bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal adaptation, phylogeny, and the unimodal size scaling of marine phytoplankton growth
Authors: Sal Sofía , Alonso‐Sáez Laura , Bueno Juan , García Francisca C. , López‐Urrutia Ángel 
Published: April 2015

AbstractStudies on the size‐scaling of phytoplankton growth rate are usually based on temperature‐corrected growth rates or experiments performed at a fixed temperature, but the effects of differing thermal adaptation of small and large species have not been considered. We use an extensive dataset of phytoplankton growth rate responses to temperature and cell size to show that the unimodal size‐scaling of phytoplankton growth depends strongly on temperature, and is not significant at high temperatures where the most common picophytoplankton species grow at their optimum. Furthermore, we show that the unimodality results from the different growth rate scaling of picophytoplankton, which differs phylogenetically from larger phytoplankton taxa. Using ribosomal RNA sequences we recalculated the size‐scaling allometry with Phylogenetic Generalized Least Squares regression. After phylogenetic correction, the unimodal relationship is not significant at any temperature, suggesting that the observed curvature reflects the evolutionary adaptation of picophytoplankton to the warm conditions usually encountered in oligotrophic environments.
Subthalamic nucleus stimulation improves Parkinsonian gait via brainstem locomotor centers
Authors: Weiss Peter H. , Herzog Jan , Pötter‐Nerger Monika , Falk Daniela , Herzog Hans , Deuschl Günther , Volkmann Jens , Fink Gereon R. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundSubthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN‐DBS) can ameliorate gait disturbances in Parkinson's disease (PD). Using motor imagery and positron emission tomography (PET), we investigated how STN‐DBS interacts with supraspinal locomotor centers in PD.MethodsTen PD patients with bilateral STN‐DBS actually walked or stood still under STN‐DBS ON or OFF conditions. Directly thereafter, subjects imagined walking or standing while changes in regional cerebral blood flow were measured by PET.ResultsIndependent of STN‐DBS, imagined walking distance correlated with imagery duration. Compared with STN‐DBS OFF, STN‐DBS ON improved actual gait and increased imagined walking distance. Imagery of gait (vs. stance) induced activity in the supplementary motor area and the right superior parietal lobule for both STN‐DBS conditions. The improvement of imagined gait during STN‐DBS ON led to activity changes in the pedunculopontine nucleus/mesencephalic locomotor region (PPN/MLR).ConclusionsData suggest that STN‐DBS improves Parkinsonian gait by modulating PPN/MLR activity. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Impact of Parkinson's disease risk loci on age at onset
Authors: Lill Christina M. , Hansen Johnni , Olsen Jørgen H. , Binder Harald , Ritz Beate , Bertram Lars 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess whether recently identified Parkinson's disease (PD) risk genes also influence age at onset in PD.MethodsWe genotyped 23 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in 1,526 Danish PD patients and performed linear regression analyses with age at onset. The combined impact of PD risk loci on age at onset was assessed by linear regression analyses using a weighted genetic risk score.ResultsThe strongest effects were observed with rs12726330 in GBA (beta = –3.63, P = 2.0 × 10−5) and rs34311866 in TMEM175/GAK (beta = –1.19, P = 4.0 × 10−3), corresponding to a 3.6‐y and 1.2‐y decrease of age at onset per risk allele, respectively. The weighted genetic risk score yielded significant association with reduced onset age (P = 3.98 × 10−3), although the variance explained was small (0.6%), and the effect was mostly driven by polymorphisms in GBA and TMEM175/GAK.ConclusionsOverall, our study indicates that GBA and TMEM175/GAK significantly alter age at onset in PD. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Novel candidate blood‐based transcriptional biomarkers of machado‐joseph disease
