bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term effects of plant diversity and composition on plant stoichiometry
Authors: Guiz Jordan , Hillebrand Helmut , Borer Elizabeth T. , Abbas Maike , Ebeling Anne , Weigelt Alexandra , Oelmann Yvonne , Fornara Dario , Wilcke Wolfgang , Temperton Vicky M. , Weisser Wolfgang W. 
Published: July 2015

Plant elemental composition can indicate resource limitation, and changes in key elemental ratios (e.g. plant C:N ratios) can influence rates including herbivory, nutrient recycling, and pathogen infection. Although plant stoichiometry can influence ecosystem‐level processes, very few studies have addressed whether and how plant C:N stoichiometry changes with plant diversity and composition. Here, using two long‐term experimental manipulations of plant diversity (Jena and Cedar Creek), we test whether plant richness (species and functional groups) or composition (functional group proportions) affects temporal trends and variability of community‐wide C:N stoichiometry.Site fertility determined the initial community‐scale C:N ratio. Communities growing on N‐poor soil (Cedar Creek) began with higher C:N ratios than communities growing on N‐rich soil (Jena). However, site‐level plant C:N ratios converged through time, most rapidly in high diversity plots. In Jena, plant community C:N ratios increased. This temporal trend was stronger with increasing richness. However, temporal variability of C:N decreased as plant richness increased. In contrast, C:N decreased over time at Cedar Creek, most strongly at high species and functional richness, whereas the temporal variability of C:N increased with both measures of diversity at this site.Thus, temporal trends in the mean and variability of C:N were underlain by concordant changes among sites in functional group proportions. In particular, the convergence of community‐scale C:N over time at these very different sites was mainly due to increasing proportions of forbs at both sites, replacing high mean C:N (C4 grasses, Cedar Creek) or low C:N (legumes, Jena) species. Diversity amplified this convergence; although temporal trends differed in sign between the sites, these trends increased in magnitude with increasing species richness. Our results suggest a predictive mechanistic link between trends in plant diversity and functional group composition and trends in the many ecosystem rates that depend on aboveground community C:N.SynthesisWe compared the effect of plant diversity on the temporal dynamics of community stoichiometry in two long‐term grassland diversity experiments: the Cedar Creek and Jena Experiments. Changes in community C:N ratios were accelerated by increasing diversity at both sites, but in opposite directions depending on soil fertility. Stoichiometry changes were driven by shifts of functional group composition differing in their elemental compositions, the identity of the functional groups depending on the site. Thus, we highlighted that community turnover constrained the effect of diversity on plant stoichiometry at both sites
Teasing apart the anticipatory and consummatory processing of monetary incentives: An event‐related potential study of reward dynamics
Authors: Novak Keisha D. , Foti Dan 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe monetary incentive delay (MID) task has been widely used in fMRI studies to investigate the neural networks involved in anticipatory and consummatory reward processing. Previous efforts to adapt the MID task for use with ERPs, however, have had limited success. Here, we sought to further decompose reward dynamics using a comprehensive set of anticipatory (cue‐N2, cue‐P3, contingent negative variation [CNV]) and consummatory ERPs (feedback negativity [FN], feedback P3 [fb‐P3]). ERP data was recorded during adapted versions of the MID task across two experiments. Unlike previous studies, monetary incentive cues modulated the cue‐N2, cue‐P3, and CNV; however, cue‐related ERPs and the CNV were uncorrelated with one another, indicating distinct anticipatory subprocesses. With regard to consummatory processing, FN amplitude primarily tracked outcome valence (reward vs. nonreward), whereas fb‐P3 amplitude primarily tracked outcome salience (uncertain vs. certain). Independent modulation of the cue‐P3 and fb‐P3 was observed, indicating that these two P3 responses may uniquely capture the allocation of attention during anticipatory and consummatory reward processing, respectively. Overall, across two samples, consistent evidence of both anticipatory and consummatory ERP activity was observed on an adapted version of the MID paradigm, demonstrating for the first time how these ERP components may be integrated with one another to more fully characterize the time course of reward processing. This ERP‐MID paradigm is well suited to parsing reward dynamics, and can be applied to both healthy and clinical populations.
