bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The evolutionary origin of bilaterian smooth and striated myocytes
Authors: Brunet Thibaut , Fischer Antje H. L. , Steinmetz Patrick R. H. , Lauri Antonella , Bertucci Paola , Arendt Detlev 
Published: July 2016

AbstractThe dichotomy between smooth and striated myocytes is fundamental for bilaterian musculature, but its evolutionary origin is unsolved. In particular, interrelationships of visceral smooth muscles remain unclear. Absent in fly and nematode, they have not yet been characterized molecularly outside vertebrates. Here, we characterize expression profile, ultrastructure, contractility and innervation of the musculature in the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii and identify smooth muscles around the midgut, hindgut and heart that resemble their vertebrate counterparts in molecular fingerprint, contraction speed, and nervous control. Our data suggest that both visceral smooth and somatic striated myocytes were present in the protostome-deuterostome ancestor, and that smooth myocytes later co-opted the striated contractile module repeatedly – for example in vertebrate heart evolution. During these smooth-to-striated myocyte conversions the core regulatory complex of transcription factors conveying myocyte identity remained unchanged, reflecting a general principle in cell type evolution.
On numerical study of Parkinson tremor
Authors: Harikrishna Annalakshmi , Osei Dennis Effah , Kamińska Magdalena Weronika , Majumdar Sarangam 
Published: July 2016

AbstractParkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s tremor are the two most common movement disorders, nor do we fully understand the origin of one of the disease’s cardinal symptom: the Parkinsonian tremor. We study one mathematical model involved in Parkinson’s disease and in the Parkinsonian tremor. In this paper, we use the Van der Pol equation to further understand this tremor as well as investigate different numerical approaches to solve the system and compare them.AMS Subject Classification34L16; 34K28; 92B05
Privatization of a breeding resource by the burying beetleNicrophorus vespilloidesis associated with shifts in bacterial communities
Authors: Duarte Ana , Welch Martin , Wagner Josef , Kilner Rebecca M. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractIt is still poorly understood how animal behaviour shapes bacterial communities and their evolution. We use burying beetles,Nicrophorus vespilloides, to investigate how animal behaviour impacts the assembly of bacterial communities. Burying beetles use small vertebrate carcasses as breeding resources, which they roll into a ball, smear with antimicrobial exudates and bury. Using high-throughput sequencing we characterize bacterial communities on fresh mouse carcasses, aged carcasses prepared by beetles, and aged carcasses that were manually buried. The long-standing hypothesis that burying beetles ‘clean’ the carcass from bacteria is refuted, as we found higher loads of bacterial DNA in beetle-prepared carcasses. Beetle-prepared carcasses were similar to fresh carcasses in terms of species richness and diversity. Beetle-prepared carcasses distinguish themselves from manually buried carcasses by the reduction of groups such as Proteobacteria and increase of groups such as Flavobacteriales and Clostridiales. Network analysis suggests that, despite differences in membership, network topology is similar between fresh and beetle-prepared carcasses. We then examined the bacterial communities in guts and exudates of breeding and non-breeding beetles. Breeding was associated with higher diversity and species richness. Breeding beetles exhibited several bacterial groups in common with their breeding resource, but that association is likely to disappear after breeding.
The quantity of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans: a reanalysis relaxing the assumption of constant mutation rate
Authors: Amos William 
Published: July 2016

