bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional profiling reveals progeroid Ercc1
-/Δ
mice as a model system for glomerular aging
Authors: Schermer Bernhard , Bartels Valerie , Frommolt Peter , Habermann Bianca , Braun Fabian , Schultze Joachim L , Roodbergen Marianne , Hoeijmakers Jan HJ , Schumacher Björn , Nürnberg Peter , Dollé Martijn ET , Benzing Thomas , Müller Roman-Ulrich , Kurschat Christine E 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Aging-related kidney diseases are a major health concern. Currently, models to study renal aging are lacking. Due to a reduced life-span progeroid models hold the promise to facilitate aging studies and allow examination of tissue-specific changes. Defects in genome maintenance in the Ercc1

-/Δ
progeroid mouse model result in premature aging and typical age-related pathologies. Here, we compared the glomerular transcriptome of young and aged Ercc1-deficient mice to young and aged WT mice in order to establish a novel model for research of aging-related kidney disease.

Results
In a principal component analysis, age and genotype emerged as first and second principal components. Hierarchical clustering of all 521 genes differentially regulated between young and old WT and young and old Ercc1

-/Δ
mice showed cluster formation between young WT and Ercc1

-/Δ
as well as old WT and Ercc1

-/Δ
samples. An unexpectedly high number of 77 genes were differentially regulated in both WT and Ercc1

-/Δ
mice (p < 0.0001). GO term enrichment analysis revealed these genes to be involved in immune and inflammatory response, cell death, and chemotaxis. In a network analysis, these genes were part of insulin signaling, chemokine and cytokine signaling and extracellular matrix pathways.

Conclusion
Beyond insulin signaling, we find chemokine and cytokine signaling as well as modifiers of extracellular matrix composition to be subject to major changes in the aging glomerulus. At the level of the transcriptome, the pattern of gene activities is similar in the progeroid Ercc1

-/Δ
mouse model constituting a valuable tool for future studies of aging-associated glomerular pathologies.
Allostatic load amplifies the effect of blood lead levels on elevated blood pressure among middle-aged U.S. adults: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zota Ami R , Shenassa Edmond D , Morello-Frosch Rachel 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Scientists and regulators have sought to understand whether and how physiologic dysregulation due to chronic stress exposure may enhance vulnerability to the adverse health effects of toxicant exposures. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine whether allostatic load (AL), a composite measure of physiologic response to chronic exposure to stress, amplifies the effect of lead exposure on blood pressure among middle-aged adults.

Methods
We analyzed associations between blood lead levels and blood pressure in a nationally representative sample of 8,194 U.S. adults (aged 40-65 years) participating in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, 1999--2008. Outcomes were elevated systolic (≥ 140 mm Hg) and diastolic (≥ 90 mm Hg) blood pressure. AL was defined as the aggregate score of seven components, reflecting dysregulation of the cardiovascular, inflammatory, and endocrine systems.

Results
Logistic regression models showed a linear dose-response relationship for quintiles of blood lead and elevated systolic blood pressure in the high AL group (p = 0.03) but not the low AL group (p = 0.24). Similarly, the relationship between lead exposure and elevated diastolic blood pressure was stronger among the high AL group than the low AL group. Within the high AL group, the fourth and fifth quintiles had significantly elevated odds of elevated blood pressure compared to lowest quintile [OR = 1.92, (95% CI, 1.07, 3.47) and OR =2.28 (95% CI, 1.33, 3.91), respectively]. In the low AL group, none of the quintile effects were significantly different than the referent group although there was evidence of a linear trend (p =0.03). The lead by AL interaction term was not statistically significant for either systolic or diastolic blood pressure models.

