bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increased oxidative stress tolerance by Superoxide dismutase overexpression inMesorhizobium loti
Authors: Gonzalez Pablo J , Lozano Mauricio , Lascano Hernán R. , Lagares Antonio , Melchiorre Mariana N. 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTDrought and salinity conditions are the major factors affecting nitrogen fixation by legume-rhizobium symbiosis. A global response to these stress conditions is the increase of intracellular ROS leading to activation of antioxidant system to ensure cellular homeostasis. Under the hypothesis that overexpression ofsodgene inM. lotiimprove tolerance to oxidative stress we decide to investigate the response of constitutive overexpression of theMesorhizobium lotiMAFF303099sodgene on tolerance to oxidative stress under free-living conditions. The genemlr7636was overexpressed constitutively under thenptIIpromoter of pFAJ1708 plasmid. Our study revealed that thesodoverexpressing mutant had five-fold increased SOD activity in periplasmic space and a better tolerance to superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in bacterial killing assays.IMPORTANCEIn this study, we report that the homologous superoxide dismutase overexpression inMesorhizobium lotiimproves its tolerance to oxidative stress under free-living conditions.
Multi-way methods for understanding longitudinal intervention effects on bacterial communities
Authors: Måge Ingrid , Steppeler Christina , Berget Ingunn , Paulsen Jan Erik , Rud Ida 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundThis paper presents a strategy for statistical analysis and interpretation of longitudinal intervention effects on bacterial communities. Data from such experiments often suffers from small sample size, high degree of irrelevant variation, and missing data points. Our strategy is a combination of multi-way decomposition methods, multivariate ANOVA, multi-block regression, hierarchical clustering and phylogenetic network graphs. The aim is to provide answers to relevant research questions, which are bothstatistically validandeasy to interpret.ResultsThe strategy is illustrated by analysing an intervention design where two mice groups were subjected to a treatment that caused inflammation in the intestines. Total microbiota in fecal samples was analysed at five time points, and the clinical end point was the load of colon cancer lesions. By using different combinations of the aforementioned methods, we were able to show that:The treatment had a significant effect on the microbiota, and we have identified clusters of bacteria groups with different time trajectories.Individual differences in the initial microbiota had a large effect on the load of tumors, but not on the formation of early-stage lesions (flat ACFs).The treatment resulted in an increase inBacteroidaceae,PrevotellaceaeandParaprevotellaceae, and this increase could be associated with the formation of cancer lesions.ConclusionThe results show that by applying several data analytical methods in combination, we are able to view the system from different angles and thereby answer different research questions. We believe that multiway methods and multivariate ANOVA should be used more frequently in the bioinformatics fields, due to their ability to extract meaningful components from data sets with many collinear variables, few samples and a high degree of noise or irrelevant variation.
Ultra-fine temporal resolution in auditory processing is preserved in aged mice without peripheral hearing loss
Authors: Osterhagen Lasse , Hildebrandt K. Jannis 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAge-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is caused by damage to the periphery as well as deterioration of central auditory processing. Gap detection is a paradigm to study age-related temporal processing deficits, which is assumed to be determined primarily by the latter. However, peripheral hearing loss is a strong confounding factor when using gap detection to measure temporal processing. In this study, we used mice from the CAST line, which is known to maintain excellent peripheral hearing, to rule out any contribution of peripheral hearing loss to gap detection performance. We employed an operant Go/No-go paradigm to obtain psychometric functions of gap in noise (GIN) detection at