bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serotonergic dysfunction in the A53T alpha‐synuclein mouse model of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Deusser Janina , Schmidt Stefanie , Ettle Benjamin , Plötz Sonja , Huber Sabine , Müller Christian P. , Masliah Eliezer , Winkler Jürgen , Kohl Zacharias 
Published: July 2015

AbstractParkinson's disease, neuropathologically defined by the aggregation of α‐synuclein, is characterized by neuropsychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety preceding the onset of motor symptoms. A loss of serotonergic neurons or their projections into the hippocampus and alterations in serotonin release may be linked to these symptoms. Here, we investigate the effect of human A53T α‐synuclein on serotonergic neurons using 12‐months‐old transgenic mice. We detected human α‐synuclein in the perikarya of brainstem median and dorsal raphe neurons as well as in serotonergic fibers in the hippocampus. Despite intracellular α‐synuclein accumulation there was no loss of serotonergic neurons in dorsal and median raphe nuclei of A53T α‐synuclein mice. However, serotonin levels were significantly reduced in the brainstem. In addition, serotonergic fiber density in the dorsal dentate gyrus was significantly less dense in transgenic mice. Interestingly, we detected a significantly compromised increase in doublecortin+ neuroblasts after chronic treatment with fluoxetine at the site of reduced serotonergic innervation, the infrapyramidal blade of the dorsal dentate gyrus in A53T α‐synuclein mice. This suggests that α‐synuclein affects serotonergic projections in a spatially distinct pattern within the hippocampus thereby influencing the response to antidepressant treatment.
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A transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD) shows α‐synuclein expression in serotonergic neurons of raphe nuclei. Besides lower serotonin levels in the raphe nuclei, a topographical restricted reduction in serotonergic fiber density was present in the hippocampus accompanied by an impaired fluoxetine‐response of hippocampal neuroblasts. In conclusion, α‐synuclein in the serotonergic system may account for psychiatric symptoms in PD. DR, dorsal raphe nucleus; MnR, median raphe nucleus.
Attitudes and Beliefs of Nonspecialist and Specialist Trainee Health and Physical Education Teachers Toward Obese Children: Evidence for “Anti‐Fat” Bias
Authors: Lynagh Marita , Cliff Ken , Morgan Philip J. 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to assess the beliefs and attitudes of preservice health and physical education (HPE) specialist and nonspecialist schoolteachers toward obese children.METHODSA total of 177 nonspecialist and 62 HPE specialist trainee teachers completed a series of pen‐and‐paper validated measures of attitudes and beliefs toward obese children.RESULTSBoth groups of preservice teachers reported strong implicit and moderate explicit anti‐fat bias. Enrollment in the HPE specialist degree was found to be a significant predictor of both implicit bad/good anti‐fat bias (β = 3.97, p = .002) and implicit bias on the stupid/smart scale (β = 2.983, p = .016) of the IAT. Beliefs that obese children were less healthy, more self‐conscious, and less satisfied with themselves were strongly endorsed by the majority of participants. HPE specialists were found to have significantly lower expectations for obese children in regard to “reasoning” (mean difference = 0.21, p = .0107) and “cooperation” skills (mean difference = 0.25, p = .0354) compared to nonspecialist trainees.CONCLUSIONSThis study is the first to document the strong anti‐fat bias of both preservice nonspecialist and HPE specialist teachers. It is also the first to find that preservice HPE specialist teachers have stronger anti‐fat biases and differential expectations regarding particular abilities of obese children, compared to nonspecialists.
Psychophysical Curves for Tasting Based on A Dissociation Model
Authors: Martín‐Guerrero Teresa L. , Rosas Juan M. , Paredes‐Olay Concepción , Ramos‐Álvarez Manuel M. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAn experiment on taste sensory analysis of an artificially arranged compound of salty and sour flavors was conducted with the goal of evaluating sensory performance to a mixture of flavors akin to natural food, but that allows for keeping a higher experimental control than natural foods do. Participants performed a detection task in which the concentration of salt was manipulated between‐subjects (from 0.07 to 0.75%). A procedure based on a dissociative model that allows for obtaining independent measures of sensitivity and criterion performance was used. In general, sensitivity index increased with the increase in signal salience, with actual performance approaching a Weibull distribution. A slight but reliable lenient response bias was found regardless of the salt concentration. The relevance of using independent measures of sensitivity and bias in sensory evaluation of complex compounds, and its relevance for sensory analysis of food is discussed.Practical ApplicationsIn tasting situations, perception seems to be easily influenced by cognitive factors and different response biases might appear, modifying the response criterion location. Difficulty of discrimination may also increases by qualitative changes that occur in taste mixtures. Signal Detection Theory allows the measurement of both: sensory and nonsensory components. Taking apart cognitive and sensory components is central to uncovering small differences in sensory qualities and developing accurate models of perception. This approach is of special interest to study the psychological processes involved in tasting situations, including the evaluation of training programs conducted to improve tasters’ discriminative abilities. In addition, function modelization has important implications for the area of perceptual research since psychophysical functions for binary compounds as it allows conducting predictions about interaction effects between studied components in complex stimuli.