Conclusions
Results suggest that higher AL may amplify the adverse effects of lead on blood pressure. Future research should assess the implications of cumulative exposures to environmental and social stressors for regulatory decision-making.
Non-small cell lung cancer cells survived ionizing radiation treatment display cancer stem cell and epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotypes
Authors: Gomez-Casal Roberto , Bhattacharya Chitralekha , Ganesh Nandita , Bailey Lisa , Basse Per , Gibson Michael , Epperly Michael , Levina Vera 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR) is used for patients diagnosed with unresectable non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however radiotherapy remains largely palliative due to radioresistance. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), may contribute to drug and radiation resistance mechanisms in solid tumors. Here we investigated the molecular phenotype of A549 and H460 NSCLC cells that survived treatment with IR (5Gy) and are growing as floating tumor spheres and cells that are maintained in a monolayer after irradiation.
Non-irradiated and irradiated cells were collected after one week, seeded onto ultra low attachment plates and propagated as tumor spheres. Bulk NSCLC cells which survived radiation and grew in spheres express cancer stem cell surface and embryonic stem cell markers and are able to self-renew, and generate differentiated progeny. These cells also have a mesenchymal phenotype. Particularly, the radiation survived sphere cells express significantly higher levels of CSC markers (CD24 and CD44), nuclear β-catenin and EMT markers (Snail1, Vimentin, and N-cadherin) than non-irradiated lung tumor sphere cells. Upregulated levels of Oct-4, Sox2 and beta-catenin were detected in H460 cells maintained in a monolayer after irradiation, but not in radiation survived adherent A459 cells.
PDGFR-beta was upregulated in radiation survived sphere cells and in radiation survived adherent cells in both A549 and H460 cell lines. Combining IR treatment with axitinib or dasatinib, inhibitors with anti-PDFGR activity, potentiates the efficacy of NSCLC radiotherapy in vitro.
Our findings suggest that radiation survived cells have a complex phenotype combining the properties of CSCs and EMT. CD44, SNAIL and PDGFR-beta are dramatically upregulated in radiation survived cells and might be considered as markers of radiotherapy response in NSCLC.
Clinical significance of NUCB2 mRNA expression in prostate cancer
Authors: Zhang Hongtuan , Qi Can , Li Liang , Luo Fei , Xu Yong 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
Nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2) abnormal expression has been reported in gastric cancer and breast cancer. However, the role of NUCB2 in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the NUCB2 expression in PCa tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues and its potential relevance to clinicopathological variables and prognosis.

Methods
NUCB2 mRNA expression was determined by real-time quantitative real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 180 pairs of fresh frozen PCa tissues and corresponding non-cancerous tissues. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to investigate the correlation between NUCB2 expression and prognosis of PCa patients.

Results
Our results showed that the expression level of NUCB2 mRNA in PCa tissues was significantly higher than those in non-cancerous tissues. Our results indicated that the high expression of NUCB2 in PCa was associated with lymph node metastasis, preoperative PSA, Gleason score, and angiolymphatic invasion. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that patients with high NUCB2 expression have shorter biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival time compared to patients with low NUCB2 expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that NUCB2 expression was an independent predictor of BCR-free survival.

Conclusions
NUCB2 might play a positive role in PCa development and could serve as an independent predictor of BCR-free survival.
Management of traumatic hemipelvectomy: an institutional experience on four consecutive cases
Authors: Wu Tian-hao , Wu Xi-rui , Zhang Xiao , Wu Chun-sheng , Zhang Ying-ze , Peng A-qin 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background and objective
The incidence of traumatic hemipelvectomy is rare, but it is a devastating injury. Recently, an increasing number of patients with traumatic hemipelvectomy are admitted to trauma centers alive due to improvements of the pre-hospital care. Successful management requires prompt recognition of the nature of this injury and meticulous surgical technique. We present our successful experiences on four cases of traumatic hemipelvectomy in the past nine years.

Patients and methods
Four cases with traumatic hemipelvectomy were admited to our hospital from June 21, 2002 to September 3, 2011. All injuries occurred due to vehicle accident and all patients were in a state of severe hypotension, with two of them having anal lacerations. These four cases were treated immediately with resuscitation, control of hemorrhage, early amputation, repeated debridement and closure of the wounds. An angiographic embolization was given to control hemorrhage in two of the cases preoperatively. One case underwent fecal diversion. Wound infection occurred in all of cases which was successfully controlled by repeated debridements, effective anti-biotic regimen, split-thickness skin grafts.

