bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Presence and distribution of leptin and its receptor in the gut of adult zebrafish in response to feeding and fasting
Authors: Garcia‐Suarez Olivia , Cabo Roberto , Abbate Francesco , Randazzo Basilio , Laurà Rosaria , Piccione Giuseppe , Germanà Antonino , Levanti Maria 
Published: July 2018

AbstractLeptin is an anorectic hormone secreted mainly by peripheral adipocytes but also by other central and peripheral tissues. It acts by means of a receptor called OB‐R, influencing not only appetite and body mass but being also involved in many fields like endocrinology, metabolism and reproduction. Immunohistochemistry and qRT‐PCR techniques were, respectively, used to demonstrate the presence of leptin and its receptor in the gut of adult zebrafish and to evaluate the leptin gene expression response to feeding and fasting. Immunoreactivity for the antibodies utilized was demonstrated in feeding but not in fasting fish, and the gene expression analysis corroborates the data obtained by immunohistochemistry. Therefore, all the obtained results support the hypothesis of the role of this hormone in food regulation in zebrafish.
Tokishakuyakusan, a traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo) mitigates iNKT cell‐mediated pregnancy loss in mice
Authors: Nagamatsu Takeshi , Fujii Tatsuya , Schust Danny J. , Tsuchiya Naoko , Tokita Yohei , Hoya Mari , Akiba Naoya , Iriyama Takayuki , Kawana Kei , Osuga Yutaka , Fujii Tomoyuki 
Published: July 2018

ObjectiveTokishakuyakusan (TSS) is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used empirically to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss. Its mode of action remains unclear. With their potent capacity to produce cytokines, invariant natural killer (iNKT) cells are involved in the control of fetomaternal immunity in early gestation. This study aimed to clarify the effect of TSS on iNKT cell activities in a well‐studied murine miscarriage model.MethodsPregnant mice were fed 1% TSS‐containing or control diet from the day of vaginal plug formation. Alpha‐galactosylceramide (AGC) was administered intraperitoneally to the pregnant mice at day 9.5 postcoitus (pc) to stimulate iNKT cells. Peripheral cytokine levels were evaluated using cytokine arrays. The percentage of iNKT cells among splenocytes was examined by flow cytometric analysis. The incidence of pregnancy loss was assessed at day 12.5 pc.ResultsThe ratio of fetal resorptions to total conceptuses was significantly higher in the group exposed to TSS (34%) than in controls (78%). A rapid and robust surge in inflammatory cytokines, including IFN‐γ and TNF‐α, was detected in the peripheral blood of control animals 2 hours after AGC administration. This peripheral cytokine induction was significantly attenuated in the TSS‐fed group compared with the control. The percentage of iNKT cells among total splenocytes was lower in the TSS‐fed group than in controls.ConclusionThe findings in this study suggest that the inhibitory effects of TSS on pregnancy loss may involve immune modulation of iNKT cells during early pregnancy.
The functions of foliar nyctinasty: a review and hypothesis
Authors: Minorsky Peter V. 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTFoliar nyctinasty is a plant behaviour characterised by a pronounced daily oscillation in leaf orientation. During the day, the blades of nyctinastic plant leaves (or leaflets) assume a more or less horizontal position that optimises their ability to capture sunlight for photosynthesis. At night, the positions that the leaf blades assume, regardless of whether they arise by rising, falling or twisting, are essentially vertical. Among the ideas put forth to explain the raison d'être of foliar nyctinasty are that it: (i) improves the temperature relations of plants; (ii) helps remove surface water from foliage; (iii) prevents the disruption of photoperiodism by moonlight; and (iv) directly discourages insect herbivory. After discussing these previous hypotheses, a novel tritrophic hypothesis is introduced that proposes that foliar nyctinasty constitutes an indirect plant defence against nocturnal herbivores. It is suggested that the reduction in physical clutter that follows from nocturnal leaf closure may increase the foraging success of many types of animals that prey upon or parasitise herbivores. Predators and parasitoids generally use some combination of visual, auditory or olfactory cues to detect prey. In terrestrial environments, it is hypothesised that the vertical orientation of the blades of nyctinastic plants at night would be especially beneficial to flying nocturnal predators (e.g. bats and owls) and parasitoids whose modus operandi is death from above. The movements of prey beneath a plant with vertically oriented foliage would be visually more obvious to gleaning or swooping predators under nocturnal or crepuscular conditions. Such predators could also detect sounds made by prey better without baffling layers of foliage overhead to damp and disperse the signal. Moreover, any volatiles released by the prey would diffuse more directly to the awaiting olfactory apparatus of the predators or parasitoids. In addition to facilitating the demise of herbivores by carnivores and parasitoids, foliar nyctinasty, much like the enhanced illumination of the full moon, may mitigate feeding by nocturnal herbivores by altering their foraging behaviour. Foliar nyctinasty could also provide a competitive advantage by encouraging herbivores, seeking more cover, to forage on or around non‐nyctinastic species. As an added advantage, foliar nyctinasty, by decreasing the temperature between plants through its effects on re‐radiation, may slow certain types of ectothermic herbivores making them more vulnerable to predation. Foliar nyctinasty also may not solely be a behavioural adaptation against folivores; by discouraging foraging by granivores, the inclusive fitness of nyctinastic plants may be increased.
