bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relative influence of hematocrit and red blood cell velocity on oxygen transport from capillaries to tissue
Authors: Lücker Adrien , Secomb Timothy W. , Weber Bruno , Jenny Patrick 
Published: November 2016

AbstractObjectiveOxygen transport to parenchymal cells occurs mainly at the microvascular level and depends on convective RBC flux, which is proportional in an individual capillary to the product of capillary hematocrit and RBC velocity. This study investigates the relative influence of these two factors on tissue PO2.MethodsA simple analytical model is used to quantify the respective influences of hematocrit, RBC velocity, and RBC flow on tissue oxygenation around capillaries. Predicted tissue PO2 levels are compared with a detailed computational model.ResultsHematocrit is shown to have a larger influence on tissue PO2 than RBC velocity. The effect of RBC velocity increases with distance from the arterioles. Good agreement between analytical and numerical results is obtained, and the discrepancies are explained. Significant dependence of MTCs on RBC velocity at low hematocrit is demonstrated.ConclusionsFor a given RBC flux in a capillary, the PO2 in the surrounding tissue increases with increasing hematocrit, as a consequence of decreasing IVR to diffusive oxygen transport from RBCs to tissue. These results contribute to understanding the effects of blood flow changes on oxygen transport, such as those that occur in functional hyperemia in the brain.
Rectal intussusception: can high resolution three‐dimensional ano‐rectal manometry compete with conventional defecography?
Authors: Benezech A. , Cappiello M. , Baumstarck K. , Grimaud J.‐C. , Bouvier M. , Vitton V. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackgroundThree‐dimensional high‐resolution anorectal manometry (3DHRAM), used for exploring anorectal disorders, was recently developed, providing interesting topographic data for the diagnosis of pelvic floor disorders such as excessive perineal descent. The aim of our study was to define a diagnostic strategy based on selected 3DHRAM parameters to identify rectal intussusceptions (RI), considering conventional defecography (CD) as the gold standard.MethodsAll patients referred to our center in the previous 6 months for 3DHRAM to explore fecal incontinence or constipation, and who previously achieved CD, were eligible. 3DHRAM results were obtained for all classical parameters and the presence of a narrow band of high pressure in the anal canal during attempted defecation, which was recently found to be associated with RI in some studies. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for various 3DHRAM criterion in order to propose a diagnostic strategy for RI.Key ResultsTwenty‐six patients (66%) presented with RI on CD. On 3DHRAM, according to our diagnostic strategy, the most relevant manometric criterion for the diagnosis of RI was the association of an anterior additional high‐pressure area and an excessive perineal descent, with a positive predictive value of 100% [81.5‐100], a specificity of 100% [75.3‐100] and a sensibility of 69.2% [48.2‐85.7].Conclusions & InferencesIn this study, 3DHRAM was used to diagnose RI, and we confirmed its use in the diagnosis of pelvic floor disorders. Further studies will be necessary to define classifications for these new anatomic data from 3DHRAM.
The role of nutrients in drought‐induced tree mortality and recovery
Authors: Gessler Arthur , Schaub Marcus , McDowell Nate G. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryGlobal forests are experiencing rising temperatures and more severe droughts, with consistently dire forecasts for negative future impacts. Current research on the physiological mechanisms underlying drought impacts is focused on the water‐ and carbon‐associated mechanisms. The role of nutrients is notably missing from this research agenda. Here, we investigate what role, if any, forest nutrition plays for survival and recovery of forests during and after drought. High nutrient availability may play a detrimental role in drought survival due to preferential biomass allocation aboveground that (1) predispose plants to hydraulic constraints limiting photosynthesis and promoting hydraulic failure, (2) increases carbon costs during periods of carbon starvation, and (3) promote biotic attack due to low tissue carbon: nitrogen (C : N). When nutrient uptake occurs during drought, high nutrient availability can increase water use efficiency thus minimizing negative feedbacks between carbon and nutrient balance. Nutrients are released after drought ceases, which might promote faster recovery but the temporal dynamics of microbial immobilization and nutrient leaching have a significant impact on nutrient availability. We provide a framework for understanding nutrient impacts on drought survival that allows a more complete analysis of forest ecosystem responses.

