bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Somato-axodendritic release of oxytocin into the brain due to calcium amplification is essential for social memory
Authors: Higashida Haruhiro 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is released into the brain from the cell soma, axons, and dendrites of neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus. Locally released OT can activate OT receptors, form inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate and elevate intracellular free calcium (Ca2+) concentrations [(Ca2+)
i
] in self and neighboring neurons in the hypothalamus, resulting in further OT release: i.e., autocrine or paracrine systems of OT-induced OT release. CD38-dependent cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) is also involved in this autoregulation by elevating [Ca2+]
i
via Ca2+ mobilization through ryanodine receptors on intracellular Ca2+ pools that are sensitive to both Ca2+ and cADPR. In addition, it has recently been reported that heat stimulation and hyperthermia enhance [Ca2+]
i
increases by Ca2+ influx, probably through TRPM2 cation channels, suggesting that cADPR and TRPM2 molecules act as Ca2+ signal amplifiers. Thus, OT release is not simply due to depolarization–secretion coupling. Both of these molecules play critical roles not only during labor and milk ejection in reproductive females, but also during social behavior in daily life in both genders. This was clearly demonstrated in CD38 knockout mice in that social behavior was impaired by reduction of [Ca2+]
i
elevation and subsequent OT secretion. Evidence for the associations of CD38 with social behavior and psychiatric disorder is discussed, especially in subjects with autism spectrum disorder.
Benzodiazepine, psychotropic medication, and dementia: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Shash Dalia , Kurth Tobias , Bertrand Marion , Dufouil Carole , Barberger‐Gateau Pascale , Berr Claudine , Ritchie Karen , Dartigues Jean‐Francois , Bégaud Bernard , Alpérovitch Annick , Tzourio Christophe 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIntroductionBenzodiazepine use has been associated with increased risk of dementia. However, it remains unclear whether the risk relates to short or long half‐life benzodiazepines and whether it extends to other psychotropic drugs.MethodsProspective cohort study among 8240 individuals ≥65, interviewed on medication use. Incident dementia confirmed by an end point committee after a multistep procedure.ResultsDuring a mean of 8 years of follow‐up, 830 incident dementia cases were observed. Users of benzodiazepines at baseline had a 10% increased risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.90–1.34). However, long half‐life (>20 hours) benzodiazepine users had a marked increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.62; 1.11–2.37) compared with short half‐life users (HR = 1.05; 0.85–1.30). Users of psychotropics had an increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.47; 1.16–1.86).DiscussionResults of this large, prospective study show increased risk of dementia for long half‐life benzodiazepine and psychotropic use.
Looks good to me: How eye movements influence product evaluation
Authors: Shen Hao , Rao Akshay 
Published: November 2015

AbstractWhen processing visually presented information, people move their eyes. This eye movement is governed by the employment of a general motor procedure related to direction. In three studies, we show that when subjects re‐employ this directional motor procedure (that had been employed in a prior or contemporaneous (unrelated) task) when evaluating a product, a perception of fluency ensues, and this perception of fluency is then misattributed to the product under evaluation and enhances evaluations. We demonstrate the effect for intra‐modal (repetition of eye movement) as well as cross‐modal (contemporaneous eye and finger movements) settings.
