bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting distributions, habitat preferences and associated conservation implications for a genus of rare fishes, seahorses (Hippocampus spp.)
Authors: Zhang Xiong , Vincent Amanda C.J. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimTo identify useful sources of species data and appropriate habitat variables for species distribution modelling on rare species, with seahorses as an example, deriving ecological knowledge and spatially explicit maps to advance global seahorse conservation.LocationThe shallow seas.MethodsWe applied a typical species distribution model (SDM), maximum entropy, to examine the utility of (1) two versions of habitat variables (habitat occurrences vs. proximity to habitats) and (2) three sources of species data: quality research‐grade (RG) data, quality‐unknown citizen science (CS) and museum‐collection (MC) data. We used the best combinations of species data and habitat variables to predict distributions and estimate species–habitat relations and threatened status for seahorse species.ResultsWe demonstrated that using “proximity to habitats” and integrating all species datasets (RG, CS and MC) derived models with the highest accuracies among all dataset variations. Based on this finding, we derived reliable models for 33 species. Our models suggested that only 0.4% of potential seahorse range was suitable to more than three species together; seahorse biogeographic epicentres were mainly in the Philippines; and proximity to sponges was an important habitat variable. We found that 12 “Data Deficient” species might be threatened based on our predictions according to IUCN criteria.Main conclusionsWe highlight that using proper habitat variables (e.g., proximity to habitats) is critical to determine distributions and key habitats for low‐mobility animals; collating and integrating quality‐unknown occurrences (e.g., CS and MC) with quality research data are meaningful for building SDMs for rare species. We encourage the application of SDMs to estimate area of occupancy for rare organisms to facilitate their conservation status assessment.
Gamma‐aminobutyric acid levels in cerebrospinal fluid in neuropaediatric disorders
Authors: Cortès‐Saladelafont Elisenda , Molero‐Luis Marta , Cuadras Daniel , Casado Mercedes , Armstrong‐Morón Judith , Yubero Dèlia , Montoya Julio , Artuch Rafael , García‐Cazorla Àngels ,   Institut De Recerca Sant Joan De Déu Working Group
Published: March 2018

AimGamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major modulator in brain maturation and its role in many different neurodevelopmental disorders has been widely reported. Although the involvement of GABA in different disorders has been related to its regulatory function as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mature brain, co‐transmitter, and signalling molecule, little is known about its role as a clinical biomarker in neuropaediatric disorders. The aim of this study is to report the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) free‐GABA concentrations in a large cohort of patients (n=85) with different neurological disorders.MethodGABA was measured in the CSF of neuropaediatric patients using capillary electrophoresis with laser‐induced fluorescence detection. Other neurotransmitters (amino acids and monoamines) were also analysed.ResultsGABA concentrations in CSF were abnormal, with a greater frequency (44%) than monoamines (20%) in neuropaediatric patients compared with our reference values. Although we included a few patients with inborn errors of metabolism, GABA levels in CSF were more frequently abnormal in metabolic disorders than in other nosological groups.InterpretationOur work suggests further research into brain GABAergic status in neuropaediatric disorders, which could also lead to new therapeutic strategies.What this paper adds

Homeostasis of GABA seems more vulnerable than that of monoamines in the developing brain.

The highest GABA levels are found in the primary GABA neurotransmitter disorder SSADH deficiency.

