bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Costs of weaponry: Unarmed males sire more offspring than armed males in a male‐dimorphic mite
Authors: Van den Beuken Tom P. G. , Duinmeijer Chris C. , Smallegange Isabel M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMorphological structures used as weapons in male–male competition are not only costly to develop but are also probably costly to maintain during adulthood. Therefore, having weapons could reduce the energy available for other fitness‐enhancing actions, such as post‐copulatory investment. We tested the hypothesis that armed males make lower post‐copulatory investments than unarmed males, and that this difference will be most pronounced under food‐limited conditions. We performed two experiments using the male‐dimorphic bulb miteRhizoglyphus robini, in which males are either armed “fighters” or unarmed “scramblers.” Firstly, we tested whether fighters and scramblers differed in their reproductive output after being starved or fed for 1 or 2 weeks. Secondly, we measured the reproductive output of scramblers and fighters (starved or fed) after one, two or three consecutive matings. Scramblers sired more offspring than fighters after 1 week, but scramblers and fighters only sired a few offspring after 2 weeks. Scramblers also sired more offspring than fighters at the first mating, and males rarely sired offspring after consecutive matings. Contrary to our hypothesis, the fecundity of starved and fed males did not differ. The higher reproductive output of scramblers suggests that, regardless of nutritional state, scramblers make larger post‐copulatory investments than fighters. Alternatively, (cryptic) female choice generally favours scramblers. Why the morphs differed in their reproductive output is unclear. Neither morph performed well relatively late in life or after multiple matings. It remains to be investigated to what extent the apparent scrambler advantage contributes to the maintenance and evolution of male morph expression.
Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine gene variants: Impact on susceptibility and survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients
Authors: Darweesh Samar Kamal , Abd Alziz Rasha Ahmed , Omar Heba , Sabry Dina , Fathy Wael 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackground and AimSecreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a glycoprotein involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, which regulates cell growth. It could be involved in hepatic fibrogenesis related to chronic inflammations, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) angiogenesis, and tumor progression. We aimed to study the expressions of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the SPARC gene and their impact on susceptibility and survival of HCC patients.MethodsWe conducted a case–control study on 200 HCC patients and 50 matched healthy controls. All patients were subjected to laboratory investigations, ultrasound, and real‐time polymerase chain reaction to detect the genetic polymorphisms (rs3210714, rs11950384, and rs7719521) in the SPARC gene in the blood.ResultsOne hundred sixty (80%) patients were men with a mean age of 43 years. The SPARC gene showed a significant higher prevalence of rs3210714 mutation (i.e. AA or AG) and a significant lower prevalence of rs11950384 mutation (i.e. AA or AC) among HCC patients in comparison with controls (83% vs 22%, P ≤ 0.001) and (65.5 vs 86%, P = 0.005), respectively, while rs7719521 mutation did not reach significance. On univariate and multivariate analyses, elder age and having at least one copy of the mutant rs3210714 were associated with a significantly increased risk of HCC (P < 0.001 for both), whereas the presence of at least one copy of the mutant rs11950384 carried a significantly reduced risk of having HCC (P < 0.01). Overall survival did not differ significantly between any of the SPARC gene mutation groups.ConclusionsThe SPARC gene polymorphisms had a diverse impact on the susceptibility of HCC due to its ability to inhibit or promote tumor progression. SPARC gene polymorphisms were not related to survival of our HCC patients, and probably, this needs further analysis of other SPARC gene nucleotides.
Prevalence of Falls and Fall‐Related Outcomes in Older Adults with Self‐Reported Vision Impairment
Authors: Ehrlich Joshua R. , Hassan Shirin E. , Stagg Brian C. 
