bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mpl expression on megakaryocytes and platelets is dispensable for thrombopoiesis but essential to prevent myeloproliferation
Authors: Ng Ashley P. , Kauppi Maria , Metcalf Donald , Hyland Craig D. , Josefsson Emma C. , Lebois Marion , Zhang Jian-Guo , Baldwin Tracey , Di Rago Ladina , Hilton Douglas J. , Alexander Warren S. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThrombopoietin (TPO) acting via its receptor Mpl is the major cytokine regulator of platelet number. To precisely define the role of specific hematopoietic cells in TPO dependent hematopoiesis, we generated mice that express the Mpl receptor normally on stem/progenitor cells but lack expression on megakaryocytes and platelets (MplPF4cre/PF4cre).MplPF4cre/PF4cremice displayed profound megakaryocytosis and thrombocytosis with a remarkable expansion of megakaryocyte-committed and multipotential progenitor cells, the latter displaying biological responses and a gene expression signature indicative of chronic TPO over-stimulation as the underlying causative mechanism, despite a normal circulating TPO level. Thus, TPO signaling in megakaryocytes is dispensable for platelet production; its key role in control of platelet number is via generation and stimulation of the bipotential megakaryocyte precursors. Nevertheless, Mpl expression on megakaryocytes and platelets is essential to prevent megakaryocytosis and myeloproliferation by restricting the amount of TPO available to stimulate the production of megakaryocytes from the progenitor cell pool.Significance statementBlood platelets, the small circulating cells that co-ordinate hemostasis, are produced by specialized bone marrow cells called megakaryocytes. The cytokine thrombopoietin (TPO) is a key regulator of platelet production acting via its specific cell receptor, Mpl. Via genetic modification of theMplallele in mice, we precisely define the bone marrow cells that express Mpl and, by genetically removing Mpl from megakaryocytes and platelets, we show TPO signaling via Mpl is not required in megakaryocytes for their expansion, maturation or platelet production. Rather, Mpl expression on megakaryocytes is essential for regulating TPO availability in the bone marrow microenvironment to prevent myeloproliferation, a model we suggest is important for human disease.
Hypoosmotic Expression of Dunaliella bardawil ζ-Carotene Desaturase Is Attributed to a Hypoosmolarity-Responsive Element Different from Other Key Carotenogenic Genes
Authors: Lao Yong-Min , Xiao Lan , Luo Li-Xin , Jiang Jian-Guo 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Some key carotenogenic genes (crts) in Dunaliella bardawil are regulated in response to salt stress partly due to salt-inducible cis-acting elements in their promoters. Thus, we isolated and compared the ζ-carotene desaturase (Dbzds) promoter with other crts promoters including phytoene synthase (Dbpsy), phytoene desaturase (Dbpds), and lycopene β-cyclase1 (DblycB1) to identify salt-inducible element(s) in the Dbzds promoter. In silico analysis of the Dbzds promoter found several potential cis-acting elements, such as abscisic acid response element-like sequence, myelocytomatosis oncogene1 recognition motif, AGC box, anaerobic motif2, and activation sequence factor1 binding site. Remarkably, instead of salt-inducible elements, we found a unique regulatory sequence architecture in the Dbzds promoter: a hypoosmolarity-responsive element (HRE) candidate followed by a potential hypoosmolarity-inducible factor GBF5 binding site. Deletion experiments demonstrated that only HRE, but not the GBF5 binding site, is responsible for hypoosmotic expression of the fusion of Zeocin resistance gene (ble) to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (egfp) chimeric gene under salt stress. Dbzds transcripts were in accordance with those of ble-egfp driven by the wild-type Dbzds promoter. Consequently, Dbzds is hypoosmotically regulated by its promoter, and HRE is responsible for this hypoosmotic response. Finally, the hypoosmolarity mechanism of Dbzds was studied by comparing transcript profiles and regulatory elements of Dbzds with those of Dbpsy, Dbpds, DblycB1, and DblycB2, revealing that different induction characteristics of crts may correlate with regulatory sequence architecture.
miR‐424 levels in hair shaft are increased in psoriatic patients
Authors: Tsuru Yasuo , Jinnin Masatoshi , Ichihara Asako , Fujisawa Akihiko , Moriya Chikako , Sakai Keisuke , Fukushima Satoshi , Ihn Hironobu 
Published: March 2014

