bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patterned auditory stimulation and suck dynamics in full‐term infants
Authors: Zimmerman Emily , Foran Megan 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAimTo determine whether patterned auditory stimuli, designed to mimic the natural burst‐pause pattern evident in non‐nutritive suck (NNS) with variations to the intraburst frequency, alter infants’ NNS and cardiorespiratory patterning.MethodsSixteen healthy full‐term infants participated in this study. Infants were fitted with electrocardiogram electrodes and a respiratory belt to measure cardiorespiratory patterning. Infants were offered a custom pacifier attached to a pressure transducer to measure NNS. Prior to the start of the study, a two‐minute NNS and cardiorespiratory baseline was attained. Next, three auditory stimulation conditions were presented in the form of sucking clicks at interburst frequencies of 1, 2 and 4 Hz. Each of the three frequencies was played for two minutes.ResultsSeparate repeated‐measures ANOVAs revealed significant differences in NNS burst duration (p = 0.013), NNS cycles/burst (p = 0.010) and NNS bursts/minute (p = 0.005) across auditory stimulation conditions. No significant differences were evident in the cardiorespiratory outcomes.ConclusionWe found that patterned auditory stimulation significantly reduced NNS dynamics and had no effect on cardiorespiratory patterning. The findings further suggest that infants attempted to modulate their suck pattern to the patterned acoustic stimuli by shortening their burst durations with fewer cycles per burst.
Assessment of treatment response in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis using advanced magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Lin S. C. , Heba E. , Bettencourt R. , Lin G. Y. , Valasek M. A. , Lunde O. , Hamilton G. , Sirlin C. B. , Loomba R. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryBackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging‐derived measures of liver fat and volume are emerging as accurate, non‐invasive imaging biomarkers in non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Little is known about these measures in relation to histology longitudinally.AimTo examine any relationship between MRI‐derived proton‐density fat‐fraction (PDFF), total liver volume (TLV), total liver fat index (TLFI), vs. histology in a NASH trial.MethodsThis is a secondary analysis of a 24‐week randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of 50 patients with biopsy‐proven NASH randomised to oral ezetimibe 10 mg daily (n = 25) vs. placebo (n = 25). Baseline and post‐treatment anthropometrics, biochemical profiling, MRI and biopsies were obtained.ResultsBaseline mean PDFF correlated strongly with TLFI (Spearman's ρ = 0.94, n = 45, P < 0.0001) and had good correlation with TLV (ρ = 0.57, n = 45, P < 0.0001). Mean TLV correlated strongly with TLFI (ρ = 0.78, n = 45, P < 0.0001). After 24 weeks, PDFF remained strongly correlated with TLFI (ρ = 0.94, n = 45, P < 0.0001), maintaining good correlation with TLV (ρ = 0.51, n = 45, P = 0.0004). TLV remained strongly correlated with TLFI (ρ = 0.74, n = 45, P < 0.0001). Patients with Grade 1 vs. 3 steatosis had lower PDFF, TLV, and TLFI (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0003, P < 0.0001 respectively). Regression analysis of changes in MRI‐PDFF vs. TLV indicates that 10% reduction in MRI‐PDFF predicts 257 mL reduction in TLV.ConclusionsThe MRI‐PDFF and TLV strongly correlated with TLFI. Decreases in steatosis were associated with an improvement in hepatomegaly. Lower values of these measures reflect lower histologic steatosis grades. MRI‐derived measures of liver fat and volume may be used as dynamic and more responsive imaging biomarkers in a NASH trial, than histology.