Published: November 2018

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of falls, fear of falling (FoF), and activity limitation due to FoF in a nationally representative study of older adults with self‐reported vision impairment (VI).DesignCross‐sectional analysis of panel survey data.SettingNational Health and Aging Trends Study, a nationally representative survey administered annually from 2011 to 2016 to U.S. Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older.ParticipantsRespondents (N=11,558) who contributed 36,229 participant observations.MeasurementsWe performed logistic regression to calculate the unadjusted and adjusted prevalence of self‐reported history of more than 1 fall in the past year, any fall in the past month, FoF, and activity limitation due to FoF in participants with and without self‐reported VI.ResultsThe weighted proportion of participants reporting VI was 8.6% (95% confidence interval (CI)=8.0–9.2%). The unadjusted prevalence of more than 1 fall in the past year was 27.6% (95% CI=25.5–29.7%) in participants with self‐reported VI and 13.2% (95% CI=12.7–13.7%) in those without self‐reported VI. In respondents with self‐reported VI, the prevalence of FoF was 48.3% (95% CI=46.1–50.6%) and of FoF limiting activity was 50.8% (95%CI 47.3–54.2%), and in those without self‐reported VI, the prevalence of FoF was 26.7% (95% CI=25.9–27.5%) and of FoF limiting activity was 33.9% (95% CI=32.4–35.4%). The prevalence of all fall and fall‐related outcomes remained significantly higher among those with self‐reported VI after adjusting for sociodemographics and potential confounders.ConclusionThe prevalence of falls, FoF, and activity limitation due to FoF is high in older adults with self‐reported VI. This is the first study to provide nationally representative data on the prevalence of fall‐related outcomes in older Americans with self‐reported VI. These findings demonstrate the need to treat avoidable VI and to develop interventions to prevent falls and fall‐related outcomes in this population. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:239–245, 2019.
Hospital‐Associated Complications of Older People: A Proposed Multicomponent Outcome for Acute Care
Authors: Mudge Alison M. , McRae Prue , Hubbard Ruth E. , Peel Nancye M. , Lim Wen Kwang , Barnett Adrian G. , Inouye Sharon K. 
Published: November 2018

OBJECTIVESTo propose a new multicomponent measure of hospital‐associated complications of older people (HAC‐OP) and evaluate its validity in a large hospital sample.DESIGNObservational study using baseline (pre‐intervention) data from the Collaboration for Hospitalised Elders Reducing the Impact of Stays in Hospital cluster randomized controlled trial.SETTINGAcute medical and surgical wards in 4 hospitals in Queensland, Australia.PARTICIPANTSIndividuals aged 65 and older (mean age 76, 48% female) with a hospital stay of 72 hours or longer (N=434).MEASUREMENTSWe developed a multicomponent measure including 5 well‐recognized hospital‐associated complications of older people: hospital‐associated delirium, functional decline, incontinence, falls, and pressure injuries. To evaluate construct validity, we examined associations with common risk factors (aged ≥75, functional impairment, cognitive impairment, history of falls). To evaluate predictive validity, we examined the association between length of stay, facility discharge, and 6‐month mortality and any HAC‐OP and total number of HAC‐OP.RESULTSOverall, 192 (44%) participants had 1 or more HAC‐OP during their admission. Any HAC‐OP was strongly associated with the proposed shared risk factors, and there was a strong and graded association between HAC‐OP and length of stay (9.1±7.4 days for any HAC‐OP vs 6.8 ±4.1 days with none, p < .001), facility discharge (59/192 (31%) vs 27/242 (11%), p < .001) and 6‐month mortality (26/192 (14%) vs 17/242 (7%), p = .02).CONCLUSIONThis study provides evidence of construct and predictive validity of the proposed measure of HAC‐OP as a potential outcome measure for research investigating and improving hospital care of older people. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:352–356, 2019.
Sex‐ and sub region‐dependent modulation of arcuate kisspeptin neurones by vasopressin and vasoactive intestinal peptide
Authors: Schafer Danielle , Kane Grace , Colledge William H. , Piet Richard , Herbison Allan E. 
