bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduced GABA-B/GIRK-mediated regulation of the VTA following a single exposure to cocaine
Authors: Cadle Brian , Varnell Andrew , Cooper Donald 
Published: January 2012

AbstractIn this paper, Arora and colleagues expand on their previous work on GIRK channels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) presenting evidence that a single exposure to cocaine reduces inhibitory GABAergic transmission to dopamine (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area. Mice receiving i.p. injections of cocaine saw a short lived (1-5 days) decrease in GABAb mediated G-protein coupled inwardly-rectifying potassium (GIRK) currents in DA neurons in the VTA. This decrease parallels an NMDA-mediated increase in the frequency of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Chronic cocaine injections had no additional effects beyond those seen with single injections. Though they found no change in mRNA levels for GABAb receptors, GIRK channels, or RGS-2 (a G-protein regulator), immunoelectron microscopy indicated a decrease in levels of GIRK channels in the plasma membrane of the dendrites of VTA DA neurons. The cocaine-mediated decrease in GIRK currents was abolished in the presence of D2/3R antagonist sulpiride, but not in the presence of D1/5 antagonist SCH23390, indicating a link between D2/3 receptor activation and GIRK activity. Interestingly, the addition of quinpirole, a D2/3 agonist, elicited similar GIRK currents, though they were smaller than those mediated by GABAb receptors. Similarly, acute injections of cocaine significantly diminished quinpirole-evoked currents.
Lingual Propulsive Pressures Across Consistencies Generated by the Anteromedian and Posteromedian Tongue by Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Gingrich Laura L. , Stierwalt Julie A. G. , Hageman Carlin F. , LaPointe Leonard L. 
Published: January 2012

PurposeIn the present study, the authors investigated lingual propulsive pressures generated in the normal swallow by the anterior and posterior lingual segments for various consistencies and maximum isometric tasks.MethodLingual pressures for saliva, thin, and honey-thick liquid boluses were measured via the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI Medical, Carnation, WA) at both anteromedian and posteromedian lingual segments of 62 healthy participants, ages 18–34 years (30 men, 32 women).ResultsA repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed that all lingual swallowing pressures were significantly greater at the anteromedian segment than at the posteromedian segment. Gender was not a significant factor; however, women exhibited greater swallowing pressures across all conditions. Lingual pressures increased as bolus viscosity increased. No significant interactions existed. Analysis of a subset of 30 participants revealed that men exhibited greater maximal isometric pressure at the anteromedian segment than women, with no significant gender difference at the posteromedian segment. A significantly higher percentage of maximum isometric tongue pressure was exerted by the posteromedian tongue than by the anteromedian tongue.ConclusionFindings suggest that greater amplitudes of lingual pressures are generated during normal swallowing at the anteromedian lingual segment; however, a greater percentage of maximum isometric tongue pressure was exerted by the posteromedian lingual segment, suggesting increased effort by the posterior tongue during bolus propulsion.
The Effect of Tongue Exercise on Serotonergic Input to the Hypoglossal Nucleus in Young and Old Rats
Authors: Behan Mary , Moeser Adam E. , Thomas Cathy F. , Russell John A. , Wang Hao , Leverson Glen E. , Connor Nadine P. 
Published: January 2012

Purpose
Breathing and swallowing problems affect elderly people and may be related to age-associated tongue dysfunction. Hypoglossal motoneurons that innervate the tongue receive a robust, excitatory serotonergic (5HT) input and may be affected by aging. We used a rat model of aging and progressive resistance tongue exercise to determine whether age-related alterations in 5HT inputs to the hypoglossal nucleus can be modified. We hypothesized that tongue forces would increase with exercise, 5HT input to the tongue would decrease with age, and tongue exercise would augment 5HT input to the hypoglossal nucleus.

Method
Young (9–10 months), middle-aged (24–25 months), and old (32–33 months) male F344/BN rats received tongue exercise for 8 weeks. Immunoreactivity for 5HT was measured in digital images of sections through the hypoglossal nucleus using ImageJ software.

Results
Tongue exercise resulted in increased maximum tongue forces at all ages. There was a statistically significant increase in 5HT immunoreactivity in the hypoglossal nucleus in exercised, young rats but only in the caudal third of the nucleus and primarily in the ventral half.

