bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationships among Muslim Uyghur and Kazakh disabled elders' life satisfaction, activity of daily living, and informal family caregiver's burden, depression, and life satisfaction in far western China: A structural equation model
Authors: Wang Wen Ting , He Bin , Wang Yu Huan , Wang Mei Yan , Chen Xue Feng , Wu Fu Chen , Yang Xue 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis study explored the interrelationships of disabled elders' life satisfaction and activities of daily living, caregivers' factors (burden, depression, and life satisfaction) through a structural equation model. In total, 621 dyads of disabled elders and informal family caregivers completed questionnaires during face‐to‐face interviews in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from September 2013 to January 2014. Activity of daily living exerted a direct effect on life satisfaction of disabled elders and 30.4% indirect effect through caregivers' factors. Caregiver burden had a 60.0% direct effect on life satisfaction of disabled elders and a 40.0% indirect effect through the caregiver depression. Caregiver depression showed 76% direct effect on life satisfaction of disabled elders and 24% indirect effect through caregivers' life satisfaction. Direct relationships between activity of daily living and caregiver burden, caregiver burden and caregiver depression, and caregiver depression and caregivers' life satisfaction were observed. Activity of daily living had a 91.3% indirect effect on caregiver depression mediated by caregiver burden; caregiver burden had a 40.0% indirect effect on caregivers' life satisfaction mediated by caregiver depression. Results provide useful information for nurses and policymakers and shed light on the need to consider caregivers' factors in improving care recipients' life satisfaction.
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy and offspring adiposity and cardiometabolic traits in childhood
Authors: Chatzi L. , Rifas‐Shiman S. L. , Georgiou V. , Joung K. E. , Koinaki S. , Chalkiadaki G. , Margioris A. , Sarri K. , Vassilaki M. , Vafeiadi M. , Kogevinas M. , Mantzoros C. , Gillman M. W. , Oken E. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryBackgroundIn adults, adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been inversely associated with cardiovascular risk, but the extent to which diet in pregnancy is associated with offspring adiposity is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between adherence to Mediterranean diet in pregnancy and offspring cardiometabolic traits in two pregnancy cohorts.MethodsWe studied 997 mother–child pairs from Project Viva in Massachusetts, USA, and 569 pairs from the Rhea study in Crete, Greece. We estimated adherence to the Mediterranean diet with an a priori defined score (MDS) of nine foods and nutrients (0 to 9). We measured child weight, height, waist circumference, skin‐fold thicknesses, blood pressure, and blood levels of lipids, c‐reactive protein and adipokines in mid‐childhood (median 7.7 years) in Viva, and in early childhood (median 4.2 years) in Rhea. We calculated cohort‐specific effects and pooled effects estimates with random‐effects models for cohort and child age.ResultsIn Project Viva, the mean (SD, standard deviation) MDS was 2.7 (1.6); in Rhea it was 3.8 (1.7). In the pooled analysis, for each 3‐point increment in the MDS, offspring BMI z‐score was lower by 0.14 units (95% CI, −0.15 to −0.13), waist circumference by 0.39 cm (95% CI, −0.64 to −0.14), and the sum of skin‐fold thicknesses by 0.63 mm (95% CI, −0.98 to −0.28). We also observed lower offspring systolic (−1.03 mmHg; 95% CI, −1.65 to −0.42) and diastolic blood pressure (−0.57 mmHg; 95% CI, −0.98 to −0.16).ConclusionGreater adherence to Mediterranean diet during pregnancy may protect against excess offspring cardiometabolic risk.
