bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Solo: an open source, customizable and inexpensive audio recorder for bioacoustic research
Authors: Whytock Robin C. , Christie James 
Published: October 2016

Summary

Audio recorders are widely used in terrestrial and marine ecology and are essential for studying many cryptic or elusive taxa. Although several commercial systems are available, they are often expensive and are rarely user‐serviceable or easily customized.

Here, we present the Solo audio recorder. Units are constructed from the Raspberry Pi single board computer and run easy‐to‐install and freely available software. We provide an example configuration costing £167 (£83 excluding suggested memory card and battery), which records audible sound continuously for c. 40 days. We also provide a video tutorial showing hardware assembly and documentation is available via a supporting website.

The Solo recorder has been extensively field tested in temperate and tropical regions, with over 50 000 h of audio collected to date. This highly customizable and inexpensive system could greatly increase the scale and ease of conducting bioacoustic studies.
LIN‐28 balances longevity and germline stem cell number in Caenorhabditis elegans through let‐7/AKT/DAF‐16 axis
Authors: Wang Dan , Hou Lei , Nakamura Shuhei , Su Ming , Li Fang , Chen Weiyang , Yan Yizhen , Green Christopher D. , Chen Di , Zhang Hong , Antebi Adam , Han Jing‐Dong J. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryThe RNA‐binding protein LIN‐28 was first found to control developmental timing in Caenorhabditis elegans. Later, it was found to play important roles in pluripotency, metabolism, and cancer in mammals. Here we report that a low dosage of lin‐28 enhanced stress tolerance and longevity, and reduced germline stem/progenitor cell number in C. elegans. The germline LIN‐28‐regulated microRNA let‐7 was required for these effects by targeting akt‐1/2 and decreasing their protein levels. AKT‐1/2 and the downstream DAF‐16 transcription factor were both required for the lifespan and germline stem cell effects of lin‐28. The pathway also mediated dietary restriction induced lifespan extension and reduction in germline stem cell number. Thus, the LIN‐28/let‐7/AKT/DAF‐16 axis we delineated here is a program that plays an important role in balancing reproduction and somatic maintenance and their response to the environmental energy level—a central dogma of the ‘evolutionary optimization’ of resource allocation that modulates aging.
Is Alcoholics Anonymous religious, spiritual, neither? Findings from 25 years of mechanisms of behavior change research
Authors: Kelly John F. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractBackgroundAlcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a world‐wide recovery mutual‐help organization that continues to arouse controversy. In large part, concerns persist because of AA's ostensibly quasi‐religious/spiritual orientation and emphasis. In 1990 the United States’ Institute of Medicine called for more studies on AA's effectiveness and its mechanisms of behavior change (MOBC) stimulating a flurry of federally funded research. This paper reviews the religious/spiritual origins of AA and its program and contrasts its theory with findings from this latest research.MethodLiterature review, summary and synthesis of studies examining AA's MOBC.ResultsWhile AA's original main text (‘the Big Book’, 1939) purports that recovery is achieved through quasi‐religious/spiritual means (‘spiritual awakening’), findings from studies on MOBC suggest