bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA miR-29 controls a compensatory response to limit neuronal iron accumulation during adult life and aging
Authors: Ripa Roberto , Dolfi Luca , Terrigno Marco , Pandolfini Luca , Arcucci Valeria , Groth Marco , Terzibasi Eva Tozzini , Baumgart Mario , Cellerino Alessandro 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIron is an essential metal cofactor for enzymes involved in many cellular functions such as energy generation and cell proliferation. However, excessive iron concentration leads to increased oxidative stress and toxicity. As such, iron homeostasis is strictly controlled by two RNA binding proteins known as Iron Regulatory Proteins (IRPs) that regulate at post-transcriptional level the expression of iron management genes. Despite this fine regulation, impairment of iron homeostasis occurs during aging: iron progressively accumulates in several organs and in turn, it exacerbates cellular vulnerability and tissue decay. Moreover, excessive iron accumulation within the CNS is observed in many neurodegenerative diseases. We investigated the age-dependent changes of iron homeostasis using the short lived fish Nothobranchius furzeri. Here, we show that i) both iron content and expression of microRNA family miR-29 increase during adult life and aging in the N. furzeri brain; ii) iron up-regulates miR-29 expression in fish brain and murine neurons, while in turn miR-29 targets the 3′-UTR of IREB2 mRNA, reducing iron intake; iii) Transgenic fish with knock-down of miR-29 show significant adult-onset up-regulation of IRP2 and its target TFR1 in neurons and display enhanced age-dependent accumulation of brain iron; iv) miR-29 triggers a global gene expression response that partially overlaps with that induced by aging.Our studies indicate that miR-29 modulates intracellular iron homeostasis and is up-regulated as an adaptive response to limit excessive iron accumulation and prevent early-onset aging processes.
Simultaneous fMRI and eye gaze recordings during prolonged natural stimulation - a studyforrest extension
Authors: Hanke Michael , Adelhöfer Nico , Kottke Daniel , Iacovella Vittorio , Sengupta Ayan , Kaule Falko R. , Nigbur Roland , Waite Alexander Q. , Baumgartner Florian J. , Stadler Jörg 
Published: April 2016

AbstractHere we present an update of thestudyforrest(http://studyforrest.org) dataset that complements the previously released functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data for natural language processing with a new two-hour 3Tesla fMRI acquisition while 15 of the original participants were shown anaudio-visualversion of the stimulus motion picture. We demonstrate with two validation analyses that these new data support modeling specific properties of the complex natural stimulus, as well as a substantial within-subject BOLD response congruency in brain areas related to the processing of auditory inputs, speech, and narrative when compared to the existing fMRI data for audio-only stimulation. In addition, we provide participants’ eye gaze location as recorded simultaneously with fMRI, and an additional sample of 15 control participants whose eye gaze trajectories for the entire movie were recorded in a lab setting — to enable studies on attentional processes and comparative investigations on the potential impact of the stimulation setting on these processes.
The Impact of African and Brazilian Zika virus isolates on neuroprogenitors
Authors: Campanati Loraine , Higa Luiza M. , Delvecchio Rodrigo , Pezzuto Paula , Valadão Ana Luiza , Monteiro Fábio L. , Ventura Grasiella M. , Veríssimo Carla , Bispo De Filippis Ana M. , Aguiar Renato S. , Tanuri Amilcar 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIn the last few months, an overwhelming number of people have been exposed to the Zika virus (ZIKV) in South and Central America. Here we showed,in vitro, that a Brazilian isolate impacts more severely murine neuronal progenitors and neurons than the African strain MR766. We found that the Brazilian isolate more pronouncedly inhibits neurite extension from neurospheres, alters their differentiation potential and causes neurons to have less and shorter processes. Comparing both lineages using a panel of inflammatory cytokines, we showed, with human neuroblastoma cells, that ZIKV induces the production of several inflammatory and chemotactic cytokines and once again, the Brazilian isolate had a more significant impact. Although much more needs to be studied regarding the association of ZIKV infection and brain damage during development, our study sheds some light into the differences between African and American lineages and the mechanisms by which the virus may be affecting neurogenesis.