AbstractObjective diagnostic markers have not been in clinical use for psoriasis. In this study, we investigated the levels of miR‐424 in hair roots and hair shafts in psoriatic patients, and evaluated the possibility that miR‐424 can be a biomarker of the disease. A single hair root and five pieces of hair shafts (~5 cm in length) were obtained from the non‐lesional occiput of each individual of 26 psoriatic patients. Control hair samples were collected from nine normal subjects. Samples from 10 atopic dermatitis patients were also included as the disease control. miR‐424 levels were determined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Hair shaft miR‐424 levels were significantly upregulated only in patients with psoriasis compared with normal controls and those with atopic dermatitis. By receiver–operator curve analysis of hair shaft miR‐424 to distinguish psoriatic patients from normal subjects, the area under the curve was 0.77. However, relative miR‐424 levels were not correlated with disease activity markers including disease duration, body surface area and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. Hair root miR‐424 was not useful for evaluating both diagnosis and severity of the disease. Our results indicated hair shaft miR‐424 levels may be useful as a diagnostic marker of psoriasis.
Optimizing study design for multi‐species avian monitoring programmes
Authors: Sanderlin Jamie S. , Block William M. , Ganey Joseph L. 
Published: March 2014

Summary

Many monitoring programmes are successful at monitoring common species, whereas rare species, which are often of highest conservation concern, may be detected infrequently. Study designs that increase the probability of detecting rare species at least once over the study period, while collecting adequate data on common species, strengthen programme ability to address community‐wide hypotheses about how an ecosystem functions or responds to management actions. Study design guidelines exist for single‐species occupancy models, but practical guidance for monitoring species communities is needed. Single‐species population‐level designs are necessarily optimal for targeted species, whereas community study designs may be optimal for the assemblage of species, but not for every species within the community. Our objective was to provide a general optimization tool for multi‐species models and to illustrate this tool using data from two avian community studies.

We conducted a simulation study with a Bayesian hierarchical model to explore design and cost trade‐offs for avian community monitoring programmes. We parameterized models using two long‐term avian studies from Arizona, USA and evaluated bias and accuracy for different combinations of species in the regional species pool and sampling design combinations of number of sites and sampling occasions. We optimized for maximum accuracy of species richness, detection probability and occupancy probability of rare species, given a fixed budget.

Statistical properties for species richness and detection probability of species within the community were driven more by sampling occasions, whereas rare species occupancy probability was influenced more by percentage of area sampled. These results are consistent with results from single‐species models, suggesting some similarities between community‐level and single‐species models with occupancy and detection.

Synthesis and applications. Study designs must be cost‐efficient while providing reliable knowledge. Researchers and managers have limited funds for collecting data. Our template can be used by researchers and managers to evaluate trade‐offs and efficiencies for allocating samples between the number of occasions and sites in multi‐species studies, and allow them to identify the optimal study design in order to achieve specific study objectives.
Polyphenols from olive mill waste affect biofilm formation and motility in Escherichia coli K‐12
Authors: Carraro Lisa , Fasolato Luca , Montemurro Filomena , Martino Maria Elena , Balzan Stefania , Servili Maurizio , Novelli Enrico , Cardazzo Barbara 
Published: March 2014