this may be true only for a minority of participants with high addiction severity. AA's beneficial effects seem to be carried predominantly by social, cognitive and affective mechanisms. These mechanisms are more aligned with the experiences reported by AA's own larger and more diverse membership as detailed in its later social, cognitive and behaviorally oriented publications (e.g. Living Sober, 1975) written when AA membership numbered more than a million men and women.ConclusionsAlcoholics Anonymous appears to be an effective clinical and public health ally that aids addiction recovery through its ability to mobilize therapeutic mechanisms similar to those mobilized in formal treatment, but is able to do this for free over the long term in the communities in which people live.
An experimental demonstration of the impact of predation on sexual segregation and primary sex ratios among ungulates
Authors: O'Kane Christopher A. J. , Macdonald David W. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractUnderlying mechanisms of sexual segregation among ungulates, and Trivers and Willard's hypothesis that mothers can influence primary sex ratios, continue to be topical theoretical issues. Over 2 years, using monthly repeated road transects, we determined the habitat and social segregation of male vs. female impala (Aepyceros melampus) and kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in a predator‐free, vs. a predator‐laden, South African reserve. We also determined, by the same technique but over 4 years, the primary sex ratio of the impala population free from predation. Significant overlap in habitat usage (Schoener's Index 0.63–0.8) was found between the two sexes when free from predation, but not (Schoener's Index 0.46–0.47) when under predation. While occupying the same habitats impala, kudu and wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) male and female groups maintained rigid social segregation throughout the year, even when at close quarters. Impala primary sex ratios were significantly biased towards females (male/female = 0.72; χ² = 4.3175, d.f. = 1, P‐value = 0.038) in the absence of predation. Our findings suggest that while risk of predation is a proximal cause of sexual segregation, thus lending support to the predator‐risk hypothesis, the underlying, functional mechanism of sexual segregation is the difference in the activity budgets of males vs. females (the activity‐budget hypothesis). Our findings also suggest that mothers may indeed be able to adjust primary sex ratios, with the postulated driver in this case being an abnormally high density of adult males.
A case of nodular subungual melanoma without Hutchinson's nail sign
Authors: Nojima Kohei , Namiki Takeshi , Tokoro Shown , Miura Keiko , Yokozeki Hiroo 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAn early and accurate diagnosis is critical for the optimal management of subungual melanoma; the absence of Hutchinson's nail sign makes an accurate diagnosis extremely difficult. Previous publications show that most subungual melanomas have Hutchinson's nail sign. In this report, we present a rare case of a subungual melanoma without Hutchinson's nail sign and discuss the importance of cautious evaluations of Hutchinson's nail sign by dermoscopy.
Is HLA‐E a possible genetic marker relevant for natural conception?
Authors: Gelmini Georgia Fernanda , Costa Cynthia Hernandes , Nardi Fabiola da Silva , Wowk Pryscilla Fanini , Mattar Sibelle Botogosque , Schuffner Alessandro , Bicalho Maria da Graça , Roxo Valéria Maria Munhoz Sperandio 
Published: October 2016

