bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cytokines in Bipolar Disorder: Recent Findings, Deleterious Effects But Promise for Future Therapeutics
Authors: Brietzke Elisa , Stabellini Raquel , Grassi-Oliveira Rodrigo , Lafer Beny 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAn emerging body of evidence points to impairments in neuroplasticity, cell resilience, and neuronal survival as major pathophysiological mechanisms in bipolar disorder. Neuronal survival is influenced by several factors including an orchestrated action of neurotransmitters, hormones, and neurotrophins. Patients with bipolar disorder exhibit increased peripheral level of inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, mainly during acute mood episodes. These mediators interact in several pathways involved in regulation of mood and energy including hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and monoamine metabolism. Importantly, inflammatory cytokines have a potential role in controlling neuronal and glial cell loss that occurs during mood episodes, especially during mania, as they are the most powerful extracellular stimuli to apoptosis. Bipolar patients have been reported to show imbalanced peripheral production of cytokines both at the mRNA and protein levels, associated signal transduction machinery, as well as to have specific functional polymorphisms in the genes that encode these cytokines. Interestingly, lithium, valproate, and several antidepressants have demonstrated to have immunomodulatory properties. Growing evidence supports the involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in bipolar disorder, opening new paths of investigation using immunomodulatory medications. These findings can offer not only an opportunity of treating mood symptoms but also understanding and reverting neurobiological changes associated with the disorder.
Hostility, Impulsivity, and Behavior Inhibition Among Women with PMDD
Authors: Yen Ju-Yu , Chen Cheng-Chung , Chang Shun-Jen , Ko Chih-Hung , Chen Cheng-Sheng , Yen Cheng-Fang 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIntroductionThis study aimed to compare hostility, impulsivity, and behavior inhibition between women with and without premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) during both luteal and follicular phases and to examine whether these variables contribute to irritability and daily functional impairment of PMDD.MethodsPMDD was screened via the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. A diagnosis of PMDD was confirmed by psychiatric interviewing without 2-month prospective confirmation. Sixty women in the PMDD group and 60 women in the control group completed the Chinese Version of the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory-Short Form, Dickman's Impulsivity Inventory, and the Behavior Inhibition System Scale during the luteal and follicular phases.ResultsWe found that the PMDD group had significantly higher levels of hostility, dysfunctional impulsivity, and behavioral inhibition than the control group in both luteal and follicular phases. The PMDD group also had more premenstrual aggravation on total hostility, hostility affect, and suppressive hostility than the control group. Higher hostility, dysfunctional impulsivity, and behavior inhibition were associated with more severe irritability and functional impairment of PMDD.DiscussionHostility, impulsivity, and behavior inhibition might contribute to irritability and functional impairment in women with PMDD.ConclusionAssessment and interventions based on these factors should be provided for women with PMDD, especially in the luteal phase.
Foreign aid and oil taxes: helping the poor in oil-rich countries
Authors: Berlinschi Ruxanda , Daubanes Julien 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThis paper proposes a theoretical analysis of the joint impact of foreign aid and oil taxes on the revenues of a rich oil importing country (North) and a two-class, oil exporting country (South). Without coordination, oil taxes are strictly higher in the North and the global allocation of oil is inefficient. Moreover, oil taxes in the North extract some of the South's oil rents, undoing the revenue transfers from foreign aid. We show that a policy coordination mechanism reduces inefficiencies and improves global welfare.
Cosmic evolution: the context for astrobiology and its cultural implications
Authors: Dick Steven J. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAstrobiology must be seen in the context of cosmic evolution, the 13.7 billion-year master narrative of the universe. The idea of an evolving universe dates back only to the 19th century, and became a guiding principle for astronomical research only in the second half of the 20th century. The modern synthesis in evolutionary biology hastened the acceptance of the idea in its cosmic setting, as did the confirmation of the Big Bang theory for the origin of the universe. NASA programmes such as Origins incorporated it as a guiding principle. Cosmic evolution encompasses physical, biological and cultural evolution, and may result in a physical, biological or postbiological universe, each with its own implications for long-term human destiny, and each imbuing the meaning of life with different values. It has the status of an increasingly accepted worldview that is beginning to have a profound effect not only in science but also in religion and philosophy.
