bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reproduction and embryogenesis of the mandi‐amarelo catfish, Pimelodus maculatus (Pisces, Pimelodidae), in captivity
Authors: Arantes F. P. , Borçato F. L. , Sato Y. , Rizzo E. , Bazzoli N. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryTo study reproduction and embryogenesis, Pimelodus maculatus specimens were kept in captivity and captured bimonthly during 1 year. Gonads samples (211 specimens) were collected and submitted to routine histological techniques. Pimelodus maculatus prepared to reproduce when water temperature was high, and even reached advanced maturation but did not spawn in captivity. Spent fish gonads were not documented, and atretic follicles were frequent (60%) in late maturation females. When then submitted to hypophysation, 70% of the females responded positively to hormonal treatment. Oocyte extrusion occurred 8 h after a second hormonal injection at 26°C. The fertilisation rate was 65.1 ± 9.2% at 24°C. Recently spawned oocytes of P. maculatus were spherical, non‐adhesive, yellow in colour, with an average diameter of 1113.92 ± 37.02 μm and covered by a thick gelatinous layer. Blastopore closure occurred 7 h and 30 min after fertilisation. Embryonic development was completed within 18 h after fertilisation. The results of this work provide important knowledge for the handling and cultivation of not only P. maculatus, but other species of potential value for fish culture.
Resveratrol induces apoptosis associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in bladder carcinoma cells
Authors: Lin Xi , Wu Gang , Huo Wen‐Qian , Zhang Yao , Jin Feng‐Shuo 
Published: May 2012

Objective:  Resveratrol shows chemopreventive activity in a variety of human cancers by targeting mitochondria and triggering apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antitumor action of resveratrol in bladder cancer and its underlying mechanism.Methods:  Using two different bladder cell lines, BTT739 and T24, the cytotoxicity of resveratrol were determined by MTT assay. The apoptosis induced by resveratrol was assayed by transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. To show whether the mitochondrial dysfunction involved in the effects of resveratrol, mitochondrial function was detected by mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species production and adenosine 5′‐triphosphate content. In addition, the markers of apoptosis in the intrinsic mitochondrial‐dependent pathway were analyzed by the release of cytochrome c and the activities of caspase‐9 and caspase‐3.Results:  Resveratrol effectively decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. In addition, resveratrol significantly disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential in both intact cells and isolated mitochondria. Resveratrol also increased reactive oxygen species production and reduced adenosine 5′‐triphosphate concentrations. Western blot analysis showed that resveratrol provoked the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol. Furthermore, resveratrol significantly promoted the activation of caspase‐9 and caspase‐3.Conclusions:These findings suggest that resveratrol efficiently triggers apoptosis in bladder cancer cells through the intrinsic mitochondrial‐dependent pathway, which is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Resveratrol might have great pharmacological promise in the treatment of bladder cancer.
Shaping brain connections through spontaneous neural activity
Authors: Yamamoto Nobuhiko , López‐Bendito Guillermina 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAn overwhelming number of observations demonstrate that neural activity and genetic programs interact to specify the composition and organization of neural circuits during all stages of development. Spontaneous neuronal activities have been documented in several developing neural regions in both invertebrates and vertebrates, and their roles are mostly conserved among species. Among these roles, Ca2+ spikes and levels of electrical activity have been shown to regulate neurite growth, axon extension and axon branching. Here, we review selected findings concerning the role of spontaneous activity on circuit development.
