bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-deception as self-signalling: a model and experimental evidence
Authors: Mijović-Prelec Danica , Prelec Draz̆en
Published: December 2009

Self-deception has long been the subject of speculation and controversy in psychology, evolutionary biology and philosophy. According to an influential ‘deflationary’ view, the concept is an over-interpretation of what is in reality an instance of motivationally biased judgement. The opposite view takes the interpersonal deception analogy seriously, and holds that some part of the self actively manipulates information so as to mislead the other part. Building on an earlier self-signalling model of Bodner and Prelec, we present a game-theoretic model of self-deception. We propose that two distinct mechanisms collaborate to produce overt expressions of belief: a mechanism responsible for action selection (including verbal statements) and an interpretive mechanism that draws inferences from actions and generates emotional responses consistent with the inferences. The model distinguishes between two modes of self-deception, depending on whether the self-deceived individual regards his own statements as fully credible. The paper concludes with a new experimental study showing that self-deceptive judgements can be reliably and repeatedly elicited with financial incentives in a categorization task, and that the degree of self-deception varies with incentives. The study also finds evidence of the two forms of self-deception. The psychological benefits of self-deception, as measured by confidence, peak at moderate levels.
MolProbity: all-atom structure validation for macromolecular crystallography
Authors: Chen Vincent B. , Arendall W. Bryan , Headd Jeffrey J. , Keedy Daniel A. , Immormino Robert M. , Kapral Gary J. , Murray Laura W. , Richardson Jane S. , Richardson David C.
Published: December 2009

MolProbityis a structure-validation web service that provides broad-spectrum solidly based evaluation of model quality at both the global and local levels for both proteins and nucleic acids. It relies heavily on the power and sensitivity provided by optimized hydrogen placement and all-atom contact analysis, complemented by updated versions of covalent-geometry and torsion-angle criteria. Some of the local corrections can be performed automatically inMolProbityand all of the diagnostics are presented in chart and graphical forms that help guide manual rebuilding. X-ray crystallography provides a wealth of biologically important molecular data in the form of atomic three-dimensional structures of proteins, nucleic acids and increasingly large complexes in multiple forms and states. Advances in automation, in everything from crystallization to data collection to phasing to model building to refinement, have made solving a structure using crystallography easier than ever. However, despite these improvements, local errors that can affect biological interpretation are widespread at low resolution and even high-resolution structures nearly all contain at least a few local errors such as Ramachandran outliers, flipped branched protein side chains and incorrect sugar puckers. It is critical both for the crystallographer and for the end user that there are easy and reliable methods to diagnose and correct these sorts of errors in structures.MolProbityis the authors' contribution to helping solve this problem and this article reviews its general capabilities, reports on recent enhancements and usage, and presents evidence that the resulting improvements are now beneficially affecting the global database.
Self-interaction chromatography as a tool for optimizing conditions for membrane protein crystallization
Authors: Gabrielsen Mads , Nagy Lisa A. , DeLucas Lawrence J. , Cogdell Richard J.
Published: December 2009

The second virial coefficient, orBvalue, is a measurement of how well a protein interacts with itself in solution. These interactions can lead to protein crystallization or precipitation, depending on their strength, with a narrow range ofBvalues (the `crystallization slot') being known to promote crystallization. A convenient method of determining theBvalue is by self-interaction chromatography. This paper describes how the light-harvesting complex 1–reaction centre core complex fromAllochromatium vinosumyielded single straight-edged crystals after iterative cycles of self-interaction chromatography and crystallization. This process allowed the rapid screening of small molecules and detergents as crystallization additives. Here, a description is given of how self-interaction chromatography has been utilized to improve the crystallization conditions of a membrane protein.
Adenosine binding to low-molecular-weight purine nucleoside phosphorylase: the structural basis for recognition based on its complex with the enzyme fromSchistosoma mansoni
Authors: Pereira Humberto M. , Rezende Martha M. , Castilho Marcelo Santos , Oliva Glaucius , Garratt Richard C.
Published: December 2009

Schistosomes are unable to synthesize purinesde novoand depend exclusively on the salvage pathway for their purine requirements. It has been suggested that blockage of this pathway could lead to parasite death. The enzyme purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is one of its key components and molecules designed to inhibit the low-molecular-weight (LMW) PNPs, which include both the human and schistosome enzymes, are typically analogues of the natural substrates inosine and guanosine. Here, it is shown that adenosine both binds toSchistosoma mansoniPNP and behaves as a weak micromolar inhibitor of inosine phosphorolysis. Furthermore, the first crystal structures of complexes of an LMW PNP with adenosine and adenine are reported, together with those with inosine and hypoxanthine. These are used to propose a structural explanation for the selective binding of adenosine to some LMW PNPs but not to others. The results indicate that transition-state analogues based on adenosine or other 6-amino nucleosides should not be discounted as potential starting points for alternative inhibitors.
Structural analysis of an MK2–inhibitor complex: insight into the regulation of the secondary structure of the Gly-rich loop by TEI-I01800
Authors: Fujino Aiko , Fukushima Kei , Namiki Naoko , Kosugi Tomomi , Takimoto-Kamimura Midori
Published: December 2009

Mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAP-K2 or MK2) is a Ser/Thr kinase from the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling pathway and plays an important role in inflammatory diseases. The crystal structure of the complex of human MK2 (residues 41–364) with the potent MK2 inhibitor TEI-I01800 (pKi= 6.9) was determined at 2.9 Å resolution. The MK2 structure in the MK2–TEI-I01800 complex is composed of two domains, as observed for other Ser/Thr kinases; however, the Gly-rich loop in the N-terminal domain forms an α-helix structure and not a β-sheet. TEI-I01800 binds to the ATP-binding site as well as near the substrate-binding site of MK2. Both TEI-I01800 molecules have a nonplanar conformation that differs from those of other MK2 inhibitors deposited in the Protein Data Bank. The MK2–TEI-I01800 complex structure is the first active MK2 with an α-helical Gly-rich loop and TEI-I01800 regulates the secondary structure of the Gly-rich loop.
Drug prevention programmes for young people: where have we been and where should we be going?
Authors: Midford Richard
Published: December 2009

Aim Substance use by young people has long been a concern of western society, but opinion is mixed as to which prevention approach offers the greatest benefit, and whether indeed there is any benefit at all. This paper reviews the nature of prevention programmes, the research evidence that underpins these programmes and the prevention objectives against which effectiveness is measured. The aim of this is to create better understanding of the elements that maximize programme effectiveness, what can be achieved by prevention programmes and how programmes can be improved.

Findings There is a range of prevention approaches for which there is evidence of effectiveness. Some are classroom‐based; some focus upon parenting; some have substantial whole‐of‐school and community elements; and some target risk and protective factors in early childhood. All, however, are based substantially on the social influence model. In an attempt to improve practice lists of effective programmes have been developed, but there are concerns about the science behind selection. On balance, there is consistent evidence that social influence prevention programmes do have a small, positive effect on drug use, but this then raises the question as to whether harm, rather than use, would be the more worthwhile target for prevention. Prevention that seeks to reduce harm has been demonstrably effective, but has found little support in some jurisdictions.

Conclusion Research has created a progressively better understanding of how to optimize programme effectiveness and what can be achieved realistically by even the most effective programmes. However, further research is required to identify which, if any, particular approach offers greater promise. The effectiveness of harm reduction should be compared with more traditional abstinence and the additional effects of whole of school, parent and community elements need to be measured more accurately. Contemporary social influence prevention programmes are flawed, but the approach is still the best way of influencing drug use behaviour in young people as a whole. Evidence‐based refinement is the best option for greater benefit.
The effect of a new topical local anaesthetic delivery system on forearm skin blood flow reactivity*
Authors: Wiles M. D. , Dobson S. A. , Moppett I. K.
Published: December 2009

Different topical local anaesthetics have varying effects on skin blood flow and vascular reactivity. We compared the vasoactive properties of Rapydan®, a new topical local anaesthetic, with those of Ametop™ and EMLA™ creams in 20 healthy volunteers. Blood flow and vascular reactivity in the forearm skin were assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry and the transient hyperaemic response ratio respectively, before and after the application of EMLA (for 60 min), Ametop (for 30 and 60 min) and Rapydan (for 30 min). Application of EMLA had no effect on skin blood flow (median (IQR [range]) change from baseline −0.9% (−63 to 414 [−38.5 to 51.3] %, p = 1.0)) or mean (SD) transient hyperaemic response ratio (from 2.86 (0.86) to 3.17 (1.3), p = 0.38). The application of Ametop for 60 min produced a greater median (IQR [range]) increase in blood flow from baseline (508 (−55 to 998 [148–649]) %) than Rapydan applied for 30 min 160 (−77 to 997 [45–301]) %, p = 0.001), and a similar decrease in mean (SD) transient hyperaemic response ratio (from 2.69 (1.16) to 1.08 (0.26) and from 2.83 (0.84) to 1.49 (0.93) respectively, p = 0.57).
Reduced cannabinoid receptor 1 protein in subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese
Authors: Bennetzen M. F. , Nielsen T. S. , Paulsen S. K. , Bendix J. , Fisker S. , Jessen N. , Lund S. , Richelsen B. , Pedersen S. B.
Published: December 2009

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (2): 121–126

Background Cannabinoid 1 receptors are identified in various tissues involved in the internal metabolism including adipose tissue and the endocannabinoid system is claimed to be overactive in the obese state. To study the potential involvement of cannabinoid receptor 1 in the endocannabinoid system over‐activity in adipose tissue in the obese state, we investigated the cannabinoid receptor 1 levels in adipose tissue from different fat depots in lean and obese humans.

Materials and methods The adipose tissue samples were analysed by Western blot and by RT‐PCR.

Results Both the gene expression and the protein of cannabinoid receptor 1 were lower in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue from obese subjects as compared with lean subjects (P < 0·01 andP = 0·058). Moreover, in lean subjects, the level of cannabinoid receptor 1 was significantly higher in subcutaneous adipose tissue compared with visceral adipose tissue (P < 0·05) for both gene expression and protein. The level of cannabinoid receptor 1 was similar between the two depots in obese subjects. The expression of cannabinoid receptor 1 was higher in subcutaneous gluteal adipose tissue as compared with subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (P < 0·05).

