bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investment in attending to cues and the evolution of amplifiers
Authors: Hackett S. , Ruxton G. D. , Schaefer H. M. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractSignals and cues are extensively used in social interactions across diverse communication systems. Here, we extend an existing theoretical framework to explore investment by emitters and perceivers in the fidelity with which cues and signals associated with the former are detected by the latter. Traits of the emitter that improve cue or signal fidelity without adding information are termed ‘amplifiers’. We assume that each party can invest in improving fidelity but that it is increasingly costly the more fidelity is improved. Our model predicts that evolution of amplifier traits of a pre‐existing cue occurs over a broader range of circumstances than evolution of signalling in situations where the emitter offered no pre‐existing cue to the perceiver. It further predicts that the greater the intrinsic informational value of a cue, the more likely it is that the perceiver (and not the emitter) will invest in the fidelity of detecting that cue. A consequence of this predicted asymmetry is that true communication with reciprocal adaptations in emitters and perceivers to improve signal fidelity is likely to occur predominantly for traits of intermediate reliability. The corollary is that uncertainty of the perceiver will then be a key feature of communication. Uncertainty can arise because perceivers misinterpret signals or do not perceive them correctly, but here we argue that uncertainty is more fundamentally at the root of communication because traits that are intrinsically highly informative will induce only the perceiver and not the emitter to invest in improved fidelity of perception of that trait.
An exon skipping in a SEPALLATA‐Like gene is associated with perturbed floral and fruits development in cucumber
Authors: Wang Xin , Gao Dongli , Sun Jinjing , Liu Min , Lun Yaoyao , Zheng Jianshu , Wang Shenhao , Cui Qingzhi , Wang Xiaofeng , Huang Sanwen 
Published: March 2016

SummaryWe isolated a mutant showing perturbations in the development of male and female floral organs and fruits. Analysis of the single nucleotide polymorphisms from bulked F2 pools identified the causative variant occurring in Csa4G126690. Csa4G126690 shows high homology to Arabidopsis SEPALLATA2 (SEP2) thus being designated CsSEP2. The causative variant was located on the splicing site of CsSEP2, resulting in the skipping of exon 6 and abolishment of the transcriptional activity. Our data suggest that CsSEP2 is involved in the floral organ and fruits development by conferring transcriptional activity.
Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy study: preparation of vesicular dispersions by quenching microemulsions
Authors: LEE H.S. , MORRISON E.D. , ZHANG Q. , MCCORMICK A.V. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryWe previously showed that long‐lived nanoemulsions, seeming initially vesicular, might be prepared simply by diluting and cooling (quenching) warm microemulsions with n‐hexadecane with precooled water. In this paper, we confirm that these systems are vesicular dispersions when fresh, and they can be made with similar structures and compositional dependence using alkanes with chain lengths ranging from octane to hexadecane. The nanostructures of fresh nanoemulsions are imaged with cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo‐TEM). We confirm that water‐continuous microemulsions give simple dispersions of vesicles (sometimes unilamellar), typically less than 100 nm in diameter; these systems can avoid separation for over 2 months. Selected samples were also prepared using halogenated alkanes to create additional contrast in the cryo‐TEM, allowing us to confirm that the oil is located in the observed vesicular structures.
Treatment and prognosis of bone metastasis from cervical cancer (KCOG‐G1202s)
Authors: Makino Hiroshi , Nishio Shin , Tsubamoto Hiroshi , Shimada Muneaki , Nishikawa Ryutaro , Kai Kentaro , Ito Kimihiko , Mizuno Tomoko , Ushijima Kimio , Morishige Ken‐ichiro 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAimThe early and precise diagnosis and proper palliative treatment of bone metastasis is important for improving the quality of life of cervical cancer patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical features, treatment modalities and prognosis of bone metastasis in cervical cancer patients in Japan.MethodsThe medical records of 75 cervical cancer patients with bone metastasis who were treated between January 2000 and December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed in a multi‐institutional study.ResultsFifty‐four patients (72.0%) had a single bone metastasis. Bone metastases were found in the spine (46.7%) and pelvis (42.7%). Forty‐three patients (57.3%) also had extra‐osseous metastases. Most of the patients received radiotherapy, chemotherapy or both, but 25 patients (33.3%) received palliative care only. Bisphosphonates were given as palliative therapy to 25 patients (33.3%). The median overall survival after the diagnosis of bone metastasis was significantly shorter in patients with extra‐osseous metastases than in those without extra‐osseous metastases (14 vs 5 months; P < 0.05). The survival of patients who received chemotherapy following radiotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy was significantly longer than that of the patients who received palliative care. On multivariate analysis, the presence of extra‐osseous metastasis was an independent predictor of survival in patients with bone metastasis from cervical cancer.ConclusionsMultidisciplinary treatment might improve the prognosis of patients with bone metastasis who do not have extra‐osseous lesions.
