bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New Anti-angiogenic Leading Structure Discovered in the Fruit of Cimicifuga yunnanensis
Authors: Nian Yin , Yang Jing , Liu Tong-Yang , Luo Ying , Zhang Ji-Hong , Qiu Ming-Hua 
Published: March 2015

AbstractCimyunnins A–C (1–3), characterized with an unusual fused cyclopentenone ring G, together with cimyunnin D (4), possessing a highly rearranged γ-lactone ring F, were characterized from the fruit of Cimicifuga yunnanensis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, X-ray diffraction and density functional theory calculations. In addition, cimyunnin A exhibited comparable anti-angiogenic activities to those of sunitinib, a clinically-used first-line angiogenesis inhibitor, in the in vitro and ex vivo studies.
Genome wide expression profiling of p53 regulated miRNAs in neuroblastoma
Authors: Rihani Ali , Van Goethem Alan , Ongenaert Maté , De Brouwer Sara , Volders Pieter-Jan , Agarwal Saurabh , De Preter Katleen , Mestdagh Pieter , Shohet Jason , Speleman Frank , Vandesompele Jo , Van Maerken Tom 
Published: March 2015

AbstractRestoration of the antitumor activity of p53 could offer a promising approach for the treatment of neuroblastoma. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important mediators of p53 activity, but their role in the p53 response has not yet been comprehensively addressed in neuroblastoma. Therefore, we set out to characterize alterations in miRNA expression that are induced by p53 activation in neuroblastoma cells. Genome-wide miRNA expression analysis showed that miR-34a-5p, miR-182-5p, miR-203a, miR-222-3p and miR-432-5p are upregulated following nutlin-3 treatment in a p53 dependent manner. The function of miR-182-5p, miR-203a, miR-222-3p and miR-432-5p was analyzed by ectopic overexpression of miRNA mimics. We observed that these p53-regulated miRNAs inhibit the proliferation of neuroblastoma cells to varying degrees, with the most profound growth inhibition recorded for miR-182-5p. Overexpression of miR-182-5p promoted apoptosis in some neuroblastoma cell lines and induced neuronal differentiation of NGP cells. Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation-qPCR (ChIP-qPCR), we did not observe direct binding of p53 to MIR182, MIR203, MIR222 and MIR432 in neuroblastoma cells. Taken together, our findings yield new insights in the network of p53-regulated miRNAs in neuroblastoma.
Lrrk2 R1628P variant is a risk factor for essential tremor
Authors: Chao Yin Xia , Ng Ebonne Yulin , Tan Louis , Prakash Kumar M. , Au Wing-Lok , Zhao Yi , Tan Eng-King 
Published: March 2015

AbstractEssential tremor (ET) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are two of the most common adult onset movement disorders with overlapping clinical features. PD patients with leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2) mutations may present initially with an ET phenotype. To address the possibility of a common genetic link between ET and PD, we examined the association between a commonLRRK2R1628P gene variant and ET. TheLRRK2R1628P was genotyped in ET cases and matched healthy controls. A total of 1277 subjects comprising of 450 ET cases and 827 controls were included. There were 40 heterozygote (GG to CG) variant out of 450 ET cases (genotypic frequency 8.9%) and 36 heterozygote variant (GG to CG, genotypic frequency 4.3%) and one homozygote variant (GG to CC) out of 827 controls. Subjects carrying the R1628P variant had a twofold increased risk of ET (p = 0.0035, OR = 2.20 and 95% confidence interval is 1.30–3.73). Using a case control methodology, we demonstrated an association between a known PD risk variant,LRRK2R1628P, with ET. Subjects carrying the R1628P variant had twice the risk of developing ET. The sharing of a similar gene risk variant suggests a possible pathophysiologic link between PD and ET.
Structure-properties relationships in triarylamine-based donor-acceptor molecules containing naphtyl groups as donor material for organic solar cells
Authors: Mohamed Salma , Demeter Dora , Laffitte Jean-Alex , Blanchard Philippe , Roncali Jean 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe effects of replacing the phenyl rings of triphenylamine (TPA) by naphtyl groups are analysed on a series of push-pull molecules containing a 2-thienyl-dicyanovinyl acceptor group. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry show that the introduction of one or two naphtyl groups in the structure has limited effects on the optical properties and energy levels of the molecule. On the other hand, the evaluation of the compounds as donor material in bi-layer solar cells with C60as acceptor shows that the number and mode of linkage of the naphtyl groups exert a marked influence on the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the cell. Two naphtyl groups lead to a decrease ofPCEwith respect to TPA, while a single naphtyl group produces opposite effects depending on the linking mode. Compared to TPA, an alpha-naphtyl group leads to a small decrease ofPCEwhile in contrast a beta-naphtyl leads to a ~35% increase ofPCEdue to improved short-circuit current density (Jsc) and fill-factor. The determination of the hole-mobility of these two donors by the space-charge-limited current method shows that these effects are correlated with the higher hole-mobility of the β-naphtyl compound.
The transmembrane transporter domain of glutamate transporters is a process tip localizer
Authors: Hayashi Mariko Kato , Yasui Masato 
Published: March 2015

