bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On Some Quantitative Properties of Czech ř in Newsreading
Authors: Pavlík Radoslav 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
This research examines the distributional characteristics of Czech ř in terms of the number of contacts (periods). The traditional claim that this consonant is produced with two or more contacts is challenged by the empirical evidence of ř realized in connected speech (newsreading style). The results of the study show that the most common variant of the (ř) variable is a one-contact alveolar sound, with the multiple-contact realization of ř being extremely rare. The role of eight linguistic variables is assessed in order to find out which factors are most likely to influence the number of contacts of Czech ř. Some questions are discussed concerning its current definition as a trill.
The ‘Whistled' Fricative in Xitsonga: Its Articulation and Acoustics
Authors: Lee-Kim Sang-Im , Kawahara Shigeto , Lee Seunghun J. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The present study examines the articulation and acoustics of the typologically rare and understudied ‘whistled' fricative sound in Xitsonga, a Southern Bantu language. Using ultrasound imaging and video recording, we examine the lingual and labial articulation of the whistled fricative. For the acoustic analysis, we employ the multitaper spectral analysis, which ensures reliable spectral estimates. The results revealed an interplay between multiple articulators involved in the production of the sound: the retroflex lingual gesture and the narrowing of the lower lip toward the upper teeth. Acoustically, the spectra of the whistled fricative are more peaked and compact than the acoustically similar palatoalveolar fricative, and the differences manifest themselves most clearly in two acoustic parameters, dynamic amplitude (Ad) and M2 (variance). The acoustic differences are also manifested in F2 and F3 in the surrounding vowels. Additionally, the ‘whistled' fricative in Xitsonga is not quite whistled, contrary to the label given to the sound in previous studies. Building on the current articulatory and acoustic results, we discuss two different aerodynamic models for the whistled fricatives in Southern Bantu languages and conclude that the whistled fricative in Xitsonga is best characterized as a retroflex segment accompanied by weak whistling.
Long-Term Safety of an Everolimus-Eluting Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold and the Cobalt-Chromium XIENCE V Stent in a Porcine Coronary Artery Model
Authors: Otsuka Fumiyuki , Pacheco Erica , Perkins Laura E.L. , Lane Jennifer P. , Wang Qing , Kamberi Marika , Frie Michael , Wang Jin , Sakakura Kenichi , Yahagi Kazuyuki , Ladich Elena , Rapoza Richard J. , Kolodgie Frank D. , Virmani Renu 
Published: June 2014

Background—
The Absorb everolimus-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (Absorb) has shown promising clinical results; however, only limited preclinical data have been published. We sought to investigate detailed pathological responses to the Absorb versus XIENCE V (XV) in a porcine coronary model with duration of implant extending from 1 to 42 months.

Methods and Results—
A total of 335 devices (263 Absorb and 72 XV) were implanted in 2 or 3 main coronary arteries of 136 nonatherosclerotic swine and examined by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, pharmacokinetics, and gel permeation chromatography analyses at various time points. Vascular responses to Absorb and XV were largely comparable at all time points, with struts being sequestered within the neointima. Inflammation was mild to moderate (with absence of inflammation at 1 month) for both devices, although the scores were greater in Absorb at 6 to 36 months. Percent area stenosis was significantly greater in Absorb than XV at all time points except at 3 months. The extent of fibrin deposition was similar between Absorb and XV, which peaked at 1 month and decreased rapidly thereafter. Histomorphometry showed expansile remodeling of Absorb-implanted arteries starting after 12 months, and lumen area was significantly greater in Absorb than XV at 36 and 42 months. These changes correlated with dismantling of Absorb seen after 12 months. Gel permeation chromatography analysis confirmed that degradation of Absorb was complete by 36 months.

