bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of G‐proteins in the effects of leptin on pedunculopontine nucleus neurons
Authors: Beck Paige , Mahaffey Susan , Urbano Francisco J. , Garcia‐Rill Edgar 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), the cholinergic arm of the reticular activating system, regulates waking and rapid eye movement sleep. Here, we demonstrate immunohistochemical labeling of the leptin receptor signaling isoform in PPN neurons, and investigated the effects of G‐protein modulation and the leptin triple antagonist (TA) on the action of leptin in the PPN. Whole‐cell patch clamp recordings were performed in rat brainstem slices from 9 to 17 day old pups. Previous results showed that leptin caused a partial blockade of sodium (INa) and h‐current (IH) in PPN neurons. TA (100 nM) reduced the blockade of INa (~ 50% reduction) and IH (~ 93% reduction) caused by leptin. Intracellular guanosine 5′‐[β‐thio]diphosphate trilithium salt (a G‐protein inhibitor) significantly reduced the effect of leptin on INa(~ 60% reduction) but not on IH (~ 25% reduction). Intracellular GTPγS (a G‐protein activator) reduced the effect of leptin on both INa (~ 80% reduction) and IH (~ 90% reduction). These results suggest that the effects of leptin on the intrinsic properties of PPN neurons are leptin receptor‐ and G‐protein dependent. We also found that leptin enhanced NMDA receptor‐mediated responses in single neurons and in the PPN population as a whole, an effect blocked by TA. These experiments further strengthen the association between leptin dysregulation and sleep disturbances.
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Beck et al. investigated the effects of leptin on the intrinsic properties of neurons from the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). Leptin reduced the amplitude of voltage‐gated sodium (INa) and hyperpolarization‐activated cyclic nucleotide‐gated HCN (IH) channels. These effects were antagonized by a leptin receptor (OB‐R) antagonist and by the G‐protein antagonist GDPβ.
The pre‐synaptic Munc13‐1 binds alcohol and modulates alcohol self‐administration in Drosophila
Authors: Das Joydip , Xu Shiyu , Pany Satyabrata , Guillory Ashley , Shah Vrutant , Roman Gregg W. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractMunc13‐1 is a pre‐synaptic active‐zone protein essential for neurotransmitter release and involved in pre‐synaptic plasticity in brain. Ethanol, butanol, and octanol quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of the C1 domain of Munc13‐1 with EC50s of 52 mM, 26 mM, and 0.7 mM, respectively. Photoactive azialcohols photolabeled Munc13‐1 C1 exclusively at Glu‐582, which was identified by mass spectrometry. Mutation of Glu‐582 to alanine, leucine, and histidine reduced the alcohol binding two‐ to five‐fold. Circular dichroism studies suggested that binding of alcohol increased the stability of the wild‐type Munc13‐1 compared with the mutants. If Munc13‐1 plays some role in the neural effects of alcohol in vivo, changes in the activity of this protein should produce differences in the behavioral responses to ethanol. We tested this prediction with a loss‐of‐function mutation in the conserved Dunc‐13 in Drosophila melanogaster. The Dunc‐13P84200/+ heterozygotes have 50% wild‐type levels of Dunc‐13 mRNA and display a very robust increase in ethanol self‐administration. This phenotype is reversed by the expression of the rat Munc13‐1 protein within the Drosophila nervous system. The present studies indicate that Munc13‐1 C1 has binding site(s) for alcohols and Munc13‐1 activity is sufficient to restore normal self‐administration to Drosophila mutants deficient in Dunc‐13 activity.
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The pre‐synaptic Mun13‐1 protein is a critical regulator of synaptic vesicle fusion and may be involved in processes that lead to ethanol abuse and addiction. We studied its interaction with alcohol and identified Glu‐582 as a critical residue for ethanol binding. Munc13‐1 can functionally complement the Dunc13 haploinsufficient ethanol self‐administration phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster, indicating that this protein participates in alcohol‐induced behavioral plasticity.
