bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Peripheral gene expression profiling of CCK‐4‐induced panic in healthy subjects
Authors: Maron Eduard , Kallassalu Kristi , Tammiste Anu , Kolde Raivo , Vilo Jaak , Tõru Innar , Vasar Veiko , Shlik Jakov , Metspalu Andres 
Published: December 2008

AbstractProgress in understanding the genetic basis of panic attacks may extend current knowledge on susceptibility to panic and pathogenesis of panic disorder. In the present study we applied the microarray Illumina platform for whole genome expression profiling in healthy subjects participating in the CCK‐4‐induced panic test. The study sample consisted of 31 male and female healthy volunteers, who were categorized according to predefined criteria as “panickers” or “non‐panickers” to a CCK‐4 challenge. The gene expression profiles were measured on peripheral blood cells at baseline and at 120 min post‐CCK‐4 injection using Illumina Human‐6 v2 BeadChips. The fold change was used to demonstrate rate of changes in average gene expressions between studied groups. Statistical analyses were performed using the false discovery rate (FDR). Gene expression profiling 2 hr post‐CCK‐4 challenge showed changes in transcriptional levels of 226 genes. A total of 61 genes were differentially expressed between panickers and non‐panickers with most of them related to immune, enzymatic or stress regulation systems. Other distinctive mRNA transcripts were from the genes known to be related to phenotypes associated with increased occurrence of panic attacks, such as asthma, diabetes, or myocardial ischemia. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for genetic substrates of panic attacks on the transcriptional level and indicate potential biological proximity between acute panicogenesis and several somatic conditions. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic and epigenetic analysis of SSAT gene dysregulation in suicidal behavior
Authors: Guipponi Michel , Deutsch Samuel , Kohler Karine , Perroud Nader , Le Gal François , Vessaz Monique , Laforge Térèse , Petit Brice , Jollant Fabrice , Guillaume Sébastien , Baud Patrick , Courtet Philippe , La Harpe Romano , Malafosse Alain 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIt has recently been proposed that the SSAT gene plays a role in the predisposition to suicidal behavior. SSAT expression was found to be down‐regulated in the brain of suicide completers. In addition, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6526342 was associated both with variation in SSAT expression and with suicidal behavior. In this study, we aimed to characterize the relationship between SSAT dysregulation and suicide behavior. To this end, we measured SSAT expression levels in the ventral prefrontal cortex (VPFC) of suicide completers (n = 20) and controls (n = 20) and found them to be significantly down‐regulated in suicide victims (P = 0.007). To identify the basis of the regulation of SSAT expression, we performed an association analysis of 309 SNPs with SSAT transcript levels in 53 lymphoblastoid cell lines from the CEPH collection. We then examined the methylation status of the SSAT promoter region in males and females suicide completers and control subjects whose SSAT brain expression had been measured. We found no evidence to support a role for SNPs in controlling the level of SSAT expression. SSAT promoter methylation levels were not different between suicide completers and controls and did not correlate with SSAT expression levels. In addition, we found no indication of a genetic association between suicidal behavior and SNPs located within the SSAT gene. Our study provides new results which show that dysregulation of SSAT expression does play a role in suicide behavior. However, our data do not support any association between rs6526342 and variation in SSAT expression or suicidal behavior. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influence of day length, ambient temperature, and seasonality on daily travel distance in the Yunnan snub‐nosed monkey at Jinsichang, Yunnan, China
Authors: Baoping Ren , Ming Li , Yongcheng Long , Fuwen Wei 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis article examines the effect of ambient temperature, day length, weather conditions, and seasonality on daily path length (DPL) of a free‐ranging group of Yunnan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) using an auto‐released GPS collar. Data were collected from December 17, 2003 to October 22, 2004 at Laojunshan in northwestern Yunnan province, China. The average DPL of the monkey group was 909±472 m (n=291), with the shortest distance being 180 m and the longest distance 3,626 m. Ambient temperature and day length were found to affect DPL. Both factors were positively correlated with DPL, which means that the monkey group traveled greater distances on longer and warmer days. At the study site, three distinct seasons were identified, and DPL did not vary significantly across these periods. The time of sunrise was not correlated with DPL. Nevertheless, we sometimes observed the group starting its daily trip later on cloudy days than on sunny days. Furthermore, weather conditions (e.g. rainy, cloudy, and sunny) did not influence the average DPL of the study group. Overall we found that the primary factors affecting DPL in R. bieti were day length and ambient temperature, especially daily highest temperature. Am. J. Primatol. 71:233–241, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Coat condition of ringtailed lemurs, Lemur catta, at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar: II. Coat and tail alopecia associated with Leucaena leucocepahala, 2001–2006
