bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Raising awareness, screening and prevention of chronic kidney disease: It takes more than a village
Authors: Hsiao Li‐Li 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide. Its prevalence and incidence are increasing, particularly among the ethnic minority populations. Diabetes, hypertension and obesity have been the three major aetiologies for CKD in all developed countries. While diabetes and hypertension remain the major causes of CKD in developing countries, environmental pollution, pesticides, water, analgesic abuse and herbal medications are common causes in these regions. Rapid urbanization and globalization are thought to be the contributing factors to rising prevalence and incidents of CKD. Despite the rising prevalence of CKD, disease awareness remains profoundly low. Worldwide, only 6% of the general population and 10% of the high‐risk population are aware of their CKD statuses. Health screenings have been shown to be effective in improving the incidence of ESRD. However, currently there is no effective tool to assess and evaluate the awareness objectively.
Salt, water and nephron: Mechanisms of action and link to hypertension and chronic kidney disease
Authors: Qian Qi 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTOur knowledge on sodium and water homeostasis and regulation continues to evolve. A considerable amount of new information in this area has emerged in recent years. This review summarizes existing and new literature and discusses complex multi‐organ effects of high‐salt and low‐water intake and role of arginine vasopressin in this process, as well as the potential clinical significance of non‐osmotic sodium storage pool and rhythmicity of urine sodium excretion. It has become clear that sodium and water dysregulation can exert profound effects on kidney and vascular health, far greater than previously recognized. Maladaptation to a combined high‐salt and low‐water intake can be linked to the growing epidemic of hypertension and chronic kidney disease.
Patient‐reported outcome measures and their utility in the management of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease
Authors: Ducharlet Kathryn , Sundararajan Vijaya , Philip Jennifer , Weil Jennifer , Barker Nuala , Langham Robyn G , Burchell Jodie , Gock Hilton 
Published: October 2018

ABSTRACTSymptom and quality of life (QOL) measures in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease are recognized indicators of patient‐centred care and represent important research, quality and clinical measures. This study examined relationships between symptom burden, QOL and functional status and associations of symptoms and mortality risk. A multisite longitudinal cohort analysis was undertaken in chronic kidney disease stage 4/5 (no dialysis) and dialysis patients. Patients completed symptom and QOL measures (Palliative Care Outcome Symptom Score renal), World Health Organisation QOL Brief Version) and Karnofsky Performance scale. Clinical and demographic data were recorded.
Necrotizing enterocolitis attenuates developmental heart rate variability increases in newborn rats
Authors: Meister Alissa L. , Doheny Kim K. , Travagli R. Alberto 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundWe have shown previously that a decreased high‐frequency spectrum of heart rate variability (HF‐HRV), indicative of reduced vagal tone, shows promise in predicting neonates likely to develop necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) before its clinical onset. We hypothesized that NEC induction in rat pups decreases HF‐HRV power; subdiaphragmatic vagotomy worsens the severity of the NEC phenotype, increases levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and alters the myenteric phenotype.MethodsNewborn Sprague‐Dawley rats, representative of preterm human neonates, were subjected to 7‐8 days of brief periods of cold stress and hypoxia to induce NEC with or without unilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. HRV was measured at postnatal days one and five, pups were sacrificed at day 8/9, and gastrointestinal tissues and blood were collected for immunohistochemical, corticosterone, and cytokine analysis.Key ResultsCompared to control, NEC‐induced rats showed the following: (a) typical histological signs of grade 2 NEC, which were more severe in rats that underwent vagotomy; (b) reduced developmental increases in time (RMSSD) and frequency (HF) HRV spectra when combined with the stress of laparotomy/vagotomy; (c) increases in nitric oxide synthase‐immunoreactivity in the myenteric plexus of jejunum and ileum; furthermore, compared to mild NEC and controls, vagotomized NEC rats had increased plasma values of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and IL‐6.Conclusions and InferencesOur data suggest that in rodents, similar to neonatal observations, NEC induction attenuated developmental HF‐HRV increases, furthermore, subdiaphragmatic vagotomy worsened the histological severity, increased pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and altered the nitrergic myenteric phenotype, suggesting a role of the vagus in the development of NEC pathology.