SummaryOlive mill wastes are sources of phenolic compounds with a wide array of biological activities, including antimicrobial effects. A potential option for bioremediation to overcome ecological problems is the reutilization of these natural compounds in food production. The aim of this work was to gain a better understanding of the antimicrobial mode of action of a phenols extract from olive vegetation water (PEOVW) at molecular level by studying Escherichia coli as a model microorganism. Genome‐wide transcriptional analysis was performed on E. coli K‐12 exposed to PEOVW. The repression of genes for flagellar synthesis and the involvement of genes linked to biofilm formation and stress response were observed. Sub‐inhibitory concentrations of PEOVW significantly decreased biofilm formation, swarming and swimming motility, thus confirming the gene expression data. This study provides interesting insights on the molecular action of PEOVW on E. coli K‐12. Given these anti‐biofilm properties and considering that biofilm formation is a serious problem for the food industry and human health, PEOVW has proved to be a high‐value natural product.
Effect of Telmisartan on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrences in Patients with Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Pan Gaofeng , Zhou Xuefeng , Zhao Jinping 
Published: March 2014

SummaryBackgroundThe systematic review and meta‐analysis are to evaluate the effect of t Telmisartan on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal AF.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. Random controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted in which telmisartan was compared to other antihypertensive drugs for AF recurrences prevention in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal AF. A systematic review and meta‐analysis based on aggregate data extracted from the included studies were carried out to assess the telmisartan in preventing AF relapse. The efficacy outcome was the incidence of AF recurrences. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated from published summary statistics and combined to give pooled estimates of efficacy.ResultsThis meta‐analysis comprised four studied including 1050 hypertensive patients (537 men and 513 women; mean age 63; mean blood pressure (BP) 156/94 mmHg). With the similar BP control, the AF recurrences rate was significantly lower in the telmisartan‐treated patients than in the other antihypertensive drugs‐treated patients (HR 0.54, CI 0.34–0.86, P < 0.05).ConclusionThe results of this review and meta‐analysis indicate that telmisartan seems to be more effective than other antihypertensive drugs in preventing AF recurrences among hypertensive patients with paroxysmal AF.
A longitudinal examination of emotion regulation: pathways to anxiety and depressive symptoms in urban minority youth
Authors: Folk Johanna B. , Zeman Janice L. , Poon Jennifer A. , Dallaire Danielle H. 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundDifficulty regulating emotions is a symptom of many psychological disorders yet little research has examined the longitudinal relations of particular facets of emotion regulation (ER) that may differentiate between internalizing symptoms.MethodAt‐risk youth (n = 102; 44.1% boys, 77.5% Black; Mage = 9.65) and caregivers (n = 74; 87.1% mothers) participated in a 2‐year longitudinal study. Children reported on their ER, and children and caregivers on symptomatology.ResultsDifferent patterns, varying by emotion facet (dysregulation, inhibition, coping) and type (anger, sadness, worry), predicted anxiety and depression symptoms.ConclusionsAnxiety and depression are entities with distinct patterns of emotion‐related antecedents.
Are foster children's schools of origin always best? School quality in birth vs. foster parent neighbourhoods
Authors: Fries Lauren , Klein Sacha , Ballantyne Molly 
Published: March 2014

AbstractResearch has documented that foster children have high rates of school mobility, and it is widely believed that this contributes to their poor educational outcomes. Recent US policies address this by attempting to minimize schools transfers for foster children; however, these policies have largely ignored the issue of school quality. The current study uses descriptive statistics and mixed factor analysis of variance to assess (i) the quality of schools attended by elementary‐aged US foster children living in a large, urban school district (n = 683); (ii) their rates of school mobility; and (iii) differences between the quality of schools located in their birth parent vs. foster placement neighbourhoods. Results indicate that these foster children were attending poor performing schools and had high rates of school transfers. For the sample as a whole and specifically for African‐Americans and Hispanics, schools located in placement neighbourhoods were higher performing than schools in birth parent neighbourhoods. For white children, however, birth parent schools outperformed placement schools. These findings highlight the importance of considering school quality, not just continuity, when making educational decisions for children in out‐of‐home care.
SATO: Surface Area Traversal Order for Shadow Ray Tracing
Authors: Nah Jae‐Ho , Manocha Dinesh 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe present the surface area traversal order (SATO) metric to accelerate shadow ray traversal. Our formulation uses the surface area of each child node to compute the TO. In this metric, we give a traversal priority to the child node with the larger surface area to quickly find occluders. Our algorithm reduces the pre‐processing overhead significantly, and is much faster than other metrics. Overall, the SATO is useful for ray tracing large and complex dynamic scenes (e.g. a few million triangles) with shadows.
The optimal patch test concentration for ascaridole as a sensitizing component of tea tree oil
Authors: Christoffers Wietske Andrea , Blömeke Brunhilde , Coenraads Pieter‐Jan , Schuttelaar Marie‐Louise Anna 
Published: March 2014

