bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells induce apoptosis in PC-3 prostate cancer cells through activation of JNK and downregulation of PI3K/AKT signaling
Authors: Han Ihn , Yun Miyong , Kim Eun-Ok , Kim Bonglee , Jung Min-Hyung , Kim Sung-Hoon 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Although mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have antitumor potential in hepatocellular carcinoma and breast cancer cells, the antitumor mechanism of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) in prostate cancer cells still remains unclear. Thus, in the present study, we elucidated the antitumor activity of hUCMSCs in PC-3 prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Methods
hUCMSCs were isolated from Wharton jelly of umbilical cord and characterized via induction of differentiations, osteogenesis, and adipogenesis. Antitumor effects of UCMSCs on tumor growth were evaluated in a co-culture condition with PC-3 prostate cancer cells. PC-3 cells were subcutaneously (sc) injected into the left flank of nude mice, and UCMSCs were sc injected into the right flank of the same mouse.

Results
We found that hUCMSCs inhibited the proliferation of PC-3 cells in the co-culture condition. Furthermore, co-culture of hUCMSCs induced the cleavage of caspase 9/3 and PARP, activated c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and Bax, and attenuated the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/ AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and the expression of survival genes such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Survivin, Mcl-1, and cIAP-1 in PC-3 cells in Western blotting assay. Conversely, we found that treatment of specific JNK inhibitor SP600125 suppressed the cleavages of caspase 9/3 and PARP induced by hUCMSCs in PC-3 cells by Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay. The homing of hUCMSCs to, and TUNEL-positive cells on, the K562 xenograft tumor region were detected in Nu/nu-BALB/c mouse.

Conclusions
These results suggest that UCMSCs inhibit tumor growth and have the antitumor potential for PC-3 prostate cancer treatment.
Effective T helper cell responses against retroviruses: are all clonotypes equal?
Authors: Thorborn Georgina , Young George R , Kassiotis George 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTThe critical importance of CD4+ T cells in coordinating innate and adaptive immune responses is evidenced by the susceptibility to various pathogenic and opportunistic infections that arises from primary or acquired CD4+ T cell immunodeficiency, such as following HIV-1 infection. However, despite the clearly defined roles of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and antibodies in host protection from retroviruses, the ability of CD4+ T cells to exert a similar function remains unclear. Recent studies in various settings have drawn attention to the complexity of the T cell response within and between individuals. Distinct TCR clonotypes within an individual differ substantially in their response to the same epitope. Functionally similar, “public” TCR clonotypes can also dominate the response of different individuals. TCR affinity for antigen directly influences expansion and differentiation of responding T cells, also likely affecting their ultimate protective capacity. With this increasing understanding of the parameters that determine the magnitude and effector type of the T cell response, we are now better equipped to address the protective capacity against retroviruses of CD4+ T cell clonotypes induced by natural infection or vaccination.
Intraspecific scaling of arterial blood pressure in the Burmese python
Authors: Enok Sanne , Slay Christopher , Abe Augusto S. , Hicks James W. , Wang Tobias 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Interspecific allometric analyses indicate that mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) increases with body mass of snakes and mammals. In snakes, MAP increases in proportion to the increased distance between the heart and the head, when the heart-head vertical distance is expressed a ρgh, and the rise in MAP is associated with larger heart to normalize wall stress in the ventricular wall. Based on measurements of MAP in Burmese python ranging from 0.9-3.7 m in length (0.20-27 kg), we demonstrate that although MAP increases with body mass, the rise in MAP is merely half of that predicted by heart-head distance. Scaling relationships within individual species, therefore, may not be accurately predicted by existing interspecific analyses.
