bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of animal-assisted therapy on social behaviour in patients with acquired brain injury: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Hediger Karin , Thommen Stefan , Wagner Cora , Gaab Jens , Hund-Georgiadis Margret 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAnimal-assisted therapy (AAT) is increasingly used to address impaired social competence in patients with acquired brain injury. However, the efficacy of AAT has not been tested in these patients. We used a randomised, controlled within subject trial to determine the effects of AAT on social competence in patients undergoing stationary neurorehabilitation. Participants received both AAT sessions and paralleled conventional therapy sessions. The patients’ social behaviour was systematically coded on the basis of video recordings of therapy sessions. Moreover, mood, treatment motivation and satisfaction was measured during each therapy session. We analysed 222 AAT and 219 control sessions of 19 patients with linear mixed models. Patients showed a significantly higher amount of social behaviour during AAT. Furthermore, patients’ positive emotions, verbal and non-verbal communication, mood, treatment motivation and satisfaction were increased in the presence of an animal. Neutral emotions were reduced but no effect was found regarding negative emotions. Our results show that AAT increases aspects of social competence and leads to higher emotional involvement of patients with acquired brain injury, reflected in higher social engagement, motivation and satisfaction during a therapeutic session.
Successively accelerated ionic wind with integrated dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma actuator for low-voltage operation
Authors: Sato Shintaro , Furukawa Haruki , Komuro Atsushi , Takahashi Masayuki , Ohnishi Naofumi 
Published: April 2019

AbstractElectrohydrodynamic (EHD) force is used for active control of fluid motion and for the generation of propulsive thrust by inducing ionic wind with no moving parts. We propose a method of successively generating and accelerating ionic wind induced by surface dielectric-barrier-discharge (DBD), referred to as a DBD plasma actuator with multiple electrodes. A conventional method fails to generate unidirectional ionic wind, due to the generation of a counter ionic-wind with the multiple electrodes DBD plasma actuator. However, unidirectional ionic wind can be obtained by designing an applied voltage waveform and electrode arrangement suitable for the unidirectional EHD force generation. Our results demonstrate that mutually enhanced EHD force is generated by using the multiple electrodes without generating counter ionic-wind and highlights the importance of controlling the dielectric surface charge to generate the strong ionic wind. The proposed method can induce strong ionic wind without a high-voltage power supply, which is typically expensive and heavy, and is suitable for equipping small unmanned aerial vehicles with a DBD plasma actuator for a drastic improvement in the aerodynamic performance.
microRNA-155 inhibition restores Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 expression in diabetic skin and decreases wound inflammation
Authors: Moura João , Sørensen Anja , Leal Ermelindo C. , Svendsen Rikke , Carvalho Lina , Willemoes Rie Juul , Jørgensen Per Trolle , Jenssen Håvard , Wengel Jesper , Dalgaard Louise Torp , Carvalho Eugénia 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTreatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers is limited by the inability to simultaneously address the excessive inflammation and impaired re-epithelization and remodeling. Impaired re-epithelization leads to significantly delayed wound closure and excessive inflammation causes tissue destruction, both enhancing wound pathogen colonization. Among many differentially expressed microRNAs, miR-155 is significantly upregulated and fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) mRNA (target of miR-155) and protein are suppressed in diabetic skin, when compared to controls, leading us to hypothesize that topical miR-155 inhibition would improve diabetic wound healing by restoring FGF7 expression.In vitroinhibition of miR-155 increased human keratinocyte scratch closure and topical inhibition of miR-155in vivoin wounds increased murine FGF7 protein expression and significantly enhanced diabetic wound healing. Moreover, we show that miR-155 inhibition leads to a reduction in wound inflammation, in accordance with known pro-inflammatory actions of miR-155. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that topical miR-155 inhibition increases diabetic wound fibroblast growth factor 7 expression in diabetic wounds, which, in turn, increases re-epithelization and, consequently, accelerates wound closure. Topical miR-155 inhibition targets both excessive inflammation and impaired re-epithelization and remodeling, being a potentially new and effective treatment for chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
Mitogenomics of historical type specimens of Australasian turtles: clarification of taxonomic confusion and old mitochondrial introgression
Authors: Kehlmaier Christian , Zhang Xiuwen , Georges Arthur , Campbell Patrick D. , Thomson Scott , Fritz Uwe 
Published: April 2019

AbstractDiagnosability is central to taxonomy as are type specimens which define taxa. New advances in technologies and the discovery of new informative traits must be matched with previous taxonomic decisions based on name-bearing type specimens. Consequently, the challenge of sequencing highly degraded DNA from historical types becomes an inevitability to resolve the very many taxonomic issues arising from, by modern standards, poor historical species descriptions leading to difficulties to assign names to genetic clusters identified from fresh material. Here we apply high-throughput parallel sequencing and sequence baiting to reconstruct the mitogenomes from 18 type specimens of Australasian side-necked turtles (Chelidae). We resolve a number of important issues that have confused the taxonomy of this family, and analyse the mitogenomes of the types and those of fresh material to improve our understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of this morphologically conservative group. Together with previously published nuclear genomic data, our study provides evidence for multiple old mitochondrial introgressions.