Conclusion
Specificity found in serotonergic input following exercise may reflect the topographic organization of motoneurons in the hypoglossal nucleus and the tongue muscles engaged in the exercise paradigm.
Using Video Modeling Intervention and Speech Generating Devices To Teach Requesting Behaviors to Persons With Autism
Authors: Copple Karen , Koul Rajinder , Banda Devender , Frye Ellen 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
One of the instructional techniques reported in the literature to teach communication skills to persons with autism is video modeling (VM). VM is a form of observational learning that involves watching and imitating the desired target behavior(s) exhibited by the person on the videotape. VM has been used to teach a variety of social and communicative behaviors to persons with developmental disabilities such as autism. In this paper, we describe the VM technique and summarize the results of two single-subject experimental design studies that investigated the acquisition of spontaneous requesting skills using a speech generating device (SGD) by persons with autism following a VM intervention. The results of these two studies indicate that a VM treatment package that includes a SGD as one of its components can be effective in facilitating communication in individuals with autism who have little or no functional speech.
Experimentally investigation of the CCD binning option in particle imaging velocimetry measurements of laminar flows
Authors: Akselli B. , Teke I. 
Published: January 2012

In this work we present an experimental investigation of the employment usage application of the vertical pixel binning (PB) option for PIV (particle image velocimetry) measurements. The PB option increases the speed of a CCD, at the cost of loosing spatial resolution. Consequently, it is expected that PB will positively impact the dynamic velocity range of the PIV measurements. In order to show the benefit of the CCD PB option in PIV measurements, we have carried out series of microPIV experiments on laminar flows, seeded with 1 μm fluorescent polystyrene microparticles and passing through a 200 μm × 200 μm × 50000μm microchannel. The flow images were recorded at normal, 2 × 1, and 3 × 1 vertical PB modes of a monochrome CCD camera. The experimentally obtained velocity profiles were calculated using the ensemble-averaged cross-correlation method and Gaussian sup-pixel interpolation and then compared with theoretically calculated velocity profiles. We found that the error introduced by the PB option did not exceed the inherent uncertainty of the PIV system used. For a particular PIV system CCD camera, using the PB option allowed an increase in the dynamic velocity range of a PIV system by more than a factor of two, without extra investments.
The Control of Hyperglycemia in Alloxan Treated Diabetic Mice through the Stimulation of Hepatic Insulin Synthesis due to the Production of Nitric Oxide
Authors: Ghosh R. , Jana P. , Sinha A. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe hepatocytes from the adult mice when stimulated by glucose had been reported to synthesize and secrete insulin. The feasibility of controlling hyperglycemia in alloxan induced diabetic mice through hepatic synthesis of insulin was studied.Insulin synthesis was determined by in vitro translation of mRNA and by immunohistochemistry of the hepatocytes and assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Dermcidin isoform 2 (dermcidin) was measured by ELISA. Nitric oxide was measured by methemoglobin method. Insulin synthesis was quantitated by immunoblot technique and the expression of proinsulin genes I and II in the hepatocytes was quantitated by cDNA synthesisIt was found that in contrast to normal hepatocytes, the hepatocytes from the diabetic mice showed impaired insulin synthesis in the presence of glucose that was related to the inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis through the synthesis of dermcidin, a potent competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. The increase of systemic NO synthesis either by oral use of 0.7 mM acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) or by dermal application of 0.28 mmol sodium nitroprusside in saline soaked in cotton pad was found to decrease blood glucose level from 600 mg/dL to 120 mg/dL with concomitant increase of plasma insulin level from 5 µunits/dL to 38 µunits/dL. And subsequently normalized dermcidin level from 80 nM to 4.5 nM within 24 h (p<0.001; n=10).Our studies suggested the possibility of controlling hyperglycemia in alloxan induced diabetic mice by the stimulation of the hepatic insulin synthesis through the systemic stimulation of NO production in the hepatocytes.
Regulatory Functions of SnRK1 in Stress-Responsive Gene Expression and in Plant Growth and Development
Authors: Cho Young-Hee , Hong Jung-Woo , Kim Eun-Chul , Yoo Sang-Dong 
Published: January 2012

