bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pheromones from males of different familiarity exert divergent effects on adult neurogenesis in the female accessory olfactory bulb
Authors: Wu Jyun‐Han , Han Yueh‐Ting , Yu Jenn‐Yah , Wang Tsu‐Wei 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTPheromones from urine of unfamiliar conspecific male animals can reinitiate a female's estrus cycle to cause pregnancy block through the vomeronasal organ (VNO)‐accessory olfactory bulb (AOB)‐hypothalamic pathway. This phenomenon is called the Bruce effect. Pheromones from the mate of the female, however, do not trigger re‐entrance of the estrus cycle because an olfactory memory toward its mate is formed. The activity of the VNO‐AOB‐hypothalamic pathway is negatively modulated by GABAergic granule cells in the AOB. Since these cells are constantly replenished by neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle throughout adulthood and adult neurogenesis is required for mate recognition and fertility, we tested the hypothesis that pheromones from familiar and unfamiliar males may have different effects on adult AOB neurogenesis in female mice. When female mice were exposed to bedding used by a male or lived with one, cell proliferation and neuroblast production in the SVZ were increased. Furthermore, survival of newly generated cells in the AOB was enhanced. This survival effect was transient and mediated by norepinephrine. Interestingly, male bedding‐induced newborn cell survival in the AOB but not cell proliferation in the SVZ was attenuated when females were subjected to bedding from an unfamiliar male. Our results indicate that male pheromones from familiar and unfamiliar males exert different effects on neurogenesis in the adult female AOB. Given that adult neurogenesis is required for reproductive behaviors, these divergent pheromonal effects may provide a mechanism for the Bruce effect. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 632–645, 2013
Molecular basis for prospective pharmacological treatment strategies in intellectual disability syndromes
Authors: Verpelli Chiara , Galimberti Ivan , Gomez‐Mancilla Baltazar , Sala Carlo 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTA number of mutated genes that code for proteins concerned with brain synapse function and circuit formation have been identified in patients affected by intellectual disability (ID) syndromes over the past 15 years. These genes are involved in synapse formation and plasticity, the regulation of dendritic spine morphology, the regulation of the synaptic cytoskeleton, the synthesis and degradation of specific synapse proteins, and the control of correct balance between excitatory and inhibitory synapses. In most of the cases, even mild alterations in synapse morphology, function, and balance give rise to mild or severe IDs. These studies provided a rationale for the development of pharmacological agents that are able to counteract functional synaptic anomalies and potentially improve the symptoms of some of these conditions. This review summarizes recent findings on the functions of some of the genes responsible for ID syndromes and some of the new potential pharmacological treatments for these diseases. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 74: 197–206, 2014
Correlation between electrophysiological properties, morphological maturation, and olig gene changes during postnatal motor tract development
Authors: Cai Jun , Zhang Yi Ping , Shields Lisa B.E. , Zhang Zoe Z. , Liu Naikui , Xu Xiao‐Ming , Feng Shi‐Qing , Shields Christopher B. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTThis study investigated electrophysiological and histological changes as well as alterations of myelin relevant proteins of descending motor tracts in rat pups. Motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) represent descending conducting responses following stimulation of the motor cortex to responses being elicited from the lower extremities. MEP responses were recorded biweekly from postnatal (PN) week 1 to week 9 (adult). MEP latencies in PN week 1 rats averaged 23.7 ms and became shorter during early maturation, stabilizing at 6.6 ms at PN week 4. During maturation, the conduction velocity (CV) increased from 2.8 ± 0.2 at PN week 1 to 35.2 ± 3.1 mm/ms at PN week 8. Histology of the spinal cord and sciatic nerves revealed progressive axonal myelination. Expression of the oligodendrocyte precursor markers PDGFRα and NG2 were downregulated in spinal cords, and myelin‐relevant proteins such as GalC, CNP, and MBP increased during maturation. Oligodendrocyte‐lineage markers Olig2 and MOG, expressed in myelinated oligodendrocytes, peaked at PN week 3 and were downregulated thereafter. A similar expression pattern was observed in neurofilament M/H subunits that were extensively phosphorylated in adult spinal cords but not in neonatal spinal cords, suggesting an increase in axon diameter and myelin formation. Ultrastructural morphology in the ventrolateral funiculus (VLF) showed axon myelination of the VLF axons (99.3%) at PN week 2, while 44.6% were sheathed at PN week 1. Increased axon diameter and myelin thickness in the VLF and sciatic nerves were highly correlated to the CV (rs > 0.95). This suggests that MEPs could be a predicator of morphological maturity of myelinated axons in descending motor tracts. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 713–722, 2013
