bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in cardiovascular performance, biochemistry, gastric motility and muscle temperature induced by acute exercise on a treadmill in healthy military dogs
Authors: Queiroz R. W. , Silva V. L. , Rocha D. R. , Costa D. S. , Turco S. H. N. , Silva M. T. B. , Santos A. A. , Oliveira M. B. L. , Pereira A. S. R. , Palheta‐Junior R. C. 
Published: December 2016

SummaryChanges in physiological parameters that are induced by acute exercise on a treadmill in healthy military dogs have not been thoroughly investigated, especially with regard to age. This study investigated the effects of acute exercise on a treadmill on cardiovascular function, biochemical parameters and gastric antral motility in military dogs. Thermography was used to assess variations in superficial hindlimb muscle temperature. Nine healthy dogs were distributed into three groups according to their age (Group I: 25 ± 7 months; Group II: 51 ± 12 months; Group III: 95 ± 10 months) and sequentially subjected to running exercise on a treadmill for 12 min (3.2 km/h at 0° incline for 4 min, 6.4 km/h at 0° incline for 4 min and 6.4 km/h at 10° incline for 4 min). Heart rate, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), gastric motility, haematocrit and biochemical analyses were performed at rest and after each session of treadmill exercise. Infrared thermographic images of muscles in the pelvic member were taken. Exercise decreased DAP in Group I, increased systolic arterial pressure in Groups II and III and increased mean arterial pressure in Group III (all p < 0.05). After the exercise protocol, plasma creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase levels increased only in Group I (p < 0.05). Exercise increased heart rate and decreased the gastric motility of a solid meal at 180 min in all groups (all p < 0.05). Exercise also elevated temperature in the femoral biceps muscles in Group I compared with the older dogs. The results indicate that acute exercise decreased gastric motility in dogs, regardless of age, and caused more pronounced cardiovascular changes in older dogs than in younger dogs. Acute exercise also altered biochemical parameters and superficial hindlimb muscle temperature in younger military dogs.
Impaired visual processing in patients with insomnia disorder revealed by a dissociation in visual search
Authors: Giora Enrico , Galbiati Andrea , Marelli Sara , Zucconi Marco , Ferini‐Strambi Luigi 
Published: December 2016

SummaryInsomnia disorder is associated with both subjective and objective daytime impairments. In particular, cognitive impairments are frequently reported. However, little is known about the effects of this pathology on perceptual processes. In this study we aim at evaluating the effect of insomnia disorder on visual processing by employing a visual search paradigm. Twenty‐three patients with insomnia disorder and 20 healthy age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects participated in the study. After a polysomnographic recording night patients performed a visual search task in which they had to respond to the presence/absence of a target (letter T) embedded into a set of distractors (letters Os, Xs or Ls). Target's salience and distractors’ numerosity were manipulated, while accuracy and reaction times were recorded as dependent variables. The results mainly confirmed the typical effects of a visual search task. An overall delay in performing the task was observed for patients with insomnia disorder. However, distinguishing the reaction times to stimuli containing the target from reaction times to stimuli in which the target was absent, the clinical group differed from controls solely in the condition of target absent. The performance (reaction times) of the subjects correlated with the age in the control group, whereas no correlation between reaction times and age, disease duration and quality of sleep was found in patients with insomnia disorder. These results experimentally demonstrate the presence of a daytime impairment in patients with insomnia disorder revealed by a dissociation in visual search, and are discussed in the light of the hyperarousal concept of insomnia.
The Utility of Acute‐Phase Proteins in the Assessment of Treatment Response in Dogs With Bacterial Pneumonia
Authors: Viitanen S.J. , Lappalainen A.K. , Christensen M.B. , Sankari S. , Rajamäki M.M. 
Published: December 2016

