bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome analysis of bovine oocytes from distinct follicle sizes: Insights from correlation network analysis
Authors: Labrecque Rémi , Fournier Eric , Sirard Marc‐André 
Published: May 2016

SUMMARYFollicle size is recognized as a predictor of the potential for the enclosed oocyte to yield an embryo following in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization. Oocytes from larger follicles are more likely to reach the blastocyst stage than those from smaller follicles. A growing oocyte accumulates all the transcripts needed to ensure development until the maternal embryonic transition, and this accumulation must be completed before the period of transcriptional arrest. Accordingly, the transcriptomes of bovine germinal‐vesicle‐stage oocytes collected from follicles of increasing sizes (<3, 3–5, >5–8, and >8 mm) were evaluated, using the EmbryoGENE bovine transcriptomic platform (custom Agilent 4 × 44 K), to better understand transcriptional modulation in the oocyte as the follicle becomes larger. Microarray analyses revealed very few differences between oocytes from small follicles (<3 vs. 3–5 mm), whereas an important number of differences were detected at the mRNA level between oocytes from larger follicles. Weighted gene correlation network analysis allowed for the identification of several hub genes involved in crucial functions such as transcriptional regulation (TAF2), chromatin remodeling (PPP1CB), energy production (SLC25A31), as well as transport of key molecules within the cell (NAGPA, CYHR1, and SLC3A12). The results presented here thus reinforce the hypothesis that developmental competence acquisition cannot be seen as a simple one‐step process, especially in regards to the modulation of mRNA. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 558–569, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Resting and exercise energy metabolism in weight‐reduced adults with severe obesity
Authors: Hames Kazanna C. , Coen Paul M. , King Wendy C. , Anthony Steven J. , Stefanovic‐Racic Maja , Toledo Frederico G.S. , Lowery Jolene B. , Helbling Nicole L. , Dubé John J. , DeLany James P. , Jakicic John M. , Goodpaster Bret H. 
Published: May 2016

ObjectiveTo determine effects of physical activity (PA) with diet‐induced weight loss on energy metabolism in adults with severe obesity.MethodsAdults with severe obesity (n = 11) were studied across 6 months of intervention, then compared with controls with less severe obesity (n = 7) or normal weight (n = 9). Indirect calorimetry measured energy metabolism during exercise and rest. Markers of muscle oxidation were determined by immunohistochemistry. Data were presented as medians.ResultsThe intervention induced 7% weight loss (P = 0.001) and increased vigorous PA by 24 min/wk (P = 0.02). During exercise, energy expenditure decreased, efficiency increased (P ≤ 0.03), and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) did not change. Succinate dehydrogenase increased (P = 0.001), but fiber type remained the same. Post‐intervention subjects’ resting metabolism remained similar to controls. Efficiency was lower in post‐intervention subjects compared with normal‐weight controls exercising at 25 W (P ≤ 0.002) and compared with all controls exercising at 60% VO2peak (P ≤ 0.019). Resting and exercise FAO of post‐intervention subjects remained similar to adults with less severe obesity. Succinate dehydrogenase and fiber type were similar across all body weight statuses.ConclusionsWhile metabolic adaptations to PA during weight loss occur in adults with severe obesity, FAO does not change. Resulting FAO during rest and exercise remains similar to adults with less severe obesity.
Cerebrospinal fluid levels of insulin, leptin, and agouti‐related protein in relation to BMI in pregnant women
Authors: Gustavsson Carolina , Andersson Hall Ulrika , Pelanis Aurimantas , Karlsson Ove I. , Andersson Louise , Svedin Pernilla , Mallard Carina , Myntti Alexandra , Andreasson Ulf , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Holmäng Agneta 
Published: May 2016