Contents

Summary
513

I.
Introduction
513

II.
Integrating nutrients into the hydraulic framework predicting mechanisms of drought survival, mortality, and recovery
514

III.
Integration
517

Acknowledgements
518

References
518
Brown world forests: increased ungulate browsing keeps temperate trees in recruitment bottlenecks in resource hotspots
Authors: Churski Marcin , Bubnicki Jakub W. , Jędrzejewska Bogumiła , Kuijper Dries P. J. , Cromsigt Joris P. G. M. 
Published: November 2016

Summary

Plant biomass consumers (mammalian herbivory and fire) are increasingly seen as major drivers of ecosystem structure and function but the prevailing paradigm in temperate forest ecology is still that their dynamics are mainly bottom‐up resource‐controlled. Using conceptual advances from savanna ecology, particularly the demographic bottleneck model, we present a novel view on temperate forest dynamics that integrates consumer and resource control.

We used a fully factorial experiment, with varying levels of ungulate herbivory and resource (light) availability, to investigate how these factors shape recruitment of five temperate tree species. We ran simulations to project how inter‐ and intraspecific differences in height increment under the different experimental scenarios influence long‐term recruitment of tree species.

Strong herbivore‐driven demographic bottlenecks occurred in our temperate forest system, and bottlenecks were as strong under resource‐rich as under resource‐poor conditions. Increased browsing by herbivores in resource‐rich patches strongly counteracted the increased escape strength of saplings in these patches.

This finding is a crucial extension of the demographic bottleneck model which assumes that increased resource availability allows plants to more easily escape consumer‐driven bottlenecks. Our study demonstrates that a more dynamic understanding of consumer–resource interactions is necessary, where consumers and plants both respond to resource availability.
The Analog Blanking Period of Implantable Cardiac Rhythm Devices
Authors: BAROLD S. SERGE , KUCHER ANDREAS 
Published: November 2016

BackgroundAnalog blanking periods (BPs) that hold down the display of electrograms (EGMs) in cardiac rhythm devices have received much less attention than the well‐known digital BPs which do not influence the EGM display. In Biotronik devices (Biotronik GmbH, Berlin, Germany), when a paced event initiates an analog BP in one chamber (right atrium, right ventricle [RV], or left ventricle [LV]), an identical cross‐chamber analog BP starts in the other two chambers.MethodsAll clinical observations were recorded from patients with Biotronik devices. The effect of the atrial cross‐chamber analog BP initiated by a ventricular paced event on the atrial EGM was studied in the records of seven patients with frequent paroxysmal atrial flutter to determine the effect of critically timed RV paced event (RVp) or LV paced event (LVp) upon the atrial EGM. The effect of atrial pacing triggering cross‐chamber analog BPs in the RV and LV channels on the RV and LV EGMs was also investigated in cases of conducted supraventricular beats and ventricular premature complexes. The effect of a triggered LVp initiating a cross‐chamber analog BP in the RV channel on the EGM of a sensed RV sensed event was evaluated in 10 cases. Simulation studies were also performed to verify the clinical observations.ResultsPatients with atrial flutter showed intermittent truncation or deformity and even disappearance of the atrial signals due to an atrial cross‐chamber analog BP initiated by RVp and/or LVp. Three patients demonstrated deformity of the signal shape of ventricular premature beats falling within a ventricular cross‐chamber analog BP initiated by right atrial paced event (RAp). We found only one case of a supraventricular QRS complex trapped in a ventricular cross‐chamber analog BP initiated by RAp. All the recordings of LVp triggering upon RVs revealed a variety of RV signal deformities occasionally with preservation of the terminal part of the RV signal. Simulation studies confirmed the effect of the analog BP on the atrial and the ventricular EGMs.ConclusionThe analog BP of Biotronik devices may cause truncation or deformity of atrial and ventricular signals and the occasional disappearance of an atrial signal during atrial flutter. These effects must not be interpreted as device malfunction. In the clinical evaluation of the EGM curves, the effects of the analog BPs have to be carefully considered in order to avoid possible misinterpretation.
The association between parental consanguinity and primary immunodeficiency diseases: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hadizadeh Hasti , Salehi Masoud , Khoramnejad Shabnam , Vosoughi Kia , Rezaei Nima 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to establish the prevalence of parental consanguinity among patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) and compare the prevalence with the general population.MethodWe searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus for studies mentioning parental consanguinity prevalence in patients with PID and calculated the prevalence odds ratio (POR) of parental consanguinity in each study, compared to a matched healthy population.ResultsWe identified 21 eligible studies with a total population of 18091 accounting for sample overlap. The POR among studies on a sample of mixed patients with PID ranged from 0.6 to 21.9 with the pooled POR of 3.0 (p < 0.001; I2 = 89%, 95% CI: 2.5–3.7).ConclusionPIDs with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance had significant odds of parental consanguinity compared to the healthy population, a phenomenon not observed in other inheritance patterns. Determining the extent of the impact that consanguinity imposes upon the progeny paves the way for convincing healthcare policymakers in highly consanguineous communities to act more diligently in informing the masses about the consequences of practicing inbreeding.
The rice OsNAC6 transcription factor orchestrates multiple molecular mechanisms involving root structural adaptions and nicotianamine biosynthesis for drought tolerance
Authors: Lee Dong‐Keun , Chung Pil Joong , Jeong Jin Seo , Jang Geupil , Bang Seung Woon , Jung Harin , Kim Youn Shic , Ha Sun‐Hwa , Choi Yang Do , Kim Ju‐Kon 
Published: November 2016