Foot speed, foot-strike and footwear:linking gait mechanics and running ground reaction forces
Authors: Clark Kenneth P. , Ryan Laurence J. , Weyand Peter G. 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Running performance, energy requirements, and musculoskeletal stresses are directly related to the action-reaction forces between the limb and ground. For human runners, the force-time patterns from individual footfalls can vary considerably across speed, foot-strike, and footwear conditions. Here, we used four human footfalls with distinctly different vertical force-time waveform patterns to evaluate whether a basic mechanical model might explain all of them. Our model partitions the body's total mass (1.0 Mb) into two invariant mass fractions (lower-limb=0.08, remaining body mass=0.92) and allows the instantaneous collisional velocities of the former to vary. The best fits achieved (R2 range: 0.95-0.98, mean=0.97±0.01) indicate that the model is capable of accounting for nearly all of the variability observed in the four waveform types tested: barefoot jog, rear-foot strike run, fore-foot strike run, and fore-foot strike sprint. We conclude that different running ground reaction force-time patterns may have the same mechanical basis.
mRNA degradation: an underestimated factor on steady-state transcript levels of cytochromecoxidase subunits?
Authors: Bremer Katharina , Moyes Christopher D. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractSteady-state mRNA levels are determined by synthesis and degradation; however, changes in mRNA levels are usually attributed to transcription. For cytochrome c oxidase (COX), cold acclimation typically leads to an increase in COX activity while transcript levels for the nuclear-encoded subunits change non-stoichiometrically. Whether those patterns are caused by differences in subunit transcription rates, decay rates, or both, was not known. We assessed decay rates of transcripts for COX subunits, including representatives that decreased, increased in parallel with COX, or increased in excess of COX. Low temperature reduced the decay rate of all transcripts; however COX subunits displayed higher thermal sensitivity than housekeeping genes. The lower decay rates for COX transcripts might explain some of their increase in response to cold acclimation. The reason for the exaggerated transcript response of two subunits (COX6B-1, COX7A-2) may due to decreased decay. However, decay rate differences could not explain the patterns seen with subunits that did not change in mRNA level with thermal acclimation (COX6A-2). Further, the decay patterns differed between two thermal acclimation experiments, which may explain some of the heterogeneity seen in fish studies. The differences in decay rates suggest that the lack of stoichiometry in mRNA levels is exacerbated by post-transcriptional mechanisms. Collectively, these results suggest that temperature-induced differences in COX subunit mRNA levels and deviations from stoichiometry between them may partially arise from subunit-specific sensitivities to degradation. We suggest all subunits to be controlled by transcription, and exaggerated responses of some subunits to be due to reduced decay rates.
Is there metabolic cold adaptation in terrestrial ectotherms? Exploring a latitudinal compensation using a common garden experiment of the invasive snailCornu aspersum
Authors: Gaitán-Espitia Juan D. , Nespolo Roberto F. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractLower temperatures, extreme seasonality and shorter growing seasons at higher latitudes are expected to cause a decline in metabolic rates and annual growth rates of ectotherms. If a reduction in the rates of these biological processes involves a reduction in fitness, then organisms may evolve compensatory responses for the constraints imposed by high-latitude habitats. To test the existence of a latitudinal compensation in ectotherms we used a common garden experiment to investigate the extent to which the level of energy turnover (measured as standard metabolic rate, SMR) and the energy budget (energy allocation to growth) are affected by climatic constraints in three populations of the land snail Cornu aspersum, distributed across a latitudinal gradient of 1300 kms in Chile. Our results did not support the existence of a latitudinal compensation in metabolic rates (Metabolic Cold adaptation). However, there was a countergradient variation (CnGV) for growth rate in which the highest latitudinal population exhibited greater growth rates than their counterparts from lower latitudes. Surprisingly, this CnGV pattern was accompanied by a lower apparent dry-matter digestibility, which could highlight a differential assimilation of ingested nutrients into somatic tissue, revealing enhanced growth efficiency in snails from the highest latitudinal habitat. Our evidence highlights that adjustments in energy allocation to the digestive machinery and to protein storage could act as a latitudinal compensation for enhanced growth efficiency in snails from the highest latitudinal population.