BackgroundHLA‐E products, class Ib human leukocyte antigens, act in the immunology of human reproduction as modulators of the maternal immune system during pregnancy.AimsTo evaluate HLA‐E role in the establishment of a viable pregnancy.Materials & MethodsHLA‐E was genotyped by sequence‐based typing (SBT) and analyzed for specific polymorphisms, comparing couples who underwent assisted reproduction treatment (ART) and fertile control couples.ResultsThere was a significant difference in HLA‐E allele and genotype distributions between ART couples and control couples. The allele HLA‐E*01:03 was observed in 63.2% of ART men and in 35.1% of fertile men (P = 0.0032).ConclusionThese results suggest that HLA‐E allelic variants may play a role in the modulation of immune responses in the context of the inability of natural conception and establishment of a viable pregnancy.
New opportunities and challenges in the assessment of drugs for atopic diseases
Authors: Bieber T. , Vieths S. , Broich K. 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAtopic conditions (atopic dermatitis, rhinitis, and asthma) belong to the most common noncommunicable diseases and are driven by chronic inflammatory reactions. They have a strong impact on the quality of life and represent a substantial and growing socio‐economic burden. Interestingly, there is an increasing interest in the development of new therapeutic options with a number of biologics and small molecules targeting potential key mechanisms in atopic conditions. However, besides the safety issue, most of the new active substances are still evaluated according to the traditional efficacy paradigm focusing on the success in treating exacerbations and flares. Instead, the future approaches in drug development and assessment should rather concentrate on the long‐term control of these diseases and consider their potential as disease‐modifying strategies in the era of precision medicine. To reach this goal, a number of unsolved issues have to be addressed and consensually accepted by the stakeholders in this field. Thus, a successful and rapid development of new treatments requests a paradigm shift and a new way of thinking in the mind of physicians, pharmaceutical industry, regulators, and HTAs. This seems mandatory in order to optimize drug development and to facilitate the accessibility of new therapies to the growing population of patients suffering from atopic conditions on a global level.
A randomised controlled trial comparing the effects of propofol with isoflurane in patients with diastolic dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Authors: Ammar A. , Mahmoud K. , Elkersh A. , Kasemy Z. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryThere is a strong association between pre‐operative diastolic dysfunction and difficulty in weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. We compared the effects of propofol and isoflurane on left ventricular diastolic function in patients with pre‐existing diastolic dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. We randomly allocated 60 patients to receive either propofol or isoflurane anaesthesia, and assessed left ventricular diastolic function using transoesophageal echocardiography. We measured early (E), late (A) diastolic velocities, E/A ratio, A‐wave duration and deceleration time using pulsed wave Doppler, and early (Em), late (Am) diastolic velocities of the mitral annulus, Em/Am ratio and isovolumetric relaxation time using tissue Doppler. We measured pulmonary venous flow velocity and recorded values for the peak systolic flow velocity (S), peak diastolic flow velocity (D), S/D ratio, peak reverse atrial flow velocity and duration of reverse atrial flow. All data were recorded immediately after tracheal intubation as a baseline, 5 min before sternotomy (T1), 5 min before aortic cannulation (T2) and 15 min after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (T3). Both propofol and isoflurane improved left ventricular diastolic function as evidenced by significant increases in E/A ratios, and significant decreases in deceleration time and isovolumetric relaxation time; the improvement was greater in the isoflurane group (between groups, p = 0.001 for both E/A ratio and deceleration time at T1 and T2 and p = 0.006 for isovolumetric relaxation time at both T1 and T2). Furthermore, Em/Am ratio, S, D and S/D ratios were significantly better in the isoflurane group. The administration of isoflurane during cardiac surgery improves diastolic function comparatively more than propofol.
Remifentanil tolerance and hyperalgesia: short‐term gain, long‐term pain?
Authors: Yu E. H. Y. , Tran D. H. D. , Lam S. W. , Irwin M. G. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryThe unique pharmacology of remifentanil makes it a popular intra‐operative analgesic. Short‐acting opioids like remifentanil have been associated with acute opioid tolerance and/or opioid‐induced hyperalgesia, two phenomena which have different mechanisms and are pharmacologically distinct. Clinical studies show heterogeneity of remifentanil infusion regimens, durations of infusion, maintenance of anaesthesia, cumulative dose of remifentanil and pain measures, which makes it difficult to draw conclusions about the incidence of acute tolerance or hyperalgesia. However, it appears that intra‐operative remifentanil infusion rates of above 0.25 μg.kg−1.min−1 are associated with higher postoperative opioid consumption, suggesting tolerance. Infusion rates greater than 0.2 μg.kg−1.min−1 are characterised by lower mechanical/pressure/cold/pain thresholds, which suggests hyperalgesia. The use of concurrent multimodal analgesia, especially N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor antagonists, may be an effective preventive strategy. The clinical significance and long‐term consequences of these entities is still uncertain.
A radiologic and anatomic assessment of injectate spread following transmuscular quadratus lumborum block in cadavers
Authors: Adhikary S. D. , El‐Boghdadly K. , Nasralah Z. , Sarwani N. , Nixon A. M. , Chin K. J. 
Published: October 2016

