bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insect herbivory fluctuations through geological time
Authors: Pinheiro Esther R. S. , Iannuzzi Roberto , Duarte Leandro D. S. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractArthropods and land plants are the major macroscopic sources of biodiversity on the planet. Knowledge of the organization and specialization of plant–herbivore interactions, such as their roles in food webs is important for understanding the processes for maintaining biodiversity. A limited number of studies have examined herbivory through geological time. The most have analyzed localities from one restricted interval within a geological period, or a time transition such as the Paleocene–Eocene boundary interval. In the present study, we analyzed the frequency of herbivory and density of damage type (DT) from the Middle Devonian to the early Miocene. The data were compiled from literature sources and focused on studies that describe occurrences of leaves with DTs indicating herbivore consumption as a proportion of the total number of leaves analyzed. The data were standardized based on the DT categories in the Damage Type Guide, and the age of each locality was updated based on the most recent geochronological standard and expressed in millions of years. Temperature and geological age were the best descriptors of the variation in herbivory frequency, which tended to increase at higher temperatures. Two models were equivalent to explain DT density: the interaction between CO2 levels and geological age, and O2 levels and geological age had the same predictive power. The density of DT tended to increase with higher content of atmospheric CO2 and O2 compared to modern values. The frequency of herbivory and the density of DTs appear to be influenced by long‐term atmospheric variables.
Location, location, location: Variation in sensitivity to pain across the body
Authors: Tracy L.M. , Georgiou‐Karistianis N. , Gibson S.J. , Giummarra M.J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackgroundThere is evidence that sensitivity to noxious stimuli differs between the sexes and across the body, but few studies have investigated differences in the perception and experience of acute pain stimuli across the body in healthy individuals.MethodsWe recruited 52 healthy participants, aged 18–36 (50% men) and administered 39, 42 and 45 °C stimuli at four body sites bilaterally to examine differences in the experience of pain intensity and unpleasantness between body sites via an 11‐point numerical rating scale.ResultsNoxious and innocuous thermal heat stimuli were perceived as significantly more intense when delivered to the wrist (M = 3.98, SD = 1.93) and back (M = 4.07, SD = 1.98) compared to the shoulder (M = 3.45, SD = 1.91) and leg (M = 3.46, SD = 1.87). Pain unpleasantness ratings yielded similar findings; stimuli were perceived as more unpleasant when administered to the wrist (M = 2.83, SD = 1.93) and lower back (M = 3.04, SD = 2.11) compared to the shoulder (M = 2.63, SD = 1.85) and leg (M = 2.26, SD = 1.82).ConclusionsThese findings suggest that painful thermal stimuli delivered to the wrist and back are perceived as more intense and unpleasant compared with other body sites in healthy persons. These differences may be due to variations in receptor density, or the relative importance of these sites for daily living and survival.SignificanceMoreover, these insights are helpful for the design of studies investigating pain experience in healthy persons in experimental or clinical settings.What does this study add?

We tested sensitivity to acute suprathreshold thermal stimulations across a range of body sites to investigate for potential variability. We found significant differences in the perceived intensity and unpleasantness of noxious and innocuous thermal stimuli at the wrist and lower back, compared with the shoulder and leg. These results suggest that pain experience is driven by receptor density or the relative functional importance of these sites.
Conductivity Sensor for Real‐time Monitoring of Magnesium Corrosion under Cell Culture Conditions
Authors: Ojo Kolade , Kuhlmann Julia , Hopkins Tracy , Heineman William R. , Pixley Sarah K. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractDue to its ability to biodegrade in an aqueous, chloride‐containing environment, magnesium (Mg) metal, pure or as an alloy, has attracted significant interest in biomaterials research for use in biodegradable implants for bone repair and other applications. However, the interactions between Mg metal and surrounding cells and tissues as the metal resorbs need to be studied extensively to ensure adequate biocompatibility for each intended application. Cell death can result from high local concentrations of the soluble resorption products, which include Mg ions (Mg2+), alloying products, increased pH and hydrogen. Because these products are primarily ionic, we tested whether a conductivity sensor could be used to monitor Mg degradation by detecting changes in ionic strength in real time, in three physiologically appropriate fluids (a sodium chloride solution, phosphate buffered saline and a cell culture medium maintained under the standard conditions used for mammalian cell culture). Here we demonstrate that an electrochemical conductivity sensor, in combination with a pH sensor, recorded very different patterns of real‐time changes in the ionic environment created by Mg immersion and degradation in the three model electrolyte solutions, over a 48‐hour time period.
