bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of reclining position on swallowing function in stroke patients with dysphagia
Authors: Benjapornlert Paitoon , Kagaya Hitoshi , Inamoto Yoko , Mizokoshi Eriko , Shibata Seiko , Saitoh Eiichi 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundDysphagia is a common problem in patients with a history of stroke. In Japan, a reclined position is commonly used as a compensatory technique to address this problem.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of reclined position on swallowing function in patients with stroke who had dysphagia.MethodsA retrospective analysis was carried out on the videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF) of 4ml honey‐thick liquid swallows collected over 9 years. Penetration‐aspiration scale (PAS) and residue scores were compared for the following: a body position at 90° upright (90°U) and 60° reclining (60°R) groups, as well as 60°R and 45° reclining (45°R) groups.ResultsTwo hundred and five records from 98 subjects were reviewed. These included patients with ischaemic stroke (62%), haemorrhagic stroke (32%) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (6%). PAS scores were lower when the body was in a more reclined position (P < .001). The amount of residue in the valleculae and pyriform sinus also reduced in the more reclined position (P < .001). The deeper bolus head at swallowing onset was positively correlated with severe PAS (P < .001).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that in patients with stroke who had dysphagia, a reclined position may be useful in reducing the risk of penetration and aspiration, and in decreasing the amount of residue in the pharyngeal area. The depth of the bolus head at the onset of swallowing increases the severity of penetration and aspiration.
Dietary regimen of the woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
Authors: Negrier Coralie , Fantinati Marco , Jouglar Jean‐Yves , Lyazrhi Faouzi , Cohou Valérie , Priymenko Nathalie 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRecently, new agricultural policies and European Directives brought to important changes in farming practice, some of which could affect food availability for the wild bird population endangering biodiversity. This study aims to evaluate the consequences of such agricultural changes in France on the woodpigeon's dietary regimen. A total of 1,093 woodpigeons were collected over a four‐year period (2014–2017). Voluntary sampling was performed in six regions in the south‐west of France by local hunters during this species’ autumnal migration and wintering. Ingluvies contents were recovered, macroscopically and microscopically identified, and then weighed before and after drying. Five food groups were identified: acorns, corn, green plant material, cultivated seeds and others. ANOVA testing followed by Tukey's test for multiple comparison were performed (R version 3.5.2). Significance was set at p < .05. A total of 762 woodpigeons met the study's inclusion criteria. Mean weight of total crop contents was less of 9 grams of dry matter. Most frequent food groups were “green plant material” (70.3%), acorns (42.3%) and corn (27.2%). In terms of grams of dry matter, the most important food in the crop content were acorns (62%): these were eaten more during the first two hunting seasons (p < .001), and in region A, lower amount was consumed compared to all other regions. On the contrary, corn intake peaked during the third year (p < .001), and in region A, birds had an increasing intake of this cereal. Cultivated seeds contributed to the diet more during migration (p = .007), while “green plant material” and others more during wintering (p = .011; p = .004). In conclusion, results confirm the opportunistic nature of the woodpigeon, balancing its diet according to food availability. Corn was eaten more in areas where the winter burying of chopped maize stover (mulching), provided by the Nitrate's directive, was in derogation.
Relationship between ultrasonographically determined renal dimensions and International Renal Interest Society stages in cats with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Yan Gong‐Yi , Chen Kuan‐Yo , Wang Hsien‐Chi , Ma Tzu‐Yi , Chen Kuan‐Sheng 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe correlation between renal dimensions and renal function in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between renal dimensions and CKD severity in cats using ultrasound examination.AnimalsNineteen healthy cats and 30 cats with CKD.MethodsRenal ultrasound images obtained between 2012 and 2016 were reviewed. Severity of CKD was determined using the International Renal Interest Society CKD staging system. Renal length, cortical thickness, medullary thickness, and corticomedullary ratio were measured, and the relationship between these renal dimensions and serum creatinine concentrations as well as differences in dimensions between the control and disease groups was investigated. The sensitivity and specificity of the renal dimensions for differentiation of the CKD also were evaluated.ResultsThe disease group was subdivided into stage I to II (15 cats) and stage III to IV (15 cats) groups. Cortical thickness was significantly decreased in both disease groups and negatively correlated with disease severity. Compared with other renal dimensions, cortical thickness had a stronger linear correlation with the reciprocal of the serum creatinine concentration and superior diagnostic performance (Youden index: left kidney, 90.0% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity for a cutoff of 4.7 mm; right kidney, 83.3% sensitivity and 94.7% specificity for a cutoff of 4.5 mm).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceDecreased renal cortical thickness is observed in cats with loss of renal function. Measurement of cortical thickness using ultrasonography could be a useful method to evaluate the progression of CKD in cats.
