bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fertility‐associated metabolites in bull seminal plasma and blood serum: 1H nuclear magnetic resonance analysis
Authors: Kumar Ajeet , Kroetsch Tom , Blondin Patrick , Anzar Muhammad 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYEarly estimation of bull fertility is highly desirable for the conservation of male genetics of endangered species and for the exploitation of genetically superior sires in artificial insemination programs. The present work was conducted as a proof‐of‐principle study to identify fertility‐associated metabolites in dairy bull seminal plasma and blood serum using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). Semen and blood samples were collected from high‐ and low‐fertility breeding bulls (n = 5 each), stationed at Semex, Guelph, Canada. NMR spectra of serum and seminal plasma were recorded at a resonance frequency of 500.13 MHz on a Bruker Avance‐500 spectrometer equipped with an inverse triple resonance probe (TXI, 5 mm). Spectra were phased manually, baseline corrected, and calibrated against 3‐(trimethylsilyl) propionic‐2,2,3,3‐d4 acid at 0.0 parts per million (ppm). Spectra were converted to an appropriate format for analysis using Prometab software running within MATLAB. Principal component analysis was used to examine intrinsic variation in the NMR data set, and to identify trends and to exclude outliers. Partial least square‐discriminant analysis was performed to identify the significant features between fertility groups. The fertility‐associated metabolites with variable importance in projections (VIP) scores >2 were citrate (2.50 ppm), tryptamine/taurine (3.34–3.38 ppm), isoleucine (0.74 ppm), and leucine (0.78 ppm) in the seminal plasma; and isoleucine (1.14 ppm), asparagine (2.90–2.94 ppm), glycogen (3.98 ppm), and citrulline (1.54 ppm) in the serum. These metabolites showed identifiable peaks, and thus can be used as biomarkers of fertility in breeding bulls. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 123–131, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of human Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 in sperm function, derived from studies in transgenic mice
Authors: McDermott Jeffrey , Sánchez Gladis , Nangia Ajay K. , Blanco Gustavo 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYMost of our knowledge on the biological role of the testis‐specific Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 isoform derives from studies performed in non‐human species. Here, we studied the function of human Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 after its expression in transgenic mice. Using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) construct containing the human ATP1A4 gene locus, we obtained expression of the human α4 transgene specifically in mouse sperm testis and, in the sperm flagellum. The expressed human alpha 4 was active, and compared to wild‐type sperm, those from transgenic mice displayed higher Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 activity and greater binding of fluorescently labeled ouabain, which is typical of the alpha 4 isoform. The expression and activity of endogenous alpha 4 and the other Na,K‐ATPase alpha isoform present in sperm, alpha 1, remained unchanged. Male mice expressing the human ATP1A4 transgene exhibited similar testis size and morphology, normal sperm number and shape, and no changes in overall fertility compared to wild‐type mice. Sperm carrying the human transgene exhibited enhanced total motility and an increase in multiple parameters of sperm movement, including higher sperm hyperactive motility. In contrast, no statistically significant changes in sperm membrane potential, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, or spontaneous acrosome reaction were found between wild‐type and transgenic mice. Altogether, these results provide new genetic evidence for an important role of human Na,K‐ATPase alpha 4 in sperm motility and hyperactivation, and establishes a new animal model for future studies of this isoform. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 167–181, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The role of chest computed tomography (CT) as a surveillance tool in children with high‐risk neuroblastoma
Authors: Federico Sara M. , Brady Samuel L. , Pappo Alberto , Wu Jianrong , Mao Shenghua , McPherson Valerie J. , Young Alison , Furman Wayne L. , Kaufman Robert , Kaste Sue 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundStandardization of imaging obtained in children with neuroblastoma is not well established. This study examines chest CT in pediatric patients with high‐risk neuroblastoma.ProcedureMedical records and imaging from 88 patients with high‐risk neuroblastoma, diagnosed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital between January, 2002 and December, 2009, were reviewed. Surveillance imaging was conducted through 2013. Ten patients with thoracic disease at diagnosis were excluded. Event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated. Size specific dose estimates for CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis were used to estimate absolute organ doses to 23 organs. Organ dosimetry was used to calculate cohort effective dose.ResultsThe 5 year OS and EFS were 51.9% ± 6.5% and 42.6% ± 6.5%, respectively. Forty‐six (58.9%) patients progressed/recurred and 41 (52.6%) died of disease. Eleven patients (14%) developed thoracic disease progression/recurrence identified by chest CT (1 paraspinal mass, 1 pulmonary nodules, and 9 nodal). MIBG (metaiodobenzylguanidine) scans identified thoracic disease in six patients. Five of the 11 had normal chest MIBG scans; three were symptomatic and two were asymptomatic with normal chest MIBG scans but avid bone disease. The estimated radiation dose savings from surveillance without CT chest imaging was 42%, 34% when accounting for modern CT acquisition (2011–2013).ConclusionsNeuroblastoma progression/recurrence in the chest is rare and often presents with symptoms or is identified using standard non‐CT imaging modalities. For patients with non‐thoracic high‐risk neuroblastoma at diagnosis, omission of surveillance chest CT imaging can save 35–42% of the radiation burden without compromising disease detection. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:976–981. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ethnicity, race, and socioeconomic status influence incidence of langerhans cell histiocytosis