Predicting plant biomass accumulation from image-derived parameters
Authors: Chen Dijun , Shi Rongli , Pape Jean-Michel , Klukas Christian 
Published: April 2016

AbstractImage-based high-throughput phenotyping technologies have been rapidly developed in plant science recently and they provide a great potential to gain more valuable information than traditionally destructive methods. Predicting plant biomass is regarded as a key purpose for plant breeders and ecologist. However, it is a great challenge to find a suitable model to predict plant biomass in the context of high-throughput phenotyping. In the present study, we constructed several models to examine the quantitative relationship between image-based features and plant biomass accumulation. Our methodology has been applied to three consecutive barley experiments with control and stress treatments. The results proved that plant biomass can be accurately predicted from image-based parameters using a random forest model. The high prediction accuracy based on this model, in particular the cross-experiment performance, is promising to relieve the phenotyping bottleneck in biomass measurement in breeding applications. The relative contribution of individual features for predicting biomass was further quantified, revealing new insights into the phenotypic determinants of plant biomass outcome. What’s more, the methods could also be used to determine the most important image-based features related to plant biomass accumulation, which would be promising for subsequent genetic mapping to uncover the genetic basis of biomass.One-sentence SummaryWe demonstrated that plant biomass can be accurately predicted from image-based parameters in the context of high-throughput phenotyping.FootnotesThis work was supported by the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), the Robert Bosch Stiftung (32.5.8003.0116.0) and the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BEL, 15/12-13, 530-06.01-BiKo CHN) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, 0315958A and 031A053B). This research was furthermore enabled with support of the European Plant Phenotyping Network (EPPN, grant agreement no. 284443) funded by the FP7 Research Infrastructures Programme of the European Union.
Distorting effects of competition authority’s performance measurement: the case of Russia
Authors: Avdasheva Svetlana , Golovanova Svetlana , Korneeva Dina 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explain the impact of the incentives of competition authorities concerning antitrust enforcement on the structure of enforcement and understanding of the substantive norms and welfare standards in Russia using case-level evidence.Design/methodology/approach– The study is based on a unique data set of appeals to infringement decisions in 2008-2012. Quantitative and qualitative analyses are applied to derive an understanding of the targets of competition policy in the practice of enforcement.Findings– The analysis reveals that the majority of cases would never be investigated under conventional understanding of the goals of antitrust enforcement. It is also shown that antitrust authorities tend to investigate cases that require less input but result in infringement decisions with lower probability of being annulled and lower cost to proceed. Structure of enforcement is skewed toward cases where harm serves as independent and sufficient evidence of competition law violation.Originality/value– The results show that it is dangerous to motivate authority and public servants based either on number of tasks completed or completeness of tasks when they are heterogeneous in terms of difficulty and where easier ones provide lower positive effects on welfare. Judicial reviews may poorly contribute to performance measurement under a discretionary choice of enforcement targets.
Integrating public service motivation and self-determination theory
Authors: Andrews Christina 
Published: April 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to present a framework integrating theoretical insights, empirical research and practical advice emerging from public service motivation (PSM) and self-determination theory (SDT). It aims at demonstrating that, while PSM shows the relevance of public values for motivation, SDT explains how context affects it. Taking the two theoretical approaches as complementary to one another and by pointing out their “static” and “dynamic” features, the framework provides a theoretical foundation for organizational practices aimed at enhancing motivation in the public services.Design/methodology/approach– The framework is based on a review of PSM and SDT theoretical concepts and empirical studies; the analysis examines the implications and contributions of each approach to the understanding of motivation in the public services.Findings– The paper demonstrates that PSM and SDT are complementary theoretical approaches and that this complementarity can provide clearer guidance to practitioners and widen the understanding of motivation in the public services.Research limitations/implications– The framework considers only a few features pertaining motivation in the public services, such as public values, basic needs satisfaction, prosocial behaviour and socialization. Further research should explore additional factors.Practical implications– The framework provides an explanation of why some practices are likely to enhance motivation in the public services, while others are likely to deplete it.Originality/value– The framework does not limit itself to proposing the theoretical integration of PSM and SDT, but connects this integration to organizational practices.