AbstractGlutamate transporters in the central nervous system remove glutamate released from neurons to terminate the signal. These transporters localize to astrocyte process tips approaching neuronal synapses. The mechanisms underlying the localization of glutamate transporters to these processes, however, are not known. In this study, we demonstrate that the trimeric transmembrane transporter domain fragment of glutamate transporters, lacking both N- and C-terminal cytoplasmic regions, localized to filopodia tips. This is a common property of trimeric transporters including a neutral amino acid transporter ASCT1. Astrocyte specific proteins are not required for the filopodia tip localization. An extracellular loop at the centre of the 4thtransmembrane helices, unique for metazoans, is required for the localization. Moreover, a C186S mutation at the 4thtransmembrane region of EAAT1, found in episodic ataxia patients, significantly decreased its process tip localization. The transmembrane transporter domain fragments of glutamate transporters also localized to astrocyte process tips in cultured hippocampal slice. These results indicate that the transmembrane transporter domain of glutamate transporters have an additional function as a sorting signal to process tips.
Presynaptic c-Jun N-terminal Kinase 2 regulates NMDA receptor-dependent glutamate release
Authors: Nisticò Robert , Florenzano Fulvio , Mango Dalila , Ferraina Caterina , Grilli Massimo , Di Prisco Silvia , Nobili Annalisa , Saccucci Stefania , D'Amelio Marcello , Morbin Michela , Marchi Mario , Mercuri Nicola B. , Davis Roger J. , Pittaluga Anna , Feligioni Marco 
Published: March 2015