Natural tuning of restriction endonuclease synthesis by cluster of rare arginine codons
Authors: Mruk Iwona , Kaczorowski Tadeusz , Witczak Agata 
Published: April 2019

AbstractRestriction–modification (R-M) systems are highly widespread among bacteria and archaea, and they appear to play a pivotal role in modulating horizontal gene transfer, as well as in protecting the host organism against viruses and other invasive DNA particles. Type II R-M systems specify two independent enzymes: a restriction endonuclease (REase) and protective DNA methyltransferase (MTase). If the cell is to survive, the counteracting activities as toxin and antitoxin, must be finely balanced in vivo. The molecular basis of this regulatory process remains unclear and current searches for regulatory elements in R-M modules are focused mainly at the transcription step. In this report, we show new aspects of REase control that are linked to translation. We used the EcoVIII R-M system as a model. Both, the REase and MTase genes for this R-M system contain an unusually high number of rare arginine codons (AGA and AGG) when compared to the rest of the E. coli K-12 genome. Clusters of these codons near the N-terminus of the REase greatly affect the translational efficiency. Changing these to higher frequency codons for E. coli (CGC) improves the REase synthesis, making the R-M system more potent to defend its host against bacteriophages. However, this improved efficiency in synthesis reduces host fitness due to increased autorestriction. We hypothesize that expression of the endonuclease gene can be modulated depending on the host genetic context and we propose a novel post-transcriptional mode of R–M system regulation that alleviates the potential lethal action of the restriction enzyme.
Mapping the potential use of endectocide-treated cattle to reduce malaria transmission
Authors: Imbahale Susan S. , Montaña Lopez Julia , Brew Joe , Paaijmans Krijn , Rist Cassidy , Chaccour Carlos 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTreating cattle with endectocide is a longstanding veterinary practice to reduce the load of endo and ectoparasites, but has the potential to be added to the malaria control and elimination toolbox, as it also kills malaria mosquitoes feeding on the animals. Here we used openly available data to map the areas of the African continent where high malaria prevalence in 2–10 year old children coincides with a high density of cattle and high density of the partly zoophilic malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis. That is, mapping the areas where treating cattle with endectocide would potentially have the greatest impact on reducing malaria transmission. In regions of Africa that are not dominated by rainforest nor desert, the map shows a scatter of areas in several countries where this intervention shows potential, including central and eastern sub-Saharan Africa. The savanna region underneath the Sahel in West Africa appears as the climatic block that would benefit to the largest extent from this intervention, encompassing several countries. West Africa currently presents the highest under-10 malaria prevalence and elimination within the next twenty years cannot be contemplated there with currently available interventions alone, making the use of endectocide treated cattle as a complementary intervention highly appealing.
Is there a role for autophagy in ascending aortopathy associated with tricuspid or bicuspid aortic valve?