young and middle age. Besides, we measured auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and multiunit recordings in the auditory cortex (AC) in order to disentangle the processing stages of gap detection. We found detection thresholds around 0.6 ms in all measurement modalities. Detection thresholds did not increase with age. In the ABR, GIN stimuli are coded as onset responses to the noise that follows the gap, strikingly similar to the ABR of noise bursts in silence (NBIS). The simplicity of the neural representation of the gap together with the preservation of detection threshold in aged CAST mice suggests that GIN detection in the mouse is primarily determined by peripheral, not central processing.AbbreviaionsGINgap in noiseABRauditory brainstem responseACauditory cortexNBISnoise burst in silenceIINinhibitory interneuron
One‐ and three‐year outcomes in patients treated with intermittent hemodialysis for acute kidney injury: prospective observational multicenter post‐hoc FINNAKI study
Authors: Eskola Maija , Vaara Suvi T. , Korhonen Anna‐Maija , Sauranen Jukka , Koivuviita Niina , Honkanen Eero , Pettilä Ville , Haapio Mikko ,   for the FINNAKI Study Group
Published: July 2018

BackgroundStudies reporting renal and overall survival after acute kidney injury (AKI) treated exclusively with intermittent modalities of renal replacement therapy (IRRT) are rare. This study focused on outcomes of AKI patients treated with IRRT both in intensive care units (ICUs) and non‐ICU dialysis units.MethodsThis prospective observational study was carried on during a 5‐month period in 17 ICUs and 17 non‐ICUs. ICU and non‐ICU patients (total n = 138; 65 ICU, 73 non‐ICU) requiring RRT for AKI and chosen to receive IRRT were included. Patient and RRT characteristics as well as outcomes at 90 days, 1 year, and 3 years were registered.ResultsCharacteristics of ICU and non‐ICU patients differed markedly. Pre‐existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic heart failure were significantly more common among non‐ICU patients. At 1 year, RRT dependence was significantly more common in the non‐ICU group. At 3 years, there was no significant difference between the groups either in RRT dependence or mortality.ConclusionOutcome of AKI patients treated with IRRT is dismal with regard to 3‐year kidney function and mortality. Although pre‐existing CKD emerged as a major risk factor for end‐stage renal disease after AKI, the poor kidney survival was also seen in patients without prior CKD.
Survey of 23 Nordic university hospitals showed that 77% lacked written procedures for measuring and interpreting blood pressure in infants
Authors: Granlund Peder Annæus , Ødegaard Jostein Strand , Skjerven Håvard Ove , Lødrup Carlsen Karin C. , Hanséus Katarina , Rögnvaldsson Ingolfur , Sunnegårdh Jan , Turanlahti Maila I. , Holmstrøm Henrik 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimThis study determined the use of standardised procedures for infant noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurements in the Nordic countries and aimed to identify factors included in the standardisation and interpretation of NIBP measurements in infants.MethodsA cross‐sectional electronic questionnaire survey was sent to 84 physicians in all 23 university hospitals in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland and was completed from February to March 2017. The survey contained respondent characteristics, the presence and description of standardised procedures for NIBP measurements, daily practice of NIBP measurements and methodological considerations and interpretation of NIBP measurements in a healthy six‐month‐old child.ResultsWe received responses from 55 of 84 physicians working in all 23 Nordic university hospitals, in paediatric cardiology (n = 22), general paediatrics (n = 16), paediatric nephrology (n = 14) and other fields (n = 3). Less than a quarter (23%) said their hospital issued specific NIBP procedures relating to infants and they referred to 19 different sources of information. The factors that were most commonly assessed for interpretation were age (100%), arousal state (78%) and cuff size (76%).ConclusionMost of the university hospital units treating children lacked age‐specific written procedures for measuring and interpreting infant NIBP, and there is a strong need for common Nordic guidelines.
