bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Some ‘ant’swers: Application of a layered barcode approach to problems in ant taxonomy
Authors: Paknia Omid , Bergmann Tjard , Hadrys Heike 
Published: February 2015

AbstractDNAbarcoding has emerged as a routine tool in modern taxonomy. Although straightforward, this approach faces new challenges, when applied to difficult situation such as defining cryptic biodiversity. Ants are prime examples for high degrees of cryptic biodiversity due to complex population differentiation, hybridization and speciation processes. Here, we test theDNAbarcoding region, cytochrome c oxidase 1 and two supplementary markers, 28S ribosomalDNAand long‐wavelength rhodopsin, commonly used in ant taxonomy, for their potential in a layered, character‐based barcoding approach across different taxonomic levels. Furthermore, we assess performance of the character‐based barcoding approach to determine cryptic species diversity in ants. We found (i) that the barcode potential of a specific genetic marker varied widely among taxonomic levels in ants; (ii) that application of a layered, character‐based barcode for identification of specimens can be a solution to taxonomical challenging groups; (iii) that the character‐based barcoding approach allows us to differentiate specimens even within locations based on pure characters. In summary, (layered) character‐based barcoding offers a reliable alternative for problematic species identification in ants and can be used as a fast and cost‐efficient approach to estimate presence, absence or frequency of cryptic species.
batemanater: a computer program to estimate and bootstrap mating system variables based on Bateman's principles
Authors: Jones Adam G. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBateman's principles continue to play a major role in the characterization of genetic mating systems in natural populations. The modern manifestations of Bateman's ideas include the opportunity for sexual selection (i.e. Is – the variance in relative mating success), the opportunity for selection (i.e. I – the variance in relative reproductive success) and the Bateman gradient (i.e. βss – the slope of the least‐squares regression of reproductive success on mating success). These variables serve as the foundation for one convenient approach for the quantification of mating systems. However, their estimation presents at least two challenges, which I address here with a new Windows‐based computer software package called batemanater. The first challenge is that confidence intervals for these variables are not easy to calculate. batemanater solves this problem using a bootstrapping approach. The second, more serious, problem is that direct estimates of mating system variables from open populations will typically be biased if some potential progeny or adults are missing from the analysed sample. batemanater addresses this problem using a maximum‐likelihood approach to estimate mating system variables from incompletely sampled breeding populations. The current version of batemanater addresses the problem for systems in which progeny can be collected in groups of half‐ or full‐siblings, as would occur when eggs are laid in discrete masses or offspring occur in pregnant females. batemanater has a user‐friendly graphical interface and thus represents a new, convenient tool for the characterization and comparison of genetic mating systems.
A discrete‐beta model for testing gene flow after speciation
Authors: Liu Junfeng , Zhang De‐Xing , Yang Ziheng 
Published: February 2015

Summary

Due to the polymorphism in the ancestral species and the stochastic fluctuation of the coalescent process, the divergence time between sequences from two closely related species varies throughout the genome. This variation is described by an exponential distribution. Gene flow between the species causes additional variation in the sequence divergence time, beyond the expected variation from the ancestral coalescent process. This prediction can be used to test for gene flow between species using genomic sequence data.

A previous implementation of the model used an empirical beta distribution to describe the variation in species divergence time across the genome, with numerical integration used to calculate the 3D integrals involved in the likelihood function. However, with a huge number of loci, the numerical integration is not accurate enough, so the false‐positive rate of the likelihood ratio test may exceed the significance level.

In this study, we replace the beta model with a discretized version, so that the likelihood calculation involves 2D integrals. We implement the new discrete‐beta model in the program 3s and also extend our previous implementation to accommodate loci with different data configurations. We use computer simulation to examine the false‐positive rate, the power and the robustness of the likelihood ratio test.

