bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel role for follistatin in hypersensitivity following cystitis
Authors: Shaffer Amber D. , Feng Bin , La Jun‐Ho , Joyce Sonali C. , Gebhart G. F. 
Published: December 2015

AimsPrevious studies have shown that the activin‐binding protein follistatin reduces inflammation in several mouse models of colitis. To determine whether follistatin also has a beneficial effect following bladder inflammation, we induced cystitis in mice using cyclophosphamide (CYP) and examined the relationship between bladder hypersensitivity and bladder follistatin expression.MethodsAdult female C57BL/6 mice were treated with CYP (100 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) three times over 5 days. Bladder hypersensitivity was assessed by recording the visceromotor response (VMR) to urinary bladder distension and in vitro single‐fiber bladder afferent recording. Follistatin gene expression was measured using qRT‐PCR. Immunohistochemistry was employed for further characterization.ResultsBladder hypersensitivity was established by day 6 and persisted to day 14 in CYP‐treated mice. On day 14, hypersensitivity was accompanied by increases in follistatin gene expression in the bladder. Follistatin‐like immunoreactivity colocalized with laminin, and the percentage of structures in the lamina propria that were follistatin‐positive was increased in CYP‐treated mice. Exogenous follistatin increased VMR and afferent responses to bladder distension in CYP‐ but not vehicle‐treated mice.ConclusionsChronic bladder pain following CYP treatment is associated with increased follistatin expression in the bladder. These results suggest a novel, pro‐nociceptive role for follistatin in cystitis, in contrast with its proposed therapeutic role in colitis. This protein has exciting potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for bladder hypersensitivity. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:286–292, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Brain ischaemia induces shedding of a BDNF‐scavenger ectodomain from TrkB receptors by excitotoxicity activation of metalloproteinases and γ‐secretases
Authors: Tejeda Gonzalo S , Ayuso‐Dolado Sara , Arbeteta Raquel , Esteban‐Ortega Gema M , Vidaurre Oscar G , Díaz‐Guerra Margarita 
Published: December 2015

AbstractStroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the world with limited therapies available to restrict brain damage or improve functional recovery after cerebral ischaemia. A promising strategy currently under investigation is the promotion of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling through tropomyosin‐related kinase B (TrkB) receptors, a pathway essential for neuronal survival and function. However, TrkB and BDNF‐signalling are impaired by excitotoxicity, a primary pathological process in stroke also associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Pathological imbalance of TrkB isoforms is critical in neurodegeneration and is caused by calpain processing of BDNF high affinity full‐length receptor (TrkB‐FL) and an inversion of the transcriptional pattern of the Ntrk2 gene, to favour expression of the truncated isoform TrkB‐T1 over TrkB‐FL. We report here that both TrkB‐FL and neuronal TrkB‐T1 also undergo ectodomain shedding by metalloproteinases activated after ischaemic injury or excitotoxic damage of cortical neurons. Subsequently, the remaining membrane‐bound C‐terminal fragments (CTFs) are cleaved by γ‐secretases within the transmembrane region, releasing their intracellular domains (ICDs) into the cytosol. Therefore, we identify TrkB‐FL and TrkB‐T1 as new substrates of regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP), a mechanism that highly contributes to TrkB‐T1 regulation in ischaemia but is minor for TrkB‐FL which is mainly processed by calpain. However, since the secreted TrkB ectodomain acts as a BDNF scavenger and significantly alters BDNF/TrkB signalling, the mechanism of RIP could contribute to neuronal death in excitotoxicity. These results are highly relevant since they reveal new targets for the rational design of therapies to treat stroke and other pathologies with an excitotoxic component. Copyright © 2015 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Outcome of monochorionic twin pregnancies with moderate amniotic fluid discordance adjoining twin–twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: Hayashi Satoshi , Anami Ai , Ishii Keisuke , Oba Mari S. , Takahashi Yuichiro , Nakata Masahiko , Murotsuki Jun , Murakoshi Takeshi , Sago Haruhiko 
Published: December 2015

