bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Visual latency and brightness: An interpretation based on the responses of rods and ganglion cells in the frog retina
Authors: Donner Kristian 
Published: June 2009

AbstractRod and cone photoresponses in a variety of species have been accurately described with linear multistage filter models. In this study, the response latency and initial coding of intensity at two higher levels of visual processing are related to such photoreceptor responses. One level is the retinal output (spiking discharges from frog ganglion cells, based on experimental data reported here), the other is the perceptual level in humans (psychophysical latency and brightness functions, based on data from the literature). Photoreceptor responses are described with the “independent activation” model of Baylor et al. (1974). The intensity dependence of the earlyganglion celldischarge, its latency and initial impulse frequency, is shown to follow from such a waveform, assuming that 1) latencyL = l + D, wherelis the time it takes for the rod response linearly summed over the ganglion cell's receptive field to reach a criterion amplitude, andDis a constant delay; and 2) the initial frequency (below saturation) is proportional to the steepness of rise of the summed rod response at timel. It is shown that the intensity dependences of 1) humanvisual latencyand 2)brightness sensation, including effects of stimulus area and duration, are accounted for by the same model. The predicted functions are not power functions of intensity, but approximate such over wide ranges. Thus, a large body of psychophysical data is explained simply by the waveform of photoreceptor responses.
Two opposite effects of ATP on the apparent sensitivity of the cGMP-gated channel of the carp retinal cone
Authors: Watanabe Shu-Ichi , Shen Jing 
Published: June 2009

AbstractEffects of ATP on the activity of cGMP-gated channels from carp cone photoreceptors were studied. In 29% of the patches examined (N = 45), ATP (1 mM) enhanced a current evoked by cGMP (20 μM, up to about 100%), in 33%, ATP suppressed it by up to about 90%, and in the remaining 38%, ATP had no effect. ATP showed similar effects on a current evoked by 8-bromoguanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (2 μM, enhancing in 42% of the patches, suppressing in 25%, no effect in 33%, N = 12), suggesting that the effects were not through modulation of the phosphodiesterase. Both of the effects, enhancement and suppression, were produced by a change in apparent affinity for cGMP, since (1) the maximum current evoked by cGMP of the saturating concentration (≥1 mM) was not affected, and (2) the A1/2 value decreased by approximately 45% (N = 2) or increased by approximately 25% (N = 2). A lower pH (approximately 6) facilitated the enhancing effect. ATP-γ-S (1 mM) showed a suppressing effect in 80% of the patches and no effect in 20% of the patches (N = 10). However, ATP-γ-S did not show an enhancing effect. Thus, ATP had two opposite effects through different mechanisms on the apparent sensitivity of the channel to cGMP; increasing and decreasing.
The monoclonal antibody H386F labels microglia in the retinal nerve fiber layer of several mammals
Authors: Tumosa Nina , Baker James R. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe antibody H386F revealed microglia in the retinae of several species: owl monkey, slow loris, galago, ferret, raccoon, and tree shrew. The shape, size, and density of labeled microglia were identical to those labeled by OX-42 and OX-41, two antibodies specific for microglia, in both galago and owl monkey. The labeled microglia varied little in retinal location. There was remarkably little variability in density, shape, number, and size of the abeled microglia between species. All labeled microglia were evenly distributed across, but restricted to, the nerve liber layer. Possible reasons for this restriction in location are discussed.
Pattern of ocular dominance columns and cytochrome oxidase activity in a macaque monkey with naturally occurring anisometropic amblyopia
Authors: Horton Jonathan C. , Hocking Davina R. , Kiorpes Lynne 
Published: June 2009