Results
All four cases were saved successfully with well-healed wounds during follow up from 1 to 7 years. They were able to walk by themself using crutches.

Conclusion
Adhering to the surgery principles of damage control including appropriate resuscitation, hemorrhage control, coagulopathy correction and multiple debridements and closure of the wounds in reasonable period of time can save the life of cases suffering from severe pelvic ring injury.
A method for quantitative measurement of lumbar intervertebral disc structures: an intra- and inter-rater agreement and reliability study
Authors: Tunset Andreas , Kjaer Per , Samir Chreiteh Shadi , Secher Jensen Tue 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Background
There is a shortage of agreement studies relevant for measuring changes over time in lumbar intervertebral disc structures. The objectives of this study were: 1) to develop a method for measurement of intervertebral disc height, anterior and posterior disc material and dural sac diameter using MRI, 2) to evaluate intra- and inter-rater agreement and reliability for the measurements included, and 3) to identify factors compromising agreement.

Methods
Measurements were performed on MRIs from 16 people with and 16 without lumbar disc herniation, purposefully chosen to represent all possible disc contours among participants in a general population study cohort. Using the new method, MRIs were measured twice by one rater and once by a second rater. Agreement on the sagittal start- and end-slice was evaluated using weighted Kappa. Length and volume measurements were conducted on available slices between intervertebral foramens, and cross-sectional areas (CSA) were calculated from length measurements and slice thickness. Results were reported as Bland and Altman’s limits of agreement (LOA) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).

Results
Weighted Kappa (K
w (95% CI)) for start- and end-slice were: intra-: 0.82(0.60;0.97) & 0.71(0.43;0.93); inter-rater: 0.56(0.29;0.78) & 0.60(0.35;0.81). For length measurements, LOA ranged from [−1.0;1.0] mm to [−2.0;2.3] mm for intra-; and from [−1.1; 1.4] mm to [−2.6;2.0] mm for inter-rater. For volume measurements, LOA ranged from [−293;199] mm3 to [−582;382] mm3 for intra-, and from [−17;801] mm3 to [−450;713] mm3 for inter-rater. For CSAs, LOA ranged between [−21.3; 18.8] mm2 and [−31.2; 43.7] mm2 for intra-, and between [−10.8; 16.4] mm2 and [−64.6; 27.1] mm2 for inter-rater. In general, LOA as a proportion of mean values gradually decreased with increasing size of the measured structures. Agreement was compromised by difficulties in identifying the vertebral corners, the anterior and posterior boundaries of the intervertebral disc and the dural sac posterior boundary. With two exceptions, ICCs were above 0.81.

Conclusions
Length measurements and calculated CSAs of disc morphology and dural sac diameter from MRIs showed acceptable intra- and inter-rater agreement and reliability. However, caution should be taken when measuring very small structures and defining anatomical landmarks.
Changes in feed intake, nutrient digestion, plasma metabolites, and oxidative stress parameters in dairy cows with subacute ruminal acidosis and its regulation with pelleted beet pulp
Authors: Guo Yongqing , Xu Xiaofeng , Zou Yang , Yang Zhanshan , Li Shengli , Cao Zhijun 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the variation of nutrient digestion, plasma metabolites and oxidative stress parameters triggered by induced subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA); and 2) evaluate the ability of pelleted beet pulp (BP) as a replacement for ground corn to alleviate SARA. Eight Holstein-Friesian cows were fed four diets during four successive17-day periods: 1) total mixed ration (TMR) containing 0% finely ground wheat (FGW) (W0); 2) TMR containing 10% FGW (W10); 3) TMR containing 20% FGW (W20); and 4) TMR containing 10% BP as a replacement for 10% ground corn (BP10). The SARA induction protocol reduced the mean ruminal pH from 6.37 to 5.94, and the minimum ruminal pH decreased from 5.99 to 5.41 from baseline to challenge period. Mean ruminal pH increased from 5.94 to 6.05, and minimum daily ruminal pH increased from 5.41 to 5.63, when BP was substituted for corn. The apparent digestibility of nutrients was not affected by the dietary treatments, except that the digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) was reduced in cows fed the W20 diet compared with cows fed the W0 and W10 diets, and cows fed the BP10 diet had higher NDF and ADF digestibility than the cows fed the W20 diet. Cows fed the W20 diet had a lower plasma concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), cholesterol, triglyceride, and total antioxidative capacity (TAC), and a higher plasma concentration of glucose, insulin, malonaldehyde (MDA), super oxygen dehydrogenises (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) than cows fed the W0 diet. Substitution of BP for corn increased concentrations of plasma BHBA and TAC, but decreased concentrations of plasma MDA. Our results indicate that reduction of fibre digestion; the concomitant increase of plasma glucose and insulin; the decrease of plasma BHBA, NEFA, cholesterol, and triglyceride; and changes of plasma oxidative stress parameters are highly related to SARA induced by W20 diets. These variables may be alternative candidates for SARA diagnosis. We also suggest that the substitution of BP for corn could reduce the risk of SARA, increase fibre digestion, and improve the antioxidant status in dairy cows.
Bumblebee visual search for multiple learned target types
Authors: Nityananda Vivek , Pattrick Jonathan G. 
Published: August 2013