ObjectiveDuring pregnancy, metabolic interactions must be adapted, though neuroendocrine mechanisms for increased food intake are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to characterize differences in insulin, leptin, and agouti‐related protein (AgRP) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in pregnant women with normal weight (NW) and pregnant women with overweight (OW) or obesity (OB). Placenta as a source for increased peripheral AgRP levels during pregnancy was also investigated.MethodsWomen were recruited at admission for elective cesarean section. Insulin, AgRP, and leptin were measured in serum and CSF from 30 NW, 25 OW, and 21 OB at term. Serum during pregnancy and placenta at term were collected for further AgRP analysis.ResultsImmunohistology showed placental production of AgRP and serum AgRP levels increased throughout pregnancy. CSF AgRP, leptin, and insulin levels were higher in OW and OB than NW. Serum leptin and insulin levels were higher and AgRP lower in OB than NW.ConclusionsHigh serum AgRP levels might protect from the suppressive effects of leptin during pregnancy. Pregnant women with OB and OW might further be protected from the suppressive effect of leptin by high CSF AgRP levels. Evidence was found, for the first time, of human placental AgRP production mirrored by levels in the circulation.
Biocompatible reinforcement of poly(Lactic acid) with graphene nanoplatelets
Authors: Gonçalves Carolina , Pinto Artur , Machado Ana Vera , Moreira Joaquim , Gonçalves Inês C. , Magalhães Fernão 
Published: May 2016

A recently made available form of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP‐C) is investigated for the first time as reinforcement filler for PLA. GNP‐C, with thickness of about 2 nm and length 1–2 μm, was incorporated at different loadings (0.1–0.5 wt%) in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) by melt blending. The effect of varying mixing time and mixing intensity was studied and the best conditions were identified, corresponding to mixing for 20 min at 50 rpm and 180°C. Thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis) indicated no relevant differences between pristine PLA and the composites. However, the rate of thermal degradation increased with loading, due to the dominant effect of heat transfer enhancement over mass transfer hindrance. Raman spectroscopy allowed confirming that increasing graphene loading or decreasing mixing time translates into higher nanoplatelet agglomeration, in agreement with the observed mechanical performance and scanning electron microscopy imaging of the composites. The composites exhibited maximum mechanical performance at a loading of 0.25 wt%: 20% increase in tensile strength, 12% increase in Young's modulus, and 16% increase in toughness. The incorporation of 0.25 wt% GNP‐C did not affect human fibroblasts (HFF‐1) metabolic activity or morphology. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E308–E320, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Ways toWINat Vocabulary Learning
Authors: Goodwin Amanda P. , Cho Sun‐Joo , Nichols Sally 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThis teaching tip identifies ways to ‘WIN’ at vocabulary learning. Specifically, the approach conveys three morphological strategies in the mnemonic ‘WIN’. These three strategies remind students to find smaller units of meaning within bigger words, look for those units in other words that they know, and notice the context. Each strategy is described with an example. Also, ways to integrate ‘WIN’ within comprehension instruction and adapt instruction based on word difficulty are included. Overall, this teaching tip provides a framework for educators to use when designing and implementing effective word instruction.
Northern bobwhite autumn and winter food habits in restored pine–bluestem habitats
Authors: Masters Ronald E. , Montague Warren G. , Cram Douglas S. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTWe determined autumn and winter food habits of hunter‐harvested northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus; n = 388) over 11 years (1998–2009) in a matrix of restored shortleaf pine–bluestem (Pinus echinata–Andropogon–Schizachyrium), and unthinned and unburned stands on the Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas, USA. Restoration treatments involved thinning of midstory hardwoods and midstory and co‐dominant shortleaf pine in a process called wildlife stand improvement (WSI). The WSI was followed by February or March prescribed burns at 3‐year intervals. Species richness of individual bobwhite crops ranged from 0 to 16 and differed among years but not months. Shortleaf pine seed, post oak (Quercus stellata) acorns, and various legume seed (Lespedeza spp., Desmodium spp.) occurred most often of 94 food categories/items (≥110 species) found in quail crops. Shortleaf pine seed had among the highest gross energy (4.58 ± 0.2 kcal/g), fat (21.8 ± 0.6%), and crude protein (31.2 ± 0.5%) of food items analyzed. Green vegetation occurred in 43.3% of all crops, the greatest of any food category, and also was high in crude protein (28.7%), but the lowest in gross energy (3.43 kcal/g). Invertebrates occurred in 35.6% of crops, but were high‐ranked items in autumn and winter diets, particularly Orthopterans (12.4%), which were greatest in crude protein (64.3%). Average dry mass of crop contents was 1.38 g ± 0.16 g. Dry mass of woody plant seeds comprised most of the diet, averaging 0.86 g ± 0.17 g/crop. Bobwhites used a wide variety of plant and invertebrate food items that require or are benefited by open canopy conditions and frequent disturbance such as prescribed fire. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Diabetes during pregnancy enhanced neuronal death in the hippocampus of rat offspring
Authors: Lotfi Nassim , Hami Javad , Hosseini Mehran , Haghir Delaram , Haghir Hossein 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackgroundDiabetes in pregnancy has a detrimental effect on central nervous system (CNS) development and is associated with an increased risk of short‐ and long‐term neurocognitive impairment in the offspring. This study aimed to investigate the effect of maternal diabetes and also insulin treatment on the numerical density of apoptotic cells in rat neonate's hippocampi during the first two postnatal weeks.MethodsWistar female rats were maintained diabetic from a week before gestation through parturition and their male pup's brains were collected at postnatal days (P); P0, P7 and P14, equivalent to the third trimester in human. Numerical density of total neurons and percentage of apoptotic (TUNEL‐positive) cells in different subfields of hippocampus (CA1, CA2, CA3, and DG) was calculated by stereological methods.ResultsImmediately after birth, we found a significantly decline in the total neuronal density only in hippocampal CA3 area in neonates born to diabetic animals (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the number of neurons was significantly decreased in all hippocampal sub‐regions of diabetic group pups when compared to control and insulin treated diabetic pups at both P7 and P14 (p < 0.0001 each). Nevertheless, in diabetic group, the percentage of apoptotic cells in different subfields of hippocampus were higher in all studied time‐points compared to control or insulin treated diabetic groups (p < 0.0001 each). There were no significant differences either in the total number or apoptotic cells in the different hippocampal sub‐fields between the insulin‐treated diabetic group and controls (p > 0.05).ConclusionOur data indicate that diabetes in pregnancy induce the neuronal cell apoptosis in offspring hippocampus. Furthermore, the maternal glycaemia control by insulin treatment in the most cases normalized these effects.
Catheter ablation of anteroseptal accessory pathways from the aortic cusps: A case series and a review of the literature
Authors: Letsas Konstantinos P. , Efremidis Michael , Vlachos Konstantinos , Georgopoulos Stamatis , Karamichalakis Nikolaos , Saplaouras Athanasios , Xydonas Sotirios , Valkanas Kosmas , Sideris Antonios 
Published: May 2016