AbstractSucrose-nonfermentation1-related protein kinase1 (SnRK1) is an evolutionarily conserved energy sensor protein that regulates gene expression in response to energy depletion in plants. Efforts to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of this protein kinase are hampered, however, by inherent growth defects of snrk1-null mutant plants. To overcome these limitations and study SnRK1 functions in vivo, we applied a method combining transient expression in leaf mesophyll protoplasts and stable expression in transgenic plants. We found that both rice (Oryza sativa) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) SnRK1 activities critically influence stress-inducible gene expression and the induction of stress tolerance. Genetic, molecular, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses further revealed that the nuclear SnRK1 modulated target gene transcription in a submergence-dependent manner. From early seedling development through late senescence, SnRK1 activities appeared to modulate developmental processes in the plants. Our findings offer insight into the regulatory functions of plant SnRK1 in stress-responsive gene regulation and in plant growth and development throughout the life cycle.
Malassezia globosa tends to grow actively in summer conditions more than other cutaneous Malassezia species
Authors: AKAZA Narifumi , AKAMATSU Hirohiko , TAKEOKA Shiori , SASAKI Yasuyuki , MIZUTANI Hiroshi , NAKATA Satoru , MATSUNAGA Kayoko 
Published: January 2012

AbstractMalassezia globosa is a major pathogen of Malassezia folliculitis (MF) and the predominant species on human skin. The aim of this study was to clarify the differences between M. globosa and other cutaneous Malassezia species, M. restricta, M. dermatis, M. sympodialis and M. furfur. The optimum growth temperature, effects of compounds of sweat and free fatty acids on growth, and lipase activities of five cutaneous Malassezia species were determined. The growth of M. globosa was promoted strongly by the compounds of sweat and high temperature unlike that of other cutaneous Malassezia species. This result clarified that M. globosa tended to grow actively in summer conditions more than other cutaneous Malassezia species. Furthermore, M. globosa showed high lipase activity. We consider these characteristics of M. globosa to relate to the pathogenesis of MF.
Lateral cervical lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid cancer: a systematic review of imaging‐guided and prophylactic removal of the lateral compartment
Authors: Mulla Mubashir G. , Knoefel Wolfram Trudo , Gilbert Jackie , McGregor Alan , Schulte Klaus‐Martin 
Published: January 2012

SummaryBackgroundPapillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is a common endocrine cancer and frequently presents with lymph node (LN) metastases. The frequency of LN metastases in the lateral compartment and their surgical removal are poorly defined. There are no prospective randomised controlled trials addressing an eventual outcome difference relating to the extent of the initial surgical approach. The aim of this study was to define the extent of lateral LN involvement and the role of imaging in identification of these metastatic LN.Design and MethodsA systematic review of studies of patients with PTC undergoing either prophylactic or therapeutic lymphadenectomy of the lateral cervical compartment. Studies involving imaging modalities in the detection of lateral cervical LNs in PTC were also analysed.ResultsSystematic review on the frequency of lateral LN metastases and their detection using various imaging tools identified 19 studies containing data on 5587 patients undergoing prophylactic or imaging‐guided removal of the lateral compartment. Imaging‐guided surgery retrieved cancerous lateral LNs in 446/3178 or 14% of eligible patients, whilst prophylactic lateral neck dissection yielded histopathological proof of cancer in 1177/204 or 57·5% of patients. The frequency of lateral compartment metastases increased with T stage. The sensitivity of ultrasound and CT was poor as low as 27% when accurately calculated.ConclusionMetastatic cervical LNs were found in more than half of patients when prophylactic lateral LN dissection was performed. Use of conventional imaging for the selection of the surgical approach to the lateral cervical compartment may commonly identify stage N1a instead of N1b and thus lead to false stage assignment as stage III rather than stage IV, concealing the severe prognostic implications of this stage progression in individual patients.
Quorum‐sensing non‐coding small RNAs use unique pairing regions to differentially control mRNA targets
Authors: Shao Yi , Bassler Bonnie L. 
Published: January 2012

