bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Feeding performance of fleas on different host species: is phylogenetic distance between hosts important?
Authors: KHOKHLOVA IRINA S. , FIELDEN LAURA J. , DEGEN A. ALLAN , KRASNOV BORIS R. 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYWe asked if and how feeding performance of fleas on an auxiliary host is affected by the phylogenetic distance between this host and the principal host of a flea. We investigated the feeding of 2 flea species,Parapulex chephrenisandXenopsylla ramesis, on a principal (Acomys cahirinusandMeriones crassus, respectively) and 8 auxiliary host species. We predicted that fleas would perform better (higher proportion of fleas would feed and take larger bloodmeals) on (a) a principal rather than an auxiliary host and (b) auxiliary hosts phylogenetically closer to a principal host. Although feeding performance of fleas differed among different hosts, we found that: (1) fleas did not always perform better on a principal host than on an auxiliary host; and (2) flea performance on an auxiliary host was not negatively correlated with phylogenetic distance of this host from the principal host. In some cases, fleas fed better on hosts that were phylogenetically distant from their principal host. We concluded that variation in flea feeding performance among host species results from interplay between (a) inherent species-specific host defence abilities, (b) inherent species-specific flea abilities to withstand host defences and (c) evolutionary tightness of association between a particular host species and a particular flea species.
Helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Lithuania
Authors: BRUŽINSKAITĖ-SCHMIDHALTER RASA , ŠARKŪNAS MINDAUGAS , MALAKAUSKAS ALVYDAS , MATHIS ALEXANDER , TORGERSON PAUL R. , DEPLAZES PETER 
Published: October 2011

SUMMARYRed foxes and raccoon dogs are hosts for a wide range of parasites including important zoonotic helminths. The raccoon dog has recently invaded into Europe from the east. The contribution of this exotic species to the epidemiology of parasitic diseases, particularly parasitic zoonoses is unknown. The helminth fauna and the abundance of helminth infections were determined in 310 carcasses of hunted red foxes and 99 of raccoon dogs from Lithuania. Both species were highly infected with Alaria alata (94·8% and 96·5% respectively) and Trichinella spp. (46·6% and 29·3%). High and significantly different prevalences in foxes and raccoon dogs were found for Eucoleus aerophilus (97·1% and 30·2% respectively), Crenosoma vulpis (53·8% and 15·1%), Capillaria plica (93·3% and 11·3%), C. putorii (29·4% and 51·5%), Toxocara canis (40·5% and 17·6%) and Uncinaria stenocephala (76·9% and 98·8%). The prevalences of the rodent-transmitted cestodes Echinococcus multilocularis, Taenia polyacantha, T. crassiceps and Mesocestoides spp. were significantly higher in foxes than in raccoon dogs. The abundances of E. multilocularis, Mesocestoides, Taenia, C. plica and E. aerophilus were higher in foxes than those in raccoon dogs. A. alata, U. stenocephala, C. putorii and Echinostomatidae had higher abundances in raccoon dogs. The difference in prevalence and abundance of helminths in both animals may reflect differences in host ecology and susceptibility. The data are consistent with red foxes playing a more important role than raccoon dogs in the transmission of E. multilocularis in Lithuania.
The influence of gender on clinical and social characteristics of patients at psychosis onset: a report from the Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study (PICOS)
Authors: Bertani M. , Lasalvia A. , Bonetto C. , Tosato S. , Cristofalo D. , Bissoli S. , De Santi K. , Mazzoncini R. , Lazzarotto L. , Santi M. , Sale A. , Scalabrin D. , Abate M. , Tansella M. , Ruggeri M. 
Published: October 2011

