bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical factors associated with outcome in patients with metastatic clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma treated with vascular endothelial growth factor‐targeted therapy
Authors: Choueiri Toni K. , Garcia Jorge A. , Elson Paul , Khasawneh Mohamad , Usman Saif , Golshayan Ali Reza , Baz Rachid C. , Wood Laura , Rini Brian I. , Bukowski Ronald M. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBACKGROUND.Therapy targeted against the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway is a standard of care for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The identification of patients who are more likely to benefit from these agents is warranted.METHODS.In total, 120 patients with metastatic clear‐cell RCC received bevacizumab, sorafenib, sunitinib, or axitinib on 1 of 9 prospective clinical trials at the Cleveland Clinic. Clinical features associated with outcome were identified by univariate analysis; then, a stepwise modeling approach based on Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify independent prognostic factors and to form a model for progression‐free survival (PFS). A bootstrap algorithm was used to provide internal validation.RESULTS.The overall median PFS was 13.8 months, and the objective response according to the Response Criteria in Solid Tumors was 34%. Multivariate analysis identified time from diagnosis to current treatment <2 years; baseline platelet and neutrophil counts >300 K/μL and >4.5 K/μL, respectively; baseline corrected serum calcium <8.5 mg/dL or >10 mg/dL; and initial Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status >0 as independent, adverse prognostic factors (PF) for PFS. Three prognostic subgroups were formed based on the number of adverse prognostic factors present. The median PFS in patients with 0 or 1 adverse prognostic factor was 20.1 months compared with 13 months in patients with 2 adverse prognostic factors and 3.9 months in patients with >2 adverse prognostic factors.CONCLUSIONS.Five independent prognostic factors for predicting PFS were identified and were used to categorize patients with metastatic RCC who received VEGF‐targeted therapies into 3 risk groups. These prognostic factors can be incorporated into patient care and clinical trials that use such novel, VEGF‐targeted agents. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Adaptive pattern nulling design of linear array antenna by phase‐only perturbations using memetic algorithms
Authors: Hsu Chao‐Hsing , Shyr Wen‐Jye 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn this paper, the pattern nulling of a linear array for interference cancellation is derived by phase‐only perturbations using memetic algorithms (MAs). The MAs uses improvement procedures which is obtained by incorporating local search into the genetic algorithms. It is proposed to improve the search ability of genetic algorithms. MA is a kind of an improved type of the traditional genetic algorithms. By using local search procedure, it can avoid the shortcoming of the traditional genetic algorithms, whose termination criteria are set up by using the trial and error method. The MA is applied to find the pattern nulling of the proposed adaptive antenna. This design for radiation pattern nulling of an adaptive antenna can suppress interference by placing a null at the direction of the interfering source, i.e. to increase the signal to interference ratio. This proposed method is that an innovative adaptive antenna optimization technique is also able to solve the multipath problem which exists in practical wireless communication systems. Two examples are provided to justify the proposed phase‐only perturbations approach based on MAs. Computer simulation results are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Are 6‐month‐old foals sensitive to dam's influence?
Authors: Henry S. , Briefer S. , Richard‐Yris M.‐A. , Hausberger M. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA recent study has shown that gently handling dams in front of their few days old foals may strongly influence the development of human–foal relationships. In the present study, we test whether 6‐month‐old foals remain sensitive to their dams' influence. The study was performed on 16 foal–mare dyads, with half of the mares receiving positive contacts from the experimenter in presence of their 6‐month‐old foals (n = 8) whereas the other mares were not handled (n = 8). All foals were tested 15 and 30–35 days later under various conditions (reaction to a motionless human, approach test, saddle‐pad tolerance test). We observe a positive effect of mare' handling on foals' reactions to humans but with a high interindividual variability, suggesting a higher effect of the foals' own behavioral characteristics at this age than at earlier stages. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 514‐521, 2007.
Does motor activity during psychophysiological paradigms confound the quantification and interpretation of heart rate and heart rate variability measures in young children?
Authors: Porges Stephen W. , Heilman Keri J. , Bazhenova Olga V. , Bal Elgiz , Doussard‐Roosevelt Jane A. , Koledin Myriah 
Published: June 2007

AbstractRespiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), heart period, and motor activity were monitored in preschoolers during a variety of tasks varying in required movement. The data analyses indicate: (1) that when activity increases during tasks, there are synchronous decreases in heart period and RSA; (2) that correlations between changes in RSA and heart period are related to activity only during exercise when there is a major demand for increased metabolic resources; and (3) that the covariation among the variables within each condition is low except during exercise. These findings suggest that the slight increases in motor activity (i.e., hand movements) often required in attention demanding psychophysiological protocols are not related to RSA and heart period responses. However, when tasks necessitate large increases in motor activity (e.g., exercise), the decreases in heart period and RSA are related to the change in motor activity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 485‐494, 2007.