Der Beitrag sozialer Kompetenz zur Vorhersage beruflicher Leistung
Authors: Jansen Anne , Melchers Klaus G. , Kleinmann Martin 
Published: March 2012

Sozialer Kompetenz wird eine große Bedeutung für den Berufserfolg zugeschrieben. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es daher zu überprüfen, ob der Einsatz eines Selbstberichtsverfahrens zur Erfassung der sozialen Kompetenz neben Personalauswahlverfahren wie Assessment Centern (ACs) bzw. strukturierten Interviews eine bessere Vorhersage beruflicher Leistung ermöglicht und die Gesamtvalidität der Vorhersage erhöht. 107 Personen nahmen an einem simulierten AC mit strukturiertem Interview teil. Soziale Kompetenz wurde mit dem Inventar sozialer Kompetenzen (ISK, Kanning, 2009 ) gemessen. Zusätzlich wurden Vorgesetzten-Einschätzungen der beruflichen Leistung (aufgabenbezogene Leistung und freiwilliges Arbeitsengagement) erhoben. Unsere Ergebnisse bestätigen einen positiven Zusammenhang zwischen sozialer Kompetenz und beruflicher Leistung sowie Leistung im AC und im Interview und zeigen erstmalig, dass soziale Kompetenz inkrementelle Validität besitzt und signifikant zur Erhöhung der Gesamtvalidität beiträgt. Für die personalpsychologische Praxis ist daher der Einsatz von Verfahren zur Messung der sozialen Kompetenz in der Personalauswahl sinnvoll.
Three‐dimensional radiation belt simulations in terms of adiabatic invariants using a single numerical grid
Authors: Subbotin D. A. , Shprits Y. Y. 
Published: March 2012

The dynamics of electrons in the Earth's radiation belts can be described by the Fokker‐Planck equation, which includes radial diffusion, and local energy and pitch angle diffusion. Previously, the Versatile Electron Radiation Belt (VERB) code utilized two grids to solve the Fokker‐Planck equation; one grid, which keeps the first and second adiabatic invariants constant, was used for the computation of the radial diffusion, and the other grid, orthogonal in energy and pitch angle at each fixed radial distance, was used for the computation of energy diffusion, pitch angle diffusion, and mixed energy and pitch angle diffusion. At each time step, the results were interpolated between the two grids. In the current work, we present a new method for numerical solution of the Fokker‐Planck diffusion equation written in terms of adiabatic invariants using a single numerical grid. The one‐grid solution allows us to eliminate the time‐consuming interpolation. The solution in terms of adiabatic invariants implicitly accounts for conservation of phase space density during adiabatic magnetic field fluctuations. The Fokker‐Planck equation written in terms of adiabatic invariants is easier to solve with a realistic magnetic field configuration, compared to the Fokker‐Planck equation written in terms of energy and pitch angle. To validate the approach, we compare a 2‐D simulation at fixed L* in terms of the adiabatic invariants (μ, K) with a simulation on a grid orthogonal in energy and pitch angle. Both simulations produce essentially the same result. Accurate simulations on the (μ, K) grid require resolution of 601 × 601 points, while only 101 × 101 grid points are sufficient for performing an accurate simulation on the grid orthogonal in energy and pitch angle. We propose a new invariant V ≡ μ ⋅ (K + 0.5)2 with the new grid orthogonal in (V, K, L*), that is more convenient for 2‐D and 3‐D simulations. The 2‐D and 3‐D simulations on the (V, K, L*) grid produce the same result as the two‐grid method with a grid resolution of only 101 × 101 points in V and K.
Diversion of plasma due to high pressure in the inner magnetosphere during steady magnetospheric convection
Authors: Kissinger J. , McPherron R. L. , Hsu T.‐S. , Angelopoulos V. 