BackgroundThis paper examined the hypothesis that males with first-episode psychosis (FEP) experience lower pre-morbid adjustment, greater social disability and more self-perceived needs at illness onset than females (by controlling for duration of untreated psychosis, diagnosis, age and symptoms at onset). Results disconfirming this hypothesis were thought to suggest the potentially mediating role of social context in determining the impact of symptoms and disability on the everyday lives of male patients in the early phase of psychosis.MethodA large epidemiologically representative cohort of FEP patients (n=517) was assessed within the Psychosis Incident Cohort Outcome Study (PICOS) framework – a multi-site research project examining incident cases of psychosis in Italy's Veneto region.ResultsDespite poorer pre-morbid functioning and higher social disability at illness onset, males reported fewer unmet needs in the functioning domain than females did. An analysis of help provided by informal caregivers showed that males received more help from their families than females did. This finding led us to disconfirm the second part of the hypothesis and suggest that the impact of poorer social performance and unmet needs on everyday life observed in male patients might be hampered by higher tolerance and more support within the family context.ConclusionsThese findings shed new light on rarely investigated sociocultural and contextual factors that may account for the observed discrepancy between social disability and needs for care in FEP patients. They also point to a need for further research on gender differences, with the ultimate aim of delivering gender-sensitive effective mental health care.
Subtracting “ought” from “is”: Descriptivism versus normativism in the study of human thinking
Authors: Elqayam Shira , Evans Jonathan St. B. T. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe propose a critique ofnormativism, defined as the idea that human thinking reflects a normative system against which it should be measured and judged. We analyze the methodological problems associated with normativism, proposing that it invites the controversial “is-ought” inference, much contested in the philosophical literature. This problem is triggered when there are competing normative accounts (the arbitration problem), as empirical evidence can help arbitrate between descriptive theories, but not between normative systems. Drawing on linguistics as a model, we propose that a clear distinction between normative systems and competence theories is essential, arguing that equating them invites an “is-ought” inference: to wit, supporting normative “ought” theories with empirical “is” evidence. We analyze in detail two research programmes with normativist features – Oaksford and Chater's rational analysis and Stanovich and West's individual differences approach – demonstrating how, in each case, equating norm and competence leads to an is-ought inference. Normativism triggers a host of research biases in the psychology of reasoning and decision making: focusing on untrained participants and novel problems, analyzing psychological processes in terms of their normative correlates, and neglecting philosophically significant paradigms when they do not supply clear standards for normative judgement. For example, in a dual-process framework, normativism can lead to a fallacious “ought-is” inference, in which normative responses are taken as diagnostic of analytic reasoning. We propose that little can be gained from normativism that cannot be achieved by descriptivist computational-level analysis, illustrating our position with Hypothetical Thinking Theory and the theory of the suppositional conditional. We conclude that descriptivism is a viable option, and that theories of higher mental processing would be better off freed from normative considerations.
Normative theory in decision making and moral reasoning
Authors: Gold Natalie , Colman Andrew M. , Pulford Briony D. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractNormative theories can be useful in developing descriptive theories, as when normative subjective expected utility theory is used to develop descriptive rational choice theory and behavioral game theory. “Ought” questions are also the essence of theories of moral reasoning, a domain of higher mental processing that could not survive without normative considerations.
Truth-conduciveness as the primary epistemic justification of normative systems of reasoning
Authors: Schurz Gerhard 
Published: October 2011

AbstractAlthough I agree with Elqayam & Evans' (E&E's) criticisms of is-ought and ought-is fallacies, I criticize their rejection of normativism on two grounds: (1) Contrary to E&E's assumption, not every normative system of reasoning consists of formal rules. (2) E&E assume that norms of reasoning are grounded on intuition or authority, whereas in contemporary epistemology they have to be justified, primarily by their truth-conduciveness.
LOCALLY PRIMITIVE GRAPHS AND BIDIRECT PRODUCTS OF GRAPHS
Authors: LI CAI HENG , MA LI 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe characterise regular bipartite locally primitive graphs of order 2pe, where p is prime. We show that either p=2 (this case is known by previous work), or the graph is a binormal Cayley graph or a normal cover of one of the basic locally primitive graphs; these are described in detail.
Prediction of novel inhibitors for human RNase1 involved in cardiovascular disease through in silico screening
Authors: Hema Kanipakam , Giribabu Sadnala , Swargam Sandeep , Umamaheswari Amineni 
Published: October 2011