GABA alterations are not specific for any clinical or neuroimaging presentation.
The first 142 amino acids of glutamate decarboxylase do not contribute to epitopes recognized by autoantibodies associated with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Wyatt R. C. , Brigatti C. , Liberati D. , Grace S. L. , Gillard B. T. , Long A. E. , Marzinotto I. , Shoemark D. K. , Chandler K. A. , Achenbach P. , Gillespie K. M. , Piemonti L. , Lampasona V. , Williams A. J. K. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimsGlutamate decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies are the most widely used predictive marker for Type 1 diabetes, but many individuals currently found to be GAD antibody‐positive are unlikely to develop diabetes. We have shown previously that radioimmunoassays using N‐terminally truncated 35S‐GAD65(96–585) offer better disease specificity with similar sensitivity to full‐length 35S‐GAD65(1–585). To determine whether assay performance could be improved further, we evaluated a more radically truncated 35S‐GAD65(143–585) radiolabel.MethodsSamples from people with recent‐onset Type 1 diabetes (n = 157) and their first‐degree relatives (n = 745) from the Bart's–Oxford family study of childhood diabetes were measured for GAD antibodies using 35S‐labelled GAD65(143–585). These were screened previously using a local radioimmunoassay with 35S‐GAD65(1–585). A subset was also tested by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which performs well in international workshops, but requires 10 times more serum. Results were compared with GAD antibody measurements using 35S‐GAD65(1–585) and 35S‐GAD65(96–585).ResultsSensitivity of GAD antibody measurement was maintained using 35S‐GAD65(143–585) compared with 35S‐GAD65(1–585) and 35S‐GAD65(96–585). Specificity for Type 1 diabetes was improved compared with 35S‐GAD65(1–585), but was similar to 35S‐GAD65(96–585). Relatives found to be GAD antibody‐positive using these truncated labels were at increased risk of diabetes progression within 15 years, compared with those positive for GAD(1–585) antibody only, and at similar risk to those found GAD antibody‐positive by ELISA.ConclusionsThe first 142 amino acids of GAD65 do not contribute to epitopes recognized by Type 1 diabetes‐associated GAD antibodies. Low‐volume radioimmunoassays using N‐terminally truncated 35S‐GAD65 are more specific than those using full‐length GAD65 and offer practical alternatives to the GAD antibody ELISA for identifying children at increased risk of Type 1 diabetes.
Echocardiographic and clinical markers of left ventricular ejection fraction and moderate or greater systolic dysfunction in left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy
Authors: Arenas Ivan A. , Mihos Christos G. , DeFaria Yeh Doreen , Yucel Evin , Elmahdy Hany M. , Santana Orlando 
Published: March 2018

BackgroundLeft ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is associated with progressive LV systolic dysfunction and dilated cardiomyopathy. We aimed to investigate the echocardiographic and clinical characteristics associated with LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and moderate or greater systolic dysfunction in patients with LVNC.MethodsOur institutional echocardiography database was retrospectively reviewed between 2008 and 2014, and 62 patients with LVNC were identified. Forty‐three (69%) had moderate or greater LV systolic dysfunction (LVEF ≤ 40%) and were compared with 19 (31%) patients with preserved or mildly reduced LVEF (>40%). Linear regression analyses were utilized to identify markers associated with LVEF.ResultsThe mean age was 63 ± 17 years and noncompacted‐to‐compacted ratio was 2.3 ± 0.5, and was larger in patients with LVEF ≤ 40% (2.4 vs 2.1; P = .02). Patients with LVEF ≤ 40% were older, had more congestive heart failure, significant QRS interval prolongation, and greater LV remodeling and worse mean global longitudinal strain (GLS). Multivariate regression analysis revealed increased age (standardized regression coefficient (β) = −0.17; P = .04) and QRS duration (β = −0.13; P = .08), congestive heart failure (β = −0.18; P = .04), and worsened GLS (β = −0.40; P = .001) were independently associated with decreased LVEF in the cohort (overall model fit R2 = 0.71; P < .0001). Increased age (β = −0.49; P = .01) and QRS duration (β = −0.50; P = .002), and worsened GLS (β = −0.33; P = .04), were also associated with a lower LVEF in patients with LVEF > 40%.ConclusionsThe independent markers associated with LVEF and moderate or greater LV systolic dysfunction in patients with LVNC, in particular GLS and QRS duration, may detect high‐risk candidates for more aggressive clinical surveillance and medical therapy.
First report onBursaphelenchus sexdentati(Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) in Israel
Authors: Slonim O. , Bucki P. , Mendel Z. , Protasov A. , Golan O. , Vieira P. , Braun‐Miyara S. 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThis is the first report and characterization ofBursaphelenchus sexdentatiand the first official report of the presence of the genusBursaphelenchusin Israel. This species was isolated fromOrthotomicus erosus(Coleoptera: Scolytinae) found onPinus halepensisin the Judean foothills in Israel. Nematodes collected from insect galleries were reared on fungal cultures and identified based on morphological diagnostic characters for the genusBursaphelenchus. Sequencing analyses of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region, small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) of ribosomalDNAconfirmed the identification of this nematode species collected from wood and directly from the insect body.
Edge fires drive the shape and stability of tropical forests
Authors: Hébert‐Dufresne Laurent , Pellegrini Adam F. A. , Bhat Uttam , Redner Sidney , Pacala Stephen W. , Berdahl Andrew M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn tropical regions, fires propagate readily in grasslands but typically consume only edges of forest patches. Thus, forest patches grow due to tree propagation and shrink by fires in surrounding grasslands. The interplay between these competing edge effects is unknown, but critical in determining the shape and stability of individual forest patches, as well the landscape‐level spatial distribution and stability of forests. We analyze high‐resolution remote‐sensing data from protected Brazilian Cerrado areas and find that forest shapes obey a robust perimeter–area scaling relation across climatic zones. We explain this scaling by introducing a heterogeneous fire propagation model of tropical forest‐grassland ecotones. Deviations from this perimeter–area relation determine the stability of individual forest patches. At a larger scale, our model predicts that the relative rates of tree growth due to propagative expansion and long‐distance seed dispersal determine whether collapse of regional‐scale tree cover is continuous or discontinuous as fire frequency changes.
Comparison of behavioral, neuroprotective, and proinflammatory cytokine modulating effects exercised by (+)‐cis‐EC and (−)‐cis‐EC stereoisomers in a PTZ‐induced kindling test in mice
Authors: Salgado Paula Regina Rodrigues , da Fonsêca Diogo Vilar , de Melo Cynthia Germoglio Farias , Leite Fagner Carvalho , Alves Adriano Francisco , Ferreira Paula Benvindo , Piuvezam Márcia Regina , de Sousa Damião Pergentino , de Almeida Reinaldo Nóbrega 
Published: March 2018

