bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A mixed mid‐Permian marine fauna from the Yanji area, northeastern China: A paleobiogeographical reinterpretation
Authors: Shi G. R. , Zwan L‐P. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract Paleobiogeographically mixed marine faunas have been well recognized from many Permian marine sequences in northeast China. These mixed faunas are normally associated with Monodiexodina fusulinid assemblages. The mixed faunas are characterized by an admixture of both paleo‐tropical Cathaysian taxa and cool‐temperate elements. In addition, endemic taxa, especially at a specific level, and anti‐tropical forms, are also very distinctive.Previously, the presence of anti‐tropical taxa in these mixed faunas has been used to argue that some of the northeast Asian terranes may have originated from northern Gondwana during the Permian, where they may have been m close proximity to Tibet. However, this interpretation is contrasted by the view offered in this paper. It is argued that the anti‐tropical distribution of marine taxa is a normal, predictable biogeographical phenomenon that is probably controlled by certain climatic conditions. Permian anti‐tropicality seems to have occurred most strongly during the Late Artinskian to Ufimian, probably in association with the presence of distinct mesothermal climatic zones at the time. In the present study we report a mixed mid‐Permian marine fauna (fusulinids and brachiopods) from the Dasuangou Formation of the Yanji area in the eastern Jilin Province of northeast China, and discuss its possible origin in the context of Permian paleogeography and the climates of eastern Pangea.
The effects of television food advertisement on children's food purchasing requests
Authors: AKTAŞ ARNAS YAŞARE 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground: Children's eating habits and their food consumption have direct relations with obesity, diabetes, cancers, hypertension and coronary heart disease. Television advertisements directly affect children's eating habits and their food consumption. This study was conducted in order to examine television advertisements and children's food consumption while watching television and their desire to purchase goods that they see on television advertisements.Methods: In the first stage of the study, content analysis of the television advertisements was conducted. In the second stage of the study, a questionnaire (check list) was developed in order to examine children's food consumption while watching television and their purchasing requests while shopping in the supermarket. It was given to 347 mothers who have children aged between 3 and 8 years.Results: When the results of the study were examined it was found that the time devoted to children's programs was approximately 121 min and the advertisements during this period were approximately 35 min. A total of 344 of the 775 television advertisements shown were related to food. It was also found that most of the food advertisements were about candy/chocolate, chips, milk and milk products such as cheese, yoghurt, and breakfast cereals. The results also revealed that 89.6% of the children either drank or ate something while watching television and the food they consumed most while watching television were fruits, soft drinks, popcorn/nuts, cake, chips and candy/chocolate. The results also revealed that 40.3% of the children asked their parents to purchase the goods that they saw on the television advertisements and that 8.9% of them argued with their parents and/or cried in order for their parents to buy that particular product. It was found that the children tended to request more sweetened products such as candy, ice‐cream, biscuit, cake or soft drinks.Conclusion: More than half of the food presented in television advertisements were rich in fat and sugar. Children ask their parents to buy the goods they see on television advertisements both while watching television and while shopping. Television advertisements especially affect young children's unhealthy food consumption.
Late‐onset ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in male patients: Prognostic factors and characteristics of plasma amino acid profile
Authors: HARADA EIMEI , NISHIYORI ATSUSHI , TOKUNAGA YASUYUKI , WATANABE YORIKO , KURIYA NORIKAZU , KUMASHIRO RYUKICHI , KUNO TATEO , KUROMARU RYUICHI , HIROSE SHINICHI , ICHIKAWA KOTARO , YOSHINO MAKOTO 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground: The occurrence of male patients with ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency during adolescence or in adulthood has now been recognized. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic factors that affect the prognosis of life, to explore a basis for therapeutic strategy.Methods: In 10 patients, nine of whom carried the R40H mutation and the other one carrying the Y55D mutation in the OTC gene, 32 demographic and laboratory data were first compared between survivors and non‐survivors, using the unpaired t‐test. The factors with significant difference were then subjected to multiple regression analysis.Results: The factors that exhibited significant difference were: age at onset, concentration of plasma ammonium, blood pH, and concentrations of six amino acids in plasma. The multiple regression analysis then revealed concentrations of ammonium, leucine, lysine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, glutamine and proline to be significant prognostic factors. The amino acid profile in the 10 patients showed increases in glutamine, proline, lysine, valine and methionine, and decreases in serine, ornithine and arginine. There was an inverse correlation between the age at onset and the level of the residual hepatic OTC activity.Conclusion: The results implied that: (i) the plasma amino acid profile was unique, in comparison to other liver diseases; (ii) the plasma concentration of each of the (mentioned above) six amino acids was a significant predictor of prognosis; and (iii) suppression of protein catabolism, as suggested by the higher concentrations in isoleucine and leucine in the non‐survivors, prevention of glutamine‐induced brain edema, correction of alkalosis, and supplementation with ornithine or arginine may improve the prognosis of life.