BackgroundAcute‐phase proteins (APPs) are sensitive markers of inflammation, and serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) recently has been shown to be a useful diagnostic marker in dogs with bacterial pneumonia (BP). In humans with community‐acquired pneumonia, APPs also have great utility as follow‐up markers aiding in the assessment of treatment response.ObjectivesThe aim of our study was to investigate the applicability of APPs as markers of treatment response in dogs with BP.AnimalsNineteen dogs diagnosed with BP and 64 healthy dogs.MethodsThe study was conducted as a prospective longitudinal observational study. Serum CRP, serum amyloid A (SAA), and haptoglobin concentrations were followed during a natural course of BP. Normalization of serum CRP was used to guide the duration of antibiotic treatment (treatment was stopped 5–7 days after CRP normalized) in 8 of 17 dogs surviving to discharge; 9 of 17 dogs were treated according to conventional recommendations.ResultsAll measured APPs initially were significantly increased, but the magnitude of increase was not correlated to disease severity. C‐reactive protein and SAA concentrations decreased rapidly after initiation of antimicrobial treatment. When normalization of serum CRP was used to guide the duration of antibiotic treatment, treatment duration was significantly (P = .015) decreased without increasing the number of relapses.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceSerum CRP and SAA reflected the recovery process well and therefore may be used as markers of treatment response. According to the results, the normalization of serum CRP may be used to guide the duration of antibiotic treatment in dogs with BP.
Divergence in a Neotropical forest during 33 years of succession following clear‐cutting
Authors: Rolim Samir G. , Machado Rafael E. , Pillar Valério D. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractQuestionsAre vegetation recovery trajectories converging or diverging during succession following clear‐cutting? Are the trajectories approaching the species composition of surrounding old‐growth forests?LocationAtlantic forest, Vale Natural Reserve, Linhares, southeast Brazil.MethodsA forest management experiment was established in an old‐growth forest using 0.5‐ha plots arranged in a randomized block design with five replicates. We analysed data collected from two treatments: plots that were clear‐cut in 1980 without burning or tree stump removal, and control plots with old‐growth forest that was left unmanaged. We analysed species abundance data (DBH ≥ 10 cm) recorded for both treatments between 6 and 33 yr after clear‐cutting. We computed mean multidimensional compositional distance of stands of the same successional age, and compared different ages to test whether trajectories during succession were divergent or convergent. Furthermore, we explored successional trajectories using ordination.ResultsRegenerating stands were more similar to each other at 6 yr than at 33 yr after clear‐cutting. Trajectories of the five recovering stands showed nearly monotonic divergence during succession and gradually approached the composition of surrounding old‐growth stands. Furthermore, pioneer and non‐pioneer species colonized the stands throughout the successional trajectory. Species recruitment occurred at different times and the species composition changed substantially during the 33 yr after clear‐cutting. As expected, species richness increased over time. Our findings suggest that successional trajectories have their own attractors: the surrounding old‐growth stands towards which the composition of the regenerating community tends to return. Even so, 33 yr after clear‐cutting, regenerating stands had distinctly different communities from surrounding old‐growth forest.ConclusionsSecondary succession in the Atlantic forest shows that multiple, divergent trajectories which started with more similar species composition were directly influenced by their surrounding vegetation and gradually increased their similarities to the surrounding old‐growth forest.
Community response to alkaline pollution as an adjusting re‐assembly between alternative stable states
Authors: Suija Ave , Liira Jaan 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimsWe hypothesize that the community response to disturbances can be interpreted as a large‐scale dynamic equilibrium between multiple alternate states stemming from different species pools within a regional meta‐pool and being limited by species’ multi‐dimensional niches. We explore this hypothesis by examining the re‐assembly of an acidophilous lichen community in response to long‐term alkaline dust pollution, assuming understorey as a potential side‐factor.LocationAround a cement factory in Kunda, Estonia.MethodsLichen communities on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) trunks in 40 stands around a cement factory and in nine distant limestone habitats were assessed.ResultsThe formed bark pH gradient from pH 2.4 to 8.1 was reflected in a continuum of lichen communities on pines from acidophilous to basidophilous communities. Besides suppressing species richness, understorey density more evidently caused the compositional divergence from neutral bark conditions. The effect of hidden interactions among drivers was explained through reactions of individual species – almost all species across the pollution gradient were pH‐limited, whereas species adapted to neutral or alkaline substrate were additionally sensitive to understorey conditions. The hump‐shaped distribution of pH niche ranges along the observed niche optima, rather than ecological indicator values, showed that the shape of species’ multi‐dimensional niche‐space still needs to be quantified.ConclusionsEach alternative community state along the disturbance gradient represents a realization of its specific species pool within the meta‐pool. Degradation can be defined if the community state is not supported by a meta‐pool. Species infiltration during community re‐assembly can be predicted using species source communities as cost‐efficient proxies.
An Arabidopsis NAC transcription factor NAC4 promotes pathogen‐induced cell death under negative regulation by microRNA164
Authors: Lee Myoung‐Hoon , Jeon Hwi Seong , Kim Hye Gi , Park Ohkmae K. 
Published: December 2016