Authors: Raposo Mafalda , Bettencourt Conceição , Maciel Patrícia , Gao Fuying , Ramos Amanda , Kazachkova Nadiya , Vasconcelos João , Kay Teresa , Rodrigues Ana João , Bettencourt Bruno , Bruges‐Armas Jácome , Geschwind Daniel , Coppola Giovanni , Lima Manuela 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTBackgroundMachado‐Joseph disease (or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3) is a late‐onset polyglutamine neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the ATXN3 gene, which encodes for the ubiquitously expressed protein ataxin‐3. Previous studies on cell and animal models have suggested that mutated ataxin‐3 is involved in transcriptional dysregulation. Starting with a whole‐transcriptome profiling of peripheral blood samples from patients and controls, we aimed to confirm abnormal expression profiles in Machado‐Joseph disease and to identify promising up‐regulated genes as potential candidate biomarkers of disease status.MethodsThe Illumina Human V4‐HT12 array was used to measure transcriptome‐wide gene expression in peripheral blood samples from 12 patients and 12 controls. Technical validation and validation in an independent set of samples were performed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).ResultsBased on the results from the microarray, twenty six genes, found to be up‐regulated in patients, were selected for technical validation by quantitative real‐time PCR (validation rate of 81% for the up‐regulation trend). Fourteen of these were further tested in an independent set of 42 patients and 35 controls; 10 genes maintained the up‐regulation trend (FCGR3B, CSR2RA, CLC, TNFSF14, SLA, P2RY13, FPR2, SELPLG, YIPF6, and GPR96); FCGR3B, P2RY13, and SELPLG were significantly up‐regulated in patients when compared with controls.ConclusionsOur findings support the hypothesis that mutated ataxin‐3 is associated with transcription dysregulation, detectable in peripheral blood cells. Furthermore, this is the first report suggesting a pool of up‐regulated genes in Machado‐Joseph disease that may have the potential to be used for fine phenotyping of this disease. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Medium‐chain dicarboxylic acylcarnitines as markers of n‐3 PUFA‐induced peroxisomal oxidation of fatty acids
Authors: Fiamoncini Jarlei , Lima Thais M. , Hirabara Sandro M. , Ecker Josef , Gorjão Renata , Romanatto Talita , ELolimy Ahmed , Worsch Stefanie , Laumen Helmut , Bader Bernhard , Daniel Hannelore , Curi Rui 
Published: April 2015

ScopeOmega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFA) found in fish oil activate PPAR‐α, stimulate peroxisomal fatty acid (FA) β‐oxidation and prevent impairments on glucose homeostasis.Methods and resultsGlucose metabolism and FA oxidation were studied in C57/Bl6 mice fed with diets containing either 3.6 and 31.5% fish oil or lard. To assess the effects of peroxisomal proliferation on FA oxidation independent of n‐3 PUFA intake, mice were treated with the PPAR‐α agonist WY‐14643. n‐3 PUFA‐fed mice were protected from glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia compared to animals fed a lard‐based high‐fat diet. Most importantly, mice fed on the hyperlipidic diet based on fish oil as well as the WY‐14643 treated mice showed twofold increase of odd, medium‐chain, dicarboxylic acylcarnitines in the liver suggesting that not only β‐oxidation, but also α‐ and ω‐oxidation of FA were increased. Finally, an oxidation assay using liver homogenates and palmitic acid as substrate revealed an over tenfold increased production of similar acylcarnitines, indicating that FA are their precursors.ConclusionThis study shows at the metabolite level that peroxisome proliferation induced either by fish oil or WY‐14643 is associated with increased α‐ and ω‐oxidation of FA producing specific acylcarnitines that can be utilized as biomarkers of peroxisomal FA oxidation.
High fat challenges with different fatty acids affect distinct atherogenic gene expression pathways in immune cells from lean and obese subjects
Authors: Esser Diederik , van Dijk Susan J. , Oosterink Els , Lopez Sergio , Müller Michael , Afman Lydia A. 