AbstractFew now dispute that a few percent of the DNA of non-African humans is a legacy of interbreeding with Neanderthals. However, heterozygosity and mutation rate appear to be linked such that the loss of diversity associated with humans migrating out of Africa caused a mutational slowdown, allowing Africans to diverge more from both our common ancestor and Neanderthals. Here I use a range of contrasting tests aimed at distinguishing between mutation slowdown and introgression as explanations for the higher rates of base-sharing between non-Africans and Neanderthals. In every instance the mutation slowdown hypothesis fits better. Thus, while some interbreeding likely occurred, as evidenced by the finding of skeletons of admixed individuals, adaptive genes and the apparently large contribution of Denisovan DNA to Oceanian genomes, my results challenge the idea that non-Africans generally carry an appreciable Neanderthal legacy. My analysis shows that inferences about introgression may be unreliable unless variation in mutation rate linked to demographically induced changes in heterozygosity can be excluded as an alternative hypothesis.
EEG functional network topology is associated with disability in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Fraschini Matteo , Demuru Matteo , Hillebrand Arjan , Cuccu Lorenza , Porcu Silvia , Di Stefano Francesca , Puligheddu Monica , Floris Gianluca , Borghero Giuseppe , Marrosu Francesco 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACTAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most severe neurodegenerative diseases, which is known to affect upper and lower motor neurons. In contrast to the classical tenet that ALS represents the outcome of extensive and progressive impairment of a fixed set of motor connections, recent neuroimaging findings suggest that the disease spreads along vast non-motor connections. Here, we hypothesised that functional network topology is perturbed in ALS, and that this reorganisation is associated with disability. We tested this hypothesis in 21 patients affected by ALS at several stages of impairment using resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) and compared the results to 16 age-matched healthy controls. We estimated functional connectivity using the Phase Lag Index (PLI), and characterized the network topology using the minimum spanning tree (MST). We found a significant difference between groups in terms of MST dissimilarity and MST leaf fraction in the beta band. Moreover, some MST parameters (leaf, hierarchy and kappa) significantly correlated with disability. These findings suggest that the topology of resting-state functional networks in ALS is affected by the disease in relation to disability. EEG network analysis may be of help in monitoring and evaluating the clinical status of ALS patients.
Rewired RNAi-Mediated Genome Surveillance in House Dust Mites
Authors: Mondal MH , Ortolano NA , Scott KE , Taylor CB , Klimov PB , Flynt AS 
Published: July 2016

AbstractHouse dust mites are common pests with an unusual evolutionary history, being descendants of a parasitic ancestor. Transition to parasitism is frequently accompanied by genome rearrangements, possibly to accommodate the genetic change needed to access new ecology. Transposable element (TE) activity is a source of genomic instability that can trigger large-scale genomic alterations. Eukaryotes have multiple transposon control mechanisms, one of which is RNA interference (RNAi). Investigation of the dust mite genome failed to identify a major RNAi pathway: the Piwi-associated RNA (piRNA) pathway, which has been replaced by a novel small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs)-like pathway. Co-opting of piRNA function by dust mite siRNAs is extensive, including establishment of TE control master loci that produce siRNAs. Interestingly, other members of the Acari have piRNAs indicating loss of this mechanism in dust mites is a recent event. Flux of RNAi-mediated control of TEs provides a mechanism for unusual arc of dust mite evolution.
Customer-salespeople relationship
Authors: Amyx Douglas , Bhuian Shahid N. , Shows G. David 
Published: July 2016