Conclusion We found in lean subjects, a robust lower level of cannabinoid receptor 1 in visceral adipose tissue compared with subcutaneous adipose tissue (both RNA and protein levels), but similar levels of cannabinoid receptor 1 between the two depots in obese subjects. Our present findings do not indicate that cannabinoid receptor 1 is directly involved in the endocannabinoid system over‐activity in adipose tissue in obesity.
Directional statics in common reflection surface stack for rugged surface topography
Authors: Zhang Yonghai
Published: December 2009

Seismic data acquired along rugged topographic surfaces present well‐known problems in seismic imaging. In conventional seismic data processing, datum statics are approximated by the surface consistence assumption, which states that all seismic rays travel vertically in the top layer. Hence, the datum static for each single trace is constant. In case this assumption does not apply, non‐constant statics are required. The common reflection surface (CRS) stack for rugged surface topography provides the capability to deal with this non‐vertical static issue. It handles the surface elevation as a coordinate component and treats the elevation variation in the sense of directional datuming. In this paper I apply the CRS stack method to a synthetic data set that simulates the acquisition along an irregular surface topography. After the CRS stack, by means of the wavefield attributes, a simple algorithm for redatuming the CRS stack section to an arbitrarily chosen planar surface is performed. The redatumed section simulates a stack section whose acquisition surface is the chosen planar surface.
Electrical resistivity and seismic refraction tomography to detect buried cavities
Authors: Cardarelli Ettore , Cercato Michele , Cerreto Antonio , Di Filippo Gerardina
Published: December 2009

Near‐surface cavities can pose serious hazards to human safety, especially in highly urbanized town centres. The location of subsurface voids, the estimation of their size and the evaluation of the overburden thickness are necessary to assess the risk of collapse.

In this study, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and seismic refraction tomography data are integrated in a joint interpretation process for cavity location in the city of Rome.

ERT is a well established and widely employed method for cavity detection. However, additional information provided by seismic refraction tomography is capable of eliminating some potential pitfalls in resistivity data interpretation. We propose that the structure of the cavities defined by ERT can be used as a base to optimize seismic refraction tomography investigations within the framework of a joint interpretation process.

Data integration and the insertion of a priori information are key issues for reducing the uncertainties associated with the inversion process and for optimizing both acquisition procedures and computation time.

Herein, the two geophysical methods are tested on both synthetic and real data and the integration of the results is found to be successful in detecting isolated cavities and in assessing their geometrical characteristics. The cavity location inferred by geophysical non‐invasive methods has been subsequently confirmed by direct inspection.
Osmotic stress‐induced phosphoinositide and inositol phosphate signalling in plants
Authors: MUNNIK TEUN , VERMEER JOOP E. M.
Published: December 2009

Polyphosphoinositides (PPIs) became famous for their role in inositol‐1,4,5‐trisphosphate (InsP3) mediated‐Ca2+ signalling in mammalian cells, generated through signal‐activated phospholipase C (PLC) hydrolysis of the minor membrane lipid, phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate. For many years, the plant field followed the same paradigm, however, slowly a completely different picture is emerging. Moreover, various novel PPI‐signalling compounds have been identified meanwhile, with new functions and targets coming to light. These include lipids phosphorylated at the D3‐position of inositol but also water‐soluble inositolpolyphosphates (IPPs). For several of them, a relationship to water stress has been reported. This review summarizes the current status of PPIs and IPPs in plants and discusses their potential in osmotic stress signalling and drought.
Elevated CO2 changes the interactions between nematode and tomato genotypes differing in the JA pathway
Authors: SUN YUCHENG , CAO HAIFENG , YIN JIN , KANG LE , GE FENG
Published: December 2009

Interactions between the root‐knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita and three isogenic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) genotypes were examined when plants were grown under ambient (370 ppm) and elevated (750 ppm) CO2. We tested the hypothesis that, defence‐recessive genotypes tend to allocate ‘extra’ carbon (relative to nitrogen) to growth under elevated CO2, whereas defence‐dominated genotypes allocate extra carbon to defence, and thereby increases the defence against nematodes. For all three genotypes, elevated CO2 increased height, biomass, and root and leaf total non‐structural carbohydrates (TNC):N ratio, and decreased amino acids and proteins in leaves. The activity of anti‐oxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase) was enhanced by nematode infection in defence‐recessive genotypes. Furthermore, elevated CO2 and nematode infection did not qualitatively change the volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from plants. Elevated CO2 increased the VOC emission rate only for defence‐dominated genotypes that were not infected with nematodes. Elevated CO2 increased the number of nematode‐induced galls on defence‐dominated genotypes but not on wild‐types or defence‐recessive genotypes roots. Our results suggest that CO2 enrichment may not only increase plant C : N ratio but can disrupt the allocation of plant resources between growth and defence in some genetically modified plants and thereby reduce their resistance to nematodes.
Irradiance heterogeneity within crown affects photosynthetic capacity and nitrogen distribution of leaves in Cedrela sinensis
Authors: YOSHIMURA KENICHI
Published: December 2009