SummaryDrought has a serious impact on agriculture worldwide. A plant's ability to adapt to rhizosphere drought stress requires reprogramming of root growth and development. Although physiological studies have documented the root adaption for tolerance to the drought stress, underlying molecular mechanisms is still incomplete, which is essential for crop engineering. Here, we identified OsNAC6‐mediated root structural adaptations, including increased root number and root diameter, which enhanced drought tolerance. Multiyear drought field tests demonstrated that the grain yield of OsNAC6 root‐specific overexpressing transgenic rice lines was less affected by drought stress than were nontransgenic controls. Genome‐wide analyses of loss‐ and gain‐of‐function mutants revealed that OsNAC6 up‐regulates the expression of direct target genes involved in membrane modification, nicotianamine (NA) biosynthesis, glutathione relocation, 3′‐phophoadenosine 5′‐phosphosulphate accumulation and glycosylation, which represent multiple drought tolerance pathways. Moreover, overexpression of NICOTIANAMINE SYNTHASE genes, direct targets of OsNAC6, promoted the accumulation of the metal chelator NA and, consequently, drought tolerance. Collectively, OsNAC6 orchestrates novel molecular drought tolerance mechanisms and has potential for the biotechnological development of high‐yielding crops under water‐limiting conditions.
The Impact of Neighborhood Conditions and Psychological Distress on Preterm Birth in African‐American Women
Authors: Giurgescu Carmen , Zenk Shannon N. , Templin Thomas N. , Engeland Christopher G. , Kavanaugh Karen , Misra Dawn P. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractObjectivePrior research suggests that adverse neighborhood conditions are related to preterm birth. One potential pathway by which neighborhood conditions increase the risk for preterm birth is by increasing women's psychological distress. Our objective was to examine whether psychological distress mediated the relationship between neighborhood conditions and preterm birth.Design and SampleOne hundred and one pregnant African‐American women receiving prenatal care at a medical center in Chicago participated in this cross‐sectional design study.MeasuresWomen completed the self‐report instruments about their perceived neighborhood conditions and psychological distress between 15–26 weeks gestation. Objective measures of the neighborhood were derived using geographic information systems (GIS). Birth data were collected from medical records.ResultsPerceived adverse neighborhood conditions were related to psychological distress: perceived physical disorder (r = .26, p = .01), perceived social disorder (r = .21, p = .03), and perceived crime (r = .30, p = .01). Objective neighborhood conditions were not related to psychological distress. Psychological distress mediated the effects of perceived neighborhood conditions on preterm birth.ConclusionsPsychological distress in the second trimester mediated the effects of perceived, but not objective, neighborhood conditions on preterm birth. If these results are replicable in studies with larger sample sizes, intervention strategies could be implemented at the individual level to reduce psychological distress and improve women's ability to cope with adverse neighborhood conditions.
Animal Cryptochromes: Divergent Roles in Light Perception, Circadian Timekeeping and Beyond
