bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
C. elegans AMPKs promote survival and arrest germline development during nutrient stress
Authors: Fukuyama Masamitsu , Sakuma Kensuke , Park Riyong , Kasuga Hidefumi , Nagaya Ryotaro , Atsumi Yuriko , Shimomura Yumi , Takahashi Shinya , Kajiho Hiroaki , Rougvie Ann , Kontani Kenji , Katada Toshiaki 
Published: August 2012

Summary
Mechanisms controlling development, growth, and metabolism are coordinated in response to changes in environmental conditions, enhancing the likelihood of survival to reproductive maturity. Much remains to be learned about the molecular basis underlying environmental influences on these processes. C. elegans larvae enter a developmentally dormant state called L1 diapause when hatched into nutrient-poor conditions. The nematode pten homologue daf-18 is essential for maintenance of survival and germline stem cell quiescence during this period (Fukuyama et al., 2006; Sigmond et al., 2008), but the details of the signaling network(s) in which it functions remain to be elucidated. Here, we report that animals lacking both aak-1 and aak-2, which encode the two catalytic α subunits of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), show reduced viability and failure to maintain mitotic quiescence in germline stem cells during L1 diapause. Furthermore, failure to arrest germline proliferation has a long term consequence; aak double mutants that have experienced L1 diapause develop into sterile adults when returned to food, whereas their continuously fed siblings are fertile. Both aak and daf-18 appear to maintain germline quiescence by inhibiting activity of the common downstream target, TORC1 (TOR Complex 1). In contrast, rescue of the lethality phenotype indicates that aak-2 acts not only in the intestine, as does daf-18, but also in neurons, likely promoting survival by preventing energy deprivation during L1 diapause. These results not only provide evidence that AMPK contributes to survival during L1 diapause in a manner distinct from that by which it controls dauer diapause, but they also suggest that AMPK suppresses TORC1 activity to maintain stem cell quiescence.
Fasting hyperglycemia in the Goto-Kakizaki rat is dependent on corticosterone: a confounding variable in rodent models of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Beddow Sara A. , Samuel Varman T. 
Published: August 2012

Summary
The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is an inbred model of type 2 diabetes (T2D); GK rats are lean but have hyperglycemia and increased gluconeogenesis. However, fasting hyperglycemia in other commonly used rodent models of T2D is associated with increased corticosterone, and thus the underlying mechanism for hyperglycemia differs significantly from T2D in humans. Information regarding corticosterone in the GK rat is not readily available. We studied 14- to 16-week-old GK rats in comparison with age-matched control Wistar-Kyoto (WK) rats. GK rats had lower body weights (WK: 343±10 g vs GK: 286±9 g, P&lt;0.01), but higher plasma glucose concentrations (WK: 132±1.5 mg/dl vs GK: 210±11.7 mg/dl, P&lt;0.01). This was associated with an ~twofold increase in PEPCK1 expression (P&lt;0.05). However, these findings were also associated with elevations in plasma corticosterone and urinary corticosterone excretion. Ketoconazole (KTZ) treatment in GK rats reduced plasma corticosterone, fasting glucose (GK: 218±15 mg/dl vs GK-KTZ: 135±19 mg/dl, P&lt;0.01) and rates of glucose production (GK: 16.5±0.6 mg/(kg-minute) vs GK-KTZ: 12.2±0.9 mg/(kg-minute), P&lt;0.01). This was associated with an ~40% reduction in hepatic PEPCK1 expression as well as a 20% reduction in alanine turnover. Thus, hypercorticosteronemia might contribute to the diabetic phenotype of GK rats and should be considered as a potential confounder in rodent models of T2D.
Mutation of sec63 in zebrafish causes defects in myelinated axons and liver pathology
Authors: Monk Kelly R. , Voas Matthew G. , Franzini-Armstrong Clara , Hakkinen Ian S. , Talbot William S. 