AbstractUnilateral eyelid suture, a model for amblyopia induced by congenital cataract, produces shrinkage of the deprived eye's ocular dominance columns in the striate cortex. Loss of geniculocortical projections are thought to account for the poor vision in the amblyopic eye. It is uncertain whether ocular dominance columns become shrunken in other forms of amblyopia. We examined the striate cortex in a pigtailed macaque with natural anisometropia discovered at age 5 months. Amblyopia in the left eye was documented at 1 year by behavioral testing. At age 6 years, the left eye was injected with [3H]proline and the striate cortex was processed for autoradiography and cytochrome oxidase (CO). The ocular dominance columns in layer IVc labelled with [3H]proline were normal. CO staining showed a novel pattern of thin dark bands in layer IV. These bands occupied the core zones at the center of the ocular dominance columns. Their appearance resulted from relative loss of CO activity along the borders of the ocular dominance columns, regions specialized for binocular processing. These findings indicate that not all forms of amblyopia are accompanied by shrinkage of ocular dominance columns. The unusual pattern of CO staining in layer IVc reflected a subtle alteration in metabolic activity which may have resulted from impairment of binocular function in anisometropic amblyopia.
An analysis of the cross-correlation between ganglion cells in the retina of goldfish
Authors: Levine Michael W. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractNeighboring ganglion cells in the retinae of vertebrates show cross-correlation between their impulse trains. Cross-correlation is found both in maintained discharges and during responses to visual stimulation. There has been speculation about the function of this statistical dependence, but little is known about its genesis. This study examines the statistics of the interimpulse intervals preceding and those following impulses that coincide with an impulse in the other train. Short intervals are rarer than expected preceding a coincidence, regardless of the form of the cross-correlation. Short intervals are more common than expected following a coincidence when the cross-correlation is positive, but rarer than expected following coincidences during negative cross-correlation. These results contradict the extant models for cross-correlation, but may be explained by the multiplicative combination of a variable common input and the variability within each cell. In addition, the lag (relative timing of coincident impulses in the two cells) is found to be related to the maintained discharge rates of the cells, implying that the lags may be explained without invoking specific delay circuits.
Analysis of the distribution of glycine and GABA in amacrine cells of the developing rabbit retina: A comparison with the ontogeny of a functional GABA transport system in retinal neurons
Authors: Crook Denise K. , Pow David V. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to (1) determine whether the glycinergic and GABAergic amacrine cells in the developing rabbit retina were neurochemically distinct at birth, (2) determine if the ratio of GABAergic to glycinergic amacrine cells was constant during development, (3) determine whether the capacity to take up a GABA analogue was restricted to GABAergic neurons, and (4) whether initiation of GABA transport into GABAergic neurons preceded the presence of a content of GABA in these neurons. We have used a novel strategy to immunolocalize a non-endogenous GABA analogue, γ-vinyl GABA, which is taken up into neurons by a GABA transporter. Examination of serial semithin resin-embedded sections of neonatal rabbit retinae that had been immunolabelled for glycine, GABA or γ-vinyl GABA revealed that at 1 day postnatum, 60% of amacrine cells contain glycine but not GABA and did not accumulate γ-vinyl GABA, which is similar to the percentage of glycinergic amacrine cells in the adult retina. The vast majority of the remaining amacrine cells contained GABA and many also transported γ-vinyl GABA; however, a significant number of GABA-containing cells failed to accumulate γ-vinyl GABA suggesting that possession of a content of GABA did not have to be preceded by, or be concomitant with, the presence of a GABA transport system. By 10 days postnatum, over 99% of