Why Choo‐Choo Is Better Than Train: The Role of Register‐Specific Words in Early Vocabulary Growth
Authors: Ota Mitsuhiko , Davies‐Jenkins Nicola , Skarabela Barbora 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAcross languages, lexical items specific to infant‐directed speech (i.e., ‘baby‐talk words’) are characterized by a preponderance of onomatopoeia (or highly iconic words), diminutives, and reduplication. These lexical characteristics may help infants discover the referential nature of words, identify word referents, and segment fluent speech into words. If so, the amount of lexical input containing these properties should predict infants’ rate of vocabulary growth. To test this prediction, we tracked the vocabulary size in 47 English‐learning infants from 9 to 21 months and examined whether the patterns of growth can be related to measures of iconicity, diminutives, and reduplication in the lexical input at 9 months. Our analyses showed that both diminutives and reduplication in the input were associated with vocabulary growth, although measures of iconicity were not. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that phonological properties typical of lexical input in infant‐directed speech play a role in early vocabulary growth.
When portfolio theory can help environmental investment planning to reduce climate risk to future environmental outcomes—and when it cannot
Authors: Ando Amy W. , Fraterrigo Jennifer , Guntenspergen Glenn , Howlader Aparna , Mallory Mindy , Olker Jennifer H. , Stickley Samuel 
Published: July 2018

AbstractVariability among climate change scenarios produces great uncertainty in what is the best allocation of resources among investments to protect environmental goods in the future. Previous research shows Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) can help optimize environmental investment targeting to reduce outcome uncertainty with minimal loss of expected level of environmental benefits, but no work has yet identified the types of cases for which MPT is most useful. This article assembles data on 26 different conservation cases in three distinct ecological settings and develops new metrics to evaluate how well MPT can reduce uncertainty in future outcomes of a set of environmental investments. We find MPT is broadly but not universally useful and works best when multiple investments have negatively correlated outcomes across climate scenarios; a second‐best investment has expected value almost as good as the value in the best investment; or multiple investments have little uncertainty in ecological outcomes.
Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and bone metabolism in Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Hansen C. S. , Theilade S. , Lajer M. , Hansen T. W. , Rossing P. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimTo investigate the association between cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and bone metabolism in people with Type 1 diabetes.MethodsWe assessed cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in 329 people with Type 1 diabetes according to heart rate response to deep breathing, to standing and to the Valsalva manoeuvre, and 2‐min resting heart rate. More than one pathological non‐resting test was defined as cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. Bone mineral density of the femoral neck (BMDfn) was assessed by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Serum parathyroid hormone levels and other bone markers were measured.ResultsThe mean (sd) age of the participants was 55.6 (9.4) years, 52% were men, and the mean (sd) diabetes duration was 40 (8.9) years, HbA1c 62 (9) mmol/mol and estimated GFR 78 (26) ml/min/1.73m2. In all, 36% had cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. Participants with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy had 4.2% (95% CI –8.0 to –0.2; P=0.038) lower BMDfn and 33.6% (95% CI 14.3 to 53.8; P=0.0002) higher parathyroid hormone levels compared with participants without cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in adjusted models. Higher resting heart rate remained associated with higher parathyroid hormone level and lower BMDfn after additional adjustment for eGFR (P<0.0001 and P = 0.042, respectively).ConclusionsThe presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was associated with reduced BMDfn and increased levels of parathyroid hormone. Kidney function may either confound or mediate these findings. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy could be associated with increased risk of osteoporosis in Type 1 diabetes. Whether cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy directly affects bone metabolism detrimentally or if this association is mediated via decreased kidney function should be investigated further.