Establishment of biochemistry reference values for healthy Tanzanian infants, children and adolescents in Kilimanjaro Region
Authors: Buchanan Ann M. , Fiorillo Suzanne P. , Omondi Michael W. , Cunningham Coleen K. , Crump John A. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo establish common biochemistry reference intervals for Tanzanian infants, children and adolescents living in the Kilimanjaro Region.MethodsWe recruited healthy,HIV‐uninfected Tanzanian infants, children and youth between the ages of 1 month and 17 years from local schools and clinics to participate in this study. Only afebrile children without signs of physical or chronic illness were enrolled. Nonparametric methods were used to determine 95% reference limits and their 90% confidence intervals, with outliers removed by the Tukey method.ResultsA total of 619 healthy infants, children and adolescents were enrolled into the study. Twenty‐three biochemistry parameters were measured. Compared toUSreference intervals, several of the biochemistry parameters showed notable differences, namely alkaline phosphatase, phosphorus, amylase and lipase. Comparing our data to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Division ofAIDS(DAIDS) grading criteria for classification of adverse events, we found that for selected parameters, up to 15% of infants or children in certain age groups would have been categorised as having an adverse event as defined byDAIDS.ConclusionsOur study further confirms the need to use locally established reference intervals to define reference laboratory parameters among children in Africa, rather than relying on those derived fromUSor European populations. To our knowledge, this study provides the first set of locally validated biochemistry reference ranges for a paediatric population in Tanzania.
Evaluation of compliance with electronic pretransfusion check for blood administration at the bedside: a 10·5‐year experience at a university hospital
Authors: Ohsaka A. , Ohsawa T. , Nakamura Y. , Tokida M. , Ichikawa K. , Furuta Y. 
Published: July 2015

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate compliance with the electronic pretransfusion check for blood administration at the bedside over a 10·5‐year period.Study Design and MethodsA bar code‐based electronic identification system (EIS) has been fully implemented in the hospital. Between July 2002 and December 2012, we evaluated compliance with the electronic pretransfusion check at the bedside. Compliance with our transfusion policy was defined based on the time lag between performing the electronic pretransfusion check and initiating blood administration.ResultsA total of 114 855 blood components were transfused without a single mistransfusion, of which the number with a standard two‐person visual and verbal double check but without using the EIS was 2122, resulting in an overall compliance rate with the electronic pretransfusion check of 98·2%. The time lag on inpatient wards and in operating rooms was significantly longer than that in outpatient units. The rate of a time lag with more than ‘plus or minus 2 min’ (poor compliance) was reduced by the education and retraining regarding the EIS of healthcare professionals.ConclusionThe EIS should be used while monitoring compliance with transfusion practice.
Nitrergic signalling via interstitial cells of Cajal regulates motor activity in murine colon
Authors: Lies Barbara , Beck Katharina , Keppler Jonas , Saur Dieter , Groneberg Dieter , Friebe Andreas 
Published: July 2015

Key points
Dysregulation of nitric oxide (NO) signalling is associated with GI motility dysfunctions like chronic constipation, achalasia or Hirschsprung's disease. The inhibitory effect of NO is mainly exerted via NO‐sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO‐GC) which is found in different gastrointestinal (GI) cell types including smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC).
Here, we focus on the investigation of NO‐GC function in murine colon. Using cell‐specific knock‐out mice, we demonstrate that NO‐GC is expressed in myenteric ICC of murine colon and participates in regulation of colonic spontaneous contractions in longitudinal smooth muscle.
We report a novel finding that basal enteric NO release acts via myenteric ICC to influence the generation of spontaneous contractions whereas the effects of elevated endogenous NO are mediated by SMCS in the murine proximal colon.
These results help in understanding possible pathological mechanisms involved in slowed colonic action and colonic inertia.
