bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantitative observations on asexual reproduction of Aeolosoma viride (Annelida, Aphanoneura)
Authors: Falconi Rosanna , Gugnali Andrea , Zaccanti Francesco 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAgametic reproductive activity (via paratomy) of Aeolosoma viride was analyzed throughout the life cycle in individually reared specimens. Aeolosoma viride is organized in linear chains of 3–4 zooids; the main zooid is anterior, and the secondary zooids are positioned posterior to the main zooid in inverse order with respect to their degree of growth, the most advanced being at the posterior end, and those less advanced nearer the main zooid. On average, worms lived 66±10 d and produced 57±6 offspring. A budding area located in the sub‐terminal part of the main zooid produced chaetigers that formed the origin of the secondary zooids. A growth zone was located in the posterior end of each secondary zooids. Fission occurred between the penultimate and the last zooid of the chain. Just before fission, the growth zone of each secondary zooid became a budding area. Agametic reproduction was via multiple paratomy with linear succession of the secondary zooid and terminal fission. The structure of the chain was therefore modulated by the interaction of the processes of budding, growth, cephalic differentiation, and fission, which occurred continuously and on different timescales. Values of parameters describing paratomic activity (interval between origin of the zooids, time to produce a chaetiger, growth time of the zooids, and interval between the fission of the filial chains) are low early in an individual's life, but increase during senescence. Due to its relatively rapid lifecycle and high reproductive activity, A. viride is a convenient experimental organism for the study of agametic reproduction.
The Evolution of Tissue Stiffness at Radiofrequency Ablation Sites During Lesion Formation and in the Peri‐Ablation Period
Authors: EYERLY STEPHANIE A. , VEJDANI‐JAHROMI MARYAM , DUMONT DOUGLAS M. , TRAHEY GREGG E. , WOLF PATRICK D. 
Published: May 2015

Peri‐Ablation Monitoring of RFA Lesion StiffnessIntroductionElastography imaging can provide radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesion assessment due to tissue stiffening at the ablation site. An important aspect of assessment is the spatial and temporal stability of the region of stiffness increase in the peri‐ablation period. The aim of this study was to use 2 ultrasound‐based elastography techniques, shear wave elasticity imaging (SWEI) and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging, to monitor the evolution of tissue stiffness at ablation sites in the 30 minutes following lesion creation.Methods and ResultsIn 6 canine subjects, SWEI measurements and 2‐D ARFI images were acquired at 6 ventricular endocardial RFA sites before, during, and for 30 minutes postablation. An immediate increase in tissue stiffness was detected during RFA, and the area of the postablation region of stiffness increase (RoSI) as well as the relative stiffness at the RoSI center was stable approximately 2 minutes after ablation. Of note is the observation that relative stiffness in the region adjacent to the RoSI increased slightly during the first 15 minutes, consistent with local fluid displacement or edema. The magnitude of this increase, ∼0.5‐fold from baseline, was significantly less than the magnitude of the stiffness increase directly inside the RoSI, which was greater than 3‐fold from baseline.ConclusionsUltrasound‐based SWEI and ARFI imaging detected an immediate increase in tissue stiffness during RFA, and the stability and magnitude of the stiffness change suggest that consistent elasticity‐based lesion assessment is possible 2 minutes after and for at least 30 minutes following ablation.
