bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 is independently associated with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease whereas leptin and adiponectin vary between genders
Authors: Chang Ming‐Ling , Hsu Chen‐Ming , Tseng Jeng‐Hwei , Tsou Yung‐Kuan , Chen Shu‐Chun , Shiau Shuen‐Shian , Yeh Chau‐Ting , Chiu Cheng‐Tang 
Published: August 2014

AbstractBackground and AimAlterations of adipocytokine levels and clinical parameters in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are crucial for the prognosis and complications of the diseases. However, the key adipocytokines independently associated with NAFLD have not been identified, and we aimed to investigate them.MethodsThis study was conducted on a consecutive series of 210 Taiwanese NAFLD patients and 420 sex‐ and age‐matched controls. Fatty liver was diagnosed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The enrolled subjects' body mass indexes, homeostasis model of assessment‐insulin resistance, uric acid, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high‐density lipoprotein, low‐density lipoprotein, blood pressure, metabolic syndrome (yes/no), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio indexes, leptin, adiponectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) levels were analyzed to determine their association with NAFLD.ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that all of the aforementioned factors were associated with NAFLD, whereas multivariate analysis revealed that only PAI‐1 (odds ratio: 1.39, P = 0.039) was independently associated with NAFLD. Subgroup analysis showed that females consistently had higher leptin (P < 0.001) and adiponectin (P < 0.001) levels than males, whereas their PAI‐1 levels were similar. Males with NAFLD had higher leptin but lower adiponectin levels than their subgroup counterparts (all P < 0.001). Among the female subgroups, hyperleptinemia and hypoadiponectinemia were only observed in the NAFLD patients ≥ 45 years.ConclusionsPAI‐1 is independently associated with NAFLD after adjusting for other factors, including leptin and adiponectin. Male and female NAFLD patients show distinct patterns of leptin and adiponectin alterations; special attention is required when evaluating these alterations in female NAFLD patients < 45 years.
Exposure to early life stress regulates Bdnf expression in SERT mutant rats in an anatomically selective fashion
Authors: Calabrese Francesca , van der Doelen Rick H. A. , Guidotti Gianluigi , Racagni Giorgio , Kozicz Tamas , Homberg Judith R. , Riva Marco A. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAlthough the causes of psychiatric disorders are not fully understood, it is well established that mental illness originates from the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. In this regard, compelling evidence demonstrates that depression can be the consequence of altered, and often maladaptive, response to adversities during pre‐ and early post‐natal life. In this study, we investigated the impact of chronic maternal separation (MS) on the expression of the neurotrophin brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in serotonin transporter (SERT) knockout rats in the ventral and dorsal hippocampus as well as the ventromedial and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (PFC). We found that both SERT deletion and the MS led to an overall reduction in Bdnf expression in the ventral hippocampus and the ventromedial PFC, whereas in the dorsal hippocampus and in the dorsomedial PFC, we observed a significant increase in the neurotrophin gene expression after MS exposure, specifically in the heterozygous SERT rats. In summary, we show that the modulation of Bdnf expression in SERT mutant rats exposed to MS reflects the complex functional consequences of this gene–environment interaction with a clear distinction between the ventral and the dorsal subfields of the hippocampus and of the PFC.
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Early life stress differently affects the expression of Bdnf in an anatomically distinct manner as a function of SERT genotype. Specifically, both SERT deletion and the maternal separation (MS) led to an overall reduction in Bdnf expression in the ventral hippocampus and in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, whereas in the dorsal hippocampus and in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, we observed a significant increase in the neurotrophin gene expression after MS exposure specifically in the heterozygous SERT rats. We think that these findings may provide novel cues for modulating neurotrophin function, which is dys‐regulated in several psychiatric conditions.