AbstractHuman pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase1) is a small digestive and pyramidine specific enzyme secreted by the pancreas. RNase1 contributes in the regulation of extracellular RNA by hydrolyzing RNA phosphodiester bonds. High levels of RNase1 in cardiovascular disease patients project the enzyme as an attractive drug target. The known RNase1 inhibitors, citric acid and U1S were searched for structural analogs from Ligand.info database to compile 783 ligands. The ligands' 3D structures and their tautomeric states were generated using LigPrep. The 3424 prepared conformations were subjected to QikProp analysis and filtered based on Lipinski rule of five and zero reactive functional group. The 3376 conformations with good ADME (absorption, desorption, metabolism, excretion) profile were passed through multistage docking in virtual screening workflow of Schrodinger software 2011. Seventy five ligands with good binding affinity towards RNase1 were ranked based on XPGscore, through Glide extra precision (XP) docking. Twenty three ligands with better XPGscore compared to published inhibitors (citric acid and U1S) were proposed as potential RNase1 inhibitors. Analysis of docking complexes, their binding orientations, XPGscores and through stringent correlation with published data lead ‘1’ that showed least XPGscore (-12.284 Kcal/mol) was proposed as the best molecule to consider for rational drug designing for treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Dab2 is a key regulator of endocytosis and post-endocytic trafficking of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator
Authors: Fu Lianwu , Rab Andras , Tang Li Ping , Rowe Steven M. , Bebok Zsuzsa , Collawn James F. 
Published: October 2011

CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) is expressed in the apical membrane of epithelial cells. Cell-surface CFTR levels are regulated by endocytosis and recycling. A number of adaptor proteins including AP-2 (μ2 subunit) and Dab2 (Disabled-2) have been proposed to modulate CFTR internalization. In the present study we have used siRNA (small interfering RNA)-mediated silencing of these adaptors to test their roles in the regulation of CFTR cell-surface trafficking and stability in human airway epithelial cells. The results indicate that μ2 and Dab2 performed partially overlapping, but divergent, functions. While μ2 depletion dramatically decreased CFTR endocytosis with little effect on the half-life of the CFTR protein, Dab2 depletion increased the CFTR half-life ~3-fold, in addition to inhibiting CFTR endocytosis. Furthermore, Dab2 depletion inhibited CFTR trafficking from the sorting endosome to the recycling compartment, as well as delivery of CFTR to the late endosome, thus providing a mechanistic explanation for increased CFTR expression and half-life. To test whether two E3 ligases were required for the endocytosis and/or down-regulation of surface CFTR, we siRNA-depleted CHIP [C-terminus of the Hsc (heat-shock cognate) 70-interacting protein] and c-Cbl (casitas B-lineage lymphoma). We demonstrate that CHIP and c-Cbl depletion have no effect on CFTR endocytosis, but c-Cbl depletion modestly enhanced the half-life of CFTR. The results of the present study define a significant role for Dab2 both in the endocytosis and post-endocytic fate of CFTR.
Survival and Tag Loss in Moapa White River Springfish Implanted with Passive Integrated Transponder Tags
Authors: Dixon Christopher J. , Mesa Matthew G. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWe monitored survival and tag loss among Moapa White River springfish Crenichthys baileyi moapae that were surgically implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT; 9 × 2 mm) tags. The fish used in the study ranged from 40 to 67 mm in total length and from 1.0 to 6.5 g in mass; the PIT tag: body weight ratios were 1.0–6.1%. Fish were held for 41 d in live cages within a small, warm desert stream. Survival did not differ between untagged control fish (94.5%) and tagged fish (95.6%). Survival did not appear to be influenced by fish size or PIT tag: body weight ratio, but the small number of fish that died precluded a detailed analysis. Tag retention was 100% among the 86 fish that survived over the 41 d. Our results suggest that surgically implanting 9‐mm PIT tags into Moapa White River springfish as small as 40 mm is an effective method for marking them because it has minimal impacts on survival and tag retention is high. More work is needed on the effects of PIT tagging on growth and other performance metrics of springfish and other small desert fishes.
Looking Into Aristotle's Eyes: Toward a Theory of Rhetorical Vision
Authors: Hawhee Debra 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACT
This article culls a theory of rhetorical vision from Aristotle's Rhetoric by examining the cluster of terms that bears on his theory of visual style. Rhetorical vision stands apart from but complements visual rhetoric in that it attends to the rhetorical and linguistic conjuring of visual images—what contemporary neuroscientists call visual imagery—and can even affect direct perception. The article concludes by examining rhetorical vision in Demosthenes' Epitaphios. At stake in this investigation is the visible and visual liveliness of rhetoric and its ability to alter sense perception.
The image and kernel of Atkin’s 𝑈_{𝑝} operator modulo 𝑝
Authors: Dewar Michael 
Published: October 2011