Effects of a sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 selective inhibitor, ipragliflozin, on the diurnal profile of plasma glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes: A study using continuous glucose monitoring
Authors: Yamada Kentaro , Nakayama Hitomi , Yoshinobu Satoko , Kawano Seiko , Tsuruta Munehisa , Nohara Masayuki , Hasuo Rika , Akasu Shoko , Tokubuchi Ichiro , Wada Nobuhiko , Hirao Saori , Iwata Shinpei , Kaku Hiroo , Tajiri Yuji 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAims/IntroductionTo assess the effects of sodium glucose co‐transporter 2 inhibitor therapy on the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsWe administered ipragliflozin to 21 inpatients with type 2 diabetes for 7 days, and analyzed the diurnal profiles of plasma glucose and 3‐hydroxybutyrate. A total of 21 age‐, sex‐ and body mass index‐matched diabetic patients served as controls.ResultsContinuous glucose monitoring showed that the 24‐h glucose curve was shifted downward without hypoglycemia by the administration of ipragliflozin. The average glucose level was reduced from 182 ± 54 mg/dL to 141 ± 33 mg/dL (P < 0.0001). The magnitude of the reduction was highly correlated with the baseline average glucose level. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was decreased, and homeostasis model assessment of β‐cell function was increased during the treatment. Urinary glucose excretion was correlated with the average glucose level both on day 0 and on day 7, although the regression line was steeper and shifted leftward on day 7. The ipragliflozin‐treated patients lost more weight than the control patients (1.4 ± 0.5 vs 0.5 ± 0.6 kg, P < 0.0001). Plasma levels of 3‐hydroxybutyrate were significantly increased with peaks before breakfast and before dinner. Patient age and bodyweight loss were negatively and positively correlated with the peak levels of 3‐hydroxybutyrate on day 7, respectively.ConclusionsThe ipragliflozin treatment improved the 24‐h glucose curve without causing hypoglycemia. The close correlation between the magnitude of glucose reduction and the baseline plasma glucose concentration suggests that the risk of hypoglycemia is likely low. It might be prudent to monitor ketone body levels in younger patients and in patients with rapid weight loss.
Dinoflagellate Gene Structure and Intron Splice Sites in a Genomic Tandem Array
Authors: Mendez Gregory S. , Delwiche Charles F. , Apt Kirk E. , Lippmeier J. Casey 
Published: May 2015

AbstractDinoflagellates are one of the last major lineages of eukaryotes for which little is known about genome structure and organization. We report here the sequence and gene structure of a clone isolated from a cosmid library which, to our knowledge, represents the largest contiguously sequenced, dinoflagellate genomic, tandem gene array. These data, combined with information from a large transcriptomic library, allowed a high level of confidence of every base pair call. This degree of confidence is not possible with PCR‐based contigs. The sequence contains an intron‐rich set of five highly expressed gene repeats arranged in tandem. One of the tandem repeat gene members contains an intron 26,372 bp long. This study characterizes a splice site consensus sequence for dinoflagellate introns. Two to nine base pairs around the 3′ splice site are repeated by an identical two to nine base pairs around the 5′ splice site. The 5′ and 3′ splice sites are in the same locations within each repeat so that the repeat is found only once in the mature mRNA. This identically repeated intron boundary sequence might be useful in gene modeling and annotation of genomes.
Effects of Seasonality and Dispersal on the Ciliate Community Inhabiting Bromeliad Phytotelmata in Riparian Vegetation of a Large Tropical River
Authors: Buosi Paulo R. B. , Cabral Adalgisa F. , Utz Laura R. P. , Vieira Ludgero C. G. , Velho Luiz F. M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis study evaluated the influence of rainfall amount on the abundance, species richness, and species occurrence and abundance distribution of the ciliate community associated with the bromeliadAechmea distichantha. The plants were collected from a rock wall of about 10‐km long at the left bank of Paraná River. We assessed the effects of both spatial and temporal variables on the community attributes, as well as whether plants geographically closer have a similar abundance distribution and species composition. The ciliate community was substantially distinct between both hydrological periods, with greater values of species richness and abundance in the rainy period. No spatial structuring (differences in the species occurrence and abundance distribution among strata) or geographical similarity (similarity in ciliate species composition among the plants) was found. Multiple regression analysis showed a positive relationship only between the ciliate abundances and water volumes for both periods. Although few of the formulated predictions were confirmed, our study provides valuable information on the ecological aspects of the ciliate community inhabiting bromeliad phytotelmata.