AbstractIn the enteric nervous systems, NO is released from nitrergic neurons as a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. NO acts via NO‐sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO‐GC), which is found in different gastrointestinal (GI) cell types including smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). The precise mechanism of nitrergic signalling through these two cell types to regulate colonic spontaneous contractions is not fully understood yet. In the present study we investigated the impact of endogenous and exogenous NO on colonic contractile motor activity using mice lacking nitric oxide‐sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO‐GC) globally and specifically in SMCs and ICC. Longitudinal smooth muscle of proximal colon from wild‐type (WT) and knockout (KO) mouse strains exhibited spontaneous contractile activity ex vivo. WT and smooth muscle‐specific guanylyl cyclase knockout (SMC‐GCKO) colon showed an arrhythmic contractile activity with varying amplitudes and frequencies. In contrast, colon from global and ICC‐specific guanylyl cyclase knockout (ICC‐GCKO) animals showed a regular contractile rhythm with constant duration and amplitude of the rhythmic contractions. Nerve blockade (tetrodotoxin) or specific blockade of NO signalling (l‐NAME, ODQ) did not significantly affect contractions of GCKO and ICC‐GCKO colon whereas the arrhythmic contractile patterns of WT and SMC‐GCKO colon were transformed into uniform motor patterns. In contrast, the response to electric field‐stimulated neuronal NO release was similar in SMC‐GCKO and global GCKO. In conclusion, our results indicate that basal enteric NO release acts via myenteric ICC to influence the generation of spontaneous contractions whereas the effects of elevated endogenous NO are mediated by SMCs in the murine proximal colon.
Physiological increases in lactate inhibit intracellular calcium transients, acidify myocytes and decrease force in term pregnant rat myometrium
Authors: Hanley Jacqui‐Ann , Weeks Andrew , Wray Susan 
Published: July 2015

Key points
Lactate is increased in myometrial capillary blood from women in slow or non‐progressive labour (dystocia), suggesting that it is detrimental to uterine contractions.
There are no studies of the effect of lactate on the myometrium. In the present study, we have investigated its effects and mechanism of action on myometrial strips from term pregnant rats.
We show that lactate significantly decreased spontaneous contractility. Lactatedecreased pHi and inhibited Ca2+ transients. Nulling the decrease in pHi abolished the effects of lactate effects. If Ca2+ entry was enhanced, the effects of lactate were abolished.
The present study suggests that the accumulation of extracellular lactate could contribute to labour dystocia.
AbstractLactate is increased in myometrial capillary blood from women in slow or non‐progressive labour (dystocia), suggesting that it is detrimental to uterine contractions. There are, however, no studies of the effect of lactate on the myometrium. We therefore investigated its effects and mechanism of action on myometrial strips from term pregnant rats. The effects on spontaneous and oxytocin‐induced contractility in response to sodium lactate and other weak acids (1–20 mM) were studied. In some experiments, simultaneous force and intracellular Ca2+ or pH (pHi) were measured with Indo‐1 or Carboxy‐SNARF, respectively. Statistical differences were tested using non‐parametric tests. Lactate significantly decreased spontaneous contractility with an EC50 of 3.9 mM. Propionate, butyrate and pyruvate also reduced contractions with similar potency. The effects of lactate were reduced in the presence of oxytocin but remained significant. Lactate decreased pHi and nulling the decrease in pHi abolished its effects. We also show that lactate inhibited Ca2+ transients, with these changes mirroring those produced on force. If Ca2+ entry was enhanced by depolarization (high KCl) or applying the Ca2+ channel agonist, Bay K 4644, the effects of lactate were abolished. Taken together, these data show that lactate in the physiological range potently decreases myometrial contractility as a result of its inhibition of Ca2+ transients, which can be attributed to the induced acidification. The present study suggests that the accumulation of extracellular lactate will reduce myometrial contractions and could therefore contribute to labour dystocia.
Ultrafast initiation of a neural race by impending errors
Authors: Noorani Imran , Carpenter R. H. S. 
Published: July 2015

Key points
The brain makes decisions by means of races between neural units representing alternative choices.
In the present study, we record the eyemovements made in the Wheeless task, when a visual stimulus is followed after a short delay by another stimulus demanding a different response.
The behaviour can be very precisely described as a race between three independent decision processes: one Go process for each of the responses, and a Stop process that tries to cancel the first, now erroneous, response.
To explain the high success rate for cancellation that we observe, the onset time for the Stop process must be some 10–20 ms shorter than for Go.
