bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of “Nil by Mouth” Versus Early Oral Intake in Three Different Diet Regimens Following Esophagectomy
Authors: Eberhard Kristine Elisabeth , Achiam Michael Patrick , Rolff Hans Christian , Belmouhand Mohamed , Svendsen Lars Bo , Thorsteinsson Morten 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe literature on oral intake after esophagectomy and its influence on anastomotic leakage and complications is sparse.MethodsThis retrospective study included 359 patients undergoing esophagectomy between January 2011 and August 2015. Three oral intake protocols were evaluated: regimen 1, nil by mouth until postoperative day (POD) 7 followed by a normal diet; regimen 2, oral intake of clear fluids from POD 1 followed by a normal diet; regimen 3, nil by mouth until POD 7 followed by a slow increase to a blended diet. The outcome endpoints were: (1) anastomotic leakage, (2) complications [severity and number described using the Dindo–Clavien Classification and Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI)] and (3) length of stay. A multivariate logistic regression model was obtained for CCI and anastomotic leakage using Wald’s stepwise selection.ResultsCCI was significantly lower in regimen 3 (16 vs. 22 and 26 in regimen 1 and 2, p = 0.027). Additionally, significantly fewer patients in regimen 3 suffered from severe complications of Dindo–Clavien grade IIIb–IV (p = 0.025). The incidence of anastomotic leakage reached its lowest in regimen 3, 2%, compared to 7–9%. Multivariate analyses revealed that high American Society of Anesthesiologist score was a predicting factor for both CCI and anastomotic leakage.ConclusionThe study indicates that nil by mouth until postoperative day 7 followed by a slow increase to a blended diet after esophagectomy results in less severe complications and a tendency of fewer anastomotic leakages. Multiple comorbidities proved to be an important predictive factor of the postoperative course.
Edge effect on bird nest predation in the fragmented caldén (Prosopis caldenia) forest of central Argentina: an experimental analysis
Authors: Sosa Ramón Alberto , Lopez de Casenave Javier 
Published: January 2017

AbstractClearing of caldén (Prosopis caldenia) forests for agriculture and cattle raising in east‐central La Pampa Province, central Argentina, has created a highly fragmented landscape, a condition that has resulted in adverse effects on birds in other forests, mainly through increased predation rates near forest edges. We evaluated bird nest predation rates using artificial nests, assessing the effects of forest fragment size, distance to the edge and nest height. We measured survival rate of 570 artificial nests located in trees, in bushes and on the ground, at different distances from the edge, in six forest fragments ranging in size from 2.1 to 117.6 ha, during two consecutive breeding seasons. Nest predation rates were significantly related with the number of days of exposition of the nest, nest height and distance to the edge, whereas fragment size and year of the experiment were not associated with predation rates. Ground nests were less likely to be predated than those located in bushes and trees. Predation rates decreased with the distance to the edge, showing a pattern consistent with the existence of an edge effect.
Sulfatides Primarily Exist in the Substantia Nigra Region of Mouse Brain Tissue
Authors: Park Kab‐Tae , Shon Jong Cheol , Kim Ji‐Eun , Park Gyu Hwan , Choi Hyun Jin , Liu Kwang‐Hyeon 
Published: January 2017

AbstractLipid distribution in the brain is important for many biological functions and has been associated with some brain diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate lipid distribution in different regions of brain tissue in mice. To this end, substantia nigra (SN), caudate putamen (CPu), hippocampus (Hip), hypothalamus (Hyp), and cortex (Cx) tissues of mice were analyzed using direct infusion nanoelectrospray‐ion trap mass spectrometry and multivariate analyses. The SN, CPu, Hip, Hyp, and Cx groups showed clear differences in lipid distribution using principal component analysis and a partial least‐squares discriminant analysis score plot, and lipid levels were significantly different in different brain regions. In particular, sulfatides were mainly distributed in the SN region. Our results could be used to help understand the functions and mechanisms of lipids in various brain diseases.
