bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
At the Second Glance: Stability of Neural Responses Toward Visual Sexual Stimuli
Authors: Wehrum-Osinsky Sina , Klucken Tim , Kagerer Sabine , Walter Bertram , Hermann Andrea , Stark Rudolf 
Published: August 2014

Abstract

Introduction
Studies investigating the neural responses toward sexual stimuli can provide an important basis for further understanding disorders of sexual functioning. Although our knowledge of the neural correlates of sexual stimulus processing has increased considerably in the last decade, the stability of the observed effects in studies on neural sexual responses has been rather neglected.

Aims
The current study aimed to test the stability of behavioral and neural responses to visual sexual stimuli in men and women over a time span of 1 to 1.5 years. To disentangle valence and arousal-related aspects of sexual stimulus processing, we employed not only sexual and neutral, but also positive and negative emotional stimuli.

Methods
A sample of 56 subjects (24 women) was assessed twice, with an interval of 1 to 1.5 years between assessments. During a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) session, participants passively viewed sexual, neutral, positive, and negative emotional pictures. Pictures were presented in 24 blocks of five pictures each. Every block was rated immediately after its presentation with respect to valence, arousal, and sexual arousal.

Main Outcome Measures
Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses measured by fMRI and stimulus ratings.

Results
fMRI analyses revealed a distributed network involved in the processing of sexual stimuli, with large parts of this network being consistently activated at both assessment points. Nucleus accumbens, anterior cingulate, occipital and parietal cortex showed the most robust results with respect to group stability. Responses of anterior cingulate, orbitofrontal, parietal and occipital cortex showed interindividual stability. Gender differences were restricted to a few regions of interest.

Conclusions
Our data indicate stability of neural responses toward sexual stimuli not only on the group but also on the individual level. Activation of parietal and occipital cortex might reflect a trait like character of attention related responses toward sexual stimuli.
The effects of sleep deprivation on emotional empathy
Authors: Guadagni Veronica , Burles Ford , Ferrara Michele , Iaria Giuseppe 
Published: August 2014

