bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lipidomic analysis can distinguish between two morphologically similar strains of Nannochloropsis oceanica
Authors: Li Shuang , Xu Jilin , Jiang Ying , Zhou Chengxu , Yu Xuejun , Zhong Yingying , Chen Juanjuan , Yan Xiaojun 
Published: January 2015

The two morphologically similar microalgae NMBluh014 and NMBluh‐X belong to two different strains of Nannochloropsis oceanica. They possess obviously different feeding effects on bivalves, but are indistinguishable by 18S rRNA and morphological features. In this work, lipidomic analysis followed by principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis provided a clear distinction between these strains. Metabolites that definitively contribute to the classification were selected as potential biomarkers. The most important difference in polar lipids were sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (containing 18:1/16:0 and 18:3/16:0) and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (containing 18:3/16:3 and 20:5/14:0), which were detected only in NMBluh‐X. Additionally, an exhaustive qualitative and quantitative profiling of the neutral lipid triacylglycerol (TAG) in the two strains was carried out. The predominant species of TAG containing 16:1/16:1/16:1 acyl groups was detected only in NMBluh‐X with a content of ~93.67 ± 11.85 nmol · mg−1 dry algae at the onset of stationary phase. Meanwhile, TAG containing 16:0/16:0/16:0 was the main TAG in NMBluh014 with a content of 40.25 ± 3.92 nmol · mg−1. These results provided the most straightforward evidence for differentiating the two species. The metabolomic profiling indicated that NMBluh‐X underwent significant chemical and physiological changes during the growth process, whereas NMBluh014 did not show such noticeable time‐dependent metabolite change. This study is the first using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Electrospray ionization‐Quadrupole‐Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS) for lipidomic profiling with multivariate statistical analysis to explore lipidomic differences of plesiomorphous microalgae. Our results demonstrate that lipidomic profiling is a valid chemotaxonomic tool in the study of microalgal systematics.
Decision Making and Underperformance in Competitive Environments: Evidence from the National Hockey League
Authors: Kolev Gueorgui I. , Pina Gonçalo , Todeschini Federico 
Published: January 2015

SummaryWe find evidence of suboptimal decisions leading to underperformance in a policy experiment where two teams of professionals compete in a tournament (National Hockey League shootout) performing a task (penalty shot) sequentially. Before an exogenous policy change, home teams had to perform the task second in the sequence. After the policy change, home teams were given the choice to lead or to follow in the sequence. Home teams should move first only when this is optimal, and this should lead them to winning the tournament more often. We find that after given the choice, home teams most of the time choose to move first in the sequence, and this results in a lower winning frequency for them. Contrary to what economic theory would predict, we find that an expanded choice set can lead to worse outcomes for the agents.
Religion and the Shadow Economy
Authors: Schneider Friedrich , Linsbauer Katharina , Heinemann Friedrich 
Published: January 2015

SummaryReligion is increasingly acknowledged to be a cultural dimension which affects economic outcomes in different regards. This contribution focuses on the possible impact of religion's different dimensions, the overall degree of religiosity, the specific impact of different religions, religious competition and the proximity between religion and the state, on the shadow economy. The empirical test matches the largest available cross‐section on the size of the shadow economy with numerous religious indicators. General religiosity seems to increase the shadow economy. Moreover, robust differences emerge across religions. Furthermore, a closer proximity between state and religion is typical for smaller shadow economies.
A partial melting study of an ordinary (H) chondrite composition with application to the unique achondrite Graves Nunataks 06128 and 06129
Authors: Usui Tomohiro , Jones John H. , Mittlefehldt David W. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractMelting experiments of a synthesized, alkali‐bearing, H‐chondrite composition were conducted at ambient pressure with three distinct oxygen fugacity conditions (IW‐1, IW, and IW+2). Oxygen fugacity conditions significantly influence the compositions of partial melts. Partial melts at IW‐1 are distinctly enriched in SiO2 relative to those of IW and IW+2 melts. The silica‐enriched, reduced (IW‐1) melts are characterized by high alkali contents and have silica‐oversaturated compositions. In contrast, the silica‐depleted, oxidized (≥IW) melts, which are also enriched in alkali contents, have distinctly silica‐undersaturated compositions. These experimental results suggest that alkali‐rich, felsic, asteroidal crusts as represented by paired achondrites Graves Nunataks 06128 and 06129 should originate from a low‐degree, relatively reduced partial melt from a parent body having near‐chondritic compositions. Based on recent chronological constraints and numerical considerations as well as our experimental results, we propose that such felsic magmatism should have occurred in a parent body that is smaller in size and commenced accreting later than those highly differentiated asteroids having basaltic crusts and metallic cores.
Pivotal and distinct role for Plasmodium actin capping protein alpha during blood infection of the malaria parasite
Authors: Ganter Markus , Rizopoulos Zaira , Schüler Herwig , Matuschewski Kai 
Published: January 2015