Blockage of melanocortin‐4 receptors by intranasal HS014 attenuates single prolonged stress‐triggered changes in several brain regions
Authors: Serova Lidia I. , Laukova Marcela , Alaluf Lishay G. , Sabban Esther L. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractMelanocortin receptor four (MC4R) is implicated in regulation of stress‐related functions. We previously demonstrated that intranasal infusion of MC4R antagonist HS014, shortly before single prolonged stress (SPS) animal model of post‐traumatic stress disorder, lessened the development of anxiety‐ and depression‐like behavior depending on the dose. Here, we evaluated effects of HS014 on SPS‐elicited changes in hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis and expression of several genes of interest in mediobasal hypothalamus, hippocampus, and locus coeruleus. Rats were given intranasal infusion of HS014 (3.5 ng or 100 μg) and 30 min later subjected to SPS stressors. Short‐term responses of HS014 rats in comparison with vehicle‐treated, evident 30 min following SPS stressors, included smaller rise in plasma corticosterone (100 μg HS014), absence of induction of corticotrophin‐releasing hormone mRNA in mediobasal hypothalamus and of mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine‐β hydroxylase in locus coeruleus. Long‐term responses found 7 days after SPS stressors, included lower induction corticotrophin‐releasing hormone mRNA levels in the mediobasal hypothalamus without effect on mRNAs for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and FK506‐binding protein 51 (FKBP5), a component of GR co‐chaperone complex; and no induction of GR protein in ventral hippocampus. Thus, antagonism of MC4R prior to SPS attenuates development of several abnormalities in gene expression in regions implicated in post‐traumatic stress disorder.
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Blockade of brain melanocortine receptor 4 (MC4R) with intranasal infusion of the MC4R antagonist HS014 to rats prior to single prolonged stress (SPS) leads to faster termination of stress responses (30 min later) and prevents or attenuates SPS‐triggered abnormal gene expression related to post‐traumatic stress disorder (7 days later). Targeting of brain MC4R is a promising strategy to protect HPA axis, LC‐NE (locus coeruleus‐norepinephrine) systems and hippocampus from overstimulation.
Examining the effects of sleep delay on depressed males and females and healthy controls
Authors: Goldschmied Jennifer R. , Cheng Philip , Armitage Roseanne , Deldin Patricia J. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryIndividuals with major depressive disorder typically exhibit sleep electroencephalograpy abnormalities which have been shown to vary by sex. Recent research has shown that depressed males display deficits in slow wave sleep and delta electroencephalograph (EEG) activity that are not apparent in depressed females. This may suggest that males and females with depression vary with respect to their homeostatic regulation of sleep. Utilizing archival data, the present study examined the effects of a 3‐h sleep delay, which represents a mild sleep challenge, on slow wave activity in healthy controls and individuals with depression. All participants slept in the laboratory for three sequential nights. On the third night in the laboratory, the participants' bedtime was delayed by 3 h. Slow wave activity was calculated utilizing power spectral analysis and compared across groups. Following the sleep delay, males with depression exhibited the lowest slow wave activity compared to all other groups. These results may suggest that males with depression are at a greater risk for homeostatic dysregulation than females, and may require specialized intervention.
Overall sleep status and high sensitivity C‐reactive protein: a prospective study in Japanese factory workers
Authors: Nakamura Koshi , Sakurai Masaru , Miura Katsuyuki , Morikawa Yuko , Nagasawa Shin‐Ya , Ishizaki Masao , Kido Teruhiko , Naruse Yuchi , Nakashima Motoko , Nogawa Kazuhiro , Suwazono Yasushi , Nakagawa Hideaki 
Published: August 2014

SummaryWe investigated the relation between overall sleep status based on the modified Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score and subsequent changes in serum high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) in a population of Japanese factory workers, who were predominantly female. A total of 991 Japanese with inflammation classified as low cardiovascular risk (baseline hsCRP < 1.0 mg L−1) were grouped according to the presence or absence of unfavourable sleep, defined as a modified PSQI global score > 5.5 points. The subsequent changes in hsCRP after 3 years were then compared in the two groups. Analysis of covariance incorporating log‐transformed baseline hsCRP, age, sex, lifestyle and physical and biochemical profiles was used to compare the geometric means of hsCRP at year 3 in each sleep status group. A logistic regression model incorporating the same variables was used to calculate the odds ratios for development of inflammation with a medium‐to‐high cardiovascular risk (hsCRP at year 3 ≥ 1.0 mg L−1) comparing the presence or absence of unfavourable sleep habits. The multivariate‐adjusted geometric mean of hsCRP at year 3 was significantly higher in subjects with unfavourable sleep habits compared with those with a normal pattern (0.275 versus 0.242 mg L−1). The multivariate‐adjusted odds ratio for developing increased and potentially pathogenic levels of inflammation due to unfavourable sleep was 2.08 (95% confidence interval = 1.29–3.35). There was a significant linear trend for the development of increased inflammation across the modified PSQI global scores (P = 0.04). Unfavourable sleep is associated with activation of low‐grade systemic inflammation.