Anatomical study of renal arterial vasculature and its potential impact on partial nephrectomy
Authors: Macchi Veronica , Crestani Alessandro , Porzionato Andrea , Sfriso Maria Martina , Morra Aldo , Rossanese Marta , Novara Giacomo , De Caro Raffaele , Ficarra Vincenzo 
Published: January 2017

ObjectivesTo validate Graves’ classification of the intrarenal arteries and to verify the absence of collateral arterial blood supply between different renal segments, in order to maximize peri‐operative and functional outcomes of partial nephrectomy.Materials and MethodsThe study was performed on 15 normal kidneys sampled from eight unembalmed cadavers. Kidneys with the surrounding perirenal fat tissue were removed en bloc with the abdominal segment of the aorta. The renal artery was injected with acrylic and radiopaque resins, with the specimen suspended in water. CT examination of the injected kidneys was performed to analyse the branches located deeply. After imaging acquisition, the specimens were treated with sodium hydroxide for removal of the parenchyma to obtain vascular casts.ResultsTen casts (66.6%) showed the classic subdivision of the main artery into single posterior and anterior branches. With regard to the distribution of the segmental or second‐order arteries, only two casts (13%) showed a pattern similar to that described by Graves, characterized by four segmental (second‐order) branches coming from the anterior renal artery (apical, superior, middle and inferior). In the remaining 13 kidneys (87%) a different arterial vascular network was detected. In 10 casts (80%) a single renal segment was vascularized by two or more different branches coming from an artery leading to another segment (multiple vascularization). Multiple vascularization was observed in three (20%) apical segments, five (33%) superior segments, six (40%) middle segments, seven (47%) inferior segments and two (13%) posterior segments.ConclusionsThis study shows that in the human kidneys the arterial vasculature is frequently different from that described by Graves. Moreover, in a significant percentage of cases, a single renal segment receives two or more branches that originate from an artery leading to another segment.
Oligodendroglial fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 gene targeting protects mice from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through ERK/AKT phosphorylation
Authors: Rajendran Ranjithkumar , Giraldo‐Velásquez Mario , Stadelmann Christine , Berghoff Martin 
Published: January 2017

AbstractFibroblast growth factors (FGFs) exert diverse biological effects by binding and activation of specific fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs). FGFs and FGFRs have been implicated in demyelinating pathologies including multiple sclerosis. In vitro activation of the FGF2/FGFR1 pathway results in downregulation of myelin proteins. FGF1, 2 and 9 have been shown to be involved in the pathology of multiple sclerosis. Recent studies on the function of oligodendroglial FGFR1 in a model of toxic demyelination showed that deletion of FGFR1 led to increased remyelination and preservation of axonal density and an increased number of mature oligodendrocytes. In the present study the in vivo function of oligodendroglial FGFR1 was characterized using an oligodendrocyte‐specific genetic approach in the most frequently used model of multiple sclerosis the MOG35‐55‐induced EAE. Oligodendroglial FGFR1 deficient mice (referred to as Fgfr1ind−/−) showed a significantly ameliorated disease course in MOG35‐55‐induced EAE. Less myelin and axonal loss, and reduced lymphocyte and macrophage/microglia infiltration were found in Fgfr1ind−/− mice. The reduction in disease severity in Fgfr1ind−/− mice was accompanied by ERK/AKT phosphorylation, and increased expression of BDNF and TrkB. Reduced proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression was seen in Fgfr1ind−/− mice compared with control mice. Considering that FGFR inhibitors are used in cancer trials, the oligodendroglial FGFR1 pathway may provide a new target for therapy in multiple sclerosis.
Allergenicity of bony and cartilaginous fish – molecular and immunological properties
Authors: Stephen J. N. , Sharp M. F. , Ruethers T. , Taki A. , Campbell D. E. , Lopata A. L. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryAllergy to bony fish is common and probably increasing world‐wide. The major heat‐stable pan‐fish allergen, parvalbumin (PV), has been identified and characterized for numerous fish species. In contrast, there are very few reports of allergic reactions to cartilaginous fish despite widespread consumption. The molecular basis for this seemingly low clinical cross‐reactivity between these two fish groups has not been elucidated. PV consists of two distinct protein lineages, α and β. The α‐lineage of this protein is predominant in muscle tissue of cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes), while β‐PV is abundant in muscle tissue of bony fish (Osteichthyes). The low incidence of allergic reactions to ingested rays and sharks is likely due to the lack of molecular similarity, resulting in reduced immunological cross‐reactivity between the two PV lineages. Structurally and physiologically, both protein lineages are very similar; however, the amino acid homology is very low with 47–54%. Furthermore, PV from ancient fish species such as the coelacanth demonstrates 62% sequence homology to leopard shark α‐PV and 70% to carp β‐PV. This indicates the extent of conservation of the PV isoforms lineages across millennia. This review highlights prevalence data on fish allergy and sensitization to fish, and details the molecular diversity of the two protein lineages of the major fish allergen PV among different fish groups, emphasizing the immunological and clinical differences in allergenicity.