Termination and initial branch formation of SNAP‐25‐deficient thalamocortical fibres in heterochronic organotypic co‐cultures
Authors: Blakey Daniel , Wilson Michael C. , Molnár Zoltán 
Published: May 2012

AbstractWe are interested in the role of neural activity mediated through regulated vesicular release in the stopping and early branching of the thalamic projections in the cortex. Axon outgrowth, arrival at the cortical subplate, side‐branch formation during the waiting period and cortical plate innervation of embryonic thalamocortical projections occurs without major abnormalities in the absence of regulated release in Snap25 −/− null mutant mice [Washbourne et al. (2002) Nat. Neurosci. 5:19–26; Molnár et al. (2002) J. Neurosci. 22:10313–10323]. The fact that Snap25 −/− null mutant mice die at birth limited our previous experiments to the prenatal period. We therefore investigated the behaviour of thalamic projections in co‐culture paradigms by using heterochronic thalamic [embryonic day (E)16–E18] and cortical [postnatal day (P)0–P3] explants, in which the stopping and branching behaviour has been previously documented. Our current co‐culture experiments established that thalamic projections from E16–E18 Snap25+/+ or Snap25 −/− explants behaved in an identical fashion in P0–P3 Snap25 +/+ cortical explants after 7 days in vitro. Thalamic projections from Snap25 −/− explants developed similar patterns of fibre ingrowth to the cortex, and stopped and formed branches at a similar depth in the Snap25+/+ cortical slice as in control cultures. These results imply that thalamic projections can reach their ultimate target cells in layer 4, stop, and start to develop branches in the absence of regulated vesicular transmitter release from their own terminals.
Knowledge and barriers associated with assessment and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs
Authors: TRELOAR CARLA , HULL PETER , DORE GREGORY J. , GREBELY JASON 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. Uptake of treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs is low. Further understanding is required of the relationship between HCV knowledge and treatment willingness, assessment and treatment in this population.Design and Methods. A cross‐sectional self‐administered survey was conducted with clients of four opioid substitution therapy (OST) clinics and the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in Sydney, Australia.Results. Of 132 participants, 85 (64%) self‐reported having HCV infection. HCV knowledge was mixed (mean 6.5, range 0–12) and was relatively lower on items measuring knowledge of factors impacting HCV‐related disease progression. The likelihood of being in a higher knowledge category was associated with being female [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.79, 7.98)], higher formal education [AOR = 3.28, 95% CI (1.57, 6.88)], being on a current OST program [AOR = 2.61, 95% CI (1.10, 6.19)] and being older [AOR = 1.04, 95% CI (1.01, 1.09)]. Participants receiving OST were more likely to report higher willingness to have HCV treatment [OR = 4.45, 95% CI (2.23, 8.17)]. Having been assessed for HCV treatment was associated with younger age [AOR = 0.93; CI 95% (0.88, 1.00)] and higher formal education [AOR = 7.81; 95% CI (1.62, 37.71)].Discussion and Conclusions. Overall, knowledge scores were mid‐range. Knowledge of modifiable factors influencing HCV‐related liver disease progression was particularly low indicating the need for ongoing education. Education should also be targeted at older people and those not on OST, and be inclusive of those with lower literacy levels.[Treloar C, Hull P, Dore GJ, Grebely J. Knowledge and barriers associated with assessment and treatment for hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012]
Needs of South African adolescents orphaned by AIDS: evidence from photography and photo‐elicitation
Authors: Thupayagale‐Tshweneagae G. , Mokomane Z. 
Published: May 2012

THUPAYAGALE‐TSHWENEAGAE G. & MOKOMANE Z. (2013) Needs of South African adolescents orphaned by AIDS: evidence from photography and photo‐elicitation. International Nursing Review60, 88–95Background:  Available evidence shows that over half of all orphans under the age of 18 years are adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years. Despite this, the needs of adolescents orphaned by AIDS are seldom recognized or adequately addressed in policy and programmes. Instead, the focus tends to be on the needs of orphans and vulnerable children. However, there are several factors that render adolescent‐specific programmes important.Purpose:  Using data from an urban area in South Africa, this paper illuminates the needs of adolescents orphaned by AIDS.Method:  A phenomenological study using photography and photo‐elicitation was used with 15 adolescents aged between 14 and 18 years orphaned by AIDS.Results:  The study participants captured different objects that were grouped under six broad themes: symbols of death, nature, people, past life, children and hope. The photographic component of the study was followed by photo‐elicitation. From the meanings the adolescents made of their images, the needs of adolescents orphaned by AIDS were discerned as love, care and acceptance, safety, and security and support.Conclusion:  Overall, the results showed that adolescents orphaned by AIDS want to feel secure, safe, wanted by caregivers and to feel that caregivers support them in their grieving journey.