Authors: Michael Alicia K. , Fribourgh Jennifer L. , Van Gelder Russell N. , Partch Carrie L. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractCryptochromes are evolutionarily related to the light‐dependent DNA repair enzyme photolyase, serving as major regulators of circadian rhythms in insects and vertebrate animals. There are two types of cryptochromes in the animal kingdom: Drosophila‐like CRYs that act as nonvisual photopigments linking circadian rhythms to the environmental light/dark cycle, and vertebrate‐like CRYs that do not appear to sense light directly, but control the generation of circadian rhythms by acting as transcriptional repressors. Some animals have both types of CRYs, while others possess only one. Cryptochromes have two domains, the photolyase homology region (PHR) and an extended, intrinsically disordered C‐terminus. While all animal CRYs share a high degree of sequence and structural homology in their PHR domains, the C‐termini are divergent in both length and sequence identity. Recently, cryptochrome function has been shown to extend beyond its pivotal role in circadian clocks, participating in regulation of the DNA damage response, cancer progression and glucocorticoid signaling, as well as being implicated as possible magnetoreceptors. In this review, we provide a historical perspective on the discovery of animal cryptochromes, examine similarities and differences of the two types of animal cryptochromes and explore some of the divergent roles for this class of proteins.
A Review of Spectroscopic and Biophysical‐Chemical Studies of the Complex of Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimer Photolyase and Cryptochrome DASH with Substrate DNA
Authors: Schelvis Johannes P. M. , Gindt Yvonne M. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractCyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) photolyase (PL) is a structure‐specific DNA repair enzyme that uses blue light to repair CPD on DNA. Cryptochrome (CRY) DASH enzymes use blue light for the repair of CPD lesions on single‐stranded (ss) DNA, although some may also repair these lesions on double‐stranded (ds) DNA. In addition, CRY DASH may be involved in blue light signaling, similar to cryptochromes. The focus of this review is on spectroscopic and biophysical‐chemical experiments of the enzyme–substrate complex that have contributed to a more detailed understanding of all the aspects of the CPD repair mechanism of CPD photolyase and CRY DASH. This will be performed in the backdrop of the available X‐ray crystal structures of these enzymes bound to a CPD‐like lesion. These structures helped to confirm conclusions that were drawn earlier from spectroscopic and biophysical‐chemical experiments, and they have a critical function as a framework to design new experiments and to interpret new experimental data. This review will show the important synergy between X‐ray crystallography and spectroscopic/biophysical‐chemical investigations that is essential to obtain a sufficiently detailed picture of the overall mechanism of CPD photolyases and CRY DASH proteins.
Diatom (Bacillariophyceae) assemblages in salt marshes of south‐central Chile: Relations with tidal inundation time and salinity
Authors: Sawai Yuki , Nagumo Tamotsu , Namegaya Yuichi , Cisternas Marco V. , Lagos Marcelo , Shishikura Masanobu 
Published: November 2016