Summary
Visual search is well studied in human psychology, but we know comparatively little about similar capacities in non-human animals. It is sometimes assumed that animal visual search is restricted to a single target at a time. In bees, for example, this limitation has been evoked to explain flower constancy, the tendency of bees to specialize on a single flower type. Few studies however, have investigated bee visual search for multiple target types after extended learning and controlling for prior visual experience. We trained colour-naive bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) extensively in separate discrimination tasks to recognise two rewarding colours in interspersed block training sessions. We then tested them with both colours simultaneously in the presence of distracting colours to examine whether and how quickly they were able to switch between the target colours. We found that bees switched between visual targets quickly and often. The median time taken to switch between targets was shorter than known estimates of how long traces last in bees' working memory suggesting that their capacity to recall more than one learned target was not restricted by working memory limitations. Following our results, we propose a model of memory and learning that integrates our findings with previous studies investigating flower constancy.
Frog nuptial pads secrete mating season-specific proteins related to salamander pheromones
Authors: Willaert Bert , Bossuyt Franky , Janssenswillen Sunita , Adriaens Dominique , Baggerman Geert , Matthijs Severine , Pauwels Elin , Proost Paul , Raepsaet Arent , Schoofs Liliane , Stegen Gwij , Treer Dag , Van Hoorebeke Luc , Vandebergh Wim , Van Bocxlaer Ines 
Published: August 2013

Summary
Males of many frog species develop spiny nuptial pads with underlying glands on their thumbs during the mating period. We used 3D visualisation on the European common frog Rana temporaria to show that these glands' morphology allows the channeling of secreted molecules to the pad's surface during amplexus. Combined transcriptome and proteome analyses show that proteins of the Ly-6/uPAR family, here termed amplexins, are highly expressed in the nuptial glands during the mating season, but are totally absent outside that period. The function of amplexins remains unknown, but it is interesting to note that they share structural similarities with Plethodontid Modulating Factors, proteins that influence courtship duration in salamanders.
Rats maintain a binocular field centered on the horizon
Authors: Meister Markus , Cox David 
Published: August 2013

In this letter, we attempt to correct a potentially serious misperception arising from the paper “Rats maintain an overhead binocular field at the expense of constant fusion”. While the authors repeatedly emphasize that the animal’s binocular field is overhead, the authors’ own data show that the truth is quite different, even orthogonal: the binocular field is in fact centered dead-ahead in front of the animal, tapering to a sliver both above and below the animal. We predict that this paper will be widely cited for something that it does not demonstrate, a concern that is borne out by the paper’s earliest citation.
La "traductibilité" des noms propres dans le cadre du bilinguisme gréco-latin
Authors: Biville Frédérique 
Published: August 2013