Association between platelet to lymphocyte ratio, plateletcrit and the presence and severity of hyperemesis gravidarum
Authors: Tayfur Cift , Burcu Dincgez Cakmak , Gulten Ozgen , Betul Dundar , Tugberk Guclu , Onur Ozdenoglu , Engin Korkmazer , Orcun Ozdemir 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimHyperemesis gravidarum (HG) can be defined as intractable nausea and vomiting leading to electrolyte imbalance, ketonuria, nutrition deficiency and weight loss. Inflammation is known to play a crucial role in HG and many inflammatory markers have been studied to achieve early diagnosis. We investigated the association of the platelet to lymphocyte ratio and plateletcrit with the presence and severity of HG.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 433 pregnant women with a diagnosis of HG and 160 gestational age matched healthy pregnant women, who were admitted to a large tertiary research and training hospital between January and December 2015. Patients were divided into three groups: mild (n = 147), moderate (n = 153) and severe (n = 133), according to HG severity. Age, gestational age, gravida, parity, height, weight and laboratory parameters, including complete blood count, were recorded from patients’ medical records.ResultsThe platelet to lymphocyte ratio and plateletcrit were both higher in the HG groups compared with controls (p < 0.001). There was statistically significant difference in plateletcrit between the mild–moderate and moderate–severe HG groups (p < 0.001). The area under curve for neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio and plateletcrit were 0.64, 0.68 and 0.68, respectively, with p < 0.001. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio > 3.9, platelet to lymphocyte ratio > 121.2 and plateletcrit > 0.20 were significantly related with an increased risk of HG.ConclusionThe platelet to lymphocyte ratio and plateletcrit are effective inflammatory markers for predicting the presence of HG. Plateletcrit level could also be used to determine HG severity.
Transvaginal management of severe pelvic organ prolapse in nulliparous women
Authors: Lo Tsia‐Shu , Jaili Sukanda , Uy‐Patrimonio Ma. Clarissa , Karim Nazura bt , Ibrahim Rami 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the management outcomes of advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in nulliparous women.MethodsEight nulliparous women diagnosed with POP ≥ stage 3 between January 2005 and August 2013, according to the Pelvic Organ Quantification System (POPQ), were reviewed. Seven were managed surgically and one was managed with pessary. Primary outcome was surgical objective cure (POP‐Q ≤ 1) and subjective cure, defined as negative response to questions 2 and 3 on Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory 6. Secondary outcomes were complications, symptoms' severity and quality of life according to validated questionnaires.ResultsA total of 1275 prolapse patients with POP‐Q ≥ stage 3 were managed surgically, among whom seven (0.55%) were nulliparous. Each woman had at least one risk factor associated with POP. Risk factors identified were history of pelvic trauma, obesity, menopause, chronic cough, hard physical labor and constipation. Five patients underwent surgical correction (vaginal hysterectomy with sacrospinous fixation) with mesh (Perigee, n = 3; Avaulta, n = 2). Two patients had uterine preservation without mesh (hysteropexy with sacrospinous ligament fixation). One patient preferred treatment with pessary. The total cure rate (objective and subjective cure rates) was 86% after surgical reconstructive surgery.ConclusionManagement of nulliparous advanced POP poses significant challenges with regard to uterine preservation, future pregnancy and childbirth. Conservative management with pessary insertion should be offered followed by surgical correction. Reconstructive surgery with mesh may improve prolapse symptoms objectively and subjectively.
Role of autophagy in HIV infection and pathogenesis
Authors: Nardacci R. , Ciccosanti F. , Marsella C. , Ippolito G. , Piacentini M. , Fimia G. M. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe aim of autophagy is to re‐establish homeostasis in response to a variety of stress conditions. By forming double‐membrane vesicles, autophagy engulfs damaged or superfluous cytoplasmic material and recycles degradation products for new synthesis or energy production. Of note, the same mechanism is used to capture pathogens and has important implications in both innate and adaptive immunity. To establish a chronic infection, pathogens have therefore evolved multiple mechanisms to evade autophagy‐mediated degradation. HIV infection represents one of the best characterized systems in which autophagy is disarmed by a virus using multiple strategies to prevent the sequestration and degradation of its proteins and to establish a chronic infection. HIV alters autophagy at various stages of the process in both infected and bystander cells. In particular, the HIV proteins TAT, NEF and ENV are involved in this regulation by either blocking or stimulating autophagy through direct interaction with autophagy proteins and/or modulation of the mTOR pathway. Although the roles of autophagy during HIV infection are multiple and vary amongst the different cell types, several lines of evidence point to a potential beneficial effect of stimulating autophagy‐mediated lysosomal degradation to potentiate the immune response to HIV. Characterization of the molecular mechanisms regulating selective autophagy is expected to be valuable for developing new drugs able to specifically enhance the anti‐HIV response.
