bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of the standardized ileal digestible valine : lysine ratio on performance, milk composition and plasma indices of lactating sows
Authors: Xu Yetong , Zeng Zhikai , Xu Xiao , Tian Qiyu , Ma Xiaokang , Long Shenfei , Piao Meijing , Cheng Zhibin , Piao Xiangshu 
Published: December 2016

AbstractTo determine the effects of standardized ileal digestible (SID) valine : lysine ratio on the performance, milk composition and plasma indices of lactating sows, 32 Large White × Landrace sows (219.78 ± 7.15 kg body weight; parity 1.82 ± 0.62) were allotted to one of four dietary treatments with eight sows per treatment based on parity, back fat thickness and body weight. The sows were fed corn‐soybean meal‐based diets containing 63, 83, 103 or 123% SID valine : lysine from day 107 of gestation until day 28 of lactation. The average daily feed intake of sows and daily weight gain of piglets increased linearly (P < 0.05) while back fat loss decreased linearly (P < 0.05) as the SID valine : lysine ratio increased. All of the analyzed amino acids in sow colostrum and valine concentrations of sow and piglet plasma increased linearly (P < 0.05) with the increasing SID valine : lysine ratio. In conclusion, 88 and 113% dietary SID valine : lysine ratios were