Authors: Ribeiro Karina Braga , Degar Barbara , Antoneli Célia Beatriz Gianotti , Rollins Barrett , Rodriguez‐Galindo Carlos 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundLangerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease, and its etiology is not well understood. Population‐based studies may contribute to etiologic research by defining incidence patterns. This study was designed to evaluate the descriptive epidemiology of disseminated LCH in the United States, using data from population‐based cancer registries.ProcedureWe analyzed the incidence and survival of disseminated LCH in children and adolescents (0–19 years) from 18 SEER registries during 2000–2009. Age‐standardized incidence rates (ASIR) per million and rate ratios (RR) were calculated by gender, race, ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic variables (crowding, rural/urban, education, and poverty) using the SEER*Stat software 8.0.1. Relative survival (RS) estimates were calculated using Ederer II method.ResultsOne hundred forty‐five cases of disseminated LCH were recorded; ASIR was 0.70/million per year. Lower ASIR was observed for blacks (vs. whites) (RR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.18–0.81), while higher ASIR was noted for Hispanics (vs. non‐Hispanics) (RR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.15–2.29). Risk of LCH was higher in crowded counties (RR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.31–2.58) and also in areas with low educational level (RR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.02–2.22). Five‐year relative survival was 90.0% (95% CI 83.0–94.2). Important differences in survival were noted according to gender (male: RS = 96.0 vs. female: RS = 83.4%, P = 0.029) and age (<1 year: RS = 78.5, 1–4 years: RS = 95.6%, 5–19 years: RS = 100%, P = 0.004).ConclusionsThis population‐based study shows significant variations in the incidence of disseminated LCH by race and ethnic group, as well as the influence of socioeconomic factors. These data may provide clues to causation and point toward the need for analytical epidemiologic studies. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:982–987. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A novel experimental study on the fabrication and biological characteristics of canine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells sheet using vitamin C
Authors: Guo Peng , Zeng Jing‐jing , Zhou Nuo 
Published: January 2015

SummaryThe aim of this study was to fabricate canine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell sheet through the use of vitamin C, to identify the biological characteristics of the resulting cell sheets, and to reveal the potential mechanism of cell‐sheet promotion by vitamin C. This study used vitamin C to induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to proliferate. The resulting cells secreted large amounts of collagen, thereby shortening the construction time of the cell‐sheet layer. In addition to these aims, we identified biological microcharacteristics of the cell sheet through histological observation, transmission electron microscopy, real‐time PCR detection, immunohistochemical detection, and osteogenesis‐induction experiments on the cell sheet. We were able to stably and rapidly construct bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell sheet, effectively harvest it, and transfer the seed cells for tissue engineering. This study indicates that the use of vitamin C for harvesting mesenchymal stem cell sheets from bone marrow may provide an easy and practical approach for bone tissue regeneration. SCANNING 37:42–48, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using Interactive Theater to Create Socioculturally Relevant Community‐Based Intimate Partner Violence Prevention
Authors: Yoshihama Mieko , Tolman Richard M. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis article describes the use of interactive theater, audience response assessment, and peer educators to create community‐generated approaches for bystander interventions (i.e., actions taken by people who become aware of controlling, abusive and violent behavior of others) to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) and to foster change in community norms. We include a case example of an ongoing university–community partnership, which mobilizes community members to develop and implement socioculturally relevant IPV prevention programs in multiple Asian communities. We used interactive theater at a community event—a walk to raise awareness about IPV in South Asian communities—and examined how the enacted bystander interventions reflect specific community contexts. We detail the challenges and limitations we have encountered in our attempts to implement this approach in collaboration with our community partners.