Effect of digital hypothermia on lamellar inflammatory signaling in the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp laminitis model
Authors: Stokes Simon M. , Burns Teresa A. , Watts Mauria R. , Bertin François‐René , Stefanovski Darko , Medina‐Torres Carlos E. , Belknap James K. , van Eps Andrew W. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundContinuous digital hypothermia (CDH) prevents lamellar failure in the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (EHC) model of laminitis, but the protective mechanisms are unclear.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo determine if CDH inhibits lamellar inflammatory signaling in the EHC model of laminitis.AnimalsEight Standardbred horses.MethodsProspective experimental study. Horses underwent an EHC, with 1 forelimb treated with CDH and the other kept at ambient temperature (AMB). Horses were euthanized 48 hours after initiation of the EHC and lamellar tissue was analyzed via polymerase chain reaction (pro‐inflammatory cytokine and chemokine genes—CXCL1, CXCL6, CXCL8, IL‐6, MCP‐1, MCP‐2, IL‐1β, IL‐11, cyclooxygenase 1 and 2, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha [TNF‐α], E‐selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 [ICAM‐1]) and immunoblotting (phosphorylated and total signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 [STAT1] and STAT3).ResultsCompared to AMB, lamellar messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) concentrations of CXCL6 (P =.02), CXCL8 (P = .008), IL‐6 (P = .008), IL‐1β (P = .008), IL‐11 (P = .008), and cyclooxygenase‐2 (P = .008) were decreased in CDH. Cyclooxygenase‐1 (P = .008) was increased in CDH, while CXCL1 (P = .15), MCP‐1 (P = .05), MCP‐2 (P = .46), TNF‐α (P = .05), E‐selectin (P = .15), and ICAM‐1 (P = .15) mRNA were not significantly different. Compared to AMB, lamellar concentration of total STAT3 protein was decreased in CDH (P < .001), but there was no change in phosphorylated STAT3 (P‐STAT3 [S727] P = .19; P‐STAT3 [Y705] P = .05). There was no change in lamellar concentrations of total STAT1 (P = .75) or phosphorylated STAT1 (P‐STAT1 [S727], P = .25; P‐STAT1 [Y701], P = .64).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThese data add further support for the use of CDH as a first aid treatment for severe acute laminitis associated with hyperinsulinemia in horses.
Effects of rearing density on growth, physiological responses, and flesh quality in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)
Authors: Silva Victor A. , Trushenski Jesse , Schwarz Michael H. , Cavalli Ronaldo O. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRearing density is recognized as a critical consideration in fish husbandry: whereas higher densities may increase productivity and reduce production costs, they also represent a potential source of chronic stress and may negatively affect growth performance and product quality. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of rearing density on growth, physiological responses, and flesh quality of cobia (Rachycentron canadum). Fish (46.32 ± 0.22 g, mean ± SEM) were reared for 42 days in a low salinity (17.6 g/L) recirculation system according to treatments designated as low density (5 fish/tank, 3.30 ± 0.02 kg/m3), medium density (10 fish/tank, 6.67 ± 0.03 kg/m3), or high density (20 fish/tank, 13.15 ± 0.16 kg/m3). Weight gain and specific growth rate were significantly higher among fish reared at low density; however, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, hepatosomatic index, condition factor, and dress‐out were equivalent among treatments. Plasma cortisol, lactate, and osmolality levels were not affected by rearing density, and values were within basal ranges reported for juvenile cobia. Fillet drip‐loss did not vary among treatments, but rigor mortis developed more rapidly among fish reared at high density. Rearing juvenile cobia at high densities may reduce growth performance and may influence the timing of rigor development.