We compute the image of Atkin’s

U

p

U_{p}

operator on reduced modular forms. If

A
≥
1

A\geq 1

and

2
≤
B
≤
p
+
1

2\leq B \leq p+1

, then

U

p

:

M
~

A
p
+
B

(

Γ

1

(
N
)
)

↠

M
~

A
+
B

(

Γ

1

(
N
)
)

U_{p}: \widetilde M_{Ap+B}\left ( \Gamma _{1}(N) \right ) \twoheadrightarrow \widetilde M_{A+B} \left (\Gamma _{1}(N) \right )

is a surjection. In particular, the dimension of

ker
⁡

U

p

\ker U_{p}

is known for weights at least

p
+
2

p+2

.
Model‐based design of rituximab dosage optimization in follicular non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: Ternant David , Cartron Guillaume , Hénin Emilie , Tod Michel , Girard Pascal , Paintaud Gilles 
Published: October 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• The concentration–effect relationship of rituximab in follicular lymphoma (FL) was previously described using pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK–PD) modelling.• The influence of genetic polymorphism of FCGR3A on rituximab efficacy in FL patients was included in this PK–PD model.• Previous studies suggest that increasing the dose of rituximab and/or the number of infusions may lead to a better clinical response in FL.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• The previously validated PK–PD model can be used to design an optimized rituximab dose regimen in FL patients.• Clinical trial simulation shows the potential clinical benefits of changes in rituximab dose.• Optimization of the rituximab dose regimen cannot compensate for the lower response of FCGR3A‐158F carriers compared with that of FCGR3A‐158VV patients.AIMS Rituximab has dramatically improved the survival of patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, studies have suggested that the dose regimen currently used (i.e. 375 mg m−2) could be optimized. The aims of this study were to quantify the benefits of the new dose regimen for rituximab in follicular NHL (FL) patients using a previously validated PK–PD model and to design clinical trials investigating optimization of rituximab dosage.METHODS A PK–PD model was used to predict progression‐free survival (PFS) of FL patients treated by rituximab alone in asymptomatic FL, and those treated by rituximab combined with chemotherapy (R‐CHOP) in relapsed/resistant FL. This model accounts for the influence of a polymorphism in FCGR3A, the gene encoding the FcγRIIIa receptor, on clinical efficacy. Several induction and maintenance dose regimens using rituximab alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy (CHOP) were tested. The benefits of rituximab dose adjustment for F carriers were investigated. The numbers of subjects required for the design of two‐armed clinical trials were calculated using model‐predicted PFS at a power of 80%.RESULTS The model predicted a potential benefit of 1500 mg m−2 maintenance doses of rituximab for both rituximab monotherapy and R‐CHOP. The model shows that the PFS of FCGR3A‐F carriers remains lower than that of homozygous FCGR3A‐VV patients, even with markedly increased rituximab doses.CONCLUSION Our results suggest a benefit of increasing doses of rituximab in FL, both during induction and maintenance. These results need to be confirmed in controlled clinical trials.
Amyloid peptide regulates calcium homoeostasis and arrhythmogenesis in pulmonary vein cardiomyocytes
Authors: Tsao Hsuan‐Ming , Weerateerangkul Punate , Chen Yao‐Chang , Kao Yu‐Hsun , Lin Yung‐Kuo , Huang Jen‐Hung , Chen Shih‐Ann , Chen Yi‐Jen 
Published: October 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (6): 589–598AbstractBackground  Amyloid peptides modulate cardiac calcium homoeostasis and play an important role in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation. Pulmonary veins (PVs) are critical in the genesis of atrial fibrillation and contain abundant amyloid peptides. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate whether amyloid peptides may change the PV electrical activity through regulating calcium homoeostasis.Methods and results  The channel and calcium‐handling protein expressions, intracellular calcium and ionic currents were studied in isolated rabbit PV cardiomyocytes in the presence and absence (control) of beta‐amyloid (Aβ25–35) for 4–6 h, using Western blot analysis, indo‐1 fluorimetric ratio and whole‐cell patch clamp techniques. Aβ25–35 decreased the expressions of CaV1.2, total or Ser16‐phosphorylated phospholamban (p‐PLB), p‐PLB/PLB ratio, sodium/calcium exchanger, but did not change ryanodine receptor, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) ATPase and K+ channel proteins (Kir2.1, Kir2.3, Kv1.4, Kv1.5 and Kv4.2). Aβ25–35‐treated cardiomyocytes had smaller calcium transient, SR calcium store, L‐type calcium current and sodium/calcium exchanger current than control cardiomyocytes. Moreover, Aβ25–35‐treated cardiomyocytes (n = 20) had shorter 90% of the action potential duration (82 ± 3 vs. 93 ± 5 ms, P < 0·05) than control cardiomyocytes (n = 16).Conclusion  Aβ25–35 has direct electrophysiological effects on PV cardiomyocytes.
Temperature and storage effects on antioxidant activity of juice from red and white grapes
Authors: Genova Giuseppe , Iacopini Patrizia , Baldi Massimiliano , Ranieri Annamaria , Storchi Paolo , Sebastiani Luca 
Published: October 2011