Use of a cyclo‐oxygenase 2 inhibitor for prophylaxis of cystoid macular oedema following cataract surgery: a randomized placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Riley Andrew F , Wakely Laura A , Patel Hussain Y , Neveldsen Bridget , Purdie Gordon L , Wells Anthony P 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  To assess the efficacy of Celecoxib, a cyclo‐oxygenase 2 (COX‐2) inhibitor, as prophylaxis for cystoid macular oedema after routine cataract surgery.Methods:  A prospective, randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial of 69 hospital patients undergoing cataract surgery. Celecoxib 200 mg twice daily or placebo was given immediately after surgery for 14 days. Optical coherence tomography was used to quantify macular thickness before surgery and on day 1, week 2 and week 6 after surgery.Results:  Sixty‐nine patients were enrolled, of which 33 received placebo and 36 received active drug. Clinically apparent cystoid macular oedema occurred in four of the treatment group and two of the placebo group (P = 0.68). No difference in best‐corrected visual acuity was seen at 6 weeks (P = 0.37). Covariate analysis of the results at 2 weeks and 6 weeks showed a macular thickness of 3% less in the treatment group compared with placebo (P = 0.050).Conclusion:  Celecoxib may decrease macular thickening following routine cataract surgery at 2 and 6 weeks after surgery as measured by Stratus OCT III. No difference in best‐corrected visual acuity or clinically apparent cystoid macular oedema was seen. Further investigation of COX‐2 inhibitors in a larger prospective randomized trial is required.
Socioeconomic and rural differences for cataract surgery in Western Australia
Authors: Ng Jonathon Q , Morlet Nigel , Semmens James B 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  To examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors, residential locality and cataract surgery incidence.Methods:  This was a population‐based study using the Western Australian Data Linkage System to identify all cataract operations performed in patients aged 50+ years in 1996 and 2001. Patients’ residential addresses at the time of operation were geocoded to census localities. Using census‐derived indices, procedures were categorized into socioeconomic groups and residential locations (metropolitan and rural). Poisson regression was used to analyse for differences in procedure rates.Results:  The crude cataract surgery rate in Western Australia increased from 4458 to 6631 procedures per million person‐years between 1996 and 2001. Female and older patients underwent more surgery. Metropolitan residents were more likely to undergo surgery compared with rural residents; a difference that increased by 17% between 1996 and 2001 (1996: incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.13; 2001: IRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.18–1.29). A pronounced ‘U‐shaped’ pattern of difference had developed for socioeconomic disadvantage by 2001. The most advantaged underwent 9% more surgery than the most disadvantaged. Rates in the middle two groups were less than the lowest one.Conclusion:  There was growing inequity in the rates of cataract surgery for rural and poorer patients between 1996 and 2001. These differences partly reflect the increasingly two‐tiered Australian health system with more privately provided cataract surgery in urban areas.