Purpose– Based on customer value-based and social exchange theories, the purpose of this paper is to hypothesize and examine the relationships between salespeople entrepreneurial behaviors (innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk taking) and customer trust in, satisfaction with and commitment to the salespeople.Design/methodology/approach– The influences of salespeople’s entrepreneurial behaviors on customer trust in, satisfaction with, and commitment to salespeople were examined utilizing a structural equations model with a sample drawn from the newspaper industry.Findings– As predicted salespeople entrepreneurial behaviors (treated as a higher order factor) significantly and positively influence customer trust in, satisfaction with, and commitment to the salespeople.Research limitations/implications– This study confirms innovative, proactive, and risk-taking practices are useful in fostering customer trust, satisfaction, and commitment in the domain of personal selling. The key limitations are the small sample size, the use of a single company, and the omission of other potential outcomes.Practical implications– Entrepreneurial behaviors/activities such as, innovativeness, proactiveness, and risk taking are worthy undertakings for salespeople. Considering these traits in salespeople hiring and/or fostering them in salespeople training should be worth pursuing.Social implications– By improving the quality of exchanges through salespeople’s entrepreneurial behaviors and customer-salespeople relationship quality, social exchanges, and in turn social welfare are promoted.Originality/value– As per the literature search, this is the first study linking salespeople’s entrepreneurial behaviors and customer-salespeople relationship quality represented by trust in, satisfaction with, and commitment to salespeople drawing insights from customer value-based and social exchange theories.
Effects of maxacalcitol ointment on skin lesions in patients with psoriasis receiving treatment with adalimumab
Authors: Karakawa Masaru , Komine Mayumi , Kishimoto Megumi , Maki Nobuki , Matsumoto Ai , Sugai Junichi , Ohtsuki Mamitaro 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAdalimumab is a biologic that is very effective for treatment of psoriasis. However, recalcitrant or recurrent lesions sometimes occur during treatment. Maxacalcitol is an active vitamin D3 ointment that is effective in treatment of psoriasis. Topical therapy may be beneficial in treatment of recalcitrant or recurrent lesions during treatment with systemic therapy, but there is little evidence on this topic. We investigated the effect of maxacalcitol on skin lesions during treatment with adalimumab in patients with psoriasis. Twelve patients with psoriasis were randomly assigned to two groups after informed consent – treatment with adalimumab only (n = 6), and treatment with adalimumab and maxacalcitol (n = 6) – and they were evaluated every 4 weeks for 44 weeks. Exacerbation was defined as an increase of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score. The interval between adalimumab treatments was elongated to 3–4 weeks from 2 weeks according to the individual patient's condition. The PASI score was evaluated every 4 weeks, and the frequency of exacerbations was counted. The overall improvement in PASI score was not statistically different between the two groups, but the frequency of exacerbations was significantly less in the maxacalcitol combination group compared with the adalimumab monotherapy group (Mann–Whitney U‐test, P < 0.05). The better control of skin lesions in patients who elongated the interval of adalimumab administration was achieved in the maxacalcitol combination group compared with the adalimumab monotherapy group. Topical maxacalcitol treatment is effective and useful in controlling skin lesions in patients with psoriasis when used in combination with adalimumab.
Solitary cutaneous focal mucinosis: A clinicopathological study of 11 cases of soft fibroma‐like cutaneous mucinous lesions
Authors: Kuo Kang‐Ling , Lee Li‐yu , Kuo Tseng‐tong 
Published: July 2016

AbstractCutaneous mucinoses encompass a variety of cutaneous disorders. Cutaneous focal mucinosis (CFM) was originally described as an asymptomatic solitary lesion characterized by abundant focal cutaneous mucin deposits. However, multiple focal mucinous lesions associated with systemic diseases have also been designated as CFM. Our clinicopathological study of 11 cases of solitary lesions confirmed that CFM is a unique primary cutaneous mucinosis unrelated to mucinosis‐associated systemic diseases. We suggest calling this group of CFM lesions “solitary CFM” to distinguish them from multiple CFM associated with mucinosis associated systemic diseases. Our cases showed slight male predominance with a median age of 50 years. They occurred most often on the extremities (45%), presented as asymptomatic solitary, white to erythematous, small, soft, fibroma‐like lesions. None of the clinical impressions were of CFM. We call attention to include solitary CFM in clinical differential diagnosis of polypoid skin lesions.
Symptom prevalence in patients with advanced skin cancer
Authors: Goto Hiroyuki , Yoshikawa Shusuke , Otsuka Masaki , Omodaka Toshikazu , Yoshimi Kosuke , Yoshida Yuichi , Yamamoto Osamu , Kiyohara Yoshio 
Published: July 2016