Differential prognostic impact of GELTAMO‐IPI in cell of origin subtypes of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma as defined by the Hans algorithm
Authors: Montalbán Carlos , Díaz‐López Antonio , Martín Alejandro , Baile Mónica , Sanchez José M. , Sancho Juan M. , García Olga , Novelli Silvana , Monter‐Rovira Anna , Salar Antonio , Bastos Mariana , Gutiérrez Antonio , Bento Leyre , Córdoba Raul , Arquero Teresa , González de Villambrosia Sonia , Barranco Gilberto , De Oña Raquel , López Guillermo Armando , Rodriguez Salazar María J. , Domínguez Juan F. , Fernández Rubén , Queizan José A. , Rodríguez José , Abraira Victor , García Juan F. ,   the GELTAMO‐IPI Project Investigators
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe Grupo Español de Linfomas y Trasplantes de Médula Ósea International Prognostic Index (GELTAMO‐IPI) stratifies four risk groups in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients treated with immunochaemotherapy: low (LR), low‐intermediate (LIR), high‐intermediate (HIR), and high (HR). The present study explores the effect of GELTAMO‐IPI in the DLBCL subtypes defined by the immunohistochaemistry‐based Hans algorithm, Germinal Centre B (GCB) and non‐GCB. A multivariate Cox regression model including GELTAMO‐IPI risk groups, cell of origin (COO) subtypes and their product was developed to evaluate interaction between the two variables. The COO subtype was available in 839 patients (380 GCB; 459 non‐GCB) and both the GELTAMO‐IPI and the COO subtype in 780 (353 GCB; 427 non‐GCB). There were no differences in 5‐year overall survival (OS) between the two subtypes. The Cox model revealed interaction between the GELTAMO‐IPI risk groups and the COO subtypes (P = 0·005), indicating that GELTAMO‐IPI has a different effect in the two subtypes. Three risk groups were stratified in both COO subtypes: in the GCB subtype, LR, LIR and the combined HIR+HR had 5‐year OS of 100%, 75% and 52%, respectively. In the non‐GCB subtype, LR, the combined LIR+HIR and HR had a 5‐year OS of, 97%, 82% and 35% respectively. GELTAMO‐IPI identifies a genuine poor outcome group of patients in the DLBCL non‐GCB subtype.
The dual inhibitor of the phosphoinositol‐3 and PIM kinases, IBL‐202, is effective against chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells under conditions that mimic the hypoxic tumour microenvironment
Authors: Crassini Kyle , Shen Yandong , O'Dwyer Michael , O'Neill Michael , Christopherson Richard , Mulligan Stephen , Best O. Giles 
Published: July 2018

SummaryDespite significant advances in treatment, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) remains an incurable disease. Ibrutinib and idelalisib, which inhibit Bruton Tyrosine kinase (BTK) and phosphoinositol‐3 (PI3) kinase‐δ respectively, have become important treatment options for the disease and demonstrate the potential of targeting components of the B‐cell receptor‐signalling pathway. IBL‐202 is a dual inhibitor of the PIM and PI3 kinases. Synergy between the pan‐PIM inhibitor, pPIMi, and idelalisib against a range of haematological cell lines and primary CLL cells supports the rationale for preclinical studies of IBL‐202 in CLL. Importantly, IBL‐202, but not idelalisib, was cytotoxic against CLL cells under in vitro conditions that mimic the hypoxic tumour microenvironment. The significant effects of IBL‐202 on CD49d and CXCR4 expression and migration, cycle and proliferation of CLL cells suggest the drug may also interfere with the migratory and proliferative capacity of the leukaemic cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that dual inhibition of the PIM and PI3 kinases by IBL‐202 may be an effective strategy for targeting CLL cells, particularly within the environmental niches known to confer drug‐resistance.
The area–heterogeneity tradeoff applied to spatial protection of rockfish (Sebastes spp.) species richness
Authors: Frid Alejandro , McGreer Madeleine , Gale Katie SP , Rubidge Emily , Blaine Tristan , Reid Mike , Olson Angeleen , Hankewich Sandie , Mason Ernest , Rolston Dave , Tallio Ernest 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe “area–heterogeneity tradeoff” hypothesis predicts unimodal effects of habitat heterogeneity on species richness, implying that habitats with intermediate heterogeneity may be priority for spatial protection. Alternatively, if heterogeneity effects are positive, then protecting the most heterogeneous habitats may take precedence. We tested for unimodal effects of habitat heterogeneity on the species density (area‐corrected richness) of rockfishes (Sebastes spp.): long‐lived, benthic fishes vulnerable to overexploitation. Inconsistent with predictions, topographic structural complexity had a strong linear effect on species density; other heterogeneity measures had weaker, positive effects and the only unimodal effect (depth range) was weak. The clear implication is that, to protect the highest density of rockfish species, marine protected areas should include the most topographically complex substrates. Our results can also help refine and test species distribution models needed to inform spatial planning where in situ surveys are lacking. The area–heterogeneity tradeoff generates useful predictions for which support may be context‐dependent.