Published: November 2018

A population of kisspeptin neurones located in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARN) very likely represent the gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone pulse generator responsible for driving pulsatile luteinising hormone secretion in mammals. As such, it has become important to understand the neural inputs that modulate the activity of ARN kisspeptin (ARNKISS) neurones. Using a transgenic GCaMP6 mouse model allowing the intracellular calcium levels ([Ca2+]i) of individual ARNKISS neurones to be assessed simultaneously, we examined whether the circadian neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) modulated the activity of ARNKISS neurones directly. To validate this methodology, we initially evaluated the effects of neurokinin B (NKB) on [Ca2+]i in kisspeptin neurones residing within the rostral, middle and caudal ARN subregions of adult male and female mice. All experiments were undertaken in the presence of tetrodotoxin and ionotropic amino acid antagonists. NKB was found to evoke an abrupt increase in [Ca2+]i in 95%‐100% of kisspeptin neurones throughout the ARN of both sexes. By contrast, both VIP and AVP were found to primarily activate kisspeptin neurones located in the caudal ARN of female mice. Although 58% and 59% of caudal ARN kisspeptin neurones responded to AVP and VIP, respectively, in female mice, only 0%‐8% of kisspeptin neurones located in other ARN subregions responded in females and 0%‐12% of cells in any subregion in males (P < 0.05). These observations demonstrate unexpected sex differences and marked heterogeneity in functional neuropeptide receptor expression amongst ARNKISS neurones organised on a rostro‐caudal basis. The functional significance of this unexpected influence of VIP and AVP on ARNKISS neurones remains to be established.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE ON WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE RESEARCH AGENDA
Authors: Prasad Punam , Narayanasamy Sivasankaran , Paul Samit , Chattopadhyay Subir , Saravanan Palanisamy 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to take a stock of what has been studied on working capital management (WCM) so far and ascertain the factors which are more likely to be impacted by poor WCM. Moreover, it aims to spell out the areas for further research on WCM so that the body of knowledge can be expanded. A systematic literature review of the research works on WCM has been performed using Google Scholar. Articles with citations of 50 and above as of June 05, 2018 are considered for the detailed citation based analysis. Further, classification of such articles has been done on the basis of common themes followed by a thorough content analysis. The citation based analysis suggests that there is a growing popularity of studies related to WCM in recent times. However, majority of the impactful studies are published in relatively lower category journals. This further intrigues us to explore the content of such studies. Based on the content, the studies are classified under five different themes. It is found that majority of the highly cited articles have examined the relation between the WCM and profitability of the firms. Moreover, repetitive uses of few proxies in such studies have also been identified. This finding most probably explains the reason behind so many highly cited articles getting published in relatively lower category journals. In view of this, this study tries to explore further scope of research on WCM and lists down potential research questions for the future researches. Firstly, it provides an idea about the most cited area of researches related to WCM and the recent growth of studies in this domain. Academicians can decide upon their future area of research based on the findings related to the proxies and outcome from these studies. Secondly, it shows the most popular avenue of publishing the articles related to WCM which will certainly motivate the researchers to pursue such study. It has been found from the analysis that majority of the impactful articles are published in lower category journals. Therefore, this study identifies the reason behind the same and lists down some innovative research questions to provide some future research directions. Thirdly, the finance managers can use this finding to identify the relevant consequences of poor WCM. Finally, it can serve as a reference point for all future ideas related to WCM. The paper classifies the present literature on WCM into five major themes and performs a content analysis of the same. This is essential as the content analysis highlights different proxies used as inputs which effectively drive efficient WCM. Moreover, the study also identifies the huge scope of future research in the domain of WCM. According to our limited knowledge, such extensive literature review on WCM is rare.
Machine‐learning‐derived sleep–wake staging from around‐the‐ear electroencephalogram outperforms manual scoring and actigraphy
Authors: Mikkelsen Kaare B. , Ebajemito James K. , Bonmati‐Carrion Maria A. , Santhi Nayantara , Revell Victoria L. , Atzori Giuseppe , della Monica Ciro , Debener Stefan , Dijk Derk‐Jan , Sterr Annette , de Vos Maarten 
Published: November 2018

AbstractQuantification of sleep is important for the diagnosis of sleep disorders and sleep research. However, the only widely accepted method to obtain sleep staging is by visual analysis of polysomnography (PSG), which is expensive and time consuming. Here, we investigate automated sleep scoring based on a low‐cost, mobile electroencephalogram (EEG) platform consisting of a lightweight EEG amplifier combined with flex‐printed cEEGrid electrodes placed around the ear, which can be implemented as a fully self‐applicable sleep system. However, cEEGrid signals have different amplitude characteristics to normal scalp PSG signals, which might be challenging for visual scoring. Therefore, this study evaluates the potential of automatic scoring of cEEGrid signals using a machine learning classifier (“random forests”) and compares its performance with manual scoring of standard PSG. In addition, the automatic scoring of cEEGrid signals is compared with manual annotation of the cEEGrid recording and with simultaneous actigraphy. Acceptable recordings were obtained in 15 healthy volunteers (aged 35 ± 14.3 years) during an extended nocturnal sleep opportunity, which induced disrupted sleep with a large inter‐individual variation in sleep parameters. The results demonstrate that machine‐learning‐based scoring of around‐the‐ear EEG outperforms actigraphy with respect to sleep onset and total sleep time assessments. The automated scoring outperforms human scoring of cEEGrid by standard criteria. The accuracy of machine‐learning‐based automated scoring of cEEGrid sleep recordings compared with manual scoring of standard PSG was satisfactory. The findings show that cEEGrid recordings combined with machine‐learning‐based scoring holds promise for large‐scale sleep studies.