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the perinatal outcome in monochorionic diamniotic (MD) twin pregnancies complicated by amniotic fluid discordance (AFD) adjoining twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).MethodsAn observational study of 84 consecutive MD twin pregnancies complicated by AFD that resembled TTTS was conducted. AFD adjoining TTTS was defined by a maximal vertical pocket of amniotic fluid ≤3 cm in one twin and ≥7 cm in the other excluding TTTS. The study population was divided into two groups, group 1 and group 2, according to positive and absent or reversed end‐diastolic flow (AREDF) in the umbilical artery, respectively.ResultsFifteen of the 35 (42.9%) group 1 cases and 30 of the 49 (61.2%) group 2 cases progressed to TTTS. The overall survival and intact survival rate in constant AFD that never progressed to TTTS in group 1 was 100% (40/40) and 90% (36/40), respectively. The overall survival and intact survival rate of constant AFD in group 2 with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) was 54.2% (13/24) and 41.7% (10/24), respectively, and for those without sIUGR was 64.3% (9/14) and 57.1% (8/14), respectively.ConclusionsConstant AFD with AREDF in the umbilical artery represents an extremely high risk for adverse outcomes regardless of the presence of sIUGR. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Prior Athermal Martensite on the Isothermal Transformation Kinetics Below M
s in a Low-C High-Si Steel
Authors: Navarro-López A. , Sietsma J. , Santofimia M. J. 
Published: December 2015

Abstract
Thermomechanical processing of Advanced Multiphase High Strength Steels often includes isothermal treatments around the martensite start temperature (M
s). It has been reported that the presence of martensite formed prior to these isothermal treatments accelerates the kinetics of the subsequent transformation. This kinetic effect is commonly attributed to the creation of potential nucleation sites at martensite-austenite interfaces. The aim of this study is to determine qualitatively and quantitatively the effect of a small volume fraction of martensite on the nucleation kinetics of the subsequent transformation. For this purpose, dilatometry experiments were performed at different temperatures above and below the M
s temperature for athermal martensite in a low-carbon high-silicon steel. Microstructural analysis led to the identification of the isothermal decomposition product formed above and below M
s as bainitic ferrite. The analysis of the transformation processes demonstrated that the initial stage of formation of bainitic ferrite at heat treatments below M
s is at least two orders of magnitude faster than above M
s due to the presence of martensite.
Comparing biological markers of Alzheimer's disease across blood fraction and platforms: Comparing apples to oranges
Authors: O'Bryant Sid E. , Lista Simone , Rissman Robert A. , Edwards Melissa , Zhang Fan , Hall James , Zetterberg Henrik , Lovestone Simon , Gupta Veer , Graff‐Radford Neill , Martins Ralph , Jeromin Andreas , Waring Stephen , Oh Esther , Kling Mitchel , Baker Laura D. , Hampel Harald ,   ISTAART Blood Based Biomarker Professional Interest Area
Published: December 2015