AbstractData regarding catheter ablation of anteroseptal accessory pathways through the aortic cusps are limited. We describe two cases of true para‐Hisian accessory pathways successfully ablated from the aortic cusps (right coronary cusp and non‐coronary cusp, respectively) along with a review of the current literature. Due to the close proximity to the atrioventricular node and the high risk of complication, mapping of the aortic cusps should always be considered in the case of anteroseptal accessory pathways. Anteroseptal accessory pathways can be safely and effectively ablated from the aortic cusps with good long‐term outcomes.
Atriofascicular pathway detection with novel ablation catheter
Authors: Shakkottai Padmanabhan , Baranchuk Adrian , Hobson Neil , Caldwell Jane 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAtriofascicular pathways are a rare cause of antidromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia. The IntellaTip MiFi ablation catheter (Boston Scientific, MA, USA) is a novel ablation catheter that allows enhanced signal clarity with highly localized electrograms. This is the first report of this catheter being successfully used to map and ablate the atriofascicular pathway potentials.
Red cell distribution width is associated with albuminuria in adults with familial Mediterranean fever
Authors: Uslu Ali Ugur , Yonem Ozlem , Aydin Bahattin , Uncu Tunahan , Seven Dogan , Balta Sevket , Cicekli Emre 
Published: May 2016