AbstractEpoxy‐carvone (EC) has chiral centers that allow generation of stereoisomers, including (+)‐cis‐EC and (−)‐cis‐EC, whose effects in the kindling tests have never been studied. Accordingly, this study aims to comparatively investigate the effect of stereoisomers (+)‐cis‐epoxy‐carvone and (−)‐cis‐epoxy‐carvone on behavioral changes measured in scores, in the levels of cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNFα) and neuronal protection in the face of continuous treatment with pentylenetetrazol. Swiss mice were divided into five groups (n = 10), receiving vehicle, (+) – cis‐EC, (−) – cis‐EC (both at the dose of 30 mg/kg), and diazepam (4 mg/kg). Thirty minutes after the respective treatment was administered to the animals one subconvulsive dose of PTZ (35 mg/kg). Seven subconvulsives treatments were made on alternate days, in which each treatment several parameters were recorded. In the eighth treatment, the animals receiving the highest dose of PTZ (75 mg/kg) and were sacrificed for quantification of cytokines and histopathologic analysis. All drugs were administered by intraperitoneal route. In the kindling test, (+)‐cis‐EC and (−)‐cis‐EC reduced the average scores. The stereoisomer (+)‐cis‐EC decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNFα, whereas comparatively (−)‐cis‐EC did not reduce IL‐1β levels. Histopathological analysis of the mice hippocampi undergoing this methodology showed neural protection for treated with (+)‐cis‐EC. The results suggest that the anticonvulsant effect of (+)‐cis‐EC possibly takes place due to reduction of proinflammatory cytokines involved in the epileptogenic process, besides neuronal protection, yet further investigation of the mechanisms involved is required.
Tauroursodeoxycholic acid produces antidepressant‐like effects in a chronic unpredictable stress model of depression via attenuation of neuroinflammation, oxido‐nitrosative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Lu Xu , Yang Rong‐Rong , Zhang Jin‐Lin , Wang Peng , Gong Yu , Hu Wen‐feng , Wu Yue , Gao Min‐hui , Huang Chao 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDepression is a common psychiatric disorder with heavy economic and social burdens. Searching new agents with better antidepressant‐like activities is of great significance for depression therapy. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a clinical drug for gallstone treatment, possesses neuroprotective effects in different brain disorders. However, whether it affects depression remains unclear. We addressed this issue by evaluating the effect of TUDCA on depression induced by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). Results showed that TUDCA treatment at 200 but not 100 mg/kg prevented the 5 weeks of CUS‐induced increases in the immobile time of C57BL6/J mice in the experiments of forced swimming test and tail suspension test as well as the CUS‐induced decrease in sucrose intake and crossing numbers in the open‐field test, and did not enhance the antidepressant‐like effect of fluoxetine. Attenuation of neuroinflammation may be involved in the antidepressant‐like effect of TUDCA, as TUDCA treatment (200 mg/kg) normalized the levels of tumor necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐6 in both hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The increases in inflammasome and microglial activation markers, including interleukin‐β, nod‐like receptor protein 3, and Iba‐1, in CUS‐treated mice were reduced by TUDCA treatment (200 mg/kg). TUDCA treatment (200 mg/kg) also normalized the changes in markers reflecting the oxidative–nitrosative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by CUS, such as nitric oxide, reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, glucose‐regulated protein 78, and C/EBP homologous protein. These results revealed that TUDCA improved the CUS‐induced depression‐like behaviors likely through attenuation of neuroinflammation, oxido‐nitrosative, and ER stress.
Desmopressin stimulation testing: Response to intravenous and intranasal forms
Authors: McCormick M. C. , Siripong N. , Cooper J. D. 
Published: March 2018

