bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
No association between vitamin D and β‐cell autoimmunity in Finnish and Estonian children
Authors: Reinert‐Hartwall L. , Honkanen J. , Härkönen T. , Ilonen J. , Simell O. , Peet A. , Tillmann V. , Lamberg‐Allardt C. , Virtanen S. M. , Knip M. , Vaarala O. ,   The DIABIMMUNE Study Group
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundVitamin D has immunomodulatory properties, such as regulation of FOXP3 expression and regulatory T‐cell activity. Our aim was to investigate whether plasma 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations associate with the development of β‐cell autoimmunity and the transcriptional activity of FOXP3 or vitamin D3 convertase gene (CYP27B1) in CD4+ memory T cells.MethodsWe studied 83 Finnish and 32 Estonian children participating in the DIABIMMUNE and DIPP studies. Twenty‐nine Finnish and six Estonian children tested positive for at least one diabetes‐associated autoantibody. The plasma concentrations of 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2D were analysed with an enzyme immunoassay. Gene expression of FOXP3 and CYP27B1 in the isolated CD4+ memory T cells was studied with reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsVitamin D status did not differ between subjects positive and negative for β‐cell autoantibodies. Finnish children had higher vitamin D status than Estonian children (p < 0.001). FOXP3 expression was higher in Estonian CD4+ memory T‐cell samples than in Finnish samples (p < 0.01) even when including in both groups only children with serum 25(OH)D concentrations in the range of 50–80 nmol/L (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThese findings do not support a crucial role of circulating 25(OH)D as a regulator of β‐cell autoimmunity or FOXP3 expression. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probabilistic maturation reaction norms assessed from mark–recaptures of wild fish in their natural habitat
Authors: Olsen Esben M. , Serbezov Dimitar , Vøllestad Leif A. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractReaction norms are a valuable tool in evolutionary biology. Lately, the probabilistic maturation reaction norm approach, describing probabilities of maturing at combinations of age and body size, has been much applied for testing whether phenotypic changes in exploited populations of fish are mainly plastic or involving an evolutionary component. However, due to typical field data limitations, with imperfect knowledge about individual life histories, this demographic method still needs to be assessed. Using 13 years of direct mark–recapture observations on individual growth and maturation in an intensively sampled population of brown trout (Salmo trutta), we show that the probabilistic maturation reaction norm approach may perform well even if the assumption of equal survival of juvenile and maturing fish does not hold. Earlier studies have pointed out that growth effects may confound the interpretation of shifts in maturation reaction norms, because this method in its basic form deals with body size rather than growth. In our case, however, we found that juvenile body size, rather than annual growth, was more strongly associated with maturation. Viewed against earlier studies, our results also underscore the challenges of generalizing life‐history patterns among species and populations.
Effect of age‐based and environment‐based cues on reproductive investment in Gambusia affinis
Authors: Billman Eric J. , Belk Mark C. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractWe examined the multivariate life‐history trajectories of age 0 and age 1 female Gambusia affinis to determine relative effects of age‐based and environment‐based cues on reproductive investment. Age 0 females decreased reproductive investment prior to the onset of fall and winter months, while age 1 females increased reproductive investment as the summer progressed. The reproductive restraint and terminal investment patterns exhibited by age 0 and age 1 females, respectively, were consistent with the predictions from the cost of reproduction hypothesis. Age 0 females responded to environment‐based cues, decreasing reproductive investment to increase the probability of overwinter survival and subsequent reproductive opportunities in the following summer. Age 1 females responded to age‐based cues, or the proximity of death, increasing investment to current reproduction as future reproductive opportunities decreased late in life. Thus, individuals use multiple cues to determine the level of reproductive investment, and the response to each cue is dependent on the age of an individual.
Risks of neonicotinoid insecticides to honeybees
Authors: Fairbrother Anne , Purdy John , Anderson Troy , Fell Richard 
Published: April 2014