Because light conditions in the forest understory are highly heterogeneous, photosynthetic acclimation to spatially variable irradiance within a crown is important for crown‐level carbon assimilation. The effect of variation in irradiance within the crown on leaf nitrogen content and photosynthetic rate was examined for pinnate compound leaves in saplings of Cedrela sinensis, a pioneer deciduous tree. Five shading treatments, in which 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of leaves were shaded, were established by artificial heavy shading using shade screen umbrellas with 25% transmittance. Although the nitrogen content of leaves was constant regardless of shading treatment, ribulose 1·5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) content and light‐saturated photosynthetic capacity were lower in shade leaves within partially shaded crowns than within fully shaded crowns. Shade leaves within partially shaded crowns contained higher amount of amino acids. Most shade leaves died in partially shaded crowns, whereas more than half of shade leaves survived in totally shaded crowns. Assumptions on photosynthetic acclimation to local light conditions cannot explain why shade leaves have different photosynthetic capacities and survival rates in between partially and totally shaded crowns. Irradiance heterogeneity within the crown causes a distinct variation in photosynthetic activity between sun and shaded leaves within the crown.
Zinc finger‐containing glycine‐rich RNA‐binding protein in Oryza sativa has an RNA chaperone activity under cold stress conditions
Authors: KIM JOO Y. , KIM WON Y. , KWAK KYUNG J. , OH SEUNG H. , HAN YEON S. , KANG HUNSEUNG
Published: December 2009

The rice (Oryza sativa) genome harbours three genes encoding CysCysHisCys (CCHC)‐type zinc finger‐containing glycine‐rich RNA‐binding proteins, designated OsRZ proteins, but their importance and physiological functions remain largely unknown. Here, the stress‐responsive expression patterns of OsRZs were assessed, and the biological and cellular functions of OsRZs were evaluated under low temperature conditions. The expression levels of the three OsRZs were up‐regulated by cold stress, whereas drought or high salt stress did not significantly alter its transcript level. OsRZ2 complemented the cold sensitivity of BX04 Escherichia coli cells under low temperatures, and had DNA‐melting activity and transcription anti‐termination activity, thereby indicating that OsRZ2 possesses an RNA chaperone activity. By contrast, neither OsRZ1 nor OsRZ3 harboured these activities. Ectopic expression of OsRZ2, but not OsRZ3, in cold‐sensitive Arabidopsis grp7 knockout plants rescued the grp7 plants from cold and freezing damage, and OsRZ2 complemented the defect in mRNA export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in grp7 mutant during cold stress. The present findings support the emerging idea that the regulation of mRNA export is one of the adaptive processes in plants under stress conditions, and RNA chaperone functions as a regulator in mRNA export under cold stress conditions.
International variations in associations of allergic markers and diseases in children: ISAAC Phase Two
Authors: Weinmayr G. , Genuneit J. , Nagel G. , Björkstén B. , Van Hage M. , Priftanji A. , Cooper P. , Rijkjärv M.‐A. , Von Mutius E. , Tsanakas J. , Forastiere F. , Doekes G. , Garrido J. B. , Suarez‐Varela M. M. , Bråbäck L. , Strachan D. P. ,   the ISAAC Phase Two Study Group
Published: December 2009

To cite this article: Weinmayr G, Genuneit J, Nagel G, Björkstén B, van Hage M, Priftanji A, Cooper P, Rijkjärv M‐A, von Mutius E, Tsanakas J, Forastiere F, Doekes G, Garrido JB, Suarez‐Varela MM, Bråbäck L, Strachan DP, the ISAAC Phase Two Study Group. International variations in associations of allergic markers and diseases in children: ISAAC Phase Two. Allergy 2010; 65: 766–775.

Background:  Circulating allergen‐specific IgE (sIgE) and skin prick tests (SPT) are used to define atopy. Downregulation of local inflammatory responsiveness has been proposed to explain a low prevalence of positive SPTs in less affluent countries. We analysed the association between SPTs, total and allergen‐specific IgE and their relationships to allergic symptoms in centres with diverse living conditions.

Methods:  Cross‐sectional studies of stratified random samples of 8 to 12‐year‐old children (n = 7461) used the standardized methodology of Phase Two of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Symptoms of asthma, rhinitis and eczema were ascertained by parental questionnaires. Skin examination, hypertonic saline bronchial challenge, six aeroallergen SPTs and measurements of serum total IgE and sIgE were performed.

Results:  In nonaffluent countries, a higher proportion of children with positive SPT had no detectable sIgE (range 37–61%) than in affluent countries (0–37%). Total serum IgE was associated with all disease outcomes among children with both positive SPT and sIgE (P < 0.001), but only with self‐reported eczema in children with negative SPTs and negative sIgE.

Conclusions:  The international pattern of discordance between SPT and sIgE results did not support the downregulation hypothesis. Among children with no evidence of sensitization to common aeroallergens, increased total IgE contributes little to the risk of wheeze and rhinitis in the general population but may play a role in eczema.
Early (fifth day) vs. late (sixth month) steroid withdrawal in renal transplant recipients treated with Neoral® plus Rapamune®: four‐yr results of a randomized monocenter study
Authors: Sandrini Silvio , Setti Gisella , Bossini Nicola , Chiappini Raffaella , Valerio Francesca , Mazzola Giuseppe , Maffeis Roberto , Nodari Franco , Cancarini Giovanni
Published: December 2009

