bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Morphological defects, sperm DNA integrity, and protamination of bovine spermatozoa
Authors: Boe‐Hansen G. B. , Fortes M. R. S , Satake N. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThe association between sperm morphology characteristics and DNA conformation and integrity is still controversial. In bulls, major morphological sperm abnormalities have been associated with reduced fertility, and morphological assessment is used to provide an indication of potential fertility of the individual. Sperm DNA fragmentation and damage has a negative effect on embryo development and subsequently fertility, with bull spermatozoa generally displaying low levels of DNA damage and tight chromatin. However, sensitive methods for detecting chromatin damage may reveal associations with morphological defects. The objective was to determine whether morphological sperm abnormalities and variables expressing sperm DNA integrity and protamination are correlated in bulls, using the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and the sperm protamine deficiency assay (SPDA). Electroejaculated samples (n = 1009) from two‐year‐old tropically adapted bulls were split and fixed and submitted to microscopic sperm morphology assessment, and snap‐frozen for sperm nuclear integrity assessments by SPDA and SCSA. For SPDA, the variables were defective (MCB) and deprotaminated (HCB), and for SCSA, the variables were DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and high DNA stainability (HDS). HCB correlated with DFI; τKen2 = 0.317 and HDS; 0.098, and MCB correlated with DFI; 0.183 (p < 0.001). The percentage of morphological normal spermatozoa was correlated negatively to DFI; τKen2 = −0.168, MCB; −0.116 and HCB; −0.137 (p < 0.001). HCB and DFI were both positively correlated to head defects, proximal droplets, and spermatogenic immaturity, but not to distal droplets, vacuoles, or diadems. Sperm DNA integrity and protamination, using the SCSA and SPDA, respectively, in bulls show associations with morphological parameters, particularly with head shape abnormalities and indicators of spermatogenic immaturity, including proximal droplets. The vacuoles and diadem defects were not correlated with sperm nuclear integrity, and hence, these are likely physiological features that may not directly affect sperm chromatin configuration.
Unsettling “Inner City”: Liberal Protestantism and the Postwar Origins of a Keyword in Urban Studies
Authors: Ansfield Bench 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe term inner city first achieved consistent usage through the writings of liberal Protestants in the USA after World War II. Its genesis was the product of an era when a largely suburban mainline Protestantism was negotiating its relationship to American cities. Liberal Protestants’ missionary brand of urban renewal refocused attention away from the blight and structural obsolescence thought to be responsible for urban decay, and instead brought into focus the cultural pathologies they mapped onto black neighbourhoods. The term inner city arose in this context, providing a rhetorical and ideological tool for articulating the role of the church in the nationwide project of urban renewal. I argue that even as it arose in contexts aiming to entice mainline Protestantism back into the cities it had fled, the term accrued its meaning by generating symbolic and geographic distance between white liberal churches and the black communities they sought to help.
Platelet biology in regenerative medicine of skeletal muscle
Authors: Scully D. , Naseem K. M. , Matsakas A. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPlatelet‐based applications such as platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) and platelet releasate have gained unprecedented attention in regenerative medicine across a variety of tissues as of late. The rationale behind utilizing PRP originates in the delivery of key cytokines and growth factors from α‐granules to the targeted area, which in turn act as cell cycle regulators and promote the healing process across a variety of tissues. The aim of the present review is to assimilate current experimental evidence on the role of platelets as biomaterials in tissue regeneration, particularly in skeletal muscle, by integrating findings from human, animal and cell studies. This review is composed of 3 parts: firstly, we review key aspects of platelet biology that precede the preparation and use of platelet‐related applications for tissue regeneration. Secondly, we critically discuss relevant evidence on platelet‐mediated regeneration in skeletal muscle focusing on findings from (i) clinical trials, (ii) experimental animal studies and (iii) cell culture studies; and thirdly, we discuss the application of platelets in the regeneration of several other tissues including tendon, bone, liver, vessels and nerve. Finally, we review key technical variations in platelet preparation that may account for the large discrepancy in outcomes from different studies. This review provides an up‐to‐date reference tool for biomedical and clinical scientists involved in platelet‐mediated tissue regenerative applications.
Water deprivation decreases strength in fast twitch muscle in contrast to slow twitch muscle in rat
Authors: Farhat F. , Grosset J. F. , Canon F. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAimThe effects of dehydration on muscle performance in human are still contradictory, notably regarding muscle force. The effect of water deprivation (WD) on mechanical properties of skeletal muscle, and more precisely its impact on slow and fast muscles, remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine for the first time whether WD leads to changes in contractile properties of skeletal muscle and whether these changes were muscle‐type‐specific.MethodsSixteen‐week‐old male rats were assigned to either a control group (C) with water or a 96‐hour WD group. At the end of the period, twitch and tetanus properties, as well as biochemical and structural analysis, were performed on soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles.ResultsAbsolute twitch (Pt) and tetanic (P0) tension were, respectively, 17% and 14% lower in EDL of WD rats as compared with C rats, whereas unexpected increases of 43% and 25% were observed in SOL. Tensions normalized with respect to muscle mass were not affected by WD in EDL, whereas they were increased by more than 40% in SOL. A 96‐hour WD period leads to a decrease in fibre cross‐sectional area and absolute myofibrillar content only in EDL.ConclusionIt is hypothesized that differences in the results between slow and fast muscles may come from (i) a muscle‐type‐specific effect of WD on protein balance, EDL showing a greater myofibrillar protein breakdown and (ii) a greater sensitivity to osmolality changes induced by WD in EDL than in SOL.
British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) consensus document for the management of male genital emergencies ‐ testicular trauma
Authors: Lucky Marc , Brown Gareth , Dorkin Trevor , Pearcy Richard , Shabbir Majid , Shukla Chitranjan J. , Rees Rowland W. , Summerton Duncan J. , Muneer Asif ,   BAUS Section of Andrology and Genitourethral Surgery (AGUS)
Published: April 2018

