bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physiological time structure of the tibialis anterior motor activity during sleep in mice, rats and humans
Authors: Silvani Alessandro , Martire Viviana LO , Salvadè Agnese , Bastianini Stefano , Ferri Raffaele , Berteotti Chiara , Baracchi Francesca , Pace Marta , Bassetti Claudio L. , Zoccoli Giovanna , Manconi Mauro 
Published: June 2015

SummaryThe validation of rodent models for restless legs syndrome (Willis–Ekbom disease) and periodic limb movements during sleep requires knowledge of physiological limb motor activity during sleep in rodents. This study aimed to determine the physiological time structure of tibialis anterior activity during sleep in mice and rats, and compare it with that of healthy humans. Wild‐type mice (n = 9) and rats (n = 8) were instrumented with electrodes for recording the electroencephalogram and electromyogram of neck muscles and both tibialis anterior muscles. Healthy human subjects (31 ± 1 years, n = 21) underwent overnight polysomnography. An algorithm for automatic scoring of tibialis anterior electromyogram events of mice and rats during non‐rapid eye movement sleep was developed and validated. Visual scoring assisted by this algorithm had inter‐rater sensitivity of 92–95% and false‐positive rates of 13–19% in mice and rats. The distribution of the time intervals between consecutive tibialis anterior electromyogram events during non‐rapid eye movement sleep had a single peak extending up to 10 s in mice, rats and human subjects. The tibialis anterior electromyogram events separated by intervals <10 s mainly occurred in series of two‐three events, their occurrence rate in humans being lower than in mice and similar to that in rats. In conclusion, this study proposes reliable rules for scoring tibialis anterior electromyogram events during non‐rapid eye movement sleep in mice and rats, demonstrating that their physiological time structure is similar to that of healthy young human subjects. These results strengthen the basis for translational rodent models of periodic limb movements during sleep and restless legs syndrome/Willis–Ekbom disease.
Serial Evaluation of Abdominal Fluid and Serum Amino‐terminal pro‐C‐type Natriuretic Peptide in Dogs with Septic Peritonitis
Authors: Guieu L.V.S. , Bersenas A.M.E. , Holowaychuk M.K. , Brisson B.A. , Weese J.S. 
Published: June 2015

BackgroundSerum N‐terminal pro‐C‐natriuretic peptide (NT‐proCNP) has shown promise as a diagnostic biomarker for sepsis. Its sensitivity to detect dogs with septic peritonitis (SP) is reportedly low, perhaps attributable to the compartmentalization of NT‐proCNP in the abdominal cavity.ObjectivesTo evaluate the use of an ELISA for the measurement of NT‐proCNP in canine abdominal fluid and to describe the peri‐operative pattern of abdominal fluid and serum NT‐proCNP concentrations in dogs with SP.AnimalsFive client‐owned dogs with nonseptic abdominal effusion of varying etiologies and 12 client‐owned dogs with SP undergoing abdominal surgery and placement of a closed‐suction abdominal drain (CSAD). Six dogs were included upon hospital admission; 6 were included the day after surgery.MethodsProspective pilot study. A commercially available ELISA kit was analytically validated for use on canine abdominal fluid. The NT‐proCNP concentrations were measured in the abdominal fluid of control dogs, and in serum and abdominal fluid of dogs with SP from admission for CSAD removal.ResultsIn dogs with SP, admission abdominal fluid NT‐proCNP concentrations were lower than the concurrent serum concentrations (P = 0.031), and lower than control canine abdominal fluid concentrations (P = 0.015). Postoperatively, abdominal fluid NT‐proCNP concentrations remained lower than serum concentrations (P < 0.050), except on day 4.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe ELISA kit was able to measure NT‐proCNP in canine abdominal fluid. In dogs with SP, low serum NT‐proCNP concentrations cannot be explained by abdominal compartmentalization.
The allometry of echolocation call frequencies in horseshoe bats: nasal capsule and pinna size are the better predictors than forearm length
Authors: Wu H. , Jiang T.‐L. , Müller R. , Feng J. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe evolution of acoustic signals and the morphological traits mediating its production and reception are often coupled. The echolocation call frequencies of horseshoe bats normally decline as body size increases, but remarkable exceptions to the rule have been observed, such as Rhinolophus macrotis, R. marshalli and R. rex, having lower echolocation call frequencies than expected for their body size. Forearm length is commonly used to scale allometric relationships across horseshoe bats. However, little is known about the allometric relationships between echolocation call frequencies and morphological traits mediating directly echolocation calls' production or reception, such as the nasal capsule, the cochlea or the pinna. Here we have tested the allometry hypothesis regarding the evolution of echolocation in 12 horseshoe bats distributed in China by integrating echolocation call frequencies, phylogeny, forearm length, cochlea size, pinna size and nasal capsule size. Our results showed no significant correlation between echolocation call frequency and forearm length across these species without considering the phylogeny of the group. However, ear length, ear width and nasal capsule size were significantly and negatively correlated with echolocation call frequencies among the studied species. The fit between the linear regression model and the data was much better for the relationships between echolocation call frequencies and pinna or nasal capsule size than for the relationship between echolocation call frequencies and forearm length. These findings illustrated that both pinna and nasal capsule size were better predictors of echolocation call frequencies than forearm length. Given that the echolocation call frequencies of horseshoe bats can play key roles in sexual selection and speciation, the divergence we observed among species may influence the evolution of echolocation calls across horseshoe bats in China.
The TatC component of the twin‐arginine protein translocase functions as an obligate oligomer
Authors: Cléon François , Habersetzer Johann , Alcock Felicity , Kneuper Holger , Stansfeld Phillip J. , Basit Hajra , Wallace Mark I. , Berks Ben C. , Palmer Tracy 
Published: June 2015

