Male moths are confronted with complex odour mixtures in a natural environment when flying towards a female-emitted sex pheromone source. Whereas synergistic effects of sex pheromones and plant odours have been observed at the behavioural level, most investigations at the peripheral level have shown an inhibition of pheromone responses by ...

Most primates, including lemurs, have a broad range of locomotor capabilities, yet much of the time, they walk at slow speeds and amble, canter or gallop at intermediate and fast speeds. Although numerous studies have investigated limb function during primate quadrupedalism, how the center of mass (COM) moves is not ...

The central aim of this review is to address the highly multidisciplinary topic of redox biology as related to exercise using an integrative and comparative approach rather than focusing on blood, skeletal muscle or humans. An attempt is also made to re-define 'oxidative stress' as well as to introduce the ...

Insects experience repeated cold exposure (RCE) on multiple time scales in natural environments, yet the majority of studies of the effects of cold on insects involve only a single exposure. Three broad groups of experimental designs have been employed to examine the effects of RCE on insect physiology and fitness, ...

Attributes of an animal's life history, such as reproductive rate or longevity, typically fall along a 'slow-fast' continuum. Animals at the fast end of this continuum, such as temperate birds, are thought to experience high rates of mortality and invest more resources in reproduction, whereas animals at the slow end, ...

Decapod crustaceans such as blue crabs possess a variety of chemoreceptors that control different stages of the feeding process. All these chemoreceptors are putative targets for feeding deterrents that cause animals to avoid or reject otherwise palatable food. As a first step towards characterizing the chemoreceptors that mediate the effect ...

Leaf-cutting ant queens excavate a founding nest consisting of a vertical tunnel and a final horizontal chamber. Nest foundation is very time consuming, and colony success depends on the excavated depth. Although shallow nests may be energetically cheaper to dig, queens may be more exposed to the changing environment. Deeper ...

The biomechanical properties of an animal's locomotor structures profoundly influence the relationship between neuromuscular inputs and body movements. In particular, passive stability properties are of interest as they may offer a non-neural mechanism for simplifying control of locomotion. Here, we hypothesized that a passive stability property of animal flight, flapping ...

Composite tissue allografts are made of histogenetically different tissues and although skin seems to be the most antigenic of them, it is unknown whether the dominant immune response is really directed against the skin or we have insufficient information on the involvement of the other components of these allografts. The ...

Sulfate (SO(4)(2-)) is maintained at ∼1 mmol(-1) l(-1) in teleost fishes that are exposed to media of varying SO(4)(2-) concentrations. We first measured plasma SO(4)(2-) concentration in euryhaline fishes that adapt to both SO(4)(2-)-poor freshwater (<0.5 mmol l) and SO(4)(2-)-enriched seawater (30 mmol l(-1)). Unlike Mozambique tilapia and chum salmon, ...

A honeybee informs her nestmates about the location of a profitable food source that she has visited by means of a waggle dance: a round dance and a figure-of-eight dance for a short- and long-distance food source, respectively. Consequently, the colony achieves an effective collection of food. However, it is ...

Teleost fish lack independent olfactory organs for odorant and pheromone detection. Instead, they have a single sensory epithelium with two populations of receptor neurons, ciliated and microvillous, that are conserved among vertebrates, and a unique receptor cell type named the olfactory crypt cell. Crypt cells were shown to be chemosensory ...

For many small mammals, survival over the winter months is a serious challenge because of low environmental temperatures and limited food availability. The solution for many species, such as thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), is hibernation, an altered physiological state characterized by seasonal heterothermy and entry into long periods of ...

The smalleye pygmy shark (Squaliolus aliae) is a dwarf pelagic shark from the Dalatiidae family that harbours thousands of tiny photophores. In this work, we studied the organisation and physiological control of these photogenic organs. Results show that they are mainly situated on the ventral side of the shark, forming ...

Chronic increases in circulating corticosterone (CORT) generally suppress immune function, but it is not known whether evolved increases necessarily have similar adverse effects. Moreover, the evolution of immune function might be constrained by the sharing of signaling molecules, such as CORT, across numerous physiological systems. Laboratory house mice (Mus domesticus ...

The acoustic display of many cricket species consists of series of pulses grouped into chirps, and thus information is distributed over both short and long time scales. Here we investigated the temporal cues that females of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus used to detect a chirp pattern on a longer time ...

In this study, an in silico genome-scale metabolic model of steroidogenesis was used to investigate the effects of hypoxic stress on steroid hormone productions in fish. Adult female fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were exposed to hypoxia for 7 days with fish sub-sampled on days 1, 3 and 7 of exposure. ...

