bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neural Responses to Heartbeats of Physically Trained and Sedentary Young Adults
Authors: Perakakis Pandelis , Luque Casado Antonio , Ciria Luis , Ivanov Plamen , Sanabria Daniel 
Published: June 2017

AbstractRegular physical exercise has a positive impact on brain function and cognitive performance. However, it is not yet clear whether the physiological and behavioral benefits associated to physical exercise are caused exclusively by changes in cardiovascular fitness. Here, we explore the relation between regular physical exercise and transient electroencephalographic responses to afferent cardiac signals. We find differences in the neural processing of heartbeats between individuals who exercise regularly and their sedentary counterparts. These differences, localised at two distinct spatio-temporal clusters, occur before the presentation of a target stimulus and correlate with behavioral performance only in the high-fit group. We hypothesise that the different neural processing of afferent cardiac activity by physically trained individuals reflects enhanced interoceptive sensitivity, which contributes to improved sustained attention. Our results are in line with recent research highlighting the role of neural monitoring of visceral signals in perceptual processing and even the generation of the sense of self.
Genetic-metabolic coupling for targeted metabolic engineering
Authors: Cardinale Stefano , Gonzalo Tueros Felipe , Otto Alexander Sommer Morten 
Published: June 2017

SUMMARYTo produce chemicals, microbes typically employ potent biosynthetic enzymes that interact with native metabolism to affect cell fitness as well as chemical production. However, production optimization largely relies on data collected from wild type strains in the absence of metabolic perturbations, thus limiting their relevance to specific process scenarios. Here, we address this issue by coupling cell fitness to the production of thiamine diphosphate inEscherichia coliusing a synthetic RNA biosensor.We apply this system to interrogate a library of transposon mutants to elucidate the native gene network influencing both cell fitness and thiamine production. Specifically, we identify uncharacterized effectors of the OxyR-SoxR stress response that limit thiamine biosynthesis via alternative regulation of iron storage and Fe-S-cluster inclusion in enzymes.Our study represents a new generalizable approach for the reliable high-throughput identification of genetic targets of both known and unknown function that are directly relevant to a specific biosynthetic process.
CRISPRi is not strand-specific and redefines the transcriptional landscape
Authors: Howe Françoise S. , Russell Andrew , El-Sagheer Afaf , Nair Anitha , Brown Tom , Mellor Jane 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTCRISPRi, an adapted CRISPR-Cas9 system, is proposed to act as a strand-specific roadblock to repress transcription in eukaryotic cells using guide RNAs (sgRNAs) to target catalytically inactive Cas9 (dCas9) and offers an alternative to genetic interventions for studying pervasive antisense transcription. Here we successfully use click chemistry to construct DNA templates for sgRNA expression and show, rather than acting simply as a roadblock, binding of sgRNA/dCas9 creates an environment that is permissive for transcription initiation and termination, thus generating novel sense and antisense transcripts. AtHMS2inSaccharomyces cerevisiae, sgRNA/dCas9 targeting to the non-template strand results in antisense transcription termination, premature termination of a proportion of sense transcripts and initiation of a novel antisense transcript downstream of the sgRNA/dCas9 binding site. This redefinition of the transcriptional landscape by CRISPRi demonstrates that it is not strand-specific and highlights the controls and locus understanding required to properly interpret results from CRISPRi interventions.
Do Avoidable Hospitalization Rates among Older Adults Differ by Geographic Access to Primary Care Physicians?
Authors: Daly Michael R. , Mellor Jennifer M. , Millones Marco 
Published: June 2017