AbstractIntroductionThis study investigated the comparability of potential Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers across blood fractions and assay platforms.MethodsNonfasting serum and plasma samples from 300 participants (150 AD patients and 150 controls) were analyzed. Proteomic markers were obtained via electrochemiluminescence or Luminex technology. Comparisons were conducted via Pearson correlations. The relative importance of proteins within an AD diagnostic profile was examined using random forest importance plots.ResultsOn the Meso Scale Discovery multiplex platform, 10 of the 21 markers shared >50% of the variance across blood fractions (serum amyloid A R2 = 0.99, interleukin (IL)10 R2 = 0.95, fatty acid‐binding protein (FABP) R2 = 0.94, I309 R2 = 0.94, IL‐5 R2 = 0.94, IL‐6 R2 = 0.94, eotaxin3 R2 = 0.91, IL‐18 R2 = 0.87, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 R2 = 0.85, and pancreatic polypeptide R2 = 0.81). When examining protein concentrations across platforms, only five markers shared >50% of the variance (beta 2 microglobulin R2 = 0.92, IL‐18 R2 = 0.80, factor VII R2 = 0.78, CRP R2 = 0.74, and FABP R2 = 0.70).DiscussionThe current findings highlight the importance of considering blood fractions and assay platforms when searching for AD relevant biomarkers.
RETRACTED: Assessment of anticancer activity: A comparison of dose–response effect of ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of Pergularia daemia (Forsk)
Authors: Vaithiyanathan Veluchamy , Mirunalini Sankaran 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackground: Oral cancer is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide and is thus an important cause of death and morbidity. Although several drugs have been developed for the treatment of oral cancer, naturally occurring phytochemicals have been recommended by nutritionists and health experts to treat various types of cancer. Pergularia daemia is a well‐known herb distributed across India, finding many uses in medicine.Aim: The present study was mainly designed to determine the dose–response effect of the whole plant extract of P. daemia on experimental oral carcinogenesis.Materials and methods: Male golden Syrian hamsters were painted with 0.5% of 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in liquid paraffin on the left buccal pouch to induce oral cancer, thrice a week for 14 weeks. The anticancer effect of the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts of P. daemia was observed to be dose dependent (100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight (bwt)) by assessing the bwt, tumor incidence, changes in oxidant/antioxidant levels, and histological alterations of control and experimental animals.Results: Our results showed that of the three doses used, the high dose (300 mg/kg bwt) exhibited excellent antioxidant activity in comparison to the other two doses. Moreover, our findings suggest that the methanolic extract significantly inhibited cancer development to a greater extent than the ethyl acetate extract.Conclusion: Thus, it could be concluded that the whole plant of P. daemia presents an easily accessible source of natural antioxidants, and regular consumption can reduce the incidence of oral cancer.
What's It Like to Be a BIV? A Dialogue
Authors: VEBER MICHAEL 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT:Several subjects are fully convinced that they are brains in vats whose experiences are hallucinatory. They confront a ‘skeptic’ who raises the possibility that they are not brains in vats who lack and hallucinate hands but ‘brains in skulls’ who have hands and see them. Familiar responses to skepticism are offered in support of the claim that the subjects know they do not have hands. The philosophical significance of this looking-glass approach to skepticism is also discussed. It is suggested that these familiar responses to skepticism do not achieve anything because, if we begin from the assumption that we are brains in vats, we can employ those same responses to skepticism to support the claim that we know we do not have hands. One interlocutor argues that things are not so dismal. The main conversation is framed by a discussion among night watchmen at some sort of skepticism laboratory.
Moral Responsibility Ain't Just in the Head
Authors: CIURRIA MICHELLE 
Published: December 2015