IntroductionDesmopressin is commonly used to reduce bleeding in patients with mucocutaneous bleeding disorders and is available in both intravenous and intranasal forms. Given the variability in response to desmopressin at an individual level, its effectiveness should be assessed with a test dose prior to being advised for use. At this time, no trial has extensively compared the use of intranasal desmopressin to intravenous desmopressin.AimsTo determine whether both forms of desmopressin are equally effective in yielding a positive response in laboratory assays in paediatric patients with von Willebrand disease or probable von Willebrand disease.MethodsWe evaluated medical record data for 58 patients who underwent desmopressin stimulation testing in our haematology clinic during a 1‐year period. Data were collected on demographic information and haematologic laboratory assays prior to desmopressin administration and one hour following desmopressin.ResultsThere was an absolute increase in von Willebrand antigen to levels appropriate for haemostasis following both forms of desmopressin, although this increase was significantly greater in the intravenous group compared to the intranasal group. There was also a significant absolute increase in Ristocetin Cofactor and Factor VIII levels following desmopressin in both groups.ConclusionBoth intravenous and intranasal forms of desmopressin produce a positive response during desmopressin stimulation testing and can be used to identify patients for whom this medication would be effective.
Focal, but not global, cerebral ischaemia causes loss of myenteric neurons and upregulation of vasoactive intestinal peptide in mouse ileum
Authors: Cheng Xiaowen , Svensson Martina , Yang Yiyi , Deierborg Tomas , Ekblad Eva , Voss Ulrikke 
Published: March 2018