Authors: Jolly Alison 
Published: December 2008

AbstractFur condition in wild ringtailed lemurs, Lemur catta, was recorded during September–November birth seasons 2001–2006 at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar. Body coat condition was scored on a scale from BS 0: full, smooth coat with guard hairs, to BS5: half or more of back and limbs hairless. Tail condition was scored from TS 0: full, to TS 5: half or more hairless. Where troop core areas included stands of Leucaena leucocephala, alopecia was dramatically more frequent than in similar areas without leucaena, including many animals with score BS5 or TS5, “bald lemur syndrome.” Female coats were worse than males,' possibly related to female dominance and access to this preferred food. Tails in non‐leucaena‐feeding females tend to remain full, even if coats deteriorate, but with leucaena‐feeding female tails are highly correlated with coat condition and equally bare. Coat and tail condition in L. catta reflected not only the dietary toxin but individual differences as well as differences between adjacent troops that may result from territorially mediated access to the environment. Leucaena contains the non‐protein amino acid mimosine, a known cause of alopecia, wasting, and organ damage in livestock, although the effects are usually reversible. This is the first case of its effect in wildlife. Leucaena is an agroforestry tree introduced throughout the tropics. In high dietary concentrations leucaena might potentially affect any browsing mammal. Am. J. Primatol. 71:199–205, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multimodal signaling in wild Lemur catta: Economic design and territorial function of urine marking
Authors: Palagi Elisabetta , Norscia Ivan 
Published: December 2008

AbstractUrine marking has been neglected in prosimian primates. Captive studies showed that the Malagasy prosimian Lemur catta scent marks with urine, as well as via specialized depositions. L. catta urine mark, a multimodal signal, differs from simple urination in terms of different design features, including tail configuration: the tail is held up during marking (UT‐up) and down during urination (UT‐down). We explore economy and function of UT‐up in the female dominant L. catta. We collected 240 h of observations on one group at Berenty (south Madagascar) during the nonmating period via all occurrences sampling. We gathered behavioral bouts/contexts (marking, traveling, feeding, resting, and fights) and recorded 191 UT‐ups and 79 UT‐downs. Via Global Positioning System we established the location of the places frequented i) by extragroup individuals and ii) by group members, in this case recording also behavioral context and time spent in each place. We found that L. catta UT‐up is not an artifact of captivity. Moreover, UT‐up in the nonmating period plays a role in territorial defense, which is mostly performed by females in L. catta society. Female UT‐ups were the most investigated and UT‐ups were performed/investigated more by females. Finally, signal use is parsimonious, in that urine is economically placed where and when detection probability by competitors is higher. UT‐ups were performed in places most frequented by extragroup individuals and in presence of extragroup competitors (nonrandom topography and timing). In conclusion, we suggest that UT‐up is an economical signal with a primarily territorial function. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Preparation and thermal properties of hybrid nanocomposites of poly(methyl methacrylate)/octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane blends