Stem cells for ALS: An overview of possible therapeutic approaches
Authors: Czarzasta Joanna , Habich Aleksandra , Siwek Tomasz , Czapliński Adam , Maksymowicz Wojciech , Wojtkiewicz Joanna 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an unusual, fatal, neurodegenerative disorder leading to the loss of motor neurons. After diagnosis, the average lifespan ranges from 3 to 5 years, and death usually results from respiratory failure. Although the pathogenesis of ALS remains unclear, multiple factors are thought to contribute to the progression of ALS, such as network interactions between genes, environmental exposure, impaired molecular pathways and many others.The neuroprotective properties of neural stem cells (NSCs) and the paracrine signaling of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been examined in multiple pre‐clinical trials of ALS with promising results. The data from these initial trials indicate a reduction in the rate of disease progression. The mechanism through which stem cells achieve this reduction is of major interest. Here, we review the to‐date pre‐clinical and clinical therapeutic approaches employing stem cells, and discuss the most promising ones.
Serum levels of Glial fibrillary acidic protein in Chinese children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Wang Jingwei , Zou Qiuyan , Han Renfeng , Li Yupeng , Wang Yulin 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectiveGlial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) has been studied in many neurological diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential role of GFAP in Chinese children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) by measuring serum circulating levels of GFAP and comparing them with age and gender‐matched typical development children.MethodsA total of one hundred and fifty 2–6 years old Chinese children (75 confirmed autism cases and 75 their age‐gender matched typical development children) participated in this study. Serum levels of GFAP were assayed with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay methods, and severity of ASD was evaluated with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) Score.ResultsThe results indicated that the mean serum GFAP level was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in autistic children as compared to controls (1.71 ± 0.53 ng/ml vs. 0.99 ± 0.25 ng/ml). There was a significant positive association between serum GFAP levels and CARS scores (r [Pearson] = 0.390, P = 0.001). Based on the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the optimal cut‐off value of serum GFAP levels as an indicator for auxiliary diagnosis of autism was projected to be 1.28 ng/ml which yielded a sensitivity of 77.3% and a specificity of 88.4%, the area under the curve was 0.895(95%CI, 0.844–0.947). Further, an increased risk of ASD was associated with GFAP levels >1.28 ng/ml (adjusted OR 9.88, 95% CI: 3.32–17.82) in the multivariate logistic analysis model.ConclusionThe data indicates that serum GFAP levels may be associated with severity of ASD among Chinese children, suggesting the hypothesis that increased serum levels of GFAP could be implicated in the pathophysiology of autism in Chinese children.
Nonparametric estimation of the service time distribution in the M/G/∞ queue
Authors: Goldenshluger Alexander 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe subject of this paper is the problem of estimating the service time distribution of the M/G/∞ queue from incomplete data on the queue. The goal is to estimate G from observations of the queue-length process at the points of the regular grid on a fixed time interval. We propose an estimator and analyze its accuracy over a family of target service time distributions. An upper bound on the maximal risk is derived. The problem of estimating the arrival rate is considered as well.
A queueing/inventory and an insurance risk model
Authors: Boxma Onno , Essifi Rim , Janssen Augustus J. E. M. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe study an M/G/1-type queueing model with the following additional feature. The server works continuously, at fixed speed, even if there are no service requirements. In the latter case, it is building up inventory, which can be interpreted as negative workload. At random times, with an intensity ω(x) when the inventory is at level x>0, the present inventory is removed, instantaneously reducing the inventory to 0. We study the steady-state distribution of the (positive and negative) workload levels for the cases ω(x) is constant and ω(x) = ax. The key tool is the Wiener–Hopf factorization technique. When ω(x) is constant, no specific assumptions will be made on the service requirement distribution. However, in the linear case, we need some algebraic hypotheses concerning the Laplace–Stieltjes transform of the service requirement distribution. Throughout the paper, we also study a closely related model arising from insurance risk theory.
Gregarine infection accelerates larval development of the cat fleaCtenocephalides felis(Bouché)
Authors: ALARCÓN M. E. , JARA-F. A. , BRIONES R. C. , DUBEY A. K. , SLAMOVITS C. H. 
