bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lighting up pre‐synaptic potentiation
Authors: Kees Ashley L. , Marneffe Catherine , Mulle Christophe 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis is an Editorial Highlight of a manuscript by Oldani et al. (2020) (Oldani et al. 2020) in the current issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry, in which the authors describe synaptoPAC, a new optogenetic tool. SynaptoPAC is targeted to pre‐synaptic compartments and can be used for light‐induced increase of the levels of cAMP. Pre‐synaptic plasticity, defined as activity‐dependent modulation of neurotransmitter release, occurs over a variety of time scales. At a subset of synapses in the brain, long‐term forms of pre‐synaptic facilitation depend on an increase in the levels of cAMP. Light‐induced modulation of cAMP at synapses expressing cAMP‐dependent facilitation, has the great potential to mimic pre‐synaptic plasticity at genetically targeted synapses. Therefore, synaptoPAC constitutes a powerful tool to study the role of pre‐synaptic potentiation in the activity of selected neuronal circuits in relation to behaving animals with a high temporal and spatial precision.
image
Exposure to electronic screen before nocturnal sleep increases the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A case–control study
Authors: Liu Yun , Chen Wenjun , Yang Yixin , Chen Yu , Tang Shaidi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimPrevious studies indicated that excessive screen time was associated with hypertension in children and adolescents. In our hospital, pregnant women tended to spend a lot of time on electronic devices like smartphones. We aimed to explore the relationship between the screen time and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP).MethodsA case–control study was conducted from November 2019 to May 2020. A total of 160 women with HDP and 197 healthy controls who gave birth to children in the same hospital were recruited and information was recorded by questionnaires. Multivariate analysis was conducted to assess the effect of screen time on HDP.ResultsThe results showed that, exposure to electronic screen before nocturnal sleep in cases was significantly longer than that in controls (P = 0.011, odds ratio = 1.50). Smartphones (and/or tablet computers) used only for entertainment also significantly increased the susceptibility to HDP (P < 0.001, odds ratio = 2.84). Other related factors were following: work experience during pregnancy (P = 0.034, odds ratio = 0.53), history of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.013, odds ratio = 2.55), history of family hypertension (P < 0.001, odds ratio = 3.81), body mass index of pre‐pregnancy (>25 kg/m2) (P < 0.001, odds ratio = 6.16).ConclusionIn conclusion, long exposure to electronic screen before nocturnal sleep and the smartphones usage for only entertainment may be associated with the susceptibility to HDP.
An improved algorithm using a Health Canada‐approved DNA‐image cytometry system for non‐invasive screening of high‐grade oral lesions
Authors: Parfenova Ekaterina , Liu Kelly Y. P. , Harrison Alan , MacAulay Calum , Guillaud Martial , Poh Catherine F. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundDNA‐image cytometry (DNA‐ICM) is able to detect gross alterations of cellular DNA‐content representing aneuploidy, a biomarker of malignancy. A Health Canada‐approved DNA‐ICM system, ClearCyte® in combination with a cytopathologist's review, has demonstrated high sensitivity (89%) and specificity (97%) in identifying high‐grade oral lesions. The study objective was to create an improved automated algorithm (iClearcyte) and test its robustness in differentiating high grade from benign reactive oral lesions without a cytopathologist's input.MethodsA set of 214 oral brushing samples of oral cancer (n = 92), severe dysplasia (n = 20), reactive lesions (n = 52), and normal samples (n = 50) were spun down onto slides and stained using Feulgen‐Thionin reaction. Following ClearCyte® scan, nuclear features were calculated, and nuclei categorized into “diploid,” “hyperdiploid,” “tetraploid,” and “aneuploid” DNA ploidy groups by the ClearCyte® software. The samples were randomized into training and test sets (70:30) based on patient's age, sex, tobacco use, and lesion site risk. The training set was used to create a new algorithm which was then validated using the remaining samples in the test set, where sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.ResultsThe proposed iClearCyte algorithm (>1 “aneuploid” cell or ≥ 1.7% combined “hyperdiploid” and “tetraploid” nuclei frequency) identified high‐grade samples with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 100.0%, 86.7%, 89.7%, and 100.0%, respectively, in the test set.ConclusionThe iClearCyte test has potential to serve as a robust non‐invasive automated oral cancer screening tool promoting early oral cancer detection and decreasing the number of unnecessary invasive biopsies.