Enriched rearing facilitates spatial exploration in northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) neonates
Authors: Lazic Maria , Schneider Susan M. , Lickliter Robert 
Published: June 2007

AbstractRearing with enriched environmental complexity has been shown to enhance spatial exploration and spatial learning, among other benefits. Most studies examining enriched rearing effects have used extended periods of exposure in mammals; little is known about enrichment effects on avian species. We provided objects designed to encourage spatial exploration to socially raised northern bobwhite neonates; controls were socially raised without the enrichment devices. After 3–5 days of exposure, maze performance was assessed for 48 chicks. Chicks in the enriched group showed significantly more spatial activity in the maze than control chicks. These results extend the generality of spatial enrichment effects to birds and to a relatively short duration of enrichment exposure. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 548‐551, 2007.
Prenatal predictors of infant temperament
Authors: Werner Elizabeth A. , Myers Michael M. , Fifer William P. , Cheng Bin , Fang Yixin , Allen Rhiannon , Monk Catherine 
Published: June 2007

AbstractEmerging data suggest that prenatal factors influence children's temperament. In 50 dyads, we examined fetal heart rate (FHR) activity and women's antenatal psychiatric illness as predictors of infant temperament at 4 months (response to novelty and the Infant Behavior Checklist). FHR change during maternal challenge was positively associated with observed infant motor reactivity to novelty (p = .02). The odds of being classified as high versus low motor among fetuses who had an increase in FHR during maternal stress was 11 times those who had a decrease in FHR (p = .0006). Antenatal psychiatric diagnosis was associated with an almost fourfold greater odds of having a high cry reactivity classification (p = .03). There also were modest associations between baseline FHR and maternal reports of infant temperament and between observed temperament and that based on mothers' reports. All of the infant results were found independent of the influence of women's postnatal anxiety. These data indicate that physiological markers of individual differences in infant temperament are identifiable in the fetal period, and possibly shaped by the prenatal environment. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 474‐484, 2007.
Temperament in preweanling horses: Development of reactions to humans and novelty, and startle responses
Authors: Lansade L. , Bouissou M.F. , Boivin X. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the development and the stability across situations and over time of three temperament traits in young foals: propensity to react to humans, propensity to react to novelty, and propensity to react to suddenness. In a comparative study, we examined the reactions of animals in three independent groups (N = 27) tested at 3, 12, and 24 weeks of age, respectively. We observed that human avoidance and novel object approach behaviors are quasi inexistent in the group tested at 3 weeks, but are more and more present in the groups tested at subsequent ages. In a longitudinal study, we tested 48 foals successively at 3, 6, 12, and 24 weeks of age. Since reactions appear progressively with time, no stability over time or across situations was found. However, once a foal manifests a behavioral reaction at a given age, it will always reproduce this reaction subsequently. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 501‐513, 2007.
Respiratory sinus arrhythmia and tympanic membrane compliance predict spontaneous eye gaze behaviors in young children: A pilot study
Authors: Heilman Keri J. , Bal Elgiz , Bazhenova Olga V. , Porges Stephen W. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe Polyvagal theory proposes the Social Engagement System as a theoretical model linking social behavior with the neural regulation of the heart (via the vagus) and the striated muscles of the face and head (via special visceral efferent pathways). The current pilot study tested the feasibility of this model with typically developing 3–5‐year‐old children by evaluating the relation between spontaneous social engagement behavior measured by eye gaze behaviors and the visceromotor (e.g., respiratory sinus arrhythmia) and somatomotor (e.g., right tympanic membrane compliance) components of the Social Engagement System. Regression analyses supported the hypothesis that the visceromotor and somatomotor components of the Social Engagement System significantly predict social behavior (indexed by spontaneous eye gazes). Future studies assessing indices of visceral regulation and middle ear muscle function may provide insights into neural mechanisms mediating features of developmental disorders, such as autism, that have deficits in spontaneous eye gaze, auditory processing, and social behavior. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 531‐542, 2007.