Published: January 2017

SUMMARYA high degree of specialization between host and parasite is a well-known outcome of a long history of coevolution, and it is strikingly illustrated in a coordination of their life cycles. In some cases, the arms race ensued at the establishment of a symbiotic relationship results in the adoption of manipulative strategies by the parasite. We have already learned thatSteinina ctenocephali, a gregarine living in the alimentary canal of cat flea,Ctenocephalides felisfollows its phenology and metamorphosis. Despite these findings the outcome of their symbiotic partnership (mutualist, parasitic or commensal) remains unclear. To address this important question, we measured life history parameters of the flea in the presence of varying infection intensities of gregarine oocysts in laboratory conditions. We found that neither the emergence nor survival rate of fleas was affected by harbouring the gregarines. More surprisingly, our results show that flea larvae infected with gregarines developed faster and emerged earlier than the control group. This gregarine therefore joins the selected group of protists that can modify physiological host traits and provides not only new model taxa to be explored in an evolutionary scenario, but also potential development of control strategies of cat flea.
DNA barcoding of bird species in Cyprus: a tool for conservation purposes
Authors: DIMITRIOU ANDREAS C. , FORCINA GIOVANNI , PAPAZOGLOU CLAIRIE , PANAYIDES PANICOS , GUERRINI MONICA , CRABTREE ALAN , BARBANERA FILIPPO , SFENTHOURAKIS SPYROS 
Published: January 2017

SummaryDNA barcoding has become a widely used and valuable tool in taxonomic research during the past three decades and its application is expanding to fields such as wildlife forensics (e.g. anti-poaching actions). One of the major advantages of DNA barcoding is that it allows for species identification from largely incomplete, deformed or cooked samples and even from traces of biological material. Cyprus is a well-known biodiversity hotspot, the island avifauna comprising around 400 species, 117 of which are listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (2009/147/EC). Each year on average, 2.3 million individuals (mainly small migratory birds) are trapped illegally on the island and often served at restaurants. Consequently, reliable identification of specimens from processed tissues can be crucial for undertaking legal actions. Herein DNA barcoding of the large majority of bird species resident in Cyprus plus several migrants that were illegally captured was carried out to support local authorities in their anti-poaching actions. In this study, tissue from 103 specimens representing 81 bird taxa were sampled and a 648-bp long fragment of the Cytochrome Oxidase subunit Ι (COI) gene was targeted using a combination of standard, nested and semi-nested PCR depending on the condition of the tissue at hand. Sequences were obtained from all investigated samples and a total of 92 haplotypes was recovered. Phylogenetic reconstructions returned a pattern of relationships among taxa largely compatible with known avian phylogeny. Furthermore, diagnostic polymorphisms within the genus including one of the main targeted species,Sylvia atricapilla,were found. In conclusion, an avian genetic dataset is now available for the law enforcement authorities to identify specimens either confiscated (even when morphologically deformed or cooked) during raids in restaurants and in other premises suspected of serving illegally protected bird species or from trappers.
EXPECTED APPLICATIONS, CONTEXTUAL ENRICHMENT, AND OBJECTIVE COMMUNICATIVE CONTENT: THE LINGUISTIC CASE FOR CONCEPTION TEXTUALISM
Authors: Asgeirsson Hrafn 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTTextualist and originalist legal reasoning usually involves something like the following thesis, whether implicitly or explicitly: the legal content of a statute or constitutional clause is the linguistic content that a reasonable member of the relevant audience would, knowing the context and conversational background, associate with the enactment. In this paper, I elucidate some important aspects of this thesis, emphasizing the important role that contextual enrichment plays in textualist and originalist legal reasoning. The aim is to show how the linguistic framework underlying sophisticated versions of new textualism and public-meaning originalism can help to shed important light on the plausibility of what John Perry callsconception textualism. Contra Perry, I do not think that conception textualism—arguably best classified as a version of expected-applications originalism—is “confused, implausible, and unworkable.” I also briefly compare my linguistic case for conception textualism with Justice Scalia's nonlinguistic argument for it, the main premise of which concerns the constitutive function of constitutions.