Summary

Hypersensitive response (HR) is a form of programmed cell death (PCD) and the primary immune response that prevents pathogen invasion in plants. Here, we show that a microRNAmiR164 and its target gene NAC4 (At5g07680), encoding a NAC transcription factor, play essential roles in the regulation of HR PCD in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Cell death symptoms were noticeably enhanced in NAC4‐overexpressing (35S:NAC4) and mir164 mutant plants in response to avirulent bacterial pathogens. NAC4 expression was induced by pathogen infection and negatively regulated by miR164 expression.

NAC4‐binding DNA sequences were determined by in vitro binding site selection using random oligonucleotide sequences. Microarray, chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analyses, followed by cell death assays in protoplasts, led to the identification of NAC4 target genes LURP1, WRKY40 and WRKY54, which act as negative regulators of cell death.

Our results suggest that NAC4 promotes hypersensitive cell death by suppressing its target genes and this immune process is fine‐tuned by the negative action of miR164.
Ocular response to environmental variations in contact lens wearers
Authors: López‐de la Rosa Alberto , Martín‐Montañez Vicente , López‐Miguel Alberto , Fernández Itziar , Calonge Margarita , González‐Méijome José M. , González‐García María J. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractPurposeTo assess the influence of different indoor environments simulated in an environmental chamber on soft contact lens (CL) wearers.MethodsFifty‐four CL wearers were grouped based on their symptoms while wearing their CLs. Subjects were fitted with two different CL types, conventional hydrogel (Omafilcon A) and silicone hydrogel (comfilcon A), and exposed to two controlled indoor environmental conditions, standard [50% relative humidity (RH), 23°C, 930 mb of atmospheric pressure] and adverse (in‐flight air cabin environment: 5% RH, localised air flow, 23°C, 750 mb atmospheric pressure), for 90 min in an environmental chamber, making a total of four visits. Symptoms, tear osmolarity, pre‐lens tear breakup time (PLBUT), phenol red thread test, visual acuity, bulbar and limbal hyperaemia, corneal and limbal staining, and CL dehydration were assessed using repeated measures analysis of variance. A linear mixed model was used to analyse the effect of environment, CL type, discomfort‐based grouping, and time on blink rate.ResultsEnvironment was found to significantly (p ≤ 0.018) affect limbal and bulbar hyperaemia, PLBUT, tear osmolarity, and CL dehydration. Likewise, CL type significantly (p ≤ 0.04) affected nasal and total corneal staining, limbal conjunctival staining, CL dehydration, comfort, and blurred vision. The environment, CL type, and time had significant effects (p ≤ 0.0001) on the blink rate.ConclusionsOcular surface integrity and blink rate in CL wearers depend on the environment CL users are exposed to, as well as on the soft CL type that they are wearing. Tight control of environmental conditions can contribute to a better understanding of CL‐related discomfort.
Quality of life following injury to the inferior dental or lingual nerve – a cross‐sectional mixed‐methods study
Authors: Patel N. , Ali S. , Yates J.M. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractObjectiveTrigeminal nerve injury is one of the most problematic complications of dental/oral surgical procedures with significant consequences for patients, including neuropathy and facial pain. This presentation demonstrates the results of a cross‐sectional survey studying the impact of nerve injury on patients’ quality of life.MethodThirty patients attending a specialist nerve injury clinic at Manchester Dental Hospital were asked to complete an Oral Impact on Daily Performance (ODIP) questionnaire. Five further patients took part in semi‐structured interviews. Each interview was recorded and responses were thematically analysed.ResultsEighteen patients had an inferior alveolar nerve injury and 12 had lingual nerve injuries. There was no significant difference in mean ODIP score – and therefore effect on quality of life, for gender or type of nerve injured (P < 0.05). Nerve injury most affected patients who enjoyed social contact with other people, their ability to eat and enjoy food. It also affected their capacity to maintain an emotional state without becoming irritable. The majority (70%) of nerve injuries were caused by dental extractions. There was also some evidence to show that patients who had sustained a nerve injury following the surgical removal of a wisdom tooth had a worse quality of life when compared to the other injury groups (P < 0.05, 95% CI). Results of the interviews further demonstrated a universal dissatisfaction of how the patient was initially managed following injury.ConclusionIatrogentic trigeminal nerve injury still remains a significant complication in dentistry with significant impact on patients’ quality of life. Managing patients appropriately after nerve injury may help to improve the overall care given to this patient group.
Thoracic Vertebral Hemangioma with Spinal Cord Compression: Multidisciplinary Surgical Treatment and Follow‐up of Six Patients
Authors: Zhang Hui‐lin , Hu Yong‐cheng , Aryal Rajendra , He Xin , Lun Deng‐xing , Zhao Li‐ming 
Published: December 2016