Published: August 2012

Summary
Mutations in SEC63 cause polycystic liver disease in humans. Sec63 is a member of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) translocon machinery, although it is unclear how mutations in SEC63 lead to liver cyst formation in humans. Here, we report the identification and characterization of a zebrafish sec63 mutant, which was discovered in a screen for mutations that affect the development of myelinated axons. Accordingly, we show that disruption of sec63 in zebrafish leads to abnormalities in myelinating glia in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the vertebrate nervous system, segments of myelin are separated by the nodes of Ranvier, which are unmyelinated regions of axonal membrane containing a high density of voltage-gated sodium channels. We show that sec63 mutants have morphologically abnormal and reduced numbers of clusters of voltage-gated sodium channels in the spinal cord and along peripheral nerves. Additionally, we observe reduced myelination in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as swollen ER in myelinating glia. Markers of ER stress are upregulated in sec63 mutants. Finally, we show that sec63 mutants develop liver pathology. As in glia, the primary defect, detectable at 5 dpf, is fragmentation and swelling of the ER, indicative of accumulation of proteins in the lumen. At 8 dpf, ER swelling is severe, other pathological features include disrupted bile canaliculi, altered cytoplasmic matrix, and accumulation of large lysosomes. Together, our analyses of sec63 mutant zebrafish highlight the possible role of ER stress in polycystic liver disease and suggest that these mutants will serve as a model for understanding the pathophysiology of this disease and other abnormalities involving ER stress.
A mathematical model of weight loss under total starvation: evidence against the thrifty-gene hypothesis
Authors: Speakman John R. , Westerterp Klaas R. 
Published: August 2012

Summary
The thrifty-gene hypothesis (TGH) posits that the modern genetic predisposition to obesity stems from a historical past where famine selected for genes that promote efficient fat deposition. It has been previously argued that such a scenario is unfeasible because under such strong selection any gene favouring fat deposition would rapidly move to fixation. Hence, we should all be predisposed to obesity: which we are not. The genetic architecture of obesity that has been revealed by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), however, calls into question such an argument. Obesity is caused by mutations in many hundreds (maybe thousands) of genes, each with a very minor, independent and additive impact. Selection on such genes would probably be very weak because the individual advantages they would confer would be very small. Hence, the genetic architecture of the epidemic may indeed be compatible with, and hence support, the TGH. To evaluate whether this is correct, it is necessary to know the likely effects of the identified GWAS alleles on survival during starvation. This would allow definition of their advantage in famine conditions, and hence the likely selection pressure for such alleles to have spread over the time course of human evolution. We constructed a mathematical model of weight loss under total starvation using the established principles of energy balance. Using the model, we found that fatter individuals would indeed survive longer and, at a given body weight, females would survive longer than males, when totally starved. An allele causing deposition of an extra 80 g of fat would result in an extension of life under total starvation by about 1.1-1.6% in an individual with 10 kg of fat and by 0.25-0.27% in an individual carrying 32 kg of fat. A mutation causing a per allele effect of 0.25% would become completely fixed in a population with an effective size of 5 million individuals in 6000 selection events. Because there have probably been about 24,000 famine events since the evolution of hominins 4 million years ago, there has been ample time even for genes with only very minor impacts on adiposity to move to fixation. The observed polymorphic variation in the genes causing the predisposition to obesity is incompatible with the TGH, unless all these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) arose in the last 900,000 years, a requirement we know is incorrect. The TGH is further weakened by the observation of no link between the effect size of these SNPs and their prevalence, which would be anticipated under the TGH model of selection if all the SNPs had arisen in the last 900,000 years.