Fatigue of shot peened 7075‐T7351 SENB specimen – A 3‐D analysis
Authors: HONDA T. , RAMULU M. , KOBAYASHI A. S. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTAs‐received or shot peened 7075‐T7351 single‐edged notch bend (SENB) specimens, 8.1‐mm thick, were fatigued at a constant maximum load and at stress ratios of R= 0.1 and 0.8 to predetermined numbers of fatigue cycles or to failure. The SENB specimens were then fractured by overload and the tunnelling crack profiles were recorded. The crack‐growth rate, da/dN, after crack initiation at the notch was determined by crack‐profile measurement and fractography at various fatigue cycles. The shot peened surface topography and roughness was also evaluated by three‐dimensional (3‐D) laser scanning microscopy. Residual stresses in the as‐received specimens and those generated by shot peening at Almen scales of 0.004A, 0.008A, 0.012A and 0.016A, were measured by an X‐ray diffraction stress analyser with an X‐ray target, CrK, every 0.1 mm to a depth of 1 mm. The 3‐D stress intensity factor of the curved crack front was determined by the superposition of the 3‐D finite element solutions of the stress intensity factor of the loaded SENB specimen without the residual stress and the stress intensity factor of the unloaded SENB specimen with a prescribed residual stress distribution. da/dN versus the resultant stress intensity factor amplitude, ΔKI, plots showed that while the residual stress locally retarded the crack‐growth rate it had no effect on the overall crack‐propagation rate.
Prediction of the main cortical areas and connections involved in the tactile function of the visual cortex by network analysis
Authors: Négyessy László , Nepusz Tamás , Kocsis László , Bazsó Fülöp 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWe explored the cortical pathways from the primary somatosensory cortex to the primary visual cortex (V1) by analysing connectional data in the macaque monkey using graph‐theoretical tools. Cluster analysis revealed the close relationship of the dorsal visual stream and the sensorimotor cortex. It was shown that prefrontal area 46 and parietal areas VIP and 7a occupy a central position between the different clusters in the visuo‐tactile network. Among these structures all the shortest paths from primary somatosensory cortex (3a, 1 and 2) to V1 pass through VIP and then reach V1 via MT, V3 and PO. Comparison of the input and output fields suggested a larger specificity for the 3a/1‐VIP‐MT/V3‐V1 pathways among the alternative routes. A reinforcement learning algorithm was used to evaluate the importance of the aforementioned pathways. The results suggest a higher role for V3 in relaying more direct sensorimotor information to V1. Analysing cliques, which identify areas with the strongest coupling in the network, supported the role of VIP, MT and V3 in visuo‐tactile integration. These findings indicate that areas 3a, 1, VIP, MT and V3 play a major role in shaping the tactile information reaching V1 in both sighted and blind subjects. Our observations greatly support the findings of the experimental studies and provide a deeper insight into the network architecture underlying visuo‐tactile integration in the primate cerebral cortex.
Cystamine and cysteamine prevent 3‐NP‐induced mitochondrial depolarization of Huntington's disease knock‐in striatal cells
Authors: Mao Zhengkuan , Choo Yeun Su , Lesort Mathieu 
Published: April 2006

AbstractCystamine significantly improved motor deficits and extended survival in mouse models of Huntington's disease (HD); however, the precise mechanism(s) by which cystamine and the related compound cysteamine are beneficial remain to be elucidated. Using clonal striatal cell lines from wild‐type (STHdhQ7/HdhQ7) and mutant huntingtin knock‐in (STHdhQ111/HdhQ111) mice, we have tested the hypothesis that cystamine and cysteamine could be beneficial by preventing the depolarization of mitochondria in cell cultures. Treatment with 3‐nitroproprionic acid (3‐NP), a mitochondrial complex II inhibitor, induces mitochondrial depolarization and cell death of mutant HD striatal cells but not of wild‐type cells. The 3‐NP‐mediated decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential was attenuated by 50 µmcystamine and completely inhibited by 250 µmcystamine. Similar results were obtained using cysteamine (50–500 µm). In addition, both cystamine and cysteamine significantly attenuated the 3‐NP‐induced cell death. Treatment of mutant HD striatal cells with 3‐NP resulted in a robust decrease in the cellular and mitochondrial levels of glutathione (GSH) compared with cells exposed to the vehicle alone. Pre‐treatment of the cells with cystamine and cysteamine completely prevented the 3‐NP‐mediated decrease in cellular and mitochondrial GSH levels. Incubation withl‐buthionine (S,R) sulfoximine (BSO) 250 µmin combination with cystamine (250 µm) or cysteamine (250 µm) prior to being treated with 3‐NP completely prevented the beneficial effects of cystamine and cysteamine on the 3‐NP‐mediated mitochondrial depolarization. These results demonstrate that cystamine and cysteamine prevent the 3‐NP‐induced mitochondrial depolarization of HD striatal cell cultures.
