bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detecting asymptomatic ink‐diseased chestnut trees by the composition of the ectomycorrhizal community
Authors: Scattolin L. , Dal Maso E. , Mutto Accordi S. , Sella L. , Montecchio L. 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe research was performed in a new and isolated ink disease outbreak. Nine sweet chestnuts of comparable age, growing under same environmental and site conditions, and belonging to three phytosanitary classes (healthy, infected but asymptomatic and symptomatic) were randomly selected. Their ectomycorrhizal community was monitored during two periods, with regard to species abundance, to verify whether the community composition can be useful as an ink disease bioindicator. From the 216 samples, 29 ectomycorrhizal species were recorded, with abundances that changed with the health status of the tree. The results demonstrated that the mycorrhizal community composition was highly related to the ink disease level, allowing the consideration of the use of this parameter as a tool for the quick detection and control of the early stages of the disease.
Cryopreservation of the Bovine Oocyte: Current Status and Perspectives
Authors: Díez C , Muñoz M , Caamaño JN , Gómez E 
Published: June 2012

ContentsThis review presents some of the most noticeable aspects related with the oocyte cryopreservation procedures, emphasizing their evolution in the bovine, which points towards the critical points determining the reduced survival rates of female gametes to freezing and vitrification. Factors such as the maturation status, the cytoskeleton and membrane sensitivity, the role of the cumulus cells, the impact of the cryoprotectants agents and the protocols utilized and the future of this tool have been extensively reviewed.
The Membrane of the Mammalian Spermatozoa: Much More Than an Inert Envelope
Authors: Tapia JA , Macias‐Garcia B , Miro‐Moran A , Ortega‐Ferrusola C , Salido GM , Peña FJ , Aparicio IM 
Published: June 2012

ContentsSperm plasma membrane is a very important structure that functions to protect sperm against extracellular injuries and to respond to physiological challenges. It plays a crucial role during sperm capacitation, in sperm–egg interaction and, finally, in fertilization. Concerning sperm technology, possibly the most important factors causing damage in mammalian spermatozoa membranes are initiated by the osmotic stress generated by dehydration of the cells during freezing and thawing. These changes are rapidly derived to the plasma and organelle membranes that gradually experiment loss of membrane architecture, causing unbalanced production of reactive oxygen species and increased lipid peroxidation. Other procedures such as sperm sorting or liquid storage of sperm also induce harmful changes in the integrity of the membrane. The specific composition of lipids of the sperm membranes may provide clues for understanding the mechanisms behind the differences found in the response to stress in different species. In the present review, we deal with the composition, architecture and organization of the sperm plasma membrane, emphasizing the factors that can affect membrane integrity. The intracellular signalling pathways related with membrane reorganization during capacitation and acrosome reaction are also reviewed.
Mineral chemistry and geothermobarometry of Moshirabad pluton, Qorveh, Kurdistan, western Iran
Authors: SEPAHI ALI A. , MAANIJOU MOHAMMAD , SALAMI SEDDIGHEH , GARDIDEH SARA , KHAKSAR TAYEBEH 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe Moshirabad pluton is located southwest of the Sanandaj–Sirjan Metamorphic Belt, Qorveh, western Iran. The pluton is composed of diorite, monzodiorite, quartz diorite, quartz monzodiorite, tonalite, granodiorite, granite, aplite, and pegmatite. In this study 31 samples from various rocks were chosen for whole‐rock analyses and 15 samples from different lithologies were chosen for mineral chemical studies. The compositions of minerals are used to describe the nature of magma and estimate the pressure and temperature at which the Moshirabad pluton was emplaced. Feldspar compositions are near the binary systems in which plagioclase compositions range from An5 to An53 and alkali‐feldspar compositions range from Or91 to Or97. Mafic minerals in the plutonic rocks are biotite and hornblende. Based on the composition of biotites and whole‐rock chemistry, the Moshirabad pluton formed from a calc‐alkaline magma. Amphiboles are calcic amphiboles (magnesio‐hornblende or edenite). Temperatures of crystallization, calculated with the hornblende–plagioclase thermometer, range 550–750°C. These temperatures indicate that plutonic rocks have undergone some retrogressive changes in their mineral compositions. Aluminum‐in‐hornblende geobarometry indicates that the Moshirabad pluton was emplaced at pressures of 2.3–6.0 kbar, equal to depths of 7–20 km, but with consideration of regional geology, lower pressures than the above pressure range are more probable. Alteration of amphiboles can be the reason for some overestimation of pressures.
Development of healthy gut microbiota early in life
Authors: Isolauri Erika 
Published: June 2012

