bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of colostrum and plasma immunoglobulin intake on hippocampus structure during early postnatal development in pigs
Authors: Pierzynowski Stefan , Ushakova Galyna , Kovalenko Tatiana , Osadchenko Iryna , Goncharova Kateryna , Gustavsson Per , Prykhodko Olena , Wolinski Jarek , Slupecka Monika , Ochniewicz Piotr , Weström Björn , Skibo Galina 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe first milk, colostrum, is an important source of nutrients and an exclusive source of immunoglobulins (Ig), essential for the growth and protection from infection of newborn pigs. Colostrum intake has also been shown to affect the vitality and behaviour of neonatal pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding colostrum and plasma immunoglobulin on brain development in neonatal pigs.Positive correlations were found between growth, levels of total protein and IgG in blood plasma and hippocampus development in sow‐reared piglets during the first 3 postnatal days. In piglets fed an elemental diet (ED) for 24 h, a reduced body weight, a lower plasma protein level and a decreased level of astrocyte specific protein in the hippocampus was observed, as compared to those that were sow‐reared. The latter was coincident with a reduced microgliogenesis and an essentially diminished number of neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus after 72 h. Supplementation of the ED with purified plasma Ig, improved the gliogenesis and supported the trophic and immune status of the hippocampus.The data obtained indicate that the development of the hippocampus structure is improved by colostrum or an Ig‐supplemented elemental diet in order to stimulate brain protein synthesis and its development during the early postnatal period.
Novel circulating microRNA signature as a potential non‐invasive multi‐marker test in ER‐positive early‐stage breast cancer: A case control study
Authors: Kodahl Annette R. , Lyng Maria B. , Binder Harald , Cold Søren , Gravgaard Karina , Knoop Ann S. , Ditzel Henrik J. 
Published: March 2014

IntroductionThere are currently no highly sensitive and specific minimally invasive biomarkers for detection of early‐stage breast cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are present in the circulation and may be unique biomarkers for early diagnosis of human cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential expression of miRNAs in the serum of breast cancer patients and healthy controls.MethodsGlobal miRNA analysis was performed on serum from 48 patients with ER‐positive early‐stage breast cancer obtained at diagnosis (24 lymph node‐positive and 24 lymph node‐negative) and 24 age‐matched healthy controls using LNA‐based quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). A signature of miRNAs was subsequently validated in an independent set of 111 serum samples from 60 patients with early‐stage breast cancer and 51 healthy controls and further tested for reproducibility in 3 independent data sets from the GEO Database.ResultsA multivariable signature consisting of 9 miRNAs (miR‐15a, miR‐18a, miR‐107, miR‐133a, miR‐139‐5p, miR‐143, miR‐145, miR‐365, miR‐425) was identified that provided considerable discrimination between breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Further, the ability of the 9 miRNA signature to stratify samples from breast cancer patients and healthy controls was confirmed in the validation set (p = 0.012) with a corresponding AUC = 0.665 in the ROC‐curve analysis. No association between miRNA expression and tumor grade, tumor size, menopausal‐ or lymph node status was observed. The signature was also successfully validated in a previously published independent data set of circulating miRNAs in early‐stage breast cancer (p = 0.024).ConclusionsWe present herein a 9 miRNA signature capable of discriminating between ER‐positive breast cancer and healthy controls. Using a specific algorithm based on the 9 miRNA signature, the risk for future individuals can be predicted. Since microRNAs are highly stable in blood components, this signature might be useful in the development of a blood‐based multi‐marker test to improve early detection of breast cancer. Such a test could potentially be used as a screening tool to identify individuals who would benefit from further diagnostic assessment.
SOUND, MEANING AND MUSIC-DRAMA IN LACHENMANN'S DAS MÄDCHEN MIT DEN SCHWEFELHÖLZERN
Authors: Osborn Laurence 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis article argues that Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern demonstrates a unique approach to music-drama that stems from the perceptual capacities of listeners, and their desire to search for meaning in what they hear. Beginning with the claim that Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern can be viewed as the culmination of an aesthetic project begun at the point of Lachenmann's emergence as a distinctive voice of the European avant-garde during the 1960s, the article first examines two major aspects of Lachenmann's aesthetics – musique concrète instrumentale and aura – outlining a composing philosophy that has been at the heart of Lachenmann's practice throughout his career. The article claims that Lachenmann sought to establish a rejuvenated semiotics, freed from cultural baggage and tied to the perceptual and cognitive capacities of listeners. Drawing upon the studies of Naomi Cumming and Luke Windsor, it outlines a theoretical framework that takes into account this composing philosophy and its implications, applying it in analyses of various excerpts from Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern. My analysis illuminates a music-drama that forms around the interplay of internally represented images and sensations, the emergence of which is facilitated by a musical language that prepares sounds to take on certain types of meaning. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the possible implications this has for audience members.
SYMMETRY IN THE MUSIC OF JOHN ADAMS
Authors: Sanchez-Behar Alexander 
Published: March 2014

