bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lesions of the dorsal striatum impair orienting behaviour of salamanders without affecting visual processing in the tectum
Authors: Ruhl Tim , Hanslian Sabrina , Dicke Ursula 
Published: August 2016

AbstractIn amphibians, visual information in the midbrain tectum is relayed via the thalamus to telencephalic centres. Lesions of the dorsal thalamus of the salamander Plethodon shermani result in impairment of orienting behaviour and in modulation of spike pattern of tectal neurons. These effects may be induced by an interruption of a tectum‐thalamus‐telencephalon‐tectum feedback loop enabling spatial attention and selection of visual objects. The striatum is a potential candidate for involvement in this pathway; accordingly, we investigated the effects of lesioning the dorsal striatum. Compared to controls and sham lesioned salamanders, striatum‐lesioned animals exhibited a significantly lower number of orienting responses toward one of two competing prey stimuli. Orienting towards stimuli was impaired, while the spike pattern of tectal cells was unaffected, because both in controls and striatum‐lesioned salamanders the spike number significantly decreased at presentation of one prey stimulus inside the excitatory receptive field and another one in the surround compared to that at single presentation inside the excitatory receptive field. We conclude that the dorsal striatum contributes to orienting behaviour, but not to an inhibitory feedback signal onto tectal neurons. The brain area engaged in the feedback loop during visual object discrimination and selection has yet to be identified. Information processing in the amphibian striatum includes multisensory integration; the striatum generates behavioural patterns that influence (pre)motor processing in the brainstem. This situation resembles the situation found in rats, in which the dorsolateral striatum is involved in stimulus‐response learning regardless of the sensory modality, as well as in habit formation.
Implementing a routine flow cytometry assay for nucleated red blood cell counts in cord blood units
Authors: Simard C. , Cloutier M. , Jobin C. , Dion J. , Fournier D. , Néron S. 
Published: August 2016

SummaryIntroductionAs required by standards organizations, Héma‐Québec Cord Blood Bank performs enumeration of nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) in cord blood units (CBUs). This study presents the validation and implementation approaches developed to transfer the routine NRBC enumeration from the manual blood film method to a flow cytometric assay.MethodsThe flow cytometry method was adapted from Tsuji (Cytometry, 37, 1999, 291). This assay was validated to assess the specificity, detection limit, repeatability, and reproducibility of the method, including interoperator and interlaboratory testing. Finally, postimplementation follow‐up and adjustments were performed for CBU over a 7‐month period.ResultsBlood film and flow cytometry NRBC enumerations showed a strong correlation (n = 40; Pearson's r correlation = 0.90). Validation was successful as exemplified by the correlation in interlaboratory testing (n = 30; r = 0.98). During implementation, our routine laboratory analyses revealed that CBU with low NRBC content (≤2%), representing 26% of all CBU tested, resulted in 15% of repeated reading and/or staining and was the principal source of nonconformity. Small adjustments in the standard operating procedures (SOPs), including a fixed 200‐event setting in the NRBC gate for the second reading of the replicates, have completely solved this issue.ConclusionFlow cytometric NRBC enumerations, now implemented in Héma‐Québec Public Cord Blood Bank, is an improvement in the efficiency of our operations by integrating the count for NRBC into our flow cytometry platform.
Gregarious aggregative behavior in the marine isopod Cirolana harfordi
Authors: Salma Umme , Thomson Murray 
Published: August 2016

AbstractGregarious huddling behavior where animals seek the close company of conspecifics is thought to have facilitated the evolutionary transition from sea to land in some species of isopods, the theory being that closely apposed bodies decrease surface area and reduce desiccation. In this study, specimens of the marine isopod Cirolana harfordi were investigated to determine whether they displayed gregarious aggregative behavior. Animals were placed in a 20‐cm‐diameter acrylic cylinder arena that contained two 5‐cm‐diameter circular acrylic shelters that were tinted red (to reduce light transmittance), one at either end of the arena. Specimens of C. harfordi chose one of the two identical shelters at random, and the majority of animals congregated under this winning shelter. When an arena with one shelter tinted red and one clear shelter was used, the majority of animals congregated under the red shelter. These data indicate that the aggregative behavior displayed by this marine isopod species is driven by gregarious, conspecific attraction as well as reactions to environmental heterogeneity and negative phototaxis. Gregarious behavior in this marine isopod may afford the species advantages other than avoiding desiccation.
Omega 3/6 fatty acids for reading in children: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in 9‐year‐old mainstream schoolchildren in Sweden
Authors: Johnson Mats , Fransson Gunnar , Östlund Sven , Areskoug Björn , Gillberg Christopher 
Published: August 2016