The results show that the test had low false‐positive rates and had even higher power in detecting gene flow than a likelihood ratio test based on a proper implementation of the isolation‐with‐migration model. It is, however, not robust to high levels of recombination within locus. Application of the test to two empirical data sets (from the hominoid genomes and from the Drosophila fruit flies) suggests the presence of gene flow for both data sets.
Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism With Rivaroxaban: Outcomes by Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index Score from a Post Hoc Analysis of the EINSTEIN PE Study
Authors: Fermann Gregory J. , Erkens Petra M. G. , Prins Martin H. , Wells Philip S. , Pap Ákos F. , Lensing Anthonie W. A. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectivesThe objective was to assess adverse outcomes in relation to the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (PESI) score in patients treated with rivaroxaban or standard therapy in the phase III EINSTEIN PE study and to evaluate the utility of the simplified PESI score to identify low‐risk pulmonary embolism (PE) patients.MethodsA post hoc analysis of EINSTEIN PE data was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with a range of simplified PESI scores. Recurrent venous thromboembolism, fatal PE, all‐cause mortality, and major bleeding were stratified by simplified PESI scores of 0, 1, or ≥2 and according to treatment period at 7, 14, 30, and 90 days and at the end of the full intended treatment period.ResultsSimplified PESI scores could be calculated in 4,831 of the 4,832 randomized patients; of those, 53.6, 36.7, and 9.7% had PESI scores of 0, 1, and ≥2, respectively. Among patients with simplified PESI scores of 0 or 1, fatal PE, all‐cause mortality, and other adverse outcomes were uncommon within the first 7, 14, and 30 days. Patients with simplified PESI scores of ≥2 had more frequent adverse outcomes. Major bleeding was lower in the rivaroxaban group, particularly in those with simplified PESI scores of 1 or ≥2.ConclusionsThe findings support using risk stratification with the simplified PESI score to identify low‐risk patients with PE.
Semilobar Holoprosencephaly Associated with Multiple Malformations in a Foal
Authors: Pintore M. D. , Cantile C. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryA full‐term male foal born in a farm holidays in Maremma (Tuscany, Italy) was euthanized shortly after birth due to the presence of several malformations. The rostral maxilla and the nasal septum were deviated to the right (wry nose), and a severe cervico‐thoracic scoliosis and anus atresia were evident. Necropsy revealed ileum atresia and agenesis of the right kidney. The brain showed an incomplete separation of the hemispheres of the rostral third of the forebrain and the olfactory bulbs and tracts were absent (olfactory aplasia). A diagnosis of semilobar holoprosencephaly (HPE) was achieved. This is the first case of semilobar HPE associated with other organ anomalies in horses.
Toll‐like receptor 4 contributes to vascular remodelling and endothelial dysfunction in angiotensin II‐induced hypertension
Authors: Hernanz R , Martínez‐Revelles S , Palacios R , Martín A , Cachofeiro V , Aguado A , García‐Redondo L , Barrús M T , de Batista P R , Briones A M , Salaices M , Alonso M J 
Published: February 2015

Background and PurposeToll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) signalling contributes to inflammatory cardiovascular diseases, but its role in hypertension and the associated vascular damage is not known. We investigated whether TLR4 activation contributed to angiotensin II (AngII)‐induced hypertension and the associated vascular structural, mechanical and functional alterations.Experimental ApproachAngII was infused (1.44 mg·kg−1·day−1, s.c.) for 2 weeks in C57BL6 mice, treated with a neutralizing anti‐TLR4 antibody or IgG (1 μg·day−1); systolic BP (SBP) and aortic cytokine levels were measured. Structural, mechanical and contractile properties of aortic and mesenteric arterial segments were measured with myography and histology. RT‐PCR and Western blotting were used to analyse these tissues and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from hypertensive rats (SHR).Key ResultsAortic TLR4 mRNA levels were raised by AngII infusion. Anti‐TLR4 antibody treatment of AngII‐treated mice normalised: (i) increased SBP and TNF‐α, IL‐6 and CCL2 levels; (ii) vascular structural and mechanical changes; (iii) altered aortic phenylephrine‐ and ACh‐induced responses; (iv) increased NOX‐1 mRNA levels, superoxide anion production and NAD(P)H oxidase activity and effects of catalase, apocynin, ML‐171 and Mito‐TEMPO on vascular responses; and (v) reduced NO release and effects of L‐NAME on phenylephrine‐induced contraction. In VSMC, the MyD88 inhibitor ST‐2825 reduced AngII‐induced NAD(P)H oxidase activity. The TLR4 inhibitor CLI‐095 reduced AngII‐induced increased phospho‐JNK1/2 and p65 NF‐κB subunit nuclear protein expression.Conclusions and ImplicationsTLR4 up‐regulation by AngII contributed to the inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodelling and stiffness associated with hypertension by mechanisms involving oxidative stress. MyD88‐dependent activation and JNK/NF‐κB signalling pathways participated in these alterations.
Andrographolide derivative AL‐1 improves insulin resistance through down‐regulation of NF‐κB signalling pathway
Authors: Li Yongmei , Yan Hui , Zhang Zaijun , Zhang Gaoxiao , Sun Yewei , Yu Pei , Wang Yuqiang , Xu Lipeng 
Published: February 2015