Phenotypic characterization of oral mucosa: what is normal?
Authors: Valach Jaroslav , Foltán René , Vlk Marek , Szabo Pavol , Smetana Karel 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundKnowledge of the phenotypic pattern of oral squamous epithelium is important in the histopathologic evaluation of lesions including cancer. The literature on normal epithelium is controversial as the phenotype has not been evaluated in samples from completely healthy tissue donors without a history of tobacco and alcohol exposure.MethodsIn this study, we evaluated normal upper lip fornix and gingival mucosa from carefully selected young healthy donors without a history of smoking and alcohol exposure, and keratin types 8, 10, 14, and 17, filaggrin, and Ki67 were investigated in these donors. The results were compared with profile of epithelium from leukoplakia.ResultsThe results demonstrated that the phenotypic patterns of gingiva and upper lip fornix mucosa were different. Surprisingly, a high proportion of gingival samples exhibited keratin 8 and a suprabasal signal for keratin 14. These patterns were compared with that of human oral leukoplakia, and some phenotypic similarities were noted.ConclusionsThese results demonstrated oral epithelium phenotypic plasticity based on functional requirements of the microenvironment, which can be used in diagnosis.
Physical and psychological motivation tests of individual preferences in rainbow trout
Authors: Maia C. M. , Ferguson B. , Volpato G. L. , Braithwaite V. A. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAnimal preference and motivation have been used to assess different kinds of environmental resources that may help improve welfare conditions. However, preference and motivation are typically tested separately, and these assays disregard the individual nature of responses. Here, in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), we evaluated individual variability of preference for different resources, and whether these fish are motivated to access such preferred options. Individual fish were allowed to sample among four different compartments. Two different tests were used, one where the compartments varied in background colour, the other where the compartments varied in what they contained. Over a series of 10 days, the fish interacted with these different options and during the trials of the last 7 days, their visitation frequency to each compartment was registered every 30 s. The data were used to calculate a preference index for each fish. Physical motivation of individual fish to access preferred and dispreferred options was then tested by quantifying the frequency of pushes the fish gave to transparent hinged doors that led to the different compartments. In a separate test, whether fish entered a preferred or a dispreferred option after crossing an aversive open and brightly lit, along area was used as a measure of psychological motivation. Trout showed a strong preference for blue backgrounds, and were both more physically and psychologically motivated to access this color. However, preference and motivation for alternative items such as shelters or conspecifics were more variable. We conclude that the physical and psychological motivation of trout depend on the resources that they are trying to access, but the fish express stronger motivation to gain access to more preferred options.
Archipelagos of the Anthropocene: rapid and extensive differentiation of native terrestrial vertebrates in a single metropolis
Authors: Littleford‐Colquhoun Bethan L. , Clemente Christofer , Whiting Martin J. , Ortiz‐Barrientos Daniel , Frère Celine H. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSome of the best evidence for rapid evolutionary change comes from studies of archipelagos and oceanic islands. City parks are analogous systems as they create geographically isolated green spaces that differ in size, structure and complexity. Very little, however, is known about whether city parks within a single urban centre drive selection and result in the diversification of native species. Here, we provide evidence for the rapid genetic and morphological differentiation of a native lizard (Intellagama lesueurii) at four geographically close yet unconnected parks within one city. Year of establishment of each city park varied from 1855 (oldest) to 2001 (youngest) equating to a generation time range of 32 to three generations. Genetic divergence among city park populations was large despite the small pairwise geographic distances (<5 km) and found to be two to three times higher for microsatellites and three to 33 times higher for mtDNA relative to nonurban populations. Patterns of morphological differentiation were also found to be most extensive among the four city park populations. In contrast to nonurban populations, city park populations showed significant differentiation in relative body size, relative head and limb morphology and relative forelimb and hindlimb length. Crucially, we show that these patterns of differentiation are unlikely to have been caused by founder events and/or drift alone. Our results suggest that city park ‘archipelagos’ could represent theatres for rapid evolution that may, in time, favour adaptive diversification.