Short‐ and long‐term modulation of upper limb motor‐evoked potentials induced by acupuncture
Authors: Maioli Claudio , Falciati Luca , Marangon Mattia , Perini Sergio , Losio Antonio 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate in humans the effects of acupuncture upon upper‐limb motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs), elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the primary motor cortex. It is known that peripheral sensory stimulation can be used to induce short‐ and long‐term changes in motor cortex excitability. Data show that the simple insertion of the needle is an adequate somatosensory stimulus to induce a significant modulation of MEP amplitude, the sign of which (facilitation or inhibition) is specific to the investigated muscle and to the point of needle insertion. Moreover, MEP changes in upper‐limb muscles are also observed following needling of lower‐limb sites, revealing the presence of long‐distance effects of acupuncture. Finally, the modulation in muscle excitability considerably outlasts the time period of needle application, demonstrating the induction of long‐term plastic changes in the central nervous system. In addition, results have shown that the effects on muscle excitability are not restricted to the stimulation of well‐coded acupoints, as described in traditional Chinese medicine, but they can also be induced by needling of nonacupoints, normally not used for therapeutic purposes. The possible neuronal mechanisms underlying the observed effects of acupuncture are discussed in relation to the available neurophysiological data regarding the interlimb reflexes and the changes in the representational cortical maps induced in humans by a prolonged somatosensory stimulation.
Rule‐dependent shifting of sensorimotor representation in the primate prefrontal cortex
Authors: Amemori Ken‐ichi , Sawaguchi Toshiyuki 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWhen we react to the outer world, perceived sensory information is frequently memorized over a temporal interval then transformed into a motor command based on a behavioural rule. In this type of memory‐based sensorimotor transformation, working memory is considered to play an important role. It has been suggested that the lateral prefrontal cortex is involved in the process of the working memory. However, the neuronal mechanism for guiding a motor command from the working memory has not been established. To examine how visuospatial working memory is linked with a forthcoming saccade direction, we used an antisaccade paradigm for monkeys in which a behavioural rule was presented in the middle of a delay period. In this task, the subjects were required to maintain cue location and to select a response based on a behavioural rule. We found that a subset of mnemonic neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex changed their representation from cue to saccade direction. Furthermore, the discriminability for saccade direction of these neurons tended to appear soon after the behavioural rule presentation, indicating their significant dependency on the behavioural rule. These results suggest that a subset of mnemonic neurons in the lateral prefrontal cortex change their activity depending on a behavioural rule to guide a prospective motor command.
Accumulation of the inhibitory receptor EphA4 may prevent regeneration of corticospinal tract axons following lesion
Authors: Fabes Jez , Anderson Patrick , Yáñez‐Muñoz Rafael J. , Thrasher Adrian , Brennan Caroline , Bolsover Stephen 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWe have examined the expression of Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands in adult rat spinal cord before and after lesion. Neurons in adult motor cortex express EphA4 mRNA, but the protein is undetectable in uninjured corticospinal tract. In contrast, after dorsal column hemisection EphA4 protein accumulates in proximal axon stumps. One of the ligands for EphA4, ephrinB2, is normally present in the grey matter flanking the corticospinal tract but after injury is markedly up‐regulated in astrocytes in the glial scar. The result is that, after a lesion, corticospinal tract axons bear high levels of EphA4 and are surrounded to front and sides by a continuous basket of cognate inhibitory ephrin ligand. We suggest that a combination of EphA4 accumulation in the injured axons and up‐regulation of ephrinB2 in the surrounding astrocytes leads to retraction of corticospinal axons and inhibition of their regeneration in the weeks after a spinal lesion.
