bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of babies who unexpectedly survive long term after withdrawal of intensive care
Authors: Pal Sanchita , Jones Jacqueline , Job Sajeev , Maynard Linda , Curley Anna , Clarke Paul 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimOccasional babies survive long term after withdrawal of intensive care despite a poor prognosis. We aimed to review in detail the clinical cases, characteristics, and outcomes of neonates with unexpected protracted survival following planned withdrawal of intensive cardiorespiratory support.MethodsWe reviewed infants who unexpectedly survived for more than one week following planned withdrawal of intensive care in two tertiary‐level NICUs over a seven‐year period.ResultsWe identified eight long‐term survivors (six term, two preterm) between 2007 and 2013. All had a clinical diagnosis of grade 3 hypoxic‐ischaemic encephalopathy and severely abnormal electroencephalography and neuroimaging prior to intensive care withdrawal. Intensive care was withdrawn at five days postnatal age (range: two to nine days), but the possibility of protracted survival was discussed beforehand in only two cases. Three infants died before three months of age. Five infants remain alive, currently aged from 2.0 to 6.5 years, and all have significant neurodevelopmental problems.ConclusionUnexpected long‐term survival after neonatal intensive care withdrawal occurs occasionally but unpredictably. Significant neurodevelopmental adversity was invariable in those surviving beyond infancy. Ventilator dependency along with severely abnormal electroencephalography and neuroimaging is still compatible with long‐term survival. The possibility of protracted survival should be discussed routinely with parents before intensive care withdrawal.
Short courses of dual‐strain probiotics appear to be effective in reducing necrotising enterocolitis
Authors: Guthmann Florian , Arlettaz Mieth Romaine P. , Bucher Hans Ulrich , Bührer Christoph 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimProphylactic probiotics to reduce necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) are mostly given for at least 28 days or until discharge. We describe the effects of a shorter duration dosing strategy.MethodsRetrospective cohort study of neonates (birthweight 400–1500 g) in three neonatal intensive care units in Switzerland and Germany that embarked on probiotic prophylaxis given for 10 or 14 days, employing a fixed combination (Lactobacillus acidophilus plus Bifidobacterium infantis, each 109 CFU/day) licensed as a drug in Switzerland. Probiotics were initiated upon discontinuation of antibiotics, or on day 1–3 in infants without antibiotics. Repeat probiotic courses were given whenever antibiotics had been instituted and were discontinued.ResultsBirthweight and gestational age were similar in the two 24‐month pre‐ and postimplementation cohorts. NEC rates fell from 33 of 633 (5.2%) to 8 of 591 infants alive at three days (1.4%; risk ratio (RR) 0.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12–0.55). The drop in NEC was significant both for infants of 400–999 g (6.4% to 2.5%) and 1000–1500 g birthweight (4.4% to 0.6%). Mortality was 5.1% (32/633) without, as opposed to 3.5% (21/591) with probiotics, respectively (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.41–1.19).ConclusionShort courses of a dual‐strain probiotics appear to be effective in reducing NEC.
Current concepts on microscopic colitis: evidence‐based statements and recommendations of the Spanish Microscopic Colitis Group
Authors: Fernández‐Bañares F. , Casanova M. J. , Arguedas Y. , Beltrán B. , Busquets D. , Fernández J. M. , Fernández‐Salazar L. , García‐Planella E. , Guagnozzi D. , Lucendo A. J. , Manceñido N. , Marín‐Jiménez I. , Montoro M. , Piqueras M. , Robles V. , Ruiz‐Cerulla A. , Gisbert J. P. ,   the Spanish Microscopic Colitis Group (SMCG)
Published: November 2015

SummaryBackgroundMicroscopic colitis (MC) is an underdiagnosed inflammatory bowel disease.AimTo develop an evidence‐based clinical practice guide on MC current concepts.MethodsLiterature search was done on the Cochrane Library, EMBASE and MEDLINE electronic databases, which were consulted covering the period up until March 2015. Work groups were selected for each of the reviewed topics, with the purpose of drafting the initial statements and recommendations. They subsequently underwent a voting process based on the Delphi method. Each statement/recommendation was accompanied by the result of the vote the level of evidence, and discussion of the corresponding evidence. The grade of recommendation (GR) using the GRADE approach was established for diagnosis and treatment recommendations.ResultsSome key statements and recommendations are: advancing age increases the risk of developing MC, mainly in females. The symptoms of MC and IBS‐D may be similar. If MC is suspected, colonoscopy taking biopsies is mandatory. Treatment with oral budesonide is recommended to induce clinical remission in patients with MC. Oral mesalazine is not recommended in patients with collagenous colitis for the induction of clinical remission. The use of anti‐TNF‐alpha drugs (infliximab, adalimumab) is recommended for the induction of remission in severe cases of MC that fail to respond to corticosteroids or immunomodulators, as an alternative to colectomy.ConclusionsThis is the first consensus paper on MC based on GRADE methodology. This initiative may help physicians involved in care of these patients in taking decisions based on evidence.