Evidence of increased fecal granins in children with irritable bowel syndrome and correlates with symptoms
Authors: Shulman Robert J. , Öhman Lena , Stridsberg Mats , Cain Kevin , Simrén Magnus , Heitkemper Margaret 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundGranins have been implicated in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults. We sought to determine whether fecal granins are altered in children with IBS and associated with symptoms.MethodsChildren (7‐12 years of age) with IBS and healthy controls (HC) kept daily pain and stool diaries for 2 weeks. Stool samples were analyzed for chromogranins A and B (CgA, CgB) and secretogranins II and III (SgII, SgIII). Children also completed psychological measures to assess anxiety, depression, somatization, and internalizing symptoms.Key ResultsFecal CgB and SgIII concentrations were higher in all the boys (IBS plus HC, n = 48) than in all the girls (IBS plus HC, n = 75) (P = 0.02 and P = 0.046, respectively). CgA and SgIII were greater in children with IBS (n = 52) vs HC (n = 69) (P = 0.01, P = 0.017, respectively). CgB and SgII did not differ between groups. In children with IBS, the number of pain episodes per week and mean daily pain rating correlated positively with all four granins. The number of stools per day correlated positively with CgB and SgII, and the percent of diarrheal stools (6 or 7 on the Bristol Scale) correlated inversely with all four granins in boys but not in girls. Fecal granins did not correlate with psychological measures.Conclusions and InferencesAs measured by fecal granins, there is evidence of neuroimmune activation in children with IBS. Granins are related to abdominal pain symptoms, stooling frequency, and stool form in children with IBS. Sex influences the fecal concentration of CgB and SgIII.
Brain corticotropin‐releasing factor signaling: Involvement in acute stress‐induced visceral analgesia in male rats
Authors: Larauche Muriel , Moussaoui Nabila , Biraud Mandy , Bae Won Ki , Duboc Henri , Million Mulugeta , Taché Yvette 
Published: October 2018

AbstractBackgroundWater avoidance stress (WAS) induces a naloxone‐independent visceral analgesia in male rats under non‐invasive conditions of monitoring. The objective of the study was to examine the role of brain CRF signaling in acute stress‐induced visceral analgesia (SIVA).MethodsAdult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were chronically implanted with an intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula. The visceromotor response (VMR) to graded phasic colorectal distension (CRD: 10, 20, 40, 60 mm Hg, 20 seconds, 4 minutes intervals) was monitored using manometry. The VMR to a first CRD (baseline) was recorded 5 minutes after an ICV saline injection, followed 1 hour later by ICV injection of either CRF (30, 100, or 300 ng and 1, 3, or 5 μg/rat) or saline and a second CRD, 5 minutes later. Receptor antagonists against CRF1/CRF2(astressin‐B, 30 μg/rat), CRF2(astressin2‐B, 10 μg/rat), oxytocin (tocinoic acid, 20 μg/rat), or vehicle were injected ICV 5 minutes before CRF (300 ng/rat, ICV) or 15 minutes before WAS (1 hour).Key ResultsICV CRF (100 and 300 ng) reduced the VMR to CRD at 60 mm Hg by −36.6% ± 6.8% and −48.7% ± 11.7%, respectively, vs baseline (P < 0.001), while other doses had no effect and IP CRF (10 µg/kg) induced visceral hyperalgesia. Astressin‐B and tocinoic acid injected ICV induced hyperalgesia and prevented the analgesic effect of ICV CRF (300 ng/rat) and WAS, while astressin2‐B only blocked WAS‐induced SIVA.Conclusions & InferencesThese data support a role for brain CRF signaling via CRF2in SIVA in a model of WAS and CRD likely mediated by the activation of brain oxytocin pathway.