Corporate Diversification and the Cost of Capital
Authors: HANN REBECCA N. , OGNEVA MARIA , OZBAS OGUZHAN 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTWe examine whether organizational form matters for a firm's cost of capital. Contrary to the conventional view, we argue that coinsurance among a firm's business units can reduce systematic risk through the avoidance of countercyclical deadweight costs. We find that diversified firms have, on average, a lower cost of capital than comparable portfolios of stand‐alone firms. In addition, diversified firms with less correlated segment cash flows have a lower cost of capital, consistent with a coinsurance effect. Holding cash flows constant, our estimates imply an average value gain of approximately 5% when moving from the highest to the lowest cash flow correlation quintile.
Analysis of a prehistoric Egyptian iron bead with implications for the use and perception of meteorite iron in ancient Egypt
Authors: Johnson Diane , Tyldesley Joyce , Lowe Tristan , Withers Philip J. , Grady Monica M. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractTube‐shaped beads excavated from grave pits at the prehistoric Gerzeh cemetery, approximately 3300 BCE, represent the earliest known use of iron in Egypt. Using a combination of scanning electron microscopy and micro X‐ray microcomputer tomography, we show that microstructural and chemical analysis of a Gerzeh iron bead is consistent with a cold‐worked iron meteorite. Thin fragments of parallel bands of taenite within a meteoritic Widmanstätten pattern are present, with structural distortion caused by cold‐working. The metal fragments retain their original chemistry of approximately 30 wt% nickel. The bulk of the bead is highly oxidized, with only approximately 2.4% of the total bead volume remaining as metal. Our results show that the first known example of the use of iron in Egypt was produced from a meteorite, its celestial origin having implications for both the perception of meteorite iron by ancient Egyptians and the development of metallurgical knowledge in the Nile Valley.
Numerical simulation of the galactic chemical evolution: The revised solar abundance
Authors: Sahijpal S. , Gupta G. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractWe have developed a numerical code for galactic chemical evolution (GCE) of all the stable isotopes from hydrogen to gallium in accordance with the recently revised bulk solar photosphere abundances (Asplund et al. 2009) and the earlier deduced abundances (Anders and Grevesse 1989), herein referred as the pre‐revised abundances. In contrast to solving the classical set of GCE equations, we have numerically simulated the evolution of the galaxy in the solar neighborhood in terms of evolution of the interstellar medium and numerous generations of stars. The evolution of the galaxy was simulated by adopting a two‐stage accretion process. Numerous generations of stars were formed from the interstellar medium according to the adopted star formation rates and the stellar initial mass function (IMF). The simulated stars were evolved and their stellar nucleosynthetic contributions toward the inventories of the stable nuclides to the galaxy were accessed. Assessments were made regarding the type Ia, Ib/c, and II supernovae rates and the stellar remnants, e.g., white‐dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. We have computed the age–metallicity relation and the solar abundances of the stable isotopes. A wide range of simulations were performed by parameterizing the choice of the accretion rate of the galaxy, the stellar initial mass function, the stellar evolution, and nucleosynthetic prescription to study their influence on galactic chemical evolution. The reduction in the observed solar metallicity results in significantly reduced supernova rate history of the galaxy, and a better match to the observed elemental evolutionary trend.
Gender and Role in Conflict Management: Female and Male Managers as Third Parties
Authors: Benharda Imen , Brett Jeanne M. , Lempereur Alain 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThis study tested hypotheses drawn from the literature on gender, leadership, and conflict management about the outcomes facilitated by men and women in third party roles in dispute resolution in organizations. Data collected in association with an MBA teambuilding exercise showed that when women played third party roles in which they lacked authority over disputants, they were able to facilitate an outcome that was both acceptable to disputants and met organizational interests, more than men in these roles or than men and women in third party roles with authority. Behavioral data suggested that this effect was due to women in the third party peer role eschewing and men in the third party role displaying agentic behavior. The study contributes to the literature on gender, leadership, and conflict management by showing women's traditional leadership strengths of collaboration and participation can result in unique outcomes when they have less rather than more authority over disputants.