Extending the application of integral frame abutment bridges in earthquake‐prone areas by using novel isolators of recycled materials
Authors: Mitoulis Stergios A. , Palaiochorinou Anastasia , Georgiadis Ilias , Argyroudis Sotiris 
Published: May 2016

SummaryIntegral abutment bridges (IABs) are jointless structures without bearings or expansion joints which require minimum or zero maintenance. The barrier to the application of long‐span integral abutment bridges is the interaction of the abutment with the backfill soil during the thermal expansion and contraction of the bridge deck, that is, serviceability, or when the bridge is subjected to dynamic loads, such as earthquakes. The interaction of the bridge with the backfill leads to settlements and ratcheting of the soil behind the abutment and, as a result, the soil pressures acting on the abutment build up in the long term. This paper provides a solution for the aforementioned challenges by introducing a novel isolator that is a compressible inclusion of reused tyre‐derived aggregates placed between the bridge abutment and the backfill. The compressibility of typical tyre‐derived aggregates was measured by laboratory tests, and the compressible inclusion was designed accordingly. The compressible inclusion was then applied to a typical integral frame abutment model, which was subjected to static and dynamic loads representing in‐service and seismic loads correspondingly. The response of both the conventional and the isolated abutment was assessed based on the settlements of the backfill, the soil pressures and the actions of the abutment. The study of the isolated abutment showed that the achieved decoupling of the abutment from the backfill soil results in significant reductions of the settlements of the backfill and of the pressures acting on the abutment. Hence, the proposed research enables extending the length limits of integral frame bridges subjected to earthquake excitations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of proximate composition and sensory attributes of Clariid catfish species of Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis, and their hybrids
Authors: Olaniyi Wasiu A. , Makinde Olukayode A. , Omitogun Ofelia G. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractClariid catfish are favorite food fish especially in African and Asian continents. Recently there has been preference for particular species or hybrids of these species based on quality assurance and value addition. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the possible effect of different catfish species and their hybrids on proximate composition and sensory attributes. Catfish species, Clarias gariepinus (CC), Heterobranchus bidorsalis (HH), with their hybrid (CH), and reciprocal hybrid (HC) were evaluated for sensory variables – cognitive (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and recent characteristic taste ‘umami’) and qualitative (texture, aroma, flavor, and color) tests; and nutritional variables – proximate composition (moisture, protein, ether/fat, and ash). A 5‐point hedonic scale from ‘neutral/neither like nor dislike’ to ‘excellent/like extremely’ was employed in sensory testing. The results showed similar (P > 0.05) high moisture contents (>70%) in all species and high but different (P < 0.05) ash contents (11–14%) that suggested good sources of mineral elements. The parent species CC and HH had higher ash contents than CH or HC. The crude protein contents were high and similar (P > 0.05) across species (>57%). Fat or ether extract was different (P < 0.05) and tended to be higher for species with Clarias as the female parent than Heterobranchus. Sensory analysis showed the parent species, CC and HH, more favorably rated for sweet and umami than the hybrids, CH and HC. However, CH was less sour and bitter than all other species and HC better than CH for salty but similar to CC and HH. All fish species were very well liked for texture, but the parent species were superior in flavor than the hybrids. All species were very well liked for aroma, color, and overall acceptability except HC, which was moderately liked. HC rated inferior to the other species overall in sensory attributes. All the fish species did not rate ‘excellent/like extremely’ for any attribute. It can be concluded that the parent catfish species possess better sensory qualities than hybrids, but all species need exogenous enhancement to their natural sensory components.
Social perception of morbidity in facial nerve paralysis
Authors: Li Matthew Ka Ki , Niles Navin , Gore Sinclair , Ebrahimi Ardalan , McGuinness John , Clark Jonathan Robert 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTBackgroundThere are many patient‐based and clinician‐based scales measuring the severity of facial nerve paralysis and the impact on quality of life, however, the social perception of facial palsy has received little attention. The purpose of this pilot study was to measure the consequences of facial paralysis on selected domains of social perception and compare the social impact of paralysis of the different components.MethodFour patients with typical facial palsies (global, marginal mandibular, zygomatic/buccal, and frontal) and 1 control were photographed. These images were each shown to 100 participants who subsequently rated variables of normality, perceived distress, trustworthiness, intelligence, interaction, symmetry, and disability. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the results among each palsy.ResultsParalyzed faces were considered less normal compared to the control on a scale of 0 to 10 (mean, 8.