Transcriptome dynamics over a lunar month in a broadcast spawning acroporid coral
Authors: Oldach Matthew J. , Workentine Matthew , Matz Mikhail V. , Fan Tung‐Yung , Vize Peter D. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractOn one night per year, at a specific point in the lunar cycle, one of the most extraordinary reproductive events on the planet unfolds as hundreds of millions of broadcast spawning corals release their trillions of gametes into the waters of the tropical seas. Each species spawns on a specific night within the lunar cycle, typically from full moon to third quarter moon, and in a specific time window after sunset. This accuracy is essential to achieve efficient fertilization in the vastness of the oceans. In this report, we use transcriptome sequencing at noon and midnight across an entire lunar cycle to explore how acroporid corals interpret lunar signals. The data were interrogated by both time‐of‐day‐dependent and time‐of‐day‐independent methods to identify different types of lunar cycles. Time‐of‐day methods found that genes associated with biological clocks and circadian processes change their diurnal cycles over the course of a synodic lunar cycle. Some genes have large differences between day and night at some lunar phases, but little or no diurnal differences at other phases. Many clock genes display an oscillation pattern indicative of phase shifts linked to the lunar cycle. Time‐independent methods found that signal transduction, protein secretion and modification, cell cycle and ion transport change over the lunar timescale and peak at various phases of the moon. Together these data provide unique insights into how the moon impinges on coral transcription cycles and how lunar light may regulate circalunar timing systems and coral biology.
A Mathematical Framework to Optimize Critical Infrastructure Resilience against Intentional Attacks
Authors: Ouyang Min , Fang Yiping 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThis article establishes a tri‐level decision‐making model supporting critical infrastructure (CI) resilience optimization against intentional attacks. A novel decomposition algorithm is proposed to exactly identify the best pre‐event defense strategy (protecting vulnerable components and building new lines), the worst‐case attack scenario, and the optimal postevent repair sequence of damaged components. As different types of CIs have different flow models, this article mainly considers the direct current power flow model and the maximal flow model for illustrative purposes. The proposed framework is illustrated by a simple but representative case system with nine nodes, and main results include: (1) the marginal value of extra defense investment under low defense budget is more considerable for mitigating system resilience loss, especially under large intentional attacks; (2) no defense strategy is always the best under different attack budgets; (3) increasing amount of repair resources can dramatically enhance CI resilience, but makes the pre‐event defense strategy less effective; (4) the use of maximal flow model can provide a lower bound estimation of the resilience loss from the power flow model; (5) the optimum defense strategy and the worst‐case attack identified by minimizing CI resilience loss largely differ from those by minimizing CI vulnerability, where the latter does not consider the recovery actions. Finally, the algorithm complexity is analyzed by comparing with the enumeration method and by testing two larger electric power systems.