Male genital emergencies relating to the penis and scrotum are rare and require prompt investigation and surgical intervention. Clinicians are often unfamiliar with the management of these conditions and may not work in a specialist centre with on‐site expertise in genitourethral surgery. A series of consensus statements have been developed by an expert consensus comprising British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) Section of Andrology and Genitourethral Surgery together with experts from units throughout the UK. Testicular trauma requires prompt investigation and treatment in order to prevent the development of subfertility or hypogonadism. This series of consensus statements provide guidance for UK practice.
Do health consultations for people with learning disabilities meet expectations? A narrative literature review
Authors: Chapman Hazel M. , Lovell Andrew , Bramwell Ros 
Published: April 2018

Accessible Summary

People with learning disabilities have unmet health needs.

Annual health checks were brought in to improve health care, but do they work?

The research shows checks lead to more tests for illness and illness being identified.

A lot of people still do not see their doctor, and not all doctors do health checks.

Future research needs to understand how people with disabilities feel about seeing their doctor or nurse, and how doctors and nurses feel towards them.

AbstractAimTo explore the benefits and disadvantages of annual health checks for people with learning disabilities, including:

What are the rationales and outcome measures for health checks?

How well do health checks meet the needs of people with learning disabilities?

What areas does research in this topic need to focus on in the future?

BackgroundHealth consultations are an interpersonal activity that influence health outcomes and attitudes towards self and health professionals for people with learning disabilities. Annual health checks have been introduced to improve health inequalities for people with learning disabilities.MethodA narrative literature review of health care for people with learning disabilities was undertaken to evaluate health care for this population, and specifically the outcomes from annual health checks.FindingsWhile annual health checks have made some improvements in terms of health outcomes, attendance for appointments is still low, provision is variable and experiences of health checks for people with learning disabilities are under‐researched.ConclusionsService user‐led research into their health experiences is needed. Research into the attitudes and experiences of health professionals in relation to people with learning disabilities is needed. Healthcare inequalities are only being partially addressed—improvement is needed in terms of service user experience and engagement.
Identification of novel antilipogenic agents targeting fatty acid biosynthesis through structure‐based virtual screening
Authors: Soulère Laurent , Alix Pascaline M. , Croze Marine L. , Soulage Christophe O. 
Published: April 2018