Daily Physical Activity Is Associated with Subcortical Brain Volume and Cognition in Heart Failure
Authors: Alosco Michael L. , Brickman Adam M. , Spitznagel Mary Beth , Sweet Lawrence H. , Josephson Richard , Griffith Erica Y. , Narkhede Atul , Hughes Joel , Gunstad John 
Published: November 2015

AbstractCognitive impairment in heart failure (HF) is believed to in part stem from structural brain alterations, including shrinkage of subcortical regions. Fortunately, neurocognitive dysfunction in HF can be mitigated by physical activity (PA), though mechanisms for this phenomenon are unclear. PA is protective against age-related cognitive decline that may involve improved structural integrity to brain regions sensitive to aging (e.g., subcortical structures). Yet, no study has examined the benefits of PA on the brain in HF and we sought to do so and clarify related cognitive implications. Fifty older adults with HF completed a neuropsychological battery and wore an accelerometer for 7 days. All participants underwent brain MRI. This study targeted subcortical brain volume given subcortical alterations are often observed in HF and the sensitivity of PA to subcortical structures in other patient populations. Participants averaged 4348.49 (SD=2092.08) steps per day and greater daily steps predicted better attention/executive function, episodic memory, and language abilities, p’s<.05. Medical and demographically adjusted regression analyses revealed higher daily steps per day predicted greater subcortical volume, with specific effects for the thalamus and ventral diencephalon, p’s<.05. Greater subcortical volume was associated with better attention/executive function, p<.05. Higher daily PA was associated with increased subcortical brain volume and better cognition in older adults with HF. Longitudinal work is needed to clarify whether daily PA can attenuate brain atrophy in HF to reduce accelerated cognitive decline in this population. (JINS, 2015, 21, 851–860)
Physical Activity Is Positively Associated with Episodic Memory in Aging
Authors: Hayes Scott M. , Alosco Michael L. , Hayes Jasmeet P. , Cadden Margaret , Peterson Kristina M. , Allsup Kelly , Forman Daniel E. , Sperling Reisa A. , Verfaellie Mieke 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAging is associated with performance reductions in executive function and episodic memory, although there is substantial individual variability in cognition among older adults. One factor that may be positively associated with cognition in aging is physical activity. To date, few studies have objectively assessed physical activity in young and older adults, and examined whether physical activity is differentially associated with cognition in aging. Young (n=29, age 18–31 years) and older adults (n=31, ages 55–82 years) completed standardized neuropsychological testing to assess executive function and episodic memory capacities. An experimental face-name relational memory task was administered to augment assessment of episodic memory. Physical activity (total step count and step rate) was objectively assessed using an accelerometer, and hierarchical regressions were used to evaluate relationships between cognition and physical activity. Older adults performed more poorly on tasks of executive function and episodic memory. Physical activity was positively associated with a composite measure of visual episodic memory and face-name memory accuracy in older adults. Physical activity associations with cognition were independent of sedentary behavior, which was negatively correlated with memory performance. Physical activity was not associated with cognitive performance in younger adults. Physical activity is positively associated with episodic memory performance in aging. The relationship appears to be strongest for face-name relational memory and visual episodic memory, likely attributable to the fact that these tasks make strong demands on the hippocampus. The results suggest that physical activity relates to cognition in older, but not younger adults. (JINS, 2015, 21, 780–790)
Prefrontal and Hippocampal Brain Volume Deficits: Role of Low Physical Activity on Brain Plasticity in First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: McEwen Sarah C. , Hardy Anthony , Ellingson Benjamin M. , Jarrahi Behnaz , Sandhu Navjot , Subotnik Kenneth L. , Ventura Joseph , Nuechterlein Keith H. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractOur objective in the present study was to conduct the first empirical study of the effects of regular physical activity habits and their relationship with brain volume and cortical thickness in patients in the early phase of schizophrenia. Relationships between larger brain volumes and higher physical activity levels have been reported in samples of healthy and aging populations, but have never been explored in first-episode schizophrenia patients. Method: We collected MRI structural scans in 14 first-episode schizophrenia patients with either self-reported low or high physical activity levels. We found a reduction in total gray matter volume, prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hippocampal gray matter volumes in the low physical activity group compared to the high activity group. Cortical thickness in the dorsolateral and orbitofrontal PFC were also significantly reduced in the low physical activity group compared to the high activity group. In the combined sample, greater overall physical activity levels showed a non-significant tendency with better performance on tests of verbal memory and social cognition. Together these pilot study findings suggest that greater amounts of physical activity may have a positive influence on brain health and cognition in first-episode schizophrenia patients and support the implementation of physical exercise interventions in this patient population to improve brain plasticity and cognitive functioning. (JINS, 2015, 21, 868–879)