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between older adults’ potentially avoidable hospitalization rates and both a geographic measure of primary care physician (PCP) access and a standard bounded‐area measure of PCP access.Data SourcesState physician licensure data from the Virginia Board of Medicine. Patient‐level hospital discharge data from Virginia Health Information. Area‐level data from the American Community Survey and the Area Health Resources Files. Virginia Information Technologies Agency road network data. US Census Bureau TIGER/Line boundary files.Study DesignWe use enhanced two‐step floating catchment area methods to calculate geographic PCP accessibility for each ZIP Code Tabulation Area in Virginia. We use spatial regression techniques to model potentially avoidable hospitalization rates.Data Collection/ExtractionGeographic accessibility was calculated using ArcGIS. Physician locations were geocoded using TAMU GeoServices and ArcGIS.Principal FindingsIncreased geographic access to PCPs is associated with lower rates of potentially avoidable hospitalization among older adults. This association is robust, allowing for spatial spillovers in spatial lag models.ConclusionsCompared to bounded‐area density measures, unbounded geographic accessibility measures provide more robust evidence that avoidable hospitalization rates are lower in areas with more PCPs per person. Results from our spatial lag models reveal the presence of positive spatial spillovers.
Efficacy of Substance Removal by Immunoadsorption With a Selective Plasma Separator
Authors: Hanafusa Norio , Yamamoto Hiroko , Tamachi Masaki , Torato Toshihiro , Sakurai Satoko , Tsuchiya Ken , Nitta Kosaku , Nangaku Masaomi 
Published: June 2017

AbstractImmunoadsorption with a tryptophan‐conjugated column has a limited capacity and reduces fibrinogen. We speculated that immunoadsorption with a selective plasma separator has higher efficiency in removing immunoglobulins than ordinary immunoadsorption without affecting coagulation factors. This study investigated the efficacy of immunoadsorption with a selective plasma separator in vitro. The sieving coefficients, the pool concentration, and the adsorbed amount were investigated serially with up to 5 L of processed plasma. The sieving coefficients of the selective plasma separator were 0.8, 0.5, and 0.1 for albumin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), and factor 13, respectively. The trend of concentrations for the ordinary plasma separator in the pool reached its nadir at 1.5 L and 3.5 L of plasma processed for IgG, IgG1, or IgG2, and IgG3, respectively. However, the volume was doubled for the selective plasma separator. The trends of fibrinogen and factor 13 concentrations differed significantly between two plasma separators. The trends of the absorbed amount were mirror images of the concentration in the pool. Comparison of the peak amount absorbed indicated that the amounts were almost identical between the two separators for IgG, IgG1, and IgG2. On the other hand, the peak amounts were less for albumin, fibrinogen, and IgG3 with the selective plasma separator than with the ordinary separator. Although further investigations about bradykinin are required, immunoadsorption with the selective plasma separator supports the administration of more frequent and intensive treatments to remove IgG1 or IgG2 without affecting coagulation factors.
The impact of serum potassium‐influencing antihypertensive drugs on the risk of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest: A case–control study
Authors: Alharbi Fawaz F. , Souverein Patrick C. , de Groot Mark C. H. , Blom Marieke T. , de Boer Anthonius , Klungel Olaf H. , Tan Hanno L. 
Published: June 2017

AimsSudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a complex multifactorial event and most commonly caused by ventricular tachycardia/ fibrillation (VT/ VF). Some antihypertensive drugs could induce hypokalaemia or hyperkalaemia, which may increase susceptibility to VT/VF and SCA.ObjectiveTo assess the association between different classes of antihypertensive drugs classified according to their potential impact on serum potassium levels and the occurrence of out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) based on VT/VF.MethodsA case–control study was performed among current users of antihypertensive drugs. Cases were OHCA victims with electrocardiogram documented VT/VF drawn from the AmsteRdam REsuscitation STudies (ARREST) registry, and controls were non‐OHCA individuals from the PHARMO database. Antihypertensive drugs were classified into: (i) antihypertensives with neutral effect on serum potassium levels; (ii) hypokalaemia‐inducing antihypertensives; (iii) hyperkalaemia‐inducing antihypertensives; (iv) combination of antihypertensives with hypo‐ and hyperkalaemic effects.ResultsWe included 1345 cases and 4145 controls. The risk of OHCA was significantly increased among users of hypokalaemia‐inducing antihypertensives [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.76] and among users of a combination of antihypertensives with hypo‐ and hyperkalaemic effects (adjusted OR 1.42; 95%CI 1.17–1.72) vs. users of antihypertensives with neutral effect. There was no difference in OHCA risk between users of hyperkalaemia‐inducing antihypertensives vs. users of antihypertensive drugs with neutral effect (adjusted OR 1.15; 95%CI 0.95–1.40).ConclusionThe risk of OHCA is significantly increased in patients who were current users of hypokalaemia‐inducing antihypertensives and patients using a combination of antihypertensives with hypo‐ and hyperkalaemic effects.
Effects of off‐highway vehicles on sandy habitat critical to survival of a rare beetle
Authors: Knisley Charles B. , Gowan Charles , Fenster Michael S. 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Recreational activity, including use of off‐highway vehicles, threatens a variety of rare taxa that depend on undisturbed marine beaches, freshwater shorelines, aeolian dunes and other sandy habitats.