Abstract

The European honeybee, Apis mellifera, is an important pollinator of agricultural crops. Since 2006, when unexpectedly high colony losses were first reported, articles have proliferated in the popular press suggesting a range of possible causes and raising alarm over the general decline of bees. Suggested causes include pesticides, genetically modified crops, habitat fragmentation, and introduced diseases and parasites. Scientists have concluded that multiple factors in various combinations—including mites, fungi, viruses, and pesticides, as well as other factors such as reduction in forage, poor nutrition, and queen failure—are the most probable cause of elevated colony loss rates. Investigators and regulators continue to focus on the possible role that insecticides, particularly the neonicotinoids, may play in honeybee health. Neonicotinoid insecticides are insect neurotoxicants with desirable features such as broad-spectrum activity, low application rates, low mammalian toxicity, upward systemic movement in plants, and versatile application methods. Their distribution throughout the plant, including pollen, nectar, and guttation fluids, poses particular concern for exposure to pollinators. The authors describe how neonicotinoids interact with the nervous system of honeybees and affect individual honeybees in laboratory situations. Because honeybees are social insects, colony effects in semifield and field studies are discussed. The authors conclude with a review of current and proposed guidance in the United States and Europe for assessing the risks of pesticides to honeybees. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:719–731. © 2014 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., on behalf of SEATC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Communication Maps: Exploring Energy Transport through Proteins and Water
Authors: Agbo Johnson K. , Gnanasekaran Ramachandran , Leitner David M. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractFrequency‐resolved communication maps provide a coarse‐grained, global mapping of energy transport channels in a protein as a function of frequency of modes that carry energy. We illustrate the approach with a study of the homodimeric hemoglobin of Scapharca inaequivalvis, which exhibits cooperativity during ligand binding. We compare energy transport between the two hemes of the unliganded and oxygenated protein, which is mediated by water as well as residues forming a hydrogen‐bonding network at the interface between the globules, and lies along the pathway for allosteric transitions observed in time‐resolved X‐ray studies. Non‐equilibrium molecular simulations on energy transport from the heme corroborate the energy transport pathways identified by the communication maps.
GLOBAL DISSEMINATION OF MICRO‐IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES TO SMALLHOLDER FARMERS
Authors: Andrezejewski Kevin M. 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTApproximately 1.1 billion people in the world live on less than US$1 per day, 800 million of whom are smallholder farmers relying on subsistence agriculture for their livelihood. Moving from reliance on rainfed and bucket irrigation to the use of simple water lifting, application, and storage technologies has a dramatic and positive impact on these families' food security and income stream and contributes to a more efficient use of precious water resources.iDE designs and disseminates affordable solutions that allow farmers to grow more, higher‐quality crops year‐round while reducing the water, labour, energy and chemical inputs. iDEal's Global Supply serves as the distribution enterprise for these micro‐irrigation technologies, providing sample products, bulk shipments, and technical support for both iDE Country Programmes and other individuals and organizations worldwide. iDEal's standard product offering includes microtube drip kits, water pumps, sprinklers, and water storage bags specifically designed for low‐pressure applications.To provide widespread access to these affordable, simple, and appropriate micro‐irrigation products, iDEal has established a reliable network of international and local supply chain sources. The key components of this network are:

product support. Sourcing, procurement, new product development, and quality control process;
order fulfilment. Customer service, logistics, basic product support;
marketing. Promotional materials, analysis, and communications planning;
technical assistance. Product specification sheets, training and installation manuals, technical support.The cornerstone in disseminating these technologies on a global scale is iDE's network of suppliers, logistics relationships, and in‐country expertise. This core competency allows Global Supply to be an innovative leader in last‐mile distribution of micro‐irrigation technologies to farmers worldwide. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Up to 5 Years of Denosumab Treatment on Bone Histology and Histomorphometry: The FREEDOM Study Extension
Authors: Brown Jacques P , Reid Ian R , Wagman Rachel B , Kendler David , Miller Paul D , Jensen Jens-Erik Beck , Bolognese Michael A , Daizadeh Nadia , Valter Ivo , Zerbini Cristiano AF , Dempster David W 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT

Denosumab reduced bone resorption, increased bone mineral density (BMD), and decreased new vertebral, hip, and nonvertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in the FREEDOM trial. Consistent with its mechanism of action, transiliac crest bone biopsies from subjects treated with denosumab for 1 to 3 years demonstrated reduced bone turnover that was reversible upon treatment cessation. Long-term denosumab treatment for up to 6 years in the FREEDOM extension provides sustained bone turnover reduction and continued low fracture incidence. Here, we evaluate 5 years of denosumab treatment on bone remodeling at the tissue level. Transiliac crest bone biopsies were obtained from 41 subjects (13 cross-over and 28 long-term from the FREEDOM placebo and denosumab groups, respectively) at year 2 of the FREEDOM extension, representing up to 5 years of denosumab treatment. Demographics for this subset were comparable to the overall extension cohort. The mean (SD) duration from the last denosumab dose to the first dose of tetracycline was 5.7 (0.5) months. Qualitative bone histology assessed in all biopsy samples was unremarkable, showing normally mineralized lamellar bone. Structural indices, including trabecular bone volume, number, and surface, were similar between cross-over and long-term groups. Bone resorption was decreased as reflected by eroded surface in cross-over and long-term subjects. A total of 11 of 13 (85%) cross-over subjects and 20 of 28 (71%) long-term subjects had specimens with double or single tetracycline label in trabecular and/or cortical compartments; specimens from 5 cross-over subjects and 10 long-term subjects were evaluable for dynamic trabecular bone parameters. Dynamic remodeling indices were low for both groups and consistent with reduced bone turnover with denosumab. In conclusion, denosumab treatment through 5 years resulted in normal bone quality with reduced bone turnover. These observations are consistent with its mechanism of action and associated with continued BMD increases and low fracture incidence. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Dlx5 and Mef2 Regulate a Novel Runx2 Enhancer for Osteoblast-Specific Expression
Authors: Kawane Tetsuya , Komori Hisato , Liu Wenguang , Moriishi Takeshi , Miyazaki Toshihiro , Mori Masako , Matsuo Yuki , Takada Yoshio , Izumi Shinichi , Jiang Qing , Nishimura Riko , Kawai Yosuke , Komori Toshihisa 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT

Runx2 is essential for osteoblast differentiation and chondrocyte maturation. The expression of Runx2 is the first requisite step for the lineage determination from mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts. Although the transcript from Runx2 distal promoter is majorly expressed in osteoblasts, the promoter failed to direct green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression to osteoblasts. To find the regulatory region, we generated GFP reporter mice driven by a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) of Runx2 locus, and succeeded in the reproduction of endogenous Runx2 expression. By serially deleting it, we identified a 343-bp enhancer, which directed GFP expression specifically to osteoblasts, about 30 kb upstream of the distal promoter. The sequence of the 343-bp enhancer was highly conserved among mouse, human, dog, horse, opossum, and chicken. Dlx5, Mef2c, Tcf7, Ctnnb1, Sp7, Smad1, and Sox6, which localized on the enhancer region in primary osteoblasts, synergistically upregulated the enhancer activity, whereas Msx2 downregulated the activity in mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Msx2 was predominantly bound to the enhancer in mouse multipotent mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells, whereas Dlx5 was predominantly bound to the enhancer in MC3T3-E1 cells. Dlx5 and Mef2 directly bound to the enhancer, and the binding sites were required for the osteoblast-specific expression in mice, whereas the other factors bound to the enhancer by protein-protein interaction. The enhancer was characterized by the presence of the histone variant H2A.Z, the enrichment of histone H3 mono- and dimethylated at Lys4 and acetylated at Lys18 and Lys27, but the depletion of histone H3 trimethylated at Lys4 in primary osteoblasts. These findings indicated that the enhancer, which had typical histone modifications for enhancers, contains sufficient elements to direct Runx2 expression to osteoblasts, and that Dlx5 and Mef2, which formed an enhanceosome with Tcf7, Ctnnb1, Sp7, Smad1, and Sox6, play an essential role in the osteoblast-specific activation of the enhancer. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Characterization of Immortalized Dairy Goat Male Germline Stem Cells (mGSCs)
Authors: Zhu Haijing , Ma Jing , Du Rui , Zheng Liming , Wu Jiang , Song Wencong , Niu Zhiwei , He Xin , Du Enqi , Zhao Shanting , Hua Jinlian 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTMale germline stem cells (mGSCs), in charge for the fertility in male testis, are the only kind of adult stem cells that transmit genetic information to next generation, with promising prospects in germplasm resources preservation and optimization, and production of transgenic animals. Mouse male germline stem cell lines have been established and are valuable for studying the mechanisms of spermatogenesis. However, there is a lack of stable mGSC cell lines in livestock, which restricts the progress of transgenic research and related biotechnology. Here, we firstly established an immortalized dairy goat mGSC cell line to study the biological properties and the signaling pathways associated with mGSCs self‐renewal and differentiation. The ectopic factors SV40 large T antigen and Bmi1 genes were transduced into dairy goat mGSCs, and the results showed that the proliferation of these cells that were named mGSCs‐I‐SB was improved significantly. They maintained the typical characteristics including the expression of mGSC markers, and the potential to differentiate into all three germ layers, sperm‐like cells in vitro. Additionally, mGSCs‐I‐SB survived and differentiated into three germ layer cell types when they were transplanted into chicken embryos. Importantly, the cells also survived in mouse spermatogenesis deficiency model testis which seemed to be the golden standard to examine mGSCs. Conclusively, our results demonstrate that mGSCs‐I‐SB present the characteristics of mGSCs and may promote the future study on goat mGSCs. J. Cell. Biochem. 115: 1549–1560, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of Silver in Human Hair by Ionic Liquid‐based Cold‐induced Aggregation Microextraction as a Solvent Extraction Method
Authors: Bahar Soleiman , Hosseini Hamid 
Published: April 2014