SummaryPrevious studies have shown that sleep loss has a detrimental effect on the ability of the individuals to process emotional information. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that this negative effect extends to the ability of experiencing emotions while observing other individuals, i.e. emotional empathy. To test this hypothesis, we assessed emotional empathy in 37 healthy volunteers who were assigned randomly to one of three experimental groups: one group was tested before and after a night of total sleep deprivation (sleep deprivation group), a second group was tested before and after a usual night of sleep spent at home (sleep group) and the third group was tested twice during the same day (day group). Emotional empathy was assessed by using two parallel versions of a computerized test measuring direct (i.e. explicit evaluation of empathic concern) and indirect (i.e. the observer's reported physiological arousal) emotional empathy. The results revealed that the post measurements of both direct and indirect emotional empathy of participants in the sleep deprivation group were significantly lower than those of the sleep and day groups; post measurement scores of participants in the day and sleep groups did not differ significantly for either direct or indirect emotional empathy. These data are consistent with previous studies showing the negative effect of sleep deprivation on the processing of emotional information, and extend these effects to emotional empathy. The findings reported in our study are relevant to healthy individuals with poor sleep habits, as well as clinical populations suffering from sleep disturbances.
Dialogical Demand: Discursive Position Repertoires for a Local and Global UK Sex Industry
Authors: Crossley Adam R. , Lawthom Rebecca 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe increasing incidence of ‘trafficking’ has added an incontestably disturbing dimension to the contestable nature of a ‘non‐trafficked’ UK sex industry. Men who buy sex remain under‐researched, though some studies have indicated ambivalence within men's attitudes. This study combines a critical discursive psychology in support of dialogical self theory. Secondary data, from prominent UK media resources, were analysed using Edley's (2001) method of combining ‘interpretative repertoires’, ‘ideological dilemmas’ and ‘subject positions’. Contrasting discursive practices indicative of wider ideological conflict were found. Discursive concepts were ‘mapped’ onto Hermans and Hermans‐Konopka's (2010) ‘I‐positions’ to explore how these potentially dilemmatic positions might be understood in terms of identity production. The function of ‘uncertainty’, particularly salient with the increasing complexity of globalisation, was considered a factor in how men's identities might be limited by the current discursive space. A ‘dialogical’ model of self is introduced as a framework for understanding how men who buy sex might take up new, inclusive, positions. A corollary is reflected upon; that researchers, activists and buyers alike, who remain ideologically inflexible, may be sustaining the conditions for coercion through their contribution to the discursive conflict. The synthesis of discursive and dialogical analytical tools is recommended for investigating the production of selves in contested spaces.
Redox‐dependent lipoylation of mitochondrial proteins in Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Afanador Gustavo A. , Matthews Krista A. , Bartee David , Gisselberg Jolyn E. , Walters Maroya S. , Freel Meyers Caren L. , Prigge Sean T. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryLipoate scavenging from the human host is essential for malaria parasite survival. Scavenged lipoate is covalently attached to three parasite proteins: the H‐protein and the E2 subunits of branched chain amino acid dehydrogenase (BCDH) and α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KDH). We show mitochondrial localization for the E2 subunits of BCDH and KDH, similar to previously localized H‐protein, demonstrating that all three lipoylated proteins reside in the parasite mitochondrion. The lipoate ligase 1, LipL1, has been shown to reside in the mitochondrion and it catalyses the lipoylation of the H‐protein; however, we show that LipL1 alone cannot lipoylate BCDH or KDH. A second mitochondrial protein with homology to lipoate ligases, LipL2, does not show ligase activity and is not capable of lipoylating any of the mitochondrial substrates. Instead, BCDH and KDH are lipoylated through a novel mechanism requiring both LipL1 and LipL2. This mechanism is sensitive to redox conditions where BCDH and KDH are exclusively lipoylated under strong reducing conditions in contrast to the H‐protein which is preferentially lipoylated under less reducing conditions. Thus, malaria parasites contain two different routes of mitochondrial lipoylation, an arrangement that has not been described for any other organism.
Phenotypic and genetic evidence for ecological speciation of Aquilegia japonica and A. oxysepala
Authors: Li Lin‐Feng , Wang Hua‐Ying , Pang Di , Liu Ying , Liu Bao , Xiao Hong‐Xing 
Published: August 2014

Summary

Natural selection is thought to be a driving force that can cause the evolution of reproductive isolation. The genus Aquilegia is a model system to address how natural selection promotes the process of speciation.

Morphological differences between A. oxysepala, A. japonica and their hybrids were quantified for two vegetative (plant height and leaf area) and three floral morphological (sepal area, corolla length and diameter) traits. We also evaluated the genetic variability of the two species and their hybrids based on two chloroplast (1225 bp), four nuclear (5811 bp) genes and 15 microsatellites.

Our results revealed that differentiation of A. japonica and A. oxysepala at the ecological and morphological levels also involved divergence at the genetic level. In addition, the analysis of nucleotide variation patterns showed that the two species possessed numerous fixation sites at nuclear genes gAA4, gA7 and gAA12. Furthermore, we found that all of the phenotypic hybrids also showed a genetically admixed ancestry.

These findings suggest that natural selection has indeed facilitated the formation of distinct genetic variation patterns in the two Aquilegia species and habitat adaptation has been driving the ecologically based evolution of reproductive isolation.
Fostering sustainable tribal economies in a time of climate change
Authors: Bargh Maria , Douglas Sarsha‐Leigh , Te One Annie 
Published: August 2014