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 8.30–8.86) with global paralysis (mean, 3.4; 95% CI = 3.08–3.80) rated as the most disfiguring, followed by the zygomatic/buccal (mean, 6.0; 95% CI = 5.68–6.37), marginal (mean, 6.5; 95% CI = 6.08–6.86), and then temporal palsies (mean, 6.9; 95% CI = 6.57–7.21). Similar trends were seen when analyzing these palsies for perceived distress, intelligence, and trustworthiness, using a random effects regression model.ConclusionOur sample suggests that society views paralyzed faces as less normal, less trustworthy, and more distressed. Different components of facial paralysis are worse than others and surgical correction may need to be prioritized in an evidence‐based manner with social morbidity in mind. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:1158–1163, 2016
Utility of up‐front transoral robotic surgery in tailoring adjuvant therapy
Authors: Gildener–Leapman Neil , Kim Jeehong , Abberbock Shira , Choby Garret W. , Mandal Rajarsi , Duvvuri Umamaheswar , Ferris Robert L. , Kim Seungwon 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to describe how the up‐front transoral robotic surgery (TORS) approach could be used to individually tailor adjuvant therapy based on surgical pathology.MethodsBetween January 2009 and December 2013, 76 patients received TORS for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Clinical predictors of adjuvant therapy were analyzed and comparisons were made between recommended treatment guidelines for up‐front surgery versus definitive nonsurgical approaches.ResultsAdvanced N classification, human papillomavirus (HPV)‐positive tumor, extracapsular spread (ECS; 26 of 76), perineural invasion (PNI; 14 of 76), and positive margins (7 of 76) were significant predictors of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (p < .05). Up‐front TORS deintensified adjuvant therapy; 76% of stage I/II and 46% of stage III/IV patients avoided CRT. Conversely, pathologic staging resulted in 33% of patients who would have received radiotherapy (RT) alone based on clinical staging, to be intensified to receive adjuvant CRT.ConclusionThe TORS approach deintensifies adjuvant therapy and provides valuable pathologic information to intensify treatment in select patients. TORS may be less effective in deintensification of adjuvant therapy in patients with clinically advanced N classification disease. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38:1201–1207, 2016
Delineating floodplain and upland areas for hydrologic models: a comparison of methods
Authors: Rathjens H. , Bieger K. , Chaubey I. , Arnold J. G. , Allen P. M. , Srinivasan R. , Bosch D. D. , Volk M. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA spatially distributed representation of basin hydrology and transport processes in hydrologic models facilitates the identification of critical source areas and the placement of management and conservation measures. Floodplains are critical landscape features that differ from neighbouring uplands in terms of their hydrological processes and functions. Accordingly, an important step in watershed modelling is the representation of floodplain and upland areas within a watershed. The aim of this study is (1) to evaluate four floodplain–upland delineation methods that use readily available topographic data (topographic wetness index, slope position, uniform flood stage, and variable flood stage) with regard to their suitability for hydrological models and (2) to introduce an evaluation scheme for the delineated landscape units. The methods are tested in three U.S. watersheds ranging in size from 334 to 629 km2 with different climatic, hydrological, and geomorphological characteristics. Evaluation of the landscape delineation methods includes visual comparisons, error matrices (i.e. cross‐tabulations of delineated vs reference data), and geometric accuracy metrics. Reference data were obtained from the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps. Results suggest that the slope position and the variable flood stage method work very well in all three watersheds. Overall percentages of floodplain and upland areas allocated correctly were obtained by comparing delineated and reference data. Values range from 83 to 93% for the slope position and from 80 to 95% for the variable flood stage method. Future studies will incorporate these two floodplain–upland delineation methods into the subwatershed‐based hydrologic model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to improve the representation of hydrological processes within floodplain and upland areas. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Secondary Teachers' Reflections From a Year of Professional Learning Related to Academic Language
Authors: Carter Hannah , Crowley Kimberly , Townsend Dianna R. , Barone Diane 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThis article explores the changing beliefs and practices of 25 secondary teachers participating in a yearlong professional learning (PL) partnership. To demonstrate differences in teachers' approaches to and understandings resulting from that PL, the authors looked more closely at three teachers and found that their ideas about academic language instruction and their related pedagogy progressed in ways that were consistent with the stated PL objectives. However, the teachers varied in the way they situated the learning within their practice. The cases presented highlight the aspects of PL that resonated most with the teachers participating in the yearlong initiative.