Published: April 2015

ScopeEarly perturbations in vascular health can be detected by imposing subjects to a high fat (HF) challenge and measure response capacity. Subtle responses can be determined by assessment of whole‐genome transcriptional changes. We aimed to magnify differences in health by comparing gene‐expression changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells toward a high MUFA or saturated fatty acids (SFA) challenge between subjects with different cardiovascular disease risk profiles and to identify fatty acid specific gene‐expression pathways.Methods and resultsIn a cross‐over study, 17 lean and 15 obese men (50–70 years) received two 95 g fat shakes, high in SFAs or MUFAs. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene‐expression profiles were assessed fasted and 4‐h postprandially. Comparisons were made between groups and shakes. During fasting, 294 genes were significantly differently expressed between lean and obese. The challenge increased differences to 607 genes after SFA and 2516 genes after MUFA. In both groups, SFA decreased expression of cholesterol biosynthesis and uptake genes and increased cholesterol efflux genes. MUFA increased inflammatory genes and PPAR‐α targets involved in β‐oxidation.ConclusionBased upon gene‐expression changes, we conclude that an HF challenge magnifies differences in health, especially after MUFA. Our findings also demonstrate how SFAs and MUFAs exert distinct effects on lipid handling pathways in immune cells.
Effects of smartphone overuse on hand function, pinch strength, and the median nerve
Authors: İNal Esra Erkol , Demİrcİ kadİr , Çetİntürk Azİze , Akgönül Mehmet , Savaş Serpİl 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTIntroductionIn this study we investigated the flexor pollicis longus (FPL) tendon and median nerve in smartphone users by ultrasonography to assess the effects of smartphone addiction on the clinical and functional status of the hands. Methods: One hundred two students were divided into 3 groups: non‐users, and high or low smartphone users. Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) scores and grip and pinch strengths were recorded. Pain in thumb movement and rest and hand function were evaluated on the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Duruöz Hand Index (DHI), respectively. The cross‐sectional areas (CSAs) of the median nerve and the FPL tendon were calculated bilaterally using ultrasonography. Results: Significantly higher median nerve CSAs were observed in the dominant hands of the high smartphone users than in the non‐dominant hands (P < 0.001). SAS scores correlated with VAS pain for movement and rest, DHI scores, and pinch strength (P < 0.05; r = 0.345, 0.272, 0.245, and 0.281, respectively). Conclusions: Smartphone overuse enlarges the median nerve, causes pain in the thumb, and decreases pinch strength and hand functions. Muscle Nerve, 2015 Muscle Nerve 52: 183–188, 2015
Diurnal and day‐to‐day variation of isometric muscle strength in myasthenia gravis
Authors: Vinge Lotte , Jakobsen Johannes , Pedersen Asger Roer , Andersen Henning 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTIntroduction: In patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), muscle strength is expected to decrease gradually during the day due to physical activities. Methods: Isometric muscle strength at the shoulder, knee, and ankle was determined in 10 MG patients (MGFA class II–IV) who were receiving usual medical treatment and in 10 control subjects. To determine diurnal and day‐to‐day variation, muscle strength was measured 4 times during day 1 and once at day 2. Results: Knee extension strength decreased during the day in both patients and controls. Neither diurnal nor day‐to‐day variation of muscle strength was higher in patients compared with controls. Conclusions: Patients with mild to moderate MG did not have increased variation of isometric muscle strength during the day or from day‐to‐day compared with controls. This suggests that isometric muscle performance can be determined with high reproducibility in similar groups of MG patients without regard to time of day. Muscle Nerve 53: 67–72, 2016
Proteomic analysis of lipid body from the alkenone‐producing marine haptophyte alga Tisochrysis lutea
Authors: Shi Qing , Araie Hiroya , Bakku Ranjith Kumar , Fukao Yoichiro , Rakwal Randeep , Suzuki Iwane , Shiraiwa Yoshihiro 
Published: April 2015

Lipid body (LB) is recognized as the cellular carbon and energy storage organelle in many organisms. LBs have been observed in the marine haptophyte alga Tisochrysis lutea that produces special lipids such as long‐chain (C37‐C40) ketones (alkenones) with 2–4 trans‐type double bonds. In this study, we succeeded in developing a modified method to isolate LB from T. lutea. Purity of isolated LBs was confirmed by the absence of chlorophyll auto‐fluorescence and no contamination of the most abundant cellular protein ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. As alkenones predominated in the LB by GC‐MS analysis, the LB can be more appropriately named as “alkenone body (AB).” Extracted AB‐containing proteins were analyzed by the combination of 1DE (SDS‐PAGE) and MS/MS for confident protein identification and annotated using BLAST tools at National Center for Biotechnology Information. Totally 514 proteins were identified at the maximum. The homology search identified three major proteins, V‐ATPase, a hypothetical protein EMIHUDRAFT_465517 found in other alkenone‐producing haptophytes, and a lipid raft‐associated SPFH domain‐containing protein. Our data suggest that AB of T. lutera is surrounded by a lipid membrane originating from either the ER or the ER‐derived four layer‐envelopes chloroplast and function as the storage site of alkenones and alkenes.