GABA-containing amacrine cells also transported γ-vinyl GABA indicating their functional maturity. Analysis of the horizontal cells revealed no evidence for uptake of γ-vinyl GABA, but another GABA analogue, diaminobutyric acid, which is a substrate both for the neuron-associated GABA transporter and the glial GABA transporter, was accumulated into some horizontal cells at 21 days postnatum, a time point when these cells also contain endogenous GABA. We conclude that amacrine cells are committed to being GABAergic or glycinergic at, or prior to birth, and that in some amacrine cells, expression of a content of GABA may occur prior to the capacity to transport GABA. Conversely, in some ganglion cells transport of γ-vinyl GABA may precede a content of GABA.
ON cone bipolar cells in rat express the metabotropic receptor mGluR6
Authors: Vardi Noga , Morigiwa Katsuko 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe rod bipolar cell and about five types of ON cone bipolar cells depolarize to light by employing a sign-reversing metabotropic glutamate receptor. Glutamate responses are similar in both rod bipolar and cone bipolar cells, but the receptor mediating this response (mGluRo) was so far demonstrated only in rod bipolar cells. To test if ON cone bipolar cells also express mGluR6, we immunoreacted rat retina with an antibody specific for mGluRo, and studied the staining from serial ultrathin sections. We demonstrate that mGluR6 is indeed expressed in the dendritic tips of cone bipolar cells, the majority of which receive a ribbon synapse, and thus probably are ON cone bipolar cells. We further show that half of the dendritic tips contacting the cones stain for mGluR6, thus implying that all ON cone bipolar cell types express mGluR6.
Une formalisation plus précise pour une annotation moins confuse: la relation d'Élaboration d'entité
Authors: PRÉVOT LAURENT , VIEU LAURE , ASHER NICHOLAS 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTLes théories cherchant à capturer la cohérence discursive (Mann & Thompson, 1987; Asher & Lascarides, 2003) offrent des cadres théoriques stimulants pour analyser de nombreux phénomènes discursifs. Ils peinent parfois cependant à fournir des définitions de relations combinant précision et robustesse pour des travaux d'annotation à grande échelle permettant, par exemple, de constituer des corpus annotés en relations discursives. Le cas des relations d'Élaborationet d'Arrière-planconstitue une parfaite illustration de ce problème. La plupart des théories discursives les incluent, parfois sous des noms différents, et l'on pourrait penser que leur définition et la manière de les reconnaître est maintenant établie. Cependant, en dépit du fait que ce sont les relations les plus courantes dans les corpus, c'est à leur sujet que les annotateurs ont le plus de problèmes. Elles sont souvent prises l'une pour l'autre. Dans cet article nous examinons la source de ces problèmes et nous proposons une solution basée sur la distinction d'une relation d'Élaboration d'entité, que nous formalisons en SDRT.
D'abordmarqueur de structuration du discours
Authors: BRAS MYRIAM , LE DRAOULEC ANNE 
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACTDans les études sur les adverbes du français,d'aborda la particularité d'être considéré à la fois comme un adverbe conjonctif et comme un adverbe organisateur du discours. Dans la présente analyse, nous nous focalisons sur les relations ded'abordavec son contexte gauche, dans le cadre théorique de laSegmented Discourse Representation Theory. Nous montrons que le constituant contenantd'abordest attaché, par une relation de discours subordonnante, à un constituant considéré comme topique de discours. Les relations subordonnantes peuvent être des relations d’Elaboration, d’Explication, deRésultatou dePrécondition. A l'inverse, nous montrons qued'abordinterdit les relations coordonnantes pour le rattachement à son contexte gauche.
THE RATE OF INCREASE OF MEAN VALUES OF FUNCTIONS IN HARDY SPACES
Authors: MASHREGHI JAVAD 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe norm of a function f in the Hardy space Hp(𝔻) is by definition the limit of $\|f_r\|_p$ as r→1. We show that $d \|f_r\|_p/dr$ grows at most like o(1/log r) as r→1.
THE DRAZIN INVERSES OF PRODUCTS AND DIFFERENCES OF PROJECTIONS IN A C*-ALGEBRA
Authors: LI YUAN 
Published: June 2009