Phase shifts in binaural stimuli provide directional cues for sound localization in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus
Authors: Seagraves Kelly , Hedwig Berthold 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
The cricket's auditory system is a highly directional pressure difference receiver whose function is hypothesised to depend on phase relationships between the sound waves propagating through the auditory trachea that connects the left and right hearing organs. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the effect of experimentally constructed phase shifts in acoustic stimuli on phonotactic behavior of G. bimaculatus, the oscillatory response patterns of the tympanic membrane, and the activity of the auditory afferents. The same artificial calling song was played simultaneously at the left and right sides of the cricket, but one sound pattern was shifted in phase by 90° (carrier frequencies between 3.6-5.4 kHz). All three levels of auditory processing are sensitive to experimentally induced acoustic phase shifts, and the response characteristics are dependent on the carrier frequency of the sound stimulus. At lower frequencies crickets steered away from the sound leading in phase, while tympanic membrane vibrations and auditory afferent responses were smaller when the ipsilateral sound was leading. In contrast, at higher frequencies opposite responses were observed in all three levels of auditory processing. Minimal responses occurred near the carrier frequency of the cricket's calling song, suggesting a stability at this frequency. Our results indicate that crickets may use directional cues arising from phase shifts in acoustic signals for sound localization, and that the response properties of pressure difference receivers may be analysed with phase-shifted sound stimuli to further our understanding of how insect auditory systems are adapted for directional processing
The four aldehyde oxidases of Drosophila melanogaster have different gene expression patterns and enzyme substrate specificities
Authors: Marelja Zvonimir , Dambowsky Miriam , Bolis Marco , Georgiou Marina L. , Garattini Enrico , Missirlis Fanis , Leimkühler Silke 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
In the genome of Drosophila melanogaster four genes coding for aldehyde oxidases (AOX1-4) were identified on chromosome 3. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the AOX-gene cluster evolved via independent duplication events in the vertebrate and invertebrate lineages. The functional role and the substrate specificity of the distinct Drosophila AOX enzymes is unknown. Two loss-of-function mutant alleles in this gene region, low pyridoxal oxidase (Polpo) and aldehyde oxidase-1 (Aldox-1n1) are associated with a phenotype characterized by undetectable AOX enzymatic activity. However, the genes involved and the corresponding mutations have not yet been identified. In this study we characterized the activities, substrate specificities and expression profiles of the four AOX enzymes in D. melanogaster. We show that the Polpo associated phenotype is the consequence of a structural alteration of the AOX1 gene. We identified an 11-base-pair deletion in the Polpo allele resulting in a frame-shift event, which removes the molybdenum cofactor domain of the encoded enzyme. Furthermore, we show that AOX2 activity is detectable only during metamorphosis and characterize a Minos-AOX2 insertion in this developmental gene that disrupts its activity. We demonstrate that the Aldox-1n phenotype maps to the AOX3 gene and AOX4 activity is not detectable in our assays.
Oxygen diffusion limitation triggers ventilatory movements during spiracle closure when insects breathe discontinuously
Authors: Huang Shu-Ping , Sender Roi , Gefen Eran 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
During discontinuous gas exchange cycles in insects, spiracular opening follows a typical prolonged period of spiracle closure. Gas exchange with the environment occurs mostly during the period of full spiracular opening. In this study we tested the hypothesis that recently reported ventilatory movements during the spiracle closure period serve to mix the tracheal system gaseous contents, and support diffusive exchanges with the tissues. Using heliox (21% O2, 79% N2), we found that by increasing oxygen diffusivity in the gas-phase, ventilatory movements were significantly delayed compared to normoxic conditions. Exposure to hyperoxic conditions (40% O2 in nitrogen) resulted in a similar delay in forced ventilation. Together, these results indicate that limits to oxygen diffusion to the tissues during spiracle closure trigger ventilatory movements, which in turn support tissue demands. These findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanistic basis of respiratory gas exchange between insect tissues and the environment.