Effects of dietary leucine supplementation in low crude protein diets on performance, nitrogen balance, whole‐body protein turnover, carcass characteristics and meat quality of finishing pigs
Authors: Zhang Shihai , Chu Licui , Qiao Shiyan , Mao Xiangbing , Zeng Xiangfang 
Published: November 2015

AbstractEighteen Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire barrows, with an average initial body weight (BW) of 75.4 ± 2.0 kg, were randomly allotted to one of three diets with six replicates per treatment for 25 days. The diets comprised a normal protein diet (NP, 14.5% crude protein), a low crude protein diet supplemented with 0.27% alanine (LP + Ala, 10.0% crude protein), or a low crude protein diet supplemented with 0.40% leucine (LP + Leu, 10.0% crude protein). The whole‐body protein synthesis rate, whole‐body protein breakdown rate and protein deposition rate in pigs fed the LP + Leu diet were similar to the NP diet (P > 0.05), and both were significantly higher than pigs fed the LP + Ala diet (P < 0.05). The Longissimus muscle area (LMA) of pigs fed the LP + Leu diet was larger than those fed the LP + Ala diet (P = 0.05). In addition, drip loss and intramuscular fat of pigs fed the LP + Ala diet were higher than that of the others (P < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of leucine in low protein diet could stimulate protein deposition and improve the meat quality of finishing pigs more than an alanine‐supplemented one.
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and Trans‐Pacific Partnership: Policy Options of China
Authors: Aslan Buhara , Kutuk Merve Mavus , Oduncu Arif 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAs a result of deadlocked multilateral trade negotiations, many countries have embarked on the establishment of bilateral and regional trade agreements. Using the Global Trade Analysis Project database and a computable general equilibrium model, our paper focuses on the impacts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trans‐Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the Chinese economy under three scenarios. The results suggest that when only the TTIP is realized, Chinese economic variables are negatively affected. When both the TTIP and the TPP are realized and China is excluded, the combined damage to the Chinese economy is higher than the damage with the TTIP alone. However, the inclusion of China in the TPP has a positively effect on economic variables in China. This indicates that the impacts of China's participation in the TPP compensate for the negative impacts of the TTIP. Therefore, China should consider being part of the TPP to offset the negative impacts of the TTIP.
Chinese Renminbi Arrival in the “Tripolar” Global Monetary Regime
Authors: Ryan John 
Published: November 2015

AbstractSince the financial crisis hit in 2007, the US dollar privilege has not only become “exorbitant” but “extortianate.” Countries such as China are no longer willing to allow the USA to exercise this extortionate behavior. The potential geopolitical implications of a US dollar decline are immense. The USA would lose its privileged seigniorage position and with that the ability to achieve permanently higher returns on foreign assets than the returns paid to foreigners who invest in the USA. The global economy is already close to operating with three regional exchange rate anchors: the US dollar; the euro; and, increasingly, the renminbi. Hence, the transition to a tripolar system could occur sooner than many assert. Nevertheless, given the importance of financial deepening and integration in the internationalization of currencies, any shift will still be gradual.
