LA PERCEPCION DE EVENTOS ESTATICOS Y DINAMICOS EN PERSONAS CON ENFERMEDAD DE ALZHEIMER
Authors: Lara Diaz Maria Fernanda , Beltrán Rojas Judy Costanza , Rodriguez Montoya Silvia Raquel , Arias Castro Diana María , Araque Jaramillo Sandra Milena
Published: May 2017

Uno de los aspectos afectados en la Enfermedad de Alzheimer es el lenguaje. La naturaleza y manifestaciones de estas dificultades se relacionan con la forma como los pacientes con EA perciben y comprenden el mundo que les rodea.

En la presente investigación se analizaron las fijaciones visuales de siete pacientes con EA y sus controles durante tareas de percepción de escenas estáticas y dinámicas (imagen y video respectivamente). De igual forma se analizó una muestra de lenguaje producida por los pacientes al narrar el evento dinámico.

Los resultados indican diferencias significativas en cuanto a la búsqueda visual, en la cual el grupo con EA presento disminución de la velocidad. En tareas de rastreo se evidencia que las personas con EA identifican menos elementos en una imagen realizando menos fijaciones, con estrategias de exploración poco eficientes. En cuanto al evento dinámico, el rastreo visual fue similar entre los dos grupos sin embargo la expresión lingüística de lo observado está afectada en el grupo con EA revelando la relación de la percepción y el lenguaje ya que a pesar de observar los eventos dentro de una escena en movimiento, estos no son recobrados posteriormente para ser expresados lingüísticamente. Estos resultados tienen importantes implicaciones tanto en la identificación de la naturaleza de las dificultades lingüísticas en la EA como en el manejo de la misma.
Comparación de la respuesta inhibitoria en niños y adolescentes diagnosticados con TOC y TDAH
Authors: Pinto D Maria Cristina , Avila Campos Enrique , Contreras Javier Nicolas , Bedoya Luna , Ulzuru Aaron
Published: May 2017

Antecedentes: Los trastornos de comportamiento tienen asociados una serie de factores que van más allá de los síntomas, entre los cuales está el funcionamiento cognoscitivo. En TOC y TDAH se han encontrado dificultades en el funcionamiento ejecutivo, siendo la inhibición de respuestas una de las fallas más consistentes en diferentes estudios.

Objetivos: Comparar la respuesta inhibitoria de niños y adolescentes diagnosticados con TDAH, TOC con población sana.

Método: Se analizaron 31 pacientes con TDAH, 31 con TOC y 66 controles a partir del Test Stroop de colores y palabras segunda edición (Golden, 1999).

Resultados: Se encuentran diferencias de los grupos clínicos con los controles; TOC vs controles (p = 0.03419), TDAH vs controles (p= 0.00244), pero no entre los grupos clínico TOC vs TDAH (p= 0.2793). Al comparar rango de edad se encuentran diferencias específicas entre los mismos grupos para los participantes entre 13-16 años (TDAH: p=0.005 y TOC: 0.018) y controles.

Conclusiones: Los resultados son coherentes con lo reportado en la literatura, respecto a la alteración del control inhibitorio de personas con TOC y TDAH. Se deben realizar análisis más amplios en otros dominios cognitivos para poder tener un perfil más claro de los aspectos comunes y diferenciables de personas con trastornos del neurodesarrollo y manifestaciones anormales de comportamiento.
AN EFFECTIVE NEUROFEEDBACK TRAINING, WITH CORTISOL CORRELATES, IN A CLINICAL CASE OF ANXIETY
Authors: Aliño Costa Marta , Gadea Marien , Hidalgo Vanesa , Pérez Víctor , Sanjuán Julio
Published: May 2017

Background and objectives: Neurofeedback treatments have shown successful results in anxiety disorders. Thus, the effectiveness of a beta1 Neurofeedback protocol was tested in a longitudinal clinical case study. Design and methods: A participant suffering from an anxiety syndrome was treated with 10 sessions of Neurofeedback, which protocol consisted in uptraining beta1 rhythm (16-21 Hz) while downtraining theta (4-8 Hz) band. For each of the 10 sessions the state anxiety and salivary cortisol levels were measured in a pre/post design. Initial and final examinations of anxiety symptoms and sustained attention performance were taken in addition.
Results: The final evaluation showed that levels of anxiety fell within normative range and sustained attention improved. A t-test for related samples disclosed a significant improvement of beta1 amplitude across sessions, without modifications in untrained bands. A significant inverse correlation between beta1 amplitude and salivary cortisol appeared, suggesting that brain activity could be considered a marker of anxiety. The validation of the beta1 Neurofeedback protocol was assessed by independence, trainability and interpretability criteria. Conclusions: We showed an effective Neurofeedback protocol on anxiety and sustained attention, the success of which could consist on the reestablishment of an optimal cortical arousal capable of inhibiting the elevated amygdalar activity. (English)
La Enfermedad de Parkinson: Etiología, Tratamientos y Factores Preventivos
Authors: Hurtado F , Cardenas Melissa Andrea N , Cardenas Fernando , León Laura Andrea
Published: May 2017

La enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) es la patología neurodegenerativa motora con mayor incidencia a nivel mundial. Esta afecta a aproximadamente 2-3% de la población mayor a 60 años de edad y sus causas aún no han sido bien determinadas. Actualmente no existe cura para esta patología; sin embargo, es posible contar con diferentes tratamientos que permiten aliviar algunos de sus síntomas y enlentecer su curso. Estos tratamientos tienen como premisa contrarrestar los efectos ocasionados por la pérdida de la función dopaminérgica de la sustancia nigra (SN) sobre estructuras como el núcleo subtálamico (NST) o globo pálido interno (GPi) ya sea por medio de tratamientos farmacológicos, estimulación cerebral profunda (ECP) o con el implante celular. Existen también investigaciones que están dirigiendo su interés al desarrollo de fármacos con potencial terapéutico, que presenten alta especificidad a receptores colinérgicos de nicotina (nAChRs) y antagonistas de receptores de adenosina, específicamente del subtipo A2A. Estos últimos, juegan un papel importante en el control de liberación dopaminérgica y en los procesos de neuroprotección. En esta revisión se pretende ofrecer una panorámica actual sobre algunos de los factores de riesgo asociados a EP, algunos de los tratamientos actuales más utilizados y acerca del rol de sustancias potencialmente útiles en la prevención de esta enfermedad.
Efecto de los Esquemas Cognitivos en el Cortisol en Mujeres Violentadas por sus Parejas.
Authors: Zapata Yance Luis Felipe , Parra De La Rosa Karen , Barrios Diana , Rojas Santiago Miguel
Published: May 2017

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar el efecto del tipo de violencia de que son víctimas las mujeres por parte de su pareja y sus esquemas cognitivos en el nivel del cortisol. Para ello se aplicó una versión traducida de la Encuesta de Severidad de Violencia en contra de la Mujer, la forma corta del Cuestionario de Esquemas Cognitivos de Young y se extrajeron muestras de cortisol plasmático diurno a 43 mujeres participantes en un programa de intervención. Se estructuró un modelo de regresión el cual confirmó que las amenazas, las agresiones sexuales y esquemas cognitivos como Abandono, Aislamiento social, Apego, Fracaso, Vulnerabilidad al Daño, Subyugación y Estándares Inflexibles, afectaron el nivel del cortisol de esta población.
A influência da intensidade emocional no reconhecimento de emoções em faces por crianças brasileiras
Authors: Aguiar Juliana Silva Rocha , De Paiva Silva Ana Idalina , Rocha Aguiar Carla Silva , Torro-Alves Nelson , De Souza Wânia Cristina
Published: May 2017

The ability to recognize emotions in faces is essential to human interaction and occurs since childhood. Hypothesis: research using the morphing technique assume that children require greater or lesser intensity of emotional expression to perceive it. Objective: to examine the emotional recognition of faces in childhood, using a task with emotional intensity variation. Method: it was applied a Test of Facial Emotion Recognition for Children to 28 children between 7 and 11 years, of both sexes, which presented 168 faces manipulated by the morphing technique, of the six basic emotions. Results: age as a trend growth of the likelihood of success at the task; more right answers for happiness and worst performances for fear; and the emotional intensity increasing at 42% the chance of success by every unit of intensity. Conclusion: these findings are relevant because they show the recognition of emotions at different levels as a more sensitive method.
Navegación Espacial en Niños de 3 y 6 Años en un Laberinto Circular: La interacción entre diferentes marcos geométricos de referencia
Authors: Moraleda Barreno Enrique
Published: May 2017

Introducción: Diversas teorías intentan explicar las estrategias de navegación que utilizan los niños menores de 6 años, siendo el uso de la geometría el principal tema de debate. Objetivo: Estudiar los sistemas de navegación espacial en niños de 3 y 6 años y su utilización de diversos marcos de referencia geométricos y de la guía proximal. Hipótesis: Los niños emplearán la geometría como predice la teoría de los módulos geométricos. Participantes: 20 niños de 6 años y 20 de 3. Métodos: Se utilizó un laberinto circular donde los niños tenían que buscar un objeto escondido. Se formaron dos grupos: desorientados respecto a la habitación exterior y no desorientados. Resultados: Los niños de 3 años necesitaron la información geométrica de la habitación exterior, los de 6 años también son capaces de emplear la guía proximal y pueden usar la geometría del recinto experimental si su aprendizaje se ha realizado en presencia de la geometría de la habitación. Conclusiones: Los resultados apoyan la teoría de la combinación adaptativa, en lugar de la de módulos geométricos. Por otro lado, la presencia de marcos de referencia geométricos fiables facilita la utilización de otros tipos de claves que en su ausencia no son empleadas.
The effects of click rate on the auditory brainstem response of bottlenose dolphins
Authors: Burkard Robert F. , Finneran James J. , Mulsow Jason
Published: May 2017

Rate manipulations can be used to study adaptation processes in the auditory nerve and brainstem. For this reason, rate effects on the click-evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR) have been investigated in many mammals, including humans. In this study, click-evoked ABRs were obtained in eight bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) while varying stimulus rate using both conventional averaging and maximum length sequences (MLSs), which allow disentangling ABRs that overlap in time and thus permit the study of adaptation at high rates. Dolphins varied in age and upper cutoff frequency of hearing. Conventional stimulation rates were 25, 50, and 100 Hz and average MLS rates were approximately 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 2500, and 5000 Hz. Click peak-equivalent sound pressure levels for all conditions were 135 dB re 1 μPa. ABRs were observed in all dolphins, at all stimulus rates. With increasing rate, peak latencies increased and peak amplitudes decreased. There was a trend for an increase in the interwave intervals with increasing rate, which appeared more robust for the dolphins with a full range of hearing. For those rates where ABRs were obtained for both conventional and MLS approaches, the latencies of the mean data were in good agreement.
ACOUSTICAL STANDARDS NEWS
Authors: Stremmel Neil B. , Struck Christopher J.
Published: May 2017