Complications associated with bone marrow sampling in dogs and cats
Authors: Woods G. A. , Simpson M. , Boag A. , Paris J. , Piccinelli C. , Breheny C. 
Published: December 2020

ObjectivesTo evaluate the prevalence of complications during bone marrow sampling and associated patient and procedural factors in dogs and cats.Materials and MethodsRetrospective cohort study, records were evaluated to identify dogs and cats that had bone marrow sampling between 2012 and 2019. Data including signalment, the presence of specific clinicopathological findings, anatomical site of bone marrow sampling, number of attempts, diagnostic quality of sampling, analgesia protocol and complications postprocedure were recorded.ResultsA total of 131 dogs and 29 cats were included in the study. Complications were recorded in 22 of 160 (14%) of cases. Pain was the most common complication of bone marrow sampling in 20 of 22 (91%) of cases with bruising reported in the remaining patients. A local anaesthetic block was used in 98 of 160 (61%) of patients.Clinical SignificanceExcluding pain, complications associated with bone marrow sampling were rare and no clear association were detected between patient or procedural variables. Haemorrhage and infection are rare complications in dogs and cats when thrombocytopenia and neutropenia are present. Peri‐procedure analgesia is strongly recommended to minimise complications.
Clinical and biochemical factors associated with survival in equids attacked by dogs: 28 cases (2008‐2016)
Authors: Fielding C. Langdon , Mayer Jennifer R. , Dechant Julie E. , Epstein Kira L. , Magdesian K. Gary 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundTrauma from dog attacks has been associated with mortality rates as high as 23% in some species. However, the prognosis and clinical features of this type of injury have not been described in equids.Hypotheses/ObjectivesTo describe survival rate, signalment, clinical features, and biochemical results in equids presented for emergency care after presumed dog attacks. We hypothesized there would be differences between survivors and nonsurvivors.AnimalsA total of 28 equids presented for presumed dog attacks from 3 referral centers.MethodsA retrospective study was performed using data from 3 hospitals between 2008 and 2016. Survival was defined as survival at 14 days postdischarge. Variables were compared between survivors and nonsurvivors using a t test, Mann‐Whitney U test, or Fisher's exact test as appropriate.ResultsOverall mortality rate was 21%. Ponies and miniature horses represented 16/28 (57%) of the animals in the study. Full‐sized equids had a lower risk of nonsurvival as compared to smaller patients (odds ratio = 0.02; 95% confidence intervals = 0.00‐0.27; P < .005). Animals with lower body temperatures had increased risk for nonsurvival (P = .0004). Increased admission blood lactate concentrations (P = .003) and decreased serum total protein concentrations (P = .006) were associated with nonsurvival.ConclusionsThe mortality rate in equids attacked by dogs was similar to what is reported for other veterinary species. Smaller equids and those with increased admission blood lactate concentration, lower body temperature, and lower total serum protein concentrations were less likely to survive.
How are signed languages learned as second languages?
Authors: Marshall Chloe , Bel Aurora , Gulamani Sannah , Morgan Gary 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis review addresses the question: How are signed languages learned by adult hearing learners? While there has been much research on second language learners of spoken languages, there has been far less work in signed languages. Comparing sign and spoken second language acquisition allows us to investigate whether learning patterns are general (across the visual and oral modalities) or specific (in only one of the modalities), and hence furthers our understanding of second‐language acquisition (SLA). The paper integrates current sign language learning research into the wider field of SLA by focussing on two areas: (1) Does ‘transfer’ occur between the spoken first language and signed second language and (2) What kind of learning patterns are the same across language modalities versus unique to each modality?