AbstractWe report on the determination of silver ion in human hair sample using ionic liquid cold‐induced aggregation combined with spectrophotometric detection. Parameters governing the extraction efficiency (such as concentration of ligand, volume of ionic liquid, pH, temperature, extraction time) were optimized and resulted in enrichment factor of 44.4 for silver ion. The calibration curve was linear with correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.999, in the concentration range from 1.0 to 20 ng mL−1. The relative standard deviation is 2.3% (for n = 10), the limit of detection is 0.262 ng mL−1, and relative recoveries in real samples were more than 93%.
Ultrasound‐Assisted Synthesis of 6‐Methyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐N‐aryl‐2‐oxo/thio‐4‐arylpyrimidine‐5‐carboxamides Catalyzed by Uranyl Nitrate Hexahydrate
Authors: Venkatesan K. , Satyanarayana V. S. V. , Sivakumar A. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAn efficient and simple method developed for the synthesis of 6‐methyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐N‐aryl‐2‐oxo/thio‐4‐arylpyrimidine‐5‐carboxamide derivatives (4a‐o) using UO2(NO3)2.6H2O catalyst under conventional and ultrasonic conditions. The ultrasound irradiation synthesis had shown several advantages such as milder conditions, shorter reaction times and higher yields. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed by FT‐IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectra.
Preparation and Application of Fullerene C60‐Polymers in Piezoelectric Quartz Crystal Sensors for Hemoglobin and Olefins
Authors: You Rouah‐Lin , Shih Jeng‐Shong 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe C60—polycinnamaldehyde (C60—PCA) and C60—polyphenylacetylene (C60—PPA) polymers were synthesized by the Friedel—Craft reaction and applied as piezoelectric (PZ) quartz crystal coating materials. A C60—polycinnamaldehyde (PCA) coated piezoelectric quartz crystal liquid sensor with a homemade computer interface was prepared and applied as a PZ hemoglobin sensor. The adsorption of hemoglobin onto the C60—PCA coated crystal resulted in a decreased oscillating frequency. The variations in crystal frequency were converted to voltage with a frequency to voltage converter, followed by amplification with OPA and data acquisition with an analog to digital converter. The PZ hemoglobin sensor exhibited good sensitivity of 6530 Hz/(mg/mL) with a detection limit at the ppm level for hemoglobin. Further, a C60—polyphenylacetylene (C60—PPA) coated piezoelectric quartz crystal gas sensor with an Intell‐8255 data processing system for various olefin vapors was also made. The aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene seem to have greater adsorption onto C60—PPA membrane than alkynes, alkenes, and alkanes. The adsorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) onto the C60—PPA membrane was also examined. The C60—PPA coated PZ crystal gas sensor showed much better sensitivity for PAHs than for other olefins such as toluene, 1‐hexyne and 1‐hexene, and a much larger frequency shift for naphthalene than other PAHs was also found.
Entry‐into‐humans study with ACT‐462206, a novel dual orexin receptor antagonist, comparing its pharmacodynamics with almorexant
Authors: Hoch Matthias , van Gorsel Helene , van Gerven Joop , Dingemanse Jasper 
Published: April 2014