American National Standards (ANSI Standards) developed by Accredited Standards Committees S1, S2, S3, S3/SC 1, and S12 in the areas of acoustics, mechanical vibration and shock, bioacoustics, animal bioacoustics, and noise, respectively, are published by the Acoustical Society of America (ASA). In addition to these standards, ASA publishes a catalog of Acoustical American National Standards. To receive a copy of the latest Standards catalog, please contact Neil Stremmel.

Comments are welcomed on all material in Acoustical Standards News.

This Acoustical Standards News section in JASA, as well as the national catalog of Acoustical Standards and other information on the Standards Program of the Acoustical Society of America, are available via the ASA home page: http://acousticalsociety.org.
Draft Genome Sequences of Two Carbapenemase-Producing Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Strains Isolated from Albanian and Togolese Patients
Authors: Abdelbary Mohamed M. H. , Prod’hom Guy , Greub Gilbert , Senn Laurence , Blanc Dominique S.
Published: May 2017

We report here the draft genome sequences of two multidrug-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
clinical strains, H31499 and H31506, which were isolated at the Lausanne University Hospital in 2015 from an Albanian and a Togolese patient, respectively.
Genome Sequence of Human Papillomavirus 23 Strain HPV-23/Lancaster/2015
Authors: Atkinson Kate V. , Bishop Lisa A. , Rhodes Glenn , Salez Nicolas , McEwan Neil R. , Hegarty Matthew J. , Robey Julie , Harding Nicola , Wetherell Simon , Lauder Robert M. , Pickup Roger W. , Wilkinson Mark , Gatherer Derek
Published: May 2017

The genome of human papillomavirus type 23 (HPV-23; family
Papillomaviridae
, genus
Betapapillomavirus
, species
Betapapillomavirus 2
, type 23) was assembled by deep sequencing from nasopharyngeal swabs. The assembled genome is 2.7% divergent over its full length from the single complete genome of HPV-23 in GenBank (accession no. U31781). We named the strain HPV-23/Lancaster/2015.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Metschnikowia australis
Strain UFMG-CM-Y6158, an Extremophile Marine Yeast Endemic to Antarctica
Authors: Batista Thiago M. , Hilário Heron O. , Moreira Rennan G. , Furtado Carolina , Godinho Valéria M. , Rosa Luiz H. , Franco Glória R. , Rosa Carlos A.
Published: May 2017

Here we report the draft genome sequence of
Metschnikowia australis
strain UFMG-CM-Y6158, a yeast endemic to Antarctica. We isolated the strain from the marine seaweed
Acrosiphonia arcta
(
Chlorophyta
). The genome is 14.3 Mb long and contains 4,442 predicted protein-coding genes.
Genome Sequence of a Novel Canine Picornavirus Isolated from an American Foxhound
Authors: Norby Erica E. , Jarman Richard G. , Keiser Paul B. , Binn Leonard N. , Hang Jun
Published: May 2017

A candidate new canine picornavirus was isolated from a respiratory swab collected from an American foxhound (
Canis lupus familiaris
) in 1968. The assembled genome sequence of strain A128thr is 7,618 bases in length, comprising a complete protein-coding sequence of the 2,213-amino-acid polyprotein and partial terminal untranslated sequences.
Draft Genome Sequences of the Xylose-Fermenting Yeast
Scheffersomyces shehatae
NBRC 1983
T
and a Thermotolerant Isolate of
S. shehatae
ATY839 (JCM 18690)
Authors: Okada Natsumi , Tanimura Ayumi , Hirakawa Hideki , Takashima Masako , Ogawa Jun , Shima Jun
Published: May 2017

Draft genome sequences of the type strain (NBRC 1983) and a thermotolerant isolate (ATY839) of the xylose-fermenting yeast
Scheffersomyces shehatae
were determined. The genome sizes and presumed open reading frames were highly similar between strains NBRC 1983
T
and ATY839.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Pseudomonas
sp. Strain Ep R1 Isolated from
Echinacea purpurea
Roots and Effective in the Growth Inhibition of Human Opportunistic Pathogens Belonging to the Burkholderia cepacia Complex
Authors: Maggini Valentina , Presta Luana , Miceli Elisangela , Fondi Marco , Bosi Emanuele , Chiellini Carolina , Fagorzi Camilla , Bogani Patrizia , Di Pilato Vincenzo , Rossolini Gian Maria , Mengoni Alessio , Firenzuoli Fabio , Perrin Elena , Fani Renato
Published: May 2017