SummaryThe Tat protein export system translocates folded proteins across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane and the plant thylakoid membrane. The Tat system in Escherichia coli is composed of TatA, TatB and TatC proteins. TatB and TatC form an oligomeric, multivalent receptor complex that binds Tat substrates, while multiple protomers of TatA assemble at substrate‐bound TatBC receptors to facilitate substrate transport. We have addressed whether oligomerisation of TatC is an absolute requirement for operation of the Tat pathway by screening for dominant negative alleles of tatC that inactivate Tat function in the presence of wild‐type tatC. Single substitutions that confer dominant negative TatC activity were localised to the periplasmic cap region. The variant TatC proteins retained the ability to interact with TatB and with a Tat substrate but were unable to support the in vivo assembly of TatA complexes. Blue‐native PAGE analysis showed that the variant TatC proteins produced smaller TatBC complexes than the wild‐type TatC protein. The substitutions did not alter disulphide crosslinking to neighbouring TatC molecules from positions in the periplasmic cap but abolished a substrate‐induced disulphide crosslink in transmembrane helix 5 of TatC. Our findings show that TatC functions as an obligate oligomer.
Identification of critical residues for transport activity of Acr3p, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae As(III)/H+ antiporter
Authors: Markowska Katarzyna , Maciaszczyk‐Dziubinska Ewa , Migocka Magdalena , Wawrzycka Donata , Wysocki Robert 
Published: June 2015

SummaryAcr3p is an As(III)/H+ antiporter from Saccharomyces cerevisiae belonging to the bile/arsenite/riboflavin transporter superfamily. We have previously found that Cys151 located in the middle of the fourth transmembrane segment (TM4) is critical for antiport activity, suggesting that As(III) might interact with a thiol group during the translocation process. In order to identify functionally important residues involved in As(III)/H+ exchange, we performed a systematic alanine‐replacement analysis of charged/polar and aromatic residues that are conserved in the Acr3 family and located in putative transmembrane segments. Nine residues (Asn117, Trp130, Arg150, Trp158, Asn176, Arg230, Tyr290, Phe345, Asn351) were found to be critical for proper folding and trafficking of Acr3p to the plasma membrane. In addition, we found that replacement of highly conserved Phe266 (TM7), Phe352 (TM9), Glu353 (TM9) and Glu380 (TM10) with Ala abolished transport activity of Acr3p, while mutation of Ser349 (TM9) to Ala significantly reduced the As(III)/H+ exchange, suggesting an important role of these residues in the transport mechanism. Detailed mutational analysis of Glu353 and Glu380 revealed that the negatively charged residues located in the middle of transmembrane segments TM9 and TM10 are crucial for antiport activity. We also discuss a hypothetical model of the Acr3p transport mechanism.
Binding, internalization and fate of Huntingtin Exon1 fibrillar assemblies in mitotic and nonmitotic neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Ruiz‐Arlandis G. , Pieri L. , Bousset L. , Melki R. 
Published: June 2015