Abstract:In this paper, I dispute what I callpsychological internalismabout moral responsibility, which comprises most classic accounts as well as newer neurobiological ones, and I defendpsychological externalismabout moral responsibility instead. According to psychological internalism, an agent's moral responsibility is determined solely or primarily by her intentional states. I argue that psychological internalism is empirically challenged by recent findings in social psychology and cognitive science. In light of the empirical evidence, I contend that moral responsibility depends on historical and environmental factors to a much greater degree than previously appreciated. Thus, moral responsibility is not just in the head: indeed, it is much less in the head than typically assumed.
Natural Goals of Actions in Aristotle
Authors: LORENZ HENDRIK 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACT:I argue that there are, according to Aristotle, two importantly different kinds of goals or ends in the domain of human agency and that one of these two kinds has been frequently, though not universally, overlooked. Apart from psychological goals, goals that agents adopt as their purposes, there are also, I submit, goals that actions have by being the kinds of actions they are and, in some cases, by occurring in the circumstances in which they do. These latter goals belong to suitable actions whether or not agents adopt them as purposes and whether or not agents are aware of them. There is evidence both in Aristotle's ethical writings and in his discussion of chance and luck in Physics II.4–6 that he recognizes goals of this latter kind.
INTERNATIONAL CAUSE-SPECIFIC MORTALITY RATES: NEW INSIGHTS FROM A COINTEGRATION ANALYSIS
Authors: Arnold-Gaille Séverine , Sherris Michael 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis paper applies cointegration techniques, developed in econometrics to model long-run relationships, to cause-of-death data. We analyze the five main causes of death across five major countries, including USA, Japan, France, England & Wales and Australia. Our analysis provides a better understanding of the long-run equilibrium relationships between the five main causes of death, providing new insights into similarities and differences in trends. The results identify for the first time similarities between countries and genders that are consistent with past studies on the aging processes by biologists and demographers. The insights from biological theory on aging are found to be reflected in the cointegrating relations in all of the countries included in the study.
The Impact of Early Medical School Surgical Exposure on Interest in Neurosurgery
Authors: Zuccato Jeffrey A. , Kulkarni Abhaya V. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackground: Medical student interest in neurosurgery is decreasing and resident attrition is trending upwards in favor of more lifestyle-friendly specialties that receive greater exposure during medical school. The University of Toronto began offering an annual two week comprehensive, focused surgical experience (Surgical Exploration and Discovery (SEAD) program) to 20 first year medical students increasing exposure to surgical careers. This study determines how SEAD affects students’ views of a career in neurosurgery.Methods: Surveys were administered to 38 SEAD participants over two program cycles. Information was obtained regarding demographics, impacts of SEAD, and factors affecting career decision making. Subgroup analyses assessed for factors predicting pre- and post-intervention interest in neurosurgery.Results: Ninety-seven percent (n=37) of students completed the survey. Before SEAD, 25% were interested in neurosurgery but this decreased to 10% post-SEAD (p=0.001). However, post-SEAD interest increased from 10% to 38% if lifestyle factors were theoretically controlled across surgical specialties (p<0.005). A majority (81%) felt SEAD improved their understanding of neurosurgery, 62.2% felt that exposure to other surgical specialties reduced their interest in neurosurgery, and 21% felt SEAD increased their interest in neurosurgery. Nineteen percent intended to explore neurosurgery further with observerships and one student planned to organize neurosurgical research.Conclusions: This surgical exposure intervention increased understanding about neurosurgery and reduced overall interest in neurosurgery as a career. However, those remaining interested were motivated to plan further neurosurgical clinical experiences. The SEAD program may, therefore, aid in early selection of students motivated to satisfy the demands of a neurosurgical career.
Lingulate brachiopods from the Lampazar Formation (late Cambrian) of the Cordillera Oriental of northwestern Argentina
Authors: Mergl Michal , Herrera Zarela , Villas Enrique , Ortega Gladys 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe Angosto de Lampazar, a classic locality for the study of lower Paleozoic successions in the Cordillera Oriental, NW Argentina, has yielded a late Cambrian relatively diverse, lingulate brachiopod fauna. Sandy lenses with calcareous cement from the uppermost levels of the Lampazar Formation have yielded abundant remains of articulate and phosphatic brachiopods. Among the latter, the new speciesEurytreta harringtoniMergl and Herrera,Lingulella?melonicaMergl and Herrera,Libecoviella lenticularisMergl and Herrera, andSchizambon cardonalisMergl and Herrera, as well as the new genus and speciesSaltaia lampazarensisMergl and Herrera are formally introduced. Trilobites and conodonts from the same horizons characterize theCordylodus proavusZone, allowing a correlation with Stage 10 of the Furongian Series. Although the information on lingulate brachiopods from theC.proavusZone is scarce across the world, the composition of the studied association displays a relationship with coeval and slightly younger faunas of Utah and Kazakhstan. The Argentine brachiopods, the first described from the late Cambrian Proto-Andean margin of Gondwana, are more closely related to temperate Laurentian faunas than to those from the high latitude North African margin of Gondwana.
COHORT MARRIAGE KINETICS IN THE CONTEXT OF MIGRATION, WITH A CASE STUDY OF JAPAN, 1920–1940
Authors: Liu Jianghua 
Published: December 2015