Nurse scholars' knowledge and use of electronic theses and dissertations
Authors: Goodfellow L.M. , Macduff C. , Leslie G. , Copeland S. , Nolfi D. , Blackwood D. 
Published: May 2012

Goodfellow L.M., Macduff C., Leslie G., Copeland S., Nolfi D. & Blackwood D. (2012) Nurse scholars' knowledge and use of electronic theses and dissertations. International Nursing ReviewBackground:  Electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) are a valuable resource for nurse scholars worldwide. ETDs and digital libraries offer the potential to radically change the nature and scope of the way in which doctoral research results are presented, disseminated and used. An exploratory study was undertaken to better understand ETD usage and to address areas where there is a need and an opportunity for educational enhancement.Aims:  The primary objective was to gain an initial understanding of the knowledge and use of ETDs and digital libraries by faculty, graduate students and alumni of graduate programs at schools of nursing.Design:  A descriptive online survey design was used.Methods:  Purposeful sampling of specific schools of nursing was used to identify institutional participants in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US. A total of 209 participants completed the online questionnaire.Results:  Only 44% of participants reported knowing how to access ETDs in their institutions' digital libraries and only 18% reported knowing how to do so through a national or international digital library. Only 27% had cited an ETD in a publication. The underuse of ETDs was found to be attributable to specific issues rather than general reluctance to use online resources.Conclusions:  This is the first international study that has explored awareness and use of ETDs, and ETD digital libraries, with a focus on nursing and has set the stage for future research and development in this field. Results show that most nursing scholars do not use ETDs to their fullest potential.
Moral Harm and Moral Responsibility: A Defence of Ascriptivism*
Authors: DENARO PIETRO 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThis paper investigates the relations between the concepts of moral harm and moral responsibility, arguing for a circularity between the two. On this basis the conceptual soundness of descriptivism, on which consequentialist and non‐consequentialist arguments are often grounded, is questioned. In the last section a certain version of ascriptivism is defended: The circularity is relevant in order to understand how a restricted version of ascriptivism may in fact be well founded.
Bayes Factor Based on the Trend Test Incorporating Hardy–Weinberg Disequilibrium: More Power to Detect Genetic Association
Authors: Xu Jinfeng , Yuan Ao , Zheng Gang 
Published: May 2012

SummaryIn the analysis of case‐control genetic association, the trend test and Pearson’s test are the two most commonly used tests. In genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), Bayes factor (BF) is a useful tool to support significant P‐values, and a better measure than P‐value when results are compared across studies with different sample sizes. When reporting the P‐value of the trend test, we propose a BF directly based on the trend test. To improve the power to detect association under recessive or dominant genetic models, we propose a BF based on the trend test and incorporating Hardy–Weinberg disequilibrium in cases. When the true model is unknown, or both the trend test and Pearson’s test or other robust tests are applied in genome‐wide scans, we propose a joint BF, combining the previous two BFs. All three BFs studied in this paper have closed forms and are easy to compute without integrations, so they can be reported along with P‐values, especially in GWAS. We discuss how to use each of them and how to specify priors. Simulation studies and applications to three GWAS are provided to illustrate their usefulness to detect nonadditive gene susceptibility in practice.