As well as extending our understanding of the dynamics of complex decision‐making, this task provides a rapid, non‐invasive method for quantifying disorders of higher neural function.
AbstractThe brain makes decisions by means of races between neural units representing alternative choices, and such models can predict behaviour in decision tasks in a precisely quantitative way. But what is less clear is how soon after the stimulus the race actually starts. In the present study, we re‐visit a complex decision experiment: the Wheeless task, in which a saccadic stimulus is followed after a short delay by a second stimulus, with the subject sometimes making a saccade to the first, now inappropriate, stimulus, and sometimes going straight to the correct one. We demonstrate that a simple model with three accumulator units, two ‘Go’ and one ‘Stop’, can then account in detail for the individual responses made, as well as their timing. This complex decision‐making behaviour is predicted directly for each individual subject by their performance in a simple step saccadic task, which identifies the two free parameters that are specific for each subject. By contrast to previous assumptions, we find that it is necessary for the onset time of the Stop unit to be shorter than for Go by 10–20 ms. This suggests a specifically fast mechanism for altering responses in situations where urgent action is needed to prevent an impending error.
Rapamycin does not prevent increases in myofibrillar or mitochondrial protein synthesis following endurance exercise
Authors: Philp Andrew , Schenk Simon , Perez‐Schindler Joaquin , Hamilton D. Lee , Breen Leigh , Laverone Erin , Jeromson Stewart , Phillips Stuart M. , Baar Keith 
Published: July 2015

Key points
Previous studies have shown that endurance exercise increases myofibrillar (MyoPS) and mitochondrial (MitoPS) protein synthesis in skeletal muscle.
The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is considered to be a key intracellular nutrient‐sensing protein complex, which activates MyoPS in response to anabolic stimuli.
Little is known regarding the regulation of MyoPS and MitoPS in response to endurance exercise.
In the present study, we show that MyoPS and MitoPS increase in skeletal muscle following endurance exercise, despite suppression of mTORC1 during the post‐exercise recovery period.
Our data suggests that mTORC1 independent processes regulate both MyoPS and MitoPS following acute endurance exercise.
AbstractThe present study aimed to investigate the role of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in the regulation of myofibrillar (MyoPS) and mitochondrial (MitoPS) protein synthesis following endurance exercise. Forty‐two female C57BL/6 mice performed 1 h of treadmill running (18 m min−1; 5° grade), 1 h after i.p. administration of rapamycin (1.5 mg · kg−1) or vehicle. To quantify skeletal muscle protein fractional synthesis rates, a flooding dose (50 mg · kg−1) of l‐[ring‐13C6]phenylalanine was administered via i.p. injection. Blood and gastrocnemius muscle were collected in non‐exercised control mice, as well as at 0.5, 3 and 6 h after completing exercise (n = 4 per time point). Skeletal muscle MyoPS and MitoPS were determined by measuring isotope incorporation in their respective protein pools. Activation of the mTORC1‐signalling cascade was measured via direct kinase activity assay and immunoblotting, whereas genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis were measured via a quantitative RT‐PCR. MyoPS increased rapidly in the vehicle group post‐exercise and remained elevated for 6 h, whereas this response was transiently blunted (30 min post‐exercise) by rapamycin. By contrast, MitoPS was unaffected by rapamycin, and was increased over the entire post‐exercise recovery period in both groups (P < 0.05). Despite rapid increases in both MyoPS and MitoPS, mTORC1 activation was suppressed in both groups post‐exercise for the entire 6 h recovery period. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor‐γ coactivator‐1α, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 and mitochondrial transcription factor A mRNA increased post‐exercise (P < 0.05) and this response was augmented by rapamycin (P < 0.05). Collectively, these data suggest that endurance exercise stimulates MyoPS and MitoPS in skeletal muscle independently of mTORC1 activation.