Remedy or Poison: Impacts of China's Outward Direct Investment on Its Exports
Authors: Liu Xiaoguang , Gou Qin , Lu Feng 
Published: November 2015

AbstractDuring the past decade, China's outward direct investment (ODI) and exports have experienced rapid growth, drawing increasing attention to the relationship between them. Using the gravity model based on panel data on China's ODI and trade to 174 countries and regions during 2003–2012, the present paper investigates the impacts of China's ODI on exports. We find that China's ODI to a host country significantly promotes China's trade with that economy: a 10‐percent increase in ODI stock can lead to a 2.14‐percent increase in exports, a 2.07‐percent increase in imports and a 2.87‐percent increase in net exports. The scale of the host country's economy, its infrastructure and its distance to China also have significant impacts on China's exports. Therefore, growth in ODI will facilitate China's trade and integration into the global economy, and enhance industrial upgrading in China by transferring the low‐end industries abroad.
Language Deficits in Poor L2 Comprehenders: The Simple View
Authors: Sparks Richard L. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe simple view of reading (SVR) model proposes that reading comprehension is the product of word decoding and language comprehension, and that both components make independent contributions to reading skill (Gough & Tunmer, 1986). The model posits that there are good readers and three types of poor readers—dyslexic, hyperlexic, and garden variety—who exhibit different profiles of strengths and/or deficits in word decoding and language comprehension. In this study, 165 first‐ and second‐year high school students studying Spanish as a second language in the United States were administered standardized measures of Spanish word decoding, pseudoword decoding, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Participants' scores were compared to monolingual Spanish readers from grades 1 to 9 and then classified according to SVR reader types. The majority of students met the hyperlexic profile (good word decoding, poor reading comprehension). No participant fit the dyslexic criteria (poor decoding, good reading comprehension), and none met the good reader criteria (good word decoding, good reading comprehension) at a level higher than that of second‐grade monolingual Spanish learners.
Do trace metals select for darker birds in urban areas? An experimental exposure to lead and zinc
Authors: Chatelain Marion , Gasparini Julien , Frantz Adrien 
Published: November 2015

AbstractTrace metals from anthropogenic activities are involved in numerous health impairments and may therefore select for detoxification mechanisms or a higher tolerance. Melanin, responsible for the black and red colourations of teguments, plays a role in metal ion chelation and its synthesis is positively linked to immunity, antioxidant capacity and stress resistance due to pleiotropic effects. Therefore, we expected darker birds to (1) store higher amounts of metals in their feathers, (2) maintain lower metal concentrations in blood and (3) suffer less from metal exposure. We exposed feral pigeons (Columba livia) exhibiting various plumage darkness levels to low, but chronic, concentrations of zinc and/or lead, two of the most abundant metals in urban areas. First, we found negative and positive effects of lead and zinc, respectively, on birds' condition and reproductive parameters. Then, we observed positive relationships between plumage darkness and both zinc and lead concentrations in feathers. Interestingly, though darker adults did not maintain lower metal concentrations in blood and did not have higher fitness parameters, darker juveniles exhibited a higher survival rate than paler ones when exposed to lead. Our results show that melanin‐based plumage colouration does modulate lead effects on birds' fitness parameters but that the relationship between metals, melanin, and fitness is more complex than expected and thus stress the need for more studies.
Humpback whale diets respond to variance in ocean climate and ecosystem conditions in the California Current
Authors: Fleming Alyson H. , Clark Casey T. , Calambokidis John , Barlow Jay 
Published: November 2015

AbstractLarge, migratory predators are often cited as sentinel species for ecosystem processes and climate‐related changes, but their utility as indicators is dependent upon an understanding of their response to environmental variability. Documentation of the links between climate variability, ecosystem change and predator dynamics is absent for most top predators. Identifying species that may be useful indicators and elucidating these mechanistic links provides insight into current ecological dynamics and may inform predictions of future ecosystem responses to climatic change. We examine humpback whale response to environmental variability through stable isotope analysis of diet over a dynamic 20‐year period (1993–2012) in the California Current System (CCS). Humpback whale diets captured two major shifts in oceanographic and ecological conditions in the CCS. Isotopic signatures reflect a diet dominated by krill during periods characterized by positive phases of the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), cool sea surface temperature (SST), strong upwelling and high krill biomass. In contrast, humpback whale diets are dominated by schooling fish when the NPGO is negative, SST is warmer, seasonal upwelling is delayed and anchovy and sardine populations display increased biomass and range expansion. These findings demonstrate that humpback whales trophically respond to ecosystem shifts, and as a result, their foraging behavior is a synoptic indicator of oceanographic and ecological conditions across the CCS. Multi‐decadal examination of these sentinel species thus provides insight into biological consequences of interannual climate fluctuations, fundamental to advancing ecosystem predictions related to global climate change.