AbstractClose examination of John Adams's oeuvre reveals that symmetry is one of the predominant features of his music. Three common types of symmetry are encountered in Adams's works: reflection, translation and rotation. This article investigates these symmetries and tracks their development throughout Adams's compositional career. An analysis of selected works from the 1970s (China Gates and Phrygian Gates), 1980s (Grand Pianola Music and Fearful Symmetries) and 1990s (the Violin Concerto and Century Rolls) highlights the most pervasive symmetry in each decade and shows a shift from preconceived overarching symmetries that frame entire musical structures to smaller-level symmetries that affect the music at a level of phrase and motivic structure.
Secession and the invisible hand of the international system
Authors: GRIFFITHS RYAN 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis article argues that 1945 constitutes an historical inflection point from a period of state expansion to state contraction and that this transformation is primarily the result of changes at the international level. Just as security and economic pressures drove lead states to expand in earlier times, changing conditions in the post-1945 period led to a contraction in state size. The change from multipolarity, the development of the territorial integrity norm, the shift to nuclear deterrence, and the burgeoning global economy contributed to the milieu in which states evaluate the costs and benefits of holding territory, and this has enabled states to permit secession more frequently. The result has been an increase in the rate of peaceful secession and a corresponding proliferation in the number of sovereign states. I test this argument both qualitatively and quantitatively using original data on secessionist movements and internal administrative regions between 1816 and 2005.
Network information analysis reveals risk perception transmission in a behaviour-influenza dynamics system
Authors: LIAO C.-M. , YOU S.-H. , CHENG Y.-H. 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYInfluenza poses a significant public health burden worldwide. Understanding how and to what extent people would change their behaviour in response to influenza outbreaks is critical for formulating public health policies. We incorporated the information-theoretic framework into a behaviour-influenza (BI) transmission dynamics system in order to understand the effects of individual behavioural change on influenza epidemics. We showed that information transmission of risk perception played a crucial role in the spread of health-seeking behaviour throughout influenza epidemics. Here a network BI model provides a new approach for understanding the risk perception spread and human behavioural change during disease outbreaks. Our study allows simultaneous consideration of epidemiological, psychological, and social factors as predictors of individual perception rates in behaviour-disease transmission systems. We suggest that a monitoring system with precise information on risk perception should be constructed to effectively promote health behaviours in preparation for emerging disease outbreaks.
Survivability and molecular variation inVibrio choleraefrom epidemic sites in China
Authors: LI X. Q. , WANG M. , DENG Z. A. , SHEN J. C. , ZHANG X. Q. , LIU Y. F. , CAI Y. S. , WU X. W. , DI B. 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYThe survival behaviour ofVibrio choleraein cholera epidemics, together with its attributes of virulence-associated genes and molecular fingerprints, are significant for managing cholera epidemics. Here, we selected five strains representative ofV. choleraeO1 and O139 involved in cholera events, examined their survival capacity in large volumes of water sampled from epidemic sites of a 2005 cholera outbreak, and determined virulence-associated genes and molecular subtype changes of the surviving isolates recovered. The five strains exhibited different survival capacities varying from 17 to 38 days. The virulence-associated genes of the surviving isolates remained unchanged, while their pulsotypes underwent slight variation. In particular, one waterway-isolated strain maintained virulence-associated genes and evolved to share the same pulsotype as patient strains, highlighting its role in the cholera outbreak. The strong survival capacity and molecular attributes ofV. choleraemight account for its persistence in environmental waters and the long duration of the cholera outbreak, allowing effective control measures.
Superconducting graphene sheets in CaC6 enabled by phonon-mediated interband interactions
Authors: Yang S.-L. , Sobota J. A. , Howard C. A. , Pickard C. J. , Hashimoto M. , Lu D. H. , Mo S.-K. , Kirchmann P. S. , Shen Z.-X. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThere is a great deal of fundamental and practical interest in the possibility of inducing superconductivity in a monolayer of graphene. But while bulk graphite can be made to superconduct when certain metal atoms are intercalated between its graphene sheets, the same has not been achieved in a single layer. Moreover, there is a considerable debate about the precise mechanism of superconductivity in intercalated graphite. Here we report angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of the superconducting graphite intercalation compound CaC6 that distinctly resolve both its intercalant-derived interlayer band and its graphene-derived π* band. Our results indicate the opening of a superconducting gap in the π* band and reveal a substantial contribution to the total electron–phonon-coupling strength from the π*-interlayer interband interaction. Combined with theoretical predictions, these results provide a complete account for the superconducting mechanism in graphite intercalation compounds and lend support to the idea of realizing superconducting graphene by creating an adatom superlattice.
Neonatal encephalopathy: pre-clinical studies in neuroprotection
Authors: Patel Shyama D. , Pierce Leslie , Ciardiello Amber J. , Vannucci Susan J. 
Published: March 2014