The Role of Packaging and Presentation Format in Consumers’ Preferences for Food: An Application of Projective Techniques
Authors: Eldesouky A. , Pulido A.F. , Mesias F.J. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractQualitative research techniques are frequently used as a means to understand consumers’ perceptions and behavior when it comes to food choice. Particularly, projective techniques have been increasingly used in marketing and consumer research. In this context, this study aims to evaluate two projective techniques – word association and completion techniques – to study consumers’ expectations about food packaging. Additionally, it is intended to assess how packaging and presentation format influence food purchase decisions. The results obtained from both methodologies suggest that handiness to open, resealability, packaging size and packaging material transparency are among the features most appreciated by consumers. Specifically, word association has facilitated the identification of a larger number of items, probably thanks to the nonrestricted response character of this technique. Conversely, completion methodologies, a stimuli‐guided technique, has resulted in a richer range of perspectives by consumers thank to the focus on different aspects of the problem.Practical ApplicationsRecent changes in eating habits and lifestyles are forcing the food industry to develop new foods or to improve existing products. In this context, sensory and nonsensory characteristics must be taken into account to meet consumer requirements. Packaging, especially, has become an important extrinsic quality cue which provides information not only about food but also about brand image or lifestyle. Nevertheless, the role of packaging and presentation format in the shaping of consumers’ preferences must be extensively assessed. In this article, we have used a qualitative research due to the complex aspects involved in the consumer/packaging relationship. The projective techniques used in this study proved to be suitable and, therefore, food companies could use them as a way to undertake preliminary researches about new packaging features or packaging materials. The information obtained is of great interest for food industries when planning to place new packaging formats in the market or to identify target markets.
First Report of Black Leaf Spot Caused byAlternaria alternataon Ramie in China
Authors: Yu Yongting , Zeng Liangbin , Huang Lili , Yan Zhun , Sun Kai , Zhu Taotao , Zhu Aiguo 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIn 2012 and 2013, black leaf spot disease was observed on ramie plants in Hunan and Hubei Provinces, China. In the field, the symptoms of this disease included dark green to black big spots on leaves, often resulting in upwardly curled leaf margins. The pathogen isolates were identified asAlternaria alternata(Fr.) Keissler on the basis of morphology and sequence similarity of 99–100% to the published data for internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (gdp). To our knowledge, this is the first report ofAlternarialeaf spot of ramie in China.
Identification of the New Pathogen (Stemphylium lycopersici) Causing Leaf Spot on Pepino (Solanum muricatum)
Authors: Nasehi Abbas , Kadir Jugah , Nasr‐Esfahani Mehdi , Abed‐Ashtiani Farnaz , Golkhandan Elham , Ashkani Sadegh 
Published: July 2015

AbstractPepino (Solanum muricatumvar. pepino) plants were found affected by an extensive leaf spot caused by plant pathogenic fungi during a survey in the Cameron highlands, Pahang state, Malaysia. Symptomatic leaf samples were collected from infected pepino plants and cultivated onPDAmedium, and the pathogen was isolated and purified; then, consequently, all isolates were identified asStemphylium lycopersicion the basis of their cultural and morphological characteristics and combined sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (gpd) regions. A pathogenicity assay on detached leaves further confirmed thatS. lycopersicicauses leaf spot disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report ofS. lycopersicicausing leaf spot on pepino in Malaysia and worldwide.
Chloroplast DNA variation within prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinataLink) populations in the U.S.
Authors: Graves Hannah , Rayburn A. Lane , Kim Sumin , Lee D. K. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractChloroplast DNA (cpDNA) is most often maternally inherited and highly conserved leading to previous observation of little to no sequence variation. Comparing cpDNA haplotypes have provided valuable insight into the establishment and migration of polyploid populations. However, to use chloroplast haplotypes to their full potential intrapopulational variation needs to be addressed. In this study, cpDNA haplotype variation was surveyed within 16 natural populations of prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinataLink) located east of the 100th west meridian and north of the 35th north parallel in the U.S.A. using two non‐coding, polymorphic chloroplast regions. Two main clades were defined with subclades as follows: haplotype 1 and haplotype 2A and 2B. It was discovered that seven populations showed intrapopulational chloroplast genome variation. Of the total amount of variation, 95.5% occurred within the octoploid populations and 4.5% occurred within the tetraploid populations. Both variant haplotypes, 2A and 2B, were found in a larger sampling of one of the natural populations, but no variation was found in a mixed ploidy population. The intrapopulational cpDNA variation we found in this study cannot directly be related to mechanisms of introduction of the non‐native populations into native populations. Therefore, this cpDNA variation could be novel natural variation that has been fixed as the octoploid populations were established and moved northwest. This analysis provides insight into determining the usefulness of indels and single nucleotide polymorphisms for population identification and may provide information in regards to the origin of chloroplast variation and its subsequent fixation and establishment in natural prairie cordgrass populations.