In this announcement, we detail the draft genome sequence of the
Pseudomonas
sp. strain Ep R1, isolated from the roots of the medicinal plant
Echinacea purpurea
. The elucidation of this genome sequence may allow the identification of genes associated with the production of antimicrobial compounds.
First Insights into the Genome Sequence of the Alkaliphilic Thermotolerant Bacterium Clostridium thermoalcaliphilum JW/YL23-2
T
Authors: Poehlein Anja , Berg Alexandra , Welsing Gina , Daniel Rolf
Published: May 2017

Clostridium thermoalcaliphilum
is an obligate anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium isolated from sewage sludge. It is an alkaliphilic thermotolerant organism and utilizes sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, cellobiose, amino acids, and Casamino Acids as substrates. The draft genome comprises 2.031 Mbp and 2,027 predicted protein-coding genes.
Access to safe blood in low-income and middle-income countries: lessons from India
Authors: Jenny Hillary E , Saluja Saurabh , Sood Rachita , Raykar Nakul , Kataria Raman , Tongaonkar Ravindranath , Roy Nobhojit
Published: May 2017

Timely, affordable access to screened blood is essential to the provision of safe surgical care and depends on three key aspects: adequate volume of blood supply, safe protocols for blood donation and transfusion, and appropriate regulation to ensure safe, equitable and sustainable distribution. Many low-income and middle-income countries experience a deficit in these categories, particularly in rural areas. We draw on the experience of rural surgical practitioners in India and summarise the existing literature to evaluate India’s blood banking system and discuss its major barriers to the safe and equitable provision of blood. Many low-income and middle-income countries struggle with accruing a sufficient voluntary, unpaid blood donation base to meet the need. Efforts to increase blood supply through mandatory family replacement donations can lead to dangerous delays in care provision. Additionally, prohibition of unbanked, directed blood transfusion restricts the options of health practitioners, particularly in rural areas. Blood safety is also a significant concern, and efforts must be taken to decrease the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections and inform and treat donors who test positive. Lastly, blood banking systems need a centralised governing body to ensure fair prices for blood, promote comprehensive transfusion reporting and increase system-wide transparency and accountability.
Randomised controlled trial of stand-alone tailored emails for smoking cessation
Authors: Westmaas J Lee , Bontemps-Jones Jeuneviette , Hendricks Peter S , Kim Jihye , Abroms Lorien C
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Digital technology has created opportunities for delivering smoking cessation assistance at the population level. However, the efficacy of sending multiple, automated, tailored emails providing motivation, support and information for quitting is unknown.

Methods

Smokers planning to quit (n=1070) were randomly assigned to (1) 27 tailored cessation emails (deluxe email group (DEG)), (2) 3 to 4 tailored emails with links to downloadable booklets (basic email group (BEG)) or (3) a single non-tailored email (single email group (SEG)). All emails included links to quitting resources. Self-reported 7-day point-prevalence abstinence was assessed at 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postenrolment.

Results

Across follow-ups, abstinence was significantly greater for smokers in the DEG (34%) compared with the SEG (25.8%; OR=1.47, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.02, p=0.02) but there was no difference between the BEG (30.8%) and the SEG (p=0.13). Results were independent of baseline cigarettes per day, interest in quitting, smoker in household, use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or varenicline and gender, themselves associated with abstinence (ps<0.05). Missing=smoking and multiple imputation analyses based on 25 data sets corroborated results. Participants in the DEG were also more likely to use non-medication aids (eg, quit smoking website, cessation class/clinic) compared with the SEG (OR=1.34, p=0.02, CI 1.06 to 1.71), but use of these or NRT by the 4-week follow-up (vs no use) increased abstinence across follow-ups primarily for those in the SEG.

Conclusions

Stand-alone tailored, multiple emails providing support, motivation and information during a quit attempt are an easily deployable, inexpensive mode of providing effective cessation assistance to large numbers of smokers planning to quit.
Effects of material and drilling uncertainties on artificial ground freezing of cement-admixed soils
Authors: Liu Yong , Hu Jun , Xiao Huawen , Chen Elton J.
Published: May 2017

The artificial ground freezing method can be used jointly with the deep cement mixing method during break-in and break-out processes of shield machines in a tunnel shaft. The frozen ground can fully cut off groundwater seepage, thus ensuring a watertight working platform. Cement-admixed soils can restrict frost heave and thaw-induced settlement because of the decreased permeability. Both methods can also enhance mechanical strength of the soil to enable construction to proceed. Two main sources of heterogeneity are likely to influence the freezing effect: spatial variability in in situ water content in natural soil and spatial variability in binder concentration in cement-admixed soils. Furthermore, positioning error when installing freeze pipes can also affect freezing efficiency. This study simulates in situ water content and binder concentration as Gaussian random fields, whereby variations in the thermophysical properties are estimated. Positioning error is also assessed by prescribing an incline angle in freeze pipes. The influences of those two sources of spatial variability as well as positioning error are examined with random finite-element analyses and statistical characteristics are estimated based on the results. Results are tabulated to offer practitioners a rule of thumb for estimating additional efforts needed in artificial ground freezing, accounting for variations in the thermophysical properties and positioning errors in installing freeze pipes.
Astragalus Polysaccharides Attenuate Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Rats
Authors: Yuan Lin-Bo , Hua Chun-Yan , Gao Sheng , Yin Ya-Ling , Dai Mao , Meng Han-Yan , Li Piao-Piao , Yang Zhong-Xin , Hu Qing-Hua
Published: May 2017

Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) have been shown to possess a variety of biological activities including anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation functions in a number of diseases. However, their function in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is still unknown. Rats received APS (200[Formula: see text]mg/kg once two days) for 2 weeks after being injected with monocrotaline (MCT; 60[Formula: see text]mg/kg). The pulmonary hemodynamic index, right ventricular hypertrophy, and lung morphological features of the rat models were examined, as well as the NO/eNOS ratio of wet lung and dry lung weight and MPO. A qRT-PCR and p-I[Formula: see text]B was used to assess IL-1[Formula: see text], IL-6 and TNF-[Formula: see text] and WB was used to detect the total I[Formula: see text]B. Based on these measurements, it was found that APS reversed the MCT-induced increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) (from 32.731[Formula: see text]mmHg to 26.707[Formula: see text]mmHg), decreased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (from 289.021[Formula: see text]mmHg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] min/L to 246.351[Formula: see text]mmHg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]min/L), and reduced right ventricular hypertrophy (from 289.021[Formula: see text]mmHg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]min/L to 246.351 mmHg[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]min/L) ([Formula: see text]0.05). In terms of pulmonary artery remodeling, the WT% and WA% decreased with the addition of APS. In addition, it was found that APS promoted the synthesis of eNOS and the secretion of NO, promoting vasodilation and APS decreased the MCT-induced elevation of MPO, IL-1[Formula: see text], IL-6 and TNF-[Formula: see text], reducing inflammation. Furthermore, APS was able to inhibit the activation of pho-I[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text]. In couclusion, APS ameliorates MCT-induced pulmonary artery hypertension by inhibiting pulmonary arterial remodeling partially via eNOS/NO and NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling pathways.
Baicalein Attenuates Lung Injury Induced by Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion
Authors: Lai Chang-Chi , Huang Po-Hsun , Yang An-Han , Chiang Shu-Chiung , Tang Chia-Yu , Tseng Kuo-Wei , Huang Cheng-Hsiung
Published: May 2017

Baicalein is an active component of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which has traditionally been used to treat cardiovascular diseases in China. In this study, we investigated if treatment with baicalein can attenuate the lung injury induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Myocardial I/R, induced by a 40-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and a 3-h reperfusion, significantly increased histological damage and the wet-to-dry weight ratio of lungs in rats. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive nuclei and caspase-3 activation was significantly increased in the lungs. Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels of tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] (TNF-[Formula: see text]), interleukin-1[Formula: see text] (IL-1[Formula: see text]), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly elevated, as were TNF-[Formula: see text] levels in the lung. Intravenous administration with baicalein at doses of 3, 10, and 30[Formula: see text]mg/kg for ten minutes before myocardial I/R significantly reduced histological damage, the wet-to-dry weight ratio, and apoptosis in the lung. Baicalein also significantly inhibited the increase in levels of TNF-[Formula: see text], IL-1[Formula: see text], and IL-6. Moreover, baicalein increased Bcl-2 and decreased p53, Bax, and cytochrome [Formula: see text] in lungs. Phosphorylation of the prosurvival kinases, including Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), was increased, while the phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic mitogen-activated protein kinases, including p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), was decreased. In conclusion, treatment with baicalein attenuates the lung injury induced by myocardial I/R. The mechanisms might be related to the limiting of apoptosis, possibly via the inhibition of both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of apoptosis, including the inhibition of TNF-[Formula: see text] production and modulation of pro- and anti-apoptotic signaling elements.
Radiative neutrino mass generation: Models, flavour and the LHC
Authors: Volkas Raymond R.
Published: May 2017

Radiative neutrino mass models and the seesaw models are viewed from the unifying framework of standard model effective operators that explicitly violate lepton number by two units [Formula: see text]. After some comments on naturalness and leptogenesis in the minimal type 1 seesaw model, a full list of minimal renormalisable models that produce mass dimension-7, [Formula: see text] operators at low energies is presented. By way of example, phenomenological bounds from Run 1 LHC and lepton flavour violation data are then placed on one of these models. A possible connection between radiative neutrino mass models and the current flavour anomalies in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] transitions is then described.
On the breaking of μ–τ permutation symmetry
Authors: Zhao Zhen-Hua
Published: May 2017

In view of the observation of a relatively large [Formula: see text], one has to break the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] permutation symmetry properly which would otherwise result in a vanishing [Formula: see text] (as well as [Formula: see text]). Motivated by this, we study in a thorough way the various symmetry-breaking patterns and in particular whether an approximate this symmetry can lead to viable consequences. Furthermore, the symmetry-breaking effects arising from some specific physics (e.g. the renormalization group running effect) are discussed as well.
The conformal hyperplet
Authors: Faux Michael
Published: May 2017

We introduce a finite off-shell hypermultiplet with no off-shell central charge. This requires 192[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]192 degrees of freedom, all but 8[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]8 of which are auxiliary or gauge. In the absence of supergravity, the model has a saddle-point vacuum instability implying ghost-like propagators. These are cured by realizing the model superconformally, such that the erstwhile ghosts are realized as compensators. Gauge fixing these links the physical hypermultiplets to supergravity. This evokes the prospect of realizing [Formula: see text] super-Yang–Mills theory off-shell.
Bounds on large extra dimensions from the Generalized Uncertainty Principle
Authors: Cavaglià Marco , Harms Benjamin , Hou Shaoqi
Published: May 2017

The Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) implies the existence of a physical minimum length scale [Formula: see text]. In this scenario, black holes must have a radius larger than [Formula: see text]. They are hotter and evaporate faster than in standard Hawking thermodynamics. We study the effects of the GUP on black hole production and decay at the LHC in models with large extra dimensions. Lower bounds on the fundamental Planck scale and the minimum black hole mass at formation are determined from black hole production cross-section limits by the CMS Collaboration. The existence of a minimum length generally decreases the lower bounds on the fundamental Planck scale obtained in the absence of a minimum length.
Off-axis photonic bands of hexagonal plasma photonic crystal fiber containing elliptical holes with defect of high index material for nonlinear waves by PWE method
Authors: Dixit Achyutesh , Pandey Praveen Chandra
Published: May 2017

A novel model of hexagonal photonic crystal fiber (PCF) composed of fluoride-doped silicate and plasma materials for estimating the off-axis band structure has been presented. The well-known plane wave expansion (PWE) method has been adopted for the analysis of band structure. We have observed the influence of intensity of field on photonic band gap (PBG) by creating different types of defect in the holes of the PCF structure for the design of waveguide and narrow-band filter. A dynamic shift in bands and photonic band gaps (PBGs) has been reported and compared with other designs. The PCF containing the defect of high index material in the presence of plasma has been found to be more suitable to control the propagation of photon for nonlinear waves. The PWE calculations have shown that the four off-axis PBGs for the different contribution of plasma holes could exceed by 1.0 normalized frequency or they could compensate within 0.24 normalized frequencies on introducing alternate distribution of high index material like SF57 in the cladding.
Analysis of a Classical Matrix Preconditioning Algorithm
Authors: Schulman Leonard J. , Sinclair Alistair
Published: May 2017

We study a classical iterative algorithm for balancing matrices in the
L
∞
norm via a scaling transformation. This algorithm, which goes back to Osborne and Parlett 8 Reinsch in the 1960s, is implemented as a standard preconditioner in many numerical linear algebra packages. Surprisingly, despite its widespread use over several decades, no bounds were known on its rate of convergence. In this article, we prove that, for any irreducible
n
×
n
(real or complex) input matrix
A
, a natural variant of the algorithm converges in
O
(
n
3
log (
n
ρ/ε)) elementary balancing operations, where ρ measures the initial imbalance of
A
and ε is the target imbalance of the output matrix. (The imbalance of
A
is |log(

a
i

out
/

a
i

in
)|, where

a
i

out
,

a
i

in
are the maximum entries in magnitude in the
i
th row and column, respectively.) This bound is tight up to the log
n
factor. A balancing operation scales the
i
th row and column so that their maximum entries are equal, and requires
O
(
m
/
n
) arithmetic operations on average, where
m
is the number of nonzero elements in
A
. Thus, the running time of the iterative algorithm is Õ(
n
2
m
). This is the first time bound of any kind on any variant of the Osborne-Parlett-Reinsch algorithm. We also prove a conjecture of Chen that characterizes those matrices for which the limit of the balancing process is independent of the order in which balancing operations are performed.
Toxin-Antitoxin Systems: Implications for Plant Disease
Authors: Shidore T. , Triplett L.R.
Published: May 2017

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are gene modules that are ubiquitous in free-living prokaryotes. Diverse in structure, cellular function, and fitness roles, TA systems are defined by the presence of a toxin gene that suppresses bacterial growth and a toxin-neutralizing antitoxin gene, usually encoded in a single operon. Originally viewed as DNA maintenance modules, TA systems are now thought to function in many roles, including bacterial stress tolerance, virulence, phage defense, and biofilm formation. However, very few studies have investigated the significance of TA systems in the context of plant-microbe interactions. This review discusses the potential impact and application of TA systems in plant-associated bacteria, guided by insights gained from animal-pathogenic model systems.
Gender Quotas for Legislatures and Corporate Boards
Authors: Hughes Melanie M. , Paxton Pamela , Krook Mona Lena
Published: May 2017

The global proliferation of quotas for women over the past 30 years is both remarkable and consequential. Targeting decision-making positions historically resistant to women's equal inclusion, the adoption of electoral and corporate board quotas has at times been controversial. After adoption, quotas have influenced women's numbers, the performance and outcomes of decision-making bodies, and broader public attitudes. In this review, we distinguish among types of electoral and corporate quotas, trace arguments for and against the adoption of quotas, and review research on factors that influence quota adoption across time and space. After outlining the methodological difficulties in demonstrating an impact of gender quotas, we review research that is able to isolate an impact of quotas in politics and business. We conclude by providing several suggestions to ensure that future research continues to advance our understanding of the form, spread, and impact of gender quotas.
A Life in Sociology
Authors: Hauser Robert M.
Published: May 2017

There has lately been a slew of movies—biopics—that depict the lives of immensely talented individuals—the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, the cryptographer and computing pioneer Alan Turing, the physicist extraordinaire Stephen Hawking, and the southern-born novelist Thomas Wolfe, among others. As I think about my life and accomplishments, I know full well that they are way out of my league. All the same, I offer the following autobiographical account.
Data ex Machina: Introduction to Big Data
Authors: Lazer David , Radford Jason
Published: May 2017