AbstractActivation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is a critical step for neuronal death occurring in several neurological conditions. JNKs can be activated via receptor tyrosine kinases, cytokine receptors, G-protein coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels, including the NMDA glutamate receptors. While JNK has been generally associated with postsynaptic NMDA receptors, its presynaptic role remains largely unexplored. Here, by means of biochemical, morphological and functional approaches, we demonstrate that JNK and its scaffold protein JIP1 are also expressed at the presynaptic level and that the NMDA-evoked glutamate release is controlled by presynaptic JNK-JIP1 interaction. Moreover, using knockout mice for single JNK isoforms, we proved that JNK2 is the essential isoform in mediating this presynaptic event. Overall the present findings unveil a novel JNK2 localization and function, which is likely to play a role in different physiological and pathological conditions.
Self-induced parametric amplification arising from nonlinear elastic coupling in a micromechanical resonating disk gyroscope
Authors: Nitzan Sarah H. , Zega Valentina , Li Mo , Ahn Chae H. , Corigliano Alberto , Kenny Thomas W. , Horsley David A. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractParametric amplification, resulting from intentionally varying a parameter in a resonator at twice its resonant frequency, has been successfully employed to increase the sensitivity of many micro- and nano-scale sensors. Here, we introduce the concept of self-induced parametric amplification, which arises naturally from nonlinear elastic coupling between the degenerate vibration modes in a micromechanical disk-resonator and is not externally applied. The device functions as a gyroscope wherein angular rotation is detected from Coriolis coupling of elastic vibration energy from a driven vibration mode into a second degenerate sensing mode. While nonlinear elasticity in silicon resonators is extremely weak, in this high quality-factor device, ppm-level nonlinear elastic effects result in an order-of-magnitude increase in the observed sensitivity to Coriolis force relative to linear theory. Perfect degeneracy of the primary and secondary vibration modes is achieved through electrostatic frequency tuning, which also enables the phase and frequency of the parametric coupling to be varied and we show that the resulting phase and frequency dependence of the amplification follow the theory of parametric resonance. We expect that this phenomenon will be useful for both fundamental studies of dynamic systems with low dissipation and for increasing signal-to-noise ratio in practical applications such as gyroscopes.
Protein Traffic Disorders: an Effective High-Throughput Fluorescence Microscopy Pipeline for Drug Discovery
Authors: Botelho Hugo M. , Uliyakina Inna , Awatade Nikhil T. , Proença Maria C. , Tischer Christian , Sirianant Lalida , Kunzelmann Karl , Pepperkok Rainer , Amaral Margarida D. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractPlasma membrane proteins are essential molecules in the cell which mediate interactions with the exterior milieu, thus representing key drug targets for present pharma. Not surprisingly, protein traffic disorders include a large range of diseases sharing the common mechanism of failure in the respective protein to reach the plasma membrane. However, specific therapies for these diseases are remarkably lacking. Herein, we report a robust platform for drug discovery applied to a paradigmatic genetic disorder affecting intracellular trafficking – Cystic Fibrosis. This platform includes (i) two original respiratory epithelial cellular models incorporating an inducible double-tagged traffic reporter; (ii) a plasma membrane protein traffic assay for high-throughput microscopy screening; and (iii) open-source image analysis software to quantify plasma membrane protein traffic. By allowing direct scoring of compounds rescuing the basic traffic defect, this platform enables an effective drug development pipeline, which can be promptly adapted to any traffic disorder-associated protein and leverage therapy development efforts.
Thyroid ultrasound findings in a follow-up survey of children from three Japanese prefectures: Aomori, Yamanashi and Nagasaki
Authors: Hayashida Naomi , Imaizumi Misa , Shimura Hiroki , Furuya Fumihiko , Okubo Noriyuki , Asari Yasushi , Nigawara Takeshi , Midorikawa Sanae , Kotani Kazuhiko , Nakaji Shigeyuki , Ohtsuru Akira , Akamizu Takashi , Kitaoka Masafumi , Suzuki Shinichi , Taniguchi Nobuyuki , Yamashita Shunichi , Takamura Noboru 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe conducted ultrasound thyroid screening in cohort of 4,365 children aged between 3 to 18 years in three Japanese prefectures (Aomori, Yamanashi and Nagasaki) using the same procedures as used in the Fukushima Health Survey. Forty-four children had nodules ≥ 5.1 mm in diameter or cysts ≥ 20.1 mm in diameter detected at the first screening and 31 of these children underwent the second follow-up survey. We collected information from thyroid ultrasound examinations and final clinical diagnoses and re-categorized the thyroid findings after the second examination. Twenty children had nodules ≥ 5.1 mm in diameter or cysts ≥ 20.1 mm in diameter at the second examination; of these, one child was diagnosed with a thyroid papillary carcinoma and the remaining 19 children were diagnosed with possibly benign nodules such as adenomas, adenomatous nodules and adenomatous goiters. A further 11 children were re-categorized as “no further examinations were required.” Our results suggest that ultrasound thyroid findings in children may change with a relatively short-term passing period and that thyroid cancer may exist at a very low but certain frequency in the general childhood population.
Bayesian inference for low-rank Ising networks
Authors: Marsman Maarten , Maris Gunter , Bechger Timo , Glas Cees 
Published: March 2015