Background and PurposeAndrographolide is the most active constituent of the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata. Previously, we synthesized a novel andrographolide derivative AL‐1, conjugating andrographolide with lipoic acid. Although the antioxidative and/or anti‐inflammatory activity of AL‐1 contributes to its cytoprotective effects, whether AL‐1 can improve insulin resistance and the mechanisms responsible for its action have not been elucidated.Experimental ApproachWe investigated the anti‐hyperlipidaemic and anti‐hyperglycaemic effects of AL‐1 in a high‐fat diet/streptozocin‐induced animal diabetic model. In addition, we investigated the effect of AL‐1 on the NF‐κB signalling pathway in rat islet derived insulinoma cells (RIN‐m cells) with a focus on the link between reactive oxygen species‐associated inflammation and insulin resistance.Key ResultsAL‐1, at doses of 40 and 80 mg·kg−1, had a significant hypoglycaemic effect; it significantly reduced the level of cholesterol and increased HDL. AL‐1 also reduced the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and enhanced insulin sensitivity. In addition, AL‐1 improved the morphology of pancreatic islets and their function. Furthermore, AL‐1 suppressed high glucose‐induced phosphorylation of p65 and IκBα in RIN‐m cells.Conclusion and ImplicationsAL‐1 has a hypoglycaemic effect and improves insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats. It protected islet from high glucose‐induced oxidative damage by down‐regulating the NF‐κB signalling pathway. Further investigations of AL‐1 as a promising new agent for treatment and/or prevention of diabetes are warranted.
One‐Year Multicenter Prospective Evaluation of Survival Rates and Bone Resorption in One‐Piece Implants
Authors: Ghaleh Golab Kaveh , Balouch Amir , Mirtorabi Shahram 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundSeveral studies have reported the efficiency of immediate loading techniques.PurposeThe aim of this multicenter prospective study was to evaluate the clinical efficiency of the one‐piece screw (OPS) implants used by general dentists.Materials and MethodsA total of 272 patients were treated with 533 implants at five dental clinics by five general dentists. Some implants were provided with provisional restoration. Implants in partially edentulous spaces were splinted with acryl, composite, and intraoral welding. The implant survival rates, bone resorption, plaque accumulation, and soft tissue health were evaluated after 3, 6, and 12 months. The final restorations were cemented in the maxilla after 6 months and in the mandible after 3 months.ResultsTwelve implants failed (98% survival rate) after 12 months. None of the splinted implants failed during the follow‐ups. There were five failures in unsplinted partial cases. The average amounts of bone loss around the implants were 0.40 ± 0.35 mm, 0.56 ± 0.41 mm, and 0.59 ± 0.41 mm after 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Visible plaque was registered in 18% of the implants, and bleeding on probing was observed in 17% of the implants after 12 months.ConclusionsHigh survival rates and favorable host tissue responses support the clinical performance of OPS implants. This study demonstrated that one‐piece implants can be efficiently used by well‐trained general dentists.
Increased levels of irisin in people with long‐standing Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Espes D. , Lau J. , Carlsson P. O. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundIrisin stimulates browning of white adipose tissue and improves metabolic control in mice. Betatrophin, another recently described hormone, improves metabolic control in mice by inducing β–cell proliferation. In vitro, irisin stimulates the expression of betatrophin in rat adipocytes. There is a great interest in developing drugs that target or use these hormones for the treatment of obesity and diabetes. We have previously reported on increased levels of betatrophin in people with Type 1 diabetes, but the levels of irisin are currently unknown.AimTo characterize the levels of irisin in Type 1 diabetes and investigate a potential correlation with betatrophin.MethodsIrisin and betatrophin were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) in 45 individuals with Type 1 diabetes and in 25 healthy controls.ResultsIrisin levels were increased in people with Type 1 diabetes, and especially in women. Negative correlations between irisin levels and age at onset of Type 1 diabetes and plasma triacylglycerol levels were observed. Interestingly, in women with Type 1 diabetes a negative correlation between irisin and insulin doses was also observed. When computing correlations for all study participants, a positive correlation between irisin and total betatrophin was observed, but not between irisin and full‐length betatrophin.ConclusionWe report on increased circulating levels of irisin in people with Type 1 diabetes, especially in women. For women with Type 1 diabetes, the levels of irisin correlated with lower insulin requirements. Further studies are clearly needed to determine the role of irisin in Type 1 diabetes.
Efficacy, safety and tolerability of aleglitazar in patients with type 2 diabetes: pooled findings from three randomized phase III trials
Authors: Henry R. R. , Buse J. B. , Wu H. , Durrwell L. , Mingrino R. , Jaekel K. , El Azzouzi B. , Andjelkovic M. , Herz M. 
Published: February 2015