Conditions for successful range shifts under climate change: The role of species dispersal and landscape configuration
Authors: Årevall Jonatan , Early Regan , Estrada Alba , Wennergren Uno , Eklöf Anna C. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimOngoing climate change is currently modifying the geographical location of areas that are climatically suitable for species. Understanding a species’ ability to successfully shift its geographical range would allow us to assess extinction risks and predict future community compositions. We investigate how habitat configuration impedes or promotes climate‐driven range shifts, given different speeds of climate change and dispersal abilities.LocationTheoretical, but illustrated with European examples.MethodsWe model how a species’ ability to track a directional shift in climatic conditions is affected by (a) species’ dispersal abilities; (b) speed of climatic shift; and (c) spatial arrangement of the habitat. Our modelling framework includes within‐and between‐patch population dynamics and uses ecologically realistic habitat distributions and dispersal scenarios (verified with data from a set of European mammal species) and, as such, is an improvement of classical range shift models.ResultsIn landscapes with a homogeneous distribution of suitable habitats, all but the least dispersive species will be able to range shift. However, species with high dispersal ability will have lower population densities after range shift. In heterogeneous landscapes species’ ability to range shift is far more variable and heavily dependent on the habitat configuration. This means that landscape configuration in combination with the speed of climate change and species dispersal abilities give rise to nonlinear effects on population sizes and survival after a climatic shift.Main conclusionsOur analyses point out the importance of accounting for the interplay of species dispersal and the landscape configuration when estimating future climate impact on species. These results link ecologically important attributes of both species and their landscapes to outcomes of species range shift, and thereby long‐term persistence of ecological communities.
Psoriasis in Israel: demographic, epidemiology, and healthcare services utilization
Authors: Shalom Guy , Zisman Devy , Babaev Meir , Horev Amir , Tiosano Shmuel , Schonmann Yochai , Comaneshter Doron , Cohen Arnon D. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundUpdated data regarding the epidemiology of psoriasis and related healthcare utilization are lacking.ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiology, comorbidities, healthcare services utilization, and drug use in a large group of patients with psoriasis from Clalit Health Services (CHS) database.MethodsA controlled cross‐sectional study was performed. Case patients were defined when there was at least one documented diagnosis of psoriasis registered by a CHS dermatologist between the years 1998–2016. The extracted data included metabolic, cardiovascular and psychiatric comorbidities; community clinic visits; in‐ and outpatient services utilization profiles and drug use data, which included pharmacy claims of topical and systemic treatments, including phototherapy and climatotherapy. Comparative analysis was performed by a univariate and multivariate analysis, adjusting for age, gender, obesity, and smoking.ResultsThe study included 118,680 patients with psoriasis (prevalence of 2.69%) and 118,680 age‐ and gender‐matched controls. Patients with psoriasis had increased prevalence of metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychiatric illnesses. Psoriasis was significantly associated with an increased healthcare utilization. The mean (SD) number of annual dermatologist clinic visits and emergency room visits was 7.2 ± 12.4 and 2.9 ± 7.7 in psoriasis patients as compared to 2.9 ± 7.9 and 2.7 ± 7.4 in the control group (P < 0.001). Topical steroids were the most applied treatment in psoriasis patients (15.5%), and topical vitamin D analogs were second in use (14.6%). Traditional systemic treatment for psoriasis was used in 3.8% of the patients, and biologic treatments were used in 1.6% of the patients.ConclusionsOur study quantifies healthcare services utilization and drug use in patients with psoriasis.
Accuracy of policy function approximations for strongly concave recursive problems
Authors: Maldonado Wilfredo L. , Candido Osvaldo , Pereira Luis Felipe V. N. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractUnder the hypotheses of strong concavity of the aggregator function and concavity of the stochastic operator which define the objective function of the stochastic dynamic programming problem (SDPP), we prove that the policy function approximation of the problem is a Hölder continuous function with respect to the value function approximation. From this, explicit error bounds for computation of the solution of such problems are provided. To illustrate the results we apply the error control formula to the solution of two SDPPs with aggregator functions: the neoclassical Ramsey economic growth model and the Lucas asset pricing model.