Cognitive effects of dopamine depletion in the context of diminished acetylcholine signaling capacity in mice
Authors: Zurkovsky Lilia , Bychkov Evgeny , Tsakem Elviche L. , Siedlecki Carley , Blakely Randy D. , Gurevich Eugenia V. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryA subset of patients with Parkinson's disease acquires a debilitating dementia characterized by severe cognitive impairments (i.e. Parkinson's disease dementia; PDD). Brains from PDD patients show extensive cholinergic loss as well as dopamine (DA) depletion. We used a mutant mouse model to directly test whether combined cholinergic and DA depletion leads to a cognitive profile resembling PDD. Mice carrying heterozygous deletion of the high-affinity, hemicholinium-3-sensitive choline transporter (CHTHET) show reduced levels of acetylcholine throughout the brain. We achieved bilateral DA depletion in CHTHET and wild-type (WT) littermates via intra-striatal infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), or used vehicle as control. Executive function and memory were evaluated using rodent versions of cognitive tasks commonly used with human subjects: the set-shifting task and spatial and novel-object recognition paradigms. Our studies revealed impaired acquisition of attentional set in the set-shifting paradigm in WT-6OHDA and CHTHET-vehicle mice that was exacerbated in the CHTHET-6OHDA mice. The object recognition test following a 24-hour delay was also impaired in CHTHET-6OHDA mice compared with all other groups. Treatment with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors physostigmine (0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg) and donepezil (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg) reversed the impaired object recognition of the CHTHET-6OHDA mice. Our data demonstrate an exacerbated cognitive phenotype with dual ACh and DA depletion as compared with either insult alone, with traits analogous to those observed in PDD patients. The results suggest that combined loss of DA and ACh could be sufficient for pathogenesis of specific cognitive deficits in PDD.
Medical forensic examination of detained immigrants: is the Istanbul Protocol followed?
Authors: Keten Alper , Akçan Ramazan , Karacaoğlu Emre , Odabaşı Aysun Balseven , Rıza Tümer Ali 
Published: August 2012

Introduction Maltreatment and torture during custody is still an important problem in many countries. Both national and international regulations and the Istanbul Protocol are of great importance in terms of elimination of maltreatment and torture. In this study, we evaluated whether examinations for custody of immigrants were performed in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol. Method We retrospectively evaluated reports of forensic examinations for custody of 100 immigrants in Van-çaldıran Government Hospital in 2009. Data about nationality, age, gender, examination date, referring department, examination findings and departments to which the reports were submitted were collected. Results Fifty percent of the immigrants were Iranian and they were aged between 11 and 62 years. Ninety-nine immigrants were men and one was woman. Data about history of arrest were missing in forensic reports about all immigrants. Data about signs of trauma were present only for seven immigrants. Ninety-three immigrants were reported to have no signs of trauma. None of the immigrants underwent psychiatric examination. All forensic reports were found to be submitted to the police personally. Whether the immigrants were examined before or after the custody was not clear in the reports. Conclusion Evaluation of the data showed that none of the forensic examinations were performed in accordance with the Istanbul Protocol. It can be recommended that the protocol should be incorporated into the curricula for undergraduate, graduate and in-service training programmes in order to improve relevant forensic practices.
Unusual localization of a primary superficial venous aneurysm: a case report
Authors: Cakia M , Ersoy O , Ince I , Kiziltepe U 
Published: August 2012

Objectives Primary aneurysms of superficial venous system are rare and frequently misdiagnosed as varicose veins. Clinical presentation is variable depending on the presence of compression to surrounding structures. We report a rare case of primary cephalic vein aneurysm presented with wrist pain due to radial nerve compression. Method/case A 61-year-old woman was admitted with right wrist pain and localized mass. Physical and imaging examinations showed a localized cephalic vein aneurysm compressing radial nerve. Simple excision was performed successfully. Results Cosmetic and clinical results at the first month follow-up were successful. Discussion Although primary superficial venous aneurysms of upper extremities are very rare, the treatment of choice is most commonly same as the ones in lower limbs. Simple excision is the best approach in the most of the cases, while sclerotherapy could be preferred in order to obtain better cosmesis or to avoid injuries to surrounding structures.
