bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inspiring altruism: reflecting on the personal relevance of emotionally evocative prosocial media characters
Authors: Farsides Tom , Pettman Danelle , Tourle Louise 
Published: October 2013

AbstractEducators have proposed that admired behavior by media characters evokes audience emulation if subsequent personal reflection results in audience members realizing that they want to and are able to behave in a similar manner. Two experiments investigated this. In Study 1, exposure to prosocial media models increased altruistic inclinations among teenagers only if they were also instructed to reflect on the personal significance of what they had seen. In Study 2, medical students exposed to prosocial media models had higher empathic and altruistic intentions if they reflected on the personal rather than the professional significance of what they had seen. Personal inspiration and recognition of enactment possibilities seemed key determinants of emulation.
Reward‐based, task‐setting education strategy on glycemic control and self‐management for low‐income outpatients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Guo Honglei , Tian Xiaoli , Li Rixia , Lin Jingna , Jin Nana , Wu Zhongming , Yu Demin 
Published: October 2013

AbstractAims/IntroductionThe purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility and effect of a reward‐based, task‐setting strategy for low‐income outpatients with type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsIndigent diabetes outpatients without glucometers were eligible to participate in this trial. A total of 132 cases were randomly recruited. Participants in group B used glucometers for self‐monitoring at no cost. Group A participants could keep the glucometers only if the glycosylated hemoglobin level declined compared with the baseline visit; for those not achieving a reduction in the glycosylated hemoglobin level, the glucometers would have to be returned. Group C served as the control group without self‐monitoring setout. Diabetes education was provided to all groups. Metabolic indices and self‐management were evaluated after 6 months of follow up.ResultsGroup A had a significant decline in the glycosylated hemoglobin level (−0.97%) and medical costs (−159 yuan) compared with the baseline visit, whereas groups B and C had a decrease in the glycosylated hemoglobin levels alone (−0.62 and −0.57%, respectively). The body mass index did not change significantly in any group. There was a statistical difference in the glycosylated hemoglobin level of group A compared with groups B and C. Self‐management in group A improved the outcome relative to groups B and C.ConclusionsThis preliminary evidence suggests that the program is feasible, acceptable for improving patient self‐management, and cost‐effective in reducing the glycosylated hemoglobin level and medical costs.
Reasons for eating ‘unhealthy’ snacks in overweight and obese males and females
Authors: Cleobury L. , Tapper K. 
Published: October 2013

BackgroundSnack foods are often high in fat and sugar. Thus, reducing snack consumption may be a useful weight management strategy. However, individuals may snack for a variety of reasons with different implications for intervention. The present study examined the perceived reasons for eating main meals, ‘unhealthy’ snacks (i.e. snacks high in fat or sugar) and ‘healthy’ snacks in overweight and obese participants.MethodsOver a period of 5 days, 28 males and 27 females completed a food diary every time they ate. As well as providing details about the type of eating episode and food eaten, they also rated their agreement with 13 different reasons for eating (identified from relevant literature and a pilot study).ResultsAcross a total of 1084 eating episodes, 358 were coded as snacks, 79% of which were high in either fat or sugar. The results showed that hunger and temptation (external eating) were reported as a reason for eating unhealthy snacks in 49% and 55% of all episodes, respectively. Eating because the individual was feeling fed up, bored or stressed (emotional eating) was given as a reason in 26% of episodes.ConclusionsThese findings point to the potential utility of intervention strategies that target cravings, enhance self‐control or promote stimulus control.
Melatonin administration decreases adipogenesis in the liver of ob/ob mice through autophagy modulation
Authors: de Luxán‐Delgado Beatriz , Caballero Beatriz , Potes Yaiza , Rubio‐González Adrian , Rodríguez Illán , Gutiérrez‐Rodríguez José , Solano Juan J. , Coto‐Montes Ana 
Published: October 2013