Conclusions—
Absorb demonstrates comparable long-term safety to XV in porcine coronary arteries with mild to moderate inflammation. Although Absorb was associated with greater percent stenosis relative to XV, expansile remodeling was observed after 12 months in Absorb with significantly greater lumen area at ≥36 months. Resorption is considered complete at 36 months.
Impact of Drug Policy on Regional Trends in Ezetimibe Use
Authors: Lu Lingyun , Krumholz Harlan M. , Tu Jack V. , Ross Joseph S. , Ko Dennis T. , Jackevicius Cynthia A. 
Published: June 2014

Background—
Ezetimibe use has steadily increased in Canada during the past decade even in the absence of evidence demonstrating a beneficial effect on clinical outcomes. Among the 4 most populated provinces in Canada, there is a gradient in the restrictiveness of ezetimibe in public-funded formularies (most to least strict: British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario). The effect of formulary policy on the use of ezetimibe over time is unknown.

Methods and Results—

We conducted a population-level cohort study using Intercontinental Marketing Services Health Canada’s data from June 2003 to December 2012 to examine ezetimibe use in these 4 provinces to better understand the association between use and formulary restrictiveness. We found regional variations in the patterns of ezetimibe use. From June 2003 to December 2012, British Columbia (most restrictive) had the lowest monthly increasing rate from $261 to $21 926 ($190/100 000 population/mo), whereas Ontario (least restrictive) had the most rapid monthly increase from $223 to $74 030 ($ 647/100 000 population/mo), and Quebec from $130 to $59 690 ($522/100 000 population/mo) and Alberta from $356 to $ 37 604 ($327/100 000 population/mo) were intermediate (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—
Ezetimibe use remains common, increasing during the past decade. Use steadily increased in provinces with the most lenient formularies. In contrast, use was lower, plateauing since 2008 in British Columbia and Alberta, which have more restrictive formularies. The gradient in ezetimibe use was related to variability in restrictiveness of the provincial formularies, illustrating the potential of a policy response gradient that may be used to more effectively manage medication use.
Functional Analysis of the TRIB
1
Associated Locus Linked to Plasma Triglycerides and Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Douvris Adrianna , Soubeyrand Sébastien , Naing Thet , Martinuk Amy , Nikpay Majid , Williams Andrew , Buick Julie , Yauk Carole , McPherson Ruth 
Published: June 2014

Background

The
TRIB
1
locus has been linked to hepatic triglyceride metabolism in mice and to plasma triglycerides and coronary artery disease in humans. The lipid‐associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (
SNP
s), identified by genome‐wide association studies, are located ≈30 kb downstream from
TRIB
1,
suggesting complex regulatory effects on genes or pathways relevant to hepatic triglyceride metabolism. The goal of this study was to investigate the functional relationship between common
SNP
s at the
TRIB
1
locus and plasma lipid traits.

Methods and Results

Characterization of the risk locus reveals that it encompasses a gene,
TRIB1
‐associated locus (
TRIBAL
), composed of a well‐conserved promoter region and an alternatively spliced transcript. Bioinformatic analysis and resequencing identified a single SNP, rs2001844, within the promoter region that associates with increased plasma triglycerides and reduced high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and coronary artery disease risk. Further, correction for triglycerides as a covariate indicated that the genome‐wide association studies association is largely dependent on triglycerides. In addition, we show that rs2001844 is an expression trait locus (
eQTL
) for
TRIB1
expression in blood and alters
TRIBAL
promoter activity in a reporter assay model. The
TRIBAL
transcript has features typical of long noncoding RNAs, including poor sequence conservation. Modulation of
TRIBAL
expression had limited impact on either
TRIB1
or lipid regulatory genes
mRNA
levels in human hepatocyte models. In contrast,
TRIB1
knockdown markedly increased
TRIBAL
expression in HepG2 cells and primary human hepatocytes.

Conclusions

These studies demonstrate an interplay between a novel locus,
TRIBAL,
and
TRIB1
.
TRIBAL
is located in the genome‐wide association studies identified risk locus, responds to altered expression of
TRIB1,
harbors a risk SNP that is an
eQTL
for
TRIB1
expression, and associates with plasma triglyceride concentrations.
Acute White Matter Injury After Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Egashira Yusuke , Hua Ya , Keep Richard F. , Xi Guohua 
Published: June 2014

Background and Purpose—
White matter injury occurs after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and has not been well studied. In this study, we investigated acute white matter injury in a mouse SAH model and the role of lipocalin 2 (LCN2) in that injury.