SummaryBackgroundTea tree oil is used as a natural remedy, but is also a popular ingredient in household and cosmetic products. Oxidation of tea tree oil results in degradation products, such as ascaridole, which may cause allergic contact dermatitis.ObjectivesTo identify the optimal patch test concentration for ascaridole, and to investigate the relationship between a positive reaction to ascaridole and a positive reaction to oxidized tea tree oil.Patients/materials/methodsThree hundred and nineteen patients with eczema were patch tested with ascaridole 1%, 2%, and 5%, and 250 patients were patch tested with oxidized tea tree oil 5%. Readings were performed onD3andD7according to a patch test calibration protocol.ResultsWith an increasing ascaridole test concentration, the frequency of positive reactions increased: ascaridole 1%, 1.4%; ascaridole 2%, 5.5%; and ascaridole 5%, 7.2%. However, the frequencies of irritant and doubtful reactions also increased, especially for ascaridole 5%. A positive reaction to ascaridole was related to a positive reaction to tea tree oil.ConclusionsThis study is in support of ascaridole being a sensitizer. We recommend patch testing with ascaridole at 2%. The finding that every positive reaction to oxidized tea tree oil is accompanied by a positive reaction to ascaridole suggests that ascaridole might be a contact allergen in oxidized tea tree oil.
You're a Good Structure, Charlie Brown: The Distribution of Narrative Categories in Comic Strips
Authors: Cohn Neil 
Published: March 2014

AbstractCohn's (2013) theory of “Visual Narrative Grammar” argues that sequential images take on categorical roles in a narrative structure, which organizes them into hierarchic constituents analogous to the organization of syntactic categories in sentences. This theory proposes that narrative categories, like syntactic categories, can be identified through diagnostic tests that reveal tendencies for their distribution throughout a sequence. This paper describes four experiments testing these diagnostics to provide support for the validity of these narrative categories. In Experiment 1, participants reconstructed unordered panels of a comic strip into an order that makes sense. Experiment 2 measured viewing times to panels in sequences where the order of panels was reversed. In Experiment 3, participants again reconstructed strips but also deleted a panel from the sequence. Finally, in Experiment 4 participants identified where a panel had been deleted from a comic strip and rated that strip's coherence. Overall, categories had consistent distributional tendencies within experiments and complementary tendencies across experiments. These results point toward an interaction between categorical roles and a global narrative structure.
Signature Limits in Mindreading Systems
Authors: Thompson J. Robert 
Published: March 2014