AbstractKnowledge of the prevalence of symptoms in patients with incurable cancer in the terminal stage is important for clinicians. However, there has been no report on the prevalence of symptoms in patients with incurable skin cancer. We analyzed the prevalence of symptoms in 224 patients who died due to skin cancer in our center. These data were obtained from medical records compiled by a miscellaneous population of medical staff retrospectively. We evaluated the symptoms at 3 months, 1 month, 2 weeks, 1 week and 3 days before the patients died. Data for symptoms included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and the presence or absence of the following 13 symptoms: (i) bleeding or exudate; (ii) pain or necessity for an analgesic; (iii) fatigue; (iv) anorexia; (v) nausea; (vi) dyspnea or need for oxygen administration; (vii) bloating; (viii) insomnia; (ix) delirium; (x) drowsiness; (xi) anemia; (xii) spasm; and (xiii) paralysis. The average performance status gradually progressed. Pain and anorexia were the most common symptoms in patients with advanced skin cancer. Dyspnea, anemia and drowsiness also tended to be frequent as death approached despite the fact that the frequencies of these symptoms were not high 3 months before death. We considered that frequencies of prevalence of pain and dyspnea were due to bone and lung metastases. Bleeding or exudate from lesions is a characteristic symptom in patients with skin cancer. Our results regarding the prevalence of symptoms in patients with advanced skin cancer will be helpful for medical professionals to assess patients' conditions and to plan treatment.
Intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide: An undervalued option for refractory alopecia areata
Authors: Seo Jimyung , Lee Young In , Hwang Shinwon , Zheng Zhenlong , Kim Do Young 
Published: July 2016

AbstractSevere alopecia areata (AA) can have an unpredictable clinical course and become refractory to contact immunotherapy. Novel treatment options include low‐dose interleukin‐2 and Janus kinase inhibitors; however, these treatments are still under investigation. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of intramuscular (i.m.) triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) as a rescue therapy for refractory AA. We retrospectively analysed efficacy, adverse effects and relapse rate of i.m. TAC monthly in 27 patients with refractory AA. We defined AA as refractory if the patient showed an unsatisfactory response to both systemic treatment (not i.m. TAC) and the consecutive diphenylcyclopropenone immunotherapy. The initial systemic treatment of other forms of corticosteroids and/or cyclosporin was used to control extensive AA involving more than 25% of the scalp. Administration of i.m. TAC for 3–6 months resulted in a 63.0% response rate, and all patients showed inactive disease after treatment. Final hair regrowth negatively correlated with initial scalp involvement (Spearman r = −0.595, P = 0.001). All patients showed complete recovery of adrenocortical reserve within 3 months after the last injection. Adverse effects of systemic steroid therapy were observed only in female patients (dysmenorrhea and osteoporosis). i.m. TAC may provide a valuable therapeutic option to manage active hair loss and facilitate hair regrowth in refractory AA, especially in male patients.
Hunting promotes sexual conflict in brown bears
Authors: Gosselin Jacinthe , Leclerc Martin , Zedrosser Andreas , Steyaert Sam M. J. G. , Swenson Jon E. , Pelletier Fanie 
Published: July 2016

SummaryThe removal of individuals through hunting can destabilize social structure, potentially affecting population dynamics. Although previous studies have shown that hunting can indirectly reduce juvenile survival through increased sexually selected infanticide (SSI), very little is known about the spatiotemporal effects of male hunting on juvenile survival.Using detailed individual monitoring of a hunted population of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden (1991–2011), we assessed the spatiotemporal effect of male removal on cub survival.We modelled cub survival before, during and after the mating season. We used three proxies to evaluate spatial and temporal variation in male turnover; distance and timing of the closest male killed and number of males that died around a female's home range centre.Male removal decreased cub survival only during the mating season, as expected in seasonal breeders with SSI. Cub survival increased with distance to the closest male killed within the previous 1·5 years, and it was lower when the closest male killed was removed 1·5 instead of 0·5 year earlier. We did not detect an effect of the number of males killed.Our results support the hypothesis that social restructuring due to hunting can reduce recruitment and suggest that the distribution of the male deaths might be more important than the overall number of males that die. As the removal of individuals through hunting is typically not homogenously distributed across the landscape, spatial heterogeneity in hunting pressure may cause source–sink dynamics, with lower recruitment in areas of high human‐induced mortality.
Patterns of age‐related change in reproductive effort differ in the pre‐natal and post‐natal periods in a long‐lived mammal
Authors: Paterson John T. , Rotella Jay J. , Mannas Jennifer M. , Garrott Robert A. 
Published: July 2016

Summary

Age‐related changes in maternal reproductive allocation for long‐lived species are a key prediction from life‐history theory.