Goals in Negotiation Revisited: The Impact of Goal Setting and Implicit Negotiation Beliefs
Authors: Tasa Kevin , Celani Anthony , Bell Chris M. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractIn two studies, we investigated whether learning goals, which focus attention on task strategies rather than outcomes, affect negotiator behavior and results differently than performance goals. In Study 1, negotiators with learning goals had lower rates of impasse and were judged to be most cooperative. Study 2 replicated these results using a different task and also compared the impact of learning and performance goals to dispositional goal orientation. We found that implicit negotiation beliefs, derived from theories of dispositional goal orientation, were associated with value claiming and interacted with goal type such that the relationship was strongest in the learning goal condition. In addition, negotiators with learning goals developed greater understanding about their counterpart's interests and created more integrative deals. These results show that negotiated outcomes are influenced by both goal type and the extent to which negotiators view their skills as malleable.
The Good News about Honor Culture: The Preference for Cooperative Conflict Management in the Absence of Insults
Authors: Harinck Fieke , Shafa Saïd , Ellemers Naomi , Beersma Bianca 
Published: May 2013

AbstractPeople from honor cultures are generally seen as prone to react aggressively in conflict situations. The current research challenges this view and shows that people from honor cultures react more constructively to a conflict situation than people from dignity cultures, as long as they are not insulted. In an experiment in which 41 honor and 41 dignity participants reacted to a conflict situation with or without insult, we showed that—as long as they are not insulted—people from honor cultures handled potential conflict situations more constructively than people from dignity cultures. Thus, the good news about people from honor cultures is that they are willing and able to handle conflict situations constructively—even more so than people from dignity cultures—as long as they are not insulted.
Predictors of low levels of self‐efficacy among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in South Korea
Authors: Lee Haejung , Lim Yeonjung , Kim Sungmin , Park Hye‐Kyung , Ahn Jong‐Joon , Kim Yunseong , Lee Bong Chun 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe aim of this study was to identify related factors of low levels of self‐efficacy in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). A cross‐sectional research design used descriptive statistics, χ2 test, t‐test, and binary logistic regression. Two hundred and forty‐five patients with COPD were recruited from five hospitals in South Korea. The COPD Self‐Efficacy Scale, the Bristol COPD Knowledge Questionnaire, Personal Resource Questionnaire 2000, BODE index, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version were utilized to assess self‐efficacy, disease‐related knowledge, social support, disease severity, and physical activity, respectively. The BODE index, affect‐oriented coping, and duration since diagnosis of COPD were included as significant predictors of self‐efficacy. These findings suggest possible screening methods to identify patients with low levels of self‐efficacy and future intervention targeting for these patients would strengthen the efficiency of an intervention.
Peer Effects in UK Adolescent Substance Use: Never Mind the Classmates?
Authors: McVicar Duncan , Polanski Arnold 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThis article estimates peer influences on the alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use of UK adolescents. We present evidence of large, positive and statistically significant peer effects in all three behaviours when classmates are taken as the reference group. We also find large, positive and statistically significant associations between own substance use and friends' substance use. When both reference groups are considered simultaneously, the influence of classmates either disappears or is much reduced, whereas the association between own and friends' behaviours does not change. The suggestion is that classmate behaviour is primarily relevant only inasmuch as it proxies for friends' behaviour.