AbstractRecent evidence that young children seem to both understand false belief in one sense, but not in another, has led to two‐systems theorizing about mindreading. By analyzing the most detailed two‐systems approach in studying social cognition—the theory of mindreading defended by Ian Apperly and Stephen Butterfill—I argue that that even when dutifully constructed, two‐systems approaches in social cognition struggle to adequately define the mindreading systems in terms of signature processing limits, an issue that becomes most apparent when investigating mindreading in infancy. I end the article by developing several challenges that face any two‐systems account of mindreading.
Impact of Azelnidipine and Amlodipine on Left Ventricular Mass and Longitudinal Function in Hypertensive Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
Authors: Motoki Hirohiko , Koyama Jun , Izawa Atsushi , Tomita Takeshi , Miyashita Yusuke , Takahashi Masafumi , Ikeda Uichi 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundThe impact of long‐acting calcium channel blocker (CCB) administration on serial changes in left ventricular (LV) function and morphology in hypertensive patients with LV hypertrophy remains unclear. This study attempted to clarify this impact by comparing the effects of administration of azelnidipine with that of amlodipine using conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography.MethodsAn equal number (16) of 32 hypertensive patients was prospectively assigned to a group administered 5 mg of amlodipine/day or a group administered 16 mg of azelnidipine/day. LV function and morphology was examined by conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment initiation.ResultsBoth groups were found to have experienced a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure by 1 month after treatment initiation; a significant reduction in septal thickness and LV mass index at 6 and 12 months. Transmitral flow E/A ratio and early diastolic mitral annular velocity at lateral wall significantly improved at 12 months. On the other hand, a significant improvement of global longitudinal strain was observed earlier than the above indexes at 3, 6, and 12 months. Ar‐A duration difference was significantly decreased at 3 months. The global circumferential strain improved significantly at 3 months, but there were no significant changes in mid‐/apical circumferential and radial strains throughout the study period.ConclusionAzelnidipine has beneficial effects on LV mass regression, transmitral flow, tissue Doppler, and LV longitudinal strain that are comparable to those of amlodipine on the same parameters.
The impact of a continuing education programme on the adoption of nickel–titanium rotary instrumentation and root‐filling quality amongst a group of Swedish general dental practitioners
Authors: Dahlström L. , Molander A. , Reit C. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that a further education programme relating to nickel–titanium rotary instrumentation (NTRI), with the concurrent activation of social/professional networks amongst all general dental practitioners (GDPs) in a public dental service in Sweden, would increase the adoption rate and improve root‐filling quality.Material and methodTo activate the networks, the GDPs at the 25 clinics elected training coaches from amongst themselves. The coaches were educated by a specialist and were then free to organise and conduct the training of the local GDPs. However, collective hands‐on training and discussions were mandatory. Lectures were held by an endodontist. The rate of adoption and root‐filling quality was evaluated just before and 6 months after the education. Statistical tests were performed with chi‐square using a 95% confidence interval.ResultsNickel–titanium rotary instrumentation was adopted by 88%. Excellent root fillings (score 1) increased from 45% to 59% (P = 0.003). The rate of poor‐quality root fillings (score 4 and score 5) was not affected. The quality ratio (score 1/score 5) increased from 5.36 (118/22) to 9.5 (133/14). Eleven dentists (17%) at nine different clinics produced 49% of the poor‐quality root fillings (score 4 and score 5). Seventy‐three per cent of these dentists stated that they had adopted NTRI.ConclusionsThe introduction of NTRI will increase the adoption rate and the frequency of good‐quality root fillings. However, it will not overcome the problems associated with dentists producing a low‐quality level, even if a local professional network is activated.
Routes to cAMP: shaping neuronal connectivity with distinct adenylate cyclases
Authors: Nicol Xavier , Gaspar Patricia 
Published: March 2014

AbstractcAMP signaling affects a large number of the developmental processes needed for the construction of the CNS, including cell differentiation, axon outgrowth, response to guidance molecules or modulation of synaptic connections. This points to a key role of adenylate cyclases (ACs), the synthetic enzymes of cAMP, for neural development. ACs exist as 10 different isoforms, which are activated by distinct signaling pathways. The implication of specific AC isoforms in neural wiring was only recently demonstrated in mouse mutants, knockout (KO) for different AC isoforms, AC1, AC3, AC5, AC8 and soluble (s)AC/AC10. These studies stressed the importance of three of these isoforms, as sensors of neural activity that could modify the survival of neurons (sAC), axon outgrowth (sAC), or the response of axons to guidance molecules such as ephrins (AC1) or semaphorins (AC3). We summarize here the current knowledge on the role of these ACs for the development of sensory maps, in the somatosensory, visual and olfactory systems, which have been the most extensively studied. In these systems, AC1/AC3 KO revealed targeting mistakes due to the defective pruning and lack of discrimination of incoming axons to signals present in target structures. In contrast, no changes in cell differentiation, survival or axon outgrowth were noted in these mutants, suggesting a specificity of cAMP production routes for individual cellular processes within a given neuron. Further studies indicate that the subcellular localization of ACs could be key to their specific role in axon targeting and may explain their selective roles in neuronal wiring.