Perfume Finishing of Cotton/Polyester Fabric Cross-linked with DMDHEU in Presence of Softeners
Authors: Ibrahim N. A. , El-Sayed Z. M. , Fahmy H. M. , Hassabo A. G. , Abo-Shosha M. H. 
Published: April 2016

The inclusion of softeners (20 g/l), namely, Siligen VN (silicon based), Basosoft SWK (cationic), or Leomin NI (nonionic), in a dimethyloldihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU, 50 g/l) finishing formulation of 65/35 cotton/polyester blended fabric, enhances the resiliency of the fabric, which is expressed as the dry wrinkle recovery angle (WRA). The fabric acquires the ability to keep a rose oil fragrance upon storage up to 3 months. Improving the WRA and acquiring the ability to keep the fragrance can be descendingly arranged as follows: Siligen VN>Basosoft SWK>Leomin NI. Increasing the Siligen VN concentration (0-30 g/l) in the finishing formulation is accompanied by a small increase in the WRA, and a noticeable enhancement in the ability to keep the rose oil fragrance upon storage. By increasing the rose oil concentration (100-300 g/l) in a perfumed bath of cross-linked/Siligen VN, the softened fabric is accompanied by a slight drop in the WRA, and a decreasing ability to keep the fragrance up to 3 months.
However, the extent of the fragrance is higher at higher rose oil concentrations, regardless of the storage time. The ability of the fabric to keep the fragrance can be attributed to solubilization and/or encapsulation of the perfume in the oleophilic segments of the softener, and its slow release with time, so that the smell can be sensed. This ability decreases after increasing the storage time up to 3 months, and depending on the type of perfume oil used, is descendingly arranged as follows: jasmine oil > rose oil > sandal oil.
Habitat preference of the striped legless lizard: Implications of grazing by native herbivores and livestock for conservation of grassland biota
Authors: Howland Brett W. A. , Stojanovic Dejan , Gordon Iain J. , Fletcher Don , Snape Melissa , Stirnemann Ingrid A. , Lindenmayer David B. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractAcross the globe, many species of reptile are threatened with extinction, with changes in grazing pressure as a significant factor in their decline. Few studies have investigated the role of native herbivores, yet studying natural grazers may provide insight into natural grazing regimes, not apparent in studies of domestic livestock. In this study, we investigate the habitat requirements of a threatened Australian grassland reptile, the striped legless lizard,Delma impar, in grasslands grazed by a native herbivore, the eastern grey kangarooMacropus giganteus.Delma imparappears sensitive to habitat change resulting from altered grazing intensity, but a lack of information hinders implementation of appropriate grazing regimes. To address this gap, we investigated habitat preferences ofD. imparat multiple spatial scales across a grazing gradient. We found that the occurrence ofD. imparwas not affected by the size of grassland remnants, but was negatively related to the density of native grazers. This result was likely a consequence of the negative effect of high grazing intensity on grass structural complexity, as the probability of encountering aD. imparwas positively related to grass structural complexity at the fine scale (1 m2). We recommend that conservation efforts should avoid high intensity grazing (equivalent to > 1.3 kangaroos/ha), yet ensure enough grazing disturbance is maintained to promote the formation of complex grass structures. We also recommend that small floristically degraded and fragmented grassland habitat should be included in conservation efforts. These recommendations will likely benefit a number of faunal species in grasslands grazed by domestic and native grazers. Importantly, our data highlight the need for managing grazing regimes, even in environments dominated by native herbivores.
Titanium: a review on exposure, release, penetration, allergy, epidemiology, and clinical reactivity
Authors: Fage Simon W. , Muris Joris , Jakobsen Stig S. , Thyssen Jacob P. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryExposure to titanium (Ti) from implants and from personal care products as nanoparticles (NPs) is common. This article reviews exposure sources, ion release, skin penetration, allergenic effects, and diagnostic possibilities. We conclude that human exposure to Ti mainly derives from dental and medical implants, personal care products, and foods. Despite being considered to be highly biocompatible relative to other metals, Ti is released in the presence of biological fluids and tissue, especially under certain circumstances, which seem to be more likely with regard to dental implants. Although most of the studies reviewed have important limitations, Ti seems not to penetrate a competent skin barrier, either as pure Ti, alloy, or as Ti oxideNPs. However, there are some indications of Ti penetration through the oral mucosa. We conclude that patch testing with the available Ti preparations for detection of typeIVhypersensitivity is currently inadequate for Ti. Although several other methods for contact allergy detection have been suggested, including lymphocyte stimulation tests, none has yet been generally accepted, and the diagnosis of Ti allergy is therefore still based primarily on clinical evaluation. Reports on clinical allergy and adverse events have rarely been published. Whether this is because of unawareness of possible adverse reactions to this specific metal, difficulties in detection methods, or the metal actually being relatively safe to use, is still unresolved.