Multimorbidity, Polyiatrogenesis, and COVID‐19
Authors: Ecks Stefan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTo date, the strongest predictor for dying with COVID‐19 is suffering from several chronic disorders prior to the viral infection. Pre‐existing multimorbidity is highly correlated with socioeconomic inequality. In turn, having several chronic conditions is closely linked to multiple medication intake, especially in richer countries with good access to biomedical care. Owing to its vertical structure, biomedicine often risks giving multiple treatments in an uncoordinated way. Such lack of integrated care can create complex forms of iatrogenic harm. Multimorbidity is often exacerbated by a pharmaceuticalization of social deprivation in place of integrated care. In this article, I explore the possibility that clusters of over‐medication are a contributing factor to higher death rates from COVID‐19, especially in poorer areas within richer countries. Anthropological perspectives on the social embeddedness of multimorbidity and multiple medication use can expand our understanding of who is most vulnerable to SARS‐CoV‐2.
Body surface mapping of the stomach: New directions for clinically evaluating gastric electrical activity
Authors: Carson Daniel A. , O’Grady Greg , Du Peng , Gharibans Armen A. , Andrews Christopher N. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundGastric motility disorders, which include both functional and organic etiologies, are highly prevalent. However, there remains a critical lack of objective biomarkers to guide efficient diagnostics and personalized therapies. Bioelectrical activity plays a fundamental role in coordinating gastric function and has been investigated as a contributing mechanism to gastric dysmotility and sensory dysfunction for a century. However, conventional electrogastrography (EGG) has not achieved common clinical adoption due to its perceived limited diagnostic capability and inability to impact clinical care. The last decade has seen the emergence of novel high‐resolution methods for invasively mapping human gastric electrical activity in health and disease, providing important new insights into gastric physiology. The limitations of EGG have also now become clearer, including the finding that slow‐wave frequency alone is not a reliable discriminator of gastric dysrhythmia, shifting focus instead toward altered spatial patterns. Recently, advances in bioinstrumentation, signal processing, and computational modeling have aligned to allow non‐invasive body surface mapping of the stomach to detect spatiotemporal gastric dysrhythmias. The clinical relevance of this emerging strategy to improve diagnostics now awaits determination.PurposeThis review evaluates these recent advances in clinical gastric electrophysiology, together with promising emerging data suggesting that novel gastric electrical signatures recorded at the body surface (termed “body surface mapping”) may correlate with symptoms. Further technological progress and validation data are now awaited to determine whether these advances will deliver on the promise of clinical gastric electrophysiology diagnostics.
Understanding tolerance to cell wall–active antibiotics
Authors: Dörr Tobias 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAntibiotic tolerance—the ability of bacteria to survive for an extended time in the presence of bactericidal antibiotics—is an understudied contributor to antibiotic treatment failure. Herein, I review the manifestations, mechanisms, and clinical relevance of tolerance to cell wall–active (CWA) antibiotics, one of the most important groups of antibiotics at the forefront of clinical use. I discuss definitions of tolerance and assays for tolerance detection, comprehensively discuss the mechanism of action of β‐lactams and other CWA antibiotics, and then provide an overview of how cells mitigate the potentially lethal effects of CWA antibiotic–induced cell damage to become tolerant. Lastly, I discuss evidence for a role of CWA antibiotic tolerance in clinical antibiotic treatment failure.
Antinociceptive effect of vapocoolant medium stream spray on hotplate latency in rat pups
Authors: Sethna Navil F. , Fish Brenden , Yahalom Barak , Schmidt Birgitta , Zurakowski David 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundHeel sticks account for most blood tests performed in neonates without analgesia because topical local anesthetics are ineffective on heel glabrous skin. We investigated the antinociceptive effect of an alternative topical analgesic, a vapocoolant spray, on hind paw glabrous skin of rat pups. The spray was applied by two methods: method 1 for 4 s at a distance of 8 cm and method 2 for 10 s at a distance of 18 cm.MethodsThe rat pups were randomized to either method 1 (n = 32) or method 2 (n = 31). Vapocoolant spray was applied to one hind paw randomly, and saline spray was applied to the contralateral paw. The paws were exposed to a hotplate test to measure withdrawal latency time before and 30 s after the spray applications. Additionally, rat pups were tested for tissue toxicity in method 1 (n = 20) and method 2 (n = 20) after application of the vapocoolant spray before heel sticks three times a day for two consecutive days. Analyses of spray and method effects on hotplate withdrawal latency time were determined by nonparametric Wilcoxon tests to assess paired difference between vapocoolant spray and saline spray and to compare difference in medians between the two methods.ResultsMethod 1 and method 2 vapocoolant spray applications significantly prolonged the withdrawal latency time compared with saline, a median difference of 0.6 s (IQR 0.1–1.2) for method 1 and 9.5 s (IQR 5.5–10.7) for method 2 (a 15‐fold longer latency time with method 2). Method‐2 produced significantly longer withdrawal latency time than method 1 with a difference in median time of 8.9 s (CI: 95% 7.3–10.4 s, P < .0001). No histopathological changes were detected.ConclusionsCompared with method‐ 1, the vapocoolant spray in method 2 produced significantly longer withdrawal latency time that is clinically applicable to collecting blood samples after a heel stick.