AbstractA healthy intestinal microbiota profile in early life is related to health later in life. An aberrant composition is associated with risks of systemic problems, such as obesity, diabetes and allergic diseases, including asthma and enteric inflammatory conditions, sometimes manifesting at 7 years of age. A healthy and balanced gut microbiota profile in infancy, especially with regard to bifidobacteria, is directly related to mode of delivery (natural birth) and quality of breast milk, which in turn is affected by the mother's own systemic health and nutritional status. Pregnant women of normal body weight and healthy microbiota profiles, both gut microbiota and breast milk microbiota, have greater opportunities to pass on compounds, antigens modified by the mother's gut and other agents that promote the development of a healthy immune system in the breastfed infant.
Missed synchronous gastric neoplasm with endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric neoplasm: Experience in our hospital
Authors: Kim Hyung Hun , Cho Eun Ju , Noh Eunji , Choi Seok Reyol , Park Seun Ja , Park Moo In , Moon Won 
Published: June 2012

AimEndoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been widely accepted as a less invasive treatment for early gastric cancer and adenoma, but research on missed synchronous gastric neoplasm (SGN) with ESD has been limited. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and characteristics of missed SGN during follow‐up endoscopy in patients who have undergone ESD.MethodWe investigated the clinicopathological features of 602 patients and gastric neoplasms treated by ESD from January 2005 through July 2009 at our institution. We defined any second neoplasm found within 1 year after ESD as a missed SGN.ResultsOut of 602 patients, 12 (2.0%) had missed SGN. Among the 12 missed SGN, seven (58.3%) cases were carcinomas. All cases of missed synchronous gastric cancer (SGC) wereexclusively discovered in the posterior wall of the stomach (7 of 7 cases, 100%, P = 0.016). Missed SGN were more frequently observed when the primary gastric neoplasm was adenoma (4.0% vs 1.0%; OR = 4.114; 95% CI = 1.224–13.831). Furthermore, the risk of missed SGC increased 12‐fold in the primary gastric adenoma group compared to the primary gastric carcinoma group (2.9% vs 0.24%; OR = 12.308; 95% CI = 1.472–102.939).ConclusionEndoscopists need to make an effort to find SGN, especially when they carry out ESD for an adenoma, which is a less serious lesion. The important blind spot in screening endoscopic examination before ESD is the posterior wall of the upper third and middle third of the stomach.
Pancreatic β‐cell dysfunction, expression of iNOS and the effect of phosphodiesterase inhibitors in human pancreatic islets of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Muhammed S. J. , Lundquist I. , Salehi A. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractAimsInduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in pancreatic islets leads to exaggerated nitric oxide (NO) production associated with dysfunctional β‐cells. We examined insulin secretion, iNOS expression and its relationship to the cAMP system in islets from human type 2 diabetes.MethodsInsulin, glucagon and cAMP were analysed by RIA; iNOS or phosphodiesterase (PDE) expression by quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blot and confocal microscopy; cell viability by MTS.ResultsDiabetic islets displayed impaired insulin and glucagon responses to glucose, disturbed cAMP generation and high inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein expression. Confocal microscopy showed iNOS protein expression in diabetic islets being confined to insulin, glucagon and somatostatin cells. Culture of diabetic islets at 5.5 mmol/l glucose with dibutyryl‐cAMP (Bt2‐cAMP) for 24 h was accompanied by marked suppression of iNOS mRNA, reduced nitrite production and increased insulin secretion. Diabetic islets displayed marked increase in PDE3A and PDE3B mRNA expression. Short‐time incubation of diabetic islets showed, among the PDE inhibitors tested, cilostazol being most favourable to increase insulin secretion. Diabetic islets were most susceptible to long‐term (72 h) culture at high glucose (20 mmol/l) reacting with increased apoptosis. Bt2‐cAMP and the PDE inhibitors cilostazol, milrinone and IBMX efficiently increased cell viability at high glucose during culture. Defective glucose‐stimulated insulin release upon induction of iNOS was restored by iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine.ConclusionOur results suggest that in islets from type 2 diabetes, stimulatory effects in certain cAMP‐compartments induced by PDE inhibitors might play a central role in the suppression of iNOS, resulting in increased β‐cell viability and improved secretory response to glucose.
A content analysis of the portrayal of alcohol in televised music videos in New Zealand: Changes over time
Authors: Sloane Kate , Wilson Nick , Imlach Gunasekara Fiona 
Published: June 2012