Efficacy of Ovarian Artery Embolization for Uterine Fibroids
Authors: Campbell Jennifer , Rajan Dheeraj K. , Kachura John R. , Jaskolka Jeffrey , Beecroft J. Robert , Sniderman Kenneth W. , Simons Martin E. , Tan Kong T. 
Published: January 2015

Purpose The objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of ovarian artery embolization (OAE) treatment for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas. Methods A retrospective review of 17 patients who underwent OAE in conjunction with uterine artery embolization in a 6-year period (2006-2012) was performed. Ten patients had previous failed embolization, while 7 had not received any embolization therapy before. Percent uterine volume change, percent dominant fibroid volume change, and percent dominant fibroid infarction were assessed with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Resolution of menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea/pain, and bulk and/or pressure symptoms including urinary frequency were evaluated clinically. Change in menopausal state was also an outcome of interest. Results Mean MR imaging follow-up was performed 3 months post-OAE. MR images showed complete infarction in the majority of cases (64.7%; n = 11), with infarction rates of 90%-100% in 3 cases, 1 case with 30%-50% infarction, and 2 cases with 0%-10% infarction. Average uterine size reduction on MR was 32.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.5%-42.2%; P < .001). The average size reduction for the dominant fibroid was 42.4% (95% CI: 27.7%-57.0%; P = .01). The mean time to final follow-up visit was 11 months. At this point complete symptom resolution (menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea and bulk-related) was achieved in 82.4% (n = 14) of cases. At the final follow-up 11.8% (n = 2) of cases reported menopause. Conclusions We observed OAE to be an effective and safe adjunct to uterine artery embolization when hypertrophic ovarian artery(ies) require intervention. However, incomplete fibroid infarction of 23% remains a concern with a potential for long-term treatment failure. In addition, long-term effect on ovarian function is uncertain.
Donepezil decreases annual rate of hippocampal atrophy in suspected prodromal Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Dubois Bruno , Chupin Marie , Hampel Harald , Lista Simone , Cavedo Enrica , Croisile Bernard , Louis Tisserand Guy , Touchon Jacques , Bonafe Alain , Ousset Pierre Jean , Ait Ameur Amir , Rouaud Olivier , Ricolfi Fréderic , Vighetto Alain , Pasquier Florence , Delmaire Christine , Ceccaldi Mathieu , Girard Nadine , Dufouil Carole , Lehericy Stéphane , Tonelli Isabelle , Duveau Françoise , Colliot Olivier , Garnero Line , Sarazin Marie , Dormont Didier ,   “Hippocampus Study Group”
Published: January 2015

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to study the effect of donepezil on the rate of hippocampal atrophy in prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD).MethodsA double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled parallel group design using donepezil (10 mg/day) in subjects with suspected prodromal AD. Subjects underwent two brain magnetic resonance imaging scans (baseline and final visit). The primary efficacy outcome was the annualized percentage change (APC) of total hippocampal volume (left + right) measured by an automated segmentation method.ResultsTwo‐hundred and sixteen only subjects were randomized across 28 French expert clinical sites. In the per protocol population (placebo = 92 and donepezil = 82), the donepezil group exhibited a significant reduced rate of hippocampal atrophy (APC = −1.89%) compared with the placebo group (APC = −3.47%), P < .001. There was no significant difference in neuropsychological performance between treatment groups.DiscussionA 45% reduction of rate of hippocampal atrophy was observed in prodromal AD following 1 year of treatment with donepezil compared with placebo.