Differential responses of carbon‐degrading enzyme activities to warming: Implications for soil respiration
Authors: Chen Ji , Luo Yiqi , García‐Palacios Pablo , Cao Junji , Dacal Marina , Zhou Xuhui , Li Jianwei , Xia Jianyang , Niu Shuli , Yang Huiyi , Shelton Shelby , Guo Wei , van Groenigen Kees Jan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractExtracellular enzymes catalyze rate‐limiting steps in soil organic matter decomposition, and their activities (EEAs) play a key role in determining soil respiration (SR). Both EEAs and SR are highly sensitive to temperature, but their responses to climate warming remain poorly understood. Here, we present a meta‐analysis on the response of soil cellulase and ligninase activities and SR to warming, synthesizing data from 56 studies. We found that warming significantly enhanced ligninase activity by 21.4% but had no effect on cellulase activity. Increases in ligninase activity were positively correlated with changes in SR, while no such relationship was found for cellulase. The warming response of ligninase activity was more closely related to the responses of SR than a wide range of environmental and experimental methodological factors. Furthermore, warming effects on ligninase activity increased with experiment duration. These results suggest that soil microorganisms sustain long‐term increases in SR with warming by gradually increasing the degradation of the recalcitrant carbon pool.
Pathways into and out of overweight and obesity from infancy to mid‐childhood
Authors: Wright C. M. , Marryat L. , McColl J. , Harjunmaa U. , Cole T. J. 
Published: July 2018

SummaryObjectivesTo investigate whether high weight in infancy predicts obesity in childhood.MethodData from two UK cohorts (Newcastle Growth and Development N = 795, Gateshead Millennium N = 393) and one Finnish (Tampere N = 1262) were combined. Z scores of weight at 3 and 12 months and body mass index (BMI) at 5 and 8 years were categorized as raised/overweight (1 to <2 SD) or high/obese (≥2 SD).ResultsThe majority of infants with raised or high weight at birth tended to revert to normal by 3 months and to track in the same category from 3 to 12 months. Although infants with high weight were five times more likely to have BMI ≥ 2 SD at 8 years (p < 0.001), only 22% went on to have BMI ≥ 2 SD, while 64% of infants with raised weight had normal BMI at 8 years. Of children with BMI ≥ 2 SD aged 8 years, only 22% had raised weight in infancy and half had BMI ≥ 2 SD for the first time at that age.ConclusionsInfants with raised weight in infancy tend to remain so, but most children who go on to have BMI ≥ 2 SD were not unusually heavy infants and the majority of infants with high weight reverted to overweight or normal weight in childhood.
A 627K variant in the PB2 protein of H9 subtype influenza virus in wild birds
Authors: Ge Ye , Yao Qiucheng , Chai Hongliang , Hua Yuping , Deng Guohua , Chen Hualan 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundWild birds are gaining increasing attention as gene‐mixing reservoirs for influenza viruses. To investigate the molecular properties of the viruses isolated and epidemiological analysis of H9N2 subtype AIV in wild birds, we studied samples obtained over two years (2014‐2015) from wetlands in Anhui province, China.MethodsA total of 4534 samples were collected from migratory waterfowl in Anhui in 2014‐2015, and 8 strains of H9 subtype AIV were isolated.ResultsPhylogenetic analysis showed different degrees of gene segment reassortment in H9 viruses between the Eurasian lineage and the North American lineage. Most importantly, two viruses harbored the E627K mutation in the polymerase PB2 (PB2) protein. This is the first report of the mutation of this virus from low pathogenicity to high pathogenicity in wild birds.ConclusionsThe continued surveillance of wild birds, especially migratory birds, is important to provide early warning and control of AIV outbreaks. Our results highlight the high genetic diversity of AIV along the Eurasian‐Australian migration flyway and the need for more extensive AIV surveillance in eastern China.