Authors: Feng Yan , Jia Yong , Xu Hongyao 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA series of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/octavinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) blends were prepared by the solution‐blending method and characterized with Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. The glass‐transition temperature (Tg) of the PMMA–POSS blends showed a tendency of first increasing and then decreasing with an increase in the POSS content. The maximum Tg reached 137.2°C when 0.84 mol % POSS was blended into the hybrid system, which was 28.2°C higher than that of the mother PMMA. The X‐ray diffraction patterns, transmission electron microscopy micrographs, and Fourier transform infrared spectra were employed to investigate the structure–property relationship of these hybrid nanocomposites and the Tg enhancement mechanism. The results showed that at a relatively low POSS content, POSS as an inert diluent decreased the interaction between the dipolar carbonyl groups of the homopolymer molecular chains. However, a new stronger dipole–dipole interaction between the POSS and the carbonyl of PMMA species formed at the same time, and a hindrance effect of nanosize POSS on the motion of the PMMA molecular chain may have played the main role in the Tg increase of the hybrid nanocomposites. At relatively high POSS concentrations, the strong dipole–dipole interactions that formed between the POSS and carbonyl groups of the PMMA gradually decreased because of the strong aggregation of POSS. This may be the main reason for the resultant Tg decrease in these hybrid nanocomposites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Poly(vinyl acetate)/polyacrylate semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks, part 1: Synthesis and polymerization kinetics
Authors: Martinelli A. , Tighzert L. , D'Ilario L. , Francolini I. , Piozzi A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBulk photopolymerization was used to synthesize a series of semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (s‐IPN) based on linear poly(vinyl acetate) and crosslinked N‐butyl acrylate/1,6‐hexandiol diacrylate (HDDA) copolymer. Different formulations were used by varying the monoacrylate/diacrylate molar ratio and the linear polymer concentration. The polymerization kinetics was studied as a function of the s‐IPN composition by FTIR spectroscopy. It was observed that the reaction rate increases by increasing the linear polymer amount. This effect is much more pronounced in the reaction mixtures with a higher diacrylate concentration, playing a key role the restricted mobility of the macroradicals involved in the bimolecular termination. The maximum conversion increases regularly with linear polymer concentration in the blend and resulted to be very high, ranging from 95 to 98%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Preparation and properties of ethylene/POSS copolymer with rac‐Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 catalyst
Authors: Zhang He‐xin , Jung Myung‐sung , Shin Young‐jun , Yoon Keun‐byoung , Lee Dong‐ho 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe various monovinyl‐functional polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) monomers had been copolymerized with ethylene (E) using rac‐Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 and a modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) cocatalyst. The unreacted POSS monomer could be removed completely by washing the copolymerization product with n‐hexane. And the copolymers were characterized with 1H NMR, TEM, DSC, TGA, and GPC to know the composition, thermal properties, molecular weight and its distribution, respectively. According to 1H NMR data, the monomer reactivity ratios of various POSS monomers were calculated by the Fineman‐Ross and Kelen‐Tudos methods. Thermogravimetric analysis of E/POSS copolymers exhibited an improved thermal stability with a higher degradation temperature and char yields, demonstrating that the inclusion of inorganic POSS nanoparticles made the organic polymer matrix more thermally robust. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Poly(vinyl acetate)/polyacrylate semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks. II. Thermal, mechanical, and morphological characterization
Authors: Martinelli A. , Tighzert L. , D'Ilario L. , Francolini I. , Piozzi A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe thermal, dynamic mechanical, and mechanical properties and morphology of two series of semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks (s‐IPNs) based on linear poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and a crosslinked n‐butyl acrylate/1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate copolymer were investigated. The s‐IPN composition was varied with different monoacrylate/diacrylate monomer ratios and PVAc concentrations. The crosslinking density deeply affected the thermal behavior. The results showed that a more densely crosslinked acrylate network promoted phase mixing and a more homogeneous structure. The variation in the linear polymer concentration influenced both the morphology and mechanical properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
Asymmetry of Thyroid Lobe Volume in Normal Chinese Subjects: Association with Handedness and Position of Esophagus