SummaryAccurate regulation of microfilament dynamics is central to cell growth, motility and response to environmental stimuli. Stabilizing and depolymerizing proteins control the steady‐state levels of filamentous (F‐) actin. Capping protein (CP) binds to free barbed ends, thereby arresting microfilament growth and restraining elongation to remaining free barbed ends. In all CPs characterized to date, alpha and beta subunits form the active heterodimer. Here, we show in a eukaryotic parasitic cell that the two CP subunits can be functionally separated. Unlike the beta subunit, the CP alpha subunit of the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium is refractory to targeted gene deletion during blood infection in the mammalian host. Combinatorial complementation of Plasmodium berghei CP genes with the orthologs from Plasmodium falciparum verified distinct activities of CP alpha and CP alpha/beta during parasite life cycle progression. Recombinant Plasmodium CP alpha could be produced in Escherichia coli in the absence of the beta subunit and the protein displayed F‐actin capping activity. Thus, the functional separation of two CP subunits in a parasitic eukaryotic cell and the F‐actin capping activity of CP alpha expand the repertoire of microfilament regulatory mechanisms assigned to CPs.
Plumbagin suppresses tumor cell growth in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines
Authors: Ono T , Ota A , Ito K , Nakaoka T , Karnan S , Konishi H , Furuhashi A , Hayashi T , Yamada Y , Hosokawa Y , Kazaoka Y 
Published: January 2015