AbstractA double‐blind, placebo‐ and active comparator‐controlled, randomized, single‐ascending‐dose study was conducted to investigate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ACT‐462206, a novel dual orexin receptor antagonist. Healthy male subjects received single oral doses of 5, 25, 100, 200, 400, 1,000, and 1,500 mg ACT‐462206 (n = 6 per group) or placebo (n = 2 per group). In addition, subjects in the 400‐mg group received a single oral dose of 400 mg almorexant (two‐way crossover). ACT‐462206 was generally well tolerated. Sleepiness, headache, and fatigue were the most frequently reported adverse events. The incidence of sleepiness appeared dose‐dependent. ACT‐462206 was absorbed with a median tmax of 1.5–4.0 hours. The elimination half‐life varied from 4.8 to 11.2 hours. A clinically relevant reduction in vigilance and attention, alertness, and motor coordination was recorded at ACT‐462206 doses ≥200 mg. The onset was between 20 and 45 minutes after drug intake, the maximum effect between 1 and 2 hours after drug administration, and these impairing effects largely disappeared within 8 hours post‐dose. Doses of 400–1,000 mg ACT‐462206 were similarly efficacious to 400 mg almorexant, with a trend for an earlier onset of action with ACT‐462206. The present results confirm the activity of ACT‐462206 as an orexin antagonist.
Social context: Key to understanding culture's effects on creativity
Authors: Nouri Rikki , Erez Miriam , Lee Cynthia , Liang Jian , Bannister Brendan D. , Chiu Warren 
Published: April 2014

SummaryThis paper proposes that the social context moderates the effect of culture on creativity by drawing on the constructivist dynamic approach. We assess creativity by the level of fluency, originality, and elaboration on the usefulness and appropriateness of ideas in three contexts: working under a supervisor, in a group, and alone. We hypothesized that in high power distance cultures, working under a supervisor inhibits creativity, whereas in individualistic cultures, the presence of peers attenuates creativity. Results from two parallel experiments, one in the United States (N = 79) and the other in China (N = 83), partially support the hypotheses. The Chinese originality level was significantly lower when working under a supervisor than when working alone. American subjects generated fewer ideas and elaborated less when working in the presence of peers and elaborated less in the presence of peers than when under a supervisor. We conclude that the social context moderates the culture–creativity relationship by making consensual cultural values more accessible in a social context than when working alone. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Slab profile encoding (PEN) for minimizing slab boundary artifact in three‐dimensional diffusion‐weighted multislab acquisition
Authors: Van Anh T. , Aksoy Murat , Holdsworth Samantha J. , Kopeinigg Daniel , Vos Sjoerd B. , Bammer Roland 
Published: April 2014

PurposeTo propose a method for mitigating slab boundary artifacts in three‐dimensional (3D) multislab diffusion imaging with no or minimal increases in scan time.MethodsThe multislab acquisition was treated as parallel imaging acquisition where the slab profiles acted as the traditional receiver sensitivity profiles. All the slabs were then reconstructed simultaneously along the slab direction using Cartesian‐based sensitivity encoding (SENSE) reconstruction. The slab profile estimation was performed using either a Bloch simulation or a calibration scan.ResultsBoth phantom and in vivo results showed negligible slab boundary artifacts after reconstruction using the proposed method. The performance of the proposed method is comparable to the state‐of‐the‐art slab combination method without the scan time penalty that depends on the number of acquired volumes. The obtained g‐factor map of the SENSE reconstruction problem showed a maximum g‐factor of 1.7 in the region of interest.ConclusionWe proposed a novel method for mitigating slab boundary artifacts in 3D diffusion imaging by treating the multislab acquisition as a parallel imaging acquisition and reconstructing all slabs simultaneously using Cartesian SENSE. Unlike existing methods, the scan time increase, if any, does not scale with the number of image volumes acquired. Magn Reson Med 73:605–613, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.