An adaptive nonlocal filtering for low-dose CT in both image and projection domains
Authors: Wang Yingmei , Fu Shujun , Li Wanlong , Zhang Caiming 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
An important problem in low-dose CT is the image quality degradation caused by photon starvation. There are a lot of algorithms in sinogram domain or image domain to solve this problem. In view of strong self-similarity contained in the special sinusoid-like strip data in the sinogram space, we propose a novel non-local filtering, whose average weights are related to both the image FBP (filtered backprojection) reconstructed from restored sinogram data and the image directly FBP reconstructed from noisy sinogram data. In the process of sinogram restoration, we apply a non-local method with smoothness parameters adjusted adaptively to the variance of noisy sinogram data, which makes the method much effective for noise reduction in sinogram domain. Simulation experiments show that our proposed method by filtering in both image and projection domains has a better performance in noise reduction and details preservation in reconstructed images.
Efficacy of maslinic acid and fenbendazole on muscle larvae of Trichinella zimbabwensis in laboratory rats
Authors: Mukaratirwa S. , Gcanga L. , Kamau J. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractTrichinellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by nematode species of the genus Trichinella. Anthelmintics targeting the intestinal adults and muscle-dwelling larvae of Trichinella spp. have been tested, with limited success. This study was aimed at determining the efficacy of maslinic acid and fenbendazole on muscle larvae of Trichinella zimbabwensis in laboratory rats. Forty-two Sprague–Dawley rats, with an average weight of 270 g and 180 g for males and females respectively, were infected with T. zimbabwensis larvae. Infected rats were randomly assigned to three groups which were subjected to single treatments with each of maslinic acid, fenbendazole and a combination of both on day 25 post-infection (pi), and three groups which were subjected to double treatments with each of these drugs and a combination on days 25 and 32 pi. The untreated control group received a placebo. In single-treatment groups, the efficacy of each treatment, measured by rate of reduction in muscle larvae, was significant (P< 0.001) for both drugs compared to the untreated control group. There was no apparent synergistic effect on the combination of the two drugs in reducing the muscle larval burden, either in single or double treatments. In all the treatment regimens, the reductions were significant (P< 0.001) when compared to the untreated control and not significant when the single treatments were compared with the double treatments (P>0.05). We conclude that the efficacy of maslinic acid against larval stages of T. zimbabwensis in rats was comparable to that of fenbendazole, with no side-effects observed, making maslinic acid a promising anthelmintic against larval stages of Trichinella species.
Evaluating missing-letter effects and comprehension in proficient and nonproficient languages
Authors: BOVEE JOANNA C. , RANEY GARY E. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to examine whether word recognition and comprehension processes change as a function of language proficiency. Participants were highly proficient in English but at a low proficiency level in Spanish. The participants read texts presented in English and Spanish while reading normally or while performing a letter-detection task and then answered comprehension questions that tested their mental representations of the surface form, text base, and situational model. Overall letter-detection error rates were lower when texts were presented in the nonproficient Spanish language. There was a typical missing-letter effect in English, such that more detection errors were made on function than content words. In Spanish, the missing-letter effect was reversed, with more errors on content than function words. Overall comprehension was substantially better when reading English passages than Spanish passages and best at the situation model level. For the English passages, comprehension was reduced during letter detection compared to normal reading. For the Spanish passages, comprehension was similar for letter detection and normal reading. Question type did not systematically vary as a function of language proficiency or task type. These findings highlight differences in cognitive processes during reading as a function of language proficiency and enhance our understanding of the letter-detection task itself.
The role of temperature in reported chickenpox cases from 2000 to 2011 in Japan
Authors: HARIGANE K. , SUMI A. , MISE K. , KOBAYASHI N. 
Published: January 2015

SUMMARYAnnual periodicities of reported chickenpox cases have been observed in several countries. Of these, Japan has reported a two-peaked, bimodal annual cycle of reported chickenpox cases. This study investigated the possible underlying association of the bimodal cycle observed in the surveillance data of reported chickenpox cases with the meteorological factors of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. A time-series analysis consisting of the maximum entropy method spectral analysis and the least squares method was applied to the chickenpox data and meteorological data of 47 prefectures in Japan. In all of the power spectral densities for the 47 prefectures, the spectral lines were observed at the frequency positions corresponding to the 1-year and 6-month cycles. The optimum least squares fitting (LSF) curves calculated with the 1-year and 6-month cycles explained the underlying variation of the chickenpox data. The LSF curves reproduced the bimodal and unimodal cycles that were clearly observed in northern and southern Japan, respectively. The data suggest that the second peaks in the bimodal cycles in the reported chickenpox cases in Japan occurred at a temperature of approximately 8·5 °C.