Site‐specific function and regulation of Osterix in tooth root formation
Authors: He Y. D. , Sui B. D. , Li M. , Huang J. , Chen S. , Wu L. A. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractCongenital diseases of tooth roots, in terms of developmental abnormalities of short and thin root phenotypes, can lead to loss of teeth. A more complete understanding of the genetic molecular pathways and biological processes controlling tooth root formation is required. Recent studies have revealed that Osterix (Osx), a key mesenchymal transcriptional factor participating in both the processes of osteogenesis and odontogenesis, plays a vital role underlying the mechanisms of developmental differences between root and crown. During tooth development, Osx expression has been identified from late embryonic to postnatal stages when the tooth root develops, particularly in odontoblasts and cementoblasts to promote their differentiation and mineralization. Furthermore, the site‐specific function of Osx in tooth root formation has been confirmed, because odontoblastic Osx‐conditional knockout mice demonstrate primarily short and thin root phenotypes with no apparent abnormalities in the crown (Journal of Bone and Mineral Research 30, 2014 and 742, Journal of Dental Research 94, 2015 and 430). These findings suggest that Osx functions to promote odontoblast and cementoblast differentiation and root elongation only in root, but not in crown formation. Mechanistic research shows regulatory networks of Osx expression, which can be controlled through manipulating the epithelial BMP signalling, mesenchymal Runx2 expression and cellular phosphorylation levels, indicating feasible routes of promoting Osx expression postnatally (Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 114, 2013 and 975). In this regard, a promising approach might be available to regenerate the congenitally diseased root and that regenerative therapy would be the best choice for patients with developmental tooth diseases.
Temperamental Susceptibility to Parenting among Preterm and Full‐Term Infants in Early Cognitive Development
Authors: Gueron‐Sela Noa , Atzaba‐Poria Naama , Meiri Gal , Marks Kyla 
Published: November 2015

The current study examined the interaction between premature birth, temperamental reactivity, and parenting in early cognitive development. Participants were 142 infants (80 preterm; 62 full term) and their parents. Parent–child interactions (maternal, paternal, and co‐parental) were observed at age 6 months to assess parental structuring behaviors. Additionally, both parents reported on infants' temperamental reactivity. At 12 months of age, infants' cognitive abilities were assessed. Consistent with the diathesis–stress model, preterm infants had lower cognitive outcomes than full‐term infants when exposed to low levels of co‐parental structuring, but functioned similarly when exposed to high levels of co‐parental structuring. However, temperamental reactivity moderated this effect: Infants who carried one susceptibility factor (i.e., premature birth or reactive temperament) were similarly affected by co‐parental structuring, whereas infants who carried two or no susceptibility factors were not. Furthermore, consistent with the differential susceptibility hypothesis, infants with highly reactive temperaments had lower cognitive functioning when exposed to low maternal structuring, but higher cognitive functioning when exposed to high maternal structuring compared to infants with lower reactivity. Results from this study highlight the importance of considering both temperamental reactivity and quality of parenting in understanding preterm infants' early cognitive vulnerability.
Etiology of Intracranial Arterial Stenosis: Are Transcranial Color‐Coded Duplex Ultrasound and 3T Black Blood MR Imaging Complementary?