Presynaptic to postsynaptic relationships of the neuromuscular junction are held constant across age and muscle fiber type
Authors: Deschenes Michael R. , Hurst Taylor E. , Ramser Amy E. , Sherman E. Grace 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTThe neuromuscular junction (NMJ) displays considerable morphological plasticity as a result of differences in activity level, as well as aging. This is true of both presynaptic and postsynaptic components of the NMJ. Yet, despite these variations in NMJ structure, proper presynaptic to postsynaptic coupling must be maintained in order for effective cell‐to‐cell communication to occur. Here, we examined the NMJs of muscles with different activity profiles (soleus and EDL), on both slow‐ and fast‐twitch fibers in those muscles, and among young adult and aged animals. We used immunofluorescent techniques to stain nerve terminal branching, presynaptic vesicles, postsynaptic receptors, as well as fast/slow myosin heavy chain. Confocal microscopy was used to capture images of NMJs for later quantitative analysis. Data were subjected to a two‐way ANOVA (main effects for myofiber type and age), and in the event of a significant (p < 0.05) F ratio, a post hoc analysis was performed to identify pairwise differences. Results showed that the NMJs of different myofiber types routinely displayed differences in presynaptic and postsynaptic morphology (although the effect on NMJ size was reversed in the soleus and the EDL), but presynaptic to postsynaptic relationships were tightly maintained. Moreover, the ratio of presynaptic vesicles relative to nerve terminal branch length also was similar despite differences in muscles, their fiber type, and age. Thus, in the face of considerable overall structural differences of the NMJ, presynaptic to postsynaptic coupling remains constant, as does the relationship between presynaptic vesicles and the nerve terminal branches that support them. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 744–753, 2013
Improvement of the Caenorhabditis elegans growth and reproduction test to assess the ecotoxicity of soils and complex matrices
Authors: Huguier Pierre , Manier Nicolas , Méline Camille , Bauda Pascale , Pandard Pascal 
Published: May 2013

Abstract

A growth and reproduction test using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was recently standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Performing the ISO 10872 protocol (2010) revealed some drawbacks when applied to soil or soil mixed with complex matrices. The authors propose some modifications to the current protocol to normalize the test conditions. An appropriate range of moisture conditions was determined as a percentage of the water-holding capacity (WHC) of the soil. According to the authors' results, C. elegans tests can be performed in the range of 60% to 100% WHC. To ensure that the modifications of the protocol did not affect the organisms' recovery, extraction ratios for the juveniles were subsequently estimated. The modified protocol was found to be as reliable as the standard one concerning recovery of juveniles (over 80%). The protocol was also applied to several chemicals to investigate their potential as reference chemicals for soil toxicity tests. Boric acid, copper chloride, and nickel sulfate showed deleterious effects in a concentration-dependent manner for the growth and reproduction of C. elegans. Finally, the modified protocol was used to assess the growth and reproduction of C. elegans in soil amended with a limed sewage sludge. The authors conclude that the C. elegans modified protocol is a promising tool for the assessment of soil toxicity as well as the toxicity of mixtures with complex matrices. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:2100–2108. © 2013 SETAC
The Reciprocal Relations of Pressure, Work/Family Interference, and Role Satisfaction: Evidence from a Longitudinal Study in Taiwan
Authors: Lu Luo , Kao Shu‐Fang 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe aim of this longitudinal study was to explore reciprocal relationships between work/family pressure, work/family interference, and work/family satisfaction among Taiwanese employees (N = 310). All study variables were assessed three times. We found that within the work domain, earlier work pressure caused later work‐to‐family conflict (WFC), while earlier WFC reduced later job satisfaction. We also found that earlier WFC caused later work pressure, while earlier job satisfaction reduced later WFC. Similarly, we found that within the family domain, earlier family pressure caused later family‐to‐work conflict (FWC), while earlier FWC reduced later family satisfaction. We also found that earlier FWC caused later family pressure. In addition, family pressure and family satisfaction had reciprocal relationships over time. Together these longitudinal and reciprocal relations strongly support our hypothesized feedback loops linking pressure, work and family conflict, and role satisfaction, within each of the work and family domains. We made specific suggestions on breaking these vicious cycles to effectively manage both the work and family roles.