Sandrini S, Setti G, Bossini N, Chiappini R, Valerio F, Mazzola G, Maffeis R, Nodari F, Cancarini G. Early (fifth day) vs. late (sixth month) steroid withdrawal in renal transplant recipients treated with Neoral® plus Rapamune®: four‐yr results of a randomized monocenter study.  Clin Transplant 2009 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399‐0012.2009.01171.x. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  The most advisable timing for steroid withdrawal (CSWD) after renal transplantation (Tx) is still an open issue. This randomized study has compared early CSWD (at day 5) with late (at month 6) in patients under Neoral + Sirolimus. The primary end point was the percentage of success in CSWD at month 48. Ninety‐six transplants from deceased donors were randomized to withdraw steroids either early (n = 49) or late (n = 47). At four yr, the two strategies were comparable for: success in CSWD (65% in both), graft survival (95% and 98%), patient survival (92% and 96%) creatininemia (1.7 ± 0.3 and 1.6 ± 0.4 mg/dL), side effects, being still on Sirolimus + Neoral (69% and 74%), reversibility of rejection (AR) (all cases), severity of AR (grade 1A/1B: 81% and 63%). The major differences were incidence of AR: at month twelve (48% vs. 30%, p < 0.04), at 48 (53% and 33%, p < 0.03); timing of AR (72 ± 86 d vs. 202 ± 119 d, p < 0.0001). The timing of CSWD influences neither the rate of successful CSWD nor the long‐term results. However, early suspension causes a higher AR rate, mostly arising within month one, but always responsive to steroids. Yet, the early appearance of AR can make patient management easier and safer.
A single‐center retrospective analysis of liver transplantation on 255 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zheng‐Xin , Song Shao‐Hua , Teng Fei , Wang Gui‐Hua , Guo Wen‐Yuan , Shi Xiao‐Min , Ma Jun , Wu You‐Min , Ding Guo‐Shan , Fu Zhi‐Ren
Published: December 2009

Wang Z‐X, Song S‐H, Teng F, Wang G‐H, Guo W‐Y, Shi X‐M, Ma J, Wu Y‐M, Ding G‐S, Fu Z‐R. A single‐center retrospective analysis of liver transplantation on 255 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.  Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 752–757. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Background:  Liver transplantation (LT) was advocated as a salvage treatment of choice for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was designed to assess the eligibility of LT criteria for patients with HCC and to analyze the factors influencing the recurrence of HCC following LT, aiming to further improve the efficacy of LT for patients with HCC.

Methods:  Clinical data of 255 patients with HCC who underwent LT between December 2001 and December 2007 at Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, China were retrospectively analyzed.

Results:  Among these cases, 75 patients were within the Milan criteria and 180 were beyond it; 110 patients were within the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) criteria, while 145 were beyond it. The difference in overall survival rates was not only significant between the patients within and beyond the Milan criteria but also between patients within and beyond the UCSF criteria. Tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) staging, portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), and the pre‐operative alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) level were independent risk factors affecting the overall survival and post‐operative recurrence‐free survival rates of patients with HCC. Pathological staging and pre‐operative local treatment of HCC had no obvious correlation with the post‐operative recurrence‐free survival rate.

Conclusion:  LT is an effective treatment modality for HCC. The UCSF criteria did not show better effectiveness than the Milan criteria. TNM staging, PVTT, and the pre‐operative AFP level are closely related to the recurrence of HCC following LT.
Effects of sevoflurane on collagen production and growth factor expression in rats with an excision wound
Authors: LEE H.‐J. , KWON J.‐Y. , SHIN S.‐W. , BAEK S.‐H. , CHOI K.‐U. , JEON Y.‐H. , KIM W.‐S. , BAE J.‐H. , CHOI H.‐J. , KIM H.‐K. , BAIK S.‐W.
Published: December 2009

Background: Sevoflurane is a widely used inhalation anesthetic, but there are no studies on its effect on the wound‐healing process. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of exposure time to sevoflurane on wound healing.

Method: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were used. Two circular full‐thickness skin defects 8 mm in diameter were made on the dorsum of the rats. The animals were divided into six groups according to exposed gas type and time: S1 (sevoflurane, 1 h), S4 (sevoflurane, 4 h), S8 (sevoflurane, 8 h), O1 (oxygen, 1 h), O4 (oxygen, 4 h), and O8 (oxygen, 8 h). The surface area of the wounds was measured 0, 1, 3, and 7 days after surgery. Separately, the mean blood pressures (MBP) and arterial oxygen pressures (PaO2) were monitored during the sevoflurane exposure. Collagen type I production and transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression on the wound surface were analyzed. Routine histological analysis was also performed.

Result: Exposure duration to sevoflurane had no influence on MBP and PaO2. The reduction in wound size and collagen type I production was delayed in S8. The expression of TGF‐β1 and bFGF on the wound surface in S8 was significantly attenuated in S8. The histology of the S8 demonstrated a delayed healing status.