Published: March 2012

Steady magnetospheric convection (SMC) events in the Earth's magnetosphere are thought to result from balancing the rate of opening flux through solar wind‐magnetosphere reconnection at the dayside magnetopause to the rate of closing flux through reconnection in the magnetotail. For this to occur, reconnected flux in the tail must return to the dayside to balance the dayside reconnection rate. Using Geotail and THEMIS data over a span of 14 years, we examine the average plasma conditions and fast Earthward flows during SMC intervals and compare them to other types of geomagnetic activity, such as quiet intervals, isolated substorm phases, and the two hours before an SMC (Pre‐SMC intervals). We show that the average total pressure in the inner magnetosphere is higher during SMC events than for other types of activity. This higher pressure region extends to larger radial distances, and causes fast Earthward flows to divert toward the dawn or dusk flanks and continue to the dayside. This pattern is contrasted to substorms, during which flows are directed toward the inner magnetosphere and flux remains there in the “pile‐up region.” We suggest that the SMC pattern of flow deflection carries enough flux from the tail to the dayside to allow for balanced reconnection. Finally, the Pre‐SMC intervals have plasma conditions that are similar to, but slightly weaker than, SMC events. Since most SMCs begin with a substorm, this indicates that preconditioning of the magnetosphere by prior geomagnetic activity is important in setting up the magnetotail for an SMC state.
Effects of a glucokinase activator on hepatic intermediary metabolism: study with 13C-isotopomer-based metabolomics
Authors: Nissim Itzhak , Horyn Oksana , Nissim Ilana , Daikhin Yevgeny , Wehrli Suzanne L. , Yudkoff Marc , Matschinsky Franz M. 
Published: March 2012

GKAs (glucokinase activators) are promising agents for the therapy of Type 2 diabetes, but little is known about their effects on hepatic intermediary metabolism. We monitored the fate of 13C-labelled glucose in both a liver perfusion system and isolated hepatocytes. MS and NMR spectroscopy were deployed to measure isotopic enrichment. The results demonstrate that the stimulation of glycolysis by GKA led to numerous changes in hepatic metabolism: (i) augmented flux through the TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle, as evidenced by greater incorporation of 13C into the cycle (anaplerosis) and increased generation of 13C isotopomers of citrate, glutamate and aspartate (cataplerosis); (ii) lowering of hepatic [Pi] and elevated [ATP], denoting greater phosphorylation potential and energy state; (iii) stimulation of glycogen synthesis from glucose, but inhibition of glycogen synthesis from 3-carbon precursors; (iv) increased synthesis of N-acetylglutamate and consequently augmented ureagenesis; (v) increased synthesis of glutamine, alanine, serine and glycine; and (vi) increased production and outflow of lactate. The present study provides a deeper insight into the hepatic actions of GKAs and uncovers the potential benefits and risks of GKA for treatment of diabetes. GKA improved hepatic bioenergetics, ureagenesis and glycogenesis, but decreased gluconeogenesis with a potential risk of lactic acidosis and fatty liver.
Nonprocessive [2 + 2]e
-
off-loading reductase domains from mycobacterial nonribosomal peptide synthetases
Authors: Chhabra Arush , Haque Asfarul S. , Pal Ravi Kant , Goyal Aneesh , Rai Rajkishore , Joshi Seema , Panjikar Santosh , Pasha Santosh , Sankaranarayanan Rajan , Gokhale Rajesh S. 
Published: March 2012

In mycobacteria, polyketide synthases and nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) produce complex lipidic metabolites by using a thio-template mechanism of catalysis. In this study, we demonstrate that off-loading reductase (R) domain of mycobacterial NRPSs performs two consecutive [2 + 2]e
-
reductions to release thioester-bound lipopeptides as corresponding alcohols, using a nonprocessive mechanism of catalysis. The first crystal structure of an R domain from
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
NRPS provides strong support to this mechanistic model and suggests that the displacement of intermediate would be required for cofactor recycling. We show that 4e
-
reductases produce alcohols through a committed aldehyde intermediate, and the reduction of this intermediate is at least 10 times more efficient than the thioester-substrate. Structural and biochemical studies also provide evidence for the conformational changes associated with the reductive cycle. Further, we show that the large substrate-binding pocket with a hydrophobic platform accounts for the remarkable substrate promiscuity of these domains. Our studies present an elegant example of the recruitment of a canonical short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family member as an off-loading domain in the context of assembly-line enzymology.