A tripartite toxin‐antitoxin module induced by quorum sensing is associated with the persistence phenotype in Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Dufour Delphine , Mankovskaia Alexandra , Chan Yuki , Motavaze Kamyar , Gong Siew‐Ging , Lévesque Céline M. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryThe oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans communicates using a canonical Gram‐positive quorum sensing system, CSP‐ComDE. The CSP pheromone already known to be involved in the development of genetic competence positively influences the formation of persisters, dormant variants of regular cells that are highly tolerant to antimicrobial therapy. It is now believed that the persistence phenotype is the end result of a stochastic switch in the expression of toxin‐antitoxin (TA) modules. TAs consist of a pair of genes that encode two components, a stable toxin and its cognate labile antitoxin. Transcription analyses revealed that three core genes encoding a putative TA system, called SmuATR, were members of the S. mutans CSP regulon. We hypothesized that S. mutans is using its CSP‐ComDE system as a deterministic mechanism for persister formation through the activation of smuATR locus. We showed here that the SmuATR system constitutes a novel tripartite type II TA system in which the smuA and smuT genes encode an antitoxin and a toxin, respectively, while SmuR is a transcriptional repressor involved in the autoregulation of the operon. Ectopic expression of SmuA – SmuT is associated with the CSP‐inducible persistence phenotype. In contrast, overexpression of SmuT alone is bactericidal and causes membrane permeabilization. To our knowledge, SmuATR is the first functional chromosomal tripartite TA system shown to be induced by the bacterial quorum sensing system and involved in persister formation.
Mutagenesis of kiwifruit CENTRORADIALIS‐like genes transforms a climbing woody perennial with long juvenility and axillary flowering into a compact plant with rapid terminal flowering
Authors: Varkonyi‐Gasic Erika , Wang Tianchi , Voogd Charlotte , Jeon Subin , Drummond Revel S. M. , Gleave Andrew P. , Allan Andrew C. 
Published: October 2018

SummaryAnnualization of woody perennials has the potential to revolutionize the breeding and production of fruit crops and rapidly improve horticultural species. Kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) is a recently domesticated fruit crop with a short history of breeding and tremendous potential for improvement. Previously, multiple kiwifruit CENTRORADIALIS (CEN)‐like genes have been identified as potential repressors of flowering. In this study, CRISPR/Cas9‐ mediated manipulation enabled functional analysis of kiwifruit CEN‐like genes AcCEN4 and AcCEN. Mutation of these genes transformed a climbing woody perennial, which develops axillary inflorescences after many years of juvenility, into a compact plant with rapid terminal flower and fruit development. The number of affected genes and alleles and severity of detected mutations correlated with the precocity and change in plant stature, suggesting that a bi‐allelic mutation of either AcCEN4 or AcCEN may be sufficient for early flowering, whereas mutations affecting both genes further contributed to precocity and enhanced the compact growth habit. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis of AcCEN4 and AcCEN may be a valuable means to engineer Actinidia amenable for accelerated breeding, indoor farming and cultivation as an annual crop.
The impact of sustained attention on labor market outcomes: The case of Ghana
Authors: Tan Chih Ming , Thamarapani Dhanushka 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we go beyond traditional measures of cognitive abilities (IQ) in explaining labor market and social outcomes in developing countries. We exploit a rich dataset from Ghana that provides information on demographics, labor market outcomes, and a direct measure of cognitive ability along with other test scores to construct a measure of sustained attention. Our work is therefore related to the broader literature in psychology on the importance of executive function on individual behavior and outcomes. We find that, at least for the case of Ghana, after controlling for IQ and other covariates, higher levels of sustained attention are associated with higher educational attainment and a higher likelihood of being employed in a white‐collar job.
Intergenerational transmission of education in China: New evidence from the Chinese Cultural Revolution
Authors: Chen Yanbin , Guo Yumei , Huang Jingyi , Song Yang 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis paper estimates the effect of parental education on children's education by using instruments generated by the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and further explores the mechanisms of this causal relationship. Several important findings stand out from our empirical analyses. We find a larger intergenerational persistence in education for higher level in urban areas but for a lower level of education in rural areas. The main results from instrumental variable estimation show that the nurture effect is larger and more significant for fathers than for mothers. A deeper investigation of the mechanism behind this nurture effect informs us that a father's education passes on to his children's education partly through the income channel. Another notable finding is that even after controlling for fathers’ income, parental education still has a significantly positive effect on children's education through the nurture effect. This indicates that beyond the income channel, there may exist other channels such as better home environment, which deserve to be explored in future research.