SummaryThe effect of temperature and storage time on the phenolic composition and on the antioxidant activity of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) juices made using a red (Sangiovese, SG) and a white (Muscat of Alexandria, MA) variety was studied. Total phenolics, flavonoids, flavan‐3‐ols and hydroxycinnamoyl‐tartrates (HCT) were determined on grape extracts (GE) and juices. Total anthocyanins and anthocyanins composition were measured on GE. The antioxidant activity was assessed by means of two different in vitro tests: scavenging of the stable 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical and the inhibition of tyrosine nitration mediated by authentic peroxynitrite (ONOO−). All the juices were analysed after 24 h and 2 weeks of storage by means of two‐way anova (factors being cultivar and temperature). Anthocyanins were not detected in MA extract, whereas in SG their content was 534 mg malvidin‐equivalent per 100 g of dry matter (d.m.) and malvidin derivatives (glycosylated and coumaroylated) were the most represented (respectively 169 and 41 malvidin‐equivalent per 100 g of d.m.). HCT content of the extracts was higher in SG (overall +33%). Also in grape juices, HCT were lower in MA and in this variety, the trans‐fertaric and cis‐coutaric acids were also undetectable. Cultivar effect proved to be highly significant, while no significant differences in the phenolic composition were observed for storage temperatures (4 and −20 °C) and cultivar × temperature interaction. However, when statistical analysis was focused on each cultivar, MA was found to be more sensible to storage conditions and a significant reduction in total phenolics (−20%) and flavonoids (−53%) content and in the ONOO− scavenging potential (−32%) was evident after 2 weeks at 4 °C (when compared with the same storage temperature after 24 h). On the contrary, SG juices did not show significant differences among the four storage treatments investigated. These results could be explained suggesting that anthocyanins presence in red grape plays a key role in juice stability.