AbstractFor two given projections p and q in a C*-algebra, we investigate how to express the Drazin inverses of the product pq and the difference p−q, and give applications. As a special case, we obtain the results of [C. Y. Deng, ‘The Drazin inverses of products and differences of orthogonal projections’, J. Math. Anal. Appl.335 (2007) 64–71], with considerably simpler proofs.
A NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR REGULAR SEMIGROUPS WITH QUASI-IDEAL ORTHODOX TRANSVERSALS
Authors: KONG XIANGJUN , ZHAO XIANZHONG 
Published: June 2009

AbstractIn any regular semigroup with an orthodox transversal, we define two sets R and L using Green’s relations and give necessary and sufficient conditions for them to be subsemigroups. By using R and L, some equivalent conditions for an orthodox transversal to be a quasi-ideal are obtained. Finally, we give a structure theorem for regular semigroups with quasi-ideal orthodox transversals by two orthodox semigroups R and L.
NCU-G1 is a highly glycosylated integral membrane protein of the lysosome
Authors: Schieweck Oliver , Damme Markus , Schröder Bernd , Hasilik Andrej , Schmidt Bernhard , Lübke Torben 
Published: June 2009

Until recently, a modest number of approx. 40 lysosomal membrane proteins had been identified and even fewer were characterized in their function. In a proteomic study, using lysosomal membranes from human placenta we identified several candidate lysosomal membrane proteins and proved the lysosomal localization of two of them. In the present study, we demonstrate the lysosomal localization of the mouse orthologue of the human C1orf85 protein, which has been termed kidney-predominant protein NCU-G1 (GenBank® accession number: AB027141). NCU-G1 encodes a 404 amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 39 kDa. The bioinformatics analysis of its amino acid sequence suggests it is a type I transmembrane protein containing a single tyrosine-based consensus lysosomal sorting motif at position 400 within the 12-residue C-terminal tail. Its lysosomal localization was confirmed using immunofluorescence with a C-terminally His-tagged NCU-G1 and the lysosomal marker LAMP-1 (lysosome-associated membrane protein-1) as a reference, and by subcellular fractionation of mouse liver after a tyloxapol-induced density shift of the lysosomal fraction using an anti-NCU-G1 antiserum. In transiently transfected HT1080 and HeLa cells, the His-tagged NCU-G1 was detected in two molecular forms with apparent protein sizes of 70 and 80 kDa, and in mouse liver the endogenous wild-type NCU-G1 was detected as a 75 kDa protein. The remarkable difference between the apparent and the calculated molecular masses of NCU-G1 was shown, by digesting the protein with N-glycosidase F, to be due to an extensive glycosylation. The lysosomal localization was impaired by mutational replacement of an alanine residue for the tyrosine residue within the putative sorting motif.
Salt and high blood pressure
Authors: Mohan Sailesh , Campbell Norm R. C. 
Published: June 2009

HBP (high blood pressure) is the leading risk of death in the world. Unfortunately around the world, blood pressure levels are predicted to become even higher, especially in developing countries. High dietary salt is an important contributor to increased blood pressure. The present review evaluates the association between excess dietary salt intake and the importance of a population-based strategy to lower dietary salt, and also highlights some salt-reduction strategies from selected countries. Evidence from diverse sources spanning animal, epidemiology and human intervention studies demonstrate the association between salt intake and HBP. Furthermore, animal studies indicate that short-term interventions in humans may underestimate the health risks associated with high dietary sodium. Recent intervention studies have found decreases in cardiovascular events following reductions in dietary sodium. Salt intake is high in most countries and, therefore, strategies to lower salt intake could be an effective means to reduce the increasing burden of HBP and the associated cardiovascular disease. Effective collaborative partnerships between governments, the food industry, scientific organizations and healthcare organizations are essential to achieve the WHO (World Health Organization)-recommended population-wide decrease in salt consumption to less than 5 g/day. In the milieu of increasing cardiovascular disease worldwide, particularly in resource-constrained low- and middle-income countries, salt reduction is one of the most cost-effective strategies to combat the epidemic of HBP, associated cardiovascular disease and improve population health.
Factorial Design for Improving Influenza Vaccination Among Employees of a Large Health System
Authors: Zimmerman Richard Kent , Nowalk Mary Patricia , Lin Chyongchiou J. , Raymund Mahlon , Fox Dwight E. , Harper Jay D. , Tanis Mark D. , Willis Bayo C. 
Published: June 2009

Objective.As healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination becomes a quality indicator for healthcare facilities, effective inter¬ventions are needed. This study was designed to test a factorial design to improve HCP vaccination rates.Design.A before-after trial with education, publicity, and free and easily accessible influenza vaccines used a factorial design to determine the effect of mobile vaccination carts and incentives on vaccination rates of HCP, who were divided into groups on the basis of their level of patient contact (ie, business and/or administrative role, indirect patient contact, and direct patient contact).Setting.Eleven acute care facilities in a large health system.Participants.More than 26,000 nonphysician employees.Results.Influenza vaccination rates increased significantly in most facilities and increased system-wide from 32.4% to 39.6% (P < .001). In the baseline year, business unit employee vaccination rates were significantly higher than among HCP with patient contact; rates did not differ significantly across groups in the intervention year. In logistic regression that accounted for demographic characteristics, intervention year, and other factors, the use of incentives and/or mobile carts that provided access to vaccine at the work unit significantly increased the likelihood of vaccination among HCP with direct and indirect patient contact, compared with control sites.Conclusions.Interventions to improve vaccination rates are differentially effective among HCP with varying levels of patient contact. Mobile carts appear to remove access barriers, whereas incentives may motivate HCP to be vaccinated. Education and publicity may be sufficient for workers in business or administrative positions. Interventions tailored by worker type are likely to be most successful for improving HCP vaccination rates.
Constraints on evolution of virus avirulence factors predict the durability of corresponding plant resistances
Authors: JANZAC BERENGER , FABRE FREDERIC , PALLOIX ALAIN , MOURY BENOIT 
Published: June 2009

