bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The association between a single bout of moderate physical activity and executive function in young adults with Down syndrome: a preliminary study
Authors: Chen C.‐C. (JJ) , Ringenbach S. D. R. , Crews D. , Kulinna P. H. , Amazeen Eric L. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundThis study was aimed at investigating the impact of a single exercise intervention on executive function in young adults with Down syndrome (DS).MethodsConsidering the relations among executive function, physical and mental health and early onset of Alzheimer's disease in this population, we tested three components of executive function (e.g. choice–response time, attention shifting and inhibition) that have been shown to be impaired in previous studies. Ten persons with DS were assigned to an exercise group, who walked on a treadmill for 20 min at moderate intensity and ten additional persons with DS were assigned to an attentional control group, who watched a video. Measures of executive function were tested pre and post interventions.ResultsThese results showed non‐significant improvements in choice–response time (P = 0.32) and attention shifting (P = 0.13) but a statistically significant improvement in inhibition (P = 0.03) after the exercise intervention.ConclusionsGiven the improved inhibition ability, exercise may be an effective intervention, even in a signal session. However, only a few studies have focused on this topic. Based on theoretical models linking exercise to executive function, we proposed that exercise may increase arousal status or enhance neural transmission. Hence, future work is needed to examine the exact mechanism in the relationship between exercise and executive function for individuals with DS.
Sleep quality of middle‐aged Tai Chi practitioners
Authors: Lee Linda Yin King , Tam Ka Wai , Lee Mei Lam , Lau Nga Yi , Lau Joanne Cho Yan , Lam Yin Mai , Lam Christine Hoi Wai , Kwan Wing Kit , Chan Daisy , Chan Betsy , Chan Paul Zoen Kit 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAimThis study aimed to assess the association between Tai Chi and sleep quality in middle‐aged Tai Chi practitioners.MethodsThis cross‐sectional descriptive study recruited a convenience sample of 250 middle‐aged Tai Chi practitioners. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were used to describe the demographic characteristics of the subjects. Pearson's product–moment correlation was used to determine the relationship between sleep quality and duration of practicing Tai Chi. anova was used to compare difference in sleep quality among subjects practicing different styles of Tai Chi. Linear regression was conducted to determine the contribution of duration of practicing Tai Chi and the style of Tai Chi being practiced to explaining sleep quality.ResultsSubjects had practiced Tai Chi for 4.7 years. They reported a global PSQI score of 5.3. Among the subjects, 156 were classified as good sleepers (PSQI score, <5). No significant relationship was reported between sleep quality and duration of Tai Chi practice (P = 0.175). No significant differences in sleep quality were found among subjects who practiced different styles of Tai Chi (P = 0.876). Linear regression analysis indicated that the duration of practicing Tai Chi and the style of Tai Chi being practiced did not make a significant contribution to sleep quality.ConclusionThe present study represented an initial attempt to investigate the sleep quality among middle‐aged Tai Chi practitioners. It serves to generate hypotheses for future testing.
Radiation response in Deinococcus deserti: IrrE is a metalloprotease that cleaves repressor protein DdrO
Authors: Ludanyi Monika , Blanchard Laurence , Dulermo Rémi , Brandelet Géraldine , Bellanger Laurent , Pignol David , Lemaire David , de Groot Arjan 
Published: August 2014

SummaryDeinococcus bacteria are famous for their extreme radiation tolerance. The IrrE protein was shown to be essential for radiation tolerance and, in an unelucidated manner, for induction of a number of genes in response to radiation, including recA and other DNA repair genes. Earlier studies indicated that IrrE could be a zinc peptidase, but proteolytic activity was not demonstrated. Here, using several in vivo and in vitro experiments, IrrE from Deinococcus deserti was found to interact with DdrO, a predicted regulator encoded by a radiation‐induced gene that is, like irrE, highly conserved in Deinococcus. Moreover, IrrE was found to cleave DdrO in vitro and when the proteins were coexpressed in Escherichia coli. This cleavage was not observed in the presence of metal chelator EDTA or when IrrE contains a mutation in the conserved active‐site motif of metallopeptidases. In D. deserti, IrrE‐dependent cleavage of DdrO was observed after exposure to radiation. Furthermore, DdrO‐dependent repression of the promoter of a radiation‐induced gene was shown. These results demonstrate that IrrE is a metalloprotease and we propose that IrrE‐mediated cleavage inactivates repressor protein DdrO, leading to transcriptional induction of various genes required for repair and survival after exposure of Deinococcus to radiation.