Neonatal encephalopathy resulting from HI (hypoxia–ischaemia) continues to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in infants and children, affecting 1–2/1000 live term births and up to 60% of pre-term births. In order to understand the pathophysiology of this insult, as well as design therapeutic interventions, it is important to establish a relevant animal model for pre-clinical studies. One of the most frequently used models of HI-induced brain damage in immature animals is the unilateral carotid ligation/hypoxia model, initially developed in our laboratory more than 30 years ago. The original model employed the postnatal day 7 rat, whose brain is representative of that of a late gestation, pre-term [32–36 weeks GA (gestational age)] human infant. We, and others, have employed this model to characterize the pathophysiological, biochemical/energetic and neuropathological events following HI, as well as the determination of the unique characteristics of the immature brain that define its vulnerability to, and outcome from, HI. In defining the cascade of events following HI, it has become possible to identify potential targets for intervention and neuroprotection. Currently, the only available therapeutic intervention for neonatal encephalopathy in the term asphyxiated infant is therapeutic hypothermia, although this must be initiated within 6 h of birth and is at best partially effective in moderately injured infants. Ongoing pre-clinical studies are necessary to determine the basis for the partial protection afforded by hypothermia as well as the design of adjunct therapies to improve the outcome. The present review highlights the importance of using a well-characterized and relevant animal model to continue to pursue translational research in neuroprotection for the infant brain.
Dicarbonyl proteome and genome damage in metabolic and vascular disease
Authors: Rabbani Naila , Thornalley Paul J. 
Published: March 2014

Methylglyoxal is a potent protein-glycating agent. It is an arginine-directed glycating agent and often modifies functionally important sites in proteins. Glycation forms mainly MG-H1 [Nδ-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl)ornithine] residues. MG-H1 content of proteins is quantified by stable isotopic dilution analysis–MS/MS and also by immunoblotting with specific monoclonal antibodies. Methylglyoxal-modified proteins undergo cellular proteolysis and release MG-H1 free adduct for excretion. MG-H1 residues have been found in proteins of animals, plants, bacteria, fungi and protoctista. MG-H1 is often the major advanced glycation end-product in proteins of tissues and body fluids, increasing in diabetes and associated vascular complications, renal failure, cirrhosis, Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, Parkinson's disease and aging. Proteins susceptible to methylglyoxal modification with related functional impairment are called the DCP (dicarbonyl proteome). The DCP includes albumin, haemoglobin, transcription factors, mitochondrial proteins, extracellular matrix proteins, lens crystallins and others. DCP component proteins are linked to mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetes and aging, oxidative stress, dyslipidaemia, cell detachment and anoikis and apoptosis. Methylglyoxal also modifies DNA where deoxyguanosine residues are modified to imidazopurinone MGdG {3-(2′-deoxyribosyl)-6,7-dihydro-6,7-dihydroxy-6/7-methylimidazo-[2,3-b]purine-9(8)one} isomers. MGdG was the major quantitative adduct detected in vivo. It was linked to frequency of DNA strand breaks and increased markedly during apoptosis induced by a cell-permeant glyoxalase I inhibitor. Glyoxalase I metabolizes &gt;99% methylglyoxal and thereby protects the proteome and genome. Gene deletion of GLO1 is embryonically lethal and GLO1 silencing increases methylglyoxal concentration, MG-H1 and MGdG, premature aging and disease. Studies of methylglyoxal glycation have importance for human health, longevity and treatment of disease.
A fluorogenic assay for methylglyoxal
Authors: Shaheen Fozia , Shmygol Anatoly , Rabbani Naila , Thornalley Paul J. 
Published: March 2014

MG (methylglyoxal) is a potent glycating agent and an endogenous reactive dicarbonyl metabolite formed in all live cells and organisms. It is an important precursor of AGEs (advanced glycation end-products) and is implicated in aging and disease. MG is assayed by derivatization by 1,2-diaminobenzene derivatives in cell extracts. Such assays are not applicable to high sample throughput, subcellular, live-cell and in vivo estimations. The use of fluorogenic probes designed for NO (nitric oxide) detection in biological samples and living cells has inadvertently provided probes for the detection of dicarbonyls such as MG. We describe the application of DAF-2 (4,5-diaminofluorescein) and DAR-1 (4,5-diaminorhodamine) for the detection of MG in cell-free systems and application for high-throughput assay of glyoxalase activity and assay of glucose degradation products in peritoneal dialysis fluids. DAF-2 and DAR-1, as for related BODIPY probes, do not have sufficient sensitivity to detect MG in live cells. Care will also be required to control for NO and dehydroascorbate co-detection and interference from peroxidase catalysing the degradation of probes to MG and glyoxal. Fluorogenic detection of MG, however, has great potential to facilitate the assay of MG and to advance towards that capability of imaging this product in live cells in vitro and small animals in vivo.
Prediction of power fluctuation classes for photovoltaic installations and potential benefits of dynamic reserve allocation
Authors: Nijhuis Michiel , Rawn Barry , Gibescu Madeleine 
Published: March 2014