Conclusions: Prolonged exposure to sevoflurane might alter the inflammatory phase of the wound‐healing process by attenuation of growth factor expression such as TGF‐β1 and bFGF and subsequently by reduced collagen production.
Parasitism of cotton leafworm Alabama argillacea eggs by Trichogramma pretiosum in commercial cotton fields
Authors: Bastos C. S. , Torres J. B. , Suinaga F. A.
Published: December 2009

Release of natural enemies in commercial fields is challenging and has been inconsistent in the results achieved. This work discusses the augmentative releases of Trichogramma pretiosum to control the cotton leafworm (CLW) Alabama argillacea and also examines the parasitoid–host interaction under grower field conditions. The treatments consisted of fields with and without releases of T. pretiosum set up in Primavera do Leste and Campo Verde Counties, MT, Brazil, during three different seasons (2003 and 2004 dry and 2004 regular summer seasons). Trichogramma wasps were weekly released in the treated fields throughout the entire sampling period (14–15 week period) at a rate of 100 000 wasps per hectare. One‐way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed for the number of parasitized eggs, followed by a meta‐analysis procedure to determine the contribution of T. pretiosum release on overall parasitism. In addition, regression analysis was conducted with each season’s data sets to study the relationship of the host density and parasitism response by T. pretiosum. The overall results of Trichogramma augmentative releases did not result in significant increase of CLW egg parasitism beyond the natural parasitism in the areas studied. However, based on Cohen’s d effect sizes from the meta‐analysis, the parasitism rate was greater in fields under T. pretiosum releases during four out of 15 weeks surveyed. The parasitism of CLW eggs by T. pretiosum exhibited host density‐dependence only in one out of three seasons surveyed. These findings are encouraging as they are evidence that T. pretiosum is able to maintain a considerable level of parasitism under commercial field conditions, highlighting their potential value in large‐scale commercial areas of cotton as previously found at the small and diverse farming scale. Future studies should address the potential of early‐season, low density releases of the parasitoid.
Genetic reductions of β‐site amyloid precursor protein‐cleaving enzyme 1 and amyloid‐β ameliorate impairment of conditioned taste aversion memory in 5XFAD Alzheimer’s disease model mice
Authors: Devi Latha , Ohno Masuo
Published: December 2009

Although transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) recapitulate amyloid‐β (Aβ)‐related pathologies and cognitive impairments, previous studies have mainly evaluated their hippocampus‐dependent memory dysfunctions using behavioral tasks such as the water maze and fear conditioning. However, multiple memory systems become impaired in AD as the disease progresses and it is important to test whether other forms of memory are affected in AD models. This study was designed to use conditioned taste aversion (CTA) and contextual fear conditioning paradigms to compare the phenotypes of hippocampus‐independent and ‐dependent memory functions, respectively, in 5XFAD amyloid precursor protein/presenilin‐1 transgenic mice that harbor five familial AD mutations. Although both types of memory were significantly impaired in 5XFAD mice, the onset of CTA memory deficits (∼9 months of age) was delayed compared with that of contextual memory deficits (∼6 months of age). Furthermore, 5XFAD mice that were genetically engineered to have reduced levels of β‐site amyloid precursor protein‐cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) (BACE1+/−·5XFAD) exhibited improved CTA memory, which was equivalent to the performance of wild‐type controls. Importantly, elevated levels of cerebral β‐secretase‐cleaved C‐terminal fragment (C99) and Aβ peptides in 5XFAD mice were significantly reduced in BACE1+/−·5XFAD mice. Furthermore, Aβ deposition in the insular cortex and basolateral amygdala, two brain regions that are critically involved in CTA performance, was also reduced in BACE1+/−·5XFAD compared with 5XFAD mice. Our findings indicate that the CTA paradigm is useful for evaluating a hippocampus‐independent form of memory defect in AD model mice, which is sensitive to rescue by partial reductions of the β‐secretase BACE1 and consequently of cerebral Aβ.
Neural correlates of odor learning in the honeybee antennal lobe
Authors: Denker Michael , Finke Robert , Schaupp Frank , Grün Sonja , Menzel Randolf
Published: December 2009

Extracellular spiking activity and local field potentials (LFP) were recorded via tetrodes at the output of the antennal lobe (AL) in the honeybee brain during olfactory conditioning. Odors induce reliable rate responses that consist of either phasic‐tonic responses, or complex responses with odor‐specific profiles. In addition, odors evoke consistent responses of LFP oscillations in the 50‐Hz band during the phasic ON‐response to odor stimulation, and variable LFP responses at other frequency bands during the sustained response. A principal component analysis of the ensemble activity during differential conditioning consistently indicates the largest changes in response to the learned odor (conditioned stimulus; CS+). Relative LFP power increases for CS+ in the 15–40‐Hz frequency band during the sustained response, and decreases for frequencies above 45 Hz. To quantify the relationship between these population responses given by the ensemble spiking activity and LFP, we show that for CS+ the learning‐related changes in the degree of the phase‐locked spiking activity correlate with the power changes in the corresponding frequency bands. Our results indicate associative plasticity in the AL of the bee leading to both enhancement and decrease of neuronal response rates. LFP power changes and the correlated changes in the locking between spikes and LFP at different frequencies observed for the learned odor serve as further evidence for a learning‐induced restructuring of temporal ensemble representations.
Neural responses to uninterrupted natural speech can be extracted with precise temporal resolution
Authors: Lalor Edmund C. , Foxe John J.
Published: December 2009