Social networking in crop plants: Wired and wireless cross‐plant communications
Authors: Sharifi Rouhallah , Ryu Choong‐Min 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe plant‐associated microbial community (microbiome) has an important role in plant–plant communications. Plants decipher their complex habitat situations by sensing the environmental stimuli and molecular patterns and associated with microbes, herbivores and dangers. Perception of these cues generates inter/intracellular signals that induce modifications of plant metabolism and physiology. Signals can also be transferred between plants via different mechanisms, which we classify as wired‐ and wireless communications. Wired communications involve direct signal transfers between plants mediated by mycorrhizal hyphae and parasitic plant stems. Wireless communications involve plant volatile emissions and root exudates elicited by microbes/insects, which enable inter‐plant signalling without physical contact. These producer‐plant signals induce microbiome adaptation in receiver plants via facilitative or competitive mechanisms. Receiver plants eavesdrop to anticipate responses to improve fitness against stresses. An emerging body of information in plant–plant communication can be leveraged to improve integrated crop management under field conditions.
Scaling the Security Staircase
Authors: Carr Stuart C. , Hopner Veronica , Hakim Moh. Abdul , Hodgetts Darrin J. , Chamberlain Kerry , Nelson Nicholas , Ball Rhys , Jones Harvey 
Published: December 2020

Building on the U.N. human security taxonomy of 1994, this article aims to explore the constructability of a reliable, valid, parsimonious, useful measure of human security that is relevant to contemporary environments and situations? A seminal 1994 U.N. report, Human Security in Theory and Practice, outlined seven types of human security (personal, health, food, community, economic, environmental, political). A quarter‐century on, we added two more, cyber and national security, and tested if a single measure could capture all nine security concerns. A national sample of N = 1033 New Zealanders completed a brief online measure in which participants reported yes or no to experiencing each type of security and basic demographics. Guttman scaling placed these needs in an ascending order of difficulty. Analogous to a staircase, security may be scaled from personal up to political security (coefficient of reproducibility = .88), with three distinct but interrelated flights: (1) proximal (personal, health, food security); (2) social (cyber, community, economic, environmental); and (3) distal (national, political). We confirmed this nine‐step, three‐flight measure in our sample (Χ2 = 81.72; df = 24; RMSEA = .048, 90%CI [.037, .06]; CFI = .976; TLI = .964; SRMR = .028). The measure showed configural, metric, scalar, and factorial invariances (across random‐split subgroups). Ethnic groups and the precariously employed scored significantly differently, in coherent ways, on the security staircase scale.
Physical fitness attenuates the genetic predisposition to obesity in children and adolescents
Authors: Todendi Pâmela Ferreira , Brand Caroline , Silveira João Francisco de Castro , Gaya Anelise Reis , Agostinis‐Sobrinho Cesar , Fiegenbaum Marilu , Burns Ryan Donald , Valim Andréia Rosane de Moura , Reuter Cézane Priscila 
Published: December 2020

Obesity is an important risk factor associated with non‐communicable cardiometabolic diseases. Previous studies have indicated that children and adolescents with a predisposed genetic risk for obesity could benefit from an active lifestyle, but there are no studies investigating whether physical fitness moderates the association of genetics and obesity. The aim of this study was to verify the moderating role of physical fitness in the relationship between genetic risk score (GRS) and body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents. This cross‐sectional study was carried out with 1471 children and adolescents, aged between 6 and 17 years from Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil. Weight and height were assessed to determine BMI. Physical fitness components (cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF], lower limb strength [LLS], upper limb strength, and abdominal strength) were evaluated. The GRS was based on previously associated obesity single‐nucleotide polymorphism rs9939609 (FTO), rs6548238 (TMEM18), and rs16835198 (FNDC5). Moderation analyses were tested using linear regression models, and the interactions were represented by physical fitness components X GRS (categorical variable). All analyses were adjusted for skin color/ethnicity, sex, and sexual maturation. Significant interactions for CRF (P = 0.041), LLS (P = 0.041), and abdominal strength (P = 0.046) X 5 and 6 risk alleles with BMI were found only in adolescents. In addition, there was evidence that fitness components attenuated the high genetic predisposition to high BMI. Physical fitness components are moderators in the relationship between GRS and BMI in adolescents. These findings highlight the need for interventions targeting to improve this aspect, which is an important health indicator in all ages.