Population genetic structure of Gasterophilus pecorum in the Kalamaili Nature Reserve, Xinjiang, based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COI) gene sequence
Authors: WANG W. , ZHANG D. , HU D. , CHU H. , CAO J. , ENTE M. , JIANG G. , LI K. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractGasterophilosis is a significant threat to equids in the desert steppe of Xinjiang, China, where Gasterophilus pecorum (Fabricius) (Diptera: Gasterophilidae) is the dominant botfly species. A population analysis was conducted on 195 individual G. pecorum larvae from three host species, Przewalski's horse, the domestic horse and the Asiatic wild ass. The distribution of haplotypes of the maternally inherited mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene was analysed to assess the population differentiation of G. pecorum. High haplotype diversity was observed among G. pecorum populations from all host species, indicating that the G. pecorum infecting one host had multiple maternal ancestors. A phylogenetic tree showed six clades, suggesting a high degree of genetic differentiation. A constructed haplotype network described both the origin of the haplotypes and the population structure. The findings indicated that G. pecorum infections within Przewalski's horses were mainly transmitted from Asiatic wild asses. Clade 1 was found to be the most primitive group and to have evolved to be highly adaptable to the desert steppe. Clade 2 originated from Clade 1, potentially as a result of the annual migration of domestic horses. Revealing the differentiation of the G. pecorum population is important for elucidating the aetiology of Gasterophilus infection in Xinjiang and for planning appropriate control measures.
Second‐generation sequencing of entire mitochondrial coding‐regions (∼15.4 kb) holds promise for study of the phylogeny and taxonomy of human body lice and head lice
Authors: XIONG H. , CAMPELO D. , POLLACK R. J. , RAOULT D. , SHAO R. , ALEM M. , ALI J. , BILCHA K. , BARKER S. C. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe Illumina Hiseq platform was used to sequence the entire mitochondrial coding‐regions of 20 body lice, Pediculus humanus Linnaeus, and head lice, P. capitis De Geer (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae), from eight towns and cities in five countries: Ethiopia, France, China, Australia and the U.S.A. These data (∼310 kb) were used to see how much more informative entire mitochondrial coding‐region sequences were than partial mitochondrial coding‐region sequences, and thus to guide the design of future studies of the phylogeny, origin, evolution and taxonomy of body lice and head lice. Phylogenies were compared from entire coding‐region sequences (∼15.4 kb), entire cox1 (∼1.5 kb), partial cox1 (∼700 bp) and partial cytb (∼600 bp) sequences. On the one hand, phylogenies from entire mitochondrial coding‐region sequences (∼15.4 kb) were much more informative than phylogenies from entire cox1 sequences (∼1.5 kb) and partial gene sequences (∼600 to ∼700 bp). For example, 19 branches had > 95% bootstrap support in our maximum likelihood tree from the entire mitochondrial coding‐regions (∼15.4 kb) whereas the tree from 700 bp cox1 had only two branches with bootstrap support > 95%. Yet, by contrast, partial cytb (∼600 bp) and partial cox1 (∼486 bp) sequences were sufficient to genotype lice to Clade A, B or C. The sequences of the mitochondrial genomes of the P. humanus, P. capitis and P. schaeffi Fahrenholz studied are in NCBI GenBank under the accession numbers KC660761‐800, KC685631‐6330, KC241882‐97, EU219988‐95, HM241895‐8 and JX080388‐407.