Multiple-Unit Holdings Yield Attenuated Endowment Effects
Authors: Burson Katherine , Faro David , Rottenstreich Yuval 
Published: August 2012

Previous endowment effect experiments have examined circumstances in which people encounter a single unit of a good (e.g., one chocolate). We contrast single-unit treatments with multiple-unit treatments in which participants encounter several units of a good (e.g., five chocolates). We observe endowment effects of typical magnitude for singleton holdings but attenuated endowment effects for multiple-unit holdings. Moreover, endowment effects consistently arise for singletons even as the definition of a unit is altered. For instance, participants holding one piece of chocolate show an endowment effect of standard size, but so do participants holding one box of chocolates. Yet the box contains about 20 individual pieces of chocolate, and participants given that many separate pieces show a substantially attenuated endowment effect. We thus propose the property of “unit dependence”: the definition of a unit can change, but contingent on any given definition, a pronounced endowment effect may emerge for singletons but not multiples. This paper was accepted by Teck Ho, decision analysis.
Shared Decision Making: Improving Care for Children with Autism
Authors: Golnik Allison , Maccabee-Ryaboy Nadia , Scal Peter , Wey Andrew , Gaillard Philippe 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWe assessed the extent to which parents of children with autism spectrum disorder report that they are engaged in shared decision making. We measured the association between shared decision making and (a) satisfaction with care, (b) perceived guidance regarding controversial issues in autism spectrum disorder, and (c) perceived assistance navigating the multitude of treatment options. Surveys assessing primary medical care and decision-making processes were developed on the basis of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. In May 2009, after pilot testing, we sent surveys to 203 parents of children from ages 3 to 18 with International Classification of Diseases–9 and parent-confirmed autism spectrum disorder diagnoses. The response rate was 64%. Controlling for key demographic variables, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder reporting higher levels of shared decision making reported significantly greater satisfaction with the overall quality of their child's health care (p ≤ .0001). Parents reporting higher levels of shared decision making were also significantly more likely to report receiving guidance on the many treatment options (p  =  .0002) and controversial issues related to autism spectrum disorder (p  =  .0322). In this study, shared decision making was associated with higher parent satisfaction and improved guidance regarding treatments and controversial issues within primary care for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Fabrication, Operation, and Health Monitoring of Bender Elements for Aggressive Environments
Authors: Montoya Brina M. , Gerhard Ray , DeJong Jason T. , Wilson Daniel W. , Weil Matthew H. , Martinez Brian C. , Pederson Lars 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
Bender elements are commonly used to monitor the shear wave velocity of soils in various tests, including triaxial, consolidation, and centrifuge tests. When used in aggressive soil environments, electromagnetic crosstalk can distort the received bender element signal, preventing accurate shear wave velocity measurements. Aggressive soil environments are defined herein as conductive soils with high relative permittivity. Under these conditions, the electrical source is transmitted from source to receiver bender, dominating any received shear wave signal propagating through the soil. Careful attention must be paid to reducing the transmission of the electromagnetic signal, particularly in aggressive soil environments. When the waterproof coating of a bender element degrades and the inner and outer electrodes become electrically connected in a saturated environment, the bender element will no longer operate. However, when the waterproofing material is degraded so that only a single electrode on the source element is exposed, electric current can enter the pore fluid and affect the received signal. Further, even if the waterproofing coating is intact, electromagnetic crosstalk from the induced electrical field generated by the transmitting bender element can still affect the received signal when the conductivity of the pore fluid is high. Bender elements can be constructed so as to greatly reduce the electromagnetic crosstalk, and simple tests can be performed to help ensure that the bender element system is not susceptible to crosstalk. The objective here is to present details and practical guidelines regarding the fabrication, operation, and health monitoring of bender elements that will help ensure clear shear wave velocity measurements in aggressive soil environments. The fabrication steps presented improve on previous recommendations. Bender element operation (including signal form, frequency, and amplitude) also affects signal quality and the accuracy of the measured travel time. Finally, recommendations for monitoring the health of the bender elements throughout the transducer life are outlined.