A goodness of fit measure related to r2 for model performance assessment
Authors: Bardsley William Earl 
Published: May 2013

AbstractChecking the predictive worth of an environmental model inevitably includes a goodness of fit metric to quantify the degree of matching to recorded data, thereby giving a measure of model performance. Considerable analysis and discussion have taken place over fit indices in hydrology, but a neglected aspect is the degree of communicability to other disciplines. It is suggested that a fit index is best communicated to colleagues via reference to models giving unbiased predictions, because unbiased environmental models are a desirable goal across disciplines. That is, broad recognition of a fit index is aided if it simplifies in the unbiased case to a familiar and logical expression. This does not hold for the Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency E which reduces to the somewhat awkward unbiased expression E = 2 – 1/r2, where r2 is the coefficient of determination. A new goodness of fit index V is proposed for model validation as V = r2/(2‐E), which simplifies to the easily communicated V = r4 in the unbiased case. The index is defined over the range 0 ≤ V ≤ 1, and it happens that V < E for larger values of E. Some synthetic and recorded data sets are used to illustrate characteristics of V in comparison to E. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Structural Study of Copper‐binding Peptides: Implication in the Aggregation of Amyloid‐β Peptides
Authors: Lin Ren‐Jie , Jinn Tzyy‐Rong , Jang Soonmin , Mai Fur‐Der , Li Feng‐Yin 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThere is evidence that copper is bound to amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ) in senile plaque of Alzheimer's disease. Copper also plays a role in the neurotoxicity of the Aβ aggregates associated with free radical damage. In this study, we used L‐histidyl‐L‐histidine peptide (di‐histidine) to represent Aβ along with ab initio calculation to characterize the probable coordination between Cu(II) and Aβs to explore the Aβ aggregate structures. Sixteen models of copper‐di‐histidine complexes were proposed to investigate the copper‐induced aggregation of Aβs through copper ionic coordination. All structures of the proposed models were optimized at the M05‐2X/LanL2DZ level, and an Aβ aggregation formation mechanism was proposed.
Chirality Inversion Process of a Bulky Alkyl Group in the Crystalline State Photo‐Isomerization of Cobaloxime Complex Crystals
Authors: Takeoka Hiraku , Sekine Akiko , Uekusa Hidehiro , Ohashi Yuji 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe complex of [(R)‐tert‐(butoxycarbonyl)ethyl][(S)‐1‐cyclohexylethylamine]bis(dimethylglyoximato)cobalt(III), (R‐bce)(S‐cha)cobaloxime, 1, showed a racemization of the R‐bce group on exposure to a xenon lamp with retention of the single crystal form. A part of the R‐bce groups gradually inverted to the opposite configuration in the P212121 cell. However, the inversion of the R‐bce group converged when the R:S ratio became ca.75:25. The shape of the reaction cavity for the disordered bce group became symmetric at the ratio. For the related complex crystal with pyridine as an axial ligand, (R‐bce)(py)cobaloxime, 2, there are two crystallographically independent molecules, A and B, which are related by a pseudo inversion center in the P21 cell. When the crystal was exposed to the xenon lamp, the R‐bce group of the A molecule was gradually inverted to the opposite configuration without decomposition of the single crystal form, whereas the R‐bce group of B remained unchanged. Finally the pseudo inversion center became a crystallographic one and the space group became P21/c. The third complex crystal with water as an axial ligand, (R‐bce)(aqua)cobaloxime, 3, showed no changed on exposure to the xenon lamp. This is well explained by the size and shape of the reaction cavities for the R‐bce groups in the three crystals.