SummaryReduced blood flow to the brain induces cerebral ischaemia, potentially causing central injury and peripheral complications including gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. The pathophysiology behind GI symptoms is suspected to be neuropathy in the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is essential in regulating GI function. This study investigates if enteric neuropathy occurs after cerebral ischaemia, by analysing neuronal survival and relative numbers of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expressing neurons in mouse ileum after three types of cerebral ischaemia. Focal cerebral ischaemia, modelled by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) and global cerebral ischaemia, modelled with either transient occlusion of both common carotid arteries followed by reperfusion (GCIR) or chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) was performed on C56BL/6 mice. Sham‐operated mice for each ischaemia model served as control. Ileum was collected after 1–17 weeks, depending on model, and analysed using morphometry and immunocytochemistry. For each group, intestinal mucosa and muscle layer thicknesses, neuronal numbers and relative proportions of neurons immunoreactive (IR) for nNOS or VIP were estimated. No alterations in mucosa or muscle layer thicknesses were noted in any of the groups. Loss of myenteric neurons and an increased number of VIP‐IR submucous neurons were found in mouse ileum 7 days after pMCAO. None of the global ischaemia models showed any alterations in neuronal survival or relative numbers of VIP‐ and nNOS‐IR neurons. We conclude that focal cerebral ischaemia and global cerebral ischaemia influence enteric neuronal survival differently. This is suggested to reflect differences in peripheral neuro‐immune responses.
Assessing morphological characteristics of elite cotton lines from different breeding programmes for low temperature and drought tolerance
Authors: Singh B. , Norvell E. , Wijewardana C. , Wallace T. , Chastain D. , Reddy K. R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractCotton breeders in the United States strive to develop region‐specific genotypes adapted to low temperatures and variable soil moistures during early‐season planting. Nine elite upland cotton germplasm (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lines, representing public breeding programmes from nine states across the cotton belt, were evaluated for cold and drought stresses during seed germination and seedling growth stages. Lines were subjected to three treatments, such as low temperature well‐watered (22/14°C, WW), optimal temperature drought stress (30/22°C, DS) and optimal temperature well‐watered (30/22°C, WW; control), to examine genotypic variability for cold and drought tolerance. The treatment including drought stress was irrigated at 50% of the control. Shoot and root traits measured at 25 days after planting were significantly affected by drought and low temperature, where significant genetic variability among lines was observed for both shoot and root parameters. Response indices were developed to quantify variation in the degree of tolerance among the lines to low temperature and drought. Accordingly, OA‐33 was identified as the most low‐temperature‐tolerant line and Acala 1517‐99 as the most drought‐tolerant line. Identification of both cold‐ and drought‐tolerant genotypes suggests existing genotypic variability could provide breeders the opportunity to improve cultivar response to early‐season drought or cold conditions.
Effect of substituting CaO with BaO on the viscosity and structure of CaO‐BaO‐SiO2‐MgO‐Al2O3 slags
Authors: Wang Zhanjun , Sohn Il 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn this study, the effect of CaO and BaO substitution on the viscosity and structure of CaO‐BaO‐SiO2‐MgO‐Al2O3 slags was investigated. The results showed that the viscosity increased with an increase in the BaO substitution concentration, which was correlated to an increase in the degree of polymerization (DOP) of the slag structural units as the activation energy increased from 207.9 to 263.8 kJ/mol for viscous flow. Deconvolution and area integration of the Raman spectrum of the slag revealed that the ratio of Q3/Q2 (Qi, i is the number of O0 in a [SiO4]‐tetrahedral unit) increased and NBO/Si (nonbridging oxygen per unit silicon atom) decreased with higher BaO content. It was also observed from the 27Al magic angles pinning nuclear magnetic resonance (27Al MAS‐NMR) spectrum that the relative proportion of AlIV increased, while that of AlV decreased because of the decrease in the percentage of nonbridging oxygen (O−), indicating the polymerization of the slag. O1s X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was also carried out to semi‐quantitatively analyze the various types of oxygen anions present in the slag. The XPS results correlated well with the results obtained from the analysis of the Raman and 27Al MAS‐NMR spectra of the slags and its viscous behavior.
The effect of a practice‐based multicomponent intervention that includes health coaching on medication adherence and blood pressure control in rural primary care
Authors: Wu Jia‐Rong , Cummings Doyle M. , Li Quefeng , Hinderliter Alan , Bosworth Hayden B. , Tillman Jimmy , DeWalt Darren 
Published: March 2018

Low adherence to anti‐hypertensive medications contributes to worse outcomes. The authors conducted a secondary data analysis to examine the effects of a health‐coaching intervention on medication adherence and blood pressure (BP), and to explore whether changes in medication adherence over time were associated with changes in BP longitudinally in 477 patients with hypertension. Data regarding medication adherence and BP were collected at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. The intervention resulted in increases in medication adherence (5.75→5.94, P = .04) and decreases in diastolic BP (81.6→76.1 mm Hg, P < .001) over time. The changes in medication adherence were associated with reductions in diastolic BP longitudinally (P = .047). Patients with low medication adherence at baseline had significantly greater improvement in medication adherence and BP over time than those with high medication adherence. The intervention demonstrated improvements in medication adherence and diastolic BP and offers promise as a clinically applicable intervention in rural primary care.