Invasion of Wolbachia at the residential block level is associated with local abundance of Stegomyia aegypti, yellow fever mosquito, populations and property attributes
Authors: HOFFMANN A. A. , GOUNDAR A. A. , LONG S. A. , JOHNSON P. H. , RITCHIE S. A. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractWolbachia can suppress dengue and control mosquito populations and this depends on the successful invasion of Wolbachia‐infected mosquitoes into local populations. Ovitrap data collected during the recent invasion of wMel‐infected Stegomyia aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) (Linnaeus) into Gordonvale near Cairns, Australia, were used to identify variables that help predict the success of localized invasion. Based on the variance in Wolbachia frequencies across Gordonvale as well as at another release site at Yorkeys Knob in comparison to simulations, it was estimated that on average 2–4 females contributed eggs to an ovitrap. By collating ovitrap data from two collection periods at the start of the release from residential blocks, it was found that uninfected mosquitoes had a patchy distribution across the release site. Residential blocks with relatively high uninfected mosquito numbers were less easily invaded by Wolbachia than blocks with low numbers. The numbers of uninfected mosquitoes in ovitraps were negatively correlated with the proportion of brick houses in a residential block, whereas local Wolbachia frequencies were correlated positively with this variable as well as negatively with the amount of shading in a yard and availability of breeding sites. These findings point to proxy measures for predicting the ease of localized invasion of Wolbachia.
Genetic epidemiology and pathology of raccoon‐derived Sarcoptes mites from urban areas of Germany
Authors: RENTERÍA‐SOLÍS Z. , MIN A. M. , ALASAAD S. , MÜLLER K. , MICHLER F.‐U. , SCHMÄSCHKE R. , WITTSTATT U. , ROSSI L. , WIBBELT G. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe raccoon, Procyon lotor (Carnivora: Procyonidae), is an invasive species that is spreading throughout Europe, in which Germany represents its core area. Here, raccoons mostly live in rural regions, but some urban populations are already established, such as in the city of Kassel, or are starting to build up, such as in Berlin. The objective of this study was to investigate Sarcoptes (Sarcoptiformes: Sarcoptidae) infections in racoons in these two urban areas and to identify the putative origin of the parasite. Parasite morphology, and gross and histopathological examinations of diseased skin tissue were consistent with Sarcoptes scabiei infection. Using nine microsatellite markers, we genotyped individual mites from five raccoons and compared them with Sarcoptes mites derived from fox, wild boar and Northern chamois, originating from Italy and Switzerland. The raccoon‐derived mites clustered together with the fox samples and were clearly differentiated from those of the wild boar and chamois samples, which suggests a fox origin for the raccoon mange infection. These results are evidence of the cross‐transmission of S. scabiei among wild carnivores. Although our results cannot elucidate whether raccoons became infected by frequent interaction with endemically or epidemically infected foxes or whether these cases resulted from occasional contacts among these animal species, they do nevertheless show that pathogens can be shared among urban populations of native and invasive carnivores.
A systematic review of sacral nerve stimulation mechanisms in the treatment of fecal incontinence and constipation
Authors: Carrington E. V. , Evers J. , Grossi U. , Dinning P. G. , Scott S. M. , O'Connell P. R. , Jones J. F. X. , Knowles C. H. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundSacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is now well established as a treatment for fecal incontinence (FI) resistant to conservative measures and may also have utility in the management of chronic constipation; however, mechanism of action is not fully understood. End organ effects of SNS have been studied in both clinical and experimental settings, but interpretation is difficult due to the multitude of techniques used and heterogeneity of reported findings. The aim of this study was to systematically review available evidence on the mechanisms of SNS in the treatment of FI and constipation.MethodsTwo systematic reviews of the literature (performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses framework) were performed to identify manuscripts pertaining to (a) clinical and (b) physiological effects of SNS during the management of hindgut dysfunction.Key ResultsThe clinical literature search revealed 161 articles, of which 53 were deemed suitable for analysis. The experimental literature search revealed 43 articles, of which nine were deemed suitable for analysis. These studies reported results of investigative techniques examining changes in cortical, gastrointestinal, colonic, rectal, and anal function.Conclusions & InferencesThe initial hypothesis that the mechanism of SNS was primarily peripheral motor neurostimulation is not supported by the majority of recent studies. Due to the large body of evidence demonstrating effects outside of the anorectum, it appears likely that the influence of SNS on anorectal function occurs at a pelvic afferent or central level.