AimsTo evaluate the potential efficacy, safety and tolerability of aleglitazar as monotherapy or add‐on therapy to metformin or to a sulphonylurea (either alone or in combination with metformin).MethodsWe conducted a pooled analysis of data from three randomized phase III clinical trials of aleglitazar in patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 591). The three studies focused on: (i) aleglitazar alone; (ii) aleglitazar and metformin; and (iii) aleglitazar and sulphonylurea with or without metformin. Patients were randomized to 26 weeks' treatment with aleglitazar 150 µg/day or placebo. The primary endpoint was change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration from baseline to week 26. Secondary endpoints included changes in lipids, fasting plasma glucose and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) at week 26.ResultsReductions in HbA1c concentration from baseline to week 26 were statistically significantly greater with aleglitazar than with placebo. Aleglitazar treatment was associated with more beneficial changes in lipid profiles and HOMA‐IR values than was placebo. Aleglitazar was generally well tolerated, with no reports of congestive heart failure. The incidence of peripheral oedema was similar in both groups. Change in body weight was +1.37 kg with aleglitazar and −0.53 kg with placebo. Hypoglycaemia was more frequently reported with aleglitazar (7.8%) than with placebo (1.7%), a result probably driven by the type of background medication.ConclusionsDevelopment of aleglitazar was halted because of a lack of cardiovascular efficacy and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐related side effects in patients with type 2 diabetes post‐acute coronary syndrome; however, in the present studies, aleglitazar was well tolerated and effective in improving HbA1c, insulin resistance and lipid variables.
High‐frequency stimulation of the medial prefrontal cortex decreases cellular firing in the dorsal raphe
Authors: Srejic Luka R. , Hamani Clement , Hutchison William D. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractHigh‐frequency deep brain stimulation (HFS‐DBS) of the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) region has been investigated as a treatment for refractory forms of depression with a ~50% remission rate in open label studies. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of DBS are still largely unknown. Using anaesthetized Sprague Dawley rats, we recorded neuronal spiking activity in 102 neurons of the dorsal raphe (DR) before, during and after the induction of a 5‐min HFS train in the infralimbic region (IL) of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the rodent homologue of the human SCC. The majority of DR cells (82%) significantly decreased firing rate during HFS (P < 0.01, 55.7 ± 4.5% of baseline, 35 rats). To assess whether mPFC‐HFS mediates inhibition of DR cellular firing by stimulating local GABAergic interneurons, the GABAA antagonist bicuculline (Bic, 100 μm) was injected directly into the DR during HFS. Neurons inhibited by HFS recovered their firing rate during Bic+HFS (P < 0.01, n = 15, seven rats) to levels not different from baseline. Cells that were not affected by HFS did not change firing rate during Bic+HFS (P = 0.968, n = 7, three rats). These results indicate that blocking GABAA reverses HFS‐mediated inhibition of DR neurons. As the cells that were not inhibited by HFS were also unaffected by HFS+Bic, they are probably not innervated by local GABA. Taken together, our results suggest that mPFC‐HFS may exert a preferential effect on DR neurons with GABAA receptors.
Generation of resonance‐dependent oscillation by mGluR‐I activation switches single spiking to bursting in mesencephalic trigeminal sensory neurons
