bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The pro-apoptotic action of the peptide hormone, Neb-colloostatin, on insect haemocytes
Authors: Czarniewska Elżbieta , Mrówczyńska Lucyna , Kuczer Mariola , Rosiński Grzegorz 
Published: September 2012

Summary
The gonadoinhibitory peptide hormone, Neb-colloostatin, was first isolated from ovaries of the flesh fly Neobellieria bullata. This 19-mer peptide is thought to be a cleaved product of a collagen-like precursor molecule that is formed during remodelling of the extracellular matrix. In this study, we report that upon injection of pico- and nanomolar doses, this peptide exerts a pro-apoptotic action on haemocytes of Tenebrio molitor adults, as visualized by changes in morphology and viability. The F-actin cytoskeleton was found aggregating into distinctive patches. This may be responsible for the observed inhibition of adhesion of haemocytes and for the stimulation of filopodia formation. However, Neb-colloostatin injection did not induce the formation of authophagic vacuoles. Our results suggest that physiological concentrations of Neb-colloostatin may play an important role in controlling the quantity and activity of haemocytes in insect haemolymph. They also suggest that in periods that Neb-colloostatin is released, this peptide may cause a weakening of the insects' immune system. This is the first report that exposure to a peptide hormone causes apoptosis in insect haemocytes.
Quadrupedal gaits in hexapod animals - inter-leg coordination in free-walking adult stick insects
Authors: Grabowska Martyna , Godlewska Elzbieta , Schmidt Joachim , Daun-Gruhn Silvia 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThe analysis of inter-leg coordination in insect walking is generally a study of six-legged locomotion. Since decades the stick insect Carausius morosus is instrumental for unraveling rules and mechanisms that control leg coordination in hexapeds. We analyzed inter-leg coordination in Carausius morosus that walked freely straight paths on plane surfaces with different slopes. Consecutive 1.7 second sections were assigned inter-leg coordination patterns (gaits) based on foot fall patterns. Regular gaits, i.e. wave, tetrapod or tripod gaits occurred depending on surface slopes. Most often tetrapod gaits were observed, wave gaits only occurred on 90° inclining slopes and tripod gaits most often on 15° declining slopes, i.e. in 40% of sections. Depending on slope 36% to 66% of sections were assigned irregular gaits. Irregular gaits were mostly due to multiple stepping in front legs, which is perhaps probing behavior, not phase coupled to middle legs’ cycles. In irregular gaits middle and hind leg coordination was regular, related to quadrupedal walk and wave gaits. Apparently front legs uncouple from and couple into the walking system without compromising middle and hind leg coordination. In front leg amputee remaining legs are strictly coordinated. In hind and middle leg amputees front legs continued multiple stepping. Middle leg amputees’ coordination was maladapted with front and hind legs performing multiple stepping or ipsilateral legs being in simultaneous swing. Thus, afferent information from middle legs might be necessary for a regular hind leg stepping pattern.
Swimming away or clamming up: the use of phasic and tonic adductor muscles during escape responses varies with shell morphology in scallops
Authors: Tremblay Isabelle , Guderley Helga E. , Himmelman John H. 
Published: September 2012

SummaryThe simple locomotor system of scallops facilitates study of muscle use during locomotion. We compared five species of scallops with different shell morphologies to see whether shell morphology and muscle use change in parallel or whether muscle use can compensate for morphological constraints. Force recordings during escape responses revealed that the use of tonic and phasic contractions varied markedly among species. The active species, Amusium balloti, Placopecten magellanicus and Pecten fumatus, made more phasic contractions than the more sedentary species, Mimachlamys asperrima and Crassadoma gigantea. Tonic contractions varied considerably among these species, with the two more sedentary species often starting their response to the predator with a tonic contraction and the more active species using shorter tonic contractions between series of phasic contractions. P. magellanicus made extensive use of short tonic contractions. P. fumatus mounted an intense series of phasic contractions at the start of its response, perhaps to overcome the constraints of its unfavourable shell morphology. Valve closure by the more sedentary species suggests that their shell morphology protects against predation, whereas swimming by the more active species relies upon intense phasic contractions together with favourable shell characteristics.
Predictive saccade in the absence of smooth pursuit: interception of moving targets in the archer fish
Authors: Ben-Simon Avi , Ben-Shahar Ohad , Vasserman Genadiy , Segev Ronen 
Published: September 2012