Cryptic variation in mole voles Ellobius (Arvicolinae, Rodentia) of Mongolia
Authors: Lebedev Vladimir , Bogdanov Alexey , Brandler Oleg , Melnikova Marina , Enkhbat Undrakhbayar , Tukhbatullin Andrey , Abramov Alexei , Surov Alexey , Bakloushinskaya Irina , Bannikova Anna 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe mole vole subgenus Ellobius is currently considered to include three species: Ellobius talpinus (distributed from SE Europe and Turkmenistan through Kazakhstan to SW Siberia), Ellobius alaicus (S Tianshan, Pamir‐Alay) and Ellobius tancrei (East and West Central Asia, from the Amu‐Darya to Mongolia and N China). A study focusing on the genetic variation in Ellobius from Mongolia was conducted using one mitochondrial and three nuclear markers. Two divergent allopatric lineages endemic to East Central Asia were revealed. The first lineage occurs from Dzungaria eastwards to central Mongolia and represents E. tancrei sensu stricto. The second lineage is found in East Gobi only and corresponds to a taxon described as Ellobius orientalis, which has been traditionally treated as a subspecies of E. tancrei. However, molecular and chromosome data indicate that orientalis is related not to E. tancrei but to E. talpinus, which is separated from the former by a distribution gap of ~2,000 km. The taxonomic status of the East Gobi mole vole is ambiguous, and its genetic distance from E. talpinus s. str. falls into the range characteristic for closely related vole species or semi‐species. According to molecular estimates, the two taxa have been isolated since the late Middle Pleistocene. A similar divergence is observed between the East and West Central Asian lineages of E. tancrei. E. alaicus is placed as sister to the latter rendering E. tancrei sensu lato paraphyletic. The revealed phylogeographic pattern implies that East Central Asia was colonized by mole voles through multiple eastward dispersal events.
Relationships Between Internal Training Load in a Taper With Elite Weightlifting Performance Calculated Using Different Moving Average Methods
Authors: Coyne Joseph O.C. , Newton Robert U. , Haff G. Gregory 
Published: December 2020

Purpose: A simple and 2 different exponentially weighted moving average methods were used to investigate the relationships between internal training load and elite weightlifting performance. Methods: Training impulse data (sessional ratings of perceived exertion × training duration) were collected from 21 elite weightlifters (age = 26.0 [3.2] y, height = 162.2 [11.3] cm, body mass = 72.2 [23.8] kg, previous 12-mo personal best total 96.3% [2.7%] of world record total) during the 8 weeks prior to the 2016 Olympic Games qualifying competition. The amount of training modified or cancelled due to injury/illness was also collected. The training stress balance (TSB) and acute to chronic workload ratio (ACWR) were calculated with the 3 moving average methods. Along with the amount of modified training, TSB and ACWR across the moving average methods were then examined for their relationship to competitive performance. Results: There were no consistent associations between performance and training load on the day of competition. The volatility (SD) of the ACWR in the last 21 days preceding the competition was moderately correlated with performance across moving average methods (r = −.41 to .48, P = .03–.07). TSB and ACWR volatility in the last 21 days were also significantly lower for successful performers but only as a simple moving average (P = .03 and .03, g = 1.15 and 1.07, respectively). Conclusions: Practitioners should consider restricting change and volatility in an athlete’s TSB or ACWR in the last 21 days prior to a major competition. In addition, a simple moving average seemed to better explain elite weightlifting performance than the exponentially weighted moving averages in this investigation.