Influence of Physical Activity on Human Sensory Long-Term Potentiation
Authors: Smallwood Nicola , Spriggs Meg J. , Thompson Christopher S. , Wu Carolyn C. , Hamm Jeff P. , Moreau David , Kirk Ian J. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractA growing body of literature has explored the influence of physical activity on brain structure and function. While the mechanisms of this relationship remain largely speculative, recent research suggests that one of the effects of physical exercise is an increase in synaptic long-term potentiation (LTP). This has not yet been explored directly in humans due to the difficulty of measuring LTP non-invasively. However, we have previously established that LTP-like changes in visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) can be measured in humans. Here, we investigated whether physical fitness status affects the degree of visual sensory LTP. Using a self-report measure of physical activity, participants were split into two groups: a high-activity group, and a low-activity group. LTP was measured and compared between the two groups using the previously established electroencephalography-LTP paradigm, which assesses the degree to which the N1b component of the VEP elicited by a sine grating is potentiated (enhanced) following a rapid “tetanic” presentation of that grating. Both groups demonstrated increased negativity in the amplitude of the N1b component of the VEP immediately after presentation of the visual “tetanus,” indicating potentiation. However, after a 30-min rest period, the N1b for the high-activity group remained potentiated while the N1b for the low-activity group returned to baseline. This study presents the first evidence for the impact of self-reported levels of physical activity on LTP in humans, and sheds light on potential neurological mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical fitness and cognition. (JINS, 2015, 21, 831–840)
Role of necroptosis in the pathogenesis of solid organ injury
Authors: Zhao H , Jaffer T , Eguchi S , Wang Z , Linkermann A , Ma D 
Published: November 2015

AbstractNecroptosis is a type of regulated cell death dependent on the activity of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein (RIP) kinases. However, unlike apoptosis, it is caspase independent. Increasing evidence has implicated necroptosis in the pathogenesis of disease, including ischemic injury, neurodegeneration, viral infection and many others. Key players of the necroptosis signalling pathway are now widely recognized as therapeutic targets. Necrostatins may be developed as potent inhibitors of necroptosis, targeting the activity of RIPK1. Necrostatin-1, the first generation of necrostatins, has been shown to confer potent protective effects in different animal models. This review will summarize novel insights into the involvement of necroptosis in specific injury of different organs, and the therapeutic platform that it provides for treatment.
Blue light-induced retinal lesions, intraretinal vascular leakage and edema formation in the all-cone mouse retina
Authors: Geiger P , Barben M , Grimm C , Samardzija M 
Published: November 2015

AbstractLittle is known about the mechanisms underlying macular degenerations, mainly for the scarcity of adequate experimental models to investigate cone cell death. Recently, we generated R91W;Nrl−/− double-mutant mice, which display a well-ordered all-cone retina with normal retinal vasculature and a strong photopic function that generates useful vision. Here we exposed R91W;Nrl−/− and wild-type (wt) mice to toxic levels of blue light and analyzed their retinas at different time points post illumination (up to 10 days). While exposure of wt mice resulted in massive pyknosis in a focal region of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), the exposure of R91W;Nrl−/− mice led to additional cell death detected within the inner nuclear layer. Microglia/macrophage infiltration at the site of injury was more pronounced in the all-cone retina of R91W;Nrl−/− than in wt mice. Similarly, vascular leakage was abundant in the inner and outer retina in R91W;Nrl−/− mice, whereas it was mild and restricted to the subretinal space in wt mice. This was accompanied by retinal swelling and the appearance of cystoid spaces in both inner and ONLs of R91W;Nrl−/− mice indicating edema in affected areas. In addition, basal expression levels of tight junction protein-1 encoding ZO1 were lower in R91W;Nrl−/− than in wt retinas. Collectively, our data suggest that exposure of R91W;Nrl−/− mice to blue light not only induces cone cell death but also disrupts the inner blood–retinal barrier. Macular edema in humans is a result of diffuse capillary leakage and microaneurysms in the macular region. Blue light exposure of the R91W;Nrl−/− mouse could therefore be used to study molecular events preceding edema formation in a cone-rich environment, and thus potentially help to develop treatment strategies for edema-based complications in macular degenerations.