The endemic Coral Pink Sand Dunes (CPSD) tiger beetle (Cicindela albissima Rumpp) occupies a 300 × 1500 m area within a larger dune field in southwestern Utah.

Our objectives were to determine the habitat required by larvae, explain why habitat is so restricted, and to quantify how off‐highway vehicles (OHVs) affected habitat.

Macrohabitat characteristics (subsurface moisture, sediment grain size, compaction, vegetation cover) were not different in areas containing high beetle densities compared to those with low.

Within the core area containing most beetles, larvae were found primarily in microhabitats with cohesive sand close to the surface.

Compaction and moisture provide the cohesive sand required for larvae to maintain burrows during development. Compacted sand, soil moisture and vegetation supporting larval prey were largely absent in heavy OHV‐use areas.

Larvae were less abundant within OHV tracks compared to non‐track areas. Apparent survival of larvae experimentally translocated to OHV tracks was lower than that of larvae translocated to non‐OHV areas.

Our results show that beetles are restricted to an area where cohesive sand occurs near the surface, interspersed with sufficient vegetation to produce prey. These conditions are localised to an area where dunes migrate at a rate sustaining these conditions.

Restricting OHV use from all areas where natural processes create cohesive sand covered with adequate vegetation will minimise extinction probability for the beetle.
Pain associated with pressure injury: A qualitative study of community‐based, home‐dwelling individuals
Authors: Jackson Debra , Durrant Lisa , Bishop Emily , Walthall Helen , Betteridge Ria , Gardner Sarah , Coulton Wendy , Hutchinson Marie , Neville Stephen , Davidson Patricia M. , Usher Kim 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to provide deep insights into the pain associated with pressure injuries in home‐dwelling individuals using narrative accounts.BackgroundPressure injuries or pressure ulcers are burdensome and costly. Prevalence data, surveys and systematic reviews demonstrate that pain associated with pressure injury is widespread, but voices of home‐dwelling patients have remained largely unheard.DesignConcurrent mixed methods case study of a UK community of approximately 50,000 adults.MethodsQualitative interviews, conducted in 2016, of 12 home‐dwelling adult participants with a current pressure injury (n = 10), or a recently healed pressure injury (n = 2).FindingsPain had an adverse impact on activities of daily living, mobility and sleep. Participants described days that were clouded in pain; a pain they felt was poorly understood and often out of control. Thematic content analysis revealed two major themes; these are: Poorly controlled pain: “I just want the pain to go away”; and, Uncertainty for the future: “it almost seems insurmountable.”ConclusionFindings of our study support the need to develop an appropriate assessment tool for pressure injury patients in the community to enable healthcare professionals and patients to recognize and manage pressure injury‐related pain effectively.
An epidemiological study of cataracts in wild and farmed lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) and the relation to nutrition
Authors: Jonassen T , Hamadi M , Remø S C , Waagbø R 
Published: June 2017