Social life increasingly occurs in digital environments and continues to be mediated by digital systems. Big data represents the data being generated by the digitization of social life, which we break down into three domains: digital life, digital traces, and digitalized life. We argue that there is enormous potential in using big data to study a variety of phenomena that remain difficult to observe. However, there are some recurring vulnerabilities that should be addressed. We also outline the role institutions must play in clarifying the ethical rules of the road. Finally, we conclude by pointing to a number of nascent but important trends in the use of big data.
Estrogen and cigarette sidestream smoke particulate matter exhibit ERα-dependent tumor-promoting effects in lung adenocarcinoma cells
Authors: Kuo Lun-Cheng , Cheng Li-Chuan , Lee Chia-Huei , Lin Chun-Ju , Chen Pei-Yu , Li Lih-Ann
Published: May 2017

Estrogen and secondhand smoke are key risk factors for nonsmoking female lung cancer patients who frequently have lung adenocarcinoma and show tumor estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression. We speculated that estrogen and secondhand smoke might cause harmful effects via ERα signaling. Our results showed that 17β-estradiol (E2), the primary form of endogenous estrogen, exacerbated proliferation, migration, and granzyme B resistance of lung adenocarcinoma cells in an ERα-dependent manner. Cigarette sidestream smoke particulate matter (CSSP), the major component of secondhand smoke, could activate ERα activity dose dependently in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. The estrogenic activity of CSSP was abolished by an ERα-selective antagonist. CSSP regulated the nuclear entry, phosphorylation, and turnover of ERα similarly to E2. Furthermore, CSSP enhanced E2-stimulated ERα activity and Ser118 phosphorylation even when ERα became saturated with E2. Activation of ERα by CSSP required GSK3β activity, but not involving polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, reactive oxygen species, calcium, epidermal growth factor receptor, and PI3K/Akt. Although CSSP possessed cytotoxicity, ERα-expressing cells grew and migrated faster than nonexpressing cells on recovery from CSSP exposure as observed in E2-pretreated cells. Knockdown of ERα by siRNA diminished E2- and CSSP-stimulated cell migration. Twenty-one genes, including SERPINB9, were identified to be upregulated by both E2 and CSSP via ERα. Increased SERPINB9 expression was accompanied with increased resistance to granzyme B-mediated apoptosis. This study demonstrates that estrogen has ERα-dependent tumor-promoting activity. CSSP acts like estrogen and shows a potential to enhance estrogen-induced ERα action.
Postmeal exercise blunts postprandial glucose excursions in people on metformin monotherapy
Authors: Erickson Melissa L. , Little Jonathan P. , Gay Jennifer L. , McCully Kevin K. , Jenkins Nathan T.
Published: May 2017

Metformin is used clinically to reduce fasting glucose with minimal effects on postprandial glucose. Postmeal exercise reduces postprandial glucose and may offer additional glucose-lowering benefit beyond that of metformin alone, yet controversy exists surrounding exercise and metformin interactions. It is currently unknown how postmeal exercise and metformin monotherapy in combination will affect postprandial glucose. Thus, we examined the independent and combined effects of postmeal exercise and metformin monotherapy on postprandial glucose. A randomized crossover design was used to assess the influence of postmeal exercise on postprandial glucose excursions in 10 people treated with metformin monotherapy (57 ± 10 yr, HbA1C = 6.3 ± 0.6%). Each participant completed the following four conditions: sedentary and postmeal exercise (5 × 10-min bouts of treadmill walking at 60% V̇o2max) with metformin and sedentary and postmeal exercise without metformin. Peak postprandial glucose within a 2-h time window and 2-h total area under the curve was assessed after a standardized breakfast meal, using continuous glucose monitoring. Postmeal exercise significantly blunted 2-h peak ( P = 0.001) and 2-h area under the curve ( P = 0.006), with the lowest peak postprandial glucose excursion observed with postmeal exercise and metformin combined ( P < 0.05 vs. all other conditions: metformin/sedentary: 12 ± 3.4, metformin/exercise: 9.7 ± 2.3, washout/sedentary: 13.3 ± 3.2, washout/exercise: 11.1 ± 3.4 mmol/l). Postmeal exercise and metformin in combination resulted in the lowest peak postprandial glucose excursion compared with either treatment modality alone. Exercise timed to the postprandial phase may be important for optimizing glucose control during metformin monotherapy.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The interactive effects of metformin and exercise on key physiological outcomes remain an area of controversy. Findings from this study show that the combination of metformin monotherapy and moderate-intensity postmeal exercise led to beneficial reductions in postprandial glucose excursions. Postmeal exercise may be a useful strategy for the management of postprandial glucose in people on metformin.
Aortic arch compliance and idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis
Authors: Behkam Reza , Roberts Kara E. , Bierhals Andrew J. , Jacobs M. Eileen , Edgar Julia D. , Paniello Randal C. , Woodson Gayle , Vande Geest Jonathan P. , Barkmeier-Kraemer Julie M.
Published: May 2017