The human auditory system has evolved to efficiently process individual streams of speech. However, obtaining temporally detailed responses to distinct continuous natural speech streams has hitherto been impracticable using standard neurophysiological techniques. Here a method is described which provides for the estimation of a temporally precise electrophysiological response to uninterrupted natural speech. We have termed this response AESPA (Auditory Evoked Spread Spectrum Analysis) and it represents an estimate of the impulse response of the auditory system. It is obtained by assuming that the recorded electrophysiological function represents a convolution of the amplitude envelope of a continuous speech stream with the to‐be‐estimated impulse response. We present examples of these responses using both scalp and intracranially recorded human EEG, which were obtained while subjects listened to a binaurally presented recording of a male speaker reading naturally from a classic work of fiction. This method expands the arsenal of stimulation types that can now be effectively used to derive auditory evoked responses and allows for the use of considerably more ecologically valid stimulation parameters. Some implications for future research efforts are presented.
Improved glycaemic control with minimal hypoglycaemia and no weight change with the once‐daily human glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analogue liraglutide as add‐on to sulphonylurea in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kaku K. , Rasmussen M. F. , Clauson P. , Seino Y.
Published: December 2009

Aim: Sulphonylureas (SUs) are often used as first‐line treatments for type 2 diabetes in Japan, hence it is important to study new antidiabetic drugs in combination with SUs in Japanese patients.

Methods: The efficacy and safety of the once‐daily human glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) analogue liraglutide were compared in 264 Japanese subjects [mean body mass index (BMI) 24.9 kg/m2; mean glycated haemoglobin (HBA1c) 8.4%] randomized and exposed to receive liraglutide 0.6 mg/day (n = 88), 0.9 mg/day (n = 88) or placebo (n = 88) each added to SU monotherapy (glibenclamide, glicazide or glimeprimide) in a 24‐week, double‐blind, parallel‐group trial.

Results: The mean change in HBA1c from baseline to week 24 (LOCF) was −1.56 (s.d. 0.84) and −1.46 (s.d. 0.95) with liraglutide 0.9 and 0.6 mg respectively, and −0.40 (s.d. 0.93) with placebo. HBA1c decreased in the placebo group from 8.45 to 8.06%, while liraglutide reduced HBA1c from 8.60 to 7.14%, and from 8.23 to 6.67% at the 0.6 and 0.9 mg doses respectively. Mean HBA1c at week 24 of the two liraglutide groups were significantly lower than the placebo group (p < 0.0001 for both). More subjects reached HBA1c < 7.0% with liraglutide (0.6 mg: 46.5%; 0.9 mg: 71.3%) vs. placebo (14.8%). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were significantly improved with liraglutide (difference −1.47 mmol/l and −1.80 mmol/l with 0.6 and 0.9 mg vs. placebo; p < 0.0001). Overall safety was similar between treatments: no major hypoglycaemic episodes were reported, while 84/77/38 minor hypoglycaemic episodes occurred in the 0.6 mg/0.9 mg and placebo treatment groups (all in combination with SU), reflecting lower ambient glucose levels. No relevant change in mean body weight occurred in subjects receiving liraglutide (0.6 mg: 0.06 kg; 0.9 mg: −0.37 kg), while mean body weight decreased in subjects receiving placebo (−1.12 kg).

Conclusions: The addition of liraglutide to SU treatment for 24 weeks dose‐dependently improved glycaemic control vs. SU monotherapy, without causing major hypoglycaemia or weight gain or loss.
The emergence of the chordate body plan: some puzzles and problems
Authors: Lacalli Thurston C.
Published: December 2009

Lacalli, T.C. 2010. The emergence of the chordate body plan: some puzzles and problems. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 4–10

Rather than being sessile filter feeders, ancestral chordates are now thought to have evolved from more active benthic animals, possibly hemichordate‐like, that took to swimming, to generate something resembling modern amphioxus. This general picture conceals a number of specific problems that underline how little we understand the transition in detail. I will address three. First, and closest to resolution is the issue of dorsoventral inversion, which has implications for understanding how an internalized brain evolved. This is because the mouth, dorsal after inversion, has first to be moved out of the way. Its migration down the left side of the head during amphioxus development may be a recapitulation of this event. Two other puzzles, both further from resolution are: (1) the significance, if any, of the neurenteric canal, which may be telling us something important about the true nature of deuterostomy, specifically whether hemichordates and echinoderms are deuterostomes for a different reason than chordates, and (2) whether the functional digestive tract of chordates is a secondary replacement of an earlier structure whose fate remains unexplained. Resolving these latter two issues will require a better understanding of molecular level events during development in protochordates and their immediate invertebrate relatives.
A new dimension in combining data? The use of morphology and phylogenomic data in metazoan systematics
Authors: Giribet Gonzalo
Published: December 2009

Giribet, G. 2010. A new dimension in combining data? The use of morphology and phylogenomic data in metazoan systematics. —Acta Zoologica(Stockholm)91: 11–19

Animal phylogenies have been traditionally inferred by using the character state information derived from the observation of a diverse array of morphological and anatomical features, but the incorporation of molecular data into the toolkit of phylogenetic characters has shifted drastically the way researchers infer phylogenies. A main reason for this is the ease at which molecular data can be obtained, compared to, e.g., traditional histological and microscopical techniques. Researchers now routinely use genomic data for reconstructing relationships among animal phyla (using whole genomes or Expressed Sequence Tags) but the amount of morphological data available to study the same phylogenetic patterns has not grown accordingly. Given the disparity between the amounts of molecular and morphological data, some authors have questioned entire morphological programs. In this review I discuss issues related to the combinability of genomic and morphological data, the informativeness of each set of characters, and conclude with a discussion of how morphology could be made scalable by utilizing new techniques that allow for non‐intrusive examination of large amounts of preserved museum specimens. Morphology should therefore remains a strong field in evolutionary and comparative biology, as it continues to provide information for inferring phylogenetic patterns, is an important complement for the patterns derived from the molecular data, and it is the common nexus that allows studying fossil taxa with large data sets of molecular data.
Some aspects of spiralian development
Authors: Nielsen Claus
Published: December 2009