Potential and challenges in making physic nut (
Jatropha curcas
L.) a viable biofuel crop: the Brazilian perspective.
Authors: Durães F. O. M. , Laviola B. G. , Alves A. A. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Fossil-derived fuels currently supply 86% of the world's energy, even though it represents a finite resource. With the aim of reducing the fossil fuels dependency, alternative sources of energy have been pursued in recent years. In view of the urgent need to develop new technologies that may enable environmentally friendly forms of energy to become widespread, biofuels in general and biodiesel in particular are receiving considerable attention throughout the world and especially in Brazil. Given the high quality of its oil, which meets the rapeseed quality standard and can be easily converted into biodiesel, and because of its wide adaptability, physic nut has been considered a potential crop to serve as feedstock for biodiesel production. Popular claims, e.g. enhanced drought tolerance, low nutrient requirements, pest and disease resistance, have also helped to increase the expectations of the crop, even though most of these claims are yet to be supported by scientific evidence. However, the fact is that besides its advantageous characteristics, physic nut cultivation is challenging as it is a quasi-undomesticated species. In that context, this review seeks to demonstrate the physic nut potential as a biofuel crop, highlighting, however, the challenges to its wide adoption as a fuel crop. Despite facing enormous challenges (as detailed below), our cautiously optimistic vision is that a substantial and focused research programme may make physic nut a viable feedstock for biodiesel production. We detail the Brazilian research initiative that is addressing many of these challenges.
Proximity Effects of Larger Resident Fishes on Recruitment of Age‐0 Red Snapper in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Mudrak Peter A. , Szedlmayer Stephen T. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractSmall artificial reefs (1.2 × 1.02 × 1.1 m) were placed near to (15 m; n = 20) and distant from (500 m; n = 20) larger artificial reefs (1.2 × 2.4 × 2.4 m; n = 20) in July 2008 and 2009, and each set of reefs (two small and one large) was placed 1.7 km apart at a site 28 km south of Dauphin Island, Alabama, in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Divers used visual surveys to identify and count all fish present on the small reefs and estimated fish lengths in 25‐mm categories during August 2008, August 2009, and September 2009. Significantly higher numbers of age‐0 red snapper Lutjanus campechanus were detected on the small distant reefs (500 m) than on the small nearby (15 m) reefs in all surveys. In addition, significantly higher densities of rock sea bass Centropristis philadelphica and pygmy filefish Stephanolepis setifer were observed on the small distant reefs compared with the small nearby reefs in both August and September 2009. Mean species richness was significantly higher on the small distant reefs than on the small nearby reefs in August 2009. Differences in reef fish community structure were detected in all three surveys by using nonmetric multidimensional scaling based on Czekanowski's similarity coefficient. This study indicates that if artificial reefs are built to provide habitat for juvenile red snapper, they should not be placed in areas immediately adjacent to existing adult habitat; conversely, habitats intended for adult fish should not be placed near important red snapper nursery areas.
Effect of Migration Pathway on Travel Time and Survival of Acoustic‐Tagged Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Estuary
Authors: Harnish Ryan A. , Johnson Gary E. , McMichael Geoffrey A. , Hughes Michael S. , Ebberts Blaine D. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractWe applied acoustic telemetry methods to characterize migration pathways and estimate associated travel times and survival probabilities for juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and steelhead O. mykiss migrating downstream through the Columbia River estuary (from river kilometer [rkm] 86 to rkm 8). Acoustic‐tagged fish were detected as migrating in the navigation channel and in off‐channel areas at each of the estuarine reaches we examined during May–August 2010. However, the majority of fish traveled in the main navigation channel from rkm 86 to rkm 37, at which point most fish left the river‐influenced navigation channel; crossed a broad, shallow tidal flat; and migrated the final 37 km in a secondary channel, which was characterized as having greater tidal transport than the navigation channel. The pathway used by acoustic‐tagged smolts to migrate through the estuary affected their rate of travel. In most reaches, navigation channel migrants traveled significantly faster than fish that migrated through off‐channel areas. Contrary to observations from previous studies, smolts that migrated through off‐channel areas at a slower rate did not experience lower survival than their cohorts that used the navigation channel. Although no significant differences in survival probability were observed between navigation channel migrants and off‐channel migrants, areas of high mortality were identified between rkm 37 and rkm 8. Dispersion of juvenile salmonids into multiple pathways during downstream migration can be beneficial in terms of increased expression of life history diversity and resiliency to environmental perturbations. Our results, which document juvenile salmon migration pathways and associated travel time and survival through a large estuary, can be used to focus future research and management activities in areas identified as having high mortality and therefore can be used to aid in the recovery of Endangered Species Act‐listed salmon populations.