SummaryWe performed bilateral transmuscular quadratus lumborum blocks in six cadavers using iodinated contrast and methylene blue. Computed tomography imaging was performed in four cadavers and anatomical dissection was completed in five. This demonstrated spread to the lumbar paravertebral space in 63% of specimens, laterally to the transversus abdominis muscle in 50% and caudally to the anterior superior iliac spine in 63% of specimens. There was no radiographic evidence of spread to the thoracic paravertebral space. Anatomical dissection revealed dye staining of the upper branches of the lumbar plexus and the psoas major muscle in 70% of specimens. Further clinical studies are required to confirm if the quadratus lumborum block might be a suitable alternative to lumbar plexus block.
Trefoil factor peptide 3 is positively correlated with the viscoelastic properties of the cervical mucus plug
Authors: Bastholm Sara K. , Samson Mie H. , Becher Naja , Hansen Lea K. , Stubbe Peter R. , Chronakis Ioannis S. , Nexo Ebba , Uldbjerg Niels 
Published: October 2016

AbstractIntroductionThe viscoelastic properties of the cervical mucus plug are considered essential for the occlusion of the cervical canal and thereby for protection against ascending infections during pregnancy. Factors controlling this property are virtually unknown. This study explores a possible role of trefoil factor peptides 1, 2 and 3 (TFF1–3); peptides believed to influence mucus viscosity.Material and methodsThe study is based on spontaneously shed cervical mucus plugs from 14 women in active labor. The viscoelastic properties; the elastic modulus (G') and the viscous modulus (G”) were determined by an oscillatory rheometer. The concentrations of TFF1–3 were measured by an in‐house enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Associations were analyzed by random‐effects generalized least‐squares regression analyses.ResultsMedian (range) concentrations of TFF1, TFF2 and TFF3 were 3.1 (1.2–8.6), 1.1 (<0.006–3.7) and 1000 (170–5300) nmol/g cervical mucus plug, respectively. The TFF3 concentration was associated with G' (regression coefficient 11.7 Pa/Log nm; 95% CI 3.0–20.4, p = 0.009) and G” (regression coefficient 3.2 Pa/Log nm; 95% CI 1.5–5.0, p < 0.001).ConclusionWe suggest that TFF3 plays a role in the viscoelastic properties of the cervical mucus plug.
Physician‐assisted dying for children is conceivable for most Dutch paediatricians, irrespective of the patient's age or competence to decide
Authors: Bolt Eva Elizabeth , Flens Eva Quirien , Pasman H. Roeline Willemijn , Willems Dick , Onwuteaka‐Philipsen Bregje Dorien 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAimPaediatricians caring for severely ill children may receive requests for physician‐assisted dying (PAD). Dutch euthanasia law only applies to patients over 12 who make well‐considered requests. These limitations have been widely debated, but little is known about paediatricians' positions on PAD. We explored the situations in which paediatricians found PAD conceivable and described the roles of the patient and parents, the patient's age and their life expectancy.MethodsWe sent a questionnaire to a national sample of 276 Dutch paediatricians and carried out semi‐structured interviews with eight paediatricians.ResultsThe response rate was 62%. Most paediatricians said performing PAD on request was conceivable (81%), conceivability was independent of the patient's age and whether the patient or parent(s) requested it. The paediatricians interviewed felt a duty to relieve suffering, irrespective of the patient's age or competency to decide. When this was not possible through palliative care, PAD was seen as an option for all patients who were suffering unbearably, although some paediatricians saw parental agreement and reduced life expectancy as prerequisites.ConclusionMost Dutch paediatricians felt PAD was conceivable, even under the age of 12 if requested by the parents. They seemed driven by a sense of duty to relieve suffering.
Prevalence of probable posttraumatic stress disorder and determination of its relationship with everyday functioning in children and adolescents by using generalized estimating equations
Authors: Zhang Ye , Zhang Jun , Zhu Shenyue , Du Changhui , Zhang Wei 
Published: October 2016

AbstractIntroductionWe investigated the prevalence rates for probable PTSD and used generalized estimating equations to identify risk factors for probable PTSD in children and adolescents exposed to the Lushan earthquake.MethodsA total of 1623 participants completed 3 assessments, including the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale, at 2 weeks, 3, and 6 months after experiencing the Lushan earthquake. Additionally, demographic variables and variables related to everyday functioning were evaluated at 2 weeks after the earthquake via a self‐constructed questionnaire.ResultsThe percentages of children and adolescents who changed from having no PTSD to probable PTSD and probable PTSD to no PTSD at each time point were approximately 8% and 20% of the sample, respectively. The percentage of participants without PTSD increased from 41.1% at the 2‐week to 3‐month time point to 54.3% at the 3‐month to 6‐month time point, and the percentage with persistent probable PTSD decreased from 29.6% to 16.4% at the 2 time points, respectively. Female gender, a sedentary lifestyle, and actively helping others were significant risk factors for probable PTSD, whereas initiating communications with others, actively playing with classmates and friends, and the ability to concentrate on academic studies after resuming class were factors that helped protect against probable PTSD.DiscussionResistance to PTSD and persistent PTSD symptoms were both common occurrences in child and adolescent survivors. Specific variables related to everyday functioning may be risk factors for probable PTSD. These findings have implications for agencies that provide mental health services after an earthquake.
Effects of different rearing systems on growth, small intestinal morphology and selected indices of fermentation status in broilers
Authors: Li Jianhui , Miao Zhiqiang , Tian Wenxia , Yang Yu , Wang Jundong , Yang Ying 
Published: October 2016