Authors: Perren Fabienne , Vargas Maria I. , Kargiotis Odysseas 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDIn order to differentiate between the different causes of intracranial stenosis, we compared the diagnostic results of transcranial color‐coded duplex (TCCD) sonography with the recently developed 3D high‐resolution black blood MR sequence.METHODSWe studied retrospectively 20 patients referred to our hospital after acute ischemic stroke who were diagnosed with intracranial stenosis and in whom a repetitive TCCD and a 3D MR T1 FAT SAT (black blood) sequence at 3T (TR/TE 350/20 ms, FOV 160×182×120 mm, 0.4×0.4×0.4 size of pixel, 300 slices, Fat Sat spair, acquisition time 6 minutes 14) were performed. Etiological diagnosis was based on one hand on the morphological aspect of the arterial wall (black blood T1 FAT SAT sequence) and on the hemodynamic aspect (TCCD) on the other hand. Analysis of black blood T1 FAT SAT MR sequence and TCCD agreement on the etiological diagnosis was performed using sign test.RESULTSTCCD was performed at admission and at least at two different intervals during follow‐up. Eleven patients had diffuse intracranial arterial disease and nine had involvement of a single intracranial artery. Etiology of intracranial arterial stenosis included: atheromatosis, thrombosis, vasculitis and reversible vasoconstriction syndrome. There was 80% agreement (sign test P = .0059) between these two methods.CONCLUSIONSThese two combined imaging techniques might be promising for the differentiation of arteriosclerotic changes from stenosis of another origin, especially when follow‐up TCCD studies are completed early before a possible regression of the atherosclerotic plaque that might be observed 6 months after initial diagnosis.
Becoming pure: identifying generational classes of admixed individuals within lesser and greater scaup populations
Authors: Lavretsky Philip , Peters Jeffrey L. , Winker Kevin , Bahn Volker , Kulikova Irina , Zhuravlev Yuri N. , Wilson Robert E. , Barger Chris , Gurney Kirsty , McCracken Kevin G. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractEstimating the frequency of hybridization is important to understand its evolutionary consequences and its effects on conservation efforts. In this study, we examined the extent of hybridization in two sister species of ducks that hybridize. We used mitochondrial control region sequences and 3589 double‐digest restriction‐associated DNA sequences (ddRADseq) to identify admixture between wild lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) and greater scaup (A. marila). Among 111 individuals, we found one introgressed mitochondrial DNA haplotype in lesser scaup and four in greater scaup. Likewise, based on the site‐frequency spectrum from autosomal DNA, gene flow was asymmetrical, with higher rates from lesser into greater scaup. However, using ddRADseq nuclear DNA, all individuals were assigned to their respective species with >0.95 posterior assignment probability. To examine the power for detecting admixture, we simulated a breeding experiment in which empirical data were used to create F1 hybrids and nine generations (F2–F10) of backcrossing. F1 hybrids and F2, F3 and most F4 backcrosses were clearly distinguishable from pure individuals, but evidence of admixed histories was effectively lost after the fourth generation. Thus, we conclude that low interspecific assignment probabilities (0.011–0.043) for two lesser and nineteen greater scaup were consistent with admixed histories beyond the F3 generation. These results indicate that the propensity of these species to hybridize in the wild is low and largely asymmetric. When applied to species‐specific cases, our approach offers powerful utility for examining concerns of hybridization in conservation efforts, especially for determining the generational time until admixed histories are effectively lost through backcrossing.
Association of recently described adipokines with liver histology in biopsy‐proven non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review
Authors: Bekaert M. , Verhelst X. , Geerts A. , Lapauw B. , Calders P. 
Published: November 2015

SummaryThe prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rising, as is the prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is increasingly recognized that an impaired pattern in adipokine secretion could play a pivotal role in the development of NAFLD. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the potential link between newly described adipokines and liver histology in biopsy‐proven NAFLD patients. A computerized literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science electronic databases. Thirty‐one cross‐sectional studies were included, resulting in a total of seven different investigated adipokines. Studies included in this review mainly had a good methodological quality. Most adipokines were suggested to be involved in the inflammatory response that develops within the context of NAFLD, either at hepatic or systemic level, and/or hepatic insulin resistance. Based on literature, clinical studies suggest that chemerin, resistin and adipocyte‐fatty‐acid‐binding protein potentially are involved in NAFLD pathogenesis and/or progression. However, major inconsistency still exists, and there is a high need for larger studies, together with the need of standardized assays to determine adipokine levels.