Coordinating Domestic Legislation and International Agreements to Conserve Migratory Species: A Case Study from Australia
Authors: Runge Claire A. , Gallo‐Cajiao Eduardo , Carey Mark J. , Garnett Stephen T. , Fuller Richard A. , McCormack Phillipa C. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractMigratory movements of animals frequently span political borders and the need for international collaboration in the conservation of migratory species is well recognized. There is, however, less appreciation of the need for coordinated protection within nations. We explore consequences of multilevel governance for top‐down implementation of international agreements, drawing on examples from Australia and with reference to the United States and European Union. Coherent implementation of legislation and policy for migratory species can be challenging in federal jurisdictions where environmental law making can be split across multiple levels of governance and local and federal priorities may not necessarily be aligned. As a result of these challenges, for example, two‐thirds of Australian migratory birds remain unprotected under national legislation. In Australia and elsewhere, coordinated protection of migratory species can be implemented within the current framework of conservation law and policy by actions such as designating national migration areas, negotiating nationally coordinated agreements or listings of migratory species and pursuing new bilateral agreements with key countries along migratory routes.
The origins of developmental gene regulation
Authors: Arenas‐Mena César 
Published: January 2017

SUMMARYThe leap from simple unicellularity to complex multicellularity remains one of life's major enigmas. The origins of metazoan developmental gene regulatory mechanisms are sought by analyzing gene regulation in extant eumetazoans, sponges, and unicellular organisms. The main hypothesis of this manuscript is that, developmental enhancers evolved from unicellular inducible promoters that diversified the expression of regulatory genes during metazoan evolution. Promoters and enhancers are functionally similar; both can regulate the transcription of distal promoters and both direct local transcription. Additionally, enhancers have experimentally characterized structural features that reveal their origin from inducible promoters. The distal co‐operative regulation among promoters identified in unicellular opisthokonts possibly represents the precursor of distal regulation of promoters by enhancers. During metazoan evolution, constitutive‐type promoters of regulatory genes would have acquired novel receptivity to distal regulatory inputs from promoters of inducible genes that eventually specialized as enhancers. The novel regulatory interactions would have caused constitutively expressed genes controlling differential gene expression in unicellular organisms to become themselves differentially expressed. The consequence of the novel regulatory interactions was that regulatory pathways of unicellular organisms became interlaced and ultimately evolved into the intricate developmental gene regulatory networks (GRNs) of extant metazoans.
High warning colour polymorphism inHeliconiushybrid zone roosts
Authors: SHAAK STEVEN G. , COUNTERMAN BRIAN A. 
Published: January 2017

1. Communal roosting behaviour has been documented among a wide range of taxa, particularly among groups of butterflies that display warning colourations. These aggregations of conspecifics and/or other species that share mimetic warning colour patterns can have a large impact on predator learning, and thus the survival of an aposematic form. Yet there has been limited investigation of communal roosting within areas where new and diverse warning colour forms are generated, such as hybrid zones.2. Here, roosting behaviour was examined in aHeliconius eratohybrid zone inFrenchGuiana between races with divergent warning colourations on their wings. In this hybrid zone, native individuals with nine distinct warning colourations, as well as individuals with altered forms that are not native in theFrenchGuiana population, were marked and observed to determine if divergently coloured individuals participated in communal roosting, and if the proportions of colour pattern forms at roosts differed from the proportions that are found in the population.3. The results demonstrated that divergently coloured individuals of the same species, including altered, non‐native forms, will readily and repeatedly participate in nocturnal communal roosting, often with extreme fidelity to specific perch locations.4. These findings suggest that roosts composed of polymorphic warning patterns may be common in phenotypic transition zones, which could have major implications on predator training and selection dynamics in hybrid zones.