Sedentary behavior as a factor in determining lateral line contributions to rheotaxis
Authors: Bak-Coleman Joseph B. , Coombs Sheryl 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Rheotaxis is a robust, multisensory behavior with many potential benefits for fish and other aquatic animals. Visual (optic flow) cues appear to be sufficient for rheotaxis, but other sensory cues can clearly compensate for the loss of vision. The role of various non-visual sensory systems, in particularly the flow-sensing lateral line, is poorly understood-largely due to widely varying methods and sensory conditions for studying rheotaxis. Here, we examine how sedentary behavior under visually deprived conditions affects the relative importance of lateral line cues in two species: one that is normally sedentary (the three-lined corydoras, Corydoras trilineatus) and one that normally swims continuously along the substrate (the blind cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus). No effect of lateral line disruption on rheotactic performance was found in blind cavefish, which were significantly more mobile than three-lined corydoras. By contrast, rheotaxis was significantly impaired at low, but not high, flow speeds in lateral-line deprived corydoras. In addition, lateral line enabled corydoras were characterized by decreased mobility and increased rheotactic performance relative to lateral line deprived fish. Taken together, these results suggest that sedentary behavior is an important factor in promoting reliance on lateral line cues.
Null point of discrimination in crustacean polarisation vision
Authors: How Martin J. , Christy John , Roberts Nicholas W. , Marshall N. Justin 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe polarisation of light is used by many species of cephalopods and crustaceans to discriminate objects or to communicate. Most visual systems with this ability, such as that of the fiddler crab, include receptors with photopigments that are oriented horizontally and vertically relative to the outside world. Photoreceptors in such an orthogonal array are maximally sensitive to polarised light with the same fixed e-vector orientation. Using opponent neural connections, this two-channel system may produce a single value of polarisation contrast and, consequently, it may suffer from null points of discrimination. Stomatopod crustaceans use a different system for polarisation vision, comprising at least four types of polarisation-sensitive photoreceptor arranged at 0°, 45°, 90° and 135° relative to each other, in conjunction with extensive rotational eye movements. This anatomical arrangement should not suffer from equivalent null points of discrimination. To test whether these two systems were vulnerable to null points, we presented the fiddler crab Uca heteropleura and the stomatopod Haptosquilla trispinosa with polarised looming stimuli on a modified LCD monitor. The fiddler crab was less sensitive to differences in the degree of polarised light when the e-vector was at -45°, than when the e-vector was horizontal. In comparison, stomatopods showed no difference in sensitivity between the two stimulus types. The results suggest that fiddler crabs suffer from a null point of sensitivity, while stomatopods do not.
Fibrous Architectures of Porous Coordination Polymers–Alumina Composites Fabricated by Coordination Replication
Authors: Nakahama Masashi , Reboul Julien , Kamei Ken-ichiro , Kitagawa Susumu , Furukawa Shuhei 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Polycrystalline fibers of porous coordination polymers (PCPs) were synthesized from free-standing alumina nanofiber materials by a coordination replication process. The diameter and morphology of fibrous PCP architectures were controlled by the concentration of aluminum salts and the pH of the reaction solution of replication, respectively. CO2 adsorption measurement proved the presence of hierarchical porosity composed of both micropores and mesopores in PCP fibers.
Firm-Level Productivity, Risk, and Return
Authors: İmrohoroğlu Ayşe , Tüzel Şelale 
Published: April 2014

This paper provides new evidence about the link between firm-level total factor productivity (TFP) and stock returns. We estimate firm-level TFP and show that it is strongly related to several firm characteristics such as size, the book-to-market ratio, investment, and hiring rate. Low productivity firms earn a significant premium over high productivity firms in the following year, and this premium is countercyclical. We show that a production-based asset pricing model calibrated to match the cross section of measured firm-level TFPs can replicate the empirical relationship between TFP, many firm characteristics, and stock returns. Our results offer an explanation as to how these firm characteristics rationally predict returns. This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Real-Time Optimization of Personalized Assortments
Authors: Golrezaei Negin , Nazerzadeh Hamid , Rusmevichientong Paat 
Published: April 2014

Motivated by the availability of real-time data on customer characteristics, we consider the problem of personalizing the assortment of products for each arriving customer. Using actual sales data from an online retailer, we demonstrate that personalization based on each customer's location can lead to over 10% improvements in revenue compared to a policy that treats all customers the same. We propose a family of index-based policies that effectively coordinate the real-time assortment decisions with the back-end supply chain constraints. We allow the demand process to be arbitrary and prove that our algorithms achieve an optimal competitive ratio. In addition, we show that our algorithms perform even better if the demand is known to be stationary. Our approach is also flexible and can be combined with existing methods in the literature, resulting in a hybrid algorithm that brings out the advantages of other methods while maintaining the worst-case performance guarantees.This paper was accepted by Dimitris Bertsimas, special issue on business analytics.