AbstractDespite efforts to curb the incidence of obesity and its comorbidities, this condition remains the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. To identify ways to reduce this global effect, we investigated the actions of daily melatonin administration on oxidative stress parameters and autophagic processes as a possible treatment of obesity in ob/ob mice. The involvement of melatonin in many physiological functions, such as the regulation of seasonal body weight variation, glucose uptake, or adiposity, and the role of this indoleamine as an essential antioxidant, has become the focus of numerous anti‐obesity studies. Here, we examined the oxidative status in the livers of obese melatonin‐treated and untreated mice, observing a decrease in the oxidative stress levels through elevated catalase activity. ROS‐mediated autophagy was downregulated in the liver of melatonin‐treated animals and was accompanied by significant accumulation of p62. Autophagy is closely associated with adipogenesis; in this study, we report that melatonin‐treated obese mice also showed reduced adiposity, as demonstrated by diminished body weight and reduced peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma expression. Based on these factors, it is reasonable to assume that oxidative stress and autophagy play important roles in obesity, and therefore, melatonin could be an interesting target molecule for the development of a potential therapeutic agent to curb body weight.
Age‐related alterations in gene expression of gingival fibroblasts stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Domon H. , Tabeta K. , Nakajima T. , Yamazaki K. 
Published: October 2013

Background and ObjectiveElderly people exhibit increased susceptibility to a number of autoimmune and infectious diseases, such as periodontitis. Although aging is reportedly associated with a decline in immune function, age‐related alterations in periodontal tissue have remained elusive. In the present study, we comprehensively analyzed the effect of aging on the expression of selected genes using mouse gingival fibroblasts.Material and MethodsGingival fibroblasts derived from young (8 wk of age) and old (≥ 24 mo of age) C57BL/6 mice were stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide or live P. gingivalis strain W83. Expression of cytokines/chemokines, innate immune receptors, growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases and osteoclastogenesis‐related molecules were evaluated using real‐time polymerase chain reaction and ELISA for interleukin‐6 and transforming growth factor‐β1.ResultsGingival fibroblasts derived from old mice exhibited decreased gene expression of Il‐6, Cxcl1, Tlr2, Tlr4, Irak3 (IRAK‐M), Kgf, Timp1, Timp3 and Rankl under resting conditions, whereas the expression levels of Tgfβ1, Mmp3, Mmp13 and Opg were increased. Age‐related differences were also detected at the protein level. Although P. gingivalis W83 upregulated Vegf, Fgf‐2 and Bmp2 expression in both young and old gingival fibroblasts, the stimulatory effect on these genes was significantly lower in old gingival fibroblasts.ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that aging altered the expression of a number of genes in gingival fibroblasts. Thus, alterations in the balance of these molecules could play a critical role in periodontitis progression in the elderly.
Osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells after transfection with recombinant lentiviral vector containing follicular dendritic cell secreted protein
Authors: Xiang L. , Ma L. , He Y. , Wei N. , Gong P. 
Published: October 2013