Joint associations of smoking and physical activity with disability retirement: a register-linked cohort study
Authors: Lallukka Tea , Rahkonen Ossi , Lahelma Eero , Lahti Jouni 
Published: July 2015

ObjectivesWe examined the risk of disability retirement by smoking and physical activity, and particularly whether the risk due to smoking is affected by the level of physical activity. Additionally, the contribution of baseline health, sociodemographic and work-related factors to the joint associations of smoking and physical activity with disability retirement was considered.DesignCohort study.SettingHelsinki, Finland.ParticipantsEmployees of the City of Helsinki, aged 40–60 years at baseline in 2000–2002, were followed up using complete register data from the Finnish Centre of Pensions until the end of 2010 (n=6390, with a consent to register linkage from 74%).Primary outcome measureAll-cause disability retirement (ICD-10).ResultsAltogether, 608 employees (9.5%) retired due to disability during the follow-up. Cox regression models were fitted to examine the joint associations of smoking and physical activity with subsequent disability retirement. Never-smokers, ex-smokers and moderate smokers who were inactive or moderately active had an increased risk of disability retirement, but if they were vigorously active, they had no excess risk. Instead, all heavy smokers (15 or more cigarettes per day among women, and 20 or more among men), irrespective of physical activity, had an increased risk of disability retirement. The examined associations attenuated but remained for ex-smokers and heavy smokers after adjustments for gender, age, socioeconomic position, mental and physical workload, problem drinking, body mass index and self-rated health. No gender interactions were found.ConclusionsVigorous physical activity might help prevent disability retirement not only among never-smokers, but even among ex-smokers and moderate smokers. However, among heavy smokers, physical activity is not sufficient to eliminate the adverse effects of smoking on health and work ability.
The use of concurrent speech to enhance blind people's scanning for relevant information
Authors: Guerreiro João 
Published: July 2015

João Guerreiro is a PhD Student at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon (UL). He is also a research assistant at the Visualization and Intelligent Multimodal Interfaces (VIMMI) group from INESC-ID. His main research interests include human-computer interaction and accessibility. In particular, he is currently exploring the use of concurrent speech to enhance blind people's efficiency when scanning for relevant digital content.
Screen readers present the information sequentially, which contrast with the visual presentation on screen. This fact affects blind users' efficiency browsing digital information, particularly when performing fast reading tasks. In this thesis, we will study the use of concurrent speech sources to help blind people finding their information of interest faster. Our first results suggested that blind users are able to identify and understand a relevant speech signal when listening to 2 or 3 concurrent talkers. Our next steps include comparing with current alternatives; assessing the learning effect with practice; and finding ways to interact with those sources.
Calcipotriol Targets LRP6 to Inhibit Wnt Signaling in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Arensman Michael D. , Nguyen Phillip , Kershaw Kathleen M. , Lay Anna R. , Ostertag-Hill Claire A. , Sherman Mara H. , Downes Michael , Liddle Christopher , Evans Ronald M. , Dawson David W. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy in need of more effective treatment approaches. One potential therapeutic target is Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which plays important roles in PDAC tumor initiation and progression. Among Wnt inhibitors with suitable in vivo biologic activity is vitamin D, which is known to antagonize Wnt/β-catenin signaling in colorectal cancer and have antitumor activity in PDAC. For this study, the relationship between vitamin D signaling, Wnt/β-catenin activity, and tumor cell growth in PDAC was investigated through the use of calcipotriol, a potent non-hypercalcemic vitamin D analogue. PDAC tumor cell growth inhibition by calcipotriol was positively correlated with vitamin D receptor expression and Wnt/β-catenin activity. Furthermore, vitamin D and Wnt signaling activity were found to be reciprocally linked through feedback regulation. Calcipotriol inhibited autocrine Wnt/β-catenin signaling in PDAC cell lines in parallel with decreased protein levels of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), a requisite coreceptor for ligand-dependent canonical Wnt signaling. Decrease in LRP6 protein seen with calcipotriol was mediated through a novel mechanism involving transcriptional upregulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor adaptor protein 1 (LDLRAP1). Finally, changes in LRP6 or LDLRAP1 expression directly altered Wnt reporter activity, supporting their roles as regulators of ligand-dependent Wnt/β-catenin signaling.Implications: This study provides a novel biochemical target through which vitamin D signaling exerts inhibitory effects on Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as well as potential biomarkers for predicting and following tumor response to vitamin D–based therapy. Mol Cancer Res; 13(11); 1509–19. ©2015 AACR.