Effects of noble metals doped on mesoporous LaAlNi mixed oxide catalyst and identification of carbon deposit for reforming CH4 with CO2
Authors: Arandiyan Hamidreza , Peng Yue , Liu Caixia , Chang Huazhen , Li Junhua 
Published: May 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe effect of the B cation on the surface properties and catalytic activity in the dry reforming reaction over La0.4M0.6Al0.2Ni0.8O3 (M=noble metal) perovskite‐type oxides with surface area 3.26–4.14 m2 g–1 and rhombohedral structure was studied.RESULTSAmong LaAlxNi1‐xO3 series, LaAl0.2Ni0.8O3 had the highest catalytic activity, but suffered a slow deactivation with time‐on‐stream (TOS). It is observed that all samples presented similar activity at low reaction temperatures (500–600°C), while at higher temperatures (600–850°C) the prepared solid was more active and perovskite phase was transformed into Ni0 or La2O2CO3. It was found that among the noble metal samples, La0.4Rh0.6Al0.2Ni0.8O3 possessed the highest surface area and surface oxygen concentration and the best low‐temperature reducibility. For the Rh catalyst the CH4 and CO2 conversions were 89.1 and 86.2%, which were the most resistant against coke deposition and showed very high stability without decrease in reforming and remained constant during the 3000 min TOS. The following order of activity was observed: La0.4Rh0.6Al0.2Ni0.8O3 > La0.4Ru0.6Al0.2Ni0.8O3 > LaAl0.2Ni0.8O3> La0.4Ir0.6Al0.2Ni0.8O3 ≥La0.4Pt0.6Al0.2Ni0.8O3 > La0.4Pd0.6Al0.2Ni0.8O3.CONCLUSIONSIt is believed that the high surface area and surface oxygen concentration and good low‐temperature reducibility were responsible for the good catalytic performance of the La0.4Rh0.6Al0.2Ni0.8O3 sample. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
The nature of the plate interface and driving force of interseismic deformation in the New Zealand plate‐boundary zone, revealed by the continuous GPS velocity field
Authors: Lamb Simon , Smith Euan 
Published: May 2013

AbstractNew Zealand straddles the boundary between the Australian and Pacific plates. Cenozoic relative plate motion has resulted in a complex pattern of faulting and block rotation, with displacements on individual faults up to hundreds of kilometers. However, over periods of several years, GPS measurements show a remarkably smooth pattern of velocities. We show here using a new method of back slip analysis, that almost the entire plate‐boundary continuous GPS velocity field can be predicted within measurement error from a simple model of elastic distortion due to deep slip on a single plate interface (megathrust in the Hikurangi and Putsegur subduction zones or fault through continental lithosphere beneath the Southern Alps) at the relative plate motion rates. This suggests that the main driving force of plate‐boundary deformation is slip on the deeper moving part of the plate interface, without buried creep in localized shear zones beneath individual surface faults. The depth at which this deep slip terminates (locking point line) determines the width of deformation. Along the Hikurangi margin, there is also clockwise rotation of ~150 km long segment of the fore arc (Wairoa domain) at 4.5° ± 1 Ma, relative to the Australian Plate, about a pole in western North Island; model residuals in the velocity field are mainly a result of incomplete averaging of the cycle of slow slip events on the plate interface, downdip of the locking point.