FERONIA mutation induces high levels of chloroplast‐localized Arabidopsides which are involved in root growth
Authors: Hansen Rebecca L. , Guo Hongqing , Yin Yanhai , Lee Young Jin 
Published: October 2018

SummaryThe FERONIA (FER) signaling pathway is known to have diverse roles in Arabidopsis thaliana, such as growth, reproduction, and defense, but how this receptor kinase is involved in various biological processes is not well established. In this work, we applied multiple mass spectrometry techniques to identify metabolites involved in the FER signaling pathway and to understand their biological roles. A direct infusion Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT‐ICR)‐MS approach was used for initial screening of wild‐type and feronia (fer) mutant plant extracts, and Arabidopsides were found to be significantly enriched in the mutant. As Arabidopsides are known to be induced by wounding, further experiments on wounded and non‐wounded leaf samples were carried out to investigate these oxylipins as well as related phytohormones using a quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight (Q‐TOF) MS by direct injection and LC‐MS/MS. In a root growth bioassay with Arabidopside A isolated from fer mutants, the wild‐type showed significant root growth inhibition compared with the fer mutant. Our results therefore implicated Arabidopsides, and Arabidopside A specifically, in FER functions and/or signaling. Finally, matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization MS imaging (MALDI‐MSI) was used to visualize the localization of Arabidopsides, and we confirmed that Arabidopsides are highly abundant at wounding sites in both wild‐type and fer mutant leaves. More significantly, five micron high‐spatial resolution MALDI‐MSI revealed that Arabidopsides are localized to the chloroplasts where many stress signaling molecules are made.
A pilot study documenting increased thrombin generation following abrupt withdrawal of heparin therapy in healthy dogs
Authors: Mays Erin M. , Dorman David C. , McKendry Colleen , Hanel Rita M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo document if a transient hypercoagulable state occurs in healthy dogs following abrupt cessation of unfractionated heparin (UFH) therapy.DesignProspective experimental pilot study.SettingUniversity research facility.AnimalsSeven adult random‐source male dogs.InterventionThromboelastography (TEG) and thrombin–antithrombin (TAT) complex formation were used to assess coagulation status in healthy dogs. Seven adult research dogs received 200–300 IU/kg subcutaneous UFH every 8 hours for 4 days. A final IV bolus of 100 IU/kg was given on day 4 and the peak measured heparin concentration 1 hour later is defined as the start of heparin withdrawal (time 0). Citrated whole blood samples were collected at baseline (prior to heparin administration) and 3, 6, 12, 30, and 48 hours after UFH withdrawal. At all time points, a kaolin‐activated TEG was performed and citrated plasma for measurement of TAT concentration was collected for batch analysis. Fibrinogen concentration, PCV, total plasma proteins, and platelet count were measured at baseline and 48 hours after heparin withdrawal.Measurements and Main ResultsCompared to baseline, TAT was increased 12 hours after heparin withdrawal and returned to baseline by 30 hours. TEG clot formation time (K) was decreased 30 and 48 hours after heparin withdrawal.ConclusionTAT results suggest that a transient increase in thrombin generation developed 12 hours after withdrawal of UFH therapy. Though clot kinetics were rapid compared to baseline beginning 30 hours after heparin withdrawal, a return to baseline was not documented. Future studies are warranted to determine the clinical relevance of these results and to evaluate the effect of UFH withdrawal in critically ill animals.
Study of mathematical models for the removal of Ni2+ from aqueous solutions using Citrullus lanatus rind, an agro‐based waste
Authors: Mathangi J.B. , Helen Kalavathy M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe defilement of water bodies is going on increasing due to the use of noxious chemicals. In the present study, to alleviate the deadly effects of the heavy metal, the agricultural solid waste Citrullus lanatus rind was used as the precursor for the Nickel ion removal. To remove Nickel from synthetic solution, adsorption studies were conducted. Characterization was done using TGA, SEM and FT‐IR analysis. Various parameters on the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent, isotherm and kinetic studies were carried out. The maximum loading capacity of Ni2+ was found to be 38.98 mg/g from Langmuir model. Error analyses were also studied to validate the best fit of the curve for isotherm models. The kinetic models were studied to understand the adsorption mechanism. The dynamic behaviour of the fixed column and the modelling of the breakthrough curves were carried out. Desorption studies were performed to consider the reusability of the rind.