Effects of Trout Farm Effluent on Water Quality and the Macrobenthic Invertebrate Community of the Zayandeh-Roud River, Iran
Authors: Soofiani N Mahboobi , Hatami R , Hemami M R , Ebrahimi E 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
To investigate the environmental impact of fish farm discharge on the Zayandeh-Roud River in Iran, three trout farms (Dimeh, Hojat Abad, and Takab) with three different production capacities were studied by examining water physicochemical criteria and the macrobenthic invertebrate community. Six sampling sites were assigned to each farm: the inflow and outflow of the farm, the outfall into the river, 50 m upstream from the outfall (control), 50–100 m downstream from the outfall, and 1 km downstream from the outfall. Water and benthos samples were collected once during autumn, winter, and spring. Benthic samples were collected by using a quantitative technique (3 replicates/site). Results showed a significant (P &lt; 0.05) increase in 5-d biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids and a decline in dissolved oxygen concentration and pH in the outflow. However, concentrations of measured variables at each farm were generally within acceptable limits. Total taxonomic richness, abundance of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT), and richness of EPT taxa were considerably lower at outflow stations than at inflow stations, especially for the farm with a higher production rate. In contrast to physicochemical results, the benthic community indices were significantly different between upstream and downstream samples. Sensitive taxa declined at downstream sites in comparison with upstream sites, while abundance of tolerant taxa (e.g., Chironomidae and Oligochaeta) increased at downstream sites. Although species richness and diversity improved farther downstream, the recovery was not complete within our study range. However, effluent effects were greatest during periods of low river flow. Thus, to reduce environmental impacts of aquaculture, production rates should be based on the lowest anticipated flow rate of rivers.
CpGassoc: an R function for analysis of DNA methylation microarray data
Authors: Barfield Richard T. , Kilaru Varun , Smith Alicia K. , Conneely Karen N. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
Summary: With the increasing availability of high-density methylation microarrays, there has been growing interest in analysis of DNA methylation data. We have developed CpGassoc, an R package that can efficiently perform the statistical analysis needed for increasingly large methylation datasets. CpGassoc is a modular, expandable package with functions to perform rapid analyses of DNA methylation data via fixed or mixed effects models, to perform basic quality control, to carry out permutation tests, and to display results via an array of publication-quality plots.
Availability and implementation: CpGassoc is implemented in R and is freely available at http://genetics.emory.edu/conneely; we are in the process of submitting it to CRAN.
Contact: rtbarfi@emory.edu
Multiple routes to B-cell memory
Authors: Good-Jacobson Kim L. , Tarlinton David M. 
Published: March 2012

Abstract
B-cell memory describes the populations of cells that provide long-term humoral immunity: long-lived antibody-secreting plasma cells that reside mainly in the bone marrow and memory B cells. Interestingly, the memory B-cell population is heterogenous, although the importance of this heterogeneity has been unclear. Recent studies have investigated the formation and function of memory in different settings. In particular, T-independent memory-like cells and T-dependent (TD) IgM memory B cells qualitatively differ from canonical TD class-switched memory B cells; however, these studies suggest that IgM memory cells preserve the memory population over long periods of time. These subsets are evocative of the evolution of the humoral immune response, with memory-like cells appearing before acquisition of germinal centers, suggesting that there are multiple pathways to producing B-cell memory.