Sleeping Eurasian oystercatchers adjust their vigilance in response to the behaviour of neighbours, human disturbance and environmental conditions
Authors: McBlain M. , Jones K. A. , Shannon G. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractVigilance is a costly behaviour but it enables animals to detect and avoid threats of predation and intraspecific competition. To compensate for the increased risk while sleeping, many bird species have evolved eye‐blinking strategies called peeking, which allows vigilance to persist in a sleep‐like state. However, the drivers of vigilance behaviour during sleep have rarely been explored. We investigated how social factors, anthropogenic disturbance and environmental conditions affected the sleep‐vigilance trade‐off in the Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus). Data were collected on the frequency, total duration and average duration of peeking at two locations on the Menai Strait, North Wales. Our results reveal that exposure to anthropogenic disturbance, particularly the presence of people exercising dogs, led to an increase in vigilance duration and reduced time sleeping, while increasing boat traffic resulted in elevated levels of peek frequency, but the overall duration of vigilance was in fact reduced. Furthermore, oystercatchers adjust their vigilance behaviour according to social context, with reduced levels of individual vigilance when a greater number of animals were present. However, if surrounding neighbours were awake – then the observed animal was more likely to be alert, demonstrating the importance of monitoring the behaviour of conspecifics. Likewise, the temperature and wind speed influenced vigilance with elevated levels of peek frequency observed in warmer and windier conditions. Oystercatchers are able to make fine‐scale adjustments to their vigilance behaviour while asleep, which reduces the risk of external threats such as predators. Nevertheless, they are making these decisions against the backdrop of a finely balanced energy budget, particularly during the winter months. Increased levels of human activity and disturbance may elevate the costs of vigilance and ultimately have fitness implications for this species.
COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) in patients admitted with severe COVID‐19 pneumonia: An observational study from Pakistan
Authors: Nasir Nosheen , Farooqi Joveria , Mahmood Syed Faisal , Jabeen Kauser 
Published: June 2020

SummaryBackgroundInvasive aspergillosis is a well‐known complication of severe influenza pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, recent studies are reporting emergence of aspergillosis in severe COVID‐19 pneumonia, named as COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA).MethodsA retrospective observational study was conducted in patients with severe COVID‐19 pneumonia from February 2020 to April 2020. Patients ≥18 years of age with clinical features and abnormal chest imaging with confirmed COVID‐19 by RT‐PCR for SARS‐CoV‐2 were included. CAPA was diagnosed based on clinical parameters, radiological findings and mycological data. Data were recorded on a structured proforma, and descriptive analysis was performed using Stata ver 12.1.ResultsA total of 147 patients with confirmed COVID‐19 and 23 (15.6%) patients requiring ICU admission were identified. Aspergillus species were isolated from tracheal aspirates of nine (39.1%) patients, and of these, five patients (21.7%) were diagnosed with CAPA and four (17.4%) had Aspergillus colonisation. The mean age of patients with CAPA was 69 years (Median age: 71, IQR: 24, Range: 51‐85), and 3/5 patients were male. The most frequent co‐morbid was diabetes mellitus (4/5). The overall fatality rate of COVID‐19 patients with aspergillosis was 44% (4/9). The cause of death was ARDS in all three patients with CAPA, and the median length of stay was 16 days (IQR: 10; Range 6‐35 days).ConclusionThis study highlights the need for comparative studies to establish whether there is an association of aspergillosis and COVID‐19 and the need for screening for fungal infections in severe COVID‐19 patients with certain risk factors.