Research on Structural Performance of Conductive Asphalt Pavement Buried Tubes in Moving Load
Authors: Wang Hong , Wu Shaopeng , Wang Genyan 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The study is focused on the structural performance of conductive asphalt pavement embedded with exchanger tubes, using the finite element method. The pavement structure was modeled as a three-dimensional four-layer stratum using ABAQUS finite element suite. Viscoelastic response models of the asphalt concrete were properly established by using the Prony series. The developed response models were used in finite element simulations on the conductive asphalt pavement. The model of pavement embedded with different types of tubes was subjected to moving load. When the material stress or strain in the layer is computed, the design life can be predicted by using a fatigue model. Finally, the simulating method of the conductive asphalt pavement embedded with tubes was put forward and the study will provide road structural engineers with some design basis.
Mechanical Impedance Measurement on Thin Layer Surface With Impedance Hammer Device
Authors: Li Mingliang , Molenaar A. A. A. , van de Ven M. F. C. , van Keulen Wim 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The mechanical impedance describes the ability of a structure to resist motion when subjected to a given force. It has received increasing attention as a parameter that could influence the tire/road noise in the medium frequency range (630–1600 Hz). In this study, the impedance hammer device is used for measuring the mechanical impedance on thin layer surface mixture samples in the lab. In the test, the excitation is induced by hitting the sample surface with the hammer. Values of the driving force and acceleration of the vibrating slab are recorded. The mechanical impedance can then be calculated from the ratio of the force to the velocity that is obtained by integration of the acceleration. The influence of the material properties were investigated by comparing the results on different samples. A further measurement of dynamic stiffness on the same material is also discussed and related to the hammer measurement.
Effect of Phase-Change Materials on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Chen Meizhu , Wan Lu , Lin Juntao 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
The use of phase-change materials (PCMs) in asphalt mixture is expected to solve some problems related to asphalt-pavement temperature, such as rutting behaviors and urban heat island effect. This study mainly evaluated the thermal and mechanical properties of asphalt mixtures with and without various PCMs (PCM-L, PCM-Z) using laboratory performance tests. The experimental tests included thermal conductivity and diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, indoor temperature changes versus time when heated or cooled, indirect tensile strength, high-temperature rutting, and low-temperature cracking. In addition, a hot disk thermal constants analyzer was used to measure the thermal constants of asphalt mixtures. The results showed that different PCMs had different effects on the thermal constants of asphalt mixtures. Compared with control sample, the sample with PCM-L showed a higher thermal conductivity, whereas the sample with PCM-Z had a lower thermal conductivity. Moreover, PCM-Z exhibited a more-significant phase-change adjusting-temperature effect on asphalt mixtures than PCM-L. However, the addition of PCM to asphalt mixtures resulted in a decreased indirect tensile strength and a weakened rutting resistance, but the effect of PCM-Z was smaller than that of PCM-L. In addition, the asphalt mixture with PCM-Z exhibited better cracking resistance than the mixture with PCM-L and control mixture. Therefore, it is recommended to use PCM-Z in asphalt mixtures to solve the problem of pavement at high temperatures.
Sensing Properties of Carbon Nanotube–Carbon Fiber/Cement Nanocomposites
Authors: Zuo Junqing , Yao Wu , Liu Xiaoyan , Qin Junjie 
Published: August 2012

Abstract
In this work, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added into a carbon fiber cement system to produce carbon nanotube–carbon fiber/cement nanocomposites in the form of pastes. The compressive strength, morphology, pressure-sensitive properties, and temperature-sensitive properties were tested. The results show strengthening of the mechanical properties and pressure sensitivity as the CNT content increases from 0.2 % to 1.0 % by mass of cement. The addition of CNTs into cement paste also leads to enhancement of the temperature sensitivity. Additionally, microscopic observation shows that CNTs act as fillers, which results in a dense microstructure of cement paste. Test results indicate that the carbon nanotube–carbon fiber/cement composites show potential either as stress sensors for vehicle detection, weigh-in-motion measurement, and vehicle speed detection or as thermistors for temperature monitoring in concrete structures.