Methods—

SAH was induced by endovascular perforation in wild-type (WT) or LCN2 knockout (LCN2
−/−
) mice. Sham WT mice underwent the same procedure without perforation. MRI was performed 24 hours after SAH and the volumes of the T2-hyperintensity in white matter were measured. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine white matter injury.

Results—

Mortality rates and SAH severity were not significantly different between WT and LCN2
−/−
animals. T2-hyperintensity in the white matter was observed in all WT animals at 24 hours after SAH (6.1±2.7 versus 0.06±0.07 mm
3
in sham;
P
<0.001), and the volume of T2-hyperintensity tended to correlate with SAH severity (
r
=0.30;
P
=0.055). In WT animals with SAH, numerous LCN2-positive cells were observed in white matter. In contrast, LCN2
−/−
animals scarcely developed white matter T2-hyperintensity after SAH (0.5±0.5 mm
3
;
P
<0.001, versus WT). Markers of axonal damage and myelin degradation were increased in white matter after SAH in WT compared with those in LCN2
−/−
animals (
P
<0.05).

Conclusions—
SAH results in an acute white matter injury at 24 hours in mice, and LCN2 plays an important role in SAH-induced white matter injury.
Age-related Differences in the Neural Bases of Phonological and Semantic Processes
Authors: Diaz Michele T. , Johnson Micah A. , Burke Deborah M. , Madden David J. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractChanges in language functions during normal aging are greater for phonological compared with semantic processes. To investigate the behavioral and neural basis for these age-related differences, we used fMRI to examine younger and older adults who made semantic and phonological decisions about pictures. The behavioral performance of older adults was less accurate and less efficient than younger adults' in the phonological task but did not differ in the semantic task. In the fMRI analyses, the semantic task activated left-hemisphere language regions, and the phonological task activated bilateral cingulate and ventral precuneus. Age-related effects were widespread throughout the brain and most often expressed as greater activation for older adults. Activation was greater for younger compared with older adults in ventral brain regions involved in visual and object processing. Although there was not a significant Age × Condition interaction in the whole-brain fMRI results, correlations examining the relationship between behavior and fMRI activation were stronger for younger compared with older adults. Our results suggest that the relationship between behavior and neural activation declines with age, and this may underlie some of the observed declines in performance.
Differentiating Semantic Categories during the Acquisition of Novel Words: Correspondence Analysis Applied to Event-related Potentials
Authors: Fargier Raphaël , Ploux Sabine , Cheylus Anne , Reboul Anne , Paulignan Yves , Nazir Tatjana A. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that semantic knowledge is represented in distributed neural networks that include modality-specific structures. Here, we examined the processes underlying the acquisition of words from different semantic categories to determine whether the emergence of visual- and action-based categories could be tracked back to their acquisition. For this, we applied correspondence analysis (CA) to ERPs recorded at various moments during acquisition. CA is a multivariate statistical technique typically used to reveal distance relationships between words of a corpus. Applied to ERPs, it allows isolating factors that best explain variations in the data across time and electrodes. Participants were asked to learn new action and visual words by associating novel pseudowords with the execution of hand movements or the observation of visual images. Words were probed before and after training on two consecutive days. To capture processes that unfold during lexical access, CA was applied on the 100–400 msec post-word onset interval. CA isolated two factors that organized the data as a function of test sessions and word categories. Conventional ERP analyses further revealed a category-specific increase in the negativity of the ERPs to action and visual words at the frontal and occipital electrodes, respectively. The distinct neural processes underlying action and visual words can thus be tracked back to the acquisition of word-referent relationships and may have its origin in association learning. Given current evidence for the flexibility of language-induced sensory-motor activity, we argue that these associative links may serve functions beyond word understanding, that is, the elaboration of situation models.
Unseen Fearful Faces Influence Face Encoding: Evidence from ERPs in Hemianopic Patients
Authors: Cecere Roberto , Bertini Caterina , Maier Martin E. , Làdavas Elisabetta 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Visual threat-related signals are not only processed via a cortical geniculo-striatal pathway to the amygdala but also via a subcortical colliculo-pulvinar-amygdala pathway, which presumably mediates implicit processing of fearful stimuli. Indeed, hemianopic patients with unilateral damage to the geniculo-striatal pathway have been shown to respond faster to seen happy faces in their intact visual field when unseen fearful faces were concurrently presented in their blind field [Bertini, C., Cecere, R., & Làdavas, E. I am blind, but I “see” fear. Cortex, 49, 985–993, 2013]. This behavioral facilitation in the presence of unseen fear might reflect enhanced processing of consciously perceived faces because of early activation of the subcortical pathway for implicit fear perception, which possibly leads to a modulation of cortical activity. To test this hypothesis, we examined ERPs elicited by fearful and happy faces presented to the intact visual field of right and left hemianopic patients, whereas fearful, happy, or neutral faces were concurrently presented in their blind field. Results showed that the amplitude of the N170 elicited by seen happy faces was selectively increased when an unseen fearful face was concurrently presented in the blind field of right hemianopic patients. These results suggest that when the geniculo-striate visual pathway is lesioned, the rapid and implicit processing of threat signals can enhance facial encoding. Notably, the N170 modulation was only observed in left-lesioned patients, favoring the hypothesis that implicit subcortical processing of fearful signals can influence face encoding only when the right hemisphere is intact.