Authors: Forte Amalia , Cipollaro Marilena , De Feo Marisa , Della Corte Alessandro 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved process by which cytoplasmatic elements are sequestered in vesicles and degraded after their fusion with lysosomes, thus recycling the precursor molecules. The autophagy-mediated removal of redundant/harmful/damaged organelles and biomolecules plays not only a replenishing function, but protects against stressful conditions through an adaptive mechanism. Autophagy, known to play a role in several pathological conditions, is now gaining increasing attention also in the perspective of the identification of the pathogenetic mechanisms at the basis of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), a localized or diffused dilatation of the aorta with an abnormal widening greater than 50 percent of the vessel’s normal diameter. TAA is less frequent than abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but is encountered with a higher percentage in patients with congenital heart disease or known genetic syndromes. Several biological aspects of TAA pathophysiology remain to be elucitated and therapeutic needs are still widely unmet. One of the most controversial and epidemiologically important forms of TAA is that associated with the congenital bicuspid malformation of the aortic valve (BAV). Dysregulated autophagy in response, for example, to wall shear stress alterations, has been demonstrated to affect the phenotype of vascular cells relevant to aortopathy, with potential consequences on signaling, remodeling, and angiogenesis. The most recent findings and hypotheses concerning the multiple aspects of autophagy and of its dysregulation are summarized, both in general and in the context of the different vascular cell types and of TAA progression, with particular reference to BAV-related aortopathy.
Dynamic chromatin organization in the cell
Authors: Prieto Eloise I. , Maeshima Kazuhiro 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
The organization and regulation of genomic DNA as nuclear chromatin is necessary for proper DNA function inside living eukaryotic cells. While this has been extensively explored, no true consensus is currently reached regarding the exact mechanism of chromatin organization. The traditional view has assumed that the DNA is packaged into a hierarchy of structures inside the nucleus based on the regular 30-nm chromatin fiber. This is currently being challenged by the fluid-like model of the chromatin which views the chromatin as a dynamic structure based on the irregular 10-nm fiber. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in chromatin structure elucidation highlighting the paradigm shift in chromatin folding mechanism from the classical textbook perspective of the regularly folded chromatin to the more dynamic fluid-like perspective.
Intravelar and Extravelar Portions of Soft Palate Muscles in Velic Constrictions: A Three-Dimensional Modeling Study
Authors: Anderson Peter , Fels Sidney , Stavness Ian , Pearson William G. , Gick Bryan 
Published: April 2019

PurposeThis study predicts and simulates the function and relative contributions of the intravelar and extravelar portions of the levator veli palatini (LVP) and palatoglossus (PG) muscles in velic constrictions.MethodA finite element-based model of the 3-dimensional upper airway structures (palate, pharynx, tongue, jaw, maxilla) was implemented, with LVP and PG divided into intravelar and extravelar portions. Simulations were run to investigate the contributions of these muscles in velopharyngeal port (VPP) closure and constriction of the oropharyngeal isthmus (OPI).ResultsSimulations reveal that the extravelar portion of LVP, though crucial for lifting the palate, is not sufficient to effect VPP closure. Specifically, the characteristic “bulge” appearing in the posterior soft palate during VPP closure (Pigott, 1969;Serrurier & Badin, 2008) is found to result from activation of the intravelar portion of LVP. Likewise, the intravelar portion of posterior PG is crucial in bending the “veil” or “traverse” (Gick, Francis, Klenin, Mizrahi, & Tom, 2013) of the velum anteriorly to produce uvular constrictions of the OPI (Gick et al., 2014).ConclusionsSimulations support the view that intravelar LVP and PG play significant roles in VPP and OPI constrictions.