SummaryQuorum sensing is a mechanism of cell–cell communication that bacteria use to control collective behaviours including bioluminescence, biofilm formation and virulence factor production. In the Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio cholerae quorum‐sensing circuits, multiple non‐coding small regulatory RNAs called the quorum‐regulated small RNAs (Qrr sRNAs) function to establish the global quorum‐sensing gene expression pattern by modulating translation of multiple mRNAs encoding quorum‐sensing regulatory factors. Here we show that the Qrr sRNAs post‐transcriptionally activate production of the low cell density master regulator AphA through base pairing to aphA mRNA, and this is crucial for the accumulation of appropriate levels of AphA protein at low cell density. We find that the Qrr sRNAs use unique pairing regions to discriminate between their different targets. Qrr1 is not as effective as Qrr2–5 in activating aphA because Qrr1 lacks one of two required pairing regions. However, Qrr1 is equally effective as the other Qrr sRNAs at controlling targets like luxR and luxO because it harbours all of the required pairing regions for these targets. Sequence comparisons reveal that Vibrionaceae species possessing only qrr1 do not have the aphA gene under Qrr sRNA control. Our findings suggest co‐evolving relationships between particular Qrr sRNAs and particular mRNA targets.
Association Studies of Gene Polymorphisms in Toll‐Like Receptors 2 and 4 in Croatian Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Džumhur A. , Zibar L. , Wagner J. , Šimundić T. , Dembić Z. , Barbić J. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThe aim of the study was to assess the frequency of SNP896A/G in the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 4 gene and SNP1350T/C in the TLR2 gene in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to analyse the association of these SNPs with risk factors for atherosclerosis and clinical aspects of AMI in a sample of the Croatian population. We included 240 participants in the study: 120 AMI patients and 120 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy blood donor controls. The SNP1350T/C variant in the TLR2 gene showed a lower frequency in the AMI patient group than in the control group (P = 0.033). The frequency of SNP896A/G variants in the TLR4 gene between the patients and the controls did not differ (P = 0.286). Significantly, fewer people had SNP1350T/C in the TLR2 gene (P = 0.003) among the participants with arterial hypertension than those without it. The frequency of SNP896A/G in TLR4 was the same in hypertensive patients compared with normotensive subjects (P = 0.088). SNP1350T/C in TLR2 was less frequent in the AMI patients and in those with hypertension. Thus, SNP1350T/C in TLR2 might play a protective role against AMI and arterial hypertension. The frequency of SNP896A/G in the TLR4 gene was not associated with AMI and arterial hypertension. Other risk factors for atherosclerosis and clinical aspects of myocardial infarction were not associated with the genotype distribution of the examined genes.
Immunotherapy with oligomannose‐coated liposomes ameliorates allergic symptoms in a murine food allergy model
Authors: Kawakita Akiko , Shirasaki Hisako , Yasutomi Motoko , Tokuriki Shuko , Mayumi Mitsufumi , Naiki Hironobu , Ohshima Yusei 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground:Allergen‐specific immunotherapy has been anticipated to be a disease‐modifying therapy for food allergies. We previously reported that CD8+ regulatory T cells may prevent antigen‐sensitized mice from developing allergic diarrhea. Because oligomannose‐coated liposomes (OML) have been shown to induce MHC class I‐restricted CD8+ T cell responses, we analyzed the adjuvant activities of OML for inducing regulatory CD8+ T cells and mucosal tolerogenic responses in allergen‐sensitized mice.Methods:The BALB/c mice that were previously sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) were intranasally immunized with OVA‐encased in OML (OVA‐OML) or OVA‐encased in non‐coated liposomes (OVA‐NL). We assessed allergic diarrhea induced by oral OVA administration, OVA‐specific immunoglobulin production, and cytokine production in the intestines and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs).Results:Intranasal immunization with OVA‐OML, but not OVA‐NL, suppressed the development of allergic diarrhea. This was associated with in vitro Ag‐induced IL‐10 production and the in vivo expansion of CD8+ CD28− and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T cell populations among mesenteric lymph node mononuclear cells, and was significantly ablated by anti‐SIGNR1 or anti‐CR3 mAbs. Up‐regulation of serum OVA‐specific IgE was suppressed, whereas OVA‐specific IgG1, IgG2a, and soluble IgA production were enhanced by intranasal administration of OVA‐OML. Adoptive transfer of CD8+ CD28− T cells but not CD28+ CD8+ T cells from the MLNs of OVA‐OML‐treated mice ameliorated the development of diarrhea.Conclusion:These results suggest that intranasal immunization with Ag‐encased OML may be an effective immunotherapy for food allergies, as it induces a subset of regulatory CD8+ T cells as well as CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T cell and modulates humoral immune responses in allergen‐sensitized mice.
Mode of inheritance in fruit acidity in apple analysed with a mixed model of a major gene and polygenes using large complex pedigree
Authors: Iwanami Hiroshi , Moriya Shigeki , Kotoda Nobuhiro , Mimida Naozumi , Takahashi‐Sumiyoshi Sae , Abe Kazuyuki 
Published: January 2012