Foster mother care but not prenatal morphine exposure enhances cocaine self‐administration in young adult male and female rats
Authors: Vathy I. , Šlamberová R. , Liu Xinhe 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe present study was designed to investigate cocaine self‐administration in adult male and female rats exposed prenatally to morphine. Pregnant dams were injected two times a day with either saline, analgesic doses of morphine or no drug at all (controls) on gestation Days 11–18. One day after birth, litters were cross‐fostered such that control dams were paired with one another and their litters were crossed; saline‐ and morphine‐treated dams were paired and half of each saline litter was crossed with half of each morphine litter. Thus, each mother (control, saline, and morphine) raised half of her own and half of the adopted litter. At the age of 60 days, males and females were trained first to lever press for sucrose pellets and then for cocaine. Once the lever‐pressing behavior was learned and baseline level of this activity was established, animals received a cocaine (.5 mg/kg per infusion) reward for each correct response on the active lever during the next 9‐day session. The data demonstrate that adult control, saline‐ and morphine‐exposed male rats self‐administer cocaine at a similar rate independent of their prenatal treatment. Adult female rats self‐administer cocaine at a higher rate than male rats. Further, saline‐ and morphine‐exposed females in diestrus self‐administer more than females in proestrus phase of the estrous cycle, while control females show no such differences. In addition, fostering induces increase in cocaine self‐administration in all groups of male rats regardless of prenatal drug exposure. In females, the only fostering‐induced increase is in prenatally saline‐exposed female rats raised by morphine‐treated foster mother. Thus, our results suggest that the prenatal drug exposure does not induce changes in lever‐pressing behavior for cocaine reward in adult male and female rats, but it sensitizes the animals to postnatal stimuli such as gonadal hormones and/or rearing conditions that result in increased drug self‐administration. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 463‐473, 2007.
Effects of maternal care on the development, emotionality, and reproductive functions in male and female rats
Authors: Uriarte Natalia , Breigeiron Márcia K. , Benetti Fernando , Rosa Ximena F. , Lucion Aldo B. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractVariations in maternal behavior induce long‐lasting effects on behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to stress. The aim of this study was to analyze developmental parameters, reproductive function, and anxiety‐related behaviors of male and female rats raised by mothers that naturally display high and low levels of maternal licking behavior. Results showed that an increase in licking behavior received by the pups accelerated their eye opening and reduced fear behavior assessed in the open field test. Additionally, female offspring of high licking (HL) mothers showed decreased ovulation and lordosis intensity. In contrast, males from HL and low licking (LL) mothers did not differ in their reproductive function, suggesting a gender difference in maternal effects. Present results showed that individual differences in maternal behavior appear not only to be predictive of later emotionality and stress‐responsivity in the offspring, but can also modulate the reproductive function of females. Maternal genetic factors, differences in the prenatal intrauterine milieu, or a combination of these cannot be excluded to explain the effects observed. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 451‐462, 2007.
Age‐dependent change in exploratory behavior of male rats following exposure to threat stimulus: Effect of juvenile experience
Authors: Arakawa Hiroyuki 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe ontogeny of exploratory behavior depending on the intensity of threat in a modified open‐field was investigated in male rats aged 40, 65, and 130 days, by comparing with less threatening condition with no shock and more threatening condition where they were exposed to mild electric shock. The number of crossings in a dim peripheral alley was counted as the level of activity. The total duration of stay in the central area was measured as the level of exploration. The number of entries and stretch‐attend postures into a bright center square were measured as active exploratory behavior and the risk assessment behavior, respectively. When exposed to mild shock prior to the test, 40‐day‐old rats decreased these exploratory behaviors, while 65‐ and 130‐day‐old rats increased active exploratory behavior (Experiment 1). A lower level of exploratory behavior following a mild shock was found in 65 and 130‐day‐old rats isolated during the juvenile stage, but not in rats isolated after puberty (Experiment 2). These findings suggest that the direction of changes in exploratory behavior of male rats following an increase in potential danger showed ontogenetic transition, which is mediated by social experiences as juveniles, but not as adults. This transition may be associated with the emergence of active exploratory behavior during the juvenile stage, which is activated by social interaction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 522‐530, 2007.
