bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
One‐hour post‐load plasma glucose and IGF‐1 in hypertensive patients
Authors: Perticone Francesco , Sciacqua Angela , Tassone Eliezer J. , Miceli Sofia , Maio Raffaele , Addesi Desirée , Falbo Tania , Arturi Franco , Sesti Giorgio 
Published: September 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (12): 1325–1331AbstractBackground  In normoglucose‐tolerant subjects (NGT), 1‐h post‐load plasma glucose value ≥155 mg/dL, during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), is associated with an increased risk of type‐2 diabetes (T2D) and subclinical organ damage. Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance (IR) and T2D. Moreover, hypertensives have different degrees of IR and different levels of IGF‐1. Actually, there are no data supporting the association between post‐load glucose and IGF‐1; thus, the aim of the study was to investigate this relationship.Materials and methods  We enrolled 1126 never‐treated hypertensive subjects who underwent an OGTT and clinical characterization. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by the Matsuda index. IGF‐1 was measured by a sensitive immunoradiometric assay.Results  Among participants, 764 had NGT, 263 had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and 99 had T2D. According to the 1‐h post‐load plasma glucose cut‐off point of 155 mg/dL, we divided NGT subjects into NGT < 155 mg/dL and NGT ≥ 155 mg/dL. NGT ≥ 155 in comparison with NGT < 155 had significantly reduced insulin sensitivity and IGF‐1 levels. At multiple regression analysis, IGF‐1 was the major determinant of 1‐h post‐load glucose in NGT ≥ 155 subjects, IGT and diabetics, accounting for 20·9%, 17·7% and 15·5% of its variation in the respective models.Conclusions  In hypertensive NGT ≥ 155 subjects, IGF‐1 results strongly associated with 1‐h post‐load glucose, similarly to that observed in IGT and diabetics. This finding has clinical relevance because both low IGF‐1 levels and 1‐h post‐load glucose in NGT subjects are associated with subclinical organ damage, an independent predictor of cardiovascular events.
Eye Images Increase Charitable Donations: Evidence From an Opportunistic Field Experiment in a Supermarket
Authors: Powell Kate L. , Roberts Gilbert , Nettle Daniel 
Published: September 2012

AbstractA number of studies have shown that the presence of simple images of eyes in the environment increases prosocial behaviour in humans. However, questions remain about the robustness of the effect, its explanation and the factors promoting it. In particular, it is not yet clear whether this effect is restricted to contexts where there is a normative requirement to behave prosocially and thus where punishment is a likely consequence of failing to do so. In an 11‐wk field experiment in a supermarket, we displayed either eye images or control images on charity collection buckets. There was no normative requirement to donate in this setting, and most people did not do so. However, the presence of eye images increased donations by 48% relative to control images. The effect of eye images was significantly stronger at times when the supermarket was quiet rather than busy. Results are consistent with models of the evolution of prosociality through reputation‐based partner choice and have potential practical benefits for those involved in charitable fundraising.
Antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of shrimp chitosan on gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) during refrigerated storage
Authors: Küçükgülmez Aygül , Kadak Ali Eslem , Gökçin Mehmet 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThis study aims to determine the effects of chitosan obtained from Metapenaeus stebbingi shells on the shelf life of refrigerated gilthead sea bream. It was determined that 1% chitosan‐coated samples had the lowest thiobarbituric acid (TBA) (3.05 mg malondialdehyde (MDA) kg−1) and free fatty acids (FFA) value (2.79% oleic acid), while the control group had the highest TBA (5.08 mg MDA kg−1) and FFA value (6.13% oleic acid) on the 27th day of storage. In the last day of storage, TVB‐N was found higher in control group (25.62 mg 100 g−1) than chitosan‐coated samples (14.57 mg 100 g−1). Total viable count value of the control group exceeded maximum permissible limit on the 27th day of storage. However, it was lower than 7.0 log CFU/g in chitosan‐coated samples during the refrigerated storage. As a result of this study, it was determined that shelf life of refrigerated gilthead sea bream can be increased up to 27 days with chitosan.