Maternal hookworm modifies risk factors for childhood eczema: results from a birth cohort in Uganda
Authors: Mpairwe Harriet , Ndibazza Juliet , Webb Emily L. , Nampijja Margaret , Muhangi Lawrence , Apule Barbara , Lule Swaib , Akurut Hellen , Kizito Dennison , Kakande Mohammed , Jones Frances M. , Fitzsimmons Colin M. , Muwanga Moses , Rodrigues Laura C. , Dunne David W. , Elliott Alison M. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackgroundWorms may protect against allergy. Early‐life worm exposure may be critical, but this has not been fully investigated.ObjectivesTo investigate whether worms in pregnancy and in early childhood are associated with childhood eczema incidence.MethodsThe Entebbe Mother and Baby Study, an anthelminthic treatment trial, enrolled pregnant women between 2003 and 2005 in Uganda. Mothers were investigated for worms during pregnancy and children annually. Eczema was doctor‐diagnosed from birth to age five years. A planned observational analysis was conducted within the trial cohort to investigate associations between worms and eczema.ResultsData for 2345 live‐born children were analysed. Hookworm was the most prevalent maternal worm (45%). Childhood worms were less prevalent. Eczema incidence was 4.68/100 person‐years. Maternal hookworm was associated with reduced eczema incidence [adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval), p‐value: 0.71(0.51–0.99), 0.04] and modified effects of known risk factors for eczema: Dermatophagoides‐specific IgE in children was positively associated with eczema incidence if the mother had no hookworm [2.72(1.11–6.63), 0.03], but not if the mother had hookworm [0.41(0.10–1.69), 0.22], interaction p‐value = 0.03. Similar interactions were seen for maternal history of eczema {[2.87(1.31–6.27, 0.008) vs. [0.73(0.23–2.30), 0.60], interaction p‐value = 0.05}, female gender {[1.82(1.22–2.73), 0.004 vs. [0.96(0.60–1.53), 0.87], interaction p‐value = 0.04} and allergen‐specific IgE. Childhood Trichuris trichiura and hookworm were inversely associated with eczema.ConclusionsMaternal hookworm modifies effects of known risk factors for eczema. Mechanisms by which early‐life worm exposures influence allergy need investigation. Worms or worm products, and intervention during pregnancy have potential for primary prevention of allergy.
Thylakoid membrane oxidoreductase LTO1/AtVKOR is involved in ABA‐mediated response to osmotic stress in Arabidopsis
Authors: Lu Ying , Peng Jun‐Jie , Yu Zhi‐Bo , Du Jia‐Jia , Xu Jia‐Ning , Wang Xiao‐Yun 
Published: August 2014

Arabidopsis lumen thiol oxidoreductase 1 (LTO1) – the At4g35760 gene product – was previously found to be related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Here, we show that ROS accumulated in a mutant Arabidopsis line (lto1‐2, mutant of LTO1/AtVKOR) under osmotic stress at a higher level than that observed in wild‐type and transgenic complemented plants of the lto1‐2 mutant (lto1‐2C, transgenic complemented plants of lto1‐2). Because ROS accumulation in osmotic stress is triggered by abscisic acid (ABA), an ABA‐responsive gene, Annexin 1 (AnnAt1), was selected to study the response. Osmotic stress or exogenous ABA can significantly upregulate the transcription of AnnAt1 in wild‐type and lto1‐2C plants. Only a slight change in the transcriptional abundance of AnnAt1 was observed under osmotic stress in the lto1‐2 mutant, but exogenous ABA application could increase the expression of AnnAt1, which suggested that exogenous ABA had a partial complementation role. Because the transcription of AnnAt1 is regulated by ABRE (ABA‐responsive elements) binding proteins (AREBs)/ABRE binding factors (ABFs), the expression of AREBs/ABFs was also analyzed. The transcription of AREBs/ABFs in the lto1‐2 mutant was not induced by osmotic stress but was significantly upregulated by exogenous ABA, which significantly differs from the wild‐type and lto1‐2C plant responses. Similarly, the expression of another ABA‐responsive gene, RD29B (responsive to desiccation stress gene 29B), in the lto1‐2 mutant was also upregulated by exogenous ABA. The partial complementation of mutants by ABA indicated that the ABA signal transduction pathway was not significantly affected in the lto1‐2 mutant. Taken together, these results suggest that LTO1 is involved in ABA‐mediated response to osmotic stress, possibly by affecting the biosynthesis of endogenous ABA.