Temporal sequence in the formation of midline dermis and dorsal vertebral elements in avian embryos
Authors: Pu Qin , Christ Bodo , Huang Ruijin 
Published: May 2012

AbstractSomites compartmentalize into a dorsal epithelial dermomyotome and a ventral mesenchymal sclerotome. While sclerotomes give rise to vertebrae and intervertebral discs, dermomyotomes contribute to skeletal muscle and epaxial dermis. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐signals from the lateral mesoderm induce the lateral portion of the dermomyotome to form chondrogenic precursor cells, forming the cartilage of the scapula blade. The fact that BMPs are expressed in the roof plate of the neural tube where they induce cartilage formation led to the question why cells migrating from the medial part of the dermomyotome do not undergo chondrogenic differentiation and do not contribute to the dorsal part of the vertebrae. In the present study, we traced dermomyotomal derivatives by using the quail–chick marker technique. Our study reveals a temporal sequence in the formation of the vertebral cartilage and the midline dermis. The dorsal mesenchyme overlying the roof plate of the neural tube is formed prior to the de‐epithelialization of the dermomyotome. Dermomyotomal cells start to migrate medially into the sub‐ectodermal space to form the midline dermis after chondrogenesis of the dorsal mesenchyme has occurred. This time delay between chondrogenesis of the dorsal vertebra and dermal formation allows an undisturbed development of these two tissue components within a narrow region of the embryo.
Repression of transcription of presenilin‐1 inhibits γ‐secretase independent ER Ca2+ leak that is impaired by FAD mutations
Authors: Das Hriday K. , Tchedre Kissaou , Mueller Brett 
Published: May 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 487–500.AbstractGenetic deletion or mutations of presenilin genes (PS1/PS2) cause familial Alzheimer’s disease and calcium (Ca2+) signaling abnormalities. PS1/PS2 act as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ leak channels that facilitate passive Ca2+ leak across ER membrane. Studies with PS1/PS2 double knockout (PS1/PS2‐DKO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts showed that PS1/PS2 were responsible for 80% of passive Ca2+ leak from the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum to cytosol. Transient transfection of the wild type PS1 expression construct increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ as a result of Ca2+ leak across ER membrane whereas the FADPS1 (PS1‐M146V) mutation construct alone or in combination with the wild type PS1 expression construct abrogated Ca2+ leak in SK‐N‐SH cells. Inhibition of basal c‐jun‐NH2‐terminal kinase (JNK) activity by JNK inhibitor SP600125 repressed PS1 transcription and PS1 protein expression by augmenting p53 protein level in SK‐N‐SH cells (Lee and Das 2008). In this report we also showed that repression of PS1 transcription by JNK inhibitor SP600125 inhibited passive Ca2+ leak across ER membrane which could be rescued by expressing PS1 wild type and not by expressing FADPS1 (PS1‐M146V) under a SP600125 non‐responsive promoter. Treatment of SK‐N‐SH cells with SP600125 also triggered InsP3R‐mediated Ca2+ release from the ER by addition of 500 nM bradykinin, an agonist of InsP3 receptor (InsP3R1) without changing the expression of InsP3R1. This data confirms that SP600125 increases the Ca2+ store in the ER by inhibiting PS1‐mediated Ca2+ leak across ER membrane. p53, ZNF237 and Chromodomain helicase DNA‐binding protein 3 which are repressors of PS1 transcription, also reduced Ca2+ leak across ER membrane in SK‐N‐SH cells but γ‐secretase inhibitor or dominant negative γ‐secretase–specific PS1 mutant (PS1‐D257A) had no significant effect. Therefore, p53, ZNF237, and Chromodomain helicase DNA‐binding protein 3 inhibit the function ER Ca2+ leak channels to regulate both ER and cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels and may potentially control Ca2+‐signaling function of PS1.