AbstractIntroduction and AimsWe aimed to: (i) document the extent and nature of alcohol portrayal in televised music videos in New Zealand in 2010; and (ii) assess trends over time by comparing with a similar 2005 sample.Design and MethodsWe undertook a content analysis for references to alcohol in 861 music videos shown on a youth‐orientated television channel in New Zealand. This was compared with a sample in 2005 (564 music videos on the same channel plus sampling from two other channels).ResultsThe proportion of alcohol content in the music videos was slightly higher in 2010 than for the same channel in the 2005 sample (19.5% vs. 15.7%) but this difference was not statistically significant. Only in the genre ‘Rhythm and Blues’ was the increase over time significant (P = 0.015). In both studies, the portrayal of alcohol was significantly more common in music videos where the main artist was international (not from New Zealand). Furthermore, in the music videos with alcohol content, at least a third of the time, alcohol was shown being consumed and the main artist was involved with alcohol. In only 2% (in 2005) and 4% (in 2010) of these videos was the tone explicitly negative towards alcohol.Discussion and ConclusionsIn both these studies, the portrayal of alcohol was relatively common in music videos. Nevertheless, there are various ways that policy makers can denormalise alcohol in youth‐orientated media such as music videos or to compensate via other alcohol control measures such as higher alcohol taxes.
BRAIN, MIND AND MACHINE: WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION FOR PERCEPTIONS OF PERSONAL IDENTITY, AGENCY AND FREE WILL?
Authors: LIPSMAN NIR , GLANNON WALTER 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTBrain implants, such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which are designed to improve motor, mood and behavioural pathology, present unique challenges to our understanding of identity, agency and free will. This is because these devices can have visible effects on persons' physical and psychological properties yet are essentially undetectable when operating correctly. They can supplement and compensate for one's inherent abilities and faculties when they are compromised by neuropsychiatric disorders. Further, unlike talk therapy or pharmacological treatments, patients need not ‘do’ anything for the treatment to take effect. If one accepts, as we argue here, that brain implants are unique among implantable types of devices, then this can have significant implications for what it means to persist as the same person and be the source of one's thoughts and actions. By examining two of the most common indications for DBS in current use, namely in the motor (Parkinson's Disease) and psychiatric (Major Depression) domains, we further argue that although DBS, as it is currently applied, does not necessarily represent a unique threat to personal identity and agency per se, it introduces an unprecedented ‘third party’ into the debate on these concepts. In this way, DBS can be used as a tool to begin probing, both conceptually and empirically, some of philosophy's most perennial metaphysical questions.
Equity Under the Knife: Justice and Evidence in Surgery
Authors: Rogers Wendy , Degeling Christopher , Townley Cynthia 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTSurgery is an increasingly common and expensive mode of medical intervention. The ethical dimensions of the surgeon‐patient relationship, including respect for personal autonomy and informed consent, are much discussed; but broader equity issues have not received the same attention. This paper extends the understanding of surgical ethics by considering the nature of evidence in surgery and its relationship to a just provision of healthcare for individuals and their populations.
Family Control and Expropriation at Not‐for‐Profit Organizations: Evidence from Korean Private Universities
Authors: Bae Kee‐Hong , Kim Seung‐Bo , Kim Woochan 
Published: June 2012