“Securing the Rational Foundations of Human Living:” The Pedagogical Nature of Human Law in St. Thomas Aquinas
Authors: Jones Brian 
Published: August 2014

AbstractEvery form of government, whether by its action or inaction, encourages certain forms of behavior and discourages others. The moral well being of a society necessitates its consideration of civil law's legitimate role in shaping moral character. In this paper, I will attepmt to argue that the Thomistic account of civil law is not merely negative, but entails a positive pedagogy that seeks to nurture the moral virtue of its citizens, for both the viciously inclined and those who are already good. Furthermore, Aquinas’ theory of the common good is such that its role is not merely limited, i.e., through establishing some form of civic tranquility and providing basic goods of the material or economic order with little worry of the moral habits thus cultivated.The treatment of Thomas’ teaching on human law will not be fully exhausted in this paper. However, from examining the texts from the Summa Theologiae and the De Regno, it will appear evident that St. Thomas has provided a concise and intelligent framework for seeing and actualizing the necessary relationship between human law and moral virtue.
Evaluating NIR vascular imaging to support intravenous cannulation in awake children difficult to cannulate; a randomized clinical trial
Authors: de Graaff Jurgen C. , Cuper Natascha J. , van Dijk Atty T.H. , Timmers‐Raaijmaakers Brigitte C.M.S. , van der Werff Désirée B.M. , Kalkman Cor J. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryBackgroundRecently, various near‐infrared vascular imaging devices aimed at facilitating peripheral intravenous cannulation (PIC) were introduced, all claiming to increase success rate of PIC. We evaluated the clinical utility of a near‐infrared vascular imaging device (VascuLuminator®) in pediatric patients who were referred to the anesthesiologist because of difficult cannulation.MethodsThere were 226 consecutive children referred to pediatric anesthesiologists by the treating pediatrician of the in‐ and outpatient clinic, because of difficulties with intravenous cannulation, were included in this cluster randomized clinical trial. The presence and use of the near‐infrared vascular imaging device for PIC was randomized in clusters of 1 week. Success at first attempt (Fisher exact test) and time to successful cannulation (Log‐rank test) were assessed to evaluate differences between groups.ResultsSuccess at first attempt in the group with the VascuLuminator® (59%) was not significantly different from the control group (54%, P = 0.41), neither was the median time to successful cannulation: 246 s and 300 s, respectively (P = 0.54).ConclusionsVisualization of blood vessels with near‐infrared light and with near‐infrared vascular imaging device did not improve success of PIC in pediatric patients who are known difficult to cannulate.