Combining Spinach-tagged RNA and gene localization to image gene expression in live yeast
Authors: Guet David , Burns Laura T. , Maji Suman , Boulanger Jérôme , Hersen Pascal , Wente Susan R. , Salamero Jean , Dargemont Catherine 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAlthough many factors required for the formation of export-competent mRNPs have been described, an integrative view of the spatiotemporal coordinated cascade leading mRNPs from their site of transcription to their site of nuclear exit, at a single cell level, is still partially missing due to technological limitations. Here we report that the RNA Spinach aptamer is a powerful tool for mRNA imaging in live S. cerevisiae with high spatial-temporal resolution and no perturbation of the mRNA biogenesis properties. Dedicated image processing workflows are developed to allow detection of very low abundance of transcripts, accurate quantitative dynamic studies, as well as to provide a localization precision close to 100 nm at consistent time scales. Combining these approaches has provided a state-of-the-art analysis of the osmotic shock response in live yeast by localizing induced transcription factors, target gene loci and corresponding transcripts.
Topology-generating interfacial pattern formation during liquid metal dealloying
Authors: Geslin Pierre-Antoine , McCue Ian , Gaskey Bernard , Erlebacher Jonah , Karma Alain 
Published: November 2015

AbstractLiquid metal dealloying has emerged as a novel technique to produce topologically complex nanoporous and nanocomposite structures with ultra-high interfacial area and other unique properties relevant for diverse material applications. This process is empirically known to require the selective dissolution of one element of a multicomponent solid alloy into a liquid metal to obtain desirable structures. However, how structures form is not known. Here we demonstrate, using mesoscale phase-field modelling and experiments, that nano/microstructural pattern formation during dealloying results from the interplay of (i) interfacial spinodal decomposition, forming compositional domain structures enriched in the immiscible element, and (ii) diffusion-coupled growth of the enriched solid phase and the liquid phase into the alloy. We highlight how those two basic mechanisms interact to yield a rich variety of topologically disconnected and connected structures. Moreover, we deduce scaling laws governing microstructural length scales and dealloying kinetics.
Size Dependent Plasmonic Effect on BiVO4 Photoanodes for Solar Water Splitting
Authors: Zhang Liwu , Herrmann Lars O. , Baumberg Jeremy J. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractPlasmonic nanostructures show great promise in enhancing the solar water splitting efficiency due to their ability to confine light to extremely small volumes inside semiconductors. While size plays a critical role in the plasmonic performance of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs), its influence on plasmon-assisted water splitting is still not fully understood. This holds especially true for low band gap semiconductors, for which interband excitations occur in wavelength regions that overlap with plasmonic resonances. Here, BiVO4 films are modified with AuNPs of diameters varying from 10 to 80 nm to study the size dependence of the plasmonic effect. Plasmon resonance energy transfer (PRET) is found to be the dominant effect in enhancing the water splitting efficiency of BiVO4. “Hot electron” injection effect is weak in the case of BiVO4/AuNP. This is attributed to the interband excitation of BiVO4, which is unfavourable for the hot electrons accumulation in BiVO4 conduction band. The resonant scattering effect also contributes to the enhanced water splitting efficiency for the larger diameter AuNPs. It is also for the first time found that higher PRET effect can be achieved at larger off-normal irradiation angle.
Significant contribution of stacking faults to the strain hardening behavior of Cu-15%Al alloy with different grain sizes
Authors: Tian Y. Z. , Zhao L. J. , Chen S. , Shibata A. , Zhang Z. F. , Tsuji N. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIt is commonly accepted that twinning can induce an increase of strain-hardening rate during the tensile process of face-centered cubic (FCC) metals and alloys with low stacking fault energy (SFE). In this study, we explored the grain size effect on the strain-hardening behavior of a Cu-15 at.%Al alloy with low SFE. Instead of twinning, we detected a significant contribution of stacking faults (SFs) irrespective of the grain size even in the initial stage of tensile process. In contrast, twinning was more sensitive to the grain size and the onset of deformation twins might be postponed to a higher strain with increasing the grain size. In the Cu-15 at.%Al alloy with a mean grain size of 47 μm, there was a stage where the strain-hardening rate increases with strain and this was mainly induced by the SFs instead of twinning. Thus in parallel with the TWIP effect, we proposed that SFs also contribute significantly to the plasticity of FCC alloys with low SFE.