Retinotopy versus Face Selectivity in Macaque Visual Cortex
Authors: Rajimehr Reza , Bilenko Natalia Y. , Vanduffel Wim , Tootell Roger B. H. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractRetinotopic organization is a ubiquitous property of lower-tier visual cortical areas in human and nonhuman primates. In macaque visual cortex, the retinotopic maps extend to higher-order areas in the ventral visual pathway, including area TEO in the inferior temporal (IT) cortex. Distinct regions within IT cortex are also selective to specific object categories such as faces. Here we tested the topographic relationship between retinotopic maps and face-selective patches in macaque visual cortex using high-resolution fMRI and retinotopic face stimuli. Distinct subregions within face-selective patches showed either (1) a coarse retinotopic map of eccentricity and polar angle, (2) a retinotopic bias to a specific location of visual field, or (3) nonretinotopic selectivity. In general, regions along the lateral convexity of IT cortex showed more overlap between retinotopic maps and face selectivity, compared with regions within the STS. Thus, face patches in macaques can be subdivided into smaller patches with distinguishable retinotopic properties.
Auditory Evoked Responses in Musicians during Passive Vowel Listening Are Modulated by Functional Connectivity between Bilateral Auditory-related Brain Regions
Authors: Kühnis Jürg , Elmer Stefan , Jäncke Lutz 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Currently, there is striking evidence showing that professional musical training can substantially alter the response properties of auditory-related cortical fields. Such plastic changes have previously been shown not only to abet the processing of musical sounds, but likewise spectral and temporal aspects of speech. Therefore, here we used the EEG technique and measured a sample of musicians and nonmusicians while the participants were passively exposed to artificial vowels in the context of an oddball paradigm. Thereby, we evaluated whether increased intracerebral functional connectivity between bilateral auditory-related brain regions may promote sensory specialization in musicians, as reflected by altered cortical N1 and P2 responses. This assumption builds on the reasoning that sensory specialization is dependent, at least in part, on the amount of synchronization between the two auditory-related cortices. Results clearly revealed that auditory-evoked N1 responses were shaped by musical expertise. In addition, in line with our reasoning musicians showed an overall increased intracerebral functional connectivity (as indexed by lagged phase synchronization) in theta, alpha, and beta bands. Finally, within-group correlative analyses indicated a relationship between intracerebral beta band connectivity and cortical N1 responses, however only within the musicians' group. Taken together, we provide first electrophysiological evidence for a relationship between musical expertise, auditory-evoked brain responses, and intracerebral functional connectivity among auditory-related brain regions.
Done That: Short-term Repetition Related Modulations of Motor Cortex Activity as a Stable Signature for Overnight Motor Memory Consolidation
Authors: Gabitov Ella , Manor David , Karni Avi 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
An almost universally accepted tacit expectation is that learning and memory consolidation processes must be reflected in the average brain activity in brain areas relevant to task performance. Motor cortex (M1) plasticity has been implicated in motor skill acquisition and its consolidation. Nevertheless, no consistent pattern of changes in the average signal, related to motor learning or motor memory consolidation following a single session of training, has emerged from imaging studies. Here we show that the pattern and magnitude of short-term brain activity modulations in response to task repetition, in M1, may provide a robust signature for effective motor memory consolidation processes. We studied participants during the paced performance of a finger-to-thumb opposition sequence (FOS), intensively trained a day earlier, and a similarly constructed untrained FOS. In addition to within-session “on-line” gains, most participants expressed delayed, consolidation-phase gains in the performance of the trained FOS. The execution of the trained FOS induced repetition enhancements in the contralateral M1 and bilaterally in the medial-temporal lobes, offsetting novelty-related repetition suppression effects. Moreover, the M1 modulations were positively correlated with the magnitude of each participant's overnight delayed gains but not with absolute performance levels. Our results suggest that short-term enhancements of brain signals upon task repetition reflect the effectiveness of overnight motor memory consolidation. We propose that procedural memory consolidation processes may affect the excitation–inhibition balance within cortical representations of the trained movements; this new balance is better reflected in repetition effects than in the average level of evoked neural activity.
Thermoregulation during the summer season in the Goode’s horned lizard Phrynosoma goodei (Iguania: Phrynosomatidae) in Sonoran Desert
Authors: Lara-Resendiz Rafael Alejandro , Jezkova Tereza , Rosen Philip C. , Méndez-de La Cruz Fausto Roberto 
Published: June 2014