Respiratory Phase and Lung Volume Patterns During Swallowing in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hopkins-Rossabi Theresa , Curtis Philip , Temenak Mark , Miller Corinne , Martin-Harris Bonnie 
Published: April 2019

PurposeThe coordination of respiration with swallowing is critical for facilitation of airway protection and the efficiency of movements that propel ingested material through the upper aerodigestive tract. Confirmation of a predominant pattern in healthy adults provides a platform for comparison to aberrant patterns observed in the population with swallowing impairment (dysphagia).MethodA comprehensive search of published research in MEDLINE via PubMed 1946–2018, Embase 1947–2018, and Proquest Dissertations & Theses Global 1861–2018 was completed.ResultsThirty-seven articles meeting inclusion criteria were selected for data extraction, and the findings were reviewed. In addition, a meta-analysis of the data was completed. A significantly higher occurrence (p< .001) of expiration prior to and following the swallow was found when compared to 3 other patterns. The predominance of the pattern was influenced by increases in bolus volume when controlling for participant sample size.ConclusionDetermination of this predominant pattern provides a normative framework for evaluating respiratory–swallow coordination in adults across the age span and highlights the relevance for assessing and incorporating respiratory swallowing coordination during assessment and interventions.
Multimediales E-Learning in der Chirurgie, 10 Jahre Erfahrung an der Universität Würzburg
Authors: Wierlemann Alexander , Seyfried Florian , Germer Christoph Thomas 
Published: April 2019

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Digitale Inhalte im Internet sind zu einer wichtigen Lernressource für Studierende geworden. E-Learning kann einen wichtigen Beitrag leisten bei der Unterstützung von Lernprozessen. Gleichzeitig können Lehrangebote im Internet eine größere Zielgruppe erreichen als klassische Lehrformate.
Methoden Als Ergänzung des Lehrangebots der chirurgischen Universitätsklinik Würzburg wurde eine frei zugängliche E-Learning-Plattform etabliert, die den gesamten Themenbereich der Allgemein- und Viszeralchirurgie abbildet und die Themen multimedial aufbereitet interaktiv präsentiert.
Ergebnisse Im Zeitraum von Februar 2010 bis April 2018 wurden auf den verschiedenen Seiten des E-Learnings kumulativ 1 444 806 Seitenaufrufe verzeichnet von insgesamt 350 212 Nutzern. 24,04% der Nutzer griffen mit mobilen Endgeräten oder Tablets auf die Seiten zu.
Schlussfolgerung Mithilfe frei verfügbarer Open-Source-Software ist es möglich, ein modernes E-Learning-Angebot zu realisieren. Der Verzicht auf proprietäre Standards, die Berücksichtigung der Plattformunabhängigkeit sowie der Verzicht auf jegliche Zugangsbeschränkung helfen, die Reichweite des Angebots weit über die eigene Fakultät hinaus zu erhöhen. Bei zukünftigen Weiterentwicklungen wird die stärkere Personalisierung des Angebots zu berücksichtigen sein, auch um Effekte auf den Lernerfolg besser bewerten zu können.
Perceived distress, personality characteristics, coping strategies and psychosocial impairments in a national German multicenter cohort of patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Authors: Petruo Vanessa , Krauss Ekaterina , Kleist Anika , Hardt Juliane , Hake Karsten , Peirano Julia , Krause Thomas , Ehehalt Robert , von Arnauld de la Perriére Philipp , Büning Jürgen , Treml Oliver , Krauss Norbert , Albrecht Heinz , Felten Gisela , Hermannspahn Uta , Burkhardt Ulrike , Eisold Marc , Teich Nils , Siegmund Britta , Maaser Christian , Bokemeyer Bernd , Baumgart Daniel , Neurath Markus , Mudter Jonas ,   German IBD Study Group (GISG) KND
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Background and aims This study examined differences in personality, psychological distress, and stress coping in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) depending on type of disease and disease activity. We compared patients suffering from Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) with controls. While the literature is replete with distinctive features of the pathogenesis of IBD, the specific differences in psychological impairments are not well studied.
Methods In this German national multicenter study, participants were recruited from 32 centers. Two hundred ninety-seven questionnaires were included, delivering vast information on disease status and psychological well-being based on validated instruments with a total of 285 variables.
Results CD patients were more affected by psychological impairments than patients suffering from UC or controls. Importantly, patients with active CD scored higher in neuroticism (p < 0.01), psychological distress (p < 0.001) and maladaptive stress coping (escape, p = 0.03; rumination, p < 0.03), but less need for social support (p = 0.001) than controls. In contrast, patients suffering from active UC showed psychological distress (p < 0.04) and maladaptive coping (avoidance, p < 0.03; escape, p = 0.01). Patients in remission seemed to be less affected. In particular, patients with UC in remission were not inflicted by psychological impairments. The group of CD patients in remission however, showed insecurity (p < 0.01) and paranoid ideation (p = 0.04).