SummaryInterception of fast moving targets is a demanding task many animals solve. To handle it successfully, mammals employ both saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements in order to confine the target to their area centralis. But how can non-mammalian vertebrates, which lack smooth pursuit, intercept moving targets? We studied this question by exploring eye movement strategies employed by archer fish, an animal that possesses an area centralis, lacks smooth pursuit eye movements, but can intercept moving targets by shooting jets of water at them. We tracked gaze direction of fish during interception of moving targets and found that they employ saccadic eye movements based on prediction of target position when it is hit. The fish fixates on the target’s initial position for ~ 0.2 sec from the onset of its motion, a time period used to predict if a shot can be made before the projection of the target exits the area centralis. If the prediction indicates otherwise, the fish performs a saccade that overshoots the center of gaze beyond the present target projection on the retina, such that after the saccade the moving target remains inside the area centralis long enough to prepare and perform a shot. These results add to the growing body of knowledge on biological target tracking and may shed light on the mechanism underlying this behavior in other animals with no neural system for generation of smooth pursuit eye movements.
Intelligent Button Developed Using Smart Soft and Wet Materials
Authors: Harada Sho , Hidema Ruri , Gong Jin , Furukawa Hidemitsu 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
A novel push button is developed using shape-memory gels (SMGs). The Young’s modulus of SMGs changes dramatically with temperature. This modulus change is utilized to control the input-acceptable and input-not-acceptable states of the button. We believe the mechanism of this button could be used to develop new devices, especially for the visually impaired.
Paediatric reference values for the C-terminal fragment of fibroblast-growth factor-23, sclerostin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and isoform 5b of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase
Authors: Fischer Dagmar-Christiane , Mischek Anne , Wolf Sabrina , Rahn Anja , Salweski Birgit , Kundt Guenther , Haffner Dieter 
Published: September 2012

Background Paediatric reference values for novel markers of phosphate homeostasis, bone formation and resorption and their putative relationship to growth are lacking. Methods A total of 424 healthy children, adolescents and young adults (221 males) aged 0.1–21 y, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Height, weight and height velocity were assessed. Plasma/serum samples for determination of C-terminal fragment of fibroblast growth factor-23 (cFGF-23), sclerostin, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b) were available from 222, 264, 352 and 338 individuals, respectively. Calculation of cross-sectional centiles and z-scores was based on median (M), standard coefficient of variation (S) and the Box-Cox power (L) of transformation (LMS method) per age cohort. Correlations between variables as well as with growth were assessed. Results cFGF-23, BAP and TRAP5b were significantly correlated with age (each P < 0.01), with highest values during infancy and adolescence. Serum levels of BAP and TRAP5b were significantly higher in adolescent boys compared with girls (each P < 0.01). In contrast, sclerostin levels were independent of age and gender. BAP and TRAP5b were strongly correlated and both were significantly associated with cFGF-23 and sclerostin as well (each P < 0.01). cFGF-23 was positively correlated with serum phosphate and renal phosphate threshold concentration (each P < 0.01). Height, weight, body mass index and height velocity were weakly correlated with BAP and TRAP5b (each P < 0.05). Conclusions This study provides age- and gender-related centile charts and z-scores for cFGF-23, BAP, TRAP5b and sclerostin and highlights the link between phosphate homeostasis and markers of bone metabolism during growth.
An observational study to evaluate the efficiency and safety of ioversol pre-filled syringes compared with ioversol bottles in contrast-enhanced examinations
Authors: Vogl Thomas J , Wessling Johannes , Buerke Boris 
Published: September 2012

Background The use of pre-filled syringes for contrast media (CM) administration allows efficient and optimized workflow during radiologic diagnostic procedures, and reduces the risk of contamination, providing benefits for both patients and healthcare workers. Purpose To compare the efficiency and safety of ioversol (OptirayTM) bottles and pre-filled syringes in clinical practice. Material and Methods This was an observational, non-interventional, prospective, multicenter study conducted at 72 centers in Germany. Patients undergoing contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) examinations with ioversol were enrolled. The use of ioversol bottles and pre-filled syringes in the diagnostic procedure was recorded in terms of efficiency (residual volume, re-use of CM) and safety (adverse events [AEs]). Results A total of 10,836 patients were enrolled and included in this study. Ioversol bottles and syringes were used in 72% and 28% of cases, respectively. Analysis of the volume of CM in bottles before and after examinations, together with the volume used during the examination, suggested that in 22.5% of cases a new bottle was connected during the procedure. Further analysis revealed that in 80.2% of cases, the remaining volume of CM in the bottles could potentially be used for subsequent investigations, compared with <1% of cases for pre-filled syringes. For the total study population, AEs and serious AEs were reported in 30 (0.28%) and four (0.037%) patients, respectively, with no significant difference observed between ioversol bottles and syringes. Conclusion Administration of ioversol for contrast-enhanced CT examinations is associated with a low incidence of AEs and is generally safe and well tolerated. Ioversol pre-filled syringes were associated with lower residual volumes and less potential re-use compared with bottles.
A Decision Rule for Quantitative Trait Locus Detection Under the Extended Bayesian LASSO Model
Authors: Mutshinda Crispin M , Sillanpää Mikko J 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Bayesian shrinkage analysis is arguably the state-of-the-art technique for large-scale multiple quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping. However, when the shrinkage model does not involve indicator variables for marker inclusion, QTL detection remains heavily dependent on significance thresholds derived from phenotype permutation under the null hypothesis of no phenotype-to-genotype association. This approach is computationally intensive and more importantly, the hypothetical data generation at the heart of the permutation-based method violates the Bayesian philosophy. Here we propose a fully Bayesian decision rule for QTL detection under the recently introduced extended Bayesian LASSO for QTL mapping. Our new decision rule is free of any hypothetical data generation and relies on the well-established Bayes factors for evaluating the evidence for QTL presence at any locus. Simulation results demonstrate the remarkable performance of our decision rule. An application to real-world data is considered as well.
Epigenetic Regulation of Axonal Growth ofDrosophilaPacemaker Cells by Histone Acetyltransferase Tip60 Controls Sleep
Authors: Pirooznia Sheila K , Chiu Kellie , Chan May T , Zimmerman John E , Elefant Felice 
Published: September 2012