ObjectiveTo provide useful insights of multidisciplinary surgical treatment for vertebral hemangioma with spinal cord compression.MethodsFrom 2009 to 2014, data on six patients who were diagnosed with cord compression vertebral hemangioma were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. There were five women and one man with a mean age of 48.6 years (range, 26‐68 years). All the patients were treated by multidisciplinary approach, including use of gelfoam, pedicle screw instrumentation, vertebroplasty, and decompression laminectomy. Neurological status and Frankel grades were documented, CT scan and MRI were performed after surgery.ResultsThe follow‐up period ranged from 8 to 54 months. Mean blood loss was around 367 mL, and the mean surgical time was 2.30 h. All patients had uneventful intraoperative and postoperative courses and reported symptomatic and neurological relief to varying degrees, at an average follow‐up period of 23 months. Bone cement distribution was disseminated homogeneously over the affected vertebra and no leakage was observed. All the patients had a complete restoration to Frankel grade E. The postoperative and follow‐up imaging showed that the implant was in perfect position, and no recurrence occurred in all patients.ConclusionThe vertebral hemangioma with cord compression is a challenge to surgeons for therapeutic improvement, and an active involvement of several disciplines as well as performance of multidisciplinary surgical treatment can be crucial in achieving favorable results.
Investigation of the crosstalk between the flg22 and the UV‐B‐induced flavonol pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings
Authors: Zhou Zheng , Schenke Dirk , Miao Ying , Cai Daguang 
Published: December 2016