Phylogenetic relationships of corallinaceae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta): taxonomic implications for reef‐building corallines
Authors: Rösler Anja , Perfectti Francisco , Peña Viviana , Braga Juan Carlos 
Published: March 2016

A new, more complete, five‐marker (SSU, LSU, psbA, COI, 23S) molecular phylogeny of the family Corallinaceae, order Corallinales, shows a paraphyletic grouping of seven well‐supported monophyletic clades. The taxonomic implications included the amendment of two subfamilies, Neogoniolithoideae and Metagoniolithoideae, and the rejection of Porolithoideae as an independent subfamily. Metagoniolithoideae contained Harveylithon gen. nov., with H. rupestre comb. nov. as the generitype, and H. canariense stat. nov., H. munitum comb. nov., and H. samoënse comb. nov. Spongites and Pneophyllum belonged to separate clades. The subfamily Neogoniolithoideae included the generitype of Spongites, S. fruticulosus, for which an epitype was designated. Pneophyllum requires reassesment. The generitype of Hydrolithon, H. reinboldii, was a younger heterotypic synonym of H. boergesenii. The evolutionary novelty of the subfamilies Hydrolithoideae, Metagoniolithoideae, and Lithophylloideae was the development of tetra/bisporangial conceptacle roofs by filaments surrounding and interspersed among the sporangial initials.
Divergent homoeolog evolution of the anthocyanin regulatory gene R in Oryza allopolyploids
Authors: Bao Ying , Zhu Xiao‐Lin , Jing Xiang , Liu Mei 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPolyploidization is an important evolutionary force in plant speciation and diversification. Retention and elimination of homoeologs derived by polyploidization are prevalent, whereas the evolutionary details of some duplicated genes in closely related natural polyploids are largely unknown. In the present study, we used an important regulatory gene (R) that encodes a bHLH protein in the anthocyanin metabolism pathway to demonstrate divergent evolutionary fates of homoeologs among four related Oryza allotetraploids. The BBCC genome species O. punctata Kotschy ex Steud. maintained both of its homoeologs, whereas three CCDD genome species (O. alta Swallen, O. grandiglumis (Döll) Prod., and O. latifolia Desv.) lost their C subgenome homoeologous copies. In addition, the evolutionary rates of the homoeologs in the polyploids were equivalent to their corresponding homologs in diploids. We also found a slightly higher level of nucleotide diversity in R for the C subgenome homoeolog than for the B subgenome counterpart in O. punctata. After comparing the two types of polyploids, we conclude that inconsistent evolutionary patterns of R in these polyploids are probably associated with different evolutionary time, asymmetrical subgenome evolutionary dynamics, and unique demographical characteristics of these species.
Long‐term Outcome of Irish Wolfhound Dogs with Preclinical Cardiomyopathy, Atrial Fibrillation, or Both Treated with Pimobendan, Benazepril Hydrochloride, or Methyldigoxin Monotherapy
Authors: Vollmar A.C. , Fox P.R. 
Published: March 2016

BackgroundDilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the Irish Wolfhound (IW). However, the benefit of medical treatment in IW dogs with preclinical DCM, atrial fibrillation (AF), or both has not been demonstrated.ObjectivesCompare the time to develop congestive heart failure (CHF) or sudden death in IW dogs with preclinical DCM, AF, or both receiving monotherapy with pimobendan, methyldigoxin, or benazepril hydrochloride.AnimalsSeventy‐five client‐owned IW dogs.MethodsIrish Wolfhound dogs were prospectively randomized to receive pimobendan (Vetmedin®), benazepril HCl (Fortekor®), or methyldigoxin (Lanitop®) monotherapy in a 1:1:1 ratio in a blinded clinical trial. The prospectively defined composite primary endpoint was onset of CHF or sudden death. To assure stringent evaluation of treatment effect, data from dogs complying with the study protocol were analyzed.ResultsSixty‐six IW fulfilling the study protocol included 39 males, 27 females; median (interquartile range) age, 4.0 years (3.0–5.0 years) and weight, 70.0 kg (63.0–75.0 kg). Primary endpoint was reached in 5 of 23 (21.7%) IW receiving pimobendan, 11 of 22 (50.0%) receiving benazepril HCl, and 9 of 21 (42.9%) receiving methyldigoxin. Median time to primary endpoint was significantly longer for pimobendan (1,991 days; 65.4 months) compared to methyldigoxin (1,263 days; 41.5 months; P = .031) or benazepril HCl‐(997 days; 32.8 months; P = .008) treated dogs.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceIn IW dogs with preclinical DCM, AF or both, pimobendan monotherapy significantly prolonged time to onset of CHF or sudden death than did monotherapy with benazepril HCl or methyldigoxin.