Shelf life extension of ground meat stored at 4 °C using chitosan and an oxygen absorber
Authors: Chounou Nikoleta , Chouliara Eirini , Mexis Stamatios F. , Stavros Kontakos , Georgantelis Dimitrios , Kontominas Michael G. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThe combined effect of chitosan (1%) and an oxygen absorber on shelf life extension of fresh ground meat stored at 4 °C was investigated. Parameters monitored over a 10‐day storage period were Total Viable Count (TVC), Pseudomonas spp., Brochothrix thermosphacta, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, pH, thiobarbituric acid (TBA), colour, odour and taste. Microbial populations were reduced by 0.4–2.0 log CFU g−1 for a given sampling day using either chitosan or the oxygen absorber, with the more pronounced effect being achieved by the combination of two. Thiobarbituric acid values for all samples increased during storage with the exception of samples treated with both chitosan and the oxygen absorber in which Thiobarbituric acid values decreased. Changes in pH values with time/different treatments were statistically insignificant. Colour parameters were affected by most treatments. On the basis of microbiological and sensory evaluation, a shelf life extension of 5–6 days was obtained for samples treated with the chitosan and the oxygen absorber combination.
Effect of a multi‐step preparation of amaranth and palm nut sauces on their carotenoid content and retinol activity equivalent values
Authors: Amoussa‐Hounkpatin Waliou , Mouquet‐Rivier Claire , Kayodé Adéchola Pierre Polycarpe , Hounhouigan Joseph Djidjoho , Avallone Sylvie 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThe preparation of a traditional sauce based on amaranth leaves cooked palm nuts or red palm oil (RPO) inBenin was described. The recipes included an optional step of leaf blanching at 100 °C, heating theRPOor boiling the palm nuts and finally cooking all the ingredients together. The influence of this multi‐step preparation on the carotenoid content of the final dish was measured. During blanching of amaranth leaves, violaxanthin was the only carotenoid to be significantly affected by the thermal treatment. Retinol activity equivalent (RAE) remained high after blanching even when alkaline traditional potash was added. Heating theRPOwas the most critical step because it considerably and very rapidly (in <3 min) decreased α‐carotene, β‐carotene andRAEvalues (more than 70%). Sauces calling for palm nuts,RPOand amaranth leaves were equally advantageous in terms of finalRAEvalue. These ingredients and sauces can thus be used in programmes to reduce vitaminAdeficiency.
Sample preparation and image acquisition using optical‐reflective microscopy in the measurement of fiber orientation in thermoplastic composites
Authors: VÉLEZ‐GARCÍA G.M. , WAPPEROM P. , KUNC V. , BAIRD D.G. , ZINK‐SHARP A. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryA complete sample preparation procedure used to determine three‐dimensional fiber orientation from optical micrographs of glass fiber‐reinforced thermoplastic composites is presented. Considerations for elimination of irregularities in the elliptical footprints, contrast enhancement between fibers and surrounding polymer matrix, controlled‐etching that allows the identification of small shadows where fiber recedes into the matrix, and topographical reconstruction of the elliptical footprint are described in the procedure. This procedure has produced high‐quality optical micrographs employed to obtain accurate fiber orientation data for thermoplastic composites using the method of ellipses. The optimal definition of the nonelliptical footprints’ borders allows an accurate measurement of orientation in small sampling areas.