RNA export factor Ddx19 is required for nuclear import of the SRF coactivator MKL1
Authors: Rajakylä Eeva Kaisa , Viita Tiina , Kyheröinen Salla , Huet Guillaume , Treisman Richard , Vartiainen Maria K. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractControlled transport of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and nucleus is essential for homeostatic regulation of cellular functions. For instance, gene expression entails coordinated nuclear import of transcriptional regulators to activate transcription and nuclear export of the resulting messenger RNAs for cytoplasmic translation. Here we link these two processes by reporting a novel role for the mRNA export factor Ddx19/Dbp5 in nuclear import of MKL1, the signal-responsive transcriptional activator of SRF. We show that Ddx19 is not a general nuclear import factor, and that its specific effect on MKL1 nuclear import is separate from its role in mRNA export. Both helicase and nuclear pore-binding activities of Ddx19 are dispensable for MKL1 nuclear import, but RNA binding is required. Mechanistically, Ddx19 operates by modulating the conformation of MKL1, which affects its interaction with Importin-β for efficient nuclear import. Thus, Ddx19 participates in mRNA export, translation and nuclear import of a key transcriptional regulator.
Cytoplasmic TAF2–TAF8–TAF10 complex provides evidence for nuclear holo–TFIID assembly from preformed submodules
Authors: Trowitzsch Simon , Viola Cristina , Scheer Elisabeth , Conic Sascha , Chavant Virginie , Fournier Marjorie , Papai Gabor , Ebong Ima-Obong , Schaffitzel Christiane , Zou Juan , Haffke Matthias , Rappsilber Juri , Robinson Carol V. , Schultz Patrick , Tora Laszlo , Berger Imre 
Published: January 2015

AbstractGeneral transcription factor TFIID is a cornerstone of RNA polymerase II transcription initiation in eukaryotic cells. How human TFIID—a megadalton-sized multiprotein complex composed of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and 13 TBP-associated factors (TAFs)—assembles into a functional transcription factor is poorly understood. Here we describe a heterotrimeric TFIID subcomplex consisting of the TAF2, TAF8 and TAF10 proteins, which assembles in the cytoplasm. Using native mass spectrometry, we define the interactions between the TAFs and uncover a central role for TAF8 in nucleating the complex. X-ray crystallography reveals a non-canonical arrangement of the TAF8–TAF10 histone fold domains. TAF2 binds to multiple motifs within the TAF8 C-terminal region, and these interactions dictate TAF2 incorporation into a core–TFIID complex that exists in the nucleus. Our results provide evidence for a stepwise assembly pathway of nuclear holo–TFIID, regulated by nuclear import of preformed cytoplasmic submodules.
Dark-field X-ray microscopy for multiscale structural characterization
Authors: Simons H. , King A. , Ludwig W. , Detlefs C. , Pantleon W. , Schmidt S. , Stöhr F. , Snigireva I. , Snigirev A. , Poulsen H. F. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMany physical and mechanical properties of crystalline materials depend strongly on their internal structure, which is typically organized into grains and domains on several length scales. Here we present dark-field X-ray microscopy; a non-destructive microscopy technique for the three-dimensional mapping of orientations and stresses on lengths scales from 100 nm to 1 mm within embedded sampling volumes. The technique, which allows ‘zooming’ in and out in both direct and angular space, is demonstrated by an annealing study of plastically deformed aluminium. Facilitating the direct study of the interactions between crystalline elements is a key step towards the formulation and validation of multiscale models that account for the entire heterogeneity of a material. Furthermore, dark-field X-ray microscopy is well suited to applied topics, where the structural evolution of internal nanoscale elements (for example, positioned at interfaces) is crucial to the performance and lifetime of macro-scale devices and components thereof.