Genetic analysis of salt tolerance at seedling and reproductive stages in rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Mohammadi Reza , Mendioro Merlyn S. , Diaz Genaleen Q. , Gregorio Glenn B. , Singh Rakesh K. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractSalinity is a major abiotic stress that limits rice production across rice areas as high‐yielding modern rice varieties are generally sensitive to salt stress. The study was conducted to deduce heritability and combining ability estimates of rice for various morphological and physiological traits using a 7 × 7 full‐diallel‐cross analysis at seedling and reproductive stages. The salinity stress treatment was 12 dS m−1 at the seedling stage and 8 dS m−1 at the reproductive stage. Diallel analysis revealed high for salinity tolerance scores and shoot height, moderate for shoot dry weight and root dry weight and low for Na+ and K+ concentrations and K+/Na+ ratio. The low‐to‐moderate narrow‐sense heritability for number of panicles, number of fertile spikelets, grain weight, spikelet fertility and K+/Na+ ratio suggests a large breeding population and delayed selection for tolerance until later generations. Significant maternal effects indicate that selection of the female parent is very important for desired trait development. The results of this study confirmed that salinity tolerance at the seedling and reproductive stages is regulated by a different set of genes that could be pyramided using different donors to enhance the level of tolerance.
Utilizing intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity to bolster agricultural and forest productivity under climate change
Authors: ASPINWALL MICHAEL J. , LOIK MICHAEL E. , RESCO DE DIOS VICTOR , TJOELKER MARK G. , PAYTON PAXTON R. , TISSUE DAVID T. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractClimate change threatens the ability of agriculture and forestry to meet growing global demands for food, fibre and wood products. Information gathered from genotype‐by‐environment interactions (G × E), which demonstrate intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity (the ability of a genotype to alter its phenotype in response to environmental change), may prove important for bolstering agricultural and forest productivity under climate change. Nonetheless, very few studies have explicitly quantified genotype plasticity–productivity relationships in agriculture or forestry. Here, we conceptualize the importance of intraspecific variation in agricultural and forest species plasticity, and discuss the physiological and genetic factors contributing to intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity. Our discussion highlights the need for an integrated understanding of the mechanisms of G × E, more extensive assessments of genotypic responses to climate change under field conditions, and explicit testing of genotype plasticity–productivity relationships. Ultimately, further investigation of intraspecific variation in phenotypic plasticity in agriculture and forestry may prove important for identifying genotypes capable of increasing or sustaining productivity under more extreme climatic conditions.
Effects of water stress on the development of banana xanthomonas wilt disease
Authors: Ochola D. , Ocimati W. , Tinzaara W. , Blomme G. , Karamura E. B. 
Published: August 2014

Water quantity and distribution plays a significant role in determining the productivity of crops and the outcome of many host–pathogen interactions in natural plant populations. In the present study, tissue culture plants of the East African highland banana cultivar Mbwazirume were established in a screenhouse to mimic drought conditions in the field and so investigate the effects of water stress on the development of banana xanthomonas wilt (BXW) caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm). In the absence of host resistance, all inoculated banana plants succumbed to Xcm infection and symptoms were expressed, on average, 14 days post‐inoculation (dpi). Water stress effects were significant (P < 0·05) for disease incubation period, and significant (P < 0·001) for incidence and severity. Data revealed that BXW development is hastened by the combined effect of water stress before and after inoculation compared to when plants are stressed only before inoculation or maintained stress‐free (SF). A twofold increase in evaluated disease parameters suggests that both timing of infection and duration of exposure to water stress are important in determining the shortened resident phase of Xcm to multiply and rapidly spread in the vascular tissues of the banana. This study has shown that water‐stressed banana plants are physiologically weak and hence more vulnerable to Xcm infections. This may be of relevance to the effect of future climate change on banana production.
Starch synthase 4 is located in the thylakoid membrane and interacts with plastoglobule‐associated proteins in Arabidopsis
Authors: Gámez‐Arjona Francisco M. , Raynaud Sandy , Ragel Paula , Mérida Ángel 
Published: August 2014

SummaryStarch synthesis requires the formation of a primer that can be subsequently elongated and branched. How this primer is produced, however, remains unknown. The control of the number of starch granules produced per chloroplast is also a matter of debate. We previously showed starch synthase 4 (SS4) to be involved in both processes, although the mechanisms involved are yet to be fully characterised. The present work shows that SS4 displays a specific localization different from other starch synthases. Thus, this protein is located in specific areas of the thylakoid membrane and interacts with the proteins fibrillin 1a (FBN1a) and 1b (FBN1b), which are mainly located in plastoglobules. SS4 would seem to be associated with plastoglobules attached to the thylakoids (or to that portion of the thylakoids where plastoglobules have originated), forming a complex that includes the FBN1s and other as‐yet unidentified proteins. The present results also indicate that the localization pattern of SS4, and its interactions with the FBN1 proteins, are mediated through its N‐terminal region, which contains two long coiled‐coil motifs. The localization of SS4 in specific areas of the thylakoid membrane suggests that starch granules are originated at specific regions of the chloroplast.