With 5 figures and 2 tablesAbstractFruit acidity is an important characteristic to determine the marketability of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.). To reveal the mode of inheritance in fruit acidity and to estimate the genetic parameters, we performed segregation analysis using a population from an apple breeding programme. Four models (mixed, Mendelian, polygenic and environmental) were compared to find the most likely mode of the inheritance of acidity. The phenotypic variance of acidity in the population was properly explained using a mixed model of a major gene and polygenes. The genotypic values of the major gene (AA, Aa and aa) were estimated to be 0.45, 0.52 and 0.92 g/100 ml in titratable acidity, respectively. The values of the homozygote (AA) and the heterozygote (Aa) were very close and lower than that of the other homozygote (aa), indicating that an allele of the major gene appeared to have complete dominance with a function of lowering acidity. The estimate of the heritability after accounting for the major gene was moderately high, 0.43, in the mixed model. This means that even with removal of the effect of the major gene, acidity could fluctuate considerably by the effect of polygenes. The proportions of progeny with adequate acidity differed greatly, depending on which genotype was used as parents for the crossing. Therefore, it is very important to know the genotypes of parental cultivars before crossing.
Dry matter and relative sugar yield from enzymatic hydrolysis of maize whole plants and cobs
Authors: Paul Scott Marvin , Byrnes Kenneth , Blanco Michael 
Published: January 2012

With 1 figure and 6 tablesAbstractThe objective of this work was to determine the potential of germplasm from the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) programme for use as a biofuel feedstock, relative to commercial grain and silage hybrids. Eighteen maize genotypes including GEM varieties and commercial checks were evaluated in a 2‐year field study for dry matter yield, moisture at harvest and sugar produced by hydrolysis of whole plants and cobs. There were no significant correlations between any of the traits measured, suggesting that it should be possible to improve yield with quality traits using a selection index. A brown midrib variety was in the top significance group for hydrolysis traits, underscoring the impact of this mutation on the digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. Commercial varieties tended to have superior dry matter yield, while several GEM lines ranked highly for sugar produced by hydrolysis of whole plants. Selection indices that take both sugar produced by hydrolysis and dry matter yield into account produced rankings of the germplasm used in this study that were markedly different than rankings based on either trait alone.
Oral simvastatin reduces the hypertensive response to air‐jet stress
Authors: Ufnal Marcin , Drapala Adrian , Sikora Mariusz , Szczepanska‐Sadowska Ewa 
Published: January 2012

SummaryBrain angiotensin (Ang)IIand vasopressin play important roles in the neurogenic regulation of the circulatory system, such as in cardiovascular responses to stress. Recently, it has become evident that the positive effects of statins are not limited to their lipid‐lowering actions; for example, it has been found that statins interact with angiotensin peptides.In the present study we tested the hypothesis that simvastatin affects haemodynamic responses to air‐jet stress and intracerebroventricular infusions of vasopressin andAngII. We maintained 12‐week‐old maleSprague‐Dawley rats either on tap water (control) or on water containing simvastatin (20, 40 or 60 mg/L) for 4 weeks. Subsequently, we measured arterial blood pressure and heart rate (HR) at baseline and after air‐jet stress or intracerebroventricular infusions over 30 s of 10 ngAngII, 20 ng vasopressin or their antagonists (10 μg losartan and 400 ng d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Ala‐NH29] vasopressin, respectively).There were no significant differences between the control and simvastatin groups in terms of baseline mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) andHR. In rats given 60 mg/Lsimvastatin, the hypertensive response to air‐jet stress was significantly smaller than in controls, as was the increase inMAPin response toAngII. In contrast, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the hypertensive response to vasopressin.These findings show that simvastatin affects the hypertensive response to air‐jet stress and provide evidence that statins may affect the brain's regulation of the circulatory system.