Red‐shifted fluorescent proteins monitor enzymatic activity in live HT‐1080 cells with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM)
Authors: EICHORST J.P. , CLEGG R.M. , WANG Y. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryMembrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1‐MMP) is a membrane‐tethered collagenase primarily involved in the mechanical destruction of extracellular matrix proteins. MT1‐MMP has also been shown to be upregulated in several types of cancers. Many coordinated functions of MT1‐MMP during migration and invasion remain to be determined. In this paper, live cells from the invasive cell line HT‐1080 were imaged using an intracellular Förster resonance energy transfer‐based biosensor specific for MT1‐MMP; a substrate specific for MT1‐MMP was hybridized with the mOrange2 and mCherry fluorescent proteins to form the Förster resonance energy transfer‐based sensor. The configuration of the biosensor was determined with fluorescence lifetime‐resolved imaging microscopy using both a polar plot‐based analysis and a rapid data acquisition modality of fluorescence lifetime‐resolved imaging microscopy known as phase suppression. Both configurations of the biosensor (with or without cleavage by MT1‐MMP) were clearly resolvable in the same cell. Changes in the configuration of the MT1‐MMP biosensor were observed primarily along the edge of the cell following the removal of the MMP inhibitor GM6001. The intensities highlighted by phase suppression correlated well with the fractional intensities derived from the polar plot.
Molecular organization, biochemical function, cellular role and evolution of NfuA, an atypical Fe‐S carrier
Authors: Py Béatrice , Gerez Catherine , Angelini Sandra , Planel Rémy , Vinella Daniel , Loiseau Laurent , Talla Emmanuel , Brochier‐Armanet Céline , Garcia Serres Ricardo , Latour Jean‐Marc , Ollagnier‐de Choudens Sandrine , Fontecave Marc , Barras Frédéric 
Published: September 2012

SummaryBiosynthesis of iron–sulphur (Fe‐S) proteins is catalysed by multi‐protein systems, ISC and SUF. However, ‘non‐ISC, non‐SUF’ Fe‐S biosynthesis factors have been described, both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Here we report in vitro and in vivo investigations of such a ‘non‐ISC, non SUF’ component, the Nfu proteins. Phylogenomic analysis allowed us to define four subfamilies. Escherichia coli NfuA is within subfamily II. Most members of this subfamily have a Nfu domain fused to a ‘degenerate’ A‐type carrier domain (ATC*) lacking Fe‐S cluster co‐ordinating Cys ligands. The Nfu domain binds a [4Fe‐4S] cluster while the ATC* domain interacts with NuoG (a complex I subunit) and aconitase B (AcnB). In vitro, holo‐NfuA promotes maturation of AcnB. In vivo, NfuA is necessary for full activity of complex I under aerobic growth conditions, and of AcnB in the presence of superoxide. NfuA receives Fe‐S clusters from IscU/HscBA and SufBCD scaffolds and eventually transfers them to the ATCs IscA and SufA. This study provides significant information on one of the Fe‐S biogenesis factors that has been often used as a building block by ISC and/or SUF synthesizing organisms, including bacteria, plants and animals.
The relationship between puberty and social emotion processing
Authors: Goddings Anne‐Lise , Burnett Heyes Stephanie , Bird Geoffrey , Viner Russell M. , Blakemore Sarah‐Jayne 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe social brain undergoes developmental change during adolescence, and pubertal hormones are hypothesized to contribute to this development. We used fMRI to explore how pubertal indicators (salivary concentrations of testosterone, oestradiol and DHEA; pubertal stage; menarcheal status) relate to brain activity during a social emotion task. Forty‐two females aged 11.1 to 13.7 years underwent fMRI scanning while reading scenarios pertaining either to social emotions, which require the representation of another person’s mental states, or to basic emotions, which do not. Pubertal stage and menarcheal status were used to assign girls to early or late puberty groups. Across the entire sample, the contrast between social versus basic emotion resulted in activity within the social brain network, including dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), the posterior superior temporal sulcus, and the anterior temporal cortex (ATC) in both hemispheres. Increased hormone levels (independent of age) were associated with higher left ATC activity during social emotion processing. More advanced age (independent of hormone levels) was associated with lower DMPFC activity during social emotion processing. Our results suggest functionally dissociable effects of pubertal hormones and age on the adolescent social brain.
Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes of Rhizophagus irregularis – syn. Glomus irregulare – reveals a polymorphism induced by variability generating elements
Authors: Formey Damien , Molès Marion , Haouy Alexandra , Savelli Bruno , Bouchez Olivier , Bécard Guillaume , Roux Christophe 
Published: September 2012

Summary

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are involved in one of the most widespread plant–fungus interactions. A number of studies on the population dynamics of AM fungi have used mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequences, and yet mt AM fungus genomes are poorly known. To date, four mt genomes of three species of AM fungi are available, among which are two from Rhizophagus irregularis.

In order to study intra‐ and interstrain mt genome variability of R. irregularis, we sequenced and de novo assembled four additional mt genomes of this species. We used 454 pyrosequencing and Illumina technologies to directly sequence mt genomes from total genomic DNA.

The mt genomes are unique within each strain. Interstrain divergences in genome size, as a result of highly polymorphic intergenic and intronic sequences, were observed. The polymorphism is brought about by three types of variability generating element (VGE): homing endonucleases, DNA polymerase domain‐containing open reading frames and small inverted repeats. Based on VGE positioning, mt sequences and nuclear markers, two subclades of R. irregularis were characterized.

The discovery of VGEs highlights the great intraspecific plasticity of the R. irregularis mt genome. VGEs allow the design of powerful mt markers for the typing and monitoring of R. irregularis strains in genetic and population studies.
Cardiovascular reactivity and resistance to opposing viewpoints during intragroup conflict
Authors: de Wit Frank R. C. , Scheepers Daan , Jehn Karen A. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis study examined how the outcomes of joint decision making relate to cardiovascular reactions when group members disagree about the decision to be taken. A conflict was experimentally induced during a joint decision‐making task, while cardiovascular markers of challenge/threat motivational states were assessed following the biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat (BPSM; J. Blascovich, ). Results show that individuals were less likely to adjust their initially preferred decision alternative the more they exhibited a cardiovascular pattern indicative of threat (i.e., relatively high total peripheral resistance and low cardiac output) compared to challenge. This finding extends the BPSM by showing a link between threat and rigidity, and emphasizes the importance of psychophysiological processes for studying intragroup conflict and decision making.
Meta‐Analysis of the Effects of Human Disturbance on Seed Dispersal by Animals
Authors: Markl Julia S. , Schleuning Matthias , Forget Pierre Michel , Jordano Pedro , Lambert Joanna E. , Traveset Anna , Wright S. Joseph , Böhning‐Gaese Katrin 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAnimal‐mediated seed dispersal is important for sustaining biological diversity in forest ecosystems, particularly in the tropics. Forest fragmentation, hunting, and selective logging modify forests in myriad ways and their effects on animal‐mediated seed dispersal have been examined in many case studies. However, the overall effects of different types of human disturbance on animal‐mediated seed dispersal are still unknown. We identified 35 articles that provided 83 comparisons of animal‐mediated seed dispersal between disturbed and undisturbed forests; all comparisons except one were conducted in tropical or subtropical ecosystems. We assessed the effects of forest fragmentation, hunting, and selective logging on seed dispersal of fleshy‐fruited tree species. We carried out a meta‐analysis to test whether forest fragmentation, hunting, and selective logging affected 3 components of animal‐mediated seed dispersal: frugivore visitation rate, number of seeds removed, and distance of seed dispersal. Forest fragmentation, hunting, and selective logging did not affect visitation rate and were marginally associated with a reduction in seed‐dispersal distance. Hunting and selective logging, but not fragmentation, were associated with a large reduction in the number of seeds removed. Fewer seeds of large‐seeded than of small‐seeded tree species were removed in hunted or selectively logged forests. A plausible explanation for the consistently negative effects of hunting and selective logging on large‐seeded plant species is that large frugivores, as the predominant seed dispersers for large‐seeded plant species, are the first animals to be extirpated from hunted or logged forests. The reduction in forest area after fragmentation appeared to have weaker effects on frugivore communities and animal‐mediated seed dispersal than hunting and selective logging. The differential effects of hunting and selective logging on large‐ and small‐seeded tree species underpinned case studies that showed disrupted plant‐frugivore interactions could trigger a homogenization of seed traits in tree communities in hunted or logged tropical forests.Meta Análisis de los Efectos de la Perturbación Humana sobre la Dispersión de Semillas por Animales
The Supply‐Side Determinants of Loan Contract Strictness
Authors: MURFIN JUSTIN 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTUsing a measure of contract strictness based on the probability of a covenant violation, I investigate how lender‐specific shocks impact the strictness of the loan contract that a borrower receives. Banks write tighter contracts than their peers after suffering payment defaults to their own loan portfolios, even when defaulting borrowers are in different industries and geographic regions from the current borrower. The effects persist after controlling for bank capitalization, although bank equity compression is also associated with tighter contracts. The evidence suggests that recent defaults inform the lender's perception of its own screening ability, thereby impacting its contracting behavior.