Detection of short‐term slow slip events along the Nankai Trough, southwest Japan, using GNSS data
Authors: Nishimura Takuya , Matsuzawa Takanori , Obara Kazushige 
Published: May 2013

AbstractWe detected short‐term slow slip events (SSEs) previously observable only with tilt and strain data along the Nankai Trough, southwest Japan, using GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) data. Offsets detected in GNSS time series using Akaike's information criterion helped automatically identify 207 episodes with a motion direction opposite to that of the relative plate motion from June 1996 to January 2012. By nonlinear inversion of the detected displacement, we estimated rectangular fault models for 133 probable and 25 possible short‐term SSEs over 15 years. The SSE moment magnitudes range from 5.5 to 6.3. Most SSE fault models are located in a narrow band of non‐volcanic tremors on the interfaces of the subducting Philippine Sea Plate. Large SSEs (moment magnitude, Mw, ≥6) often occur in western and central Shikoku. The cumulative slip is distributed heterogeneously along the strike, generally decreasing eastward with the maximum slip (~50 cm) in western Shikoku. No definite short‐term SSEs were found in the Kii Channel, but several short‐term SSEs occurred in Ise Bay. Both regions are known as tremor gaps. The local maximum of the cumulative slip fills in the tremor gap located in Ise Bay. The long‐term rate of short‐term SSE cumulative moment increased by threefold around 2003 in eastern Shikoku, whereas it was almost constant in other regions. Comparison with short‐term SSE catalogues using tilt data suggests that both this study and previous studies missed some SSEs along the Nankai Trough. A combination of geodetic data is important in the monitoring of the spatiotemporal distribution of short‐term SSEs.
Symmetry and the critical slip distance in rate and state friction laws
Authors: Rathbun Andrew P. , Marone Chris 
Published: May 2013

AbstractWe performed laboratory experiments to investigate the processes responsible for rate and state friction (RSF) behavior in fault rocks. We focused on the symmetry of the frictional constitutive response to velocity changes and the mechanics of the critical friction slip distance Dc. Experiments were conducted in double direct shear at 1 and 25 MPa normal stress, at room temperature, and for shearing velocity from 1 to 300 µm/s. We studied three granular materials and bare surfaces of Westerly granite. Ruina's law, which predicts frictional symmetry between velocity increases and decreases, better matches our data than Dieterich's law, which predicts that velocity decreases should evolve to steady state at a smaller displacement. However, for granular shear, in some cases Dc is smaller for velocity increases than for velocity decreases, contrary to expectations from either law. On bare granite surfaces, the frictional response is symmetric for velocity increases/decreases. Two distinct length scales for Dc and two‐state variables are required for granular shear in some cases. We hypothesize that asymmetry and two‐state behavior are caused by shear localization and changes in shear fabric in fault gouge. Our measurements show that during steady state frictional shear, dilation after a velocity increase is smaller than compaction after a decrease. Normal stress oscillations cause a marked decrease in Dc. Reduction of Dc reduces frictional stability, enhancing the possibility of seismic slip. Our experiments show that shear localization and fabric within the fault gouge can influence the RSF parameters that dictate earthquake nucleation and dynamic rupture.
Three‐dimensional tsunami propagation simulations using an unstructured mesh finite element model
Authors: Oishi Yusuke , Piggott Matthew D. , Maeda Takuto , Kramer Stephan C. , Collins Gareth S. , Tsushima Hiroaki , Furumura Takashi 
Published: May 2013

AbstractLarge‐scale tsunami propagation simulations from the fault region to the coast are conducted using a three‐dimensional (3‐D) parallel unstructured mesh finite element code (Fluidity‐ICOM). Unlike conventional 2‐D approximation models, our tsunami model solves the full 3‐D incompressible Navier‐Stokes (NS) equations. The model is tested against analytical solutions to simple dispersive wave propagation problems. Comparisons of our 3‐D NS model results with those from linear shallow water and linear dispersive wave models demonstrate that the 3‐D NS model simulates the dispersion of very short wavelength components more accurately than the 2‐D models. This improved accuracy is achieved using only a small number (three to five) of vertical layers in the mesh. The numerical error in the wave velocity compared with the linear wave theory is less than 3% up to kH = 40, where k is the wave number and H is the sea depth. The same 2‐D and 3‐D models are also used to simulate two earthquake‐generated tsunamis off the coast of Japan: the 2004 off Kii peninsula and the 2011 off Tohoku tsunamis. The linear dispersive and NS models showed good agreement in the leading waves but differed especially in their near‐source, short wavelength dispersive wave components. This is consistent with the results from earlier tests, suggesting that the 3‐D NS simulations are more accurate. The computational performance on a parallel computer showed good scalability up to 512 cores. By using a combination of unstructured meshes and high‐performance computers, highly accurate 3‐D tsunami simulations can be conducted in a practical timescale.