Authors: Ying Michael , Yung Dennis M.C. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the association of handedness and position of esophagus with thyroid size asymmetry. One hundred and five healthy subjects were included, and their occurrence of thyroid nodules and position of the esophagus were assessed with ultrasound. Three‐dimensional ultrasound was used to measure the volume of the thyroid lobes. The handedness of the subjects was also assessed. Thyroid nodules were found in 43 subjects who were excluded from the study, whereas 62 subjects showed normal thyroid. For normal thyroid, the right lobe (6.8 mL) was significantly larger than the left lobe (5.66 mL) (P < 0.05). Right‐handed subjects (mean, 7.11 mL) had a significantly larger right lobe than left‐handed subjects (mean, 5.82 mL) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the left lobe volume between right‐handers (mean, 5.81 mL) and left‐handers (mean, 5.18 mL) (P > 0.05). Subjects with an esophagus deviated to the left (mean, 7.15 mL) had a significantly larger right lobe than those with a centrally located esophagus (mean, 5.7 mL) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the left lobe volume between subjects with different esophageal positions (deviated to left: mean, 5.76 mL; centrally located: mean, 5.19 mL) (P > 0.05). Thyroid asymmetry is associated with the handedness of subjects and the position of the esophagus. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effect of eda Loss of Function on Upper Jugal Tooth Morphology
Authors: Charles Cyril , Pantalacci Sophie , Peterkova Renata , Tafforeau Paul , Laudet Vincent , Viriot Laurent 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe Tabby/eda mice, which bear a loss of function mutation for the eda (ectodysplasinA) gene, are known to display developmental anomalies in organs with an ectodermal origin. Although the lower jugal (cheek) teeth of Tabby/eda mice have been extensively studied, upper teeth have never been investigated in detail. However, this may help us to further understand the function of the eda gene in tooth development. In this work, the shape and size of both the crown and the radicular system were studied in the Tabby/eda mice upper jugal teeth. To deal with the high morphological variability, we defined several morphotypes based on cusp numbers and position. Statistical tests were then performed within and between the different morphotypes to test the correlation between tooth size and morphology. Our analysis reveals that, as in lower teeth, eda is necessary to segment the dental lamina into three teeth with the characteristic size and proportions of the mouse. Nevertheless, since strong effects are observed in heterozygous upper teeth while lower are only mildly affected, it seems that the upper jaw is more sensitive than the lower jaw to the loss of eda function. Modifications in cusp number and the abnormal crown size of the teeth are clearly linked, and our results indicate a role of eda in cusp patterning. Moreover, we found that the Tabby mutation induces variations in the dental root pattern, sometimes associated with hypercementosis, suggesting a newly uncovered role played by eda in root patterning and formation. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Ex Vivo Cervical Spinal Cord Specimens: The Immediate and Long‐Term Effects of Fixation on Diffusivity
Authors: Kim T.H. , Zollinger L. , Shi X.F. , Rose J. , Jeong E.‐K. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an emerging noninvasive method for evaluating tissue microstructure, but is highly susceptible to in vivo motion artifact. Ex vivo experiments on fixed tissues are needed to improve DTI techniques, which require fixed tissue specimens. Several efforts have been made to study the effect of fixation on both human and mouse tissue, with varying results. Four human cervical cords and three segments of pig cervical spinal cord specimens were imaged both before and after tissue fixation using 3D multishot diffusion weighted imaging (ms‐DWEPI). Fixation caused a significant decrease in the longitudinal diffusivity whereas the relative anisotropy (RA) and radial diffusivity remained unaffected. Additionally, once adequately preserved, the diffusivity parameters of fixed tissue remain constant over time. Fixation has important effects on the diffusivity of tissue specimens. These findings have important implications for the determination of tissue microstructure and function using DTI technologies. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Area of Rests of Malassez in Young and Adult Rat Molars: Evidences in the Formation of Large Rests
Authors: Cerri Paulo Sérgio , Gonçalves Jakobe De Souza , Sasso‐cerri Estela 
Published: December 2008