BackgroundPrevious research has shown positive effects of Omega 3/6 fatty acids in children with inattention and reading difficulties. We aimed to investigate if Omega 3/6 improved reading ability in mainstream schoolchildren.MethodsWe performed a 3‐month parallel, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial followed by 3‐month active treatment for all subjects. Mainstream schoolchildren aged 9–10 years were randomized 1:1 to receive three Omega 3/6 capsules twice daily or identical placebo. Assessments were made at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary outcome measure was the Logos test battery for evaluating reading abilities. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02557477.ResultsThe study enrolled 154 children (active n = 78; placebo n = 76), of whom 122 completed the first 3 months (active n = 64; placebo n = 58) and 105 completed the whole study (active/active n = 55; placebo/active n = 50). Outcomes were assessed by per protocol (PP) and intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analyses. Active treatment was superior to placebo at 3 months for improvement in phonologic decoding time (PP active/placebo difference −0.16; 95% CI −0.03, −0.29; effect size (ES) .44; p = .005; and ITT ES .37; p = .036), in visual analysis time (PP active/placebo difference −0.19; 95% CI −0.05, −0.33; ES .49; p = .013; and ITT ES .40; p = .01), and for boys in phonologic decoding time (PP −0.22; 95% CI −0.03, −0.41; ES .62; p = .004). Children with ADHD‐RS scores above the median showed treatment benefits in visual analysis time (PP ES .8, p = .009), reading speed per word (PP ES .61, p = .008), and phonologic decoding time per word (PP ES .85, p = .006). Adverse events were rare and mild, mainly stomach pain/diarrhea (active n = 9, placebo n = 2).ConclusionsCompared with placebo, 3 months of Omega 3/6 treatment improved reading ability – specifically the clinically relevant ‘phonologic decoding time’ and ‘visual analysis time’ – in mainstream schoolchildren. In particular, children with attention problems showed treatment benefits.
Concurrent fatty liver increases risk of hepatocellular carcinoma among patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Chan Anthony W H , Wong Grace L H , Chan Hoi‐Yun , Tong Joanna H M , Yu Yau‐Hei , Choi Paul C L , Chan Henry L Y , To Ka‐Fai , Wong Vincent W S 
Published: August 2016

AbstractBackground and AimsConcurrent fatty liver in hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐infected patients without significant alcohol intake is a frequent and increasingly alarming problem because of the non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease pandemic. The risk of HBV‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development was increased by concomitant obesity and diabetes. Direct evidence of the hepatocarcinogenic effect of fatty liver in chronic HBV remains elusive. We aimed to evaluate the risk of concurrent histologically proven fatty liver in HBV hepatocarcinogenesis.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study on a liver biopsy cohort of HBV‐infected patients without significant alcohol intake to evaluate the prevalence of concurrent histologically proven fatty liver and its association with subsequent HCC development. We also examined nine polymorphisms on six non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease‐related candidate genes (ADIPOQ, APOC3, GCKR, LEPR, PNPLA3, and PPARG).ResultsAmong 270 HBV‐infected patients, concurrent fatty liver was found in 107 patients (39.6%) and was associated with metabolic risks, cirrhosis (P = 0.016) and PNPLA3 rs738409 CG/GG genotype (P = 0.002). At a median follow‐up of 79.9 months, 11 patients (4.1%) developed HCC, and nine of them had concurrent fatty liver. By multivariable Cox analysis, concurrent fatty liver (HR 7.27, 95% confidence interval: 1.52–34.76; P = 0.013), age, cirrhosis, and APOC3 rs2854116 TC/CC genotype (HR 3.93, 95% confidence interval: 1.30–11.84; P = 0.013) were independent factors predicting HCC development.ConclusionsConcurrent fatty liver is common in HBV‐infected patients and an independent risk factor potentiating HBV‐associated HCC development by 7.3‐fold. The risk of HBV‐related HCC is increased by APOC3 gene polymorphism, and further characterization is required by its role.
Analysis of FIB‐induced damage by electron channelling contrast imaging in the SEM
Authors: GUTIERREZ‐URRUTIA IVAN 
Published: August 2016