AbstractEstimating the structure of Ising networks is a notoriously difficult problem. We demonstrate that using a latent variable representation of the Ising network, we can employ a full-data-information approach to uncover the network structure. Thereby, only ignoring information encoded in the prior distribution (of the latent variables). The full-data-information approach avoids having to compute the partition function and is thus computationally feasible, even for networks with many nodes. We illustrate the full-data-information approach with the estimation of dense networks.
Coffee consumption and bladder cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Wu Weixiang , Tong Yeqing , Zhao Qiang , Yu Guangxia , Wei Xiaoyun , Lu Qing 
Published: March 2015

AbstractControversial results of the association between coffee consumption and bladder cancer (BC) risk were reported among epidemiological studies. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to clarify the association. Relevant studies were identified according to the inclusion criteria. Totally, 34 case-control studies and 6 cohort studies were included in our meta-analysis. The overall odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) between coffee consumption and BC risk was 1.33 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.48). The summary ORs of BC for an increase of 1 cup of coffee per day were 1.05 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.06) for case-control studies and 1.03 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.06) for cohort studies. The overall ORs for male coffee drinkers, female coffee drinkers and coffee drinkers of both gender were 1.31 (95% CI: 1.08 to 1.59), 1.30 (95% CI: 0.87 to 1.96) and 1.35 (95% CI: 1.20 to 1.51). Compared with smokers (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.70), non-smokers had a higher risk (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.25 to 2.35) for BC. Results of this meta-analysis suggested that there was an increased risk between coffee consumption and BC. Male coffee drinkers and non-smoking coffee drinkers were more likely to develop BC.
Feature Integration in the Mapping of Multi-Attribute Visual Stimuli to Responses
Authors: Ishizaki Takuya , Morita Hiromi , Morita Masahiko 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIn the human visual system, different attributes of an object, such as shape and color, are separately processed in different modules and then integrated to elicit a specific response. In this process, different attributes are thought to be temporarily “bound” together by focusing attention on the object; however, how such binding contributes to stimulus-response mapping remains unclear. Here we report that learning and performance of stimulus-response tasks was more difficult when three attributes of the stimulus determined the correct response than when two attributes did. We also found that spatially separated presentations of attributes considerably complicated the task, although they did not markedly affect target detection. These results are consistent with a paired-attribute model in which bound feature pairs, rather than object representations, are associated with responses by learning. This suggests that attention does not bind three or more attributes into a unitary object representation and long-term learning is required for their integration.
Now you see it, now you don't: flushing hosts prior to experimentation can predict their responses to brood parasitism
Authors: Hanley Daniel , Samaš Peter , Heryán Josef , Hauber Mark E. , Grim Tomáš 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBrood parasitic birds lay their eggs in other birds' nests, leaving hosts to raise their offspring. To understand parasite-host coevolutionary arms races, many studies have examined host responses to experimentally introduced eggs. However, attending parents often need to be flushed from their nests to add experimental eggs. If these birds witness parasitism events, they may recognize and reject foreign eggs more readily than parents who did not. We found that, after being flushed, female blackbirds,Turdus merula, remained close to their nests. Flushed females were more likely to eject foreign eggs and did so more quickly than females that were not flushed during experimentation. In contrast, flushing did not predict responses and latency to responses to parasitism by song thrush,Turdus philomelos, which flew farther from their nests and likely did not witness experimental parasitism. When statistically considering flushing, previously published conclusions regarding both species' response to experimental parasitism did not change. Nevertheless, we recommend that researchers record and statistically control for whether hosts were flushed prior to experimental parasitism. Our results have broad implications because more vigilant and/or bolder parents can gain more information about parasitism events and therefore have better chances of successfully defending against brood parasitism.
An Exploratory Study of Reading Comprehension in College Students After Acquired Brain Injury
Authors: Sohlberg McKay Moore , Griffiths Gina G. , Fickas Stephen 
Published: March 2015

Purpose
This exploratory study builds on the small body of existing research investigating reading comprehension deficits in college students with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Method

Twenty-four community college students with ABI completed a battery of questionnaires and standardized tests to characterize self-perceptions of academic reading ability, performance on a standardized reading comprehension measure, and a variety of cognitive functions of this population. Half of the participants in the sample reported traumatic brain injury (
n
= 12) and half reported nontraumatic ABI (
n
= 12).