The Phonological Representation of Affricates
Authors: Berns Janine 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThis article presents a picture of one specific category of sounds: ‘affricates’. These sounds, which we find for instance in the English words jazz or catch, combine the articulation of a plosive and a fricative. Affricates constitute a challenge for phonological theory, and their underlying representation has been subject to a series of revisions throughout the history of phonology: should the articulatory duality be reflected in the phonological representation? or are affricates rather some kind of plosive with something extra? or is the concept ‘affricate’ simply not relevant at all?This paper provides a more or less chronological overview of the different analyses that have been proposed in phonological theory and illustrates the crucial arguments that have been put forward in favor of, or against, specific representations.
Relationship between tongue thickness and tongue pressure in neuromuscular disorders
Authors: Umemoto George , Furuya Hirokazu , Arahata Hajime , Sugahara Miwa , Sakai Mitsuaki , Tsuboi Yoshio 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundFew previous studies have objectively evaluated the relationship between tongue volume and tongue weakness in patients with neuromuscular disorders.AimThe present study aimed to show the relationship between tongue thickness and tongue pressure in patients with neuromuscular disorders.MethodsA total of 21 Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients, 30 myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients and 33 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients were recruited for this study. Tongue thickness was measured using ultrasonography, and defined as the distance from the raphe of the mylohyoid muscle to the tongue dorsum. Maximum tongue pressure was also determined using an oral probe whose small balloon was compressed onto the palate with the tongue.ResultsTongue thickness was significantly higher in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy group than in the other groups. The maximum tongue pressure was lower in the myotonic dystrophy type 1 group than the DMD group. A significant correlation between tongue thickness and maximum tongue pressure was found in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis group, but not in the other groups.ConclusionUltrasound is an effective tool to assess tongue thickness in patients with neuromuscular disorders. The present results suggested that tongue pressure, which was relevant to tongue thickness, especially in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, was more useful to evaluate swallowing function than kinesiological analysis of tongue movement.
Experimental Neospora Caninum Infection in Pregnant Dairy Heifers Raises Concentrations of Pregnancy‐Associated Glycoproteins 1 and 2 in Foetal Fluids
Authors: Mur‐Novales R , López‐Gatius F , Serrano‐Pérez B , García‐Ispierto I , Darwich L , Cabezón O , de Sousa NM , Beckers JF , Almería S 
Published: March 2016

ContentsPlasma concentrations of PAG‐1 are used for pregnancy diagnosis and as a marker of placental/foetal well‐being, while those of PAG‐2 may be an indicator of abortion risk in Neospora caninum‐infected cows. Studies have shown that N. caninum infection modifies PAG‐1 and PAG‐2 patterns in maternal blood plasma. However, no prior work has examined the effects of N. caninum infection on concentrations of PAGs in foetal fluids. In this study, PAG‐1, PAG‐2 and pH levels were determined in the amniotic and allantoic fluids of foetuses collected at 152 days of gestation from control uninfected dams and from dams experimentally infected with N. caninum on Day 110 of gestation. Foetal fluids from infected foetuses had significantly higher PAG‐2 concentrations (p = 0.026) and pH values (p = 0.02) than fluids from non‐infected foetuses. In infected foetuses, significantly higher concentrations of PAG‐1 (p < 0.001) and PAG‐2 (p < 0.001) were detected in fluid samples showing antibodies against N. caninum than those without antibodies. Moreover, pH values were significantly higher (p = 0.011) in foetal fluid samples with antibodies than in samples from non‐infected foetuses. In conclusion, this is the first report on the effect of N. caninum infection on PAG levels in foetal fluids. Our results indicate that following the experimental infection of dams with N. caninum on Day 110 of gestation, foetal fluids collected from the infected foetuses of these dams featured higher PAG‐1 and PAG‐2 levels and pH values than fluids from non‐infected controls, provided that the samples tested showed the presence of antibodies. The clinical implications of these findings are that following infection with N. caninum, most cows will experience some level of placental damage and that this injury correlates with foetal fluid PAG levels and pH.