SummaryWe have investigated the Ga+ ion‐damage effect induced by focused ion beam (FIB) milling in a [001] single crystal of a 316 L stainless steel by the electron channelling contrast imaging (ECCI) technique. The influence of FIB milling on the characteristic electron channelling contrast of surface dislocations was analysed. The ECCI approach provides sound estimation of the damage depth produced by FIB milling. For comparison purposes, we have also studied the same milled surface by a conventional electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) approach. We observe that the ECCI approach provides further insight into the Ga+ ion‐damage phenomenon than the EBSD technique by direct imaging of FIB artefacts in the scanning electron microscope. We envisage that the ECCI technique may be a convenient tool to optimize the FIB milling settings in applications where the surface crystal defect content is relevant.
Balancing selection and genetic drift create unusual patterns of MHCIIβ variation in Galápagos mockingbirds
Authors: Vlček Jakub , Hoeck Paquita E. A. , Keller Lukas F. , Wayhart Jessica P. , Dolinová Iva , Štefka Jan 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThe extracellular subunit of the major histocompatibility complex MHCIIβ plays an important role in the recognition of pathogens and the initiation of the adaptive immune response of vertebrates. It is widely accepted that pathogen‐mediated selection in combination with neutral micro‐evolutionary forces (e.g. genetic drift) shape the diversity of MHCIIβ, but it has proved difficult to determine the relative effects of these forces. We evaluated the effect of genetic drift and balancing selection on MHCIIβ diversity in 12 small populations of Galápagos mockingbirds belonging to four different species, and one larger population of the Northern mockingbird from the continental USA. After genotyping MHCIIβ loci by high‐throughput sequencing, we applied a correlational approach to explore the relationships between MHCIIβ diversity and population size by proxy of island size. As expected when drift predominates, we found a positive effect of population size on the number of MHCIIβ alleles present in a population. However, the number of MHCIIβ alleles per individual and number of supertypes were not correlated with population size. This discrepancy points to an interesting feature of MHCIIβ diversity dynamics: some levels of diversity might be shaped by genetic drift while others are independent and possibly maintained by balancing selection.
Seismic Data‐Driven Identification of Linear Models for Building Structures Using Performance and Stabilizing Objectives
Authors: Shan Jiazeng , Ouyang Yuting , Yuan Hongliang , Shi Weixing 
Published: August 2016

AbstractA two‐stage dual‐objective structural identification method is presented in this article. The complexity of the identification of story‐level physical models for large‐scale building structures is first addressed through a comparative study. A stiffness variation‐based stabilizing objective is proposed to be necessarily incorporated into iterative optimization with the classical performance objectives to improve the model feasibility, and an area‐type evaluation index is subsequently proposed for the stopping criteria. Accordingly, a two‐stage differential evolution‐based dual‐objective optimization framework is presented for the computation of Pareto fronts for nondominated candidate solutions. Then, the proposed method is investigated using two illustrative examples, including a nine‐story benchmark structure, and a real‐world seven‐story reinforced concrete structure. A series of condensed models are identified from the nondominated solutions on the Pareto front. The prediction performance of the single‐objective optimal model and the dual‐objective acceptable models is compared using the overall discrepancies of acceleration, interstory drift, and modal properties, within both estimation and validation cases. Incorporation of the noise effect into the method is finally studied and discussed.
A novel Tos17 insertion upstream of Hd1 alters flowering time in rice
Authors: Hori Kiyosumi , Matsubara Kazuki , Uga Yusaku , Yano Masahiro 
Published: August 2016