AbstractSystematic inflammation, enhanced oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction are important for evolution and progression of renal damage, and they cause an increase in red cell distribution width (RDW). Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients who are in the attack‐free period and its relation with albuminuria and performance on assessment of microalbuminuria. One hundred and seventy‐seven patients who had been diagnosed in accordance with Tel‐hoshmer criteria and were in the attack‐free period, and 143 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy individuals were enrolled in our study. RDW values of FMF patients were higher compared with those of the controls (13.85 ± 1.07 and 13.15 ± 0.91, respectively; p < 0.0001). RDW values of FMF patients with microalbuminuria were higher compared with those of FMF patients with normoalbuminuria and the control group (p = 0.002 and p < 0.0001, respectively). RDW values of FMF patients with normoalbuminuria were higher compared with those of the control group (p < 0.0001). We have showed RDW levels are positively correlated with albuminuria (r = 0.185, p = 0.014). When assessing microalbuminuria with RDW in the patients, a cutoff value of 13.85 with sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 62%, and p = 0.002 (area under curve: 0.651, 95% confidence interval 0.563–0.738), was observed according to receiver‐operating characteristic curve analysis. Among the various variables associated with albuminuria in multivariate logistic regression analyses, RDW remained an independent predictor of albuminuria (95% confidence interval 0.479–0.942, p = 0.021). RDW may be associated with albuminuria in FMF patients and it can be a predictor of microalbuminuria.
Heterogeneous estrogen receptor expression in circulating tumor cells suggests diverse mechanisms of fulvestrant resistance
Authors: Paoletti Costanza , Larios Jose M. , Muñiz Maria C. , Aung Kimberly , Cannell Emily M. , Darga Elizabeth P. , Kidwell Kelley M. , Thomas Dafydd G. , Tokudome Nahomi , Brown Martha E. , Connelly Mark C. , Chianese David A. , Schott Anne F. , Henry N. Lynn , Rae James M. , Hayes Daniel F. 
Published: May 2016

Fulvestrant is a dose dependent selective estrogen receptor (ER) down‐regulator (SERD) used in ER‐positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Nearly all patients develop resistance. We performed molecular analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTC) to gain insight into fulvestrant resistance.Preclinical studies were performed with cultured breast cancer cells spiked into human blood and analyzed on the CellSearch® system. Clinical data are limited to a subset of patients with ER‐positive MBC from a previously reported pilot trial whose disease was progressing on fulvestrant (N = 7) or aromatase inhibitors (AIs) (N = 10). CTCs were enumerated and phenotyped for ER and B‐cell lymphoma (BCL2) using the CellSearch® CXC kit.In preclinical modeling, tamoxifen and AIs resulted in stabilized ER expression, whereas fulvestrant eliminated it. Five of seven patients progressing on fulvestrant had ≥5CTC/7.5 ml WB. Two of these five, treated with 500 mg/month fulvestrant, had no detectable CTC‐expression of ER and BCL2 (an ER regulated gene). Three patients had heterogeneous CTC‐ER and BCL2 expression indicating incomplete degradation of the ER target by fulvestrant. Two of these patients received 250 mg/month whereas the third patient received 500 mg/month fulvestrant. Her cancer harbored a mutation (Y537S) in the estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1). All seven ER positive patients progressing on AIs had heterogeneous CTC‐ER expression.These results suggest heterogeneous mechanisms of resistance to fulvestrant, including insufficient dosage, ESR1 mutation, or conversion to dependence on non‐ER pathways. CTC enumeration, phenotyping, and genotyping might identify patients who would benefit from fulvestrant dose escalation versus switching to alternative therapies.
The Changing Nature of Relationships at Work—A Symposium
Authors: Freedland Mark 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
This short note introduces a mini-symposium on the changing nature of relationships at work. The mini-symposium essentially consists of two papers by two distinguished judges who are specialists in labour law—Mr Justice Langstaff from the UK and Justice Walton from Australia. In a revised version of my chairman’s introduction to the original lectures given at University College London in April 2015, I present these two judicial authors, I reflect briefly on the topic of their papers and I welcome the comparative and empirically topical discussion which their two lectures instituted and which the two ensuing articles now continue in written and published form.
An unexpected drop in the magnetic field of the X-ray pulsar V0332+53 after the bright outburst occurred in 2015
Authors: Cusumano G. , La Parola V. , D'Aì A. , Segreto A. , Tagliaferri G. , Barthelmy S. D. , Gehrels N. 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
How the accreted mass settling on the surface of a neutron star affects the topology of the magnetic field and how the secular evolution of the binary system depends on the magnetic field change is still an open issue. We report evidence for a clear drop in the observed magnetic field in the accreting pulsar V0332+53 after undergoing a bright 3-month long X-ray outburst. We determine the field from the position of the fundamental cyclotron line in its X-ray spectrum and relate it to the luminosity. For equal levels of luminosity, in the declining phase we measure a systematically lower value of the cyclotron line energy with respect to the rising phase. This results in a drop of ∼1.7 × 1011 G of the observed field between the onset and the end of the outburst. The settling of the accreted plasma on to the polar cap seems to induce a distortion of the magnetic field lines weakening their intensity along the accretion columns. Therefore, the dissipation rate of the magnetic field could be much faster than previously estimated, unless the field is able to restore its original configuration on a time-scale comparable with the outbursts recurrence time.
Academic Performance in Children of Mothers With Schizophrenia and Other Severe Mental Illness, and Risk for Subsequent Development of Psychosis: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Lin Ashleigh , Di Prinzio Patsy , Young Deidra , Jacoby Peter , Whitehouse Andrew , Waters Flavie , Jablensky Assen , Morgan Vera A. 
Published: May 2016