Conclusions We identified specific aspects of psychological impairment in IBD depending on disease and disease activity. Our results underscore the need for psychological support and treatment particularly in active CD.
The “Aachen sings” study (“Aachen choir engagement study into GERD symptoms”): moderate singing and breathing exercises in a choir reduce reflux symptoms – a cohort study in non-specialist choristers
Authors: Dietrich Christoph , Kottmann Tanja , Labenz Joachim , Streetz Konrad , Hellebrandt Peter 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Background The influence of singing activities and breathing exercises on the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms is not clear. While an Austrian study found symptom reduction, an Italian study showed more symptoms in professional opera choristers. These contradictory results may be due to differential intensity of the singing exercises. We therefore developed a questionnaire to investigate the presence of GERD typical symptoms and defined GERD in nonprofessional choristers with moderate singing activity and breathing exercises and compared the results to those from related non-singing control persons.
Methods 434 actively engaged lay-choir persons and 310 non-singing friends or relatives answered questions in a questionnaire regarding basic data, singing habits, GERD symptoms, and past or present diagnostic events and medications.
Results Non-singing control persons experienced more frequently heartburn (1.1 ± 4.1 vs. 0.5 ± 1.2 episodes/week, p = 0.001) and acid regurgitation (0.9 ± 4.1 vs. 0.5 ± 1.3 episodes/week, p < 0.001) and had more often already received the diagnosis of GERD (16.8 % vs. 10.4 %, p = 0.011). From the persons without known GERD, members of the control cohort more often fulfilled the simplified diagnostic criteria of GERD (14.3 % vs. 5.1 %, p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis identified non-singing, high body mass index, and smoking as significant risk factors for the presence of GERD symptoms.
Conclusion The frequency of reflux symptoms and GERD is probably still increasing. Moderate singing activities and breathing exercises seem to be helpful in avoiding reflux symptoms such as heartburn and acid regurgitation.
Simultaneous Diagnosis and Treatment of Double Synchronous Spinal Cord Vascular Malformation
Authors: Cannizzaro Delia , Tropeano Maria Pia , Fornari Maurizio , Servadei Franco , Cardia Andrea 
Published: April 2019

Although multiple concurrent spinal arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are a well-known anatomical and clinical entity, the management of these lesions and timing of surgical intervention is still a matter of debate.A 74-year-old man with a 2-year history of progressive weakness of both lower limbs and lower back pain was diagnosed angiographically with a thoracic DAVF. During the surgical procedure, double independent spinal DAVFs were identified. With the aid of neurophysiologic monitoring, we proceeded to the closure of both fistulas in a one-step surgery.Neurophysiologic monitoring represents a valid, widely available, minimally invasive tool for the detection of immediate motor fiber damage due to disruption of the incorrect vessels during DAVF surgery and facilitates a safe treatment in a one-step procedure.
The criminogenic and psychological effects of police stops on adolescent black and Latino boys
Authors: Del Toro Juan , Lloyd Tracey , Buchanan Kim S. , Robins Summer Joi , Bencharit Lucy Zhang , Smiedt Meredith Gamson , Reddy Kavita S. , Pouget Enrique Rodriguez , Kerrison Erin M. , Goff Phillip Atiba 
Published: April 2019

SignificanceFour waves of longitudinal survey data demonstrate that contact with law enforcement predicts increases in black and Latino adolescents’ self-reported criminal behaviors 6, 12, and 18 months later. These results are partially mediated by psychological distress. The younger boys are when stopped for the first time, the stronger these relationships. Boys’ race and prior engagement in delinquent behaviors did not moderate the effect. These findings fill a gap in the research literature on labeling, life course, general strain, and deterrence theories. To our knowledge, the relationships among police contact, psychological strain, and subsequent criminal behavior for young boys had not been tested quantitatively before. These findings raise policy questions about the influence of proactive policing on the trajectory of children.