AbstractHeading date 1 (Hd1) is one of the major determinants of flowering time and regional adaptability in rice (Oryza sativa L.), because there is a significant correlation between Hd1 allelic diversity and phenotypic differences in rice cultivars. In this study, we isolated a novel rice mutant with a Tos17 retrotransposon insertion upstream of Hd1. The Tos17 insertion mutant of Hd1 [designated as Tos17(Hd1)] had decreased photoperiod sensitivity and mRNA expression of Hd1, as compared with wild‐type Nipponbare. Between Tos17(Hd1) and Nipponbare, expression levels of OsPRR1 and OsGI were similar, whereas those of two florigen genes Hd3a and RFT1, were significantly different under both short and long‐day conditions. Tos17(Hd1) showed photoperiod sensitivity intermediate between that of Nipponbare and a near‐isogenic line having a non‐functional allele of Hd1, indicating that Tos17(Hd1) has an attenuated but functional Hd1 allele. Our results revealed that allele mining of Hd1 may provide good opportunities to develop novel rice cultivars showing different levels of photoperiod sensitivity.
The first case of genetically confirmed monozygotic twinning in the dog
Authors: Joonè CJ , De Cramer KGM , Nöthling JO 
Published: August 2016

ContentsMonozygotic twinning has not previously been genetically confirmed in the dog. This case report describes the finding of two viable male monozygotic foetuses within one placental site during caesarean section. Their umbilical cords attached to a single placenta. Genetic profiling using a total of 38 microsatellite markers, as well as amelogenin and SRY for sex determination, revealed identical DNA profiles, whether derived from blood or tissue (buccal swabs) samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of monozygotic twinning in the dog confirmed using DNA profiling.
Evaluation of a New Surgical Treatment for Equine Hind Limb Proximal Suspensory Desmitis
Authors: Brokken Matthew T. , Schneider Robert K. , Roberts Gregory D. , Holmes Shannon P. , Gavin Patrick R. , Sampson Sarah N. , Farnsworth Kelly D. , Dahlgren Linda A. 
Published: August 2016

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of a new microfracture and ligament splitting procedure on ligament healing and to examine the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for monitoring ligament healing over time using a collagenase model of hind limb proximal suspensory desmitis.Study DesignExperimental in vivo study.AnimalsHealthy adult horses (n=6).MethodsHorses were free of lameness with normal hind limb proximal suspensory ligaments (PSL). The origin of both hind limb PSL was injected with collagenase and underwent MR imaging 2 weeks later, followed by the microfracture and ligament splitting procedure on 1 limb, with the opposite limb serving as the sham‐operated control. Serial lameness and MR examinations were performed. Horses were euthanatized 210 days after surgery, the PSL harvested, and histology, biochemistry, and gene expression performed on both PSL.ResultsCollagenase lesions viewed on MR images appeared similar to those seen clinically. Serial MR images demonstrated resolution of abnormal signal intensity and tissue formation in the microfracture sites within the third metatarsal bone. Treated limbs had histologic evidence of connective tissue appearing to originate from the small perforations and blending into the ligament but no statistical differences were identified. Gene expression for cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and decorin were significantly increased in treated compared to control limbs.ConclusionThe microfracture and ligament splitting procedure did incite a tissue response but further clinical investigation is necessary to determine if this tissue remodeling at the bone‐ligament interface translates to improved clinical outcome. MR imaging may be useful to follow healing in horses with hind limb proximal suspensory desmitis.
The use of embryonic cells in the treatment of osteochondral defects of the knee: an ovine in vivo study
Authors: Manunta Andrea , Zedde Pietro , Pilicchi Susanna , Rocca Stefano , Pool Roy , Dattena Maria , Masala Gerolamo , Mara Laura , Casu Sara , Sanna Daniela , Manunta Maria , Passino Eraldo 
Published: August 2016