SummaryThe concept of marriage squeeze expects a positive association between marriage formation and the availability of preferred mates. Previous research to test the hypothesis has had mixed results owing to inconsistent marriage measures, inconsistent age focuses and insufficient attention to migration. This study derives kinetics equations of marriage formation to link cohort age-specific mate availability to migration-adjusted marriage rate/incidence, a measure in contrast to nominal marriage rate. On testing the equations with Japanese census data for 1920–1940, it is found that, in female cohorts, mate availability impacts first marriage rate at the life-course stage from 15–19 to 20–24 years, but not at later stages. Among young females, the decline in mate availability accounted for about 21% of the decline in first marriage rate over the period 1920–1940, when there was a trend towards later but not less marriage in Japan. The study suggests that the flexibility of mate/spouse choice in females varies along the marriageable life course and is more manifest at older ages. At young ages, however, the marriage squeeze hypothesis could hold, presumably because young women are evolutionarily shaped to be choosier, perhaps postponing their marriages when preferred mates are in short supply.
Feudal colonisation and socio-ecological transition in Mayûrqa (Muslim Majorca) in the thirteenth century
Authors: SOTO COMPANY RICARD , MAS FORNERS ANTONI 
Published: December 2015

ABSTRACTThe feudal colonisation of the Island of Majorca, traditionally considered part of the Spanish ‘Reconquista’, must be included in the greater process of European feudal expansion. The island was inhabited by people living in a Muslim society, not a feudal one. The conquest by Catalan lords meant the imposition of a new feudal class structure and a new use of natural resources on the conquered land. We summarise the composition and evolution of the three main components of this top-down imposed feudalism: the Muslim populations conquered and enslaved, the Catalan settlers and the entirely new agricultural landscape they created.
‘Contested Collisions’: Conditions for a Successful Collision Management – The Example of Article 16 of the Rome Statute
Authors: BLOME KERSTIN , MARKARD NORA 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis article examines the problem of colliding international regimes by reference to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN Security Council. Given the different logics or rationalities of these institutions – the Security Council is first and foremost a (power) political organ, while the ICC is in charge of legal assessments – the collision potential is high. A collision rule was therefore introduced into the Rome Statute in the form of Article 16; however, all instances of its application so far have been highly controversial. While norm application is always controversial to some extent, we argue – in reference to Thomas Franck's work on the legitimacy of international norms – that regime responsiveness, secondary rules or a neutral application control of Article 16 could contribute to successful collision management.
THE ETHNOHISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF CUAUHQUECHOLLAN, VALLEY OF ATLIXCO, MEXICO
Authors: Mysyk Avis , Morales Cano Lucero 
Published: December 2015

AbstractDespite the commercial, economic, and military importance of the Valley of Atlixco to the history of Mesoamerica, it has not received as much attention from ethnohistorians and archaeologists as it warrants. This paper illustrates that importance by attempting to correlate different types of evidence from the sites of Atlixco and Cuauhquechollan. Atlixco—the settlement referred to in the ethnohistoric sources as Cuauhquechollan—was occupied continuously from the Early Preclassic period to the middle of the Late Postclassic period (a.d.1443), when it was relocated 20 km to the southwest (present-day Huaquechula). The new settlement retained the name, Cuauhquechollan, while Atlixco became referred to as Huehuecuauhquechollan (Old Cuauhquechollan). The evidence consists of a variety of ethnohistoric sources, the archaeological record (settlement patterns and ceramic materials), and the iconography of Late Postclassic sculptures and carvings located in and around Huaquechula, and in the immediate vicinity of the Valley of Atlixco. In spite of the limitations of the different types of evidence, the findings suggest that there are sufficient points of overlap to allow for a better understanding of the importance of the Valley of Atlixco and to provide the impetus for further research.
HOLOCENE PALEOENVIRONMENT AND PREHISPANIC LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION IN THE BASIN OF MEXICO
Authors: McClung de Tapia Emily 
Published: December 2015

AbstractPaleoenvironmental and geoarchaeological data generated over the past three decades for parts of the Basin of Mexico are little known among archaeologists working in the region. This paper summarizes and evaluates what is currently known about the prehistoric environment, landscape development, and human impact in the region. Archaeological evidence indicates that human activity became important in ecosystem evolution in the basin during the Middle-Late Holocene. Most traditional paleoenvironmental studies based on lake sediments, however, generalize results corresponding to this period simply asevidence for human impact. Essentially the same vegetation communities extant in the basin today appear to have been present during most of the Holocene, albeit with broader distributions and variability in secondary taxa. Recognizing potential contributions of archaeology to understanding human adaptation to climatic and ecosystemic change, past and present, should stimulate future research on paleoenvironment in the region.