The emergence of patterned movement during late embryogenesis of Drosophila
Authors: Pereanu Wayne , Spindler Shana , Im Elisabeth , Buu Natalie , Hartenstein Volker 
Published: June 2007

AbstractLarval behavioral patterns arise in a gradual fashion during late embryogenesis as the innervation of the somatic musculature and connectivity within the central nervous system develops. In this paper, we describe in a quantitative manner the maturation of behavioral patterns. Early movements are locally restricted “twitches” of the body wall, involving single segments or parts of segments. These twitches occur at a low frequency and have low amplitude, reflecting weak muscle contractions. Towards later stages twitches increase in frequency and amplitude and become integrated into coordinated movements of multiple segments. Most noticeable among these is the peristaltic wave of longitudinal segmental contractions by which the larva moves forward or backward. Besides becoming more complex as development proceeds, embryonic movements also acquire a pronounced rhythm. Thus, late embryonic movements occur in bursts, with phases of frequent movement separated by phases of no movement at all; early movements show no such periodicity. These data will serve as a baseline for future studies that address the function of embryonic lethal genes controlling neuronal connectivity and larval behavior. We have analyzed behavioral abnormalities in two embryonic lethal mutations with severe neural defects, tailless (tll), which lacks the protocerebrum, and glial cells missing (gcm), in which glial cells are absent. Our results reveal prominent alterations in embryonic motility for both of these mutations, indicating that the protocerebrum and glial cells play a crucial role in the neural mechanism controlling larval movement in Drosophila. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007
Stage‐dependent craniofacial defects resulting from Sprouty2 overexpression
Authors: Goodnough L. Henry , Brugmann Samantha A. , Hu Diane , Helms Jill A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractSprouty genes encode intracellular regulators of receptor tyrosine kinases that function in a variety of developmental events. Although mice carrying null mutations in Sprouty genes exhibit craniofacial anomalies, the precise role of these regulatory proteins in facial development remains unclear. Here, we show that overexpression of spry2 at the initiation of craniofacial development results in a dramatic arrest in outgrowth of the facial prominences. Although endogenous spry2 and fibroblast growth factor 8 (fgf8) are coexpressed throughout much of craniofacial development, overexpression of spry2 did not alter the spatiotemporal patterns of fgf target gene expression. The morphological consequences of spry2 overexpression were specific: all of the facial prominences were truncated, but despite this gross malformation, the programs of osteogenesis and chondrogenesis were not impaired. Collectively, these data suggest that Sprouty2 plays a role in the outgrowth of facial prominences independent of canonical Fgf signaling. Developmental Dynamics 236:1918–1928, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synectin/syndecan‐4 regulate coronary arteriolar growth during development
Authors: Dedkov Eduard I. , Thomas Mathew T. , Sonka Milan , Yang Fuxing , Chittenden Thomas W. , Rhodes John M. , Simons Michael , Ritman Erik L. , Tomanek Robert J. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractSyndecan‐4 and its cytoplasmic binding partner, synectin, are known to play a role in FGF‐2 signaling and vascular growth. To determine their roles in coronary artery/arteriolar formation and growth, we compared syndecan‐4 and synectin null mice with their wild‐type counterparts. Image analysis of arterioles visualized by smooth muscle α‐actin immunostaining revealed that synectin −/− mice had lower arteriolar length and volume densities than wild‐type mice. As shown by electron microscopic analysis, arterioles from the two did not differ in morphology, including their endothelial cell junctions, and the organization and distribution of smooth muscle. Using micro‐computer tomography, we found that the size and branching patterns of coronary arteries (diameters > 50 μm) were similar for the two groups, a finding that indicates that the growth of arteries is not influenced by a loss of synectin. Syndecan‐4 null male mice also had lower arteriolar length densities than their gender wild‐type controls. However, female syndecan‐4 null mice were characterized by higher arteriolar length and volume densities than their gender‐matched wild‐type controls. Thus, we conclude that both synectin and syndecan‐4 play a role in arteriolar development, a finding that is consistent with previous evidence that FGF‐2 plays a role in coronary arterial growth. Moreover, our data reveal that gender influences the arteriolar growth response to syndecan‐4 but not to synectin. Developmental Dynamics 236:2004–2010, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
β‐keratins of differentiating epidermis of snake comprise glycine‐proline‐serine‐rich proteins with an avian‐like gene organization
Authors: Dalla Valle Luisa , Nardi Alessia , Belvedere Paola , Toni Mattia , Alibardi Lorenzo 
Published: June 2007

Abstractβ‐keratins of reptilian scales have been recently cloned and characterized in some lizards. Here we report for the first time the sequence of some β‐keratins from the snake Elaphe guttata. Five different cDNAs were obtained using 5′‐ and 3′‐RACE analyses. Four sequences differ by only few nucleotides in the coding region, whereas the last cDNA shows, in this region, only 84% of identity. The gene corresponding to one of the cDNA sequences has a single intron present in the 5′‐untranslated region. This genomic organization is similar to that of birds' β‐keratins. Cloning and Southern blotting analysis suggest that snake β‐keratins belong to a family of high‐related genes as for geckos. PCR analysis suggests a head‐to‐tail orientation of genes in the same chromosome. In situ hybridization detected β‐keratin transcripts almost exclusively in differentiating oberhautchen and β‐cells of the snake epidermis in renewal phase. This is confirmed by Northern blotting that showed, in this phase, a high expression of two different transcripts whereas only the longer transcript is expressed at a much lower level in resting skin. The cDNA coding sequences encoded putative glycine‐proline‐serine rich proteins containing 137–139 amino acids, with apparent isoelectric point at 7.5 and 8.2. A central region, rich in proline, shows over 50% homology with avian scale, claw, and feather keratins. The prediction of secondary structure shows mainly a random coil conformation and few β‐strand regions in the central region, likely involved in the formation of a fibrous framework of β‐keratins. This region was possibly present in basic reptiles that originated reptiles and birds. Developmental Dynamics 236:1939–1953, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.