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of a two-dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/TOF-MS) metabolomic platform to comprehensively analyze the effect of starvation on whole-animal metabolism in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Trout were either fed a commercial diet at 2% body mass twice daily or starved for 4 ...

Protocol biopsies are assigned to fixed points in time after transplantation irrespective of renal function. Usually, it is not known whether there is graft dysfunction at the time of biopsy. This study analyzes repeat protocol biopsies in the absence of any clinical signs of graft dysfunction at the time of ...

Avoiding food that contains toxins is crucial for the survival of many animals, particularly herbivores, because many plants defend themselves with toxins. Some animals can learn to avoid food containing toxins not through its taste but by the toxins' effects following ingestion, though how they do so remains unclear. We ...

Theraphosid tarantulas, like all other spiders, secrete silk from spigots on the abdominal spinnerets. A few years ago, it was proposed that the large tarantula Aphonopelma seemanni could extrude silk from specialized spigots on the tarsi to help adhesion to vertical surfaces. This suggestion was later questioned because silk was ...

Early calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) withdrawal with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has not become routine practice, due to concerns about excess acute rejection. Therapeutic drug monitoring may be advantageous when the CNI or MMF is withdrawn. This prospective, randomized, concentration-controlled withdrawal study enrolled 177 stable renal transplant recipients on maintenance CNI-based immunosuppression, ...

CHARGE syndrome is characterized by the variable occurrence of multisensory impairment, congenital anomalies, and developmental delay, and is caused by heterozygous mutations in the CHD7 gene. Correct interpretation of CHD7 variants is essential for genetic counseling. This is particularly difficult for missense variants because most variants in the CHD7 gene ...

Structure-based models (SBMs) are simplified models of the biomolecular dynamics that arise from funneled energy landscapes. We recently introduced an all-atom SBM that explicitly represents the atomic geometry of a biomolecule. While this initial study showed the robustness of the all-atom SBM Hamiltonian to changes in many of the energetic ...

The mechanism of cyclohexyne insertion into a C(O)-C(α) bond of cyclic ketones, explored experimentally by the Carreira group, has been investigated using density functional theory. B3LYP and M06-2X calculations were performed in both gas phase and THF (CPCM, UAKS radii). The reaction proceeds through a stepwise [2 + 2] cycloaddition ...

Although the growth factor receptor binder 2 (Grb2)-Grb2-associated binder (Gab)1 macromolecular complex mediates a multitude of cellular signaling cascades, the molecular basis of its assembly has hitherto remained largely elusive. Herein, using an array of biophysical techniques, we show that, whereas Grb2 exists in a monomer-dimer equilibrium, the proline-rich (PR) ...

Germline copy number variations (CNVs) are a major source of genetic variation in humans. In large-scale studies of complex diseases, CNVs are usually detected from data generated by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays. In this paper, we develop an integrative segmentation method, SegCNV, for detecting CNVs integrating both log ...

Objective: To compare the ease of insertion between rotational laryngeal mask airway (LMA) insertion and Brain's LMA insertion technique in terms of number of LMA insertion attempts, time duration of LMA insertion and complications: trauma, laryngospasm, and hypoxaemia. Study Design: Randomized control study. Place and Duration of Study: The Aga ...

The purposes of the current study were: (1) to examine the roles of early maternal attachment relationships and teacher-child relationships during childhood for externalizing and internalizing behaviors in late childhood, and (2) to investigate teacher-child relationships, as well as externalizing and internalizing behaviors in early childhood as possible mechanisms linking ...

For decades, chemical peels have remained a trusted option for treatment of aging facial skin. However, emerging technologies are being adopted by many practitioners who may not have had sufficient opportunity to learn the art of chemical peeling. Properly performed peels can improve the condition of the skin, are less ...

Ikuo Yamashina determined the two notable structures of N-glycans, N-acetylglucosaminylasparagine and β-mannosidic linkages, which are generally present in sugar-amino acid and innermost mannose residue of the N-glycans, respectively. He detected mucins with unusual O-glycans and proteoheparan sulphate in the plasma membranes of AH66 ascites hepatoma cells. Unusual O-glycans were identified ...

Mn-Apo is a highly sensitive MRI contrast agent consisting of ca. 1000 manganese atoms entrapped in the inner cavity of apoferritin. Part of the metallic payload is in the form of Mn(2+) ions that endow the nano-sized system with a very high relaxivity that can be exploited to detect hepatocellular ...