Background and ObjectiveFollicular dendritic cell secreted protein (FDC‐SP), has been identified in human periodontal ligament (PDL) in a recent study. It is suggested that the expression of FDC‐SP might be associated with the osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). However, the intrinsic mechanism regarding this is still unclear. The aim of this study was to establish hPDLCs with safe and efficient overexpression of FDC‐SP and to elucidate the influence of FDC‐SP transfection on hPDLC osteogenesis in periodontal regeneration.Material and MethodsWe first applied a recombinant lentiviral vector containing FDC‐SP to transfect hPDLCs via different multiplicity of infection (MOI) levels (1, 10, 20, 50 and 100). Western blot was performed to confirm the expression of FDC‐SP. MTT assay was employed to evaluate the proliferation status of transfected cells. Then, the extent of osteogenic differentiation was investigated by simultaneous monitoring of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assessment, immunofluorescent staining, the expression patterns of osteoblastic markers and mineralization staining.ResultsWe found that hPDLCs transfected via MOI 20, 50 and 100 exhibited expression of FDC‐SP protein compared with MOI 1 and 10. There was no significant effect of FDC‐SP transfection (at different MOI levels of 1, 10 and 20) on the proliferation of hPDLCs, whereas higher MOI levels (50 and 100) inhibited cell proliferation ability. In addition, ALP activity decreased significantly in FDC‐SP‐transfected hPDLCs at day 7. When stained with alizarin red, cells overexpressing FDC‐SP formed less mineralized nodules at 21 d post‐induction of differentiation, compared with the control cultures. Osteogenic inhibition was also confirmed by ALP immunostaining. Moreover, mRNA expression levels of osteoblastic markers decreased after FDC‐SP transfection, which were in accordance with western blot results.ConclusionOur data suggest that MOI 20 is optimal to transfect hPDLCs, which achieves safe and efficient overexpression of FDC‐SP in transfected cells. Moreover, FDC‐SP overexpression inhibits osteogenic differentiation of hPDLCs. The present study contributes to a better understanding of the biological functions governing FDC‐SP‐induced hPDLC differentiation.
Functional responses of plant communities to management, landscape and historical factors in semi‐natural grasslands
Authors: Vandewalle M. , Purschke O. , de Bello F. , Reitalu T. , Prentice H.C. , Lavorel S. , Johansson L.J. , Sykes M.T. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractQuestionTo what extent do historical and present‐day management regimes and landscape characteristics affect the functional structure of semi‐natural grassland communities?LocationSemi‐natural grasslands, the Baltic island of Öland, Sweden.MethodsWe assessed community functional structure within 475 (50 cm × 50 cm) semi‐natural grassland vegetation plots using two indices: community‐weighted mean trait values (CWM) and functional divergence (FD), calculated using the Rao quadratic entropy index. Spatially explicit regressions were used to assess the extent to which the CWM and FD for different plant traits are explained by past and present levels of local grazing management, and the present and historical characteristics of the surrounding landscape.ResultsAcross traits, the CWM and FD of individual grasslands were strongly associated with current grazing intensity, but also with local management history and past landscape structure.ConclusionsOur results indicate that grassland functional structure in the fragmented present‐day landscape reflects not only present conditions, but also the historical context of the grassland fragments – where the presence of extensive grassland habitat in the surroundings provided a diverse pool of grazing‐tolerant species. The study also suggests that information on landscape history, and its effects on the local species pool, may improve predictions of future plant community structure.
Use of first‐generation HCV protease inhibitors in patients coinfected by HIV and HCV genotype 1
Authors: Salmon‐Ceron Dominique , Arvieux Cédric , Bourlière Marc , Cacoub Patrice , Halfon Philippe , Lacombe Karine , Pageaux Georges‐Philippe , Pialoux Gilles , Piroth Lionel , Poizot‐Martin Isabelle , Rosenthal Eric , Pol Stanislas 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundIn HCV genotype 1‐infected patients with HIV co‐infection, tritherapy [HCV protease inhibitors (PIs) plus peg‐interferon and ribavirin] has been shown to have an increased rate of sustained virological response. However, complex drug‐to‐drug interactions and tolerability issues remain a concern.MethodsUnder the auspices of four French scientific societies of medicine, a committee was charged of establishing guidelines on the use of first‐generation HCV PIs in these patients. This scientific committee based its work on preliminary results from tritherapy clinical trials in co‐infected patients and, since data on these patients are still scarce, on the statements already made by the French Association for the Study of the Liver (AFEF) on the use of tritherapy in HCV mono‐infected patients, written in May 2011 and updated in 2012. Each AFEF guideline concerning HCV monoinfection was examined to determine whether it could be used in the context of HIV/HCV coinfection.ResultsThese guidelines are addressed for the treatment of coinfected patients with various profiles, including treatment‐naïve or patients with failure to previous bitherapy and mention those patients for whom tritherapy should start or those for whom it should be delayed. Preliminary results of triple therapy as well as factors associated to virological response are also discussed. Other issues include virological monitoring, clinical and virological criteria to stop therapy, practical treatment management, treatment adherence and the management of side effects and interactions with antiretroviral drugs. These guidelines were submitted for critical review to independent experts.
Independent domestications of cultivated tree peonies from different wild peony species
Authors: Yuan Jun‐Hui , Cornille Amandine , Giraud Tatiana , Cheng Fang‐Yun , Hu Yong‐Hong 
Published: October 2013