Theoretical and empirical work suggests that allocation may increase with age due to constraint (increases with experience) or restraint (increases with age in the face of declining residual reproductive value), and may decrease among the oldest aged animals due to senescence in reproductive function.

Here, we use a hierarchical modelling approach to investigate the age‐related patterns of change in maternal reproductive effort in the Weddell seal, a long‐lived marine mammal with a protracted period of maternal care during which mothers allocate a large proportion of body mass while feeding little.

We find that maternal allocation increases with age for young mothers during both the pre‐natal and post‐natal periods. In contrast, older mothers demonstrate a senescent decline in pre‐natal allocation but allocate more of their declining resources to their offspring during the post‐natal period. We also find strong evidence for the importance of individual effects in reproductive allocation among mothers: some mothers consistently produce heavier (or lighter) pups than expected.

Our results indicate that maternal allocation changes over a mother's reproductive life span and that age‐specific differences differ in notable ways in pre‐natal and post‐natal periods.
Reduced mycorrhizal responsiveness leads to increased competitive tolerance in an invasive exotic plant
Authors: Waller Lauren P. , Callaway Ragan M. , Klironomos John N. , Ortega Yvette K. , Maron John L. 
Published: July 2016

Summary

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can exert a powerful influence on the outcome of plant–plant competition. Since some exotic plants interact differently with soil biota such as AM fungi in their new range, range‐based shifts in AM responsiveness could shift competitive interactions between exotic and resident plants, although this remains poorly studied.

We explored whether genotypes of the annual exotic Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle), collected from populations across the native and non‐native ranges, differed in responsiveness to AM fungi in the introduced range and whether range‐based differences in mycorrhizal responsiveness affected how strongly C. solstitialis tolerated competition with the North American native bunchgrass, Stipa pulchra.

Grown alone, C. solstitialis from both ranges derived only weak benefits from AM fungi. However, association with AM fungi was costly to plants when grown in competition with S. pulchra. The magnitude of the suppressive effect of AM fungi was greater for genotypes from native versus introduced populations.

Synthesis. Many exotic invasive species are known to associate weakly with AM fungi, which may be beneficial in disturbed habitats where competition for resources is low. Our results indicate that reduced mycorrhizal associations may also benefit invaders in a competitive environment. Centaurea solstitialis were more strongly suppressed by established S. pulchra plants in the presence versus absence of AM fungi, but exotic genotypes were less suppressed than native genotypes. This suggests that AM fungi may contribute to invasion resistance in established native communities, but range‐based shifts in the way exotic genotypes respond to AM fungal partners may counter such biotic resistance.
Plant secondary metabolites: a key driver of litter decomposition and soil nutrient cycling
Authors: Chomel Mathilde , Guittonny‐Larchevêque Marie , Fernandez Catherine , Gallet Christiane , DesRochers Annie , Paré David , Jackson Benjamin G. , Baldy Virginie 
Published: July 2016

SummaryA broad and diversified group of compounds, secondary metabolites, are known to govern species interactions in ecosystems. Recent studies have shown that secondary metabolites can also play a major role in ecosystem processes, such as plant succession or in the process of litter decomposition, by governing the interplay between plant matter and soil organisms.We reviewed the ecological role of the three main classes of secondary metabolites and the methodological challenges and novel avenues for their study. We highlight emerging general patterns of the impacts of secondary metabolites on decomposer communities and litter decomposition and argue for the consideration of secondary compounds as key drivers of soil functioning and ecosystem functioning.Synthesis. Gaining a greater understanding of plant–soil organisms relationships and underlying mechanisms, including the role of secondary metabolites, could improve our ability to understand ecosystem processes. We outline some promising directions for future research that would stimulate studies aiming to understand the interactions of secondary metabolites across a range of spatio‐temporal scales. Detailed mechanistic knowledge could help us to develop models for the process of litter decomposition and nutrient cycling in ecosystems and help us to predict future impacts of global changes on ecosystem functioning.