Dual target strategy: combining distinct non‐dopaminergic treatments reduces neuronal cell loss and synergistically modulates l‐DOPA‐induced rotational behavior in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Fuzzati‐Armentero Marie‐Therese , Cerri Silvia , Levandis Giovanna , Ambrosi Giulia , Montepeloso Elena , Antoninetti Gianfilippo , Blandini Fabio , Baqi Younis , Müller Christa E. , Volpini Rosaria , Costa Giulia , Simola Nicola , Pinna Annalisa 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe glutamate metabotropic receptor 5 (mGluR5) and the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) represent major non‐dopaminergic therapeutic targets in Parkinson's disease (PD) to improve motor symptoms and slow down/revert disease progression. The 6‐hydroxydopamine rat model of PD was used to determine/compare the neuroprotective and behavioral impacts of single and combined administration of one mGluR5 antagonist, 2‐methyl‐6‐(phenylethynyl)pyridine (MPEP), and two A2AR antagonists, (E)‐phosphoric acid mono‐[3‐[8‐[2‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)vinyl]‐7‐methyl‐2,6‐dioxo‐1‐prop‐2‐ynyl‐1,2,6,7‐tetrahydropurin‐3‐yl]propyl] (MSX‐3) and 8‐ethoxy‐9‐ethyladenine (ANR 94). Chronic treatment with MPEP or MSX‐3 alone, but not with ANR 94, reduced the toxin‐induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Combining MSX‐3 and MPEP further improved the neuroprotective effect of either antagonists. At the behavioral level, ANR 94 and MSX‐3 given alone significantly potentiated l‐DOPA‐induced turning behavior. Combination of either A2AR antagonists with MPEP synergistically increased L‐DOPA‐induced turning. This effect was dose‐dependent and required subthreshold drug concentration, which per se had no motor stimulating effect. Our findings suggest that co‐treatment with A2AR and mGluR5 antagonists provides better therapeutic benefits than those produced by either drug alone. Our study sheds some light on the efficacy and advantages of combined non‐dopaminergic PD treatment using low drug concentration and establishes the basis for in‐depth studies to identify optimal doses at which these drugs reach highest efficacy.
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Combined treatment with low concentrations of known adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) and metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR5) antagonists results in a therapeutic benefit and provides better results than those produced by either drug given alone, both in terms of motor performance and neuroprotection. Future trials should involve careful optimization of drug combinations and concentrations that may avoid the emergence of debilitating side effects and slow‐down/revert disease progression.
Dyrk1A phosphorylates parkin at Ser‐131 and negatively regulates its ubiquitin E3 ligase activity
Authors: Im Eunju , Chung Kwang Chul 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMutations of parkin are associated with the occurrence of autosomal recessive familial Parkinson's disease (PD). Parkin acts an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which ubiquitinates target proteins and subsequently regulates either their steady‐state levels through the ubiquitin–proteasome system or biochemical properties. In this study, we identify a novel regulatory mechanism of parkin by searching for new regulatory factors. After screening human fetal brain using a yeast two hybrid assay, we found dual‐specificity tyrosine‐(Y)‐phosphorylation‐regulated kinase 1A (Dyrk1A) as a novel binding partner of parkin. We also observed that parkin interacts and co‐localizes with Dyrk1A in mammalian cells. In addition, Dyrk1A directly phosphorylated parkin at Ser‐131, causing the inhibition of its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Moreover, Dyrk1A‐mediated phosphorylation reduced the binding affinity of parkin to its ubiquitin‐conjugating E2 enzyme and substrate, which could be the underlying inhibitory mechanism of parkin activity. Furthermore, Dyrk1A‐mediated phosphorylation inhibited the neuroprotective action of parkin against 6‐hydroxydopamine toxicity in dopaminergic SH‐SY5Y cells. These findings suggest that Dyrk1A acts as a novel functional modulator of parkin. Parkin phosphorylation by Dyrk1A suppresses its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity potentially contributing to the pathogenesis of PD under PD‐inducing pathological conditions.