AbstractTwelve groups of farmed lumpfish and one of wild lumpfish were screened for cataract and sampled for fish muscle tissue, whole heart and both eye lenses to investigate possible relations between cataract and tissue free amino acid concentrations. Cataract prevalence ranged from 20% to 100%, with the highest average score of 7.3 (max 8) and incidences of severe cataract (>5) in all groups. Cataract could not be explained by suboptimal histidine concentrations in the feed. Neither muscle nor cardiac tissues had concentrations of free histidine compounds. The lumpfish lens contained N‐acetylhistidine (NAH), of which low concentrations were strongly related to cataract severity. However, no correlation between lens NAH and cataract severity was found in the present sample set. Wild lumpfish had higher levels compared to farmed lumpfish, suggesting that the farmed lumpfish may have been deficient in histidine or have a higher utilization of NAH due to osmotic problems. Thus, cataract in farmed lumpfish may be related to primary or secondary disturbed nutrient metabolism or malnutrition, shown by the high levels of specific amino acids in different tissues, which may cause osmotic imbalance and cataract development. This nutritional or environmental‐related welfare problem deserves further research.
Four new species of Talaromyces from clinical sources
Authors: Guevara‐Suarez Marcela , Sutton Deanna A. , Gené Josepa , García Dania , Wiederhold Nathan , Guarro Josep , Cano‐Lira José F. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe genus Talaromyces constitutes an important group of molds with species that are mainly found in soil, indoor environments and food products. Traditionally, it has been considered, together with Eupenicillium, the teleomorphic state of Penicillium. However, the taxonomy of these fungi has changed considerably, and Talaromyces currently includes sexually and asexually reproducing species. In a previous study of the occurrence of penicillium‐like fungi from clinical samples in the USA, we used the combined phylogeny of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA and β‐tubulin (BenA) gene to identify 31 isolates of Talaromyces, 85 of Penicillium and two of Rasamsonia. However, seven isolates of Talaromyces were assigned to the corresponding sections but not to any particular species. In this study, we have resolved the taxonomy of these isolates through a multilocus sequence analysis of the ITS, fragments of the BenA, calmodulin (CaM), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) genes, and a detailed phenotypic study. As a result, four new species are described and illustrated, ie Talaromyces alveolaris, T. georgiensis, T. minnesotensis and T. rapidus.
Prednisolone for the first rhinovirus‐induced wheezing and 4‐year asthma risk: A randomized trial
Authors: Koistinen Annamari , Lukkarinen Minna , Turunen Riitta , Vuorinen Tytti , Vahlberg Tero , Camargo Carlos A. , Gern James , Ruuskanen Olli , Jartti Tuomas 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundPrevious findings show that corticosteroid treatment during the first acute wheezing episode may reduce recurrent wheezing in children with high rhinovirus genome load at 12‐month follow‐up. Longer‐term effects have not been investigated prospectively.MethodsAfter PCR confirmation of rhinovirus from nasopharyngeal aspirate, 79 children with the first acute wheezing episode were randomized to receive orally prednisolone or placebo for 3 days. The initiation of asthma control medication before the age of 5 years was confirmed from medical record and/or from parental interview. The outcome was the time to initiation of regular asthma control medication. Interaction analysis examined rhinovirus genome load.ResultsFifty‐nine (75%) children completed the follow‐up. Asthma control medication was initiated in 40 (68%) children at the median age of 20 months. Overall, prednisolone did not affect the time to initiation of asthma control medication when compared to placebo (P=.99). Rhinovirus load modified the effect of prednisolone regarding the time to initiation of asthma control medication (P‐value for interaction=.04). In children with high rhinovirus load (>7000 copies/mL; n=23), the risk for initiation of medication was lower in the prednisolone group compared to the placebo group (P=.05). In the placebo group, asthma medication was initiated to all children with high rhinovirus load (n=9) during the 14 months after the first wheezing episode.ConclusionsOverall, prednisolone did not affect the time to initiation of asthma control medication when compared to placebo. However, prednisolone may be beneficial in first‐time wheezing children whose episode was severe and associated with high rhinovirus load. (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00731575).
Linear Unilateral Basaloid Follicular Hamartoma Following Blaschko's Lines: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature
Authors: López Jiménez Esmeralda C. , Grau Cristina , Islas Norris Diana , Montenegro Dámaso Társila , Azón Antoni , Borrego Hernando Leopoldo 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBasaloid follicular hamartoma (BFH) is a rare follicular malformation characterized by variable clinical presentations and identical histopathologic features. We present the cases of a 3‐month‐old boy and an 8‐year‐old boy with linear unilateral BFH. To the best of our knowledge, only 14 cases of linear unilateral BFH have been described in the English‐language literature.
Chlorogenic acid supplementation during in vitro maturation improves maturation, fertilization and developmental competence of porcine oocytes
Authors: Nguyen T‐V , Tanihara F , Do LTK , Sato Y , Taniguchi M , Takagi M , Van Nguyen T , Otoi T 
Published: June 2017