The gut mucosal immune system in the neonatal period
Authors: Battersby Anna J. , Gibbons Deena L. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractInvasive sepsis in the newborn period is a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality worldwide. The infant immune system undoubtedly differs intrinsically from the mature adult immune system. Current understanding is that the newborn infant immune system displays a range of competencies and is developing rather than deficient. The infant gut mucosal immune system is complex and displays a plethora of phenotypic and functional irregularities that may be clinically important. Various factors affect and modulate the infant gut mucosal immune system: components of the intestinal barrier, the infant gut microbiome, nutrition and the maternal–infant hybrid immune system. Elucidation of the phenotypic distribution of immune cells, their functional significance and the mucosa‐specific pathways used by these cells is essential to the future of research in the field of infant immunology.
Moral Persuasion and the Diversity of Fictions
Authors: Liao Shen‐yi 
Published: May 2013

AbstractNarrative representations can change our moral actions and thoughts, for better or for worse. In this article, I develop a theory of fictions' capacity for moral education and moral corruption that is fully sensitive to the diversity of fictions. Specifically, I argue that the way a fiction influences our moral actions and thoughts importantly depends on its genre. This theory promises new insights into practical ethical debates over pornography and media violence.
Celiac Plexus Block for Treatment of Pain Associated with Pancreatic Cancer: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Zhong Wa , Yu Zhong , Zeng Jing‐Xian , Lin Ying , Yu Tao , Min Xiao‐Hui , Yuan Yu‐Hong , Chen Qi‐Kui 
Published: May 2013

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a high rate of neural invasion (80 to 100%) and can be associated with moderate to severe pain in pancreatic cancer. Treatment of pain with celiac plexus blockage (CPB) combined with the three‐step ladder utilization of pharmaceutical analgesics following WHO guidelines is used, but the evidence in randomized controlled trials is inconsistent. This meta‐analysis identified and compared seven randomized control trials of pain relief from pancreatic cancer, by treatment with medical management alone to celiac plexus blockade with medical management. While no evidence of potential publication bias was detected, group size and statistical power may account for some of the inconsistent conclusions. The combined CPB groups had a significantly lower pain score at 4 weeks, but significance was not maintained at 8 weeks. The combined CPB groups required significantly less drug use compared to the combined control groups treated with pharmaceutical analgesics.
Symptom severity of panic disorder associated with impairment in emotion processing of threat‐related facial expressions
Authors: Wang Sheng‐Min , Kim Yura , Yeon Bora , Lee Hae‐Kook , Kweon Yong‐Sil , Lee Chung Tai , Lee Kyoung‐Uk 
Published: May 2013

AimTo compare emotion recognition patterns between patients with panic disorder (PD) and healthy volunteers and to analyze the correlation between the degree of emotion recognition impairment and symptom severity in patients with PD.MethodsTwenty‐four patients with PD and 20 healthy controls were tested with a facial emotional expression recognition task involving four basic emotions (i.e. happiness, sadness, anger, and fear). Emotion recognition measures included the recognition threshold, response time, response time of correctly classified emotions (response time_crt), and recognition error. An average of all four emotions for each emotion recognition measure was compared between the two groups and then a comparison of recognition measures for each specific emotion was conducted. The correlations between severity of the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Panic Disorder Severity Scale with emotion recognition indices were also analyzed.ResultsAverage recognition threshold was significantly higher in the PD group compared to the control group. In the PD group, there was a non‐significant trend of increase in the emotion recognition threshold for fear and the response time for anger compared with the control group. In the correlation analysis, higher trait anxiety was associated with slower response time_crt for anger and a higher BDI score was associated with slower response times and response time_crt for happiness and anger.ConclusionThis study suggests that symptom severity of PD might be associated with impairment in emotion processing of threat‐related facial expressions.
Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improves performance in emotional memory retrieval as a function of level of anxiety and stimulus valence
Authors: Balconi Michela , Ferrari Chiara 
Published: May 2013

AimsAnxiety behavior showed a consistent attentional bias toward negative and aversive memories, induced by a right frontal cortical superiority, based on an unbalance effect between the two hemispheres. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in the memory retrieval process of positive versus negative emotional stimulus, as a function of anxiety level.MethodsA repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) paradigm was used to induce cortical activation of the left DLPFC. Subjects (n = 27; age range, 21–36 years), who were divided into two different groups (high/low anxiety; State–Trait Anxiety Inventory), were required to perform a task consisting of two experimental phases: an encoding phase (lists composed of positive and negative emotional words); and a retrieval phase (old stimuli and new stimuli to be recognized). Moreover, new stimuli (distractors) semantically related or unrelated to the old stimuli were used to test a possible interference effect induced by the semantic association.ResultsrTMS over the left DLPFC affects memory retrieval. High‐anxiety subjects benefited in greater measure from frontal left stimulation with a reduced negative bias (increased accuracy and reduced response time for the positive stimuli) and a significant increased performance for the semantically related distractors (reduced interference effect).ConclusionLeft DLPFC activation favors the memory retrieval of positive emotional information and might limit the unbalance effect induced by right hemispheric superiority in high levels of anxiety.
Percentage reduction of depression severity versus absolute severity after initial weeks of treatment to predict final response or remission
Authors: Lin Ching‐Hua , Chen Cheng‐Chung , Wang Fu‐Chiang , Lane Hsien‐Yuan 
Published: May 2013

AimPercentage reduction of depression severity has been used to predict both response and remission of major depression. We aimed to compare the accuracy to predict response or remission by percentage reduction of depression score or depression score after initial weeks of treatment.MethodsThe subjects were 126 depressed inpatients who received 20 mg/day fluoxetine for 6 weeks. Symptom severity was assessed using the 17‐item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD‐17). Response was defined as a reduction of 50% or more of the HAMD‐17. Remission was defined as a score of ≤7 of the HAMD‐17. At weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4, the percentages of HAMD‐17 score reduction, the percentages of mood cluster score reduction, HAMD‐17 scores, and mood cluster scores were regarded as potential predictors. The receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to determine the cut‐off point of predictors at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.ResultsOne‐hundred and seven patients completed the 6‐week trial. At weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4, percentages of HAMD‐17 score reduction or HAMD‐17 scores were the best predictors of responder or remitters, respectively. Using the percentage of HAMD‐17 score reduction at each assessment as a predictor of response generated a larger area under the curve than other predictors. Conversely, applying the absolute HAMD‐17 score at each assessment as a predictor of remission had the largest area under the curve.ConclusionApplying percentage of reduction in depression severity during the early weeks of treatment can predict response, and it is reasonable to apply depression severity to predict remission.
Association between high serum total bilirubin and post‐stroke depression
Authors: Tang Wai Kwong , Liang Huajun , Chu Winnie Chiu Wing , Mok Vincent , Ungvari Gabor S. , Wong Ka Sing 
Published: May 2013

AimHigh serum bilirubin predicts depression in non‐stroke subjects, but it is unknown whether it also predicts post‐stroke depression (PSD). This study examined the association between the risk of PSD and bilirubin level.MethodsSix hundred and thirty‐five patients with acute ischemic stroke in Hong Kong were recruited. Serum total bilirubin, alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels were measured in all patients during their hospital stay. A psychiatrist gave the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV to all patients 3 months after the index stroke, with 61 patients diagnosed with PSD: 27 with major depression, 24 with minor depression and 10 with dysthymia.ResultsIn the full sample, the 25%, 50% and 75% percentile bilirubin levels were 7.0, 10.0 and 14.0 μmol/L, respectively. Significant differences were found between the PSD and non‐PSD groups in terms of bilirubin level (P = 0.006). In post‐hoc comparisons, the proportion of patients with bilirubin ≥14.1 μmol/L was significantly higher in the PSD group (37.7% vs 19.7%, P = 0.001). In the final regression model, bilirubin level (≥14.1 μmol/L) remained a significant independent predictor of PSD, with an odds ratio of 2.4.ConclusionsHigh bilirubin level is associated with PSD. Further investigations are needed to clarify the underlying pathophysiological link between bilirubin level and PSD.