Reptiles in desert environments depend on habitat thermal quality to regulate their body temperature and perform biological activities. Understanding thermoregulation with respect to habitat thermal quality is critical for accurate predictions of species responses to climate change. We evaluated thermoregulation in Goode’s horned lizard, Phrynosoma goodei, and measured habitat thermal quality at the Reserva de la Biosfera El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar, Sonora, Mexico, during the hottest season of the year. We found that field-active body temperature averaged 38.1 ± 0.38°C, preferred body temperature in laboratory averaged 34.9 ± 0.18°C and preferred body temperature range was 32.5-37.3°C. Operative temperature (i.e. environmental temperature available to the lizards) averaged 43.0 ± 0.07°C, with maximum temperature being near 70°C, and 62.9% of operative temperatures were above preferred body temperature range of P. goodei. Microhabitat thermal quality occupied by the lizards was high in the morning (7:00-10:30) and afternoon (5:50-dusk). We found that despite strong thermal constraints P. goodei was highly accurate and efficient in regulating its body temperature and that it presented a bimodal thermoregulatory pattern, being active in the mornings and in the evenings in order to avoid high mid-day environmental temperatures. Despite its thermoregulatory ability, P. goodei may be vulnerable to climate warming.
DNA barcoding Madagascar’s amphibian fauna
Authors: Perl R.G. Bina , Nagy Zoltán T. , Sonet Gontran , Glaw Frank , Wollenberg Katharina C. , Vences Miguel 
Published: June 2014

We provide a DNA barcoding survey of Malagasy amphibians, including 251 of the 292 nominal species known to date, by complementing previous data with 280 newly determined barcoding sequence fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Amplification success for the newly determined sequences was highest (94%) with one set of universal COI primers (dgLCO1490-dgHCO2198) while other primer sets had distinctly lower success rates. By and large, we observed relatively high average interspecific genetic distances of 25-27% within the Mantellidae and Microhylidae, and genetic distances of 13-21% within the Hyperoliidae. Lower values of 6-7% were observed between some sister species in all families, with extreme lows of 0.2-0.3% between a few sister species pairs in microhylids and mantellids for which we postulate mitochondrial introgression or yet unsettled taxonomy. Within-species divergences were relatively high especially in mantellids where they averaged 5.3%, due to the inclusion of numerous deep conspecific lineages (by definition with high divergences to other specimens) in our study. Above this, the degree of polymorphism was difficult to establish owing to limited sampling per population in our assessment. Compared to a previous assessment from 2009 based on 16S rDNA sequences, we identify 14 additional undescribed candidate species and raise the maximum estimate of species in the island’s batrachofauna to well over 500.