Teaching Early Modern Philosophy as a Bridge between Causal or Naturalistic and Conceptual Thought
Authors: Barris Jeremy , Turner Paul M. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIt is a challenge in teaching early modern philosophy to balance historical faithfulness to the arguments and concerns of early modern philosophers and interpreting them as relevant to the kinds of thinking that contemporary undergraduate students find plausible. Early modern philosophy is unique, however, in applying modern scientific method directly to problems concerning nonphysical aspects of reality that our contemporary scientific thought, and with it mainstream contemporary culture, no longer find amenable in their own, independent right to reliable reasoned approaches. At the same time, early modern philosophy often also takes seriously purely conceptual or logically consequential thought in the investigation of these topics, as our mainstream contemporary culture does not. This kind of thought, we argue, is distinctive of philosophy in general and appropriate to nonphysical aspects of reality. Early modern philosophy, then, offers a bridge between the kind of reasoned, objective thought our mainstream culture finds plausible and thought about nonphysical reality or, in general, the thought that characterizes philosophy.
Including Early Modern Women Writers in Survey Courses
Authors: Gordon‐Roth Jessica , Kendrick Nancy 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThere are many reasons to include texts written by women in early modern philosophy courses. The most obvious one is accuracy: women helped to shape the philosophical landscape of the time. Thus, to craft a syllabus that wholly excludes women is to give students an inaccurate picture of the early modern period. Since it seems safe to assume that we all aim for accuracy, this should be reason enough to include women writers in our courses. This article nonetheless offers an additional reason: when students are exposed to philosophical texts written by women, they learn that women have been, are, and can be philosophers. Given how underrepresented women are in philosophy, this finding is significant. If we aim to change the face of philosophy—so that it includes more women—we must include texts written by women in our syllabi. The article considers various obstacles faced by those who work to respond to this call to action.
Caricatures, Myths, and White Lies
Authors: Walsh Kirsten , Currie Adrian 
Published: July 2015

AbstractPedagogical situations require white lies: in teaching philosophy we make decisions about what to omit, what to emphasise, and what to distort. This article considers when it is permissible to distort the historical record, arguing for a tempered respect for the historical facts. It focuses on the rationalist/empiricist distinction, which still frames most undergraduate early modern courses despite failing to capture the intellectual history of that period. It draws an analogy withMichaelStrevens's view on idealisation in causal explanation to distinguish betweenmythsandcaricatures. Myths are distortions of the historical record that undermine students' understanding of the past, despite having other pedagogical benefits (being illuminative of some other period, or helping uptake of philosophical skills and methods). Caricatures are distortions that either increase or are indifferent to understanding of the past. Mythmaking, the article argues, is unjustified.
Challenging the State: Teaching Alternative Historiographies in Early Modern Politics
Authors: Affolter Jacob 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis article argues that we can improve the way we teach early modern political philosophy if we introduce students to alternative views about the development of the state. First, it summarizes the work of contemporary philosophers and historians who are critical of the modern state. Second, it points out ways in which early social contract theorists take the state for granted. Third, it argues that alternative views about the development of the state can help students take a more critical perspective on standard works of early modern political philosophy. Fourth, it argues that these alternative views will help students better understand dissenting voices in early modern political philosophy.
Dignity, Capability, and Profound Disability
Authors: Vorhaus John 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMartha Nussbaum has sought to establish the significance of disability for liberal theories of justice. She proposes that human dignity can serve as the basis of an entitlement to a set of capabilities that all human beings either possess or have the potential to develop. This article considers whether the concept of human dignity will serve as the justification for basic human capabilities in accounting for the demands of justice for people with profound learning difficulties and disabilities. It examines the relationship between dignity and capabilities, suggesting that Nussbaum fails to distinguish between several conceptions of human dignity, whilst also identifying one of these conceptions as coming close to meeting several of her demands. It is difficult enough, however, to show how dignity is related to just one of our basic entitlements, and even that requires more than the resources available in Nussbaum's approach.
Risk
Authors: Pritchard Duncan 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIn this article it is argued that the standard theoretical account of risk in the contemporary literature, which is cast along probabilistic lines, is flawed, in that it is unable to account for a particular kind of risk. In its place a modal account of risk is offered. Two applications of the modal account of risk are then explored. First, to epistemology, via the defence of an anti‐risk condition on knowledge in place of the normal anti‐luck condition. Second, to legal theory, where it is shown that this account of risk can cast light on the debate regarding the extent to which a criminal justice system can countenance the possibility of wrongful convictions.