AbstractManuscript TypeEmpiricalResearch Question/IssueWe study an agency problem in private universities – the conflict between controlling families and other stakeholders. We investigate whether universities over which controlling families have disproportionately significant power relative to the amount of funds they contribute, that is, universities with high expropriation risk, are associated with lower outside donations and poor quality.Research Findings/InsightsUsing a sample of Korean private universities, we find that measures of family control in excess of monetary contributions are negatively related to the level of outside donation and measures of university quality. We also find that universities at which the controlling family exerts disproportionate control are more likely to face disputes between the controlling family and other stakeholders. Finally, we show that our results are not driven by reverse causality.Theoretical/Academic ImplicationsWhile the existing literature on not‐for‐profit organizations focuses on the conflict between professional managers and other stakeholders, we study the conflict between controlling families and other stakeholders. We investigate a situation in which the controlling family expropriates other stakeholders, a topic missing from the existing not‐for‐profit literature.Practitioner/Policy ImplicationsThis study offers insights to policymakers interested in creating private universities in an emerging market setting. The relevance of our results is not limited to Korea. According to Altbach, family control of private universities is prevalent in a number of countries, including Mexico, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Argentina, India, and China.
Board Size and Corporate Risk Taking: Further Evidence from Japan
Authors: Nakano Makoto , Nguyen Pascal 
Published: June 2012

AbstractManuscript TypeEmpiricalResearch Question/IssueDue to a greater difficulty to achieve compromise, large decision‐making groups tend to adopt less extreme decisions. This implies that larger boards are associated with lower corporate risk taking. We test whether a similar effect applies to the case of Japanese firms. The result is expected to be weaker since Japanese boards form relatively homogeneous groups. We further argue that growth opportunities moderate the relation between board size and risk taking.Research Findings/ResultsOur results indicate that firms with larger boards exhibit lower performance volatility as well as lower bankruptcy risk. However, the effect is not as significant as in the US. The low cross‐sectional variation in risk taking among Japanese firms is found to play a role. In addition, we show that the effect of board size is less significant when firms have plenty of investment opportunities, but much stronger when firms have fewer growth options.Theoretical ImplicationsConsidering that risk taking contributes to firm performance, our results offer a rationale as to why larger boards might be associated with lower performance. However, they also suggest that this effect should be less detrimental to firms with significant investment opportunities.Practical ImplicationsFirms should adapt their decision processes to their business environment. In particular, they may need to adjust the size of their boards to the characteristics of their investment opportunity sets. Firms with fewer growth options would gain most by operating with smaller boards. By restricting their ability to take risks, firms could undermine their growth potential and performance.
Factors associated with self‐efficacy in persons with chronic illness
Authors: BONSAKSEN TORE , LERDAL ANNERS , FAGERMOEN MAY SOLVEIG 
Published: June 2012

Bonsaksen, T., Lerdal, A. & Fagermoen, A. S. (2012). Factors associated with self‐efficacy in persons with chronic illness. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 53, 333–339.Change of lifestyle may be necessary for persons with chronic illnesses in order to manage their health situation and reduce symptom distress. Success in changing lifestyle partly depends on a person’s self‐efficacy beliefs. This cross‐sectional study explores social support, physical activity, and illness perceptions in relation to self‐efficacy in a sample with morbid obesity and in a sample with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The linear regression analyses showed that higher physical activity and less emotional response to illness were directly associated with higher self‐efficacy among persons with obesity, while more social support; fewer perceived consequences from illness; and more understanding of the illness were directly associated with higher self‐efficacy among persons with COPD. The results indicate that obese persons are likely to benefit from increasing physical activity and from receiving emotional support. Persons with COPD may be empowered by being able to utilize cognitive coping strategies and by receiving social support.
Social Networks and Rural Development: LEADER in Romania
Authors: Marquardt Doris , Möllers Judith , Buchenrieder Gertrud 
Published: June 2012