An Asinex Gold Platinium chemical library subset of 12 055 compounds was screened employing docking simulations in the active site of the human FAS KS domain. Among them, 13 compounds were further evaluated for their ability to inhibit fatty acid biosynthesis. Four compounds were found to be active in particular ASN05064661 and ASN05374526 with IC50 values of 6.6 and 10.5 μm, respectively. A binding mode study was further conducted with these two compounds structurally related to benzene sulfonamide and aromatic polyamide. This study showed that they fit tightly with the active site with several interactions, notably with the key residues Cys161, His293, and His331.
Turning a Digital Camera into an Absolute 2D Tele‐Colorimeter
Authors: Guarnera G. C. , Bianco S. , Schettini R. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractWe present a simple and effective technique for absolute colorimetric camera characterization, invariant to changes in exposure/aperture and scene irradiance, suitable in a wide range of applications including image‐based reflectance measurements, spectral pre‐filtering and spectral upsampling for rendering, to improve colour accuracy in high dynamic range imaging. Our method requires a limited number of acquisitions, an off‐the‐shelf target and a commonly available projector, used as a controllable light source, other than the reflected radiance to be known. The characterized camera can be effectively used as a 2D tele‐colorimeter, providing the user with an accurate estimate of the distribution of luminance and chromaticity in a scene, without requiring explicit knowledge of the incident lighting power spectra. We validate the approach by comparing our estimated absolute tristimulus values (XYZ data in ) with the measurements of a professional 2D tele‐colorimeter, for a set of scenes with complex geometry, spatially varying reflectance and light sources with very different spectral power distribution.
Phylogeny and historical biogeography of Gondwanan moss‐bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Coleorrhyncha: Peloridiidae)
Authors: Ye Zhen , Damgaard Jakob , Burckhardt Daniel , Gibbs George , Yuan Juanjuan , Yang Huanhuan , Bu Wenjun 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe moss bugs of the Peloridiidae, a small group of cryptic and mostly flightless insects, is the only living family in Coleorrhyncha (Insecta: Hemiptera). Today 37 species in 17 genera are known from eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Patagonia, and the peloridiids are thereby a group with a classical southern Gondwanan distribution. To explicitly test whether the present‐day distribution of the Peloridiidae actually results from the sequential breakup of southern Gondwana, we provide the first total‐evidence phylogenetic study based on morphological and molecular characters sampled from about 75% of recognized species representing 13 genera. The results largely confirm the established morphological phylogenetic context except that South American Peloridium hammoniorum constitutes the sister group to the remaining peloridiids. A timescale analysis indicates that the Peloridiidae began to diversify in the land mass that is today's Patagonia in the late Jurassic (153 Ma, 95% highest posterior density: 78–231 Ma), and that splitting into the three extant well‐supported biogeographical clades (i.e. Australia, Patagonia and New Zealand/New Caledonia) is consistent with the sequential breakup of southern Gondwana in the late Cretaceous, indicating that the current transoceanic disjunct distributions of the Peloridiidae are best explained by a Gondwanan vicariance hypothesis.
Coping behavior in multiple sclerosis—complementary and alternative medicine: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Rommer Paulus S , König Nicolaus , Sühnel Annett , Zettl Uwe K 
Published: April 2018