Cytotoxic and inflammatory responses of TiO2 nanoparticles on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Kongseng Supunsa , Yoovathaworn Krongtong , Wongprasert Kanokpan , Chunhabundit Rodjana , Sukwong Patinya , Pissuwan Dakrong 
Published: May 2016

AbstractTitanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2‐NPs) have been widely used in many applications. Owing to their nanoscale size, interactions between cells and NPs have been expansively investigated. With the health concerns raised regarding the adverse effects of these interactions, closer examination of whether TiO2‐NPs can induce toxicity towards human cells is greatly needed. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of TiO2‐NPs towards human blood cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs]) in serum‐free medium, for which there is little information regarding the cytotoxic effects of TiO2‐NPs. Our results provide evidence that PBMCs treated with TiO2‐NPs (at concentrations ≥25 μg ml−1) for 24 h significantly reduced cell viability and significantly increased production of toxic mediators such as reactive oxygen species and inflammatory response cytokines such as interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α (P < 0.05). Cell apoptosis induction also occurred at these concentrations. Significant expressions of cyclooxygenase‐2 and interleukin‐1β were also observed in PBMCs treated with TiO2‐NPs at concentrations ≥125 μg ml−1. Our data presented here clearly indicate that the concentration of TiO2‐NPs (at size ~26.4 ± 1.2 nm) applied to human blood cells has a strong impact on cytotoxic induction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparative study of two perfusion routes with different flow in decellularization to harvest an optimal pulmonary scaffold for recellularization
Authors: Wang Zhiyi , Wang Zhibin , Yu Qing , Xi Haitao , Weng Jie , Du Xiaohong , Chen Daqing , Ma Jianshe , Mei Jin , Chen Chan 
Published: May 2016

AbstractDecellularization processes may variably distort or degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) structure. In this study, two perfusion routes (PR) were tested on SD rat lung samples. One decellularization protocol, PR1, was perfused through the pulmonary artery. The other decellularization protocol, PR2, was perfused through the trachea. Both decellularization protocols were used by the same detergent‐based (sodium dodecyl sulphate and Triton X‐100) with different flow continuous perfusion. There was no visible difference in vessel architecture between PR1‐ and PR2‐decellularized scaffold. However, the airway structure and alveoli architecture of pulmonary decellularized scaffolds generated through PR2 at a flow rate of 8 mL/min were destroyed partly when compared to that in native lung and PR1‐decellularized scaffold. Ultramicroscopic assessment of scaffolds was similar in both protocols and showed filamentous ECM with preserved fiber disposition and structure. Histological analysis and immunostaining showed no detectable cells remaining in the pulmonary scaffolds compare with native lung. The DNA concentration was significantly reduced in the decellularized scaffolds compared to the native lungs. A549 cells reseeded onto decellularized pulmonary scaffolds were no significant difference between PR1 and PR2 in cell viability, p > 0.05. We conclude that under the same high flow velocity status, perfusion decellularization through the pulmonary artery may be an optimal pathway to obtain decellularized scaffolds for pulmonary regeneration. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2567–2575, 2016.
Multimodal and non‐linear optical microscopy applications in reproductive biology
Authors: Adur J. , Barbosa G.O. , Pelegati V.B. , Baratti M.O. , Cesar C.L. , Casco V.H. , Carvalho H.F. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTA plethora of optical techniques is currently available to obtain non‐destructive, contactless, real time information with subcellular spatial resolution to observe cell processes. Each technique has its own unique features for imaging and for obtaining certain biological information. However none of the available techniques can be of universal use. For a comprehensive investigation of biological specimens and events, one needs to use a combination of bioimaging methods, often at the same time. Some modern confocal/multiphoton microscopes provide simultaneous fluorescence, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and four‐dimensional imaging. Some of them can also easily be adapted for harmonic generation imaging, and to permit cell manipulation technique. In this work we present a multimodal optical workstation that extends a commercially available confocal microscope to include nonlinear/multiphoton microscopy and optical manipulation/stimulation tools. The nonlinear microscopy capabilities were added to the commercial confocal microscope by exploiting all the flexibility offered by the manufacturer. The various capabilities of this workstation as applied directly to reproductive biology are discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:567–582, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
T1ρ and T2‐based characterization of regional variations in intervertebral discs to detect early degenerative changes
Authors: Pandit Prachi , Talbott Jason F. , Pedoia Valentina , Dillon William , Majumdar Sharmila 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTLower back pain is one of the main contributors to morbidity and chronic disability in the United States. Despite the significance of the problem, it is still not well understood. There is a clear need for objective, non‐invasive biomarkers to localize specific pain generators and identify early stage changes to enable reliable diagnosis and treatment. In this study we focus on intervertebral disc degeneration as a source of lower back pain. Quantitative imaging markers T1ρ and T2 have been shown to be promising techniques for in vivo diagnosis of biochemical degeneration in discs due to their sensitivity to macromolecular changes in proteoglycan content and collagen integrity. We describe a semi‐automated technique for quantifying T1ρ and T2 relaxation time maps in the nucleus pulposus (NP) and the annulus fibrosus (AF) of the lumbar intervertebral discs. Compositional changes within the NP and AF associated with degeneration occur much earlier than the visually observable structural changes. The proposed technique rigorously quantifies these biochemical changes taking into account subtle regional variations to allow interpretation of early degenerative changes that are difficult to interpret with traditional MRI techniques and clinical subjective grading scores. T1ρ and T2 relaxation times in the NP decrease with degenerative severity in the disc. Moreover, standard deviation and texture measurements of these values show sharper and more significant changes during early degeneration compared to later degenerative stages. Our results suggest that future prospective studies should include automated T1ρ and T2 metrics as early biomarkers for disc degeneration‐induced lower back pain. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:1373–1381, 2016.