AbstractTip60 is a histone acetyltransferase (HAT) enzyme that epigenetically regulates genes enriched for neuronal functions through interaction with the amyloid precursor protein (APP) intracellular domain. However, whether Tip60-mediated epigenetic dysregulation affects specific neuronal processes in vivo and contributes to neurodegeneration remains unclear. Here, we show that Tip60 HAT activity mediates axonal growth of the Drosophila pacemaker cells, termed “small ventrolateral neurons” (sLNvs), and their production of the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) that functions to stabilize Drosophila sleep–wake cycles. Using genetic approaches, we show that loss of Tip60 HAT activity in the presence of the Alzheimer’s disease-associated APP affects PDF expression and causes retraction of the sLNv synaptic arbor required for presynaptic release of PDF. Functional consequence of these effects is evidenced by disruption of the sleep–wake cycle in these flies. Notably, overexpression of Tip60 in conjunction with APP rescues these sleep–wake disturbances by inducing overelaboration of the sLNv synaptic terminals and increasing PDF levels, supporting a neuroprotective role for dTip60 in sLNv growth and function under APP-induced neurodegenerative conditions. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism for Tip60 mediated sleep–wake regulation via control of axonal growth and PDF levels within the sLNv-encompassing neural network and provide insight into epigenetic-based regulation of sleep disturbances observed in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
Effectiveness of Multidimensional Cancer Survivor Rehabilitation and Cost-Effectiveness of Cancer Rehabilitation in General: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mewes Janne C. , Steuten Lotte M.G. , IJzerman Maarten J. , van Harten Wim H. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIntroduction.Many cancer survivors suffer from a combination of disease- and treatment-related morbidities and complaints after primary treatment. There is a growing evidence base for the effectiveness of monodimensional rehabilitation interventions; in practice, however, patients often participate in multidimensional programs. This study systematically reviews evidence regarding effectiveness of multidimensional rehabilitation programs for cancer survivors and cost-effectiveness of cancer rehabilitation in general.Methods.The published literature was systematically reviewed. Data were extracted using standardized forms and were summarized narratively.Results.Sixteen effectiveness and six cost-effectiveness studies were included. Multidimensional rehabilitation programs were found to be effective, but not more effective than monodimensional interventions, and not on all outcome measures. Effect sizes for quality of life were in the range of −0.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.45–0.20) to 0.98 (95% CI, 0.69–1.29). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from −€16,976, indicating cost savings, to €11,057 per quality-adjusted life year.Conclusions.The evidence for multidimensional interventions and the economic impact of rehabilitation studies is scarce and dominated by breast cancer studies. Studies published so far report statistically significant benefits for multidimensional interventions over usual care, most notably for the outcomes fatigue and physical functioning. An additional benefit of multidimensional over monodimensional rehabilitation was not found, but this was also sparsely reported on. Available economic evaluations assessed very different rehabilitation interventions. Yet, despite low comparability, all showed favorable cost-effectiveness ratios. Future studies should focus their designs on the comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multidimensional programs.
AKI in a Patient with Cirrhosis and Ascites
Authors: Davenport Andrew 
Published: September 2012

Summary
Acute deterioration in kidney function in a patient with cirrhosis and ascites presents a difficult management problem, and it is associated with increased mortality. In this Attending Rounds paper, a patient with oliguric AKI is presented to emphasize the role of laboratory and bedside tests that can establish a correct diagnosis and lead to appropriate management.
Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Giannico Giovanna , Fogo Agnes B. 
Published: September 2012