Messung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität bei erwachsenen Patienten mit birkenpollenassoziierter Nahrungsmittelallergie
Authors: Beyer Susanne , Franke Annegret , Simon Jan Christoph , Treudler Regina 
Published: April 2016

ZusammenfassungHintergrund: Der „Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire – Adult Form“ (FAQLQ‐AF) ist der erste frei verfügbare Fragebogen zur Erfassung der gesundheitsbezogenen Lebensqualität (health‐related quality of life; HRQL) bei Erwachsenen mit Nahrungsmittelallergie (NMA). Wir präsentieren Daten zur Validierung der deutschsprachigen Version sowie zur HRQL bei Patienten mit birkenpollenassoziierter NMA.Patienten und Methodik: Die niederländische Version des FAQLQ‐AF (Skala 1–7, kein – extremer Einfluss) wurde ins Deutsche übersetzt. Dreiundsiebzig Patienten mit anamnestisch vorhandener birkenpollenassoziierter NMA (52 Frauen, medianes Alter 43 Jahre) beantworteten Fragen zu Auslösern und Symptomen der NMA sowie den FAQLQ‐AF. Konstruktvalidität, diskriminative Validität sowie interne Konsistenz des FAQLQ‐AF wurden gemessen.Ergebnisse: Häufigste auslösende Nahrungsmittel waren: Äpfel (78 %), Haselnüsse (75 %), Sojadrinks (55 %) und Karotten (52 %). Ausschließlich ein orales Allergiesyndrom (OAS) gaben 30 % an, 64 % ein OAS mit weiteren Symptomen, 6 % nur weitere Nicht‐OAS‐Symptome. Der deutschsprachige FAQLQ‐AF zeigte eine sehr gute Konstruktvalidität (Korrelation mit food allergy independent measure [FAIM]: r = 0,81; p < 0,001) und eine exzellente interne Konsistenz (Cronbachs α = 0,98). Der mittlere FAQL‐AF Gesamtwert lag bei 3,7 (± 1,6). Der deutschsprachige FAQLQ‐AF zeigte bei Frauen, älteren Patienten und solchen mit vielfältigen relevanten Nahrungsmittelallergenen eine stärkere Beeinträchtigung der HRQL.Schlussfolgerung: Der deutschsprachige FAQLQ‐AF ist ein zuverlässiges und valides Messinstrument um die HRQL bei Patienten mit birkenpollenassoziierter NMA zu messen.
The changing circumstance of atrial fibrillation ‐ progress towards precision medicine
Authors: Camm A. J. , Savelieva I. , Potpara T. , Hindriks G. , Pison L. , Blömstrom‐Lundqvist C. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general population is between 1% and 2% in the developed world and is higher in men than in women. The arrhythmia occurs much more commonly in the elderly, and the estimated lifetime risk of developingAFis one in four for men and women aged 40 years and above. Projected data from multiple population‐based studies in theUSAand Europe predict a two‐ to threefold increase in the number ofAFpatients by 2060. The high lifetime risk ofAFand increased longevity underscore the important public health burden posed by this arrhythmia worldwide.AFhas multiple aetiologies and a broad variety of presentations. The primary pathologies underlying or promoting the occurrence ofAFvary more than for any other cardiac arrhythmia, ranging from autonomic imbalance to organic heart disease and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, hyperthyroidism and kidney disease, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and participation in endurance sports. Biomarkers are increasingly being investigated and, together with clinical and genetic factors, will eventually lead to a clinically valuable detailed classification ofAFwhich will also incorporate pathophysiological determinants and mechanisms of the arrhythmia. In turn, this will allow the development and application of precision medicine to this troublesome arrhythmia.