AbstractIn this article, we explore how Māori tribal organisations are responding to calls by other Indigenous peoples to become more sustainable in a time of climate change. From a close examination of tribal Environmental Management Plans, we move to a specific case study in the Bay of Plenty area, Ngāti Kea/Ngāti Tuara. Ultimately, we suggest that many tribal organisations are seeking to respond to climate change and transition to becoming producers of their own food and energy needs, and are often articulating these responses in relation to specific local resources and contexts.
Successful treatment of post‐transplant thrombocytopenia with romiplostim in a pediatric patient with X‐linked chronic granulomatous disease
Authors: Buchbinder David , Hsieh Loan , Krance Robert , Nugent Diane J. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThrombocytopenia is a frequent complication following HSCT in pediatric patients. Romiplostim is a TPO receptor agonist that has been utilized successfully in the treatment of pediatric patients with immune thrombocytopenia. We describe a three‐yr‐old male with X‐linked CGD treated with an unrelated donor bone marrow transplant. His course was complicated by the development of symptomatic thrombocytopenia. He was started on romiplostim with prompt improvement in his thrombocytopenia. We found the use of romiplostim to be an effective and safe alternative to the potential complications as well as morbidity and mortality associated with the use of immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids.
Myocyte growth, repair, and oxidative stress following pediatric heart transplantation
Authors: Dipchand Anne I. , White Michel , Manlhiot Cedric , Pollock‐BarZiv Stacey , Allain‐Rooney Tina , West Lori , He Ying , Touyz Rhian M. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractCardiac remodeling is associated with plasma biomarkers of fibrinogenesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, and upregulation of mitogenic, pro‐fibrotic, and apoptotic signaling pathways. Our primary objective was to evaluate biomarker and subcellular myocardial changes in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Fifty‐two‐week prospective, randomized (tacrolimus, Tac, vs. cyclosporine, CsA), open‐label, parallel group study. Serial myocardial biopsies were probed for mitogenic and pro‐inflammatory proteins. Plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress (F2α isoprostanes, nitrotyrosine), and inflammation and oxidation (hsCRP and cystatin‐C) were measured. Nine of 11 randomized patients completed the study (four Tac, five CsA). Mean levels of F2α isoprostanes, hsCRP, and cystatin‐C were maximal at Week 2. Peak activation of all MAP kinases in myocardial tissue was maximal at Week 10; no association was seen with rejection. Cardiac Bax/Bcl‐2 levels (index of apoptosis) correlated negatively with F2α isoprostanes at Week 2 (r = −0.88) and with hsCRP at Week 52 (r = −0.67). At Week 52, hsCRP levels correlated positively with molecular indices of cardiac cell growth. We found evidence of systemic and myocardial oxidative damage and inflammation early posttransplant, which may be related to the remodeling process. Further study is needed to better understand the cardiac and systemic repair processes following pediatric heart transplantation.
Filariasis asymptomatically infected donors have lower levels of disialylated IgG compared to endemic normals
Authors: O'Regan N. L. , Steinfelder S. , Schwedler C. , Rao G. B. , Srikantam A. , Blanchard V. , Hartmann S. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryHelminths induce strong regulatory and T helper 2‐type responses, whereby antibody‐derived host protection and regulation are essential components. Lymphatic filariasis is an immune‐mediated spectral disease that manifests as two main clinical outcomes: chronic pathology or asymptomatic infection. These outcomes depend on a multitude of factors, including parasite‐induced immunoregulation and host genetic background; antibody responses contribute to this outcome. N‐glycosylation of the Fc region of antibodies is a post‐translational modification required for the structure and molecular function, influencing host inflammatory and regulatory responses. Altered IgG glycosylation correlates with disease, whereby decreased galactosylation is associated with inflammation while increased sialylation is associated with anti‐inflammatory responses. We purified N‐linked glycans from the Fc region of total IgG from Wuchereria bancrofti‐infected patients characterizing the two clinical manifestations (chronic pathology and asymptomatic infection) and compared them to infection‐free endemic normals. Using capillary electrophoresis, we found that there was no difference in galactosylation of total IgG between the three groups; however, asymptomatically infected patients had significantly lower levels of disialylated IgG compared to endemic normals and patients with pathology. These data suggest that while galactosylation does not contribute to disease outcome, sialylation may be involved in asymptomatic infection.
Adaptive Warped Kernel Estimators
Authors: Chagny Gaëlle 
Published: August 2014