AimsThe aggregation of Huntingtin (HTT) protein and of its moiety encoded by its Exon1 (HTTExon1) into fibrillar structures inside neurons is the molecular hallmark of Huntington's disease. Prion‐like transmission of these aggregates between cells has been demonstrated. The cell‐to‐cell transmission mechanisms of these protein aggregates and the susceptibility of different kinds of neuronal cells to these toxic assemblies still need assessment.MethodsHere, we documented the binding to and internalization by differentiated and undifferentiated neuroblastoma cells of exogenous fibrillar HTTExon1 and polyglutamine (polyQ) polypeptides containing the same number of glutamines. We assessed the contribution of endocytosis to fibrillar HTTExon1 uptake, their intracellular localization and fate.ResultsWe observed that undifferentiated neuroblastoma cells were more susceptible to fibrillar HTTExon1 and polyQ than their differentiated counterparts. Furthermore, we demonstrated that exogenous HTTExon1 aggregates are mainly taken up by endocytosis and directed to lysosomal compartments in both mitotic and quiescent cells.ConclusionsThese data suggest that the rates of endocytic processes that differ in mitotic and quiescent cells strongly impact the uptake of exogenous HTTExon1 and polyQ fibrils. This may be either the consequence of distinct metabolisms or distributions of specific protein partners for amyloid‐like assemblies at the surface of highly dividing versus quiescent cells. Our results highlight the importance of endocytic processes in the internalization of exogenous HTTExon1 fibrils and suggest that a proportion of those assemblies reach the cytosol where they can amplify by recruiting the endogenous protein after escaping, by yet an unknown process, from the endo‐lysosomal compartments.
The association between quitting smoking and weight gain: a systemic review and meta‐analysis of prospective cohort studies
Authors: Tian J. , Venn A. , Otahal P. , Gall S. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryThis systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to quantify weight gain after smoking cessation and the difference in weight gain between quitters and continuing smokers. Five electronic databases were searched before January 2015. Population‐based prospective cohort studies were included if they recorded the weight change of adult smokers from baseline (before smoking cessation) to follow‐up (at least 3 months after cessation). Thirty‐five cohort studies were identified, including 63,403 quitters and 388,432 continuing smokers. The mean weight gain was 4.10 kg (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.69, 5.51) and body mass index (BMI) gain was 1.14 kg m−2 (95% CI: 0.50, 1.79) among quitters. Compared with continuing smoking, quitting smoking was significantly associated with absolute weight (adjusted mean difference [MD]: 2.61 kg; 95% CI: 1.61, 3.60) and BMI gain (adjusted MD: 0.63 kg m−2; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.80). Subgroup analyses using geographic region found that the difference in weight gain was considerably greater in studies from North America than from Asia. Follow‐up length was identified as a source of heterogeneity, such that studies with longer follow‐up showed greater difference in weight gain. Effective strategies are needed to encourage smokers to quit irrespective of potential weight gain and to help quitters avoid excess weight gain.
N‐acetylcysteine interferes with the biofilm formation, motility and epiphytic behaviour of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri
Authors: Picchi S. C. , Takita M. A. , Coletta‐Filho H. D. , Machado M. A. , de Souza A. A. 
Published: June 2015