Abstract

Objective
We examined the academic performance at age 12 years of children of mothers diagnosed with schizophrenia or other severe mental illness using a large whole-population birth cohort born in Western Australia. We investigated the association between academic performance and the subsequent development of psychotic illness.

Method
The sample comprised 3169 children of mothers with severe mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, unipolar major depression, delusional disorder or other psychoses; ICD-9 codes 295–298), and 88 353 children of comparison mothers without known psychiatric morbidity. Academic performance of children was indexed on a mandatory state-wide test of reading, spelling, writing and numeracy.

Results
A larger proportion of children (43.1%) of mothers with severe mental illness performed below the acceptable standard than the reference group (30.3%; children of mothers with no known severe mental illness). After adjusting for covariates, children of mothers with any severe mental illness were more likely than the reference group to perform below-benchmark on all domains except reading. For all children, poor spelling was associated with the later development of psychosis, but particularly for those at familial risk for severe mental illness (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.81; 95% CI for HR = 1.21, 2.72).

Conclusions
Children of mothers with a severe mental illness are at increased risk for sub-standard academic achievement at age 12 years, placing these children at disadvantage for the transition to secondary school. For children with familial risk for severe mental illness, very poor spelling skills at age 12 years may be an indicator of risk for later psychotic disorder.
A plastic vegetative growth threshold governs reproductive capacity inAspergillus nidulans
Authors: Noble Luke M. , Holland Linda M. , McLachlan Alisha J. , Andrianopoulos Alex 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThreshold-limited ontogenic phases separating somatic growth from reproduction are a common feature of cellular life. Long recognized for flowering plants and animals, this life-history component may also be prevalent among multicellular fungi. We establish the environmental and genetic basis of developmental competence, the capacity to respond to induction of asexual development, in the model filamentous saprotrophAspergillus nidulans. Density and pH are critical parameters for competence timing, and we identify five genes with heterochronic effects through genetic screens and candidate mutagenesis, including the conserved GTPase RasB and ambient pH sensor PalH. Inheritance of competence timing is quantitative, semi-dominant, transgressive, and extremely variable among progeny. Transcriptional profiling over competence acquisition demonstrates substantial activity in metabolic and signaling networks, highly concordant across species, and a wave of gene expression around centromeres indicative of chromatin remodeling. Competence, likely determined by species-specific endogenous hormones and metabolic capacity, governs much of biology associated with the mature fungal form – asexual and sexual reproduction, secondary metabolism, and, in some species, pathogenesis – and provides a new model for nutrient-limited life-history phases and their elaboration from unicellular origins.
On the validity and errors of the pseudo-first-order kinetics in ligand–receptor binding
Authors: Stroberg Wylie , Schnell Santiago 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe simple bimolecular ligand–receptor binding interaction is often linearized by assuming pseudo-first-order kinetics when one species is present in excess. Here, a phase-plane analysis allows the derivation of a new condition for the validity of pseudo-first-order kinetics that is independent of the initial receptor concentration. The validity of the derived condition is analyzed from two viewpoints. In the first, time courses of the exact and approximate solutions to the ligand–receptor rate equations are compared when all rate constants are known. The second viewpoint assess the validity through the error induced when the approximate equation is used to estimate kinetic constants from data. Although these two interpretations of validity are often assumed to coincide, we show that they are distinct, and that large errors are possible in estimated kinetic constants, even when the linearized and exact rate equations provide nearly identical solutions.