Secretome analysis of human articular chondrocytes unravels catabolic effects of nicotine on the joint
Authors: Lourido Lucía , Calamia Valentina , Fernández‐Puente Patricia , Mateos Jesús , Oreiro Natividad , Blanco Francisco J. , Ruiz‐Romero Cristina 
Published: April 2015

PurposeOsteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint pathology characterized by articular cartilage degradation that lacks from efficient therapy. Since previous epidemiological data show a high controversy regarding the role of smoking in OA, we aimed to evaluate the effects of nicotine (the most physiologically active compound of tobacco) on the joint.Experimental designSecretome analyses, based on metabolic labeling followed by LC‐MALDI‐TOF/TOF analysis, were carried out using an in vitro model of articular inflammation (primary human articular chondrocytes treated with interleukin‐1β), and also on osteoarthritic cells. ELISA and Western blot assays were performed to verify some of the results.ResultsNineteen proteins were altered by nicotine in the model of articular inflammation, including several cytokines and proteases. We confirmed the increased secretion by nicotine of matrix metalloproteinase 1 and two proposed markers of OA, fibronectin, and chitinase 3‐like protein 1. Finally, four components of the extracellular matrix of cartilage were decreased by nicotine in OA chondrocytes.Conclusions and clinical relevanceOur data contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that are modulated by nicotine in cartilage cells, suggesting a negative effect of this drug on the joint.
Laser ablation generation of clusters from As‐Te mixtures, As‐Te glass nano‐layers and from Au‐As‐Te nano‐composites. Quadrupole ion trap time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Štěpánová Vlasta , Prokeš Lubomír , Slavíček Pavel , Alberti Milan , Havel Josef 
Published: April 2015

RationaleArsenic tellurides have found important applications in various fields of science, but only a few gold‐arsenic tellurides have been reported. Laser ablation synthesis (LAS), a suitable method for the generation of new compounds, has been used to generate clusters from As‐Te mixtures, an As‐Te glass and Au‐As‐Te nano‐composites.MethodsChalcogenide glass nano‐layers prepared via Physical Vapour Deposition – thermal evaporation were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). LAS with laser desorption ionisation quadrupole ion trap time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LDI QIT TOFMS) was used for the generation and analysis of new AuxAsmTen clusters. The stoichiometry of the clusters was determined via isotopic envelope modelling.ResultsA simple procedure for the preparation of the Au‐As‐Te nano‐composite was developed. From As‐Te mixtures only five binary AsmTen clusters were generated, while from a glass layer 10 binary AsmTen clusters were identified, because during the deposition of the glass the elements reacted with each other to form a complex three‐dimensional (3D) structure. Using LAS on the Au‐As‐Te nano‐composite leads to the formation of six unary Ten (n = 1–6), 16 binary (AsmTen and AuxTen), and 31 ternary AuxAsmTen clusters.ConclusionsLAS was demonstrated to be a useful technique for the generation of AuxAsmTen clusters in the gas phase. More AsmTen clusters were generated from the deposited glass layers than from As‐Te mixtures. Most of the ternary AuxAsmTen clusters generated from the nano‐composite are reported here for the first time. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using a “sonic net” to deter pest bird species: Excluding European starlings from food sources by disrupting their acoustic communication
Authors: Mahjoub Ghazi , Hinders Mark K. , Swaddle John P. 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTPest avian wildlife is responsible for substantial economic damage every year in the United States. Previous technologies used to deter starlings have generally failed because birds quickly habituate to startle regimes. In this study, conducted from May to July 2013, we focused on altering the foraging behavior of the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris), a pest bird that is responsible for crop losses and also poses notable risk for bird–aircraft strikes. The goal of our project was to develop an effective system to limit starlings' use of a food patch. Using nonlinear ultrasonic parametric arrays, we broadcast a directional sound that overlapped in frequency with starling vocalizations and was contained in a specific area, creating a “net.” We hypothesized that the “sonic net” would disturb acoustic communication for starlings, causing them to leave and feed elsewhere. Using wild‐caught starlings in a large aviary, we deployed the sonic net over one food patch while leaving another food patch unaltered, and assessed their presence and feeding for three consecutive days. The sonic treatment decreased starlings' presence at the treated food patch, on average by 46%. Additionally, we assessed whether the sonic net disrupted the birds' response to an alarm call. When under the sonic net, starlings did not respond to the alarm call, suggesting that the sonic net disrupted acoustic communication. The sonic net is a promising new method of decreasing foraging activity by pest bird species. © 2015 The Wildlife Society.