ObjectivesPlumbagin (PL), a naturally occurring quinoid, exerts antitumoral effects in diverse types of cancer cells. However, the effect of PL on tumor cell proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains poorly understood. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of PL, in human OSCC cells.MethodsThe effect of PL on the cell growth and apoptosis of OSCC cell lines was evaluated using MTT and Annexin V assays, respectively. The effect of PL on mitochondrial membrane potential loss and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was evaluated using flow cytometry analysis.ResultsMTT assay showed that PL dose‐dependently suppressed OSCC cell growth, with IC50 values ranging from 3.87 to 14.6 μM. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that PL treatment resulted in a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in the number of apoptotic cells. Notably, ROS generation was significantly elevated after PL treatment. Furthermore, a ROS scavenger, N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), clearly suppressed the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, increase of caspase‐3/7 activity, and apoptosis after PL treatment.ConclusionThis study provides the considerable evidence of the tumor‐suppressive effect of PL, thereby highlighting its therapeutic potential for OSCC treatment.
A palaeobotanical pot‐pourri
Authors: Edwards Dianne 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThis study, the third in the series of virtual issues of Palaeontology, examines the contributions the journal has made to the field of palaeobotany from 1961 onwards. I offer a personal selection of six papers representing four decades of research, with a range of specific geographical (Canada, Australia, China), temporal (Mesozoic, Devonian, Silurian) or more general (cycads, palynology, stratigraphy) focus.
Twelve‐Month Follow‐Up of a Randomized Trial Assessing Cooled Radiofrequency Denervation as a Treatment for Sacroiliac Region Pain
Authors: Patel Nilesh 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study was to report the long‐term outcomes of cooled radiofrequency (CRF) lateral branch neurotomy (LBN) as a treatment for sacroiliac (SI) region pain. Whereas the 1‐, 3‐, 6‐, and 9‐month outcomes of this procedure compared to sham treatment were previously reported, this current report shows the 12‐month outcomes of CRF/LBN treatment for SI region pain.DesignThis study originally included 51 subjects who were randomized 2:1 to receive CRF/LBN treatment or a sham intervention, respectively, for SI region pain. Subjects and assessors were blinded for 3 months. At that time, sham participants were permitted to receive CRF/LBN, designated as “crossover” study subjects, and followed for 6 additional months. For the purpose of this evaluation, the original CRF/LBN‐treated study subjects were followed for a total of 12 months. Study participants were 18 to 88 years of age and had chronic (symptomatic for >6 months) axial back pain. All subjects were qualified for study inclusion following positive responses to dual lateral branch blocks. Lateral branch neurotomy was performed by CRF to ablate the S1 to S3 lateral branches and the L5 dorsal ramus. Pain was measured by a numerical rating scale (NRS) and Short Form 36‐bodily pain (SF36‐BP) scores. The Oswestry disability index and Short Form 36‐physical functioning (SF36‐PF) assessment each served to evaluate subject disability. Treatment successes (“responders”) in the originally treated CRF/LBN group at 12 months, and in the crossover group at 6 months, were also determined.ResultsIn the original CRF/LBN treatment group, 12‐month outcomes compared to baseline were favorable, with a mean 2.7 point drop in the NRS score, a 13.9 decrease in the ODI, and a 15.8 increase in SF‐36BP. In the crossover study group, 6‐month outcomes were also favorable, with a mean NRS score decrease of 2.5 points, a reduction in ODI of 8.8, and an increase in SF36‐BP of 11.9.ConclusionsThese favorable 12‐month results illustrate the durability of effective CRF/LBN‐mediated treatment of SI region pain for selected patients. Furthermore, successful CRF/LBN treatments in unblinded crossover study subjects demonstrate the unlikelihood that such positive outcomes are attributable to a “placebo” effect, and suggest that CRF/LBN is an effective therapeutic option for alleviating pain, and improving physical function and quality of life, with few complications.
Sleep Disturbances and Osteoarthritis
Authors: Pickering Marie‐Eva , Chapurlat Roland , Kocher Laurence , Peter‐Derex Laure 
Published: January 2015

AbstractSleep disturbances are particularly troublesome in patients with painful rheumatic disease. This article reviews the literature specifically published on sleep disturbances in osteoarthritis, a prevalent pathology and leading cause of disability. Several aspects of the relationship between sleep and osteoarthritis are discussed, including epidemiology, pathophysiological hypotheses, and treatment outcomes. Sleep is of central importance in the well‐being of patients and should systematically be assessed in patients with osteoarthritis. When needed, a specific treatment of sleep disorders should be associated with an optimal management of pain to achieve synergistic improvements in quality of life. More large‐scale studies are needed to identify predictive factors of sleep impairment in osteoarthritis.
Genome‐wide association studies in elite varieties of German winter barley using single‐marker and haplotype‐based methods
Authors: Gawenda Inka , Thorwarth Patrick , Günther Torsten , Ordon Frank , Schmid Karl J. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractGenome‐wide association studies (GWAS) became a widely used method to map qualitative and quantitative traits in plants. We compared existing single‐marker and haplotype‐based methods for GWAS with a focus on barley. Based on German winter barley cultivars, four different single‐marker and haplotype‐based methods were tested for their power to detect significant associations in a large genome with a limited number of markers. We identified significant associations for yield and quality‐related traits using the iSelect array with 3886 mapped single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in a structured population consisting of 109 genotypes. Genome simulations with different numbers of genotypes, marker densities and marker effects were used to compare different GWAS methods. Results of simulations revealed a higher power in detecting significant associations for haplotype‐ than for single‐marker approaches, but showed a higher false discovery rate for SNP detection, due to lack of correction for population structure. Our simulations revealed that a population size of about 500 individuals is required to detect QTLs explaining a small trait variance (<10%).
Mining and characterization of SSRs from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) by pyrosequencing
Authors: Ravishankar Kundapura V. , Chaturvedi Kanupriya , Puttaraju Nischita , Gupta Santhoshkumar , Pamu Sampathkumar 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit‐bearing deciduous shrub which has been under cultivation since ancient times. Genomic resources like microsatellite markers are limited in pomegranate; therefore, this study was undertaken with the objective to develop and characterize microsatellite markers using Roche 454 GS FLX Titanium pyrosequencing technology. The total length of non‐redundant sequences obtained was 19.7 Mbp, consisting of 59 603 reads assembled into 7361 contigs, of which, 567 (7.70%) contained microsatellite repeats. The average G+C content was 41.3%. Functional annotation to Arabidopsis thaliana sequences yielded 734 unigenes from 7361 contigs which were classified based on GO terms. Primer pairs were designed for total of 171 loci, out of which 167 produced reproducible polymorphic bands in 12 genotypes of pomegranate. A total of 951 alleles were identified, ranging from 1 to 14 per locus (average of 5.56). The polymorphism information content (PIC) value ranged between 0.00 and 0.910 (mean of 0.5427). The markers developed here will be useful for genetic diversity studies, gene mapping and genotyping in pomegranate.
Excited‐State Multiple Proton Transfer Depending on the Acidity and Basicity of Mediating Alcohols in 7‐Azaindole–(ROH)2 (R=H, CH3) Complexes: A Theoretical Study
Authors: Fang Hua , Mai Binh Khanh , Kim Yongho 
Published: January 2015