Protease‐deficient SOS constitutive cells have RecN‐dependent cell division phenotypes
Authors: Warr Alyson R. , Klimova Anastasiia N. , Nwaobasi Amy N. , Sandler Steven J. 
Published: November 2018

SummaryIn Escherichia coli, after DNA damage, the SOS response increases the transcription (and protein levels) of approximately 50 genes. As DNA repair ensues, the level of transcription returns to homeostatic levels. ClpXP and other proteases return the high levels of several SOS proteins to homeostasis. When all SOS genes are constitutively expressed and many SOS proteins are stabilized by the removal of ClpXP, microscopic analysis shows that cells filament, produce mini‐cells and have branching protrusions along their length. The only SOS gene required (of 19 tested) for the cell length phenotype is recN. RecN is a member of the Structural Maintenance of Chromosome (SMC) class of proteins. It can hold pieces of DNA together and is important for double‐strand break repair (DSBR). RecN is degraded by ClpXP. Overexpression of recN+ in the absence of ClpXP or recN4174 (A552S, A553V), a mutant not recognized by ClpXP, produce filamentous cells with nucleoid partitioning defects. It is hypothesized that when produced at high levels during the SOS response, RecN interferes with nucleoid partitioning and Z‐Ring function by holding together sections of the nucleoid, or sister nucleoids, providing another way to inhibit cell division.
From Traditional to Computational Archaeology. An Interdisciplinary Method and New Approach to Volume and Weight Quantification
Authors: Moreno Elena , Arévalo Alicia , Moreno José Francisco 
Published: November 2018

SummaryThe present study aims to show the effectiveness of a methodological procedure to estimate the volumetric capacity of archaeological ceramic vessels and the net and gross weights of their probable contents. This method can be easily applied, independently of cultural or chronological contexts, and, alongside other historical and economic conclusions, might serve to verify the possible existence of typological and metrological standardizations of domestic or commercial containers. This study gives a detailed description of a simple methodological protocol which uses profile drawings to calculate the approximate volume of any vessel, thus enabling assessment of its conformity to ancient weight systems. This article will illustrate the strength of the method using a sample of Ramon T‐11213 amphorae made in the Bay of Cadiz during the fifth century BC, which, given its quantitative and qualitative strengths, proves to be an exemplary case study and a valid pilot.
The Jerusalem Legio X Fretensis Kilnworks: Contextualizing Ceramic Manufacture and ‘Legionary Wares’
Authors: Murphy Elizabeth A. , Goldfus Haim , Arubas Benny 
Published: November 2018

SummaryThe Legio X Fretensis Kilnworks at Binyanei Ha’uma (Jerusalem) is one of the few such legionary production sites to be excavated in recent decades and the only legionary kilnworks to be found in the Near East and Asia Minor to date. The study of its production‐related material therefore offers a necessary complement to consumer‐focused discussions of so‐called ‘legionary wares’ by providing a more refined contextualization of ceramic manufacturing within a military context. Detailed analyses of production techniques and technologies, as well as comparative study of contemporaneous legionary kilnworks in other regions and other ceramic production sites from the eastern provinces, serve to contextualize the Jerusalem site and offer new perspectives on the technological choices that were made in such settings. These technological choices demonstrate a balance between some commonly shared structural features of production and labour organizations, with locally specific circumstances of raw material availability and technological knowledge.
