bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and endogenous carbon monoxide
Authors: Azuma Masanori , Murase Kimihiko , Tachikawa Ryo , Hamada Satoshi , Matsumoto Takeshi , Minami Takuma , Inouchi Morito , Tanizawa Kiminobu , Handa Tomohiro , Oga Toru , Mishima Michiaki , Chin Kazuo 
Published: November 2016

Endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) levels are recognized as a surrogate marker for activity of heme oxygenase-1, which is induced by various factors, including hypoxia and oxidative stress. Few reports have evaluated endogenous CO in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Whether OSA more greatly affects exhaled or blood CO is not known. Sixty-nine patients with suspected OSA were prospectively included in this study. Exhaled and blood CO were evaluated at night and morning. Blood and exhaled CO levels were well correlated both at night and morning ( r = 0.52, P < 0.0001 and r = 0.61, P < 0.0001, respectively). Although exhaled CO levels both at night and morning significantly correlated with total sleep time with arterial oxygen saturation < 90% (ρ = 0.41, P = 0.0005 and ρ = 0.27, P = 0.024, respectively), blood CO levels did not correlate with any sleep parameter. Seventeen patients with an apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) < 15 (control group) were compared with 52 patients with AHI ≥ 15 (OSA group). Exhaled CO levels at night in the OSA group were significantly higher than in the control group (3.64 ± 1.2 vs. 2.99 ± 0.70 ppm, P < 0.05). Exhaled CO levels at night decreased after 3 mo of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in OSA patients ( n = 36; P = 0.016) to become nearly the same level as in the control group ( P = 0.21). Blood CO levels did not significantly change after CPAP therapy. Exhaled CO was positively related to hypoxia during sleep in OSA patients, but blood CO was not. Exhaled CO might better correlate with oxidative stress associated with OSA than blood CO. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) levels are recognized to be a surrogate marker of oxidative stress. No study has evaluated both exhaled and blood CO at the same time in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Here we provide evidence that exhaled CO levels positively correlated with hypoxia during sleep in OSA patients, but blood CO levels did not, and that continuous positive airway pressure therapy significantly decreased exhaled CO levels in the OSA group, but did not significantly affect blood CO.
Neural coupling between homologous muscles during bimanual tasks: effects of visual and somatosensory feedback
Authors: Nguyen Hoi B. , Lee Sang Wook , Harris-Love Michelle L. , Lum Peter S. 
Published: November 2016

While the effects of sensory feedback on bimanual tasks have been studied extensively at two ends of the motor control hierarchy, the cortical and behavioral levels, much less is known about how it affects the intermediate levels, including neural control of homologous muscle groups. We investigated the effects of somatosensory input on the neural coupling between homologous arm muscles during bimanual tasks. Twelve subjects performed symmetric elbow flexion/extension tasks under different types of sensory feedback. The first two types involve visual feedback, with one imposing stricter force symmetry than the other. The third incorporated somatosensory feedback via a balancing apparatus that forced the two limbs to produce equal force levels. Although the force error did not differ between feedback conditions, the somatosensory feedback significantly increased temporal coupling of bilateral force production, indicated by a high correlation between left/right force profiles ( P < 0.001). More importantly, intermuscular coherence between biceps brachii muscles was significantly higher with somatosensory feedback than others ( P = 0.001). Coherence values also significantly differed between tasks (flexion/extension). Notably, whereas feedback type mainly modulated coherence in the α- and γ-bands, task type only affected β-band coherence. Similar feedback effects were observed for triceps brachii muscles, but there was also a strong phase effect on the coherence values ( P < 0.001) that could have diluted feedback effects. These results suggest that somatosensory feedback can significantly increase neural coupling between homologous muscles. Additionally, the between-task difference in β-band coherence may reflect different neural control strategies for the elbow flexor and extensor muscles. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study investigated the effects of somatosensory feedback during bimanual tasks on the neural coupling between arm muscles, which remains largely unexplored. Somatosensory feedback using a balancing apparatus, compared with visual feedback, significantly increased neural coupling between homologous muscles (indicated by intermuscular coherence values) and improved temporal correlation of bilateral force production. Notably, feedback type modulated coherence in the α- and γ-bands (more subcortical pathways), whereas task type mainly affected β-band coherence (corticospinal pathway).
RE-COVERY DVT/PE: Rationale and design of a prospective observational study of acute venous thromboembolism with a focus on dabigatran etexilate
Authors: Ageno Walter , Casella Ivan B. , Han Chee Kok , Raskob Gary E. , Schellong Sebastian , Schulman Sam , Singer Daniel E. , Kimura Karen , Tang Wenbo , Desch Marc , Goldhaber Samuel Z. 