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVP) occurs related to recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) impairment associated with impaired swallowing, voice production, and breathing functions. The majority of UVP cases occur subsequent to surgical intervention with approximately 12–42% having no known cause for the disease (i.e., idiopathic). Approximately two-thirds of those with UVP exhibit left-sided injury with the average onset at ≥50 yr of age in those diagnosed as idiopathic. Given the association between the RLN and the subclavian and aortic arch vessels, we hypothesized that changes in vascular tissues would result in increased aortic compliance in patients with idiopathic left-sided UVP compared with those without UVP. Gated MRI data enabled aortic arch diameter measures normalized to blood pressure across the cardiac cycles to derive aortic arch compliance. Compliance was compared between individuals with left-sided idiopathic UVP and age- and sex-matched normal controls. Three-way factorial ANOVA test showed that aortic arch compliance ( P = 0.02) and aortic arch diameter change in one cardiac cycle ( P = 0.04) are significantly higher in patients with idiopathic left-sided UVP compared with the controls. As previously demonstrated by other literature, our finding confirmed that compliance decreases with age ( P < 0.0001) in both healthy individuals and patients with idiopathic UVP. Future studies will investigate parameters of aortic compliance change as a potential contributor to the onset of left-sided UVP.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Unilateral vocal fold paralysis results from impaired function of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) impacting breathing, swallowing, and voice production. A large proportion of adults suffering from this disorder have an idiopathic etiology (i.e., unknown cause). The current study determined that individuals diagnosed with left-sided idiopathic vocal fold paralysis exhibited significantly greater compliance than age- and sex-matched controls. These seminal findings suggest a link between aortic arch compliance levels and RLN function.
Characterization of Aδ- and C-Fibers Innervating the Plantar Rat Hindpaw One Day After an Incision
Authors: Pogatzki Esther M. , Gebhart G. F. , Brennan Timothy J.
Published: May 2017

Primary hyperalgesia after tissue injury is suggested to result from sensitization of primary afferent fibers, but sensitization to mechanical stimuli has been difficult to demonstrate. In the companion study, sensitization of mechano-responsive Aδ- and C-fibers did not explain pain behaviors 45 min after an incision in the rat hindpaw. In the present study, we examined mechanical response properties of Aδ- and C-fibers innervating the glabrous skin of the plantar hindpaw in rats 1 day after an incision or sham procedure. In behavioral experiments, median withdrawal thresholds to von Frey filaments were reduced from 522 mN before to 61 mN 2 and 20 h after incision; median withdrawal thresholds after sham procedure were stable (522 mN). Responses to a nonpunctate mechanical stimulus were increased after incision. In neurophysiological experiments in these same rats, 67 single afferent fibers were characterized from the left tibial nerve 1 day after sham procedure ( n = 39) or incision ( n = 28); electrical stimulation was used as the search stimulus to identify a representative population of Aδ- and C-fibers. In the incision group, 11 fibers (39%) had spontaneous activity with frequencies ranging from 0.03 to 39.3 imp/s; none were present in the sham group. The median response threshold of Aδ-fibers was less in the incision (56 mN, n = 13) compared with sham (251 mN, n = 26) group, mainly because the proportion of mechanically insensitive afferents (MIAs) was less (8 vs. 54% after sham procedure). Median C-fiber response thresholds were similar in incised (28 mN, n = 15) and sham rats (56 mN, n = 13). Responsiveness to monofilaments was significantly enhanced in Aδ-fibers 1 day after incision; stimulus response functions of C-fibers after incision and after sham procedure did not differ significantly. Only Aδ-fibers but not C-fibers sensitized to the nonpunctate mechanical stimulus. The size of receptive fields was increased in Aδ- and C-fibers 1 day after incision. The results indicate that sensitization of Aδ- and C-fibers is apparent 1 day after incision. Because sensitization of afferent fibers to mechanical stimuli correlated with behavioral results, sensitization may contribute to the reduced withdrawal threshold after incision. Spontaneous activity in Aδ- and C-fibers may account for nonevoked pain behavior and may also contribute to mechanical hyperalgesia by amplifying responses centrally.
Horizontal Vestibuloocular Reflex (VOR) Head Velocity Estimation in Purkinje Cell Degeneration (pcd/pcd) Mutant Mice
Authors: Killian J. Eric , Baker James F.
Published: May 2017

The horizontal vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) of Purkinje cell degeneration ( pcd/pcd) mutant mice, which lack a functional cerebellar cortex, was compared in darkness to that of wild-type animals during constant velocity yaw rotations about an earth-horizontal axis and during sinusoidal yaw rotations about an earth-vertical axis. Both wild-type and pcd/pcd mice showed a compensatory average VOR eye velocity, or bias, during constant velocity horizontal axis rotations, evidence of central neural processing of otolith afferent signals to create a signal proportional to head angular velocity. Eye velocity bias was greater in pcd/pcd mice than in wild-type mice at a low rotational velocity (32°/s), but less at higher velocities (128 and 200°/s). Lesion of the medial nodulus severely attenuated eye velocity bias in two wild-type mice, without attenuating VOR during sinusoidal vertical axis yaw rotations at 0.2 Hz. These results show that while head velocity estimation in mice, as in primates, depends on the cerebellum, pcd/pcd mutant mice develop velocity estimation without a functional cerebellar cortex. We conclude that neural circuits that exclude cerebellar cortex are capable of the signal processing necessary for head angular velocity estimation, but that these circuits are insufficient for normal estimation at high velocities.