AbstractLong‐range proton transfer plays an important role in many chemical and biological phenomena. It has recently been reported that the rate of excited‐state multiple proton transfer depends on the acidity and basicity of mediating alcohols in the H‐bonded wire. The excited‐state triple proton transfer in 7‐azaindole complexes through cyclic H‐bonded wires was theoretically studied to investigate rates depending on the mediating alcohols. This study showed that the acidity and basicity of alcohols collectively functioned to assist proton transfers depending on the paths; the proton transfers of protolytic and solvolytic paths were assisted by the pull‐behind effect and the push‐ahead effect, respectively. Both proton‐donating and accepting abilities of alcohols in the H‐bonded wire can accumulate to help proton transfer, and the strong acidity and basicity of the alcohols with relatively small structural changes in the wire have larger impacts on reducing the activation energies than those of alcohols that trigger proton transfer.
Impact of comorbidities on physical activity in COPD
Authors: Sievi Noriane A. , Senn Oliver , Brack Thomas , Brutsche Martin H. , Frey Martin , Irani Sarosh , Leuppi Jörg D. , Thurnheer Robert , Franzen Daniel , Kohler Malcolm , Clarenbach Christian F. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackground and objectiveBoth comorbidities and physical inactivity have been shown to impair quality of life and contribute to hospital admissions and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We hypothesized that the comorbid status predicts the level of daily physical activity (PA) in COPD.MethodsIn 228 patients with COPD (76% men; median (quartiles) age: 64 (59/69) years; percentage of predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1% pred): 44 (31/63)), comorbidities were assessed by medical history, clinical interviews, examination and blood analysis. PA level (PAL) was measured by an activity monitor (SenseWear Pro, Bodymedia Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, USA). The association between PAL and comorbidities was investigated by univariate and multivariate regression analysis.ResultsSeventy‐nine per cent of the COPD patients had at least one additional chronic comorbidity, 56% had two or more comorbidities and 35% had three or more comorbidities. In univariate analysis body mass index, the number of pack years and having at least one additional comorbidity was negatively associated with PAL while there was a positive nonlinear association between FEV1 and PAL. The presence of at least one additional comorbidity was independently associated with PAL irrespective of airflow limitation.ConclusionsIn this cohort, almost 80% of COPD patients had at least one additional chronic comorbidity. The level of daily PA seems to be significantly impaired by the presence of comorbidities irrespective of the type of comorbidity and independent of the degree of airflow limitation.Clinical Trial RegistrationNCT01527773 at http://www.clinicalTrials.gov.
How Emotions Shape Moral Behavior: Some Answers (and Questions) for the Field of Moral Psychology
Authors: Teper Rimma , Zhong Chen‐Bo , Inzlicht Michael 
Published: January 2015