Published: November 2016

SummaryThe therapeutic management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is rapidly evolving. Following the positive results of pivotal large-scale randomised trials, the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) represent an important alternative to standard anticoagulation. In phase III studies, dabigatran was as effective as, and significantly safer than warfarin. Additional information on real-world data of dabigatran is now warranted. RE-COVERY DVT/PE is a multi-centre, international, observational (i. e. non-interventional) study enrolling patients with acute DVT and/or PE within 30 days after objective diagnosis. The study is designed with two phases. Phase 1 has a cross-sectional design, enrolling approximately 6000 patients independently of treatment choice, with the aim of providing a contemporary picture of the management of VTE worldwide. Phase 2 has a prospective cohort design, with follow-up of one year, enrolling 8000 patients treated with dabigatran or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) with the aim of comparing their safety, defined by the occurrence of major bleeding, and effectiveness, defined by the occurrence of symptomatic recurrent VTE. RE-COVERY DVT/PE will complement both the results of other observational studies in this field and the results of phase III studies with dabigatran, in particular by assessing its clinical benefit in various patient subgroups treated in routine clinical practice.
Structural differences among individuals, genders and generations as the key for ritual transmission, stereotypy and flexibility
Authors: Nielbo Kristoffer L. , Fux Michal , Mort Joel , Zamir Reut , Eilam David 
Published: November 2016

We analysed a Zulu wedding ritual, posing two questions: (i) what makes a ritual stereotyped and rigid along with preserving certain flexibility; and (ii) does a ritual pass between generations and individuals en bloc, or as a smaller subset of acts? We found that the ritual repertoire constituted only one act that was common to all individuals that performed the ritual. Repetitive performance of this act conveyed the impression of a stereotyped ritual. This structure eases the transmission of the ritual, since it is only necessary to learn the performance of one act that can then be embedded in a sequence of ‘free-style’ acts. Gender difference was minimal, but young women performed more acts than adults, perhaps as a reflection of them being inexperienced actors. Altogether, the present study unveils underlying mechanisms that seem to characterize the evolution of rituals and thereby highlighting a foundation of human cultural behaviour in general.
Relationships between Large Precipitating Systems and Atmospheric Factors at a Grid Scale
Authors: Chen Baohua , Liu Chuntao , Mapes Brian E. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
In this study, TRMM-observed precipitation in the tropics is decomposed according to the horizontal area of radar precipitation features, with special emphasis on large systems (rain area &gt; 104 km2) that contribute roughly half of tropical rainfall. Statistical associations of rain-weighted radar precipitation feature (RPF) size distributions with atmospheric variables on the 1.5° grid of ERA-Interim data are explored. In one-predictor distributions, the association with total precipitable water vapor (TPWV) is the strongest, while relative humidity at low and midlevels and low-level wind shear are also positively related to large-RPF rain fraction. Standard CAPE and CIN variables computed from grid-mean thermodynamic profiles are only weakly related to the size of rain systems. Joint distributions over two variables are also reported. The relative importance of predictors varies over different regions. The eastern Pacific is distinctive for having large rain systems in environments with a moist boundary layer but a dry midtroposphere, with strong shallow wind shear and small CAPE. In contrast, the large-storm environment over the western Pacific is found to be moister in the whole troposphere, with relatively weaker wind shear and larger CAPE. Over tropical land, the Sahel and central Africa stand out as having a great fractional rainfall contributed by large RPFs. Their associated environment is characterized by lower TPWV but stronger shallow wind shear and larger CIN and CAPE, in comparison to the equatorial Amazon basin and the Maritime Continent. Based on these associations, statistical reconstructions of the geographical distribution of large-RPF rain fraction from grid-mean atmospheric predictors are attempted.
Variational Iteration Method for Infrared Radiative Transfer in a Scattering Medium
Authors: Zhang Feng , Shi Yi-Ning , Li Jiangnan , Wu Kun , Iwabuchi Hironobu 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
A new scheme is proposed for using the variational iteration method (VIM) to solve the problem of infrared radiative transfer in a scattering medium. This scheme allows the zeroth-order solution to be identified as the absorption approximation and the scattering effect is included in the first-order iteration. The upward and downward intensities are calculated separately in VIM, which simplifies the calculation process. By applying VIM to two single-layer scattering media and a full radiation algorithm with gaseous transmission, it is found that VIM is generally more accurate than the discrete-ordinates method (DOM), especially for cirrostratus. Computationally, VIM is slightly faster than DOM in the two-stream case but more than twice as fast in the four-stream case. In view of its high overall accuracy and computational efficiency, VIM is well suited to solving infrared radiative transfer in climate models.