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Mutations of parkin are linked to autosomal recessive forms of familial Parkinson's disease (PD). According to its functional relevance in abnormal protein aggregation and neuronal cell death, a number of post‐translational modifications regulate the ubiquitin E3 ligase activity of parkin. Here we propose a novel inhibitory mechanism of parkin E3 ubiquitin ligase through dual‐specificity tyrosine‐phosphorylation‐regulated kinase 1A (Dyrk1A)‐mediated phosphorylation as well as its neuroprotective action against 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA)‐induced cell death. The present work suggests that parkin phosphorylation by Dyrk1A may affect the pathogenesis of PD under PD‐inducing pathological conditions.
Dextran sulfate sodium inhibits amyloid‐β oligomer binding to cellular prion protein
Authors: Aimi Takahiro , Suzuki Koichiro , Hoshino Tatsuya , Mizushima Tohru 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAmyloid‐β peptide (Aβ), especially its oligomeric form, is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To this end, the binding of Aβ oligomer to cellular prion protein (PrPC) plays an important role in synaptic dysfunction in a mouse model of AD. Here, we have screened for compounds that inhibit Aβ oligomer binding to PrPC from medicines already used clinically (Mizushima Approved Medicine Library 1), and identified dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) as a candidate. In a cell‐free assay, DSS inhibited Aβ oligomer binding to PrPC but not to ephrin receptor B2, another endogenous receptor for Aβ oligomers, suggesting that the drug's action is specific to the binding of Aβ oligomer to PrPC. Dextran on the other hand did not affect this binding. DSS also suppressed Aβ oligomer binding to cells expressing PrPC but not to control cells. Furthermore, while incubation of mouse hippocampal slices with Aβ oligomers inhibited the induction of long‐term potentiation, simultaneous treatment with DSS restored the long‐term potentiation. As DSS has already been approved for use in patients with hypertriglyceridemia, and its safety in humans has been confirmed, we propose further analysis of this drug as a candidate for AD treatment.
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Amyloid‐β peptide (Aβ) oligomer‐binding to cellular prion protein (PrPC) is important in synaptic dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We found here that dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) inhibits Aβ oligomer binding to PrPC. Simultaneous treatment of hippocampal slices with DSS restored long‐term potentiation (LTP) in the presence of Aβ oligomers. Since DSS has already been approved for clinical use, we propose this drug is a candidate drug for AD treatment.
Market Making Contracts, Firm Value, and the IPO Decision
Authors: BESSEMBINDER HENDRIK , HAO JIA , ZHENG KUNCHENG 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTWe examine the effects of secondary market liquidity on firm value and the IPO decision. Competitive aftermarket liquidity provision is associated with reduced welfare and a discounted secondary market price that can dissuade IPOs. The competitive market fails in particular for firms or at times when uncertainty regarding fundamental value and asymmetric information are large in combination. In these cases, firm value and welfare are improved by a contract where the firm engages a designated market maker to enhance liquidity. Such contracts represent a market solution to a market imperfection, particularly for small, growth firms.
A New Paradigm for Individual Subject Language Mapping: Movie‐Watching fMRI
Authors: Tie Yanmei , Rigolo Laura , Ozdemir Ovalioglu Aysegul , Olubiyi Olutayo , Doolin Kelly L. , Mukundan Srinivasan , Golby Alexandra J. 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDFunctional MRI (fMRI) based on language tasks has been used in presurgical language mapping in patients with lesions in or near putative language areas. However, if patients have difficulty performing the tasks due to neurological deficits, it leads to unreliable or noninterpretable results. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of using a movie‐watching fMRI for language mapping.METHODSA 7‐minute movie clip with contrasting speech and nonspeech segments was shown to 22 right‐handed healthy subjects. Based on all subjects’ language functional regions‐of‐interest, 6 language response areas were defined, within which a language response model (LRM) was derived by extracting the main temporal activation profile. Using a leave‐one‐out procedure, individuals’ language areas were identified as the areas that expressed highly correlated temporal responses with the LRM derived from an independent group of subjects.RESULTSCompared with an antonym generation task‐based fMRI, the movie‐watching fMRI generated language maps with more localized activations in the left frontal language area, larger activations in the left temporoparietal language area, and significant activations in their right‐hemisphere homologues. Results of 2 brain tumor patients’ movie‐watching fMRI using the LRM derived from the healthy subjects indicated its ability to map putative language areas; while their task‐based fMRI maps were less robust and noisier.CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that it is feasible to use this novel “task‐free” paradigm as a complementary tool for fMRI language mapping when patients cannot perform the tasks. Its deployment in more neurosurgical patients and validation against gold‐standard techniques need further investigation.