Species diversity, antifungal susceptibility and phenotypic and genotypic characterisation of Exophiala spp. infecting patients in different medical centres in Brazil
Authors: Silva Wendy C. , Gonçalves Sarah S. , Santos Daniel W. C. L. , Padovan Ana Carolina B. , Bizerra Fernando C. , Melo Analy S. A. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThe Exophiala genus is responsible for many superficial and invasive infections resulting from black fungi. Identification of Exophiala at the species level is based on morphological observations complemented by molecular tests. The aim of this study was to identify 23 clinical isolates of Exophiala spp. and evaluate the antifungal susceptibility to seven different agents. Molecular identification was based on an analysis of ITS region of rDNA using genomic databases. The micromorphology was evaluated by microculture and scanning electron microscopy. The susceptibility tests were performed using the antifungal agents 5‐fluorocytosine (5‐FC), amphotericin B (AMB), itraconazole (ITC), voriconazole (VRC), posaconazole (PSC), caspofungin (CFG) and terbinafine (TRB). The ITS analysis identified 100% of the following isolates as: E. dermatitidis (8), E. xenobiotica (6), E. bergeri (4), E. oligosperma (3), E. spinifera (1) and E. mesophila (1). The antifungal susceptibility tests showed that the triazoles compounds were in vitro the most active agents against Exophiala. ITS sequencing enabled the accurate identification of the 23 tested isolates. The triazoles, particularly itraconazole and posaconazole, exhibited MIC values lower than AMB, CAS and 5‐FC. Although the guidelines do not indicate AMB for treatment against Exophiala spp., this study showed activity for all of the tested species, except E. mesophila.
Epidemiological investigation of Candida species causing bloodstream infection in paediatric small bowel transplant recipients
Authors: Suhr Mallory J. , Gomes‐Neto João Carlos , Banjara Nabaraj , Florescu Diana F. , Mercer David F. , Iwen Peter C. , Hallen‐Adams Heather E. 
Published: January 2017

SummarySmall bowel transplantation (SBT) can be a life‐saving medical procedure. However, these recipients experience high risk of bloodstream infections caused by Candida. This research aims to characterise the SBT recipient gut microbiota over time following transplantation and investigate the epidemiology of candidaemia in seven paediatric patients. Candida species from the recipients' ileum and bloodstream were identified by internal transcribed spacer sequence and distinguished to strain by multilocus sequence typing and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA. Antifungal susceptibility of bloodstream isolates was determined against nine antifungals. Twenty‐two ileostomy samples harboured at least one Candida species. Fungaemia were caused by Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida orthopsilosis and Candida pelliculosa. All but three bloodstream isolates showed susceptibility to all the antifungals tested. One C. glabrata isolate showed multidrug resistance to itraconazole, amphotericin B and posaconazole and intermediate resistance to caspofungin. Results are congruent with both endogenous (C. albicans, C. glabrata) and exogenous (C. parapsilosis) infections; results also suggest two patients were infected by the same strain of C. parapsilosis. Continuing to work towards a better understanding of sources of infection—particularly the exogenous sources—would lead to targeted prevention strategies.
Phenotypical characterization of peanut allergic children with differences in cross‐allergy to tree nuts and other legumes
Authors: Cousin Mathias , Verdun Stéphane , Seynave Maxime , Vilain Anne‐Christine , Lansiaux Amélie , Decoster Anne , Sauvage Christine 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBackgroundPeanut allergy in children is often associated with allergies to tree nuts and/or legumes. The aim of this study was to analyze in cluster a cohort of children allergic to peanuts and assessed for cross‐reactivity to nuts and legumes and to identify different phenotypes.MethodsWe included retrospectively 317 children with peanut allergy evaluated at the Allergy Unit of the Saint Vincent Hospital of Lille in the last 12 years. A complete workup for peanut allergy and nuts and legumes was carried out for each patient. A hierarchical agglomerative clustering method was used to search for clusters of individuals in the evaluated cohort.ResultsCross‐allergy to TN and/or other legumes was identified in 137 patients (43.2%), atopic dermatitis being a major risk factor (adjusted OR = 16 [95% CI: 7.4–37]; p < 0.001). Three phenotypes emerged from cluster analysis. Cluster 1 (72 patients) is characterized by high level of rAra h 2, low threshold reactive doses for peanut and high proportion of asthma; Cluster 2 (93 patients) is characterized by high threshold reactive doses for peanut and the lowest proportion of cross‐allergy to TN and/or legumes; Cluster 3 (152 patients) has a high risk of cross‐allergy to TN and/or legumes and most patients suffer from eczema.ConclusionsThe three phenotypes highlighted by this study could be useful to identify children with high risk of cross‐allergic reaction to TNs and legumes early after PA diagnosis.