AbstractAn understanding of plant domestication history provides insights into general mechanisms of plant adaptation and diversification and can guide breeding programmes that aim to improve cultivated species. Cultivated tree peonies (genus Paeonia L.) are among the most popular ornamental plants in the world; yet, the history of their domestication is still unresolved. Here, we explored whether the domestication in China of historically cultivated peonies, that is, the common and flare cultivated tree peonies, was a single event or whether independent domestications occurred. We used 14 nuclear microsatellite markers and a comprehensive set of 553 tree peonies collected across China, including common tree peonies, flare tree peonies and the wild species or subspecies that are potential contributors to the cultivated tree peonies, that is, Paeonia rockii ssp. rockii, P. rockii ssp. atava, P. jishanensis and P. decomposita. Assignment methods, a principal component analysis and approximate Bayesian computations provided clear evidence for independent domestications of these common tree and flare tree peonies from two distinct and allopatric wild species, P. jishanensis and P. rockii ssp. atava, respectively. This study provides the first example of independent domestications of cultivated trees from distinct species and locations. This work also yields crucial insight into the history of domestication of one of the most popular woody ornamental plants. The cultivated peonies represent an interesting case of parallel and convergent evolution. The information obtained in this study will be valuable both for improving current tree peony breeding strategies and for understanding the mechanisms of domestication, diversification and adaptation in plants.
The LysR‐type transcription factor HbrL is a global regulator of iron homeostasis and porphyrin synthesis in Rhodobacter capsulatus
Authors: Zappa Sébastien , Bauer Carl E. 
Published: October 2013

SummaryThe purple bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus is unique among Rhodobacteriacae as it contains a putative iron response regulator (Irr) but does not possess a copy of the ferric uptake regulator (Fur). Interestingly, an in‐frame deletion mutant of Irr shows no major role in iron homeostasis. Instead, we showed that the previously identified activator of haem gene expression HbrL is a crucial regulator of iron homeostasis. We demonstrated that an HbrL deletion strain is unable to grow in iron‐limited medium in aerobic, semi‐aerobic and photosynthetic conditions and that suppressor strains can be isolated with mutations in iron uptake genes. Gene expression studies revealed that HbrL is a transcriptional activator of multiple ferrous and ferric iron uptake systems in addition to a haem uptake system. Finally, HbrL activates the expression of numerous haem biosynthesis genes. Thus, HbrL has a central role in controlling the amount of iron transport in conjunction with the synthesis of its cognate tetrapyrrole haem.
A dual role for the inducer in signalling by MalT, a signal transduction ATPase with numerous domains (STAND)
Authors: Liu Peng , Danot Olivier , Richet Evelyne 
Published: October 2013

SummarySignal transduction ATPases with numerous domains (STAND) are widespread proteins, whose activation involves inducer‐dependent conversion of resting ADP‐bound monomers into active ATP‐bound multimers. This process notably comprises opening of the nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain (NOD), nucleotide exchange and NOD‐mediated multimerization. How inducer binding to the sensor domain, whose structure is not conserved throughout the STAND family, causes protein activation remains unclear. We used MalT, an Escherichia coli transcription factor, as a STAND model system, to address this question by dissecting the signalling pathway in vitro. We have found that inducer binding to the sensor is the first step of the activation pathway. It both triggers opening of the NOD and makes the MalT multimer competent for binding promoter MalT sites via its DNA‐binding domains. Based on available data, we proposed that inducer trigger of NOD opening is a conserved STAND feature, irrespective of the sensor structure. As discussed, an additional role for the inducer, as found for MalT, might pertain to other types of STANDs.
Trypanosoma brucei harbours a divergent XPB helicase paralogue that is specialized in nucleotide excision repair and conserved among kinetoplastid organisms
Authors: Badjatia Nitika , Nguyen Tu N. , Lee Ju Huck , Günzl Arthur 
Published: October 2013