AbstractWithin the past decade, the field of moral psychology has begun to disentangle the mechanics behind moral judgments, revealing the vital role that emotions play in driving these processes. However, given the well‐documented dissociation between attitudes and behaviors, we propose that an equally important issue is how emotions inform actual moral behavior – a question that has been relatively ignored up until recently. By providing a review of recent studies that have begun to explore how emotions drive actual moral behavior, we propose that emotions are instrumental in fueling real‐life moral actions. Because research examining the role of emotional processes on moral behavior is currently limited, we push for the use of behavioral measures in the field in the hopes of building a more complete theory of real‐life moral behavior.
The Influence of the Visual Modality on Language Structure and Conventionalization: Insights From Sign Language and Gesture
Authors: Perniss Pamela , Özyürek Asli , Morgan Gary 
Published: January 2015

AbstractFor humans, the ability to communicate and use language is instantiated not only in the vocal modality but also in the visual modality. The main examples of this are sign languages and (co‐speech) gestures. Sign languages, the natural languages of Deaf communities, use systematic and conventionalized movements of the hands, face, and body for linguistic expression. Co‐speech gestures, though non‐linguistic, are produced in tight semantic and temporal integration with speech and constitute an integral part of language together with speech. The articles in this issue explore and document how gestures and sign languages are similar or different and how communicative expression in the visual modality can change from being gestural to grammatical in nature through processes of conventionalization. As such, this issue contributes to our understanding of how the visual modality shapes language and the emergence of linguistic structure in newly developing systems. Studying the relationship between signs and gestures provides a new window onto the human ability to recruit multiple levels of representation (e.g., categorical, gradient, iconic, abstract) in the service of using or creating conventionalized communicative systems.
Efficient Microstructural Design for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Suresh Krishnan 
Published: January 2015

A salient feature of additive manufacturing is that the cost of fabrication, to a large extent, is independent of geometric complexity. This opens new opportunities for custom-designing parts both at a macro and micro-level. An elegant and powerful method of designing custom-parts is through topology optimization.
While the theory of topology optimization is well understood, current methods can be extraordinarily expensive. The focus of this paper is on efficient microstructural topology optimization for 3d-printing. In particular, the computational bottle-necks in microstructural topology optimization are identified. Then, a framework that not only eliminates these bottle-necks, but incorporates other significant improvements, is developed. The framework is demonstrated through numerical experiments involving microstructures with millions of degrees of freedom, using multi-core CPUs and NVidia GPU.
Step by Step: The Feasibility of a 16-Week Workplace Lunchtime Walking Intervention for Physically Inactive Employees
Authors: Thøgersen-Ntoumani Cecilie , Loughren Elizabeth , Duda Joan , Fox Kenneth Richard 
Published: January 2015

Background:A 16-week lunchtime walking intervention was designed to increase physical activity in physically inactive University employees. The program was delivered and monitored twice over 7 months to examine feasibility across different seasons.Methods:Seventy-five participants (n = 69 females, n = 6 males; mean age = 47.68) were randomly allocated into a Winter (February start) or Spring group (May start). Participants were asked to complete 3 weekday lunchtime walks and 2 weekend walks. Weeks 1 to 10 were led by walk leaders (group phase) while the participants self-organized their walks during weeks 11 to 16 (independent phase). Yamax pedometers recorded daily step counts and walk group leaders recorded participant attendance in the group phase. Acceptability was assessed via a satisfaction survey and 2 focus groups with participants.Results:A participant pool representative by ethnicity, but not gender was recruited using a range of strategies. The program demonstrated good retention across both groups (73%). The intervention was acceptable to participants. More steps were accumulated in the group-led versus the independent phase.Conclusion:The intervention is feasible in this workplace setting across different seasonal periods. In the future, researchers should examine if the findings can be replicated in a definitive trial and generalize to other workplace settings.