AbstractNetworking is an inherent part of the European Union (EU) programme Liaison entre actions de développement de l'économie rurale1 (LEADER): through supporting local partnerships, EU‐wide cooperation and information exchange, LEADER aims at strengthening the socioeconomic development of rural regions and improving local governance. Employing Social Network Analysis, we assess how key LEADER features, such as the bottom‐up and the participatory approach, are implemented in a new EU Member State. Focusing on the relevance of social networks for LEADER in Romania, we find that the complexity of the programme, weak administrative networks, political influence, and heritage of the socialist era inhibit the smooth introduction of the LEADER instrument. Clearly, founding formal partnerships and better governance remain generally challenging. While bottom‐up regional networks can more easily establish social capital, initiatives steered by the communal administration are more competitive in the selection for funding, but tend to neglect participation.
Familial Clustering Strongly Suggests that the Phenotypic Variation of the 8344 A>G Lys Mitochondrial tRNA Mutation is Encoded in cis
Authors: Kazakos Kyriakos , Kotsa Kalliopi , Yavropoulou Maria , Dionyssopoulos Alexander , Grabs Rosemary , Yovos John , Polychronakos Constantin 
Published: June 2012

SummaryThe maternally inherited 8344 A>G mutation in the mitochondrial Lys tRNA is classically associated with the myoclonic epilepsy, ragged‐red muscle fiber (MERRF) syndrome. Multiple lipomatosis (Madelung's disease) is occasionally described. Here we report a large kindred with a statistically significant clustering of very unusual clinical manifestations.We have studied a Greek family that includes seven symptomatic cases of 8344 A>G. Clinical features, glucose tolerance and heteroplasmy in fat, muscle and blood were analyzed.The patients, aged 34–76 at the time of assessment, all suffer from progressive proximal limb‐girdle myopathy and extensive lipomatosis. Four of the seven have either impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes but none has had epilepsy, a cardinal feature of MERRF. Heteroplasmy was not higher in adipose tissue than that found in the literature. Compared to literature reports, the familial clustering of this unusual combination of manifestations (lipomatosis in all, epilepsy in none) is statistically significant.The clustering of unusual manifestations in this large kindred strongly suggests that much of the phenotypic variability of 8344 A>G is determined by mitochondrially encoded modifiers in cis.
Dopamine D1 receptors regulate type 1 inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor expression via both AP‐1‐ and NFATc4‐mediated transcriptional processes
Authors: Mizuno Koji , Kurokawa Kazuhiro , Ohkuma Seitaro 
Published: June 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 702–713.AbstractAlthough our recent report demonstrates the essential involvement of up‐regulation of a regulator of intracellular Ca2+ concentration, type 1 inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs‐1), mediated via dopamine D1‐like receptor (D1DR) stimulation in the cocaine‐induced psychological dependence, the exact mechanisms of regulation of IP3R‐1 expression by D1DRs have not yet been clarified. This study attempted to clarify these mechanisms using mouse cerebral cortical neurons. An agonist for phosphatidylinositide‐linked D1DRs, SKF83959, induced dose‐ and time‐dependently IP3R‐1 protein up‐regulation following its mRNA increase without cAMP production. U73122 (a phospholipase C inhibitor), BAPTA‐AM (an intracellular calcium chelating reagent), W7 (a calmodulin inhibitor), KN‐93 (a calmodulin‐dependent protein kinases inhibitor), and FK506 (a calcineurin inhibitor), significantly inhibited the SKF83959‐induced IP3R‐1 up‐regulation. Furthermore, immunohistochemical examinations showed that SKF83959 increased expression of both cFos and cJun in nucleus as well as enhanced translocation of both calcineurin and NFATc4 complex to nucleus from cytoplasm. In addition, SKF83959 directly recruited binding of both AP‐1 and NFATc4 to IP3R‐1 promoter region. These results indicate that D1DR activation induces IP3R‐1 up‐regulation via increased translocation of AP‐1 as well as NFATc4 in Gαq protein‐coupled calcium signaling transduction pathway.