SummaryConserved from yeast to humans, TFIIH is essential for RNA polymerase II transcription and nucleotide excision repair (NER). TFIIH consists of a core that includes the DNA helicase Xeroderma pigmentosum B (XPB) and a kinase subcomplex. Trypanosoma brucei TFIIH harbours all core complex components and is indispensable for RNA polymerase II transcription of spliced leader RNA genes (SLRNAs). Kinetoplastid organisms, however, possess two highly divergent XPB paralogues with only the larger being identified as a TFIIH subunit in T. brucei. Here we show that a knockout of the gene for the smaller paralogue, termed XPB‐R (R for repair) resulted in viable cultured trypanosomes that grew slower than normal. XPB‐R depletion did not affect transcription in vivo or in vitro and XPB‐R was not found to occupy the SLRNA promoter which assembles a RNA polymerase II transcription pre‐initiation complex including TFIIH. However, XPB‐R−/− cells were much less tolerant than wild‐type cells to UV light‐ and cisplatin‐induced DNA damage, which require NER. Since XPB‐R−/− cells were not impaired in DNA base excision repair, XPB‐R appears to function specifically in NER. Interestingly, several other protists possess highly divergent XPB paralogues suggesting that XPBs specialized in transcription or NER exist beyond the Kinetoplastida.
Decreased submandibular adiponectin is involved in the progression of autoimmune sialoadenitis in non‐obese diabetic mice
Authors: Su Y‐C , Xiang R‐L , Zhang Y , Ding C , Cong X , Guo X‐H , Yang N‐Y , Hua H , Wu L‐L , Yu G‐Y 
Published: October 2013

ObjectiveTo investigate a possible role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of autoimmune sialoadenitis in non‐obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome.Materials and MethodsExpression of adiponectin and its receptors (AdipoR1/2) was detected by PCR, immunoblotting, or immunofluorescence. The level of adiponectin was quantified by ELISA. Adiponectin‐related signaling molecules and pro‐inflammatory cytokines were examined by PCR or immunoblotting. Apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining, flow cytometry, and caspase 3 activation.ResultsAdiponectin and AdipoR1/2 mRNA and protein were expressed in submandibular glands. Adiponectin immunostaining was widely diffused in the cytoplasm of acinar and ductal cells. AdipoR1 was mainly distributed in acinar cytoplasm, while AdipoR2 was predominantly located at acinar cell membrane. Submandibular adiponectin levels were reduced during the progression of autoimmune sialoadenitis in 7‐, 14‐, and 21‐week‐old NOD mice, while AdipoR1/2 levels were unchanged. The levels of phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2, and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase were decreased, while interferon (IFN)‐γ and glandular apoptosis were temporally increased at all time points. Moreover, exogenous adiponectin supplement inhibited, whereas neutralizing endogenous adiponectin by its antibody promoted IFN‐γ‐induced apoptosis and caspase 3 activation in cultured submandibular acinar cells.ConclusionsAdiponectin plays a protective role on submandibular cells. Decreased adiponectin might promote glandular destruction in autoimmune sialoadenitis.
Development and utilization of genomic and genic microsatellite markers in Assam tea (Camellia assamica ssp. assamica) and related Camellia species
Authors: Bhardwaj Pankaj , Kumar Rahul , Sharma Himanshu , Tewari Rupinder , Ahuja Paramvir S. , Sharma Ram K. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractMicrosatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers are valuable tools for many purposes, such as phylogenetic, fingerprinting and molecular breeding studies. However, such marker resources are unavailable in Assam tea (Camellia assamica ssp. assamica; Masters). With an objective to enrich the repertoire of microsatellite markers in traditional tea, 185 novel microsatellite (150 genomic and 35 genic) markers were identified from (GA)n‐enriched genomic libraries and public expressed sequence data in Assam tea. High‐quality 0.412‐Mb non‐redundant (NR) genomic data set derived from nucleotide sequencing of 1297 (GA)n‐enriched genomic positive clones and 2723 unigenes (1.33 Mb) predicted from 10 803 random public expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in C. assamica ssp. assamica were utilized for identification of genomic and genic microsatellite markers, respectively. The average number of alleles and polymorphic information content (PIC) recorded for the newly developed SSR markers were 6.17 and 0.398, respectively. The average observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity varied from 0.626 to 0.697, respectively. These markers were found to be highly transferable (74.5–100%) to cultivated (C. sinensis, C. assamica ssp. lasiocalyx) and five wild Camellia species. Genetic diversity coefficient detected a high level of divergence in 24 cultivated tea accessions (69.3%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that major groupings were broadly in accordance with taxonomic classification of tea, and all the wild Camellia species remained as an out‐group. The high polymorphic content coupled with high rate of cross‐transferability demonstrates wider applicability of novel microsatellite markers in genotyping, genetic diversity, genome mapping and evolutionary studies in various Camellia species.