New insights into the functions of carbon–calcium inclusions in plants
Authors: Karabourniotis George , Horner Harry T. , Bresta Panagiota , Nikolopoulos Dimosthenis , Liakopoulos Georgios 
Published: June 2020

SummaryCarbon–calcium inclusions (CCaI) either as calcium oxalate crystals (CaOx) or amorphous calcium carbonate cystoliths are spread among most photosynthetic organisms. They represent dynamic structures with a significant construction cost and their appearance during evolution indicates an ancient origin. Both types of inclusions share some similar functional characteristics providing adaptive advantages such as the regulation of Ca levels, and the release of CO2 and water molecules upon decomposition. The latter seems to be essential under drought conditions and explains the intense occurrence of these structures in plants thriving in dry climates. It seems, however, that for plants CaOx may represent a more prevalent storage system compared with CaCO3 due to the multifunctionality of oxalate. This compound participates in a number of important soil biogeochemical processes, creates endosymbiosis with beneficial bacteria and provides tolerance against a combination of abiotic (nutrient deprivation, metal toxicity) and biotic (pathogens, herbivores) stress factors. We suggest a re‐evaluation of the roles of these fascinating plant structures under a new and holistic approach that could enhance our understanding of carbon sequestration at the whole plant level and provide future perspectives.
Atopic dermatitis severity during exposure to air pollutants and weather changes with an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) analysis
Authors: Patella Vincenzo , Florio Giovanni , Palmieri Mario , Bousquet Jean , Tonacci Alessandro , Giuliano Ada , Gangemi Sebastiano 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundEpidemiological studies have shown an association between global warming, air pollution, and allergic diseases. Several air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, toluene, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter, act as risk factors for the development or aggravation of atopic dermatitis (AD). We evaluated the impact of air pollutants and weather changes on AD patients.Materials and MethodsSixty AD patients ≥5 years of age (mean age: 23.5 ± 12.5 years), living in the Campania Region (Southern Italy), were followed for 18 months. The primary outcome was the effect of atmospheric and climatic factors on signs and symptoms of AD, assessed using the SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) index. We measured mean daily temperature (TOD), outdoor relative humidity (RH), diurnal temperature range (DTR), precipitation, particulate with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), NO2, tropospheric ozone (O3), and total pollen count (TPC). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to examine the associations of AD signs and symptoms with these factors. An artificial neural network (ANN) analysis investigated the relationships between weather changes, environmental pollutants, and AD severity.ResultsThe severity of AD symptoms was positively correlated with outdoor temperatures (TOD, DTR), RH, precipitation, PM10, NO2, O3, and TPC. The ANN analysis also showed a good discrimination performance (75.46%) in predicting disease severity based on environmental pollution data, but weather‐related factors were less predictive.ConclusionThe results of the present study provide evidence that weather changes and air pollutions have a significant impact on skin reactivity and symptoms in AD patients, increasing the severity of the dermatitis. The knowledge of the single variables proportion on AD severity symptoms is important to propose alerts for exacerbations in patients with AD of each age. This finding represents a good starting point for further future research in an area of increasingly growing interest.
GeSUT4 mediates sucrose import at the symbiotic interface for carbon allocation of heterotrophic Gastrodia elata (Orchidaceae)
Authors: Ho Li‐Hsuan , Lee Yung‐I , Hsieh Shu‐Ying , Lin I‐Shiuan , Wu Yun‐Chien , Ko Han‐Yu , Klemens Patrick A. , Neuhaus H. Ekkehard , Chen Yi‐Min , Huang Tzu‐Pi , Yeh Chih‐Hsin , Guo Woei‐Jiun 
Published: June 2020

AbstractGastrodia elata, a fully mycoheterotrophic orchid without photosynthetic ability, only grows symbiotically with the fungus Armillaria. The mechanism of carbon distribution in this mycoheterotrophy is unknown. We detected high sucrose concentrations in all stages of Gastrodia tubers, suggesting sucrose may be the major sugar transported between fungus and orchid. Thick symplasm‐isolated wall interfaces in colonized and adjacent large cells implied involvement of sucrose importers. Two sucrose transporter (SUT)‐like genes, GeSUT4 and GeSUT3, were identified that were highly expressed in young Armillaria‐colonized tubers. Yeast complementation and isotope tracer experiments confirmed that GeSUT4 functioned as a high‐affinity sucrose‐specific proton‐dependent importer. Plasma‐membrane/tonoplast localization of GeSUT4‐GFP fusions and high RNA expression of GeSUT4 in symbiotic and large cells indicated that GeSUT4 likely functions in active sucrose transport for intercellular allocation and intracellular homeostasis. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing GeSUT4 had larger leaves but were sensitive to excess sucrose and roots were colonized with fewer mutualistic Bacillus, supporting the role of GeSUT4 in regulating sugar allocation. This is not only the first documented carbon import system in a mycoheterotrophic interaction but also highlights the evolutionary importance of sucrose transporters for regulation of carbon flow in all types of plant‐microbe interactions.