Topological Dirac nodal lines and surface charges in fcc alkaline earth metals
Authors: Hirayama Motoaki , Okugawa Ryo , Miyake Takashi , Murakami Shuichi 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIn nodal-line semimetals, the gaps close along loops in k space, which are not at high-symmetry points. Typical mechanisms for the emergence of nodal lines involve mirror symmetry and the π Berry phase. Here we show via ab initio calculations that fcc calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr) and ytterbium (Yb) have topological nodal lines with the π Berry phase near the Fermi level, when spin–orbit interaction is neglected. In particular, Ca becomes a nodal-line semimetal at high pressure. Owing to nodal lines, the Zak phase becomes either π or 0, depending on the wavevector k, and the π Zak phase leads to surface polarization charge. Carriers eventually screen it, leaving behind large surface dipoles. In materials with nodal lines, both the large surface polarization charge and the emergent drumhead surface states enhance Rashba splitting when heavy adatoms are present, as we have shown to occur in Bi/Sr(111) and in Bi/Ag(111).
Psychological distress and cancer pain: Results from a controlled cross-sectional survey in China
Authors: Li Xiao-Mei , Xiao Wen-Hua , Yang Ping , Zhao Hui-Xia 
Published: January 2017

AbstractWe evaluated the pain associated with cancer and its impact on pain management, anxiety, and depression in Chinese patients using a controlled cross-sectional study. One hundred and twenty-six cancer outpatients were evaluated from January 2012 to June 2014; 64 reported pain and 62 did not. Patients with cancer eligible for this study were older than 18 years and able to effectively communicate with medical personnel. Patients were administered a questionnaire regarding their medical status. The information collected was used along with patient charts to complete a socio-demographic and clinical characteristic summary for each patient. Results showed that patients who reported pain had mean State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores of 46.38 for state anxiety and 44.64 for trait anxiety, as well as a mean BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) score of 19.17. The pain-free patient group had mean STAI scores of 40.73 for state anxiety and 42.87 for trait anxiety, and a mean BDI score of 15.35. In conclusion, patients who reported pain were more prone to anxiety and depression, with pain severity being a strong predictor of anxiety. Adequate pain assessment and adjustment proved necessary for pain management.
Neutrophil elastase cleavage of the gC1q domain impairs the EMILIN1-α4β1 integrin interaction, cell adhesion and anti-proliferative activity
Authors: Maiorani Orlando , Pivetta Eliana , Capuano Alessandra , Modica Teresa Maria Elisa , Wassermann Bruna , Bucciotti Francesco , Colombatti Alfonso , Doliana Roberto , Spessotto Paola 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe extracellular matrix glycoprotein EMILIN1 exerts a wide range of functions mainly associated with its gC1q domain. Besides providing functional significance for adhesion and migration, the direct interaction between α4β1 integrin and EMILIN1-gC1q regulates cell proliferation, transducing net anti-proliferative effects. We have previously demonstrated that EMILIN1 degradation by neutrophil elastase (NE) is a specific mechanism leading to the loss of functions disabling its regulatory properties. In this study we further analysed the proteolytic activity of NE, MMP-3, MMP-9, and MT1-MMP on EMILIN1 and found that MMP-3 and MT1-MMP partially cleaved EMILIN1 but without affecting the functional properties associated with the gC1q domain, whereas NE was able to fully impair the interaction of gC1q with the α4β1 integrin by cleaving this domain outside of the E933 integrin binding site. By a site direct mutagenesis approach we mapped the bond between S913 and R914 residues and selected the NE-resistant R914W mutant still able to interact with the α4β1 integrin after NE treatment. Functional studies showed that NE impaired the EMILIN1-α4β1 integrin interaction by cleaving the gC1q domain in a region crucial for its proper structural conformation, paving the way to better understand NE effects on EMILIN1-cell interaction in pathological context.
Novel blood-based microRNA biomarker panel for early diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Xin Lei , Gao Jun , Wang Dan , Lin Jin-Huan , Liao Zhuan , Ji Jun-Tao , Du Ting-Ting , Jiang Fei , Hu Liang-Hao , Li Zhao-Shen 
Published: January 2017

AbstractChronic pancreatitis (CP) is an inflammatory disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of pancreas. Early diagnosis will improve the prognosis of patients. This study aimed to obtain serum miRNA biomarkers for early diagnosis of CP. In the current study, we analyzed the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) of CP patients from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and the DEmiRs in plasma of early CP patients (n = 10) from clinic by miRNA microarrays. Expression levels of DEmiRs were further tested in clinical samples including early CP patients (n = 20), late CP patients (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 18). The primary endpoints were area under curve (AUC) and expression levels of DEmiRs. Four DEmiRs (hsa-miR-320a-d) were obtained from GEO CP, meanwhile two (hsa-miR-221 and hsa-miR-130a) were identified as distinct biomarkers of early CP by miRNA microarrays. When applied on clinical serum samples, hsa-miR-320a-d were accurate in predicting late CP, while hsa-miR-221 and hsa-miR-130a were accurate in predicting early CP with AUC of 100.0% and 87.5%. Our study indicates that miRNA expression profile is different in early and late CP. Hsa-miR-221 and hsa-miR-130a are biomarkers of early CP, and the panel of the above 6 serum miRNAs has the potential to be applied clinically for early diagnosis of CP.