Technology‐induced bias in the theory of evidence‐based medicine
Authors: Eustace Scott 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDesigning trials and studies to minimize confounding and bias is central to evidence‐based medicine (EBM). The widespread use of recent technologies such as machine learning, smartphones, and the World Wide Web to collect, analyse, and disseminate information can improve the efficiency, reliability, and availability of medical research. However, it also has the potential to introduce new sources of significant, technology‐induced evidential bias. This paper assesses the extent of the impact by reviewing some of the methods by and principles according to which evidence is collected, analysed, and disseminated in EBM, supported by specific examples. It considers the effect of personal health tracking via smartphones, the current proliferation of research data and the influence of search engine “filter bubbles”, the possibility of machine learning‐driven study design, and the implications of using machine learning to seek patterns in large quantities of data, for example from observational studies and medical record databases. It concludes that new technology may introduce profound new sources of bias that current EBM frameworks do not accommodate. It also proposes new approaches that could be incorporated in to EBM theory to mitigate the most obvious risks, and suggests where further assessment of the practical implications is needed.
The incidence and prognosis of thromboembolism associated with oral contraceptives: Age‐dependent difference in Japanese population
Authors: Sugiura Kazuko , Ojima Toshiyuki , Urano Tetsumei , Kobayashi Takao 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimWe analyzed the incidence and prognosis of thromboembolism associated with combined oral contraceptives (COCs) by age groups in Japan.MethodsA total of 581 events of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE) associated with COCs were analyzed from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency database from 2004 to 2013. In a statistical analysis, a good‐prognosis group included recovery cases and a poor‐prognosis group involved unrecovered cases with some sequela and fatal cases. The significant difference between these two groups was calculated by Pearson's chi‐square test, and the age‐specific tendency and the trend of differences in prognosis according to different hormonal contraceptives were examined by Cochran–Armitage trend test.ResultsA total of 543 events were analyzed except 38 events due to unknown age, in which DVT only was the most frequent, followed by cerebral infarction, PE with DVT, PE only, cerebral vein thromboses. ATE ratio for overall thromboembolism tended to increase with advancing age (P = 0.0041). Good‐prognosis group was common (291 cases in VTE and 83 cases in ATE), followed by poor‐prognosis group (46 cases in VTE and 34 cases in ATE). All ATE cases had a significantly poorer prognosis in comparison with all VTE cases (P < 0.0001). Types of progestin and age difference, however, showed no trend in the differences between good‐prognosis group and poor‐prognosis group (P = 0.3548 and P = 0.6097).ConclusionThromboembolic events were the most frequent in the 40s. The ATE ratio for overall thromboembolism tended to increase with advancing age. All ATE cases had a significantly poorer prognosis in comparison with all VTE cases.
Facebow Use in Clinical Prosthodontic Practice
Authors: Nagy William W. , Goldstein Gary R. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe use of a dental facebow in diagnosis and treatment by the restorative dentist has been controversial in recent years. Digital alternatives have been proposed and hold promise for the future; however, the traditional facebow still has practicality in a modern restorative practice. The purpose of this paper is to review facebow use in clinical prosthodontic practice.