Fall‐related hospitalization in people with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Paul S. S. , Harvey L. , Canning C. G. , Boufous S. , Lord S. R. , Close J. C. T. , Sherrington C. 
Published: January 2017

Background and purposeFalls are common in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) but few data exist on fall‐related hospitalizations in this group. This population‐based study compared fall‐related hospital admissions, injury rates and consequences in people with and without PD, and determined whether PD was an independent predictor of fall‐related hospital length of stay.MethodsThis was a retrospective study using probabilistic linkage of hospital data in people aged ≥65 years hospitalized for a fall between 1 July 2005 and 31 December 2013 in New South Wales, Australia. Rates of hospital admissions and injuries per person admitted over the study period were compared between people with and without PD using Poisson or negative binomial regression. Multilevel linear modelling was used to analyse length of stay by clustering individuals and adjusting for possible confounders.ResultsThere were 342 265 fall‐related hospital admissions in people aged ≥65 years during the study period, of which 8487 (2.5%) were for people with PD. Sixty‐seven per cent of fall‐related PD admissions were associated with injury and 35% were associated with fracture. People with PD had higher rate ratios for fall admissions (1.63, 95% confidence interval 1.59–1.67) and injury (1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.43–1.51) and longer median length of stay [9 (interquartile range 1–27) vs. 6 (interquartile range 1–20) days in people without PD; P < 0.001]. PD remained associated with increased length of stay after controlling for comorbidity, age, sex and injury (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study provides important benchmark data for hospitalizations for falls and fall injuries for older people with PD, which may be used to monitor the effect of fall prevention programmes.
Biogeographical region and environmental conditions drive functional traits of estuarine fish assemblages worldwide
Authors: Henriques Sofia , Guilhaumon François , Villéger Sébastien , Amoroso Sandra , França Susana , Pasquaud Stéphanie , Cabral Henrique N , Vasconcelos Rita P 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAssessing trait–environment relationships is crucial for predicting effects of natural and human‐induced environmental change on biota. We compiled a global database of fish assemblages in estuaries, functional traits of fishes and ecosystem features of estuaries. And we quantified the relative importance of ecosystem features as drivers of patterns of fish functional traits among estuaries worldwide (i.e. drivers of the proportions of fish traits). In addition to biogeographical context, two main environmental gradients regulate traits patterns: firstly temperature, and secondly estuary size and hydrological connectivity of the estuary with the marine ecosystem. Overall, estuaries in colder regions, with larger areas and with higher hydrological connectivity with the marine ecosystem, have higher proportions of marine fish (versus freshwater), macrocarnivores and planktivores (versus omnivores, herbivores and detritivores) and larger fish, with greater maximum depth of distribution and longer lifespan. The observed trait patterns and trait–environment relationships are likely generated by multiple causal processes linked to physiological constraints due to temperature and salinity, size‐dependent biotic interactions, as well as habitat availability and connectivity. Biogeographical context and environmental conditions drive species richness and composition, and present results show that they also drive assemblage traits. The observed trait patterns and trait–environment relationships suggest that assemblage composition is determined by the functional role of species within ecosystems. Conservation strategies should be coordinated globally and ensure protection of an array of estuaries that differ in ecosystem features, even if some of those estuaries do not support high species richness.
Morphological development and dry weight distribution of alfalfa cultivars varying in fall dormancy under a short‐term cultivation system
Authors: Lu Xiaoyan , Ji Shuren , Hou Chen , Shen Yixin 
Published: January 2017

AbstractNon‐dormant alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) has been cultivated successfully in the east central regions of China as a short‐term component of a forage‐grain rotation system, but it remains unclear how shoots of alfalfa with different levels of fall dormancy develop in this system. Five alfalfa cultivars with contrasting fall dormancy were sown in the field in Nanjing, China, in October 2012 and 2013, and were harvested three times in the following year. The number and dry weight of shoots that originated from crown (crown shoots) and axillary buds (axial shoots) were recorded at each harvest. The results were analyzed for dormant, semi‐dormant and non‐dormant cultivars over 2 years. At the first spring harvest, axial shoots accounted for an average of 18.3% of dry weight per plant and became the dominant shoot type during later harvests. Crown shoots accounted for 81.7% of plant dry weight in first harvest and the majority of dry weight per plant totaled over three harvests in all fall dormancy types. Fall dormancy had little effect on the relative proportion of crown and axial shoots in dry weight per plant, and the number of crown and axial shoots. Non‐dormant cultivars produced heavier individual crown and axial shoots, resulting in greater dry weight per plant at each harvest. Our results show that non‐dormant cultivars used in our study produce greater dry weight per plant under a short‐term cultivation system, primarily because they have greater dry weight of individual crown and axial shoots.