During partly cloudy conditions, the power delivered by a photovoltaic array can easily fluctuate by three quarters of its rated power in 10 s. Fluctuations from photovoltaics of this size and on this time scale may necessitate adding an additional component to power system secondary and primary reserves to regulate frequency. This study quantifies the benefit of dynamically sizing a reserve component to cover photovoltaic fluctuations so that the additional reserves are different for each hour. The concept of categorising an hour as belonging to one of three possible fluctuation classes is presented. Based on historical array data and weather forecast information, several methods of forecasting these classes are evaluated, including persistence, Markov chains and a neural network. A practical tool based on class forecasting is proposed to aid in estimating a photovoltaic reserve requirement ahead of time for horizons ranging from 1 to 24 h. Results indicate that of a 10% possible reduction in total reserves held, most of this benefit (8%) can be obtained for hour‐ahead scheduling with persistence forecasting and that a similar benefit may be possible for four‐hour ahead scheduling if neural networks based on weather forecast information are introduced.
PK10453, a Nonselective Platelet‐Derived Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor, Prevents the Progression of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Medarametla Venkatrao , Festin Stephen , Sugarragchaa Chuluunbaatar , Eng Alexander , Naqwi Amir , Wiedmann Timothy , Zisman Lawrence S. 
Published: March 2014

The platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathway has been found to be activated in human pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and in animal models of the disease. Our study tested the hypothesis that a novel, nonselective inhaled PDGF receptor inhibitor, PK10453, would decrease pulmonary hypertension both in the rat monocrotaline (MCT) model and the rat MCT plus pneumonectomy (MCT+PN) model of PAH. PK10453, delivered by inhalation for 4 (D4)‐ and 8 (D8)‐minute exposures 3 times a day for 2 weeks, decreased right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) in both the rat MCT and rat MCT+PN models: RVSP was 80.4 ± 2.6 mmHg in the vehicle MCT group (n = 6), 44.4 ± 5.8 mmHg in the D4 MCT group (n = 6), and 37.1 ± 4.5 mmHg in the D8 MCT group (n = 5; P < 0.001 vs. vehicle); RVSP was 75.7 ± 7.1 mmHg in the vehicle MCT+PN group (n = 9), 40.4 ± 2.7 mmHg in the D4 MCT+PN group (n = 10), and 43.0 ± 3.0 mmHg in the D8 MCT+PN group (n = 8; P < 0.001). In the rat MCT+PN model, continuous telemetry monitoring of pulmonary artery pressures also demonstrated that PK10453 prevented the progression of PAH. Imatinib given by inhalation was equally effective in the MCT model but was not effective in the MCT+PN model. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated increased activation of the PDGFβ receptor compared to the PDGFα receptor in neointimal and perivascular lesions found in the MCT+PN model. We show that imatinib is selective for the PDGFα receptor, whereas PK10453 has a lower half‐maximal inhibitor concentration (IC50) for inhibition of kinase activity of both the PDGFα and PDGFβ receptors compared to imatinib. In conclusion, PK10453, when delivered by inhalation, significantly decreased the progression of PAH in the rat MCT and MCT+PN models. Nonselective inhibition of both the PDGFα and PDGFβ receptors may have a therapeutic advantage over selective PDGFα receptor inhibition in PAH.
The Role of Migration in the Evolution of Phenotypic Switching
Authors: Carja Oana , Furrow Robert E. , Feldman Marcus W. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractStochastic switching is an example of phenotypic bet-hedging, where an individual can switch between different phenotypic states in a fluctuating environment. Although the evolution of stochastic switching has been studied when the environment varies temporally, there has been little theoretical work on the evolution of phenotypic switching underbothspatially and temporally fluctuating selection pressures. Here we use a population genetic model to explore the interaction of temporal and spatial variation in the evolutionary dynamics of phenotypic switching. We find that spatial variation in selection is important; when selection pressures are similar across space, migration can decrease the rate of switching, but when selection pressures differ spatially, increasing migration between demes can facilitate the evolution of higher rates of switching. These results may help explain the diverse array of non-genetic contributions to phenotypic variability and phenotypic inheritance observed in both wild and experimental populations.