Relation between sex hormones and leucocyte telomere length in men with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Fang Chuling , Huang Hui , Zhang Qian , Wang Na , Jing Xiaoyan , Guo Jian , Ferianc Martin , Xu Zuojun 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTBackground and objectiveIPF is an ageing‐related lung disorder featuring progressive lung scarring. IPF patients are frequently identified with short telomeres but coding mutations in telomerase can only explain a minority of cases. Sex hormones regulate telomerase activity in vitro and levels of sex hormones are related to LTL. The objective of this study was to explore whether sex hormones were associated with LTL, whether they interacted with genetic variants in telomerase and whether polymorphisms in the exon of androgen metabolism genes were associated with plasma testosterone concentrations in male IPF patients.MethodsA case–control study was performed on 101 male IPF subjects and 51 age‐matched healthy controls. Early morning plasma sex hormones were quantified, and whole‐exome sequencing was used to identify rare protein‐altering variants of telomerase and SNP in the exon of androgen metabolism genes. LTL was analysed by PCR and expressed as a T/S ratio.ResultsLTL, testosterone and DHT were decreased significantly in the IPF group. After adjustments for age and variant status in telomerase‐related genes, only testosterone was positively associated with LTL (P = 0.001). No significant interaction (P = 0.661) was observed between rare protein‐altering variants of telomerase and testosterone. No coding SNP in androgen metabolism genes were significantly associated with testosterone concentrations.ConclusionPlasma testosterone is associated with LTL independent of age or rare protein‐altering variants of telomerase. No genetic variations of androgen‐related pathway genes are associated with androgen concentrations. Further studies are warranted to examine whether hormonal interventions might retard telomere loss in male IPF patients.
External Set‐Merge of Heads and Composite Probing: the Case of Locative Inversion in English and Chinese1
Authors: Chou Chao‐Ting Tim 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe goal of this paper is three‐fold. First, adopting Chomsky's (2013, 2015) Merge‐α model of syntactic derivation, I advance the hypothesis that composite probing (Coon & Bale 2014; van Urk 2015) is made available in English and Chinese to derive locative inversion via external set‐Merge of C and T, forming {C, T} (see also Saito 2012 and Epstein et al. 2016). Second, I argue that English {C, T} hosts a non‐selective Ā‐probe, whereas the Chinese counterpart a relativized one. Importantly, I propose that this crosslinguistic contrast in the non‐selective/relativized nature of a composite probe is deducible from the articulated structure in the left periphery and external set‐Merge of heads. Third, what is crucial for the Merge‐α model is the set of independent principles that regulate the generative capacity of free Merge by examining its varied outputs. I contend that the need of Case valuation onDPs, the activity of the φ‐probe, and the Intervention Constraint all play crucial roles in English to exclude some structures built based on the introduction of {C, T} and its composite probe. Couched in the Merge‐α framework, this paper suggests a new way to restrictively model the variation in A/Ā properties of movement across languages and across individual constructions language‐internally. The proposed approach derives the relevant variation without stipulating construction‐specific mechanisms or a variation in the nature of probes — the variation comes from the C‐heads that merge with T prior to probing and how it interacts with independent syntactic principles.