Architectural and functional heterogeneity of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in non-del(5q) myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Chesnais Virginie , Arcangeli Marie-Laure , Delette Caroline , Rousseau Alice , Guermouche Hélène , Lefevre Carine , Bondu Sabrina , Diop M’boyba , Cheok Meyling , Chapuis Nicolas , Legros Laurence , Raynaud Sophie , Willems Lise , Bouscary Didier , Lauret Evelyne , Bernard Olivier A. , Kosmider Olivier , Pflumio Françoise , Fontenay Michaela 
Published: November 2016

Key Points
Genetic heterogeneity in non-del(5q) MDS arises within the HSPC and in committed progenitors. Clonal selection in lineage-committed progenitors may drive the transformation to acute myeloid leukemia.
Role of the intestinal mucosa in acute gastrointestinal GVHD
Authors: Peled Jonathan U. , Hanash Alan M. , Jenq Robert R. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Intestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a significant obstacle to the success of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. The intestinal mucosa comprises the inner lining of the intestinal tract and maintains close proximity with commensal microbes that reside within the intestinal lumen. Recent advances have significantly improved our understanding of the interactions between the intestinal mucosa and the enteric microbiota. Changes in host mucosal tissue and commensals posttransplant have been actively investigated, and provocative insights into mucosal immunity and the enteric microbiota are now being translated into clinical trials of novel approaches for preventing and treating acute GVHD. In this review, we summarize recent findings related to aspects of the intestinal mucosa during acute GVHD.
A place for host–microbe symbiosis in the comparative physiologist's toolbox
Authors: Kohl Kevin D. , Carey Hannah V. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT
Although scientists have long appreciated that metazoans evolved in a microbial world, we are just beginning to appreciate the profound impact that host-associated microbes have on diverse aspects of animal biology. The enormous growth in our understanding of host–microbe symbioses is rapidly expanding the study of animal physiology, both technically and conceptually. Microbes associate functionally with various body surfaces of their hosts, although most reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Gut microbes convert dietary and host-derived substrates to metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, thereby providing energy and nutrients to the host. Bacterial metabolites incorporated into the host metabolome can activate receptors on a variety of cell types and, in doing so, alter host physiology (including metabolism, organ function, biological rhythms, neural activity and behavior). Given that host–microbe interactions affect diverse aspects of host physiology, it is likely that they influence animal ecology and, if they confer fitness benefits, the evolutionary trajectory of a species. Multiple variables – including sampling regime, environmental parameters, host metadata and analytical methods – can influence experimental outcomes in host–microbiome studies, making careful experimental design and execution crucial to ensure reproducible and informative studies in the laboratory and field. Integration of microbiomes into comparative physiology and ecophysiological investigations can reveal the potential impacts of the microbiota on physiological responses to changing environments, and is likely to bring valuable insights to the study of host–microbiome interactions among a broad range of metazoans, including humans.
Adaptation to life in aeolian sand: how the sandfish lizard, Scincus scincus, prevents sand particles from entering its lungs
Authors: Stadler Anna T. , Vihar Boštjan , Günther Mathias , Huemer Michaela , Riedl Martin , Shamiyeh Stephanie , Mayrhofer Bernhard , Böhme Wolfgang , Baumgartner Werner 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT
The sandfish lizard, Scincus scincus (Squamata: Scincidae), spends nearly its whole life in aeolian sand and only comes to the surface for foraging, defecating and mating. It is not yet understood how the animal can respire without sand particles entering its respiratory organs when buried under thick layers of sand. In this work, we integrated biological studies, computational calculations and physical experiments to understand this phenomenon. We present a 3D model of the upper respiratory system based on a detailed histological analysis. A 3D-printed version of this model was used in combination with characteristic ventilation patterns for computational calculations and fluid mechanics experiments. By calculating the velocity field, we identified a sharp decrease in velocity in the anterior part of the nasal cavity where mucus and cilia are present. The experiments with the 3D-printed model validate the calculations: particles, if present, were found only in the same area as suggested by the calculations. We postulate that the sandfish has an aerodynamic filtering system; more specifically, that the characteristic morphology of the respiratory channel coupled with specific ventilation patterns prevent particles from entering the lungs.
Light level impacts locomotor biomechanics in a secondarily diurnal gecko,Rhoptropus afer
Authors: Birn-Jeffery Aleksandra V. , Higham Timothy E. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTLocomotion through complex habitats relies on the continuous feedback from a number of sensory systems, including vision. Animals face a visual trade-off between acuity and light sensitivity that depends on light levels, which will dramatically impact the ability to process information and move quickly through a habitat, making ambient illumination an incredibly important ecological factor. Despite this, there is a paucity of data examining ambient light in the context of locomotor dynamics. There have been several independent transitions from the nocturnal ancestor to a diurnal activity pattern among geckos. We examined how ambient light level impacted the locomotor performance and high-speed three-dimensional kinematics of a secondarily diurnal, and cursorial, gecko (Rhoptropus afer) from Namibia. This species is active under foggy and sunny conditions, indicating that a range of ambient light conditions is experienced naturally. Locomotor speed was lowest in the ‘no-light’ condition compared with all other light intensities, occurring via a combination of shorter stride length and lower stride frequency. Additionally, the centre of mass was significantly lower, and the geckos were more sprawled, in the no-light condition relative to all of the higher light intensities. Locomotor behaviour is clearly sub-optimal under lower light conditions, suggesting that ecological conditions, such as very dense fog, might preclude the ability to run quickly during predator–prey interactions. The impact of ambient light on fitness should be explored further, especially in those groups that exhibit multiple transitions between diel activity patterns.