Corruption in Committees: An Experimental Study of Information Aggregation through Voting
Authors: MORTON REBECCA B. , TYRAN JEAN‐ROBERT 
Published: May 2015

AbstractWe investigate experimentally the effects of corrupt experts on information aggregation in committees. We find that nonexperts are significantly less likely to delegate through abstention when there is a probability that experts are corrupt. Such decreased abstention, when the probability of corrupt experts is low, actually increases information efficiency in committee decision‐making. However, if the probability of corrupt experts is large, the effect is not sufficient to offset the mechanical effect of decreased information efficiency due to corrupt experts. Our results demonstrate that the norm of “letting the expert decide” in committee voting is influenced by the probability of corrupt experts, and that influence can have, to a limited extent, a positive effect on information efficiency.
Increased fat and polyunsaturated fatty acid content in sow gestation diet has no effect on gene expression in progeny during the first 7 days of life
Authors: de Greeff A. , Bikker P. , Smit‐Heinsbroek A. , Bruininx E. , Zwolschen H. , Fijten H. , Zetteler P. , Vastenhouw S. , Smits M. , Rebel J. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryThe ‘developmental origins of health and disease’ hypothesis proposes not only that we are what we eat, but also that we could be what our parents ate. Here, we aimed to improve health and performance of young piglets via maternal diets based on the hypothesis that maternal nutritional interventions change metabolic programming in piglets, reflected by differential gene expression early in life. Therefore, sows were fed either a regular diet, based on barley, wheat and wheat by‐products, sugar beet pulp, palm oil and oilseed meal, or a high‐fat (HF) diet consisting of the regular diet supplemented with an additional amount of 3.5% soybean oil and 1% fish oil at the expense of palm oil and wheat. Performance results, physiological parameters and gene expression in liver of piglets and blood of piglets and sows at day 7 after farrowing from both diet groups were compared. The HF diet tended to enhance growth rate of the offspring in the first week of life. No significant differences in gene expression in liver tissue and blood could be detected between the two groups, neither with whole‐genome microarray analysis, nor with gene specific qPCR analysis. In this study, the feeding of a high‐fat diet with increased amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) to gestating sows under practical farm settings did not induce significant changes in gene expression in sows and offspring.
Manipulation of nitrogen levels and mode of cultivation are viable methods to improve the lipid, fatty acids, phytochemical content, and bioactivities in Chlorella minutissima
Authors: Aremu Adeyemi O. , Neményi Miklós , Stirk Wendy A. , Ördög Vince , van Staden Johannes 
Published: May 2015

The effect of nitrogen (N: low = 2% N or moderate = 10% N) levels and cultivation (photoautotrophic or mixotrophic) modes on the biochemicals in Chlorella minutissima was evaluated using a mass culture system. Moderate N and mixotrophic cultures had higher biomass, protein, carbohydrate content and photosynthetic pigments than the low N and photoautotrophic treatments. In contrast, lipid and fatty acid content of the low N and photoautotrophic treatments were higher than in the moderate N and mixotrophic cultures. More phytochemicals were accumulated in moderate N and mixotrophic cultures which corresponded to better antioxidant capacity in the extracts. The most potent (0.7 mg · mL−1) acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity was displayed by moderate N and mixotrophic treatment. Approximately 60% of the extracts exhibited a noteworthy antimicrobial activity regardless of the N levels and cultivation modes. Thus, moderate N level enhanced the phytochemicals and biological activities of C. minutissima cultured under a mixotrophic system.