Purpose: the aim of this study was to determine whether local delivery of embryonic stem-like (ESL) cells into osteochondral defects in the femoral condyles of sheep would enhance regeneration of hyaline articular cartilage.
Methods: male ESL cells embedded in fibrin glue were engrafted into osteochondral defects in the medial condyles (ESL-M) of the left femur in 22 ewes. An identical defect was created in the medial condyle of the contralateral stifle joint and left untreated as a control (empty defect, ED). The ewes were divided into 5 groups. Four sheep each were euthanized at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months from surgery, and 6 ewes were euthanized 24 months post-implantation. To study the effect of varying loads on the long-term regeneration process, an identical defect was also created and ESL cell engraftment performed in the lateral condyle (ESL-L) of the left stifle joint of the animals in the 12- and 24-month groups. The evaluation of regenerated tissue was performed by biomechanical, macroscopic, histological, immunohistochemical (collagen type II) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assays.
Results: no significant differences were found between treated and control sites in the biomechanical assays at any time point. ESL cell grafts showed significantly greater macroscopic evidence of regeneration as compared to controls at 24 months after surgery; significantly better histological evidence of repair in ESL-M samples versus controls was found throughout the considered period. At 24 months from surgery there was significantly improved integration of graft edges with the host tissue in the ESL-M as compared to the ESL-L samples, demonstrating that load bearing positively affects the long-term regeneration process.
Conclusions: ESL cells enhanced the regeneration of hyaline cartilage. FISH confirmed that the regenerative tissue originated from ESL cells.
Clinical Relevance: ESL cells are able to self-renew for prolonged periods without differentiation and, most importantly, to differentiate into a large variety of tissues.
On the number of entangled qubits in quantum wireless sensor networks
Authors: Mohapatra Amit Kumar , Balakrishnan S. 
Published: August 2016

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can take the advantages by utilizing the security schemes based on the concepts of quantum computation and cryptography. However, quantum wireless sensor networks (QWSNs) are shown to have many practical constraints. One of the constraints is the number of entangled qubits which is very high in the quantum security scheme proposed by [Nagy et al., Nat. Comput. 9 (2010) 819]. In this work, we propose a modification of the security scheme introduced by Nagy et al. and hence the reduction in the number of entangled qubits is shown. Further, the modified scheme can overcome some of the constraints in the QWSNs.
Antibothrus morimotoi Sasaji, an Old World cocoon-forming beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinelloidea: Bothrideridae) newly established in North America
Authors: MCELRATH THOMAS C. , ANDROW ROBERT A. , MCHUGH JOSEPH V. 
Published: August 2016

Antibothrus morimotoi Sasaji, a cocoon-forming beetle (Coccinelloidea: Bothrideridae) native to the Palearctic region, is newly reported from North America. In 2013 and 2015, several series of specimens were collected during an ongoing USDA/APHIS/PPQ exotic bark beetle survey in Franklin County, Ohio, U.S.A. This is the first confirmed record of the species and genus in the New World. The capture of these specimens suggests that the beetle is established in the greater Columbus, Ohio, metropolitan area.
Impact of Assimilating Preconvective Upsonde Observations on Short-Term Forecasts of Convection Observed during MPEX
Authors: Coniglio Michael C. , Hitchcock Stacey M. , Knopfmeier Kent H. 
Published: August 2016

AbstractThis study examines the impact of assimilating preconvective radiosonde observations obtained by mobile sounding systems on short-term forecasts of convection. Ensemble data assimilation is performed on a mesoscale (15 km) grid and the resulting analyses are downscaled to produce forecasts on a convection-permitting grid (3 km). The ensembles of forecasts are evaluated through their depiction of radar reflectivity compared to observed radar reflectivity. Examination of fractions skill scores over eight cases shows that, for four of the cases, assimilation of radiosonde observations nearby to subsequent convection has a positive impact on the initiation and early evolution during the first 3–4 h of the forecasts, even for the smallest resolvable scales of the 3-km grid. For the four cases in which positive impacts near the smallest resolvable scales of the grid are not seen, analysis of the changes to the preconvective environment suggests that suboptimal locations of the soundings compared to the location of convective initiation are to blame. The aggregate positive impacts on forecasts of convection is more clearly seen when spatial scales larger than individual thunderstorms are examined.