Since its approval for use in 2007, many surgeons have been using the laser for subcutaneous use, primarily for lipolysis, facial neck and body contouring, and skin tightening. Techniques have recently evolved to enable use of the subcutaneous laser with concurrent skin resurfacing techniques for improvement of photoaging and acne ...

IL28B polymorphism is associated with the response to pegylated interferon-α with ribavirin (PEG-IFN-α/RBV) treatment in chronic hepatitis C patients. As a genotyping assay for IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in clinical practice, the Invader Plus assay was developed. The accuracy, intra-assay, inter-assay precision, and the limit of detection of the ...

A case of intracranial hemorrhage associated with injury of a critical diploic venous system in clipping for an unruptured cerebral aneurysm was reported. A 67-year-old female presented with a sense of floating. Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) showed a C1-2 portion aneurysm of the left internal carotid artery 13 mm in ...

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is characterized by functionally impaired virus-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses. However, the mechanism underlying this dysfunction has not been fully clarified. We examined the role of a newly identified protein, T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3), in regulating the antiviral CD8(+) T-cell response in CHB ...

This study evaluated the usefulness of fluorodesoxyglucose marked by fluorine-18 ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) in patients with suspected cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection. CIED infection is sometimes challenging to diagnose. Because extraction is associated with significant morbidity/mortality, new imaging modalities to confirm the infection ...

Upper gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is well characterized. There is also documented data regarding their adverse effects on lower GI tract, like colonic strictures, inflammatory bowel disease and complications of diverticular disease in the form of abscess or perforation. But there are only two case reports ...

The aim of this study was to compare the presurgical and postsurgical electromyographic (EMG) activities of the lips in patients with skeletal Class III treated with combined orthognathic surgery and contrast these data with those obtained from a control group with skeletal Class I. Ten patients with skeletal Class III ...

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is an uncommon condition that can be difficult to diagnose. This often results in misdiagnosis and treatment delay. Although conventional MRI plays an important role in the initial screening for the disease, the typical MRI findings may be absent. In this article, the authors present ...

Article Title: Orthostatic Effects on Echocardiographic Measures of Ventricular Function (Echocardiography 2012;29:522).

The transcriptional regulator promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF) is highly expressed during the differentiation of natural killer T (NKT) cells and is essential for the acquisition of their effector/memory innate-like phenotype. Staining with anti-PLZF and anti-NK1.1 Abs allows the definition of two subsets of NKTαβ and NKTγδ thymocytes that differ ...

Object Despite the development of various nerve coaptation materials and techniques, achievement of desired functional peripheral nerve regeneration is still inadequate, and repair of peripheral nerve injuries is still one of the most challenging tasks and concerns in neurosurgery. The effect of an FK506-loaded vein graft as an in situ ...

The description and operation of a novel, hybrid spouted vessel/fixed bed filter system for the removal of arsenic from water are presented. The system utilizes zero-valent iron (ZVI) particles circulating in a spouted vessel that continuously generates active colloidal iron corrosion products via the "self-polishing" action between ZVI source particles ...

Pediatric patient safety continues to challenge both pediatricians and pediatric physiatrists. While there is a trend toward developing general patient safety initiatives, there is little research on pediatric patient safety. This article identifies major areas of general safety risk, with a focus on timely diagnosis and care coordination to prevent ...

Hepatitis E has been considered to be a travel-associated, acute, self-limiting liver disease that causes fulminant hepatic failure in specific high-risk groups only. However, hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can also be acquired in industrialized countries-HEV genotype 3 infection is a zoonosis, with pigs and rodents serving as animal reservoirs. ...

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2) ), an abundantly produced lipid messenger in mammalian organisms, has been attributed to possess potent albeit ambivalent immunological functions. Recently, PGE(2) has been reported to stimulate the commonly believed immunosuppressive indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) pathway in human dendritic cells (DCs), but without promoting DC immunosuppressive activity. Here, we ...

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the benefit of cardiac resynchronization therapy with an implantable defibrillator (CRT-D) may differ among classes of indications to device therapy. Methods. All-cause mortality, first hospitalization for non-fatal heart failure, stable improvement of NYHA functional class (responders), and implant-related complications were ...

Objective: To compare the quality of life and symptomatic improvement after palliative radiotherapy to brain metastasis using two different treatment protocols. Study Design: Comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Bahawalpur Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Oncology, Bahawalpur, from January 2009 to November 2010. Methodology: Patients presenting with brain metastasis ...

A cerebral dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is an acquired abnormal arterial-to-venous connection within the leaves of the intracranial dura with a wide range of clinical presentations and natural history. The Cognard classification correlates venous drainage patterns with neurological course, identifying 5 DAVF types with increasing rates of symptomatic presentation. A ...