SummaryMain ProblemTreatment options for multiple sclerosis (MS) have enlarged tremendously over the last years. Nonetheless, lots of patients look for alternative treatment options. The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widespread in MS, however, its scientific investigation is limited so far. The aim of the study is to analyse clinical and demographical differences of MS patients in dependency of their CAM utilization as coping strategy.MethodsA total of 254 patients with a clinically definite MS were examined in a semistructured interview. Additional standardized questionnaires were used to measure different aspects of coping with illness. All patients underwent neurological examination.ResultsAbout 206 of all enrolled patients are CAM users (81.1%). They have a longer disease duration (8.3 years vs 7.3 years, P = 0.028) and show higher disability (median EDSS 4.0 vs 2.0, P < 0.001) than nonusers. CAM users differed significantly from nonusers in their coping behavior (P = 0.035). Users are brooding more heavily over the disease, looking for more information about MS, and are looking for a sense of their disease in religion more often than nonusers. CAM users are at a higher risk of depression. Almost two‐thirds of CAM users (57.6%) reported positive effects on the well‐being of their state of health.ConclusionCoping behavior differs significantly between CAM users and nonusers. CAM utilization is associated with higher disability and depression. More than 80% of our cohort has used alternative or complementary methods. CAM utilization may mirror unmet needs in the treatment of MS.
Motor development in infancy is related to cognitive function at 4 years of age
Authors: Heineman Kirsten R , Schendelaar Pamela , Van den Heuvel Edwin R , Hadders‐Algra Mijna 
Published: April 2018

AimEvidence is accumulating that motor and cognitive development are interrelated. This study investigates associations between motor development in infancy and cognitive function at 4 years of age.MethodThis study is part of the Groningen prospective cohort study on the development of children born after assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization. The study group consisted of 223 children (119 males, 104 females) born to subfertile couples (median gestational age 39.6wks, range 30–43wks). Motor behaviour was assessed with the Infant Motor Profile (IMP) at 4 months, 10 months, and 18 months. IQ was evaluated at 4 years with the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition. Latent class growth modelling was used to analyse relations between IMP and IQ scores.ResultsInfants with low total IMP scores had an IQ that was 8.9 points lower at 4 years than infants with typical IMP scores (95% confidence interval 3.6–14.1). Also, low scores in the domains of variation and performance were associated with a lower IQ at 4 years of age, by 6.1 points and 13.2 points respectively.InterpretationMotor development in relatively low‐risk infants is associated with cognition at 4 years of age. In particular, low motor variation and performance are associated with a lower IQ at 4 years of age.What this paper adds

Motor development in infancy is directly related to cognitive function at 4 years of age.

This relationship is most pronounced for infant motor variation and performance.

The size of the differences in IQ is clinically relevant.
Procalcitonin measurement to screen medullary thyroid carcinoma: A prospective evaluation in a series of 2705 patients with thyroid nodules
Authors: Giovanella Luca , Imperiali Mauro , Piccardo Arnoldo , Taborelli Monica , Verburg Frederik Anton , Daurizio Federica , Trimboli Pierpaolo 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundTo prospectively evaluate the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in screening of patients with thyroid nodules for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).Materials and methodsWe measured PCT in 2705 patients with thyroid nodules referred to our centre between January 2011 and December 2017. Those with a positive PCT were operated after positive confirmatory tests such as fine‐needle aspiration, measurement of calcitonin (CT) in serum and fine‐needle aspiration washouts or CT stimulation testing. Patients with a negative PCT were operated based on the results of further diagnostics. The diagnostic performance of PCT was evaluated, and the best cut‐off level was selected by ROC curve analysis.ResultsAmong 2705 patients, 9 with positive serum PCT (ie, above 0.1 μg/L) and 370 with negative PCT underwent thyroid surgery. MTC was histologically confirmed in all patients with positive PCT but not found in patients with negative PCT. Serum PCT levels were significantly higher in patients with MTC (median 0.64 μg/L, range 0.16‐12.9 μg/L) than in those without (median 0.075 μg/L, range 0.075‐0.16 μg/L; P < .0001). ROC curves were plotted to calculate the optimal PCT value separating patients with MTC from those without. The best cut‐off was 0.155 μg/L with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values as well as accuracy of 100%, 99.7%, 91.7%, 100% and 99.7%, respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 329 and zero, respectively.ConclusionsMeasurement of PCT is a sensitive and accurate method for detecting MTC in patients with thyroid nodules and can thus be a reliable alternative to CT measurement.
Automated detection of focal cortical dysplasia type II with surface‐based magnetic resonance imaging postprocessing and machine learning
Authors: Jin Bo , Krishnan Balu , Adler Sophie , Wagstyl Konrad , Hu Wenhan , Jones Stephen , Najm Imad , Alexopoulos Andreas , Zhang Kai , Zhang Jianguo , Ding Meiping , Wang Shuang ,   the Pediatric Imaging, Neurocognition, and Genetics Study, Wang Zhong Irene 
Published: April 2018