SUMMARYTo reconstruct sea‐level history from changes in tidal environments using diatom assemblages, we need to better understand the relations among brackish diatom assemblages and changing environments along elevational gradients from diverse coastal sites. Our statistical analysis reveals relations between environmental variables and brackish benthic diatom assemblages in the little studied region of south‐central Chile. Along four transects across salt marshes at two sites, we identified 224 diatom taxa in 112 samples. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis showed that tidal exposure time index and salinity were appropriately regressed against the abundance of diatom species using unimodal‐based methods. Our tests of classical and inverse regressions of weighted average and weighted averaging partial least squares (WA‐PLS) showed thatWA‐PLSresulted in the highest coefficient of determination and the lowest root‐mean square of the error of prediction. Our regression will be useful in reconstructing environmental variables from fossil diatom assemblages in Chile.
Distribution of follicles in canine ovarian tissues and xenotransplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissues with even distribution of follicles
Authors: Wakasa I , Hayashi M , Abe Y , Suzuki H 
Published: November 2016

ContentsOvarian follicles are not homogeneously distributed within the ovarian cortex in several species of mammals. Yet to maximize the reproducibility of experimental results of ovarian transplantation, it is essential to assess the degree of density and distribution of follicles in ovarian tissues before their transplantation. In this study, the ovarian cortex from 13 immature bitches (ten purebred and three mongrels) was sectioned into 1.0‐ to 1.5‐mm3 cubes, those were fixed, sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. To evaluate the density and distribution of follicles, the mean number of all stages of follicles per square millimetre was calculated after observation under a microscope. The distribution of follicles was considered even when the variance value was lower than 10 or between 10 and 16, with an absolute value of distortion inferior to 1. The mean number of follicles ranged from 3.24 to 28.34/mm2 in 25 ovaries from 13 bitches examined. The variance and distortion ranged from 0.35 to 119.64 and −1.87 to 4.40, respectively. The distribution of follicles within the ovarian cortex was judged uneven in 12 of 25 ovaries. These results indicated that follicles were not homogeneously distributed within the ovarian cortex in a large proportion of ovaries. In addition, cryopreserved ovarian fragments with even distribution of follicles were transplanted to NSG mice with or without 400 U/kg of disialylated erythropoietin (asialo EPO). After removing both sides of ovary, a piece of ovarian fragment was placed under the kidney capsule in both sides of kidney. At 4 weeks after transplantation, the fragments were recovered from the mice and the number of primordial, primary, secondary and antral follicles was counted. Total number of follicles and survival rates of follicles in transplanted fragments with asialo EPO were higher than without asialo EPO in four bitches examined. These findings suggest that asialo EPO might be effective on the follicular survival of canine ovarian tissues after xenotransplantation. Knowing the degree of density and distribution of follicles in ovarian tissues before transplantation is expected to contribute to the precise interpretation of results after transplantation of the ovarian tissues.
New approaches to non‐surgical sterilization for dogs and cats: Opportunities and challenges
Authors: Rhodes Linda 
Published: November 2016

ContentsOver the last 40 years, researchers have explored methods to non‐surgically suppress fertility in animals. Immunocontraception has been used to control wildlife populations but does not confer long‐term immunity. The gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist deslorelin, formulated as an implant to provide 6‐month to 1‐year suppression of fertility in male dogs, is available commercially in some countries. Neither of these approaches provide permanent sterility. A single‐dose, permanent treatment would be a valuable tool in dog and cat population control. The Michelson Prize and Grants (MPG) programme was initiated “to eliminate shelter euthanasia of healthy, adoptable companion animals and reduce populations of feral and free‐roaming cats and dogs” offering a $25 million US prize for a non‐surgical sterilant that is effective as a single treatment in both male and female dogs and cats. Michelson Prize and Grants programme has offered US $50 million in grant money for research and has attracted scientists worldwide. Approaches under study include gene therapy, small interfering RNA to inhibit reproductive targets and delivery of cytotoxins to pituitary gonadotrophs or GnRH producing neurons in the hypothalamus. Research in implant technology that could deliver compounds over an animal's lifetime is also underway. Details of funded grants and results to date can be found at: http://www.michelsonprizeandgrants.org/michelson-grants/research-findings. The next steps are translating the most promising research into products. The Alliance for Contraception of Cats and Dogs (ACC&D) is helping to research practical methods of marking sterilized animals to avoid costly retreatment and population modelling that will help guide field workers in use of resources for sterilization programmes.