Impact of interfacial coupling of oxygen octahedra on ferromagnetic order in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Lindfors-Vrejoiu Ionela , Ziese Michael , Gloter Alexandre , van Aken Peter A. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractLa0.7Sr0.3MnO3, a half-metallic ferromagnet with full spin polarization, is generally used as a standard spin injector in heterostructures. However, the magnetism of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 is strongly modified near interfaces, which was addressed as “dead-layer” phenomenon whose origin is still controversial. Here, both magnetic and structural properties of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrTiO3 heterostructures were investigated, with emphasis on the quantitative analysis of oxygen octahedral rotation (OOR) across interfaces using annular-bright-field imaging. OOR was found to be significantly altered near interface for both La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 and SrTiO3, as linked to the magnetism deterioration. Especially in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrTiO3 superlattices, the almost complete suppression of OOR in 4 unit-cell-thick La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 results in a canted ferromagnetism. Detailed comparisons between strain and OOR relaxation and especially the observation of an unexpected La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 lattice c expansion near interfaces, prove the relevance of OOR for the magnetic properties. These results indicate the capability of tuning the magnetism by engineering OOR at the atomic scale.
The effect of brumation on memory retention
Authors: Wilkinson Anna , Hloch Anne , Mueller-Paul Julia , Huber Ludwig 
Published: January 2017

AbstractLong-term torpor is an adaptive strategy that allows animals to survive harsh winter conditions. However, the impact that prolonged torpor has on cognitive function is poorly understood. Hibernation causes reduced synaptic activity and experiments with mammals reveal that this can have adverse effects on memories formed prior to hibernation. The impact of brumation, the winter dormancy that is observed in ectotherms, on memory remains unknown. The aim of this study was to examine whether an amphibian, the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), was able to retain learned spatial information after a period of brumation. Twelve fire salamanders were trained to make a simple spatial discrimination using a T-maze. All subjects learned the initial task. Upon reaching criterion, half of the subjects were placed into brumation for 100 days while the other half served as controls and were maintained under normal conditions. A post-brumation memory retention test revealed that animals from both conditions retained the learned response. Control tests showed that they solved the task using learned information and not olfactory cues. This finding contrasts with much of the mammalian research and suggests that the processes involved in prolonged torpor may have a fundamentally different impact on memory in mammals and amphibians.
Gd(III)-induced Supramolecular Hydrogelation with Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Performance for Enzyme Detection
Authors: Hua Yongquan , Pu Guojuan , Ou Caiwen , Zhang Xiaoli , Wang Ling , Sun Jiangtao , Yang Zhimou , Chen Minsheng 
Published: January 2017

AbstractHere we report a supramolecular hydrogel based on Gd(III)-peptide complexes with dramatically enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) performance. The hydrogelations were formed by adding Gd(III) ion to the nanofiber dispersion of self-assembling peptides naphthalene-Gly-Phe-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp (Nap-GFFYGRGD) or naphthalene-Gly-Phe-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Arg-Gly-Glu (Nap-GFFYGRGE). We further showed that, by adjusting the molar ratio between Gd(III) and the corresponding peptide, the mechanical property of resulting gels could be fine-tuned. The longitudinal relaxivity (r1) of the Nap-GFFYGRGE-Gd(III) was 58.9 mM−1 S−1, which to our knowledge is the highest value for such peptide-Gd(III) complexes so far. Such an enhancement of r1 value could be applied for enzyme detection in aqueous solutions and cell lysates.