Dangerous Close Call with Wintergreen Oil; Are 10 mL Syringes Needed When Giving Drugs via Venous Access Devices?; Use of “NoAC” Abbreviation; Unsafe Frequency Notation; 2014-15 Targeted Medication Safety Best Practices for Hospitals
Authors: Cohen Michael R. , Smetzer Judy L. 
Published: April 2014

These medication errors have occurred in health care facilities at least once. They will happen again—perhaps where you work. Through education and alertness of personnel and procedural safeguards, they can be avoided. You should consider publishing accounts of errors in your news-letters and/or presenting them at your inservice training programs. Your assistance is required to continue this feature. The reports described here were received through the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Medication Errors Reporting Program. Any reports published by ISMP will be anonymous. Comments are also invited; the writers’ names will be published if desired. ISMP may be contacted at the address shown below. Errors, close calls, or hazardous conditions may be reported directly to ISMP through the ISMP Web site ( www.ismp.org ), by calling 800-FAIL-SAFE, or via e-mail at ismpinfo@ismp.org . ISMP guarantees the confidentiality and security of the information received and respects reporters’ wishes as to the level of detail included in publications.
Assessment of the Genotoxicity of 1,2‐Dichloropropane and Dichloromethane after Individual and Co‐exposure by Inhalation in Mice
Authors: Suzuki Tetsuya , Yanagiba Yukie , Suda Megumi , Wang Rui‐Sheng 
Published: April 2014

Assessment of the Genotoxicity of 1,2‐Dichloropropane and Dichloromethane after Individual and Co‐exposure by Inhalation in Mice: Tetsuya SUZUKI, et al. Division of Health Effects Research, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health—ObjectiveOccurrence of cholangiocarcinoma was recently reported at a high incidence rate among the employees working for an offset printing company in Osaka, Japan. 1,2‐Dichloropropane (1,2‐DCP) and dichloromethane (DCM) are suspected to be the causes of the cancer, as they had been used as ink cleaners in large amounts. However, it is not clear whether these chlorinated organic solvents played a role in the occurrence of cholangiocarcinoma or why the incidence rate is so high among the workers in this industry. To provide possible evidence for this severe occupational problem, we investigated the genotoxic effects of 1,2‐DCP and DCM.MethodsMale B6C3F1 and gpt Delta C57BL/6J mice were exposed by inhalation to the individual solvents or both solvents at multiple concentrations including the levels that were possibly present in the workplaces. The genotoxicity was analyzed by Pig‐a gene mutation and micronuclei assays in peripheral blood and gpt mutation and comet assays in the livers of mice after repeated inhalation of 1,2‐DCP or/and DCM.ResultsThe Pig‐a mutant frequencies and micronuclei incidences were not significantly increased by exposure of either 1,2‐DCP or/and DCM at any concentration, suggesting there was no genotoxic potential in bone marrow for both solvents. In the liver, DNA damage, as measured by the comet assay, was dose dependently increased by 1,2‐DCP but not by DCM. The gpt mutant frequency was 2.6‐fold that of the controls in the co‐exposure group.ConclusionsThese results indicate that 1,2‐DCP showed stronger genotoxicity in the liver and that the genotoxic effects were greatly enhanced by simultaneous exposure to DCM.