AbstractA 3×2 factorial experiment was conducted to determine the effects of rearing system and stocking density on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and fermentation status of broilers. Broilers were kept on three rearing systems: floor litter rearing (FRS), plastic net rearing (NRS) and multilayer cage rearing system (CRS), each with two stocking densities (normal and high stocking densities). Results showed that on 7 to 28 days of age, body weight gain appeared as FRS > NRS > CRS. Whereas, CRS significantly enhanced the weight gain of broilers compared with the other systems subsequently. Broilers on FRS had higher counts of cecum Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli at 28 days of age but had more Escherichia coli and less Bifidobacteria than CRS at 42 days of age. The FRS also decreased volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and jejunal villus height‐to‐crypt depth ratio at all ages. In conclusion, FRS appeared to benefit gut microorganisms during the early growing period along with high body weight gain of broilers, whereas this system might have a harmful effect on subsequent intestinal growth, as indicated by high E. coli, low Bifidobacteria count, low VFA concentration and villus height‐to‐crypt depth ratio along with low weight gain of broilers.
HAS‐BLED Predicts Warfarin Control in Australian Patients treated for Deep Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Mueller Kylie , Bernaitis Nijole , Badrick Tony , Anoopkumar‐Dukie Shailendra 
Published: October 2016

AbstractThe HAS‐BLED model is widely utilized to assess patients' bleed risk prior to anticoagulant therapy including warfarin. Some of the variables assessed in the model are also known to influence warfarin control, commonly measured by time in therapeutic range (TTR). The aim of the study was to determine whether the HAS‐BLED risk tool is a good predictor of bleed risk and warfarin control in deep vein thrombosis (DVT) patients. Retrospective data were collected for DVT warfarin care patients at Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology. Data included age, medical history and concurrent drug therapy to calculate HAS‐BLED scores. INR results were used to calculate TTR with the Rosendaal method and mean TTR used for analysis and comparison. The eligible 533 patients had a mean TTR of 78.3%. Categorization according to HAS‐BLED score resulted in 150 patients classified as low‐risk, 331 as moderate‐risk and 52 as high‐risk with a haemorrhagic incidence per patient of 0.08, 0.53 and 0.54, respectively. Patients in the low‐, moderate‐ and high‐risk HAS‐BLED categories had a mean TTR of 81%, 79% and 65%, respectively, with significant differences (p < 0.001) found in TTR between the low‐ and high‐risk and moderate‐ and high‐risk categories. In an Australian DVT population, the HAS‐BLED score accurately predicts decreasing warfarin control with increasing risk category, and patients with scores ≥3 achieve poor control as indicated by a TTR <70%. In addition to predicting bleed risk, the HAS‐BLED tool may also predict the potential benefit of warfarin treatment and hence influence choice of anticoagulant therapy.
Repression of MicroRNA‐372 by Arsenic Sulphide Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration through Regulation of large tumour suppressor kinase 2
Authors: Cao Hongwen , Feng Yigeng , Chen Lei 
Published: October 2016

AbstractAs the main component of realgar, arsenic sulphide (As4S4) contains antitumour activity by repressing cancer cell proliferation and migration in many tumours. However, the detailed mechanism of these processes is not clear yet. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can function as tumour suppressor or oncogene based on their target mRNAs in different tumour tissues. Here, we found that As4S4 could repress the overexpression of microRNA‐372 (miR‐372) in two prostate cancer cell lines and its overexpression promoted cell proliferation and migration. Large tumour suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) was confirmed as a direct target of miR‐372 using luciferase assays in these two prostate cancer cell lines. Down‐regulation of LATS2 could promote prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration just as overexpression of miR‐372 did and overexpression of LATS2 could reverse this effect of miR‐372. The antitumour activity of As4S4 and the oncogenic function of miR‐372 were further confirmed using a mouse xenograft model. Altogether, our data showed evidence that repressing the overexpression of miR‐372 by As4S4 could inhibit prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration by targeting LATS2. Therefore, miR‐372 may be a possible biomarker for the prediction of prostate cancer and As4S4 may have potential therapeutic function for prostate cancer.