Oral esomeprazole in Japanese pediatric patients with gastric acid‐related disease: Safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics
Authors: Shimizu Toshiaki , Nakayama Yoshiko , Ishii Eizaburo , Ida Shinobu , Satou Tomoki , Tokuhara Daisuke , Arai Katsuhiro , Nii Masahiro , Rydholm Hans , Yajima Toshitaka ,   the J‐NEPECS (Japan Nexium Pediatrics Study) Group
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundProton pump inhibitors (PPI) are widely used for the treatment of gastric acid‐related disease, but they are not approved for use in children in Japan. To assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy (gastrointestinal symptom improvement) of PPI in Japanese pediatric patients with gastric acid‐related disease, we conducted an 8 week, open‐label, parallel‐group, multicenter, phase I/III study of once‐daily oral esomeprazole use.MethodsJapanese children, aged 1–14 years with gastric acid‐related disease, were stratified by weight and age into five groups (10 patients/group) to receive esomeprazole as granules for suspension (10 mg) or capsules (10 mg or 20 mg) once daily.ResultsEsomeprazole was absorbed and eliminated rapidly in all groups, with a median time to reach maximum plasma concentration of 1.47–1.75 h, an arithmetic mean terminal elimination half‐life of 0.80–1.37 h, and a weight‐correlated apparent total body clearance of 0.216–0.343 L/h/kg. Area under the plasma concentration–time curve during a dosage interval and maximum plasma drug concentration were generally higher in groups given a higher dose (20 mg) or with a lower age/weight, but also in patients identified as poor metabolizers on cytochrome P450 2C19 genotype. Most patients who had any upper gastrointestinal symptoms at baseline were asymptomatic at the end of the study. Thirty‐three patients (66%) reported ≥1 adverse events, including three patients who reported serious adverse events not judged to be causally related to esomeprazole.ConclusionsOral esomeprazole, at 10 mg or 20 mg once daily, had a similar safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic profile in Japanese pediatric patients to that previously seen in adults and Caucasian children.
Early luteal development in Santa Inês ewes superovulated with reduced doses of porcine follicle‐stimulating hormone
Authors: Garcia Kako Rodriguez Mariana , Serpa Maciel Giovanna , Ramirez Uscategui Ricardo Andres , Correia Santos Victor José , Perecin Nociti Ricardo , Del Aguila da Silva Priscila , Rossi Feliciano Marcus Antônio , Zandonadi Brandão Felipe , Ferreira Fonseca Jeferson , Franco Oliveira Maria Emilia 
Published: November 2018

ContentsThe aim was to compare the early luteal development in ewes superovulated with different doses of pFSH. Twenty‐nine Santa Inês ewes received a progesterone device (CIDR®) for 8 days. Gonadotrophic treatment started on Day 6: G200 (control, n = 9, 200 mg); G133 (n = 10, 133 mg); and G100 (n = 10, 100 mg of pFSH). On Day 6, all females received eCG (300 IU). B‐mode and spectral Doppler ultrasonography were performed daily during the early luteal phase (Days 11–15) to monitor the development of corpora lutea (CLs; dimensions) and ovarian arteries indices. CLs were also classified as normal or prematurely regressed (PRCL) on Day 15 by videolaparoscopy. Ewes from G100 and G133 showed gradual increase in luteal diameter during the early luteal phase (p < 0.001), whereas G200 animals presented increase from Day 11 to Day 13, and then decrease on Days 14 and 15 (p < 0.001). The G200 females showed greater percentage of PRCL (45.20%) than those of the other groups (p < 0.001). The normal CLs number was greater in G100 than in G133 (p = 0.04), while the PRCL number was greater in G200 than in the other groups (p = 0.03). Resistive index (RI) was greater in G200 than in G100 (p = 0.02). RI was lower in Day 12 than Day 15 (p = 0.02). Pulsatility index (PI) was greater on Days 14 and 15 (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the lowest dose of pFSH (100 mg) can be considered sufficient for an efficient superovulatory response in sheep, producing better CLs development dynamic in early luteal phase and ovarian blood perfusion and smaller number of PRCL than the traditional (200 mg) pFSH dose.