AbstractIn this work, we develop a method of adaptive non‐parametric estimation, based on ‘warped’ kernels. The aim is to estimate a real‐valued function s from a sample of random couples (X,Y). We deal with transformed data (Φ(X),Y), with Φ a one‐to‐one function, to build a collection of kernel estimators. The data‐driven bandwidth selection is performed with a method inspired by Goldenshluger and Lepski (Ann. Statist., 39, 2011, 1608). The method permits to handle various problems such as additive and multiplicative regression, conditional density estimation, hazard rate estimation based on randomly right‐censored data, and cumulative distribution function estimation from current‐status data. The interest is threefold. First, the squared‐bias/variance trade‐off is automatically realized. Next, non‐asymptotic risk bounds are derived. Lastly, the estimator is easily computed, thanks to its simple expression: a short simulation study is presented.
Effects of washing of the face with a mild facial cleanser formulated with sodium laureth carboxylate and alkyl carboxylates on acne in Japanese adult males
Authors: Isoda K. , Takagi Y. , Endo K. , Miyaki M. , Matsuo K. , Umeda K. , Umeda‐Togami K. , Mizutani H. 
Published: August 2014

Background/purposeWashing the face with a mild cleanser is generally recommended for acne care. Occasionally, the general public has the misconception that acne is exacerbated by cleansers and furthermore it has concerns about inducing skin irritation and xerosis by intensive washing. Recently, we developed a new cleanser based on sodium laureth carboxylate and alkyl carboxylates (AEC/soap) that cleans sebum well without penetrating the stratum corneum.MethodsWe designed a controlled clinical trial conducted on adult Japanese males with moderate or less acne. Twenty subjects washed their faces with AEC/soap base cleanser twice a day for 4 weeks. Assessment of the efficacy was conducted prior to the start of the study, and at the end of weeks 2 and 4.ResultsSignificant improvement of the acne was observed within 2 weeks, and acne lesions were not detectable in 25% of the subjects at week 4. Sebum secretion levels on the skin significantly increased on the forehead, but significantly decreased on the cheek which correlated with the improvement. No complaints of dryness or irritation occurred during the study.ConclusionWashing the face twice a day with facial cleanser based on AEC/soap is an effective care for moderate or less grade facial acne.
New insights into HLA‐G mediated tolerance
Authors: Amodio G. , Sales de Albuquerque R. , Gregori S. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractHuman Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA‐G) is a nonclassical HLA class I molecule with well‐characterized immunomodulatory activities. HLA‐G was first described as a regulatory molecule that allows the fetus to elude the maternal immune response. In the last decade it has become evident that HLA‐G is involved in modulating both innate and adaptive immune responses, in maintaining tolerance in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and after transplantation, and in promoting immune escape in cancer and infectious diseases. HLA‐G exerts its modulatory/regulatory functions directly by interacting with specific inhibitory receptors. The expression of HLA‐G is finely tuned by genetic variations in the noncoding region of the locus. The recent discovery of dendritic cells‐10 (DC‐10) as naturally occurring HLA‐G‐expressing dendritic cells opens new perspectives in the identification of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying HLA‐G‐mediated tolerance. An overview on the HLA‐G‐mediated inhibition of innate and adaptive immune cells, on the genetic influence on HLA‐G expression, and on HLA‐G‐expressing DC‐10 is presented. Moreover, we discuss the central and critical role of DC‐10 in the HLA‐G‐mediated tolerance.
Essentiality of Succinate Dehydrogenase in Mycobacterium smegmatis and Its Role in the Generation of the Membrane Potential Under Hypoxia
Authors: Pecsi Ildiko , Hards Kiel , Ekanayaka Nandula , Berney Michael , Hartman Travis , Jacobs William R. , Cook Gregory M. 
Published: August 2014