The mechanics of head-supported load carriage by Nepalese porters
Authors: Bastien G. J. , Willems P. A. , Schepens B. , Heglund N. C. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTIn the Everest valley of Nepal, because of the rugged mountain terrain, roads are nothing more than dirt paths and all material must be conveyed on foot. The Nepalese porters routinely carry head-supported loads, which often exceed their body mass, over long distances up and down the steep mountain footpaths. In Africa, women transport their loads economically thanks to an energy-saving gait adaptation. We hypothesized that the Nepalese porters may have developed a corresponding mechanism. To investigate this proposition, we measured the mechanical work done during level walking in Nepalese porters while carrying different loads at several speeds. Our results show that the Nepalese porters do not use an equivalent mechanism as the African women to reduce work. In contrast, the Nepalese porters develop an equal amount of total mechanical work as Western control subjects while carrying loads of 0 to 120% of their body mass at all speeds measured (0.5–1.7 m s−1), making even more impressive their ability to carry loads without any apparent mechanically determined tricks. Nevertheless, our results show that the Nepalese porters have a higher efficiency, at least at slow speeds and high loads.
Transcriptomic analysis of instinctive and learned reward-related behaviors in honey bees
Authors: Naeger Nicholas L. , Robinson Gene E. 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACT
We used transcriptomics to compare instinctive and learned, reward-based honey bee behaviors with similar spatio-temporal components: mating flights by males (drones) and time-trained foraging flights by females (workers), respectively. Genome-wide gene expression profiling via RNA sequencing was performed on the mushroom bodies, a region of the brain known for multi-modal sensory integration and responsive to various types of reward. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the onset of mating (623 genes) were enriched for the gene ontology (GO) categories of Transcription, Unfolded Protein Binding, Post-embryonic Development, and Neuron Differentiation. DEGs associated with the onset of foraging (473) were enriched for Lipid Transport, Regulation of Programmed Cell Death, and Actin Cytoskeleton Organization. These results demonstrate that there are fundamental molecular differences between similar instinctive and learned behaviors. In addition, there were 166 genes with strong similarities in expression across the two behaviors – a statistically significant overlap in gene expression, also seen in Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis. This finding indicates that similar instinctive and learned behaviors also share common molecular architecture. This common set of DEGs was enriched for Regulation of RNA Metabolic Process, Transcription Factor Activity, and Response to Ecdysone. These findings provide a starting point for better understanding the relationship between instincts and learned behaviors. In addition, because bees collect food for their colony rather than for themselves, these results also support the idea that altruistic behavior relies, in part, on elements of brain reward systems associated with selfish behavior.
Influence of Gas Adsorption on the Luminous Properties of Layered Double Hydroxide/Anionic Fluorescein Dye Hybrid Thin Solid Films
Authors: Date Yusuke , Matsui Yume , Kagawa Yoichi , Hino Eiichi , Fujii Takatoshi , Suzaki Moemi , Aoki Kaoru , Sasai Ryo 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Layered double hydroxide (LDH)/anionic fluorescein dye (AFD)/1-butanesulfonate (C4S) hybrid thin solid films prepared by immersing LDH thin films in aqueous solutions of AFD and C4S were investigated as sensing materials for relative humidity (RH) and/or various organic vapors. The basal spacing, i.e., the d003 value, of the LDH/AFD/C4S hybrid films under wet conditions became larger than that under dry conditions when water was adsorbed into the interlayer space. The intensity of photoluminescence (PL) from the AFD incorporated into the hybrid also increased upon water adsorption. This PL intensity exhibited a maximum value at 10% RH and was constant when the RH exceeded 20%. This behavior is explained by an increase in the population of dianionic AFD caused by water adsorption. The PL intensity of the LDH/AFD/C4S hybrid thin solid films also increased in the presence of alcohol vapor and became larger than under wet conditions. Moreover, the PL intensity also depended on the species of alcohol. Specifically, the PL intensity decreased in the presence of nonpolar organic solvent vapors. Therefore, the present hybrid materials can be used as a sensor for relative humidity and polar organic solvent vapors.