Authors: Chung Gehoon , Saito Mitsuru , Kawasaki Yasuhiro , Kawano Tsutomu , Yin Dongxu , Lee Soojung , Kogo Mikihiko , Takada Masahiko , Bae Yong Chul , Kim Joong Soo , Oh Seog Bae , Kang Youngnam 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe primary sensory neurons supplying muscle spindles of jaw‐closing muscles are unique in that they have their somata in the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MTN) in the brainstem, thereby receiving various synaptic inputs. MTN neurons display bursting upon activation of glutamatergic synaptic inputs while they faithfully relay respective impulses arising from peripheral sensory organs. The persistent sodium current (INaP) is reported to be responsible for both the generation of bursts and the relay of impulses. We addressed how INaP is controlled either to trigger bursts or to relay respective impulses as single spikes in MTN neurons. Protein kinase C (PKC) activation enhanced INaP only at low voltages. Spike generation was facilitated by PKC activation at membrane potentials more depolarized than the resting potential. By injection of a ramp current pulse, a burst of spikes was triggered from a depolarized membrane potential whereas its instantaneous spike frequency remained almost constant despite the ramp increases in the current intensity beyond the threshold. A puff application of glutamate preceding the ramp pulse lowered the threshold for evoking bursts by ramp pulses while chelerythrine abolished such effects of glutamate. Dihydroxyphenylglycine, an agonist of mGluR1/5, also caused similar effects, and increased both the frequency and impedance of membrane resonance. Immunohistochemistry revealed that glutamatergic synapses are made onto the stem axons, and that mGluR1/5 and Nav1.6 are co‐localized in the stem axon. Taken together, glutamatergic synaptic inputs onto the stem axon may be able to switch the relaying to the bursting mode.
After the Crash: A Perspective on Multilevel European Democracy
Authors: Scharpf Fritz W. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractFrom a social‐market perspective, European integration has reduced the capacity of democratic politics to deal with the challenges of global capitalism, and it has contributed to rising social inequality. The article summarises the institutional asymmetries which have done most to constrain democratic political choices and to shift the balance between capital, labour and the state: the priority of negative over positive integration and of monetary integration over political and social integration. It will then explain why efforts to democratise European politics will not be able to overcome these asymmetries and why politically feasible reforms will not be able to remove them. On the speculative assumption that the aftermath of a deep crisis might indeed create the window of opportunity for a political re‐foundation of European integration, the concluding section will outline institutional ground rules that might facilitate democratic political action at both European and national levels.
Habitat corridors facilitate genetic resilience irrespective of species dispersal abilities or population sizes
Authors: Christie Mark R. , Knowles L. Lacey 
Published: February 2015

AbstractCorridors are frequently proposed to connect patches of habitat that have become isolated due to human‐mediated alterations to the landscape. While it is understood that corridors can facilitate dispersal between patches, it remains unknown whether corridors can mitigate the negative genetic effects for entire communities modified by habitat fragmentation. These negative genetic effects, which include reduced genetic diversity, limit the potential for populations to respond to selective agents such as disease epidemics and global climate change. We provide clear evidence from a forward‐time, agent‐based model (ABM) that corridors can facilitate genetic resilience in fragmented habitats across a broad range of species dispersal abilities and population sizes. Our results demonstrate that even modest increases in corridor width decreased the genetic differentiation between patches and increased the genetic diversity and effective population size within patches. Furthermore, we document a trade‐off between corridor quality and corridor design whereby populations connected by high‐quality habitat (i.e., low corridor mortality) are more resilient to suboptimal corridor design (e.g., long and narrow corridors). The ABM also revealed that species interactions can play a greater role than corridor design in shaping the genetic responses of populations to corridors. These results demonstrate how corridors can provide long‐term conservation benefits that extend beyond targeted taxa and scale up to entire communities irrespective of species dispersal abilities or population sizes.