Wide variation in estimates of global prevalence and burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infection cited in published literature
Authors: Basnayake S. K. , Easterbrook P. J. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryTo evaluate the extent of heterogeneity in global estimates of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) cited in the published literature, we undertook a systematic review of the published literature. We identified articles from 2010 to 2014 that had cited global estimates for at least one of ten indicators [prevalence and numbers infected with HBV, HCV, HIV‐HBV or HIV‐HCV co‐infection, and mortality (number of deaths annually) for HBV and HCV]. Overall, 488 articles were retrieved: 239 articles cited a HBV‐related global estimate [prevalence (n = 12), number infected (n = 193) and number of annual deaths (n = 82)]; 280 articles had HCV‐related global estimates [prevalence (n = 86), number infected (n = 203) and number of annual deaths (n = 31)]; 31 had estimates on both HBV and HCV; 54 had HIV‐HBV co‐infection estimates [prevalence (n = 42) and number co‐infected (n = 12)]; and 68 had estimates for HIV‐HCV co‐infection [prevalence (n = 40) and number co‐infected (n = 28)]. There was considerable heterogeneity in the estimates cited and also a lack of consistency in the terminology used. Although 40% of 488 articles cited WHO as the source of the estimate, many of these were from outdated or secondary sources. Our findings highlight the importance of clear and consistent communication from WHO and other global health agencies on current consensus estimates of hepatitis B and C burden and prevalence, the need for standardisation in their citation, and for regular updates.
Effect of a New Annular Incision on Biomechanical Properties of the Intervertebral Disc
Authors: Fu Ling‐jie , Chen Chang‐sheng , Xie You‐zhuan , Yang Jian‐wei , Sun Xiao‐jiang , Zhang Pu 
Published: April 2016

ObjectiveTo compare the biomechanical properties of a novel annular incision technique, an oblique incision made approximately 60° to the spinal column, with the traditional transverse and longitudinal annular slit incision in an ex vivo sheep lumbar spine model.MethodsSixteen sheep lumbar spines were used for the current ex vivo biomechanical comparative study. Functional spine unit (FSU) specimens composed of two vertebrae and one disc in the middle was cut from the whole lumbar spine. Annular slit incisions of 5 mm were made in different directions with a 15‐blade knife at the intervertebral disc, following which partial discectomy was performed to produce the following groups: control with no incision, transverse slit, longitudinal slit and oblique slit groups. The specimens were then subjected to flexion‐extension, lateral bending, axial rotation and compression tests.ResultsAs expected, the control group showed the least range of motion (ROM) in the flexion‐extension test. The oblique slit group showed a trend toward a smaller ROM than the transverse and longitudinal groups in 1, 2, 3 and 5 Nm flexion‐extension tests; these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In addition, the transverse (5.80° ± 0.20°), longitudinal (5.77° ± 0.67°) and oblique (5.47° ± 0.43°) slit groups showed a significantly larger ROM than the control group (3.22° ± 0.28°) in 2 Nm lateral bending tests (P < 0.05). Compared with the transverse and longitudinal groups, the oblique group also showed a trend toward a smaller ROM in lateral bending tests (P > 0.05). Following increments in the axial torsion force, the ROM was greater in all four experimental groups than the ROM with 1 Nm axial torsion. Furthermore, a significantly smaller axial rotational ROM was found in the oblique than the transverse group for 1 and 5 Nm force (P < 0.05). With increase in the axial force to 5 Nm, the ROM in the oblique slit group (4.71° ± 0.52°) was significantly smaller than that in the transverse group (7.25° ± 0.46°, P < 0.05), but not significantly different from that of the longitudinal slit group (5.84° ± 0.23°, P > 0.05). Comparable ultimate loads to failure were found in the oblique, transverse and longitudinal groups; the highest ultimate load to failure being in the control group (P > 0.05).ConclusionThe novel oblique slit annular incision to the intervertebral disc showed a trend toward better biomechanical properties than the traditional transverse and longitudinal slit incisions.