Nucleoside uptake in Vibrio cholerae and its role in the transition fitness from host to environment
Authors: Gumpenberger Tanja , Vorkapic Dina , Zingl Franz G. , Pressler Katharina , Lackner Stefanie , Seper Andrea , Reidl Joachim , Schild Stefan 
Published: July 2015

SummaryAs it became evident recently, extracellular DNA could be a versatile nutrient source of the facultative pathogen Vibrio cholerae along the different stages of its life cycle. By the use of two extracellular nucleases and periplasmic phosphatases, V. cholerae degrades extracellular DNA to nucleosides. In this study, we investigated the nucleoside uptake via identification and characterization of VCA0179, VC1953 and VC2352 representing the three nucleoside transport systems in V. cholerae. Based on our results VC2352 seems to be the dominant nucleoside transporter. Nevertheless, all three transporters are functional and can contribute to the utilization of nucleosides as a sole source of carbon or nitrogen. We found that the transcriptional activity of these three distal genes is equally promoted or antagonized by CRP or CytR respectively. Finally, mutants impaired for nucleoside uptake exhibit decreased transition fitness from the host into low carbon environments along the life cycle of V. cholerae.
High levels of cyclic‐di‐GMP in plant‐associated Pseudomonas correlate with evasion of plant immunity
Authors: Pfeilmeier Sebastian , Saur Isabel Marie‐Luise , Rathjen John Paul , Zipfel Cyril , Malone Jacob George 
Published: July 2015

SummaryThe plant innate immune system employs plasma membrane‐localized receptors that specifically perceive pathogen/microbe‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/MAMPs). This induces a defence response called pattern‐triggered immunity (PTI) to fend off pathogen attack. Commensal bacteria are also exposed to potential immune recognition and must employ strategies to evade and/or suppress PTI to successfully colonize the plant. During plant infection, the flagellum has an ambiguous role, acting as both a virulence factor and also as a potent immunogen as a result of the recognition of its main building block, flagellin, by the plant pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), including FLAGELLIN SENSING2 (FLS2). Therefore, strict control of flagella synthesis is especially important for plant‐associated bacteria. Here, we show that cyclic‐di‐GMP [bis‐(3′‐5′)‐cyclic di‐guanosine monophosphate], a central regulator of bacterial lifestyle, is involved in the evasion of PTI. Elevated cyclic‐di‐GMP levels in the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pto) DC3000, the opportunist P. aeruginosa PAO1 and the commensal P. protegens Pf‐5 inhibit flagellin synthesis and help the bacteria to evade FLS2‐mediated signalling in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana. Despite this, high cellular cyclic‐di‐GMP concentrations were shown to drastically reduce the virulence of Pto DC3000 during plant infection. We propose that this is a result of reduced flagellar motility and/or additional pleiotropic effects of cyclic‐di‐GMP signalling on bacterial behaviour.
Unfolded protein response is activated in Lewy body dementias
Authors: Baek Jean‐Ha , Whitfield David , Howlett David , Francis Paul , Bereczki Erika , Ballard Clive , Hortobágyi Tibor , Attems Johannes , Aarsland Dag 
Published: July 2015

AimThe unfolded protein response (UPR) is a pro‐survival defence mechanism induced during periods of endoplasmic reticulum stress, and it has recently emerged as an attractive therapeutic target across a number of neurodegenerative conditions, but has not yet been studied in synuclein disorders.MethodsThe level of a key mediator of the UPR pathway, glucose‐regulated protein 78 (GRP78), also known as binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP), was measured in post mortem brain tissue of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) in comparison with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age‐matched controls using Western blot. The UPR activation was further confirmed by immunohistochemical detection of GRP78/BiP and phosphorylated protein kinase RNA‐like endoplasmic reticulum (ER) kinase (p‐PERK).ResultsGRP78/BiP was increased to a greater extent in DLB and PDD patients compared with AD and control subjects in cingulate gyrus and parietal cortex. However, there were no changes in the prefrontal and temporal cortices. There was a significant positive correlation between GRP78/BiP level and α‐synuclein pathology in the cingulate gyrus, while AD‐type pathology showed an inverse correlation relationship in the parietal cortex.ConclusionOverall, these results give emphasis to the role of UPR in Lewy body dementias, and suggest that Lewy body degeneration, in combination with AD‐type pathologies, is associated with increased UPR activation to a greater extent than AD alone, possibly as a consequence of the increasing load of ER proteins. This work also highlights a novel opportunity to explore the UPR as a therapeutic target in synuclein diseases.