Citrus canker is caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. Bacterial biofilm formation is important in the development of this disease because it is a factor in epiphytic bacterial survival on leaves and in infection. N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), in addition to having antibacterial properties, reduces biofilm formation by a variety of bacteria and was therefore tested for impairing biofilm formation by X. citri. Copper is currently the antimicrobial compound most commonly applied in agriculture to control citrus canker. Therefore, this study also evaluated a possible synergistic effect between NAC and copper to improve the strategy for controlling this phytopathogen. NAC was found to decrease biofilm formation, the production of extracellular polysaccharides and bacterial stickiness. Motility was also affected in the presence of NAC. The best combination of NAC and copper for controlling X. citri was application of NAC followed by copper 48 h later. The concentrations of 6 mg mL−1 of NAC and 3·5 μg mL−1 of copper were able to kill X. citri. NAC inhibited the epiphytic behaviour of X. citri on leaves, altering cell growth and the bacterial ability to form biofilms. The addition of copper to cells previously treated with NAC enhanced its bactericidal activity. In conclusion, NAC has antibacterial properties against X. citri, interfering with bacterial growth, motility and biofilm formation. Under epiphytic conditions, NAC made the cells more susceptible to copper by affecting X. citri biofilm formation. This study opens new possibilities for the use of NAC in combination with copper, possibly resulting in more sustainable management of citrus canker.
Formation Age and Evolution Time Span of the Koktokay No. 3 Pegmatite, Altai, NW China: Evidence from U–Pb Zircon and 40Ar–39Ar Muscovite Ages
Authors: Zhou Qifeng , Qin Kezhang , Tang Dongmei , Tian Ye , Cao Mingjian , Wang Chunlong 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite is the largest Li–Be–Nb–Ta–Cs pegmatitic rare‐metal deposit of the Chinese Altai orogenic belt, and is famous for its concentric ring zonation pattern (nine internal zones). However, the formation age and evolution time span have been controversial. Here, we present the results of LA‐ICP–MS zircon U–Pb dating and muscovite 40Ar–39Ar dating. Four groups of zircon U–Pb ages (∼210 Ma, ∼193–198 Ma, ∼186–187 Ma and ∼172 Ma) for Zones II, V, VI, VII, and VIII, and a weighed mean 206Pb/238U age of 965 ± 11 Ma for Zone IV are identified. Also, Zones II, IV, and VI have muscovite 40Ar–39Ar plateau ages of 179.7 ± 1.1 Ma, 182.1 ± 1.0 Ma, and 181.8 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. Considering previous U–Pb age studies (Zones I, V, and VII), the ages of emplacement, Li mineralization peak, hydrothermal stage of the No. 3 pegmatite are in ranges of 193–198 Ma, 184–187 Ma and 172–175 Ma, with weighted mean 206Pb–238U ages of 194.8 ± 2.3 Ma, 186.6 ± 1.3 Ma and 173.1 ± 3.9 Ma, respectively. The No. 3 pegmatite formed in the early Jurassic. The results of xenocrysts suggest that there is another pegmatite forming event of around 210 Ma in the mining district and the old zircon U–Pb ages imply that Neoproterozoic crustal rocks pertain to sources of the No. 3 pegmatite. Including the previous muscovite 40Ar–39Ar age studies (Zones I and V), a cooling age range of 177–182 Ma is considered as the time of hydrothermal stage and end of formation. The evolution process of the No. 3 pegmatite lasted 16 Ma. Therein, the magmatic stage continued for 9–11 Myr and the magmatic–hydrothermal transition and hydrothermal stages were sustained at 5–7 Ma. These time spans are long because of huge scale, cupola shape, large formation depth, and complex internal zoning patterns and formation processes. Considering some pegmatite dikes in the Chinese Altai, there is an early Jurassic pegmatite forming event.
Sulfur Isotope Variations of Metallic Ore Deposits in the Gyeongsang Basin, South Korea
Authors: Jo Jaeguk , Shin Dongbok 
Published: June 2015

AbstractMany metallic ore deposits of the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary periods are distributed in the Gyeongsang Basin. Previous and newly analyzed sulfur isotope data of 309 sulfide samples from 56 ore deposits were reviewed to discuss the genetic characteristics in relation to granitoid rocks. The metallogenic provinces of the Gyeongsang Basin are divided into the Au–Ag(–Cu–Pb–Zn) province in the western basin where the sedimentary rocks of the Shindong and Hayang groups are distributed, Pb–Zn(–Au–Ag–Cu), Cu–Pb–Zn(–Au–Ag), and Fe–W(–Mo) province in the central basin where the volcanic rocks of the Yucheon Group are dominant, and Cu(–Mo–W–Fe) province in the southeastern basin where both sedimentary rocks of the Hayang Group and Tertiary volcanic rocks are present. Average sulfur isotope compositions of the ore deposits show high tendencies ranging from 2.2 to 11.7‰ (average 5.4‰) in the Pb–Zn(–Au–Ag–Cu) province, −0.7 to 11.5‰ (average 4.6‰) in the Cu–Pb–Zn(–Au–Ag) province, and 3.7 to 11.4‰ (average 7.5‰) in the Fe–W(–Mo) province in relation to magnetite‐series granitoids, whereas they are low in the Au–Ag(–Cu–Pb–Zn) province in relation to ilmenite‐series granitoids, ranging from −2.9 to 5.7‰ (average 1.7‰). In the Cu(–Mo–W–Fe) province δ34S values are intermediate ranging from 0.3 to 7.7‰ (average 3.6‰) and locally high δ34S values are likely attributable to sulfur derived from the Tertiary volcanic rocks during hydrothermal alteration through faults commonly developed in this region. Magma originated by the partial melting of the 34S‐enriched oceanic plate intruded into the volcanic rocks and formed magnetite‐series granitoids in the central basin, which contributed to high δ34S values of the metallic deposits. Conversely, ilmenite‐series granitoids were formed by assimilation of sedimentary rocks rich in organic sulfur that influenced the low δ34S values of the deposits in the western and southeastern provinces.
Persistent Poverty and Children's Cognitive Development: Evidence from the UK Millennium Cohort Study
Authors: Dickerson Andrew , Popli Gurleen K. 
Published: June 2015