SummaryObjectiveFocal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a major pathology in patients undergoing surgical resection to treat pharmacoresistant epilepsy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) postprocessing methods may provide essential help for detection of FCD. In this study, we utilized surface‐based MRI morphometry and machine learning for automated lesion detection in a mixed cohort of patients with FCD type II from 3 different epilepsy centers.MethodsSixty‐one patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy and histologically proven FCD type II were included in the study. The patients had been evaluated at 3 different epilepsy centers using 3 different MRI scanners. T1‐volumetric sequence was used for postprocessing. A normal database was constructed with 120 healthy controls. We also included 35 healthy test controls and 15 disease test controls with histologically confirmed hippocampal sclerosis to assess specificity. Features were calculated and incorporated into a nonlinear neural network classifier, which was trained to identify lesional cluster. We optimized the threshold of the output probability map from the classifier by performing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Success of detection was defined by overlap between the final cluster and the manual labeling. Performance was evaluated using k‐fold cross‐validation.ResultsThe threshold of 0.9 showed optimal sensitivity of 73.7% and specificity of 90.0%. The area under the curve for the ROC analysis was 0.75, which suggests a discriminative classifier. Sensitivity and specificity were not significantly different for patients from different centers, suggesting robustness of performance. Correct detection rate was significantly lower in patients with initially normal MRI than patients with unequivocally positive MRI. Subgroup analysis showed the size of the training group and normal control database impacted classifier performance.SignificanceAutomated surface‐based MRI morphometry equipped with machine learning showed robust performance across cohorts from different centers and scanners. The proposed method may be a valuable tool to improve FCD detection in presurgical evaluation for patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy.
Fish‐Net: Probabilistic models for fishway planning, design and monitoring to support environmentally sustainable hydropower
Authors: Wilkes Martin , Baumgartner Lee , Boys Craig , Silva Luiz G M , O'Connor Justin , Jones Matthew , Stuart Ivor , Habit Evelyn , Link Oscar , Webb J Angus 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe construction of fishways for upstream and downstream connectivity is the preferred mitigation measure for hydropower dams and other riverine barriers. Yet empirical evidence for effective design criteria for many species is missing. We therefore assembled a group of international fishway designers and combined their knowledge with available empirical data using a formal expert elicitation protocol and Bayesian networks. The expert elicitation method we use minimizes biases typically associated with such approaches. Demonstrating our application with a case‐study on the temperate Southern Hemisphere, we use the resulting probabilistic models to predict the following, given alternative design parameters: (i) the effectiveness of technical fishways for upstream movement of migratory fish; (ii) habitat quality in nature‐like bypasses for resident fish; and (iii) rates of mortality during downstream passage of all fish through turbines and spillways. The Fish Passage Network (Fish‐Net) predicts that fishways for native species could be near 0% or near 100% efficient depending on their design, suggesting great scope for adequate mitigation. Sensitivity analyses revealed the most important parameters as follows: (i) design of attraction and entrance features of technical fishways for upstream migration; (ii) habitat preferences of resident fish in nature‐like bypasses; and (iii) susceptibility of fish to barotrauma and blade strike during turbine passage. Numerical modelling predicted that mortality rates of small‐bodied fish (50–100 mm TL) due to blade strike may be higher for Kaplan than Francis turbines. Our findings can be used to support environmentally sustainable decisions in the planning, design and monitoring stages of hydropower development.