ABSTRACT

Succinate:quinone oxidoreductase (Sdh) is a membrane-bound complex that couples the oxidation of succinate to fumarate in the cytoplasm to the reduction of quinone to quinol in the membrane. Mycobacterial species harbor genes for two putative
sdh
operons, but the individual roles of these two operons are unknown. In this communication, we show that
Mycobacterium smegmatis
mc
2
155 expresses two succinate dehydrogenases designated Sdh1 and Sdh2. Sdh1 is encoded by a five-gene operon (MSMEG_0416-MSMEG_0420), and Sdh2 is encoded by a four-gene operon (MSMEG_1672-MSMEG_1669). These two operons are differentially expressed in response to carbon limitation, hypoxia, and fumarate, as monitored by
sdh
promoter
-lacZ
fusions. While deletion of the
sdh1
operon did not yield any growth phenotypes on succinate or other nonfermentable carbon sources, the
sdh2
operon could be deleted only in a merodiploid background, demonstrating that Sdh2 is essential for growth. Sdh activity and succinate-dependent proton pumping were detected in cells grown aerobically, as well as under hypoxia. Fumarate reductase activity was absent under these conditions, indicating that neither Sdh1 nor Sdh2 could catalyze the reverse reaction. Sdh activity was inhibited by the Sdh inhibitor 3-nitroproprionate (3NP), and treatment with 3NP dissipated the membrane potential of wild-type or Δ
sdh1
mutant cells under hypoxia but not that of cells grown aerobically. These data imply that Sdh2 is the generator of the membrane potential under hypoxia, an essential role for the cell.

IMPORTANCE
Complex II or succinate dehydrogenase (Sdh) is a major respiratory enzyme that couples the oxidation of succinate to fumarate in the cytoplasm to the reduction of quinone to quinol in the membrane. Mycobacterial species harbor genes for two putative
sdh
operons,
sdh1
and
sdh2
, but the individual roles of these two operons are unknown. In this communication, we show that
sdh1
and
sdh2
are differentially expressed in response to energy limitation, oxygen tension, and alternative electron acceptor availability, suggesting distinct functional cellular roles. Sdh2 was essential for growth and generation of the membrane potential in hypoxic cells. Given the essentiality of succinate dehydrogenase and oxidative phosphorylation in the growth cycle of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, the potential exists to develop new antituberculosis agents against the mycobacterial succinate dehydrogenase. This enzyme has been proposed as a potential target for the development of new chemotherapeutic agents against intracellular parasites and mitochondrion-associated disease.
CXCR4 antagonist inhibits perineural invasion of adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: Jeong Woo-Jin , Choi Ik Joon , Park Min-Woo , An Soo-Youn , Jeon Eun-Hui , Paik Jin Ho , Sung Myung-Whun , Ahn Soon-Hyun 
Published: August 2014

AimPerineural invasion and expression of CXCR4 is characteristic of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Herein, we aimed to demonstrate CXCR4 expression in ACC, identify its association with perineural invasion and investigate the impact of CXCR4 inhibitor in vitro and in a murine perineural invasion model.MethodsExpression of CXCR4 was assessed in ACC cell lines and in human tissue. The effects of gene knockdown using siRNA and specific blocker of CXCR4 (AMD3100) were evaluated in vitro. A preclinical perineural invasion model was developed using BALB/c nude mouse. The effect of AMD3100 was evaluated in vivo.ResultsCXCR4 was highly expressed in aggressive strains of ACC in vitro, in the tumour in the animal model and in the tumour of human tissue. SDF-1 expression was also demonstrated in the nerve of murine and human tissue. Gene knockdown by siRNA and inhibition by a CXCR4-specific inhibitor AMD3100 effectively abrogated invasion but not proliferation of ACC in vitro. The rate of perineural invasion was significantly decreased with AMD3100 treatment in the animal model.ConclusionsCXCR4 is associated with perineural invasion in ACC. AMD3100, which can effectively diminish perineural invasion of ACC, may have an adjuvant role in the management of ACC.