Summary
Most patients with SLE develop kidney disease related to this systemic underlying disease process. Lupus nephritis is an important cause of morbidity and even mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus nephritis has diverse morphologic manifestations with varying clinical presentations and consequences. The pathogeneses involve immune complexes, which can deposit anywhere in the kidney, and other mechanisms, including endothelial injury, podocytopathy, and tubulointerstitial injury. Treatment and prognosis accordingly range from excellent even with only observation with minimal mesangial deposits, to kidney failure despite aggressive immunosuppression in patients with severe proliferative disease. Renal biopsy plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of the specific form of lupus nephritis in any patient. However, the role of the renal biopsy in prediction of outcome, treatment, and prognosis has been controversial. We will review the current classification of lupus nephritis and the value of renal biopsy in the management of these patients.
Habitual Physical Activity Measured by Accelerometer and Survival in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Matsuzawa Ryota , Matsunaga Atsuhiko , Wang Guoqin , Kutsuna Toshiki , Ishii Akira , Abe Yoshifumi , Takagi Yutaka , Yoshida Atsushi , Takahira Naonobu 
Published: September 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
The association between mortality and physical activity based on self-report questionnaire in hemodialysis patients has been reported previously. However, because self-report is a subjective assessment, evaluating true physical activity is difficult. This study investigated the prognostic significance of habitual physical activity on 7-year survival in a cohort of clinically stable and adequately dialyzed patients.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
A total of 202 Japanese outpatients who were undergoing maintenance hemodialysis three times per week at the hemodialysis center of Sagami Junkanki Clinic (Japan) from October 2002 to February 2012 were followed for up to 7 years. Physical activity was evaluated using an accelerometer at study entry and is expressed as the amount of time a patient engaged in physical activity on nondialysis days. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess the contribution of habitual physical activity to all-cause mortality.

Results
The median patient age was 64 (25th, 75th percentiles, 57, 72) years, 52.0% of the patients were women, and the median time on hemodialysis was 40.0 (25th, 75th percentiles, 16.8, 119.3) months at baseline. During a median follow-up of 45 months, 34 patients died. On multivariable analysis, the hazard ratio for all-cause mortality per 10 min/d increase in physical activity was 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.66–0.92; P=0.002).

Conclusions
Engaging in habitual physical activity among outpatients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis was associated with decreased mortality risk.
Critical and Honest Conversations
Authors: Williams Amy W. , Dwyer Amy C. , Eddy Allison A. , Fink Jeffrey C. , Jaber Bertrand L. , Linas Stuart L. , Michael Beckie , O’Hare Ann M. , Schaefer Heidi M. , Shaffer Rachel N. , Trachtman Howard , Weiner Daniel E. , Falk and Ronald J. 
Published: September 2012

Summary
Estimates suggest that one third of United States health care spending results from overuse or misuse of tests, procedures, and therapies. The American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation, in partnership with Consumer Reports, initiated the “Choosing Wisely” campaign to identify areas in patient care and resource use most open to improvement. Nine subspecialty organizations joined the campaign; each organization identified five tests, procedures, or therapies that are overused, are misused, or could potentially lead to harm or unnecessary health care spending. Each of the American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN’s) 10 advisory groups submitted recommendations for inclusion. The ASN Quality and Patient Safety Task Force selected five recommendations based on relevance and importance to individuals with kidney disease.Recommendations selected were: (1) Do not perform routine cancer screening for dialysis patients with limited life expectancies without signs or symptoms; (2) do not administer erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to CKD patients with hemoglobin levels ≥10 g/dl without symptoms of anemia; (3) avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in individuals with hypertension, heart failure, or CKD of all causes, including diabetes; (4) do not place peripherally inserted central catheters in stage 3–5 CKD patients without consulting nephrology; (5) do not initiate chronic dialysis without ensuring a shared decision-making process between patients, their families, and their physicians.These five recommendations and supporting evidence give providers information to facilitate prudent care decisions and empower patients to actively participate in critical, honest conversations about their care, potentially reducing unnecessary health care spending and preventing harm.
Online Accounting Education versus In-Class Delivery: Does Course Level Matter?
Authors: Chen Clement C. , Jones Keith T. , Moreland Keith A. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT:
This study examines whether the effectiveness of online accounting education relative to traditional in-class delivery depends upon the level of the course. Students enrolled in principles and advanced cost/managerial and in advanced financial accounting courses were surveyed regarding their perceptions on several dimensions. The results suggest that the course level is important when assessing whether it is advisable to offer online accounting courses. In advanced courses, the outcomes examined were significantly more favorable for traditional classroom environments than for online, while the delivery mode was not important in principles courses when controlling for other variables. The results also provide further support for the notion that blended learning, i.e., offering a few on-campus class meetings for a predominately online course, may be desirable regardless of course level, but that course level is potentially important when deciding upon the mix of face-to-face versus online instruction.
Data Availability: Available upon request.