Plasma trough concentrations of darunavir/ritonavir and raltegravir in older patients with HIV‐1 infection
Authors: Calza L , Colangeli V , Magistrelli E , Bussini L , Conti M , Ramazzotti E , Mancini R , Viale P 
Published: January 2017

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to assess plasma concentrations of darunavir/ritonavir and raltegravir in older patients compared with younger patients with HIV‐1 infection.MethodsIn this observational, open‐label study, adult HIV‐infected out‐patients aged ≤ 40 years (younger patients) or ≥ 60 years (older patients) and treated with tenofovir/emtricitabine plus darunavir/ritonavir (800/100 mg daily) or raltegravir (400 mg twice daily) were asked to participate. The trough concentrations (Ctrough) of darunavir/ritonavir and raltegravir were assessed at steady state using a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)−tandem mass spectrometry method.ResultsA total of 88 HIV‐positive patients were enrolled in the study. Forty‐six patients were treated with darunavir/ritonavir, and 42 with raltegravir. The geometric mean plasma Ctrough (coefficient of variation) of raltegravir was comparable between the 19 older and 23 younger subjects: 106 ng/mL (151%) and 94 ng/mL (129%), respectively [geometric mean ratio (GMR) 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71–1.57; P = 0.087]. In contrast, the geometric mean plasma Ctrough of darunavir was significantly higher among the 21 older patients [2209 ng/mL (139%)] than among the 25 younger patients [1876 ng/mL (162%); GMR 1.56; 95% CI: 1.22–1.88; P = 0.004]. Similarly, the geometric mean Ctrough of ritonavir was significantly higher among older than among younger individuals.ConclusionsThe mean plasma Ctrough of darunavir and ritonavir was significantly higher in older patients than in younger patients with HIV‐1 infection, while the mean plasma level of raltegravir was comparable in the two groups. However, both regimens showed good tolerability in both younger and older subjects.
Specialist care of older adults with HIV infection in the UK: a service evaluation
Authors: Cresswell FV , Levett T 
Published: January 2017

ObjectivesThere is a clear trajectory towards cohort ageing in the UK. HIV infection is associated with an increased prevalence of traditionally age‐related comorbidities and geriatric syndromes. Some HIV services have been proactive in innovating models that cater for adapting needs. We aimed to describe how widespread this practice is and what form such services take.MethodsWe conducted an evaluation of the perceived need for and current provision of specialist ageing services, and the need for formal guidance on monitoring or treatment of older adults with HIV infection. A web‐based questionnaire was sent to the audit lead at every British HIV Association (BHIVA)‐registered HIV clinic.ResultsA total of 102 clinics responded, with a broad geographical spread. Five of the 102 clinics have a clinician with an interest in ageing. Two dedicated HIV ageing services exist, practising different models. A quarter (23 of 98; 23%) of clinics reported a need for an ageing service, with three in development. The majority (65 of 95; 68%) supported dedicated guidance for monitoring in older adults, but fewer (39 of 94; 41%) felt that dedicated guidance on treatment was necessary.ConclusionsWe identified two existing and three proposed HIV ageing services. Another 20 clinics (20%) reported an unmet need for a specialist ageing service, suggesting that complex older adults may pose a management challenge. This is the first survey of its kind to attempt to describe the current landscape and opinion around such services. HIV‐infected cohorts will continue to age and current models of care may be insufficient, which should prompt services, their users and commissioners to consider what models may best fit current and future demand.