Results
College students with both traumatic and nontraumatic ABI cite problems with reading comprehension and academic performance postinjury. Mean performance on a standardized reading measure, the Nelson-Denny Reading Test (Brown, Fischo, & Hanna, 1993), was low to below average and was significantly correlated with performance on the Speed and Capacity of Language Processing Test (Baddeley, Emslie, & Nimmo-Smith, 1992). Injury status of traumatic versus nontraumatic ABI did not differentiate results. Regression analysis showed that measures of verbal attention and suppression obtained from the California Verbal Language Test–II (Delis, Kramer, Kaplan, & Ober, 2000) predicted total scores on the Nelson-Denny Reading Test.

Conclusions
College students with ABI are vulnerable to reading comprehension problems. Results align with other research suggesting that verbal attention and suppression problems may be contributing factors.
Fundamentals of Clinical Outcomes Assessment for Spinal Disorders: Study Designs, Methodologies, and Analyses
Authors: Vavken Patrick , Ganal-Antonio Anne Kathleen B. , Shen Francis H. , Chapman Jens R. , Samartzis Dino 
Published: March 2015

Study Design A broad narrative review. Objective Management of spinal disorders is continuously evolving, with new technologies being constantly developed. Regardless, assessment of patient outcomes is key in understanding the safety and efficacy of various therapeutic interventions. As such, evidence-based spine care is an essential component to the armamentarium of the spine specialist in an effort to critically analyze the reported literature and execute studies in an effort to improve patient care and change clinical practice. The following article, part one of a two-part series, is meant to bring attention to the pros and cons of various study designs, their methodological issues, as well as statistical considerations. Methods An extensive review of the peer-reviewed literature was performed, irrespective of language of publication, addressing study designs and their methodologies as well as statistical concepts. Results Numerous articles and concepts addressing study designs and their methodological considerations as well as statistical analytical concepts have been reported. Their applications in the context of spine-related conditions and disorders were noted. Conclusion Understanding the fundamental principles of study designs and their methodological considerations as well as statistical analyses can further advance and improve future spine-related research.
Morphometric Contribution to the Detection of Introgressive Hybridization in the Endangered Owens Tui Chub in California
Authors: Galicia David , Leunda Pedro M. , Miranda Rafael , Madoz Javier , Parmenter Steve 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe Owens Tui Chub Siphateles bicolor snyderi has become endangered by introgressive hybridization with the Lahontan Tui Chub S. bicolor obesa since the 1960s. Adequate conservation strategies require prior identification of pure populations, which is usually difficult because the diagnostic features presented in the formal subspecies description do not always allow unequivocal determination of populations. In the present study, the shape and some meristic features of the scales, along with the shape of other bones with taxonomic value, were analyzed to distinguish both parental subspecies and their hybrids in samples diagnosed in a previous work using microsatellite DNA. Scales, pharyngeal arches, dentaries, cleithra, and opercula of 211 individuals from 16 localities across the Owens River and neighbouring basins in California and Nevada were compared. The results show that the meristic parameters of the scales were in agreement with values provided by Miller (1973) for the parental subspecies. Shape analyses were based on landmark or Fourier methods, depending on the shape characteristic of each structure. Geometric morphometric analyses provided variable discriminatory power between subspecies depending on the studied bone. In scales, pharyngeal arches, and dentaries, the derived morphological patterns matched the shape descriptions set forth by Miller (1973) for both parental subspecies. In all cases, the observed morphometric variability of hybrids was too high to separate them from parental subspecies. However, joint analysis of the five structures produced groupings that were concordant with the genetic analyses: localities of parental subspecies in separate groups and an intermediate group with the hybrid swarm localities that was morphologically closer to Lahontan. Finally, a new derived parameter (the ratio between scale lengths from the anterior and posterior body) is suggested as a promising tool for rapid discrimination of Owens Tui Chub from Lahontan Tui Chub and their hybrid populations.Received August 5, 2014; accepted December 4, 2014