SummaryProper names are specific to the civilisation and to the language in which they occur. The 'translation' of a proper name involves in the first place establishing the identity of its referent This identification is conditioned by the degree of familiarity with the proper name in question and by the cultural and linguistic level of the speakers and hearers who use it. It is often based on a presentation strategy which has recourse to characterising expansion and metalinguistic paraphrase. The translation of a proper name also involves a confrontation with the structures of the target language into which it can be assimilated to differing degrees. In most cases proper nouns become loanwords, but it can also happen that they are translated, that is to say replaced by lexical equivalents, of a greater or lesser degree of complexity, which already exist in the language or which are invented, often maladroitly, for that specific purpose. These translations display a concern to explain rather than to name the foreign object. They reveal differences in status between different onomastic categories and lead to a consideration of the controversial question of the 'meaning' of proper names*.
La (dés)-intensification dans les adjectifs latins : les morphèmes de degré
Authors: Fruyt Michèle 
Published: August 2013

SummaryLatin gradable adjectives can be modified by prefixes and suffixes which can be intensifies or disintensi fiers. They have the semantic particularity of showing the notion of a scalar progression, a subcategory of quantification. They could be called scalar morphemes. The intensification may be either towards a high or a low degree of realisation of the notion. We study here three productive scalar morphemes :
Modality's semantic maps. An investigation of some Latin modal forms
Authors: Magni Elisabetta 
Published: August 2013

SummaryIn the recent literature on grammaticalization we find that, since modal meanings arise from a restricted set of semantic sources (i.e. lexical items that refer explicitly to concepts related to possibility, necessity, etc.), cross-linguistically similar paths for the evolution of grammatical markers are predictable, and multiple uses of forms can be viewed as points on grammaticalization chains. The purpose of this investigation, which takes into account the data provided by extensive typological research and the theoretical framework offered by Role and Reference Grammar, is to test these findings and predictions about universal modal paths. Starting from the analysis of the modal forms
Interférences fonctionnelles entre relatives, complétives et circonstancielles
Authors: Bodelot Colette 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe aim of this paper is to analyze whether, besides the basic functions traditionally ascribed to the three fundamental types of subordinate clauses in Latin, each of these subclasses cannot occasionally present functions characteristic of both other classes. Without any pretension to exhaustiveness, we will show by a sample of examples, gleaned from ancient, classical and Silver-Latin, that the subordinate clauses introduced by synchronically non-ambiguous forms of relative pronouns or circumstantial conjunctions can be functionally polyvalent, whereas clear-cut substantive clauses seem to be regularly confined to one specific functional domain. Various syntactic and semantic factors, considered both from a diachronic and synchronic perspective, prove operative to explain such differences of functional behavior.
Anaphore et coordination dans les textes latins tardifs
Authors: Kiss Sändor 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe aim of the paper is to describe types of anaphoric relations that hold between sentences in Latin, and to discover diachronic shifts that could happen in the use of these types. Anaphora can be realized by pronominal chains or by lexical repetitions; some connecting elements, especially conjunctions of coordination also function anaphorically in the text Often this type of binding is optional, and it insists on spatial and temporal frames of the events related. Lexical means become more frequent in Late Latin, and optional connection appears also more often. These phenomena can be evaluated as stylistic deviations, but it is probable that they are related to deep syntactic modification of postclassical Latin. Documentation is taken from classical and post-classical authors and from the Bible.
Vers la construction de mondes possibles en latin: la non-actualisation
Authors: Orlandini Anna 
Published: August 2013

SummaryModem languages may generate possible worlds by means of conditional mood: in what follows we analyse how the Latin language can obviate the lack of this mood. We shall consider the not-actualisation by epistemic modifiers which operate on factuality, as the potential. When the Speaker wants to point out the lowest degree of actualisation, the perfect subjunctive is used to kindly mitigate an assertion or to emphasize “le caractère invraisemblable ou excessif” (H. Vairel 1980: 130). We shall analyse also the "untrue conditionals" which introduce not-conditioned probable worlds and the idea of not-actualisation, rejecting the predication into the "anti-universe of the Speaker^ (R. Martin 1983).