SUMMARYUnderstanding the factors driving pathogen emergence and re‐emergence is a major challenge, particularly in agriculture, where the use of resistant plant cultivars imposes strong selective pressures on plant pathogen populations and leads frequently to ‘resistance breakdown’. Presently, durable resistances are only identified after a long period of large‐scale cultivation of resistant cultivars. We propose a new predictor of the durability of plant resistance. Because resistance breakdown involves modifications in the avirulence factors of pathogens, we tested for correlations between the evolutionary constraints acting on avirulence factors or their diversity and the durability of the corresponding resistance genes in the case of plant–virus interactions. An analysis performed on 20 virus species–resistance gene combinations revealed that the selective constraints applied on amino acid substitutions in virus avirulence factors correlate with the observed durability of the corresponding resistance genes. On the basis of this result, a model predicting the potential durability of resistance genes as a function of the selective constraints applied on the corresponding avirulence factors is proposed to help breeders to select the most durable resistance genes.
Aldosterone glucuronidation by human liver and kidney microsomes and recombinant UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases: Inhibition by NSAIDs
Authors: Knights Kathleen M. , Winner Leanne K. , Elliot David J. , Bowalgaha Kushari , Miners John O. 
Published: June 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• Carboxylic acid NSAIDs are extensively glucuronidated as either the parent drug or hydroxylated metabolites and UGT2B7 is ranked highest in terms of NSAID‐glucuronidation activity.• NSAIDs cause adverse renal effects including sodium and water retention and hyperkalaemia.• In human kidney the mineralocorticoid aldosterone is glucuronidated directly to form aldosterone 18β‐glucuronide.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• Human liver and kidney microsomes and UGT1A10 and UGT2B7 catalyze aldosterone18β‐glucuronidation.• Non‐selective NSAIDs inhibit renal and hepatic aldosterone18β‐glucuronidation andin vivothis may lead to elevated intra‐renal concentrations of this hormone.• Common involvement of UGT2B7 in NSAID and aldosterone glucuronidation predicates an intra‐renal NSAID‐aldosterone interaction that may explain in part the clinical observations of variable effects of NSAIDs on electrolytes, fluid retention and blood pressure.AIMSTo characterize: i) the kinetics of aldosterone (ALDO) 18β‐glucuronidation using human liver and human kidney microsomes and identify the human UGT enzyme(s) responsible for ALDO 18β‐glucuronidation and ii) the inhibition of ALDO 18β‐glucuronidation by non‐selective NSAIDs.METHODSUsing HPLC and LC‐MS methods, ALDO 18β‐glucuronidation was characterized using human liver (n= 6), human kidney microsomes (n= 5) and recombinant human UGT 1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A5, 1A6, 1A7, 1A8, 1A9, 1A10, 2B4, 2B7, 2B10, 2B15, 2B17 and 2B28 as the enzyme sources. Inhibition of ALDO 18β‐glucuronidation was investigated using alclofenac, cicloprofen, diclofenac, diflunisal, fenoprofen,R‐ andS‐ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketoprofen, ketorolac, meclofenamic acid, mefenamic acid,S‐naproxen, pirprofen and tiaprofenic acid. A rank order of inhibition (IC50) was established and the mechanism of inhibition investigated using diclofenac,S‐ibuprofen, indomethacin, mefenamic acid andS‐naproxen.RESULTSALDO 18β‐glucuronidation by hepatic and renal microsomes exhibited Michaelis‐Menten kinetics. Mean (±SD)Km,Vmaxand CLintvalues for HLM and HKCM were 509 ± 137 and 367 ± 170 µm, 1075 ± 429 and 1110 ± 522 pmol min−1 mg−1, and 2.36 ± 1.12 and 3.91 ± 2.35 µl min−1 mg−1, respectively. Of the UGT proteins, only UGT1A10 and UGT2B7 converted ALDO to its 18β‐glucuronide. All NSAIDs investigated inhibited ALDO 18β‐G formation by HLM, HKCM and UGT2B7. The rank order of inhibition (IC50) of renal and hepatic ALDO 18β‐glucuronidation followed the general trend: fenamates > diclofenac > arylpropionates.CONCLUSIONA NSAID‐ALDO interactionin vivomay result in elevated intra‐renal concentrations of ALDO that may contribute to the adverse renal effects of NSAIDs and their effects on antihypertensive drug response.