Hypocholesterolaemic and hepatoprotective effects of virgin avocado oil in diet‐induced hypercholesterolaemia rats
Authors: Tan Chin Xuan , Chong Gun Hean , Hamzah Hazilawati , Ghazali Hasanah Mohd 
Published: July 2018

SummaryHypercholesterolaemia is a chronic disease associated with the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis. This study aimed to investigate the hypocholesterolaemic and hepatoprotective effects of virgin avocado oil (VAO) using diet‐induced hypercholesterolaemia rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed high‐cholesterol diet for 4 weeks to induce hypercholesterolaemia. After confirming the establishment of hypercholesterolaemia model, the VAO (450 and 900 mg kg−1 body weight per day) and simvastatin (10 mg kg−1 body weight per day) were given orally while maintaining the high‐cholesterol diet for another 4 weeks. Changes in anthropometric, lipid profile, liver biomarkers and liver histology were determined. At the end of the experiment, the serum low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and triglyceride (TG) levels were significantly reduced, while the high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) level was significantly increased in high‐dose VAO‐ (900 mg kg−1 body weight per day) and simvastatin‐treated rats when compared with their respective baseline values. The liver damage index was also markedly reduced in all treated rats. Current findings demonstrated the potential hypocholesterolaemic and hepatoprotective benefits of VAO in the preclinical study.
Intellectual Perfectionism about Schooling
Authors: Kotzee Ben 
Published: July 2018

AbstractIn education, character education is a burgeoning field; however, it is also the target of considerable criticism. Amongst criticisms of character education, the political criticism that character education is a form of indoctrination stands out. In particular, the charge is made against character education that it breaches the principle of liberal neutrality about the good. In this article I discuss liberal approaches to character education. I outline the two most prominent liberal approaches to character education in school, liberal neutralism and liberal perfectionism, as we find it in the work of Clayton (neutralism) and Levinson (liberal perfectionism). I hold that the two standard liberal approaches do not distinguish carefully enough between two possible forms of character education – moral character education and intellectual character education. Drawing on recent work in virtue epistemology, I hold that the liberal position tacitly demands intellectual character education. Regarding moral character education, however, I hold that the picture appears different. In the final analysis, I advocate a new form of perfectionism regarding character education that I call ‘intellectual perfectionism’. According to intellectual perfectionism, schools should be perfectionist regarding children's intellects, but neutralist regarding their morals.
Scary clowns: adaptive function of anemonefish coloration
Authors: Merilaita Sami , Kelley Jennifer L. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractClownfishes, with their showy coloration, are well known for their symbiosis with sea anemones and for their hierarchical reproductive system, but the function of their coloration is unclear. We used a phylogeny of 27 clownfish species to test whether fish coloration (i) serves a protective function that involves their anemone hosts, or (ii) signals species identity in species with overlapping host ranges that can potentially share the same host. We tested for an association between fish colour pattern traits, host morphology and host toxicity and examined coloration in relation to host sharing and geographic proximity. Fish with fewer stripes occupied fewer anemone species, and hosts with shorter tentacles, than fish with multiple stripes. There was a negative relationship between anemone toxicity and tentacle length and these protective traits together were correlated with the evolution of stripes. Host sharing or range overlap was not associated with coloration divergence. We propose that ancestral anemonefishes had multiple stripes that served for hiding/camouflage among the hosts’ long tentacles, whereas increased specialization towards fewer and more toxic hosts (with shorter tentacles) led to the use of coloration as an aposematic signal. The intriguing notion that an aposematic signal could advertise the defence of another species may reflect the unique symbiotic relationship between anemonefishes and their hosts.
Right aortic arch with bilateral arterial duct and nonconfluent pulmonary arteries without associated cardiac defects: Prenatal diagnosis and successful postnatal treatment
Authors: Cordisco Adalgisa , Murzi Bruno , Chiappa Enrico 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWe describe a rare case of right aortic arch with bilateral arterial duct and disconnected left pulmonary artery. Prenatal diagnosis allowed to plan delivery at the referral center and to maintain perfusion of the disconnected pulmonary artery through prostaglandin E1 infusion until surgical reconnection was performed. Early postnatal treatment avoided functional loss of the left lung that would have happened if malformation had not been identified before birth.