Linker histone H1.2 establishes chromatin compaction and gene silencing through recognition of H3K27me3
Authors: Kim Jin-Man , Kim Kyunghwan , Punj Vasu , Liang Gangning , Ulmer Tobias S. , Lu Wange , An Woojin 
Published: November 2015

AbstractLinker histone H1 is a protein component of chromatin and has been linked to higher-order chromatin compaction and global gene silencing. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that H1 plays a gene-specific role, regulating a relatively small number of genes. Here we show that H1.2, one of the H1 subtypes, is overexpressed in cancer cells and contributes to gene silencing. H1.2 gets recruited to distinct chromatin regions in a manner dependent on EZH2-mediated H3K27me3 and inhibits transcription of multiple growth suppressive genes via modulation of chromatin architecture. The C-terminal tail of H1.2 is critical for the observed effects, because mutations of three H1.2-specific amino acids in this domain abrogate the ability of H1.2 to bind H3K27me3 nucleosomes and inactivate target genes. Collectively, these results provide a molecular explanation for H1.2 functions in the regulation of chromatin folding and indicate that H3K27me3 is a key mechanism governing the recruitment and activity of H1.2 at target loci.
Internal-Modified Dithiol DNA–Directed Au Nanoassemblies: Geometrically Controlled Self–Assembly and Quantitative Surface–Enhanced Raman Scattering Properties
Authors: Yan Yuan , Shan Hangyong , Li Min , Chen Shu , Liu Jianyu , Cheng Yanfang , Ye Cui , Yang Zhilin , Lai Xuandi , Hu Jianqiang 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn this work, a hierarchical DNA–directed self–assembly strategy to construct structure–controlled Au nanoassemblies (NAs) has been demonstrated by conjugating Au nanoparticles (NPs) with internal–modified dithiol single-strand DNA (ssDNA) (Au–B–A or A–B–Au–B–A). It is found that the dithiol–ssDNA–modified Au NPs and molecule quantity of thiol–modified ssDNA grafted to Au NPs play critical roles in the assembly of geometrically controlled Au NAs. Through matching Au–DNA self–assembly units, geometrical structures of the Au NAs can be tailored from one–dimensional (1D) to quasi–2D and 2D. Au–B–A conjugates readily give 1D and quasi–2D Au NAs while 2D Au NAs can be formed by A–B–Au–B–A building blocks. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements and 3D finite–difference time domain (3D-FDTD) calculation results indicate that the geometrically controllable Au NAs have regular and linearly “hot spots”–number–depended SERS properties. For a certain number of NPs, the number of “hot spots” and accordingly enhancement factor of Au NAs can be quantitatively evaluated, which open a new avenue for quantitative analysis based on SERS technique.
U-shaped relationship between current and pitch in helicene molecules
Authors: Guo Yan-Dong , Yan Xiao-Hong , Xiao Yang , Liu Chun-Sheng 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe helicene is constructed by twisted benzene or other aromatic rings, exhibiting a helical structure. Using first-principles calculations, we investigate the electronic transport of helicenes under stretching or compressing. Interestingly, a U-shaped curve of the current against d (the pitch of a helicene) is observed. Further analysis shows that, it is the result of the nonmonotonic change of HOMO-LUMO gap with d. The change of overlap between orbitals induced by conformational deformation is found to be the underlying mechanism. Moreover, the U-curve phenomenon is an intrinsic feature of the helicene molecules, being robust to the electrode materials or doping. This U-curve behavior is expected to be extended to helical graphene or other related structures, showing great application potential.