AbstractRecently, we have demonstrated that the reduction in the number of rests of Malassez (RM) according to age may be due to epithelial cell death by apoptosis. It is known that, under experimental or pathological conditions, the epithelial cells of RM can proliferate, resulting in the formation of odontogenic cysts and tumors. In this study, the area of RM profiles and the number of profiles of epithelial cell nuclei/RM were investigated in young and adult rats. Fragments containing upper molars of rats aged 29, 45, and 120 days were fixed, decalcified, and embedded for light microscopy. In the sections stained by hematoxylin and eosin, the numerical density of RM profiles/mm2 of periodontal ligament, the area of each RM profile and the number of epithelial cell nuclei profile/RM were obtained. Moreover, detection of cytokeratin by immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural analysis of RM were carried out. Smaller RM were found in all groups, but the very large RM were only observed in the 120‐day‐old rats. The presence of cells in close juxtaposition exhibiting cytokeratin filaments in their cytoplasm, including in the large RM, characterized their epithelial nature. The number of epithelial cells/RM varied proportionally to the area. Moreover, epithelial cells in mitosis were found in small and large RM, indicating that cellular proliferation can be responsible for the enlargement of RM, under physiological conditions. The results suggest that a possible disequilibrium between the proliferative and apoptotic processes can be related to the enlargement of some RM in the 120‐day‐old rats. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Intramural Purkinje Cell Network of Sheep Ventricles as the Terminal Pathway of Conduction System
Authors: Ryu Shonosuke , Yamamoto Shoji , Andersen Clark R. , Nakazawa Kiyoshi , Miyake Fumihiko , James Thomas N. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractTo identify the anatomical basis for cardiac electrical signal conduction, particularly seeking the intramural terminals of conduction pathway within the ventricles, sheep hearts were examined compared with human hearts utilizing the characteristic morphology of Purkinje cells as a histological marker. In 15 sheep and five human autopsies of noncardiac death, prevalence of Purkinje or Purkinje‐type cells were histologically examined in the atrioventricular node, its distal conduction pathway, the interventricular septum, and the right‐ and left‐ventricular free walls. Myocardial tissue cleavages were examined in the transmural sections (along cardiac base‐to‐apex axis) obtained from the septum and ventricular free walls. Serial histological sections through virtually the entirety of the septum in selected sheep were used as the basis of a three‐dimensional reconstruction of the conduction pathway, particularly of the intramural Purkinje cell network. Purkinje cells were found within the mural myocardium of sheep ventricles whereas no intramural Purkinje‐type cell was detected within the human ventricles. In the sheep septum, every intramural Purkinje cell composed a three‐dimensional network throughout the mural myocardium, which proximally connected to the subendocardial extension of the bundle branches and distally formed an occasional junction with ordinary working myocytes. The Purkinje‐cell network may participate in the ventricular excitation as the terminal conduction pathway. Individual connections among the Purkinje cells contain the links of through‐wall orientation which would benefit the signal conduction crossing the architectural barriers by cleavages in sheep hearts. The myocardial architectural changes found in diseased hearts could disrupt the network links including those with transmural orientation. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Redistribution of xylan in maize cell walls during dilute acid pretreatment
Authors: Brunecky Roman , Vinzant Todd B. , Porter Stephanie E. , Donohoe Bryon S. , Johnson David K. , Himmel Michael E. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractDeveloping processes for the conversion of biomass for use in transportation fuels production is becoming a critically important economic and engineering challenge. Dilute acid pretreatment is a promising technology for increasing the enzymatic digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass. However, a deeper understanding of the pretreatability of biomass is needed so that the rate of formation and yields of sugars can be increased. Xylan is an important hemicellulosic component of the plant cell wall and acts as a barrier to cellulose, essentially blocking cellulase action. To better understand xylan hydrolysis in corn stover, we have studied changes in the distribution of xylan caused by dilute acid pretreatment using correlative microscopy. A dramatic loss of xylan antibody signal from the center of the cell wall and an increase or retention of xylan at the plasma membrane interface and middle lamella of the cell were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). We also observed a reduction in xylan fluorescence signal by CLSM that is generally consistent with the decrease in xylan content measured experimentally in the bulk sample, however, the compartmentalization of this xylan retention was not anticipated. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 1537–1543. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.