Nielsen, C. 2010. Some aspects of spiralian development. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 20–28

Spiralian development is not only a characteristic early cleavage pattern, with shifting orientations of the cleavage planes, but also highly conserved cell lineages, where the origin of several organs can be traced back to identifiable cells in the lineage. These patterns are well documented in annelids, molluscs, nemertines, and platyhelminths and are considered ancestral of a bilaterian clade including these phyla. Spiral cleavage has not been documented in ecdysozoans, and no trace of the spiral development pattern is seen in phoronids and brachiopods. Origin of the spatial organization in spiralian embryos is puzzling, but much of the information appears to be encoded in the developing oocyte. Fertilization and “pseudofertilization” apparently provides the information defining the secondary, anterior‐posterior body axis in many species. The central nervous system consists of three components: an apical organ, derived from the apical blastomeres 1a111‐1d111, which degenerates before or at metamorphosis; the cerebral ganglia derived from other blastomeres of the first micromere quartet and retained in the adult as a preoral part of the brain; and the originally circumblastoporal nerve cord, which has become differentiated into a perioral part of the brain, the paired or secondarily fused ventral nerve cords, and a small perianal nerve ring.
Evolution of invertebrate nervous systems: the Chaetognatha as a case study
Authors: Harzsch Steffen , Wanninger Andreas
Published: December 2009

Harzsch, S. and Wanninger, A. 2010. Evolution of invertebrate nervous systems: the Chaetognatha as a case study. —Acta Zoologica(Stockholm)91: 35–43

Although recent molecular studies indicate that Chaetognatha may be one of the earliest Bilaterian offshoots, the phylogenetic position of this taxon still is a matter of ongoing debate. In this contribution, we review recent attempts to contribute phylogenetic information on the Chaetognatha by analysing structure and development of their nervous system (neurophylogeny). Analysing this group of organisms also has a major impact on our understanding of nervous system evolution in Bilateria. We review recent evidence from this field and suggest that Urbilateria already was equipped with the genetic toolkit required to build a complex, concentrated central nervous system (CNS), although this was not expressed phenotypically so that Urbilateria was equipped with a nerve plexus and not a CNS. This implies that in the deep metazoan nodes, concentration of the ancestral plexus occurred twice independently, namely once after the protostome–deuterostome split on the branch leading to the protostomes (resulting in a ventrally positioned nerve cord) and once along the chordate line (with a dorsal nerve cord).
The organisation of invertebrate brains: cells, synapses and circuits
Authors: Meinertzhagen Ian A.
Published: December 2009

Meinertzhagen, I.A. 2010. The organisation of invertebrate brains: cells, synapses and circuits. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 64–71

Invertebrate brains are structurally diverse. Neuron numbers range from ∼102 to 108 in different groups, compared with larger numbers in vertebrate brains, ∼107 to 1014. The underpopulated brains of invertebrates are noted in their extreme cases for having few cells, and neurons that can be identified from animal to animal, many known in great detail. Although few in number, invertebrate neurons nevertheless comprise many classes. Correlated with the paucity of their number they are sparsely connected, many having ∼50 synapses or fewer. Synaptic densities, roughly 1 per μm3 of neuropile, differ little from those for much larger vertebrate neurons. Invertebrate neurons differ from their vertebrate counterparts in the position of their soma, generally in a cortex surrounding the neuropile that consequently occupies a relatively small volume. Their axons typically lack myelin and, supporting a range of conduction velocities, have diameters that differ over a wide range, from 103 to 10−1μm. Nerves with thousands of axons differ from neuropile fascicles, which typically have 20 or less. Unlike most vertebrate synapses, but like those of the vertebrate retina, synapses in many invertebrate groups – probably all ecdysozoans and possibly some lophotrochozoans – have synaptic contacts with multiple postsynaptic elements, dyads, triads and so on.
Palaeomorphology: fossils and the inference of cladistic relationships
Authors: Edgecombe Gregory D.
Published: December 2009

Edgecombe, G.D. 2010. Palaeomorphology: fossils and the inference of cladistic relationships. —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91: 72–80

Twenty years have passed since it was empirically demonstrated that inclusion of extinct taxa could overturn a phylogenetic hypothesis formulated upon extant taxa alone, challenging Colin Patterson’s bold conjecture that this phenomenon ‘may be non‐existent’. Suppositions and misconceptions about missing data, often couched in terms of ‘wildcard taxa’ and ‘the missing data problem’, continue to cloud the literature on the topic of fossils and phylogenetics. Comparisons of real data sets show that no a priori (or indeed a posteriori) decisions can be made about amounts of missing data and most properties of cladograms, and both simulated and real data sets demonstrate that even highly incomplete taxa can impact on relationships. The exclusion of fossils from phylogenetic analyses is neither theoretically nor empirically defensible.