Manipulation of flavour and aroma compound sequestration and release using a glycosyltransferase with specificity for terpene alcohols
Authors: Yauk Yar‐Khing , Ged Claire , Wang Mindy Y. , Matich Adam J. , Tessarotto Lydie , Cooney Janine M. , Chervin Christian , Atkinson Ross G. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryGlycosides are an important potential source of aroma and flavour compounds for release as volatiles in flowers and fruit. The production of glycosides is catalysed by UDP‐glycosyltransferases (UGTs) that mediate the transfer of an activated nucleotide sugar to acceptor aglycones. A screen of UGTs expressed in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) identified the gene AdGT4 which was highly expressed in floral tissues and whose expression increased during fruit ripening. Recombinant AdGT4 enzyme glycosylated a range of terpenes and primary alcohols found as glycosides in ripe kiwifruit. Two of the enzyme's preferred alcohol aglycones, hexanol and (Z)‐hex‐3‐enol, contribute strongly to the ‘grassy‐green’ aroma notes of ripe kiwifruit and other fruit including tomato and olive. Transient over‐expression of AdGT4 in tobacco leaves showed that enzyme was able to glycosylate geraniol and octan‐3‐ol in planta whilst transient expression of an RNAi construct in Actinidia eriantha fruit reduced accumulation of a range of terpene glycosides. Stable over‐expression of AdGT4 in transgenic petunia resulted in increased sequestration of hexanol and other alcohols in the flowers. Transgenic tomato fruit stably over‐expressing AdGT4 showed changes in both the sequestration and release of a range of alcohols including 3‐methylbutanol, hexanol and geraniol. Sequestration occurred at all stages of fruit ripening. Ripe fruit sequestering high levels of glycosides were identified as having a less intense, earthier aroma in a sensory trial. These results demonstrate the importance of UGTs in sequestering key volatile compounds in planta and suggest a future approach to enhancing aromas and flavours in flowers and during fruit ripening.
Constructing supersingular elliptic curves with a given endomorphism ring
Authors: Chevyrev Ilya , Galbraith Steven D. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractLet $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}\mathcal{O}$ be a maximal order in the quaternion algebra $B_p$ over $\mathbb{Q}$ ramified at $p$ and $\infty $. The paper is about the computational problem: construct a supersingular elliptic curve $E$ over $\mathbb{F}_p$ such that ${\rm End}(E) \cong \mathcal{O}$. We present an algorithm that solves this problem by taking gcds of the reductions modulo $p$ of Hilbert class polynomials.New theoretical results are required to determine the complexity of our algorithm. Our main result is that, under certain conditions on a rank three sublattice $\mathcal{O}^T$ of $\mathcal{O}$, the order $\mathcal{O}$ is effectively characterized by the three successive minima and two other short vectors of $\mathcal{O}^T\! .$ The desired conditions turn out to hold whenever the $j$-invariant $j(E)$, of the elliptic curve with ${\rm End}(E) \cong \mathcal{O}$, lies in $\mathbb{F}_p$. We can then prove that our algorithm terminates with running time $O(p^{1+\varepsilon })$ under the aforementioned conditions.As a further application we present an algorithm to simultaneously match all maximal order types with their associated $j$-invariants. Our algorithm has running time $O(p^{2.5 + \varepsilon })$ operations and is more efficient than Cerviño’s algorithm for the same problem.