Role of intracellular Ca2+ and calmodulin/MAP kinase kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase signalling pathway in the mitogenic and antimitogenic effect of nitric oxide in glia‐ and neurone‐derived cell lines
Authors: Meini Antonella , Garcia Julian Blanco , Pessina Gian Paolo , Aldinucci Carlo , Frosini Maria , Palmi Mitri 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTo elucidate the mechanism of cell growth regulation by nitric oxide (NO) and the role played in it by Ca2+, we studied the relationship among intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), mitogen‐activated protein kinases [extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase (ERK)] and proliferation in cell lines exposed to different levels of NO. Data showed that NO released by low [(z)‐1‐[2‐aminiethyl]‐N‐[2‐ammonioethyl]amino]diazen‐1‐ium‐1,2diolate (DETA/NO) concentrations (10 µm) determined a gradual, moderate elevation in [Ca2+]i (46.8 ± 7.2% over controls) which paralleled activation of ERK and potentiation of cell division. Functionally blocking Ca2+ or inhibiting calmodulin or MAP kinase kinase activities prevented ERK activation and antagonized the mitogenic effect of NO. Experimental conditions favouring Ca2+ entry into cells led to increased [Ca2+]i (189.5 ± 4.8%), ERK activation and cell division. NO potentiated the Ca2+ elevation (358 ± 16.8%) and ERK activation leading to expression of p21Cip1 and inhibition of cell proliferation. Furthermore, functionally blocking Ca2+ down‐regulated ERK activation and reversed the antiproliferative effect of NO. Both the mitogenic and antimitogenic responses induced by NO were mimicked by a cGMP analogue whereas they were completely antagonized by selective cGMP inhibitors. These results demonstrate for the first time that regulation of cell proliferation by low NO levels is cGMP dependent and occurs via the Ca2+/calmodulin/MAP kinase kinase/ERK pathway. In this effect the amplitude of Ca2+ signalling determines the specificity of the proliferative response to NO possibly by modulating the strength of ERK activation. In contrast to the low level, the high levels (50–300 µm) of DETA/NO negatively regulated cell proliferation via a Ca2+‐independent mechanism.
Enhanced perisomatic inhibition and impaired long‐term potentiation in the CA1 region of juvenile CHL1‐deficient mice
Authors: Nikonenko Alexander G. , Sun Mu , Lepsveridze Eka , Apostolova Ivayla , Petrova Iveta , Irintchev Andrey , Dityatev Alexander , Schachner Melitta 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe cell adhesion molecule, CHL1, like its close homologue L1, is important for normal brain development and function. In this study, we analysed the functional role of CHL1 in synaptic transmission in the CA1 region of the hippocampus using juvenile CHL1‐deficient (CHL1–/–) and wild‐type (CHL1+/+) mice. Inhibitory postsynaptic currents evoked in pyramidal cells by minimal stimulation of perisomatically projecting interneurons were increased in CHL1–/– mice compared with wild‐type littermates. Also, long‐term potentiation (LTP) at CA3–CA1 excitatory synapses was reduced under physiological conditions in CHL1‐/– mice. This abnormality was abolished by application of a GABAA receptor antagonist, suggesting that enhanced inhibition is the cause of LTP impairment. Quantitative ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analyses revealed aberrations possibly related to the abnormally high inhibition observed in CHL1–/– mice. The length and linear density of active zones in symmetric synapses on pyramidal cell bodies, as well as number of perisomatic puncta containing inhibitory axonal markers were increased. Density and total number of parvalbumin‐positive interneurons was also abnormally high. These observations and the finding that CA1 interneurons express CHL1 protein indicate that CHL1 is important for regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission and interneuron populations in the postnatal brain. The observed enhancement of inhibitory transmission in CHL1–/– mice is in contrast to the previous finding of reduced inhibition in L1 deficient mice and indicates different functions of these two closely related molecules.