Sincerity and Transmission
Authors: Wright Stephen 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAccording to some theories of testimonial knowledge, testimony can allow you, as a knowing speaker, to transmit your knowledge to me. A question in the epistemology of testimony concerns whether or not the acquisition of testimonial knowledge depends on the speaker's testimony being sincere. In this paper, I outline two notions of sincerity and argue that, construed in a certain way, transmission theorists should endorse the claim that the acquisition of testimonial knowledge requires sincerity.
Is contraction‐stimulated glucose transport feedforward regulated by Ca2+?
Authors: Jensen Thomas E. , Angin Yeliz , Sylow Lykke , Richter Erik A. 
Published: August 2014

New Findings
What is the topic of this review?
The article critically reviews the role of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ as a feedforward regulator of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.
What advances does it highlight?
We highlight recent findings suggesting that stimulation of glucose transport in muscle can be completely uncoupled from Ca2+ release from the SR and weigh these data against the previous literature supporting a key role of Ca2+ in regulation of glucose transporter 4 translocation and glucose transport. A revised working model for contraction‐regulated glucose transport is proposed.
In many cell types, Ca2+ signals to increase the movement and surface membrane insertion of vesicles. In skeletal muscle, Ca2+ is predominantly released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) to initiate contraction. Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release is widely believed to be a direct feedforward regulator of the translocation of glucose transporter 4 to the cell surface to facilitate transmembrane glucose transport. This review summarizes the evidence supporting the Ca2+ feedforward model and its proposed signalling links to regulation of glucose transport in skeletal muscle and other cell types. The literature is contrasted against our recent findings suggesting that SR Ca2+ release is neither essential nor adequate to stimulate glucose transport in muscle. Instead, feedback signals through AMPK and mechanical stress are likely to account for most of contraction‐stimulated glucose transport. A revised working model is proposed, in which muscle glucose transport during contraction is not directly regulated by SR Ca2+ release but rather responds exclusively to feedback signals activated secondary to cross‐bridge cycling and tension development.
Corticospinal activity evoked and modulated by non‐invasive stimulation of the intact human motor cortex
Authors: Di Lazzaro Vincenzo , Rothwell John C. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractA number of methods have been developed recently that stimulate the human brain non‐invasively through the intact scalp. The most common are transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial electric stimulation (TES) and transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS). They are widely used to probe function and connectivity of brain areas as well as therapeutically in a variety of conditions such as depression or stroke. They are much less focal than conventional invasive methods which use small electrodes placed on or in the brain and are often thought to activate all classes of neurones in the stimulated area. However, this is not true. A large body of evidence from experiments on the motor cortex shows that non‐invasive methods of brain stimulation can be surprisingly selective and that adjusting the intensity and direction of stimulation can activate different classes of inhibitory and excitatory inputs to the corticospinal output cells. Here we review data that have elucidated the action of TMS and TES, concentrating mainly on the most direct evidence available from spinal epidural recordings of the descending corticospinal volleys. The results show that it is potentially possible to test and condition specific neural circuits in motor cortex that could be affected differentially by disease, or be used in different forms of natural behaviour. However, there is substantial interindividual variability in the specificity of these protocols. Perhaps in the future it will be possible, with the advances currently being made to model the electrical fields induced in individual brains, to develop forms of stimulation that can reliably target more specific populations of neurones, and open up the internal circuitry of the motor cortex for study in behaving humans.