bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
EPH/EPHRIN SIGNALING CONTROLS PROGENITOR IDENTITIES IN THE VENTRAL SPINAL CORD
Authors: Laussu Julien , Audouard Christophe , Kischel Anthony , Assis-Nascimento Poincyane , Escalas Nathalie , Liebl Daniel J. , Soula Cathy , Davy Alice 
Published: August 2016

SUMMARY STATEMENTThis article by Laussu et al. describes a role for Eph:ephrin signaling in controlling the identity of neural progenitors in the ventral spinal cord.Early specification of progenitors of the ventral spinal cord involves the morphogen Sonic Hedgehog which induces distinct progenitor identities in a dose-dependent manner. Following these initial patterning events, progenitor identities have to be maintained in order to generate appropriate numbers of progeny. Here we provide evidence that communication via Eph:ephrin signaling is required to maintain progenitor identities in the ventral spinal cord. We show that ephrinB2 and ephrinB3 are expressed in restricted progenitor domains in the ventral spinal cord while several Eph receptors are more broadly expressed. Further, we provide evidence that expression ofEfnb3andEphA4is controlled by Shh. Genetic loss-of-function analyses indicate that expression of ephrinB2 and ephrinB3 is required to control progenitor identities and in vitro experiments reveal that activation of Eph forward signaling in spinal progenitors up-regulates the expression of the identity transcription factor Nkx2.2. Altogether our results indicate that cell-to-cell communication is necessary to control progenitor identity in the ventral spinal cord.
Reconstructing the backbone of the Saccharomycotina yeast phylogeny using genome-scale data
Authors: Shen Xing-Xing , Zhou Xiaofan , Kominek Jacek , Kurtzman Cletus P. , Hittinger Chris Todd , Rokas Antonis 
Published: August 2016

AbstractUnderstanding the phylogenetic relationships among the yeasts of the subphylum Saccharomycotina is a prerequisite for understanding the evolution of their metabolisms and ecological lifestyles. In the last two decades, the use of rDNA and multi-locus data sets has greatly advanced our understanding of the yeast phylogeny, but many deep relationships remain unsupported. In contrast, phylogenomic analyses have involved relatively few taxa and lineages that were often selected with limited considerations for covering the breadth of yeast biodiversity. Here we used genome sequence data from 86 publicly available yeast genomes representing 9 of the 11 major lineages and 10 non-yeast fungal outgroups to generate a 1,233-gene, 96-taxon data matrix. Species phylogenies reconstructed using two different methods (concatenation and coalescence) and two data matrices (amino acids or the first two codon positions) yielded identical and highly supported relationships between the 9 major lineages. Aside from the lineage comprised by the family Pichiaceae, all other lineages were monophyletic. Most interrelationships among yeast species were robust across the two methods and data matrices. However, 8 of the 93 internodes conflicted between analyses or data sets, including the placements of: the clade defined by species that have reassigned the CUG codon to encode serine, instead of leucine; the clade defined by a whole genome duplication; and ofAscoidea rubescens.These phylogenomic analyses provide a robust roadmap for future comparative work across the yeast subphylum in the disciplines of taxonomy, molecular genetics, evolutionary biology, ecology, and biotechnology. To further this end, we have also provided a BLAST server to query the 86 Saccharomycotina genomes, which can be found athttp://y1000plus.org/blast.
Natural and laboratory mutations inkuzbanianare associated with heavy metal stress phenotypes inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Le Manh Hung , Guio Lain , Merenciano Miriam , Rovira Quirze , Barrón Maite G. , González Josefa 
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACTOrganisms must cope with altered environmental conditions such as high concentrations of heavy metals. Stress response to heavy metals is mediated by the metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF-1), which is conserved from Drosophila to humans. MTF-1 binds to metal response elements (MREs) and changes the expression of target genes.kuzbanian (kuz), a metalloendopeptidase that activates the evolutionary conservedNotchsignaling pathway, has been identified as an MTF-1 target gene. We have previously identified a putatively adaptive transposable element in theDrosophila melanogastergenome, namedFBti0019170, inserted in akuzintron. In this work, we investigated whether laboratory-induced mutations inkuzare associated with zinc stress phenotypes. We found that both embryos and adult flies overexpressingkuzare more tolerant to zinc compared with wild-type flies. On the other hand, we found that the effect ofFBti0019170on zinc stress tolerance depends on developmental stage and genetic background. Moreover, in the majority of the genetic backgrounds analyzed,FBti0019170has a deleterious effect in unpolluted environments in pre-adult stages. These results highlight the complexity of natural mutations and suggest that besides laboratory-induced mutations natural mutations need to be studied in order to accurately characterize gene function and evolution.
Creating a school context of success
Authors: Mitchell Roxanne M. , Mendiola Brenda J. , Schumacker Randall , Lowery Xaviera 
Published: August 2016