A fast and automated hydrologic calibration tool for SWAT
Authors: Ozdemir Ayfer , Leloglu Ugur Murat 
Published: October 2018

AbstractIn order to apply hydrological models in the water resources investigation successfully, careful calibration and uncertainty analysis are required. Although many automatic calibration methods were developed, the time consumed for running the hydrologic model is still a problem for hydrologic modelers. To reduce the computational complexity and increase performance of the calibration procedure, a software package (Fast Automated Calibration Tool, FACT) that works on Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was developed. Sequential Uncertainty Fitting Algorithm (SUFI‐2) was chosen to build the software package on, because SUFI‐2 combines optimization with uncertainty analysis and can handle a large number of parameters. SUFI‐2 implemented in SWAT‐CUP (a software program that was developed for SWAT) is very useful in an interactive manner, however; it has some drawbacks which are the time consumed, user interaction requirement and update problems of SWAT model files. In this study, the calibration procedure was implemented in a MATLAB script, which completes the full calibration in one single run. The developed tool was applied on Sarısu‐Eylikler Basin SWAT model that had r2 = 0.41, NSE = 0.11 between 1992 and 2010 without calibration. When the model was calibrated using SUFI‐2 in SWAT‐CUP, the model was improved to r2 = 0.57, NSE = 0.44, P‐factor = 0.69 and R‐factor = 1.00 at the end of 42 iterations using 100 simulation counts in each iteration. However; when the developed calibration tool was applied with 250 simulation counts without any user interaction for each iteration, the model was improved to r2 = 0.59, NSE = 0.57, P‐factor = 0.72, and R‐factor = 1.32 at the end of three iterations. Thus, the developed calibration procedure took a shorter time (unlike SUFI2 in SWAT‐CUP, FACT takes several hours) compared to SWAT‐CUP with minimum user involvement.
Intervarietal translation and the theory of intelligibility
Authors: Proshina Zoya G. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe article discusses Larry Smith's contribution to the world Englishes paradigm, represented as his theory of three stages of understanding varieties of English in intercultural communication. The author argues that this pivotal theory is fundamental not only for teaching English as an International Language, but is also applicable to translation studies, where a new type of translation – from one variety to another variety of English – proves to be emerging and needs elaboration due to the intensification of divergence processes in this language.
Integrative species delimitation and phylogeny of the branchiate worm Branchiodrilus (Clitellata, Naididae)
Authors: Martin Patrick , Martinsson Svante , Wuillot Jean , Erséus Christer 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe clitellate branchiate genus Branchiodrilus presently includes three nominal species with a mainly tropical distribution. A recent molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Naidinae suggested that species complexes may occur within the genus. In order to delimit species, we studied a total of 91 Branchiodrilus specimens collected in Asia, Africa and Europe; the genus is introduced in the latter area. We used an integrative approach, where genetic data were analysed for 42 specimens (single‐locus and multiple‐locus methods) and then compared with patterns shown by morphology. Ten Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units could be identified within Branchiodrilus, potentially representing 10 different species. Most of the delimited species are genetically well separated. In contrast, morphological scrutiny identified only three non‐overlapping clusters of specimens, one of them grouping all specimens from the Palaearctic region and belonging to the same species. Other morphological groups are mostly consistent with the biogeographic distribution of species. The Oriental region harbours six species and might be the centre of origin from which Branchiodrilus species have dispersed and radiated. Two other species are present in the Afrotropical region, among them B. cleistochaeta newly obtained from the type locality and genetically characterized, but the presence of B. hortensis in Africa is queried. The taxonomic relevance of the morphological criteria traditionally used to distinguish nominal species is useless at the species level. B. hortensis and B. semperi are now considered as species inquirenda. To document the genital organs of species remains highly desirable, although hardly practicable for this species complex with a primarily asexual reproductive mode.