A Lintner Model of Payout and Managerial Rents
Authors: LAMBRECHT BART M. , MYERS STEWART C. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTWe develop a dynamic agency model in which payout, investment, and financing decisions are made by managers who attempt to maximize the rents they take from the firm, subject to a capital market constraint. Managers smooth payout to smooth their flow of rents. Total payout (dividends plus net repurchases) follows Lintner's (1956) target adjustment model. Payout smooths out transitory shocks to current income and adjusts gradually to changes in permanent income. Smoothing is accomplished by borrowing or lending. Payout is not cut back to finance capital investment. Risk aversion causes managers to underinvest, but habit formation mitigates the degree of underinvestment.
Incomplete‐Market Equilibria Solved Recursively on an Event Tree
Authors: DUMAS BERNARD , LYASOFF ANDREW 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTBecause of non‐traded human capital, real‐world financial markets are massively incomplete, while the modeling of imperfect, dynamic financial markets remains a wide‐open and difficult field. Some 30 years after Cox, Ross, and Rubinstein (1979) taught us how to calculate the prices of derivative securities on an event tree by simple backward induction, we show how a similar formulation can be used in computing heterogeneous‐agents incomplete‐market equilibrium prices of primitive securities. Extant methods work forward and backward, requiring a guess of the way investors forecast the future. In our method, the future is part of the current solution of each backward time step.
The Cafta Conflict and Costa Rica's Democracy: Assessing the 2007 Referendum
Authors: Willis Eliza J. , Seiz Janet A. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe process of ratifying CAFTA in Costa Rica required traversing a contentious political landscape involving intense legislative battles, massive public demonstrations, and finally a national referendum in October 2007. By employing the mechanism of direct democracy to ratify a free trade agreement, Costa Rica made history. But how did this experiment with direct participation affect Costa Rica's democracy? This article evaluates what the referendum achieved in terms of promoting citizen engagement, equipping voters to make informed choices, resolving the CAFTA conflict in a way viewed as legitimate, and shaping citizens' relationships to representative institutions. While the referendum had positive effects, it had several negative consequences for representative democracy, which raises questions about the limits of democratic control over economic policy in the era of globalization.
Decaying Mouse Volatiles Perceived byCalliphora vicinaRob.‐Desv.
Authors: Paczkowski Sebastian , Maibaum Friederike , Paczkowska Marta , Schütz Stefan 
Published: September 2012

AbstractVolatiles emitted by decaying human remains are in the focus of recent research. The identification of core volatiles in this field is of high importance, because cadaveric volatiles generally show high variation. In this study, the volatile profiles of five mice (Myodes glareolus) were sampled with charcoal filter tubes from their time of death until advanced decay. Eleven compounds were quantitated by means of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Electroantennographic experiments with femaleCalliphora vicinaantennae led to the identification of dimethyl trisulfide, dimethyl disulfide, nonanal, hexan‐1‐ol, 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 3‐methylbutan‐1‐ol, and heptanal as electrophysiologically active compounds. When these were compared, dimethyl trisulfide (17 ng/μL) and dimethyl disulfide (11 ng/μL) were found to be emitted in higher concentrations. The roles of these compounds and nonanal as core volatiles for cadaver detection or postmortem time determination and their correlation to the stages of decay and the accumulated degree days are discussed.