Thermally‐induced structural and chemical alteration of organic‐walled microfossils: an experimental approach to understanding fossil preservation in metasediments
Authors: Schiffbauer J. D. , Wallace A. F. , Hunter J. L. , Kowalewski M. , Bodnar R. J. , Xiao S. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe identification and confirmation of bona fide Archean–Paleoproterozoic microfossils can prove to be a challenging task, further compounded by diagenetic and metamorphic histories. While structures of likely biological origin are not uncommon in Precambrian rocks, the search for early fossil life has been disproportionately focused on lesser thermally altered rocks, typically greenschist or lower‐grade metamorphism. Recently, however, an increasing number of inferred micro‐ and macrofossils have been reported from higher‐grade metasediments, prompting us to experimentally test and quantify the preservability of organic‐walled microfossils over varying durations of controlled heating and under two differing redox conditions. Because of their relatively low‐intensity natural thermal alteration, acritarchs from the Mesoproterozoic Ruyang Group were chosen as subjects for experimental heating at approximately 500°C, with durations ranging from 1 to 250 days and in both oxic (normal present day conditions) and anoxic conditions. Upon extraction, the opacity, reflectivity, color, microchemistry, and microstructures of the heated acritarchs were characterized using optic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results differ for acritarchs prepared under oxic vs. anoxic conditions, with the anoxic replicates surviving experimental heating longer and retaining biological morphologies better, despite an increasing degree of carbonization with continuous heating. Conversely, the oxic replicates show aggressive degradation. In conjunction with fossils from high‐grade metasediments, our data illustrate the preservational potential of organic‐walled microfossils subjected to metamorphism in reducing conditions, offer insights into the search for microfossils in metasediments, and help to elucidate the influence of time on the carbonization/graphitization processes during thermal alteration.
Pseudohalide anions reveal a novel extracellular site for potentiators to increase CFTR function
Authors: Li Man‐Song , Cowley Elizabeth A , Linsdell Paul 
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is great interest in the development of potentiator drugs to increase the activity of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in cystic fibrosis. We tested the ability of several anions to potentiate CFTR activity by a novel mechanism.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Patch clamp recordings were used to investigate the ability of extracellular pseudohalide anions (Co(CN)63−, Co(NO2)63−, Fe(CN)63−, IrCl63−, Fe(CN)64−) to increase the macroscopic conductance of mutant CFTR in intact cells via interactions with cytoplasmic blocking anions. Mutagenesis of CFTR was used to identify a possible molecular mechanism of action. Transepithelial short‐circuit current recordings from human airway epithelial cells were used to determine effects on net anion secretion.KEY RESULTS Extracellular pseudohalide anions were able to increase CFTR conductance in intact cells, as well as increase anion secretion in airway epithelial cells. This effect appears to reflect the interaction of these substances with a site on the extracellular face of the CFTR protein.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Our results identify pseudohalide anions as increasing CFTR function by a previously undescribed molecular mechanism that involves an interaction with an extracellular site on the CFTR protein. Future drugs could utilize this mechanism to increase CFTR activity in cystic fibrosis, possibly in conjunction with known intracellularly‐active potentiators.
Feline exocrine pancreatic carcinoma: a retrospective study of 34 cases
Authors: Linderman M. J. , Brodsky E. M. , de Lorimier L.‐P. , Clifford C. A. , Post G. S. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThirty‐four cases were reviewed in this retrospective study for information on clinical presentation, prognostic indicators, survival time and response to various therapies. The most common presenting clinical signs were weight loss, decreased appetite, vomiting, palpable abdominal mass and diarrhoea. Metastatic disease was confirmed in 11 cats. The overall median survival was 97 days. The median survival times for patients who received chemotherapy or had their masses surgically removed was 165 days. Those patients who had an abdominal effusion present at the time of diagnosis survived a median of 30 days. Cats that received non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug therapy had a median survival of 26 days. This study confirms that exocrine pancreatic carcinoma in cats is an aggressive tumour with a high metastatic rate and poor prognosis, although three patients survived over 1 year. Fifteen percent of the patients were diabetic, which raises the question as to what the link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer in people and cats may be.
Report of the Editor‐in‐Chief
Authors: Harvey David 
Published: May 2012

SummarySubmissions to the Journal continue to show an increasingly international pattern, with the submission rate apparently stabilising after a recent rapid increase. Our response times still mostly meet our target of four months, with some regrettable lapses. The JAE’s citation impact factor has slipped again in 2010, though indications from data on 2011 citations strongly suggest a significant improvement in the 2011 impact factor (due to be published in June 2012). Wiley‐Blackwell continue to provide a strong publishing platform with our full archive generating rapidly increasing numbers of downloads.