AbstractIn Arabidopsis cell culture, we have shown that flavonol metabolite accumulation depends on expression of the flavonol pathway genes (FPGs), which are up‐regulated by UV‐B irradiation but repressed during microbe‐associated molecular pattern (MAMP) ‐triggered immunity (MTI) induced by the bacterial elicitor flg22. The suppression of flavonoid production during MTI is believed to allow the plant focusing its metabolism on the pathogen defense by directing phenylalanine resources from UV‐B protective flavonol production towards production of phytoalexins and cell wall fortification by lignin incorporation. Here, we show that UV‐B‐induced FPGs are also suppressed by flg22 in Arabidopsis seedlings, demonstrating that this kind of ‘crosstalk’ is fully functional in planta. We believe that this system based on seedlings of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana constitutes a valuable tool for further dissection of the underlying molecular mechanism, for example, by deploying gain/loss‐of‐function mutants. Furthermore, we observed some differences in the expression patterns of MYB transcription factors (TFs) as compared to data from the cell culture system. The new data suggest that in planta the TF MYB111 might play a more dominant role than the TF MYB12, which was strongly regulated in cell cultures. Thus, we can present an updated working model how this crosstalk might function.
Accumulation of stem sugar and its remobilisation in response to drought stress in a sweet sorghum genotype and its near‐isogenic lines carrying different stay‐green loci
Authors: Ghate T. , Deshpande S. , Bhargava S. 
Published: December 2016

Abstract

Near isogenic lines (NILs) of sweet sorghum genotype S35 into which individual stay green loci were introgressed, were used to understand the contribution of Stay green loci to stem sugar accumulation and its remobilization under drought stress exposure.

Sugar and starch content, activities of sugar metabolism enzymes and levels of their expression were studied in the 3rd (source) leaf from panicle and the 5th (sugar storing) internode of the three lines, in irrigated plants and in plants exposed to a brief drought exposure at the panicle emergence stage. Annotation of genes in the respective Stay green loci introgressed in the NILs was carried out using bioinformatics tools.

The leaves of NILs accumulated more photoassimilates and the internodes accumulated more sugar, as compared to the parent S35 line. Drought stress exposure led to a decrease in the starch and sugar levels in leaves of all three lines, while an increase in sugar levels was observed in internodes of the NILs. Sugar fluxes were accompanied by alterations in the activities of sugar metabolizing enzymes as well as the expression of genes related to sugar metabolism and transport.

Remobilization of sugars from the stem internodes was apparent in the NILs when subjected to drought stress, since the peduncle, which supports the panicle, showed an increase in the sugar content, even when photoassimation in source leaves was reduced. Several genes related to carbohydrate metabolism were located in the Stay green loci, which probably contributed to variation in the parameters studied.
Luck Egalitarianism and the Rights of Immigrants
Authors: Holtug Nils 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThis article considers the implications of luck egalitarianism for a range of issues relating to international, South‐North migration. More specifically, the implications of luck egalitarianism for the question of whether receiving societies are justified in extending to immigrants a less comprehensive set of rights than that enjoyed by other members of society are considered. First, are voluntary migrants responsible for their migration in such a way that receiving societies are justified in extending to them a less comprehensive set of rights than if, say, they had been involuntary migrants, or citizens of the destination country? Since luck egalitarianism aims to redistribute only for inequalities for which individuals are not responsible, there is an issue of whether it will hold individuals responsible for their choice of migration in such a way that it may justify asymmetrical sets of rights between voluntary immigrants and other members of society. Second, it may be possible to allow access for a larger number of disadvantaged migrants if they are granted access to a less extensive package of rights when they reach the destination country than if they were granted access to a more extensive such package. If so, may not the less extensive package of rights turn out to have a greater positive impact on global equality? Both these arguments are critically discussed and it is concluded that neither justifies extending to immigrants a less comprehensive set of rights.
Digital humanities and the study and teaching of North American religions
Authors: Reed Ashley 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThe digital humanities are a collection of methodologies with a long history in the disciplines of literature, linguistics, media studies, and pedagogy. These methodologies and the scholars who employ them have recently gained widespread attention among academics and observers of higher education. While the digital humanities have deep roots in the field of religious studies, most scholars of religion have been relatively slow to embrace digital methods for research and pedagogy. This essay provides an introduction to the cluster of research and teaching methods generally grouped under the term “digital humanities.” Digital humanists create digital archives, research collections, and exhibits; map and visualize information using online tools; and develop and apply computational methods of textual and visual analysis. This essay offers examples of scholarship and pedagogy on North American religions that use each of these methodologies, and concludes with a brief discussion of resources for learning about and becoming involved with digital humanities work.