SummaryWe use data from the four sweeps of the UK Millennium Cohort Study of children born at the turn of the 21st century to document the effect that poverty, and in particular persistent poverty, has on their cognitive development in their early years. Using structural equation modelling, we show that children born into poverty have significantly lower test scores at age 3, age 5 and age 7 years, and that continually living in poverty in their early years has a cumulative negative effect on their cognitive development. For children who are persistently in poverty throughout their early years, their cognitive development test scores at age 7 years are almost 20 percentile ranks lower than children who have never experienced poverty, even after controlling for a wide range of background characteristics and parental investment.
Variable Grid Method: An Intuitive Approach for Simultaneously Quantifying and Visualizing Spatial Data and Uncertainty
Authors: Bauer Jennifer R. , Rose Kelly 
Published: June 2015

AbstractEfforts to develop applications and methods that effectively quantify and communicate uncertainty associated with spatial data remains a focus within many scientific communities. However, the inherent complexity of uncertainty makes it difficult to define, characterize, and represent. Frequently, the products of spatial and spatio‐temporal data are presented without a clear explanation of the inherent uncertainty underlying the data. As uses and applications for spatial data and their products continues to increase, so does the importance for utilizing reliable approaches to effectively communicate spatial data along with their inherent uncertainties. To address this need, the Variable Grid Method (VGM) was developed as an intuitive approach that simultaneously communicates both spatial patterns and trends and the uncertainty associated with data or their analyses. This article details the VGM approach and demonstrates the utility of the VGM to provide critical information about the relationship between uncertainty and spatial data, necessary to support the increasing utilization of spatial information for a wide range of research and other needs.
Projection, Recognition, and Pictorial Diversity
Authors: Inkpin Andrew 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis article focuses on the difficulty for a general theory of depiction of providing a notion of pictorial content that accommodates the full diversity of picture types. The article begins by introducing two basic models of pictorial content using paradigmatic positions that maximize the ability of the respective models to deal with pictorial diversity. Kulvicki's On Images is interpreted as a generalized projection‐based model which proposes a scene‐centred notion of pictorial content. By contrast, Lopes's aspect‐recognition theory, in Understanding Pictures, is taken to exemplify a recognition‐based model of pictorial content. It is then considered how applicable these two notions of pictorial content are to a spectrum of different picture types (e.g., photography, painting, caricature), highlighting differences between mechanically produced and “freehand” pictures. It is shown that while the projection‐based and recognition‐based models are each required for some picture types, neither model can be applied over the whole spectrum of diverse picture types. This, it is argued, has the far‐reaching consequence that neither the projection model nor the recognition model, nor any unitary combination of the two, can provide the basis for a theory of depiction applying to all pictures.
Did Globalisation Influence Credit Market Deregulation?
Authors: Eppinger Peter , Potrafke Niklas 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe investigate whether globalisation influenced credit market deregulation over the period 1970–2010. Globalisation is measured by the KOF indices of globalisation. Credit market deregulation is measured by the credit market freedom indicators of the Fraser Institute. The results from both cross‐sectional and panel regressions using ordinary least squares indicate a positive correlation between globalisation and credit market deregulation. We account for reverse causality using predicted trade openness as an instrumental variable and show that this approach gives rise to different conclusions. Two‐stage least squares estimations do not show that globalisation had a causal influence on credit market deregulation.