Enhanced differentiation of neural stem cells to neurons and promotion of neurite outgrowth by oxygen–glucose deprivation
Authors: Wang Qin , Yang Lin , Wang Yaping 
Published: April 2015

AbstractStroke has become the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Hypoxic or ischemic insults are crucial factors mediating the neural damage in the brain tissue of stroke patients. Neural stem cells (NSCs) have been recognized as a promising tool for the treatment of ischemic stroke and other neurodegenerative diseases due to their inducible pluripotency. In this study, we aim to mimick the cerebral hypoxic‐ischemic injury in vitro using oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) strategy, and evaluate the effects of OGD on the NSC's neural differentiation, as well as the differentiated neurite outgrowth. Our data showed that NSCs under the short‐term 2 h OGD treatment are able to maintain cell viability and the capability to form neurospheres. Importantly, this moderate OGD treatment promotes NSC differentiation to neurons and enhances the performance of the mature neuronal networks, accompanying increased neurite outgrowth of differentiated neurons. However, long‐term 6 h and 8 h OGD exposures in NSCs lead to decreased cell survival, reduced differentiation and diminished NSC‐derived neurite outgrowth. The expressions of neuron‐specific microtubule‐associated protein 2 (MAP‐2) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP‐43) are increased by short‐term OGD treatments but suppressed by long‐term OGD. Overall, our results demonstrate that short‐term OGD exposure in vitro induces differentiation of NSCs while maintaining their proliferation and survival, providing valuable insights of adopting NSC‐based therapy for ischemic stroke and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Nice guys making Nice Blocks
Authors: Gibb Jenny , Connolly Heather , Collins Eva , Pavlovich Kathryn 
Published: April 2015

Like so many New Zealand stories, it began with a small, but innovative idea. One weekend at the beach, Tommy said to his friend James, ‘Why isn’t there a decent fruit juice ice block for sale?’. A market opportunity was obvious and the boys decided why not? The ‘Nice Blocks’ name and the ‘Tommy and James’ concept was developed. The company was registered in August 2010 and was New Zealand’s first Fairtrade-certified ice block company. Chris Morrison, a New Zealand pioneer of organic and Fairtrade opportunities (e.g., Phoenix Organics, All Good Bananas and Kokako Organic Coffee), joined them as a third partner in 2011, and since then two other partners have also joined the team. Nice Blocks led to Nice Cream, a coconut-based ice cream. Something nice had begun.Even without a formal business plan, Tommy and James knew that if the company was to grow they needed to think big. After working in rented cafe space, in November 2011 they took the plunge and entered a 3-year sublease on an export-quality production facility, which included a fully equipped kitchen and office spaces, along with separate space for the ice block making and refrigerated storage. In this new space, the partners installed a 40-foot-long ice block machine that led the company to quadruple its output overnight. According to James, they had the second-largest capacity to make ice blocks in New Zealand, after market leader Tip Top. The pair employs five additional staff in the summer, making a total of 10 staff.In April 2014, Tommy and James were deciding whether to focus on growing their New Zealand market share or to enter the Australian market. According to Tommy, ‘If we are to keep achieving our sales, which we have done all summer, where our growth is about 15% a month we will meet all the models that we put in place to have enough capacity to export to Australia. But we don’t want to move too fast’.