l‐carnitine Mediated Reduction in Oxidative Stress and Alteration in Transcript Level of Antioxidant Enzymes in Sheep Embryos Produced In Vitro
Authors: Mishra A , Reddy IJ , Gupta PSP , Mondal S 
Published: March 2016

ContentsThe objective of this study was to find out the effect of l‐carnitine on oocyte maturation and subsequent embryo development, with l‐carnitine‐mediated alteration if any in transcript level of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, Cu/Zn‐SOD (SOD1) and Mn‐SOD (SOD2) in oocytes and developing sheep embryos produced in vitro. Different concentrations of l‐carnitine (0 mm, 2.5 mm, 5 mm, 7.5 mm and 10 mm) were used in maturation medium. Oocytes matured with 10 mm l‐carnitine showed significantly (p < 0.05) higher cleavage (66.80% vs 39.66, 41.76, 44.64, 64.31%), morula (48.50% vs 20.88, 26.01, 26.99, 44.72%) and blastocyst (33.22% vs 7.66, 9.19, 10.71, 28.57%) percentage as compared to lower concentrations (0 mm, 2.5 mm, 5 mm and 7.5 mm). Cleavage percentage between 10 mm and 7.5 mm l‐carnitine were not significantly different. Maturation rate was not influenced by supplementation of any experimental concentration of l‐carnitine. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in intracellular ROS and increase in intracellular GSH in 10 mm l‐carnitine‐treated oocytes and embryos than control group. Antioxidant effect of l‐carnitine was proved by culturing oocytes and embryos with H2O2 in the presence of l‐carnitine which could be able to protect oocytes and embryos from H2O2‐induced oxidative damage. l‐carnitine supplementation significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated the expression of GPx and downregulated the expression of SOD2 genes, whereas the expression pattern of SOD1 and GAPDH (housekeeping gene) genes was unaffected in oocytes and embryos. It was concluded from the study that l‐carnitine supplementation during in vitro maturation reduces oxidative stress‐induced embryo toxicity by decreasing intracellular ROS and increasing intracellular GSH that in turn improved developmental potential of oocytes and embryos and alters transcript level of antioxidant enzymes.
Assessment of metal artifact reduction methods in pelvic CT
Authors: Abdoli Mehrsima , Mehranian Abolfazl , Ailianou Angeliki , Becker Minerva , Zaidi Habib 
Published: March 2016

Purpose:Metal artifact reduction (MAR) produces images with improved quality potentially leading to confident and reliable clinical diagnosis and therapy planning. In this work, the authors evaluate the performance of five MAR techniques for the assessment of computed tomography images of patients with hip prostheses.Methods:Five MAR algorithms were evaluated using simulation and clinical studies. The algorithms included one‐dimensional linear interpolation (LI) of the corrupted projection bins in the sinogram, two‐dimensional interpolation (2D), a normalized metal artifact reduction (NMAR) technique, a metal deletion technique, and a maximum a posteriori completion (MAPC) approach. The algorithms were applied to ten simulated datasets as well as 30 clinical studies of patients with metallic hip implants. Qualitative evaluations were performed by two blinded experienced radiologists who ranked overall artifact severity and pelvic organ recognition for each algorithm by assigning scores from zero to five (zero indicating totally obscured organs with no structures identifiable and five indicating recognition with high confidence).Results:Simulation studies revealed that 2D, NMAR, and MAPC techniques performed almost equally well in all regions. LI falls behind the other approaches in terms of reducing dark streaking artifacts as well as preserving unaffected regions (p < 0.05). Visual assessment of clinical datasets revealed the superiority of NMAR and MAPC in the evaluated pelvic organs and in terms of overall image quality.Conclusions:Overall, all methods, except LI, performed equally well in artifact‐free regions. Considering both clinical and simulation studies, 2D, NMAR, and MAPC seem to outperform the other techniques.
Genomic Epidemiology and Molecular Resistance Mechanisms of Azithromycin-Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Canada from 1997 to 2014
Authors: Demczuk Walter , Martin Irene , Peterson Shelley , Bharat Amrita , Van Domselaar Gary , Graham Morag , Lefebvre Brigitte , Allen Vanessa , Hoang Linda , Tyrrell Greg , Horsman Greg , Wylie John , Haldane David , Archibald Chris , Wong Tom , Unemo Magnus , Mulvey Michael R. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

The emergence of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
strains with decreased susceptibility to cephalosporins and azithromycin (AZM) resistance (AZM
r
) represents a public health threat of untreatable gonorrhea infections. Genomic epidemiology through whole-genome sequencing was used to describe the emergence, dissemination, and spread of AZM
r
strains. The genomes of 213 AZM
r
and 23 AZM-susceptible
N. gonorrhoeae
isolates collected in Canada from 1989 to 2014 were sequenced. Core single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) phylogenomic analysis resolved 246 isolates into 13 lineages. High-level AZM
r
(MICs ≥ 256 μg/ml) was found in 5 phylogenetically diverse isolates, all of which possessed the A2059G mutation (
Escherichia coli
numbering) in all four 23S rRNA alleles. One isolate with high-level AZM
r
collected in 2009 concurrently had decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone (MIC = 0.125 μg/ml). An increase in the number of 23S rRNA alleles with the C2611T mutations (
E. coli
numbering) conferred low to moderate levels of AZM
r
(MICs = 2 to 4 and 8 to 32 μg/ml, respectively). Low-level AZM
r
was also associated with
mtrR
promoter mutations, including the −35A deletion and the presence of
Neisseria meningitidis
-like sequences. Geographic and temporal phylogenetic clustering indicates that emergent AZM
r
strains arise independently and can then rapidly expand clonally in a region through local sexual networks.
The Human Cytomegalovirus
UL116
Gene Encodes an Envelope Glycoprotein Forming a Complex with gH Independently from gL
Authors: Caló Stefano , Cortese Mirko , Ciferri Claudio , Bruno Luca , Gerrein Rachel , Benucci Barbara , Monda Giuseppina , Gentile Michela , Kessler Tobias , Uematsu Yasushi , Maione Domenico , Lilja Anders E. , Carfí Andrea , Merola Marcello 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant patients and is the leading viral cause of birth defects after congenital infection. HCMV infection relies on the recognition of cell-specific receptors by one of the viral envelope glycoprotein complexes. Either the gH/gL/gO or the gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131A (Pentamer) complex has been found to fulfill this role, accounting for HCMV entry into almost all cell types. We have studied the
UL116
gene product, a putative open reading frame identified by
in silico
analysis and predicted to code for a secreted protein. Virus infection experiments in mammalian cells demonstrated that UL116 is expressed late in the HCMV replication cycle and is a heavily glycosylated protein that first localizes to the cellular site of virus assembly and then inserts into the virion envelope. Transient-transfection studies revealed that UL116 is efficiently transported to the plasma membrane when coexpressed with gH and that gL competes with UL116 for gH binding. Further evidence for gH/UL116 complex formation was obtained by coimmunoprecipitation experiments on both transfected and infected cells and biochemical characterization of the purified complex. In summary, our results show that the product of the
UL116
gene is an HCMV envelope glycoprotein that forms a novel gH-based complex alternative to gH/gL. Remarkably, the gH/UL116 complex is the first herpesvirus gH-based gL-less complex.

IMPORTANCE
HCMV infection can cause severe disease in immunocompromised adults and infants infected
in utero
. The dissection of the HCMV entry machinery is important to understand the mechanism of viral infection and to identify new vaccine antigens. The gH/gL/gO and gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131 (Pentamer) complexes play a key role in HCMV cell entry and tropism. Both complexes are formed by an invariant gH/gL scaffold on which the other subunits assemble. Here, we show that the
UL116
gene product is expressed in infected cells and forms a heterodimer with gH. The gH/UL116 complex is carried on the infectious virions, although in smaller amounts than gH/gL complexes. No gH/UL116/gL ternary complex formed in transfected cells, suggesting that the gH/UL116 complex is independent from gL. This new gH-based gL-free complex represents a potential target for a protective HCMV vaccine and opens new perspectives on the comprehension of the HCMV cell entry mechanism and tropism.