Effect of Aging on Stained Monolithic Resin‐Ceramic CAD/CAM Materials: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Surface Roughness
Authors: Mühlemann Sven , Bernini Joëlle M , Sener Beatrice , Hämmerle Christoph HF , Özcan Mutlu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this in vitro study was to measure the effect of staining and artificial aging on the surface roughness of commercially available resin‐ceramic computer‐aided design and computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials both quantitatively and qualitatively and to compare it to feldspathic material.Materials and methodsTest specimens (n = 15 per material) were prepared of CAD/CAM ingots from a resin nanoceramic (Lava Ultimate, LVU), a polymer‐infiltrated ceramic (Vita Enamic, ENA), and a resin nanoceramic (Cerasmart, CER). In the staining protocol, test specimens were (i) roughened in a standardized manner and (ii) stained with the manufacturer's recommended staining kit by means of photo‐polymerization (Bluephase Polywave). The control specimens were prepared out of a feldspathic ceramic (Vita Mark II,VM2) and stained in a ceramic furnace. As negative control of each group, 15 specimens were prepared and polished in a standardized manner. Surface roughness (Ra) was measured after finishing procedures and after simulation of clinical service up to 5 years by means of toothbrushing. After each year of aging, one specimen per group was randomly selected for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Kruskal‐Wallis test and paired post‐hoc test were applied to detect differences between treatment groups (alpha = 0.05).ResultsThe mean roughness measurements of the stained CAD/CAM materials were 0.14 ± 0.04 μm (ENA), 0.15 ± 0.03 μm (LVU), 0.22 ± 0.03 μm (VM2), and 0.26 ± 0.12 μm (CER). In the polished CAD/CAM materials the measurements were 0.01 ± 0.01 μm (CER), 0.02 ± 0.01 μm (LVU), 0.02 ± 0.00 μm (VM2), and 0.03 ± 0.01μm (ENA). Irrespective of the restoration material, the applied staining protocol resulted in a higher surface roughness compared to the polished specimens (p< 0.001). After 5 years of simulated aging the mean surface roughness in the stained CAD/CAM materials were 0.22 ± 0.03 μm (VM2), 0.24 ± 0.09 μm (ENA), 0.25 ± 0.06 μm (CER), and 0.37 ± 0.09 μm (LVU). Aging had a significant effect on surface roughness in groups ENA and LVU (p< 0.001). SEM analysis showed that the staining layer on resin‐ceramic CAD/CAM materials was partially removed over time.ConclusionsThe applied staining protocol significantly increased surface roughness of CAD/CAM materials. Instability of the staining layer on resin‐ceramic CAD/CAM materials could be anticipated over time as a consequence of toothbrushing, whereas feldspathic ceramic did not suffer from such aging effect.
Teenage night owls or early birds? Chronotype and the mental health of adolescents
Authors: Gariépy Geneviève , Riehm Kira E. , Whitehead Ross D. , Doré Isabelle , Elgar Frank J. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractEvidence suggests that the timing of sleep (chronotype) impacts mental health in young people, but previous studies have not accounted for sleep duration or school start time in this association, or examined a broad range of mental outcomes. In this study, we investigated the association between chronotype and mental health in a representative sample of adolescents from the 2014 Canadian Health Behaviour in School‐Aged Children survey (29,635 students, 362 schools). We examined positive and negative aspects of mental health, using scores for emotional problems (range 0–33), emotional well‐being (0–22), behavioural problems (0–28) and prosocial behaviours (0–25). We estimated chronotype using the time of mid‐sleep on weekends and examined the associations using multilevel regressions, adjusted for sleep duration, school start time, individual, family and geographic characteristics. The average time of mid‐sleep (chronotype) was 04:11 hr. An hour delay in mid‐sleep time was associated with more emotional problems (0.34 [95% confidence interval 0.23, 0.45] point higher score), more behavioural problems (2.0% [95% confidence interval 1.4%, 2.6%] higher score), less emotional well‐being (0.19 [95% confidence interval 0.09, 0.20] point lower score), and fewer prosocial behaviours (0.18 [95% confidence interval 0.08, 0.29] point lower score). A later chronotype was associated with poorer mental health, independent of sleep duration and school start time, and across internalizing and externalizing mental health domains. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying this association. The timing of sleep, and not just its duration, may be an additional consideration for youth mental health.
The developmental and cultural psychology of free will
Authors: Kushnir Tamar 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThis paper provides an account of the developmental origins of our belief in free will based on research from a range of ages—infants, preschoolers, older children, and adults—and across cultures. The foundations of free will beliefs are in infants' understanding of intentional action—their ability to use context to infer when agents are free to “do otherwise” and when they are constrained. In early childhood, new knowledge aboutcausesof action leads to new abilities to imagineconstraintson action. Moreover, unlike adults, young children tend to view psychological causes (i.e., desires) and social causes (i.e., following rules or group norms, being kind or fair) of action as constraints on free will. But these beliefs change, and also diverge across cultures, corresponding to differences between Eastern and Western philosophies of mind, self, and action. Finally, new evidence shows developmentally early, culturally dependent links between free will beliefs and behavior, in particular when choice‐making requires self‐control.