ContentsChlorogenic acid (CGA) is a quinic acid conjugate of caffeic acid, and a phytochemical found in many fruits and beverages that acts as an antioxidant. The present study investigated the effects of CGA supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM), on in vitro development of porcine oocytes, to improve the porcine in vitro production (IVP) system. Oocytes were matured either without (control) or with CGA (10, 50, 100 and 200 μM). Subsequently, the matured oocytes were fertilized and cultured in vitro for 7 day. The rates of maturation, fertilization and blastocyst formation of oocytes matured with 50 μM CGA were significantly (p < .05) higher than those of the control oocytes. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of the reactive oxygen species and induces DNA damage in porcine oocytes. When oocytes were matured with 1 mM H2O2 to assess the protective effect of CGA, 50 μM CGA supplementation improved the maturation rate and the proportion of DNA‐fragmented nuclei in oocytes compared with control oocytes matured without CGA. Moreover, when oocytes were matured with either 50 μM CGA (control) or caffeic acid (10, 50 and 100 μM), the rates of maturation, fertilization and the blastocyst formation of oocytes matured with 50 μM CGA were similar to those of oocytes matured with 10 and 50 μM caffeic acid. Our results suggest that CGA has comparable effects to caffeic acid, and IVM with 50 μM CGA is particularly beneficial to IVP of porcine embryos and protects oocytes from DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. Supplementation of CGA to the maturation medium has a potential to improve porcine IVP system.
Cryopreservation of Nili‐Ravi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) semen in AndroMed® extender; in vitro and in vivo evaluation
Authors: Ansari MS , Rakha BA , Akhter S 
Published: June 2017

ContentsThe study was designed to evaluate AndroMed® for the freezability and fertility of Nili‐Ravi buffalo semen. Semen was collected from four adult Nili‐Ravi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls for 3 weeks (replicate). Semen ejaculates from each buffalo bull were divided into three aliquots. One aliquot was used for evaluation of motility, plasma membrane integrity, livability, viability, DNA integrity and normal apical ridge. Remaining two aliquots were diluted (37°C; 50 × 106 spermatozoa/ml) in tris‐citric egg yolk or AndroMed® extender and cryopreserved in 0.5 ml French straws. After thawing, per cent post‐thaw motility (47.9 ± 0.8, 49.2 ± 1.7), plasma membrane integrity (44.4 ± 1.2, 46.8 ± 1.8) and normal apical ridge (81.4 ± 0.3, 83.2 ± 0.3) were recorded similar (p > .05) in tris‐citric egg yolk and AndroMed® extender. Higher (p < .05) percentage of sperm livability (70.5 ± 1.4 and 64.4 ± 1.0), viability (67.5 ± 1.5 and 61.5 ± 0.6) and DNA integrity (97.0 ± 0.3 and 93.4 ± 0.21) were recorded in AndroMed® compared to tris‐citric egg yolk post‐thaw. Values for all the aforementioned spermatozoal quality parameters were observed lower (p < .05) in frozen‐thawed compared to fresh semen irrespective of the experimental extenders. Fertility rates of buffalo semen did not differ (p > .05) either cryopreserved in tris‐citric egg yolk or AndroMed® extender (45.5% vs. 49%). It is concluded that AndroMed® is capable in protecting the buffalo bull sperm during freeze‐thawing process and can be adopted safely for routine use replacing the tris‐citric egg yolk extender in artificial insemination programme.
Blood wastage management in a regional blood transfusion centre
Authors: Javadzadeh Shahshahani H. , Taghvai N. 
Published: June 2017

SUMMARYObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the rate of blood component wastage before and after interventions at Yazd Blood Transfusion Center.BackgroundThe growing need for blood components along with blood safety issues and rising costs constantly pressurise blood centres to improve their efficiency. Reducing the quantity of discarded blood at all stages of the supply chain can decrease the total costs.MethodsData on discarded blood components were extracted from the database of Yazd Blood Transfusion Center. Multiple interventions, including implementation of wastage management standard operating procedures and reduction of red blood cells (RBCs) inventory level, were implemented. Discard rates of blood components in the 3 years after intervention (2013–2015) were compared with the discard rates in the 3 years before interventions.ResultsThe total wastage rate of blood components decreased by almost 60%. Discard rates of RBCs, platelets and plasma decreased from 9·7%, 18·5% and 5·4% to 2·9%, 10·5% and 2·3%, (P < 0·001) after intervention, respectively. The most prevalent reason for discarding units was expiration of RBCs and platelets. Plasma units were discarded mostly due to technical faults during processing. The cost saving of reduction in blood wastage was estimated to be 1,500,000 dollars.ConclusionInterventions had a significant impact on the reduction of blood wastage with respect to both cost and blood supply saving.