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to use SEM to explore the effects of enabling school structure (ESS) and academic optimism (AO) on school achievement (SA).Design/methodology/approachA sample of 58 urban schools, including 42 elementary schools and 16 middle schools in a southeastern district in the USA were included in this study. Structural equation modeling was used to test the effects of three exogenous predictor variables (ESS, elementary status, and socio-economic status (SES)) on a latent mediating variable (AO) and a latent dependent variable (academic achievement).FindingsFindings confirm that three factors; collective efficacy, faculty trust in clients, and academic emphasis come together to create the general latent construct referred to as AO by Hoyet al.(2006). Findings also support the importance of ESS in establishing a culture of AO. Together ESS, AO, elementary school level, and SES explained 77 percent of the variance in SA, with AO having the most significant effect above and beyond the effects of SES.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was based on a sample of schools in the Southern portion of the USA. Findings may not be generalizable to other areas. The lack of availability of individual student achievement data prevented the use of hierarchical linear modeling.Practical implicationsFindings from this study point to the importance of administrators establishing flexible rules and regulations and engaging in a leadership style that is collaborative. It appears that ESS not only promotes the establishment of AO but contributes to increased SA and is likely to be critical for upper levels of schooling.Social implicationsReform efforts need to involve parents and community members. AO may provide an appropriate lens to further explore parent and community perceptions of reform efforts and relationships with administrators and teachers. ESS may assist in creating the structures necessary for increased parent and community involvement as well as increased perceptions of AO.Originality/valueThis study is one of only three studies known to explore the effects of ESS on AO and is one of the first known studies to explore these effects in a middle school setting.
The effect of body-movement teaching, learning motivation and performance
Authors: Sugahara Satoshi , Sugao Hisayo , Dellaportas Steven , Masaoka Takahiro 
Published: August 2016

PurposeThis research applies a quasi-experimental research method to investigate the impact of an innovative resource titled “Accounting Exercise” (teaching intervention using physical movement and lyrics) on learning motivation and performance on a group of students enrolled in a first-year undergraduate accounting course in Japan.Design/methodology/approachFive classes were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (two classes) or a control group (three classes). In the experimental group, 90 students participated in a 15-min “Accounting Exercise” at the commencement of lectures over three consecutive weeks. The remaining 133 students assigned to the control group did not participate in the Accounting Exercise.FindingsThe findings indicate that the Accounting Exercise provided stimuli in maintaining students’ learning motivation. This finding is important for entry-level students where learning motivation has the potential to influence students’ future decisions on major areas of study and career choices.Originality/valueThis finding is important for entry-level students where future career options are decided. This effect is also believed to contribute to reducing the declining numbers of students in accounting majors.
Financial Openness, Aggregate Consumption and Threshold Effects
Authors: Bousmah Marwân‐al‐Qays , Onori Daria 
Published: August 2016

AbstractWe analyse the influence of financial openness on the level of aggregate consumption, a research question that has been left surprisingly unexplored by the previous literature. We construct a complete and balanced panel data set of 88 countries for the period 1980–2010, and then differentiate between four groups of countries. Models for non‐stationary heterogeneous panels, as well as panel threshold regression models, are used to estimate the determinants of aggregate consumption. The core finding of the paper is that the financial openness effect on consumption changes in the course of economic development, with the level or per capita income acting as a threshold which is consistently estimated within the model. The openness effect is non‐homogeneous across groups, stronger for low levels of per capita income and diminishes as income rises. These findings provide new insights into the welfare effect of financial liberalization.
Forecasting the fate of high mountain ponds in the Andean region under future climate change
Authors: Itzel Montemayor Sara , Melo María Cecilia , Elizabeth Scheibler Erica 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe aims of this study are (i) to identify areas in the Andean region where the climate will remain stable enough for the survival of the study species; (ii) to analyze how climate change will affect these areas under different climate scenarios; (iii) to generate spatially explicit predictive maps of the expansion or retraction of these areas; and (iv) based on this information, to identify areas with priority for conservation. The analysis was performed using presence‐only data for 14 Heteroptera and Odonata species. Current and future models were developed to identify areas where the climate would be suitable for small ponds, using Maxent v3.3.3k, with future models based on three different Global Climate Models for the 2050 period (scenarios A2a and B2a). Model performance was evaluated using the jackknife approach. Climatic niche breadth and climatic niche similarities were calculated through Levin's concentration metrics and the I statistic index (implemented in ENMTools), respectively. Maxent logistic outputs were converted into binary presence/absence maps, based on the ‘minimum training presence logistic threshold’, and used to build species richness maps for each condition considered (present and future). Current and future models with areas climatically suitable for small ponds were developed. All the study species proved to be narrow specialists and share similar climatic spaces. Our projections suggest that four of the species would not find suitable climate conditions for survival in the future. The priority area for conservation, where most species would find suitable climate conditions, is located between 33–47°S and 73–70°W. We identified future loss of the priority area towards the east and a small gain towards the north and south. The most probable situation for the year 2050 is a negative precipitation–evapotranspiration balance, and small ponds will probably be very short‐lived or dry completely during summer, suggesting a drastic change in species assemblages and species richness of the region, which could become a hotspot of extinction.
Use pattern for contraceptive implants in Norway
Authors: Øvre‐Eide Vigdis , Skjeldestad Finn Egil 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIntroductionKnowledge about global use patterns of contraceptive implants is limited. This study aims to describe implant use patterns from a user and a prescriber perspective.Material and methodsIn a cross‐sectional design, we estimated the annual number of users by calculating doses sold per 1000 women‐years in the Norwegian Prescription Database for 2006–2012. For each contraceptive method, we calculated on an annual basis a proportion of defined daily doses of all hormonal contraceptives in five‐year age groups. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 22, using chi‐square test, t‐test, and survival analysis.ResultsSales from pharmacies for contraceptive implants more than doubled over the study years and were consistently higher in the younger age groups. The collection rate was 9.3 per 1000 women in 2012, when implant sales amounted to 2.4% of all daily doses of hormonal contraceptives sold. General practitioners and doctors with no specialty were the major prescribers to those starting to use contraceptive implants (starters), whereas gynecologists prescribed nearly 12% of the volume, with a higher proportion to women >35 years of age than younger women. The cumulative proportions of continued users at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months were 96.1, 78.6, 51.9, and 34.9%, respectively, significantly lower for users who had prescribing doctors with no specialty. At end of the first expiration period, 21% of starters continued using implants.ConclusionImplants play a minor role in the overall use of hormonal contraception in Norway. One in five starters continue as long‐term users.
Substance P is increased in patients with sickle cell disease and associated with haemolysis and hydroxycarbamide use
Authors: Brandow Amanda M. , Wandersee Nancy J. , Dasgupta Mahua , Hoffmann Raymond G. , Hillery Cheryl A. , Stucky Cheryl L. , Panepinto Julie A. 
Published: August 2016

SummarySickle cell disease (SCD) pain transitions from acute to chronic for unknown reasons. Chronic elevation of the pain neurotransmitter substance P (SP) sensitizes pain nociceptors. We evaluated SP levels in controls and SCD patients during baseline and acute pain and investigated associations between SP and age, gender, pain history, haemolysis and hydroxycarbamide (also termed hydroxyurea) use. Plasma SP levels were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Independent samples t‐test compared SP levels between: (i) SCD baseline and controls, and (ii) SCD baseline and acute pain. Multivariate linear regression determined associations between SP and age, gender, pain history and hydroxycarbamide use. Spearman correlation determined an association between SP and haemolysis. We enrolled 35 African American controls, 25 SCD baseline and 12 SCD pain patients. SCD patients were 7‐19 years old. Mean ± standard deviation SP level (pg/ml) in SCD baseline was higher than controls (32·4 ± 11·6 vs. 22·9 ± 7·6, P = 0·0009). SP in SCD pain was higher than baseline (78·1 ± 43·4 vs. 32·4 ± 11·6, P = 0·004). Haemolysis correlated with increased SP: Hb (r = −0·7, P = 0·0002), reticulocyte count (r = 0·61, P = 0·0016), bilirubin (r = 0·68, P = 0·0216), lactate dehydrogenase (r = 0·62, P = 0·0332), aspartate aminotransferase (r = 0·68, P = 0·003). Patients taking hydroxycarbamide had increased SP (β = 29·2, P = 0·007). SP could be a mediator of or marker for pain sensitization in SCD and a biomarker and/or target for novel pain treatment.
Randomized clinical study of the peri‐implant healing to hydrophilic and hydrophobic implant surfaces in patients receiving anticoagulants
Authors: Marković Aleksa , Đinić Ana , Calvo Guirado José Luis , Tahmaseb Ali , Šćepanović Miodrag , Janjić Bojan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractObjectivesTo compare the peri‐implant bone healing between TiZr implants with hydrophilic SLActive and hydrophobic SLA implant surface in patients receiving anticoagulants, to assess the implant survival and success rate, as well as to evaluate whether small‐diameter TiZr implants could be used in patients on OAT in order to avoid augmentation procedures.Material and methodsA total of 80 small‐diameter tissue‐level TiZr implants with SLActive and SLA surfaces were placed in 20 anticoagulated patients, following the “split‐mouth” study design. Implant stability was measured up to the third postoperative month by resonance frequency measurements (RFA). One‐year implant survival and success rate were evaluated.ResultsAfter one year, 100% implant survival and success rate were observed. A significant decrease in ISQ comparing to baseline values was noted in the SLActive group from the first postoperative week, and in the SLA group, from the 3rd week after the surgery. In both groups, a statistically significant decline in ISQ was observed between second and third postoperative week. No significant differences in ISQ values between SLActive and SLA implants were noted, at any time point.ConclusionsTitanium–zirconium small‐diameter implants with SLActive and SLA surface predictably achieve and maintain adequate bone tissue integration in patients receiving anticoagulants. OAT appears to influence the bone healing events resulting in lower ISQ in the end of 3‐month period in comparison with baseline values, although without compromising implant stability.
Fullerene C60 with cytoprotective and cytotoxic potential: prospects as a novel treatment agent in Dermatology?
Authors: Rondags Angelique , Yuen Wing Yan , Jonkman Marcel F. , Horváth Barbara 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIt is known that an excess amount of (oxygen) radicals in the skin can lead to (local cellular) oxidative stress. From one side, oxidative stress can contribute to the existence of various (inflammatory) skin diseases such as acne vulgaris and alopecia, as well as to accelerated photo‐ageing of the skin. From the other side, oxidative stress could also be a wanted process for curing particular skin diseases, such as skin cancer and microbial skin infections. Therefore, novel treatment agents with the ability to scavenge or generate radicals can potentially be meaningful in the treatment of various skin diseases, especially for those diseases that have limited effective treatment options. This viewpoint essay will discuss the potential of fullerene C60, i.e. buckminsterfullerene, derivatives as novel treatment agents in dermatology. Fullerene C60 is an all carbon molecule with a unique dual ability; fullerene C60 can act as a radical scavenger or as an oxygen radical generator. Hence, fullerene C60 derivatives offers most interesting prospects as a therapeutic protective or therapeutic toxic agent. Because of their extraordinary physicochemical properties and numerous chemical functionalization possibilities, chemists can design derivatives with a wide scope of unique properties. The experimental data, mostly from in vitro and in vivo animal studies, on the safety and therapeutic potential of fullerene C60 derivatives, in the field of dermatology will be discussed.
Framework for Best Practices in Family Life Education: A Case Example
Authors: Ballard Sharon M. , Tyndall Lisa E. , Baugh Eboni J. , Bumgarner Bergeson Carrie , Littlewood Kerry 
Published: August 2016

AbstractEvidence‐based programming (EBP) in family life education is in high demand because it has a higher likelihood of achieving desired outcomes than non‐evidence‐based programming. Although EBP can promote program sustainability and fidelity, the implementation of EBP in real‐world settings can be challenging. Practitioners sometimes struggle with identifying the best way to adapt EBP to fit their needs. In this article, the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) is used to provide an in‐depth case example of adapting and implementing EBP through the lens of Ballard and Taylor's (2012) Framework for Best Practices in Family Life Education. The authors outline framework elements that guided this adaptation, such as consideration of context and culture, program content and format, program design, and the role of the family life educator. Suggestions are provided for employing this framework to overcome barriers to implementation and ultimately increase program sustainability to improve the lives of families.
Tall stature in coronary heart disease patients is associated with decreased risk of frailty in late life
Authors: Lutski Miriam , Tanne David , Goldbourt Uri 
Published: August 2016

AimWe investigated the possible inverse association between tall stature and subsequent late‐life frailty.MethodsA subset of surviving men with coronary heart disease (n= 1232; mean age at baseline 57.0 ± 6.0 years), who previously participated in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention clinical trial (1990–1997) were reassessed during 2004–2008 (T1;n= 558) and 2011–2013 (T2;n= 351) at the mean ages of 72.6 ± 6.4 years and 77.2 ± 6.4 years, respectively. Frailty status was measured at T2 according to the physical phenotype developed by Fried, and was categorized into non‐frail, prefrail and frail. We estimated the odds ratios of increasing frailty by tertiles of height at baseline.ResultsAmong 351 patients, 117 (33.3%) were classified as non‐frail, 134 (38.2%) as prefrail and 100 (28.5%) as frail. Frailty was found among 21% of participants at the highest tertile, 33% at the middle tertile and 46% at the lowest tertile for height (Pfor trend = 0.002). Adjusting for age, weight, place of birth, education, blood pressure, New York Heart Association classification functional class and comorbidity score, the estimated OR for increasing frailty for participants in the highest tertile was 0.32 (95% CI 0.17–0.59) and for those at the middle tertile 0.46 (95% CI 0.27–0.79), as compared with the lowest tertile. An increment of 1 SD of height was associated with a 38% (95% CI 18–53%) decrease in frailty odds.ConclusionAmong men with coronary heart disease, tall stature was associated with lower adjusted odds of late‐life frailty.Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1270–1277.
Invariant effect of vision on taste across two Asian cultures: India and China
Authors: Liang Pei , Biswas Prabir , Vinnakota Sumanjani , Fu Lun , Chen Mengling , Quan Ying , Zhan Yuehua , Zhang Genhua , Roy Soumyajit 
Published: August 2016

AbstractCulture may influence sensory perception and behavior. Earlier we have shown that circular shapes and semantic familiar words enhance sweetness sensitivity with the Chinese volunteers. Do these effects also affect people from other cultural background? How does culture actually affect cross‐modal sensory perception? Here, we performed similar experiments with the Indian volunteers and compared the effects of vision on taste between the two groups. The results show that similar as the Chinese group, the circular shapes and semantic familiar words enhance sweetness sensitivities of the Indian volunteers as well, although their average sweetness threshold is higher than that of the Chinese group.Practical applicationsThese invariant effects may be explained by the hypothesis that the role of culture is associated with the previous experience that breeds familiarity of the stimulus in the subjects. It might be due to a combination of higher degrees of the hedonics and familiarity of the visual stimulus (circular shapes and semantic familiar words), that manifest in the subjects of both cultures, as enhanced sweetness sensitivities. This work may lead to a better understanding of consumer behavior across cultures, and may have benefits in consumer research to design internationally competitive labelling or packaging of the food and gain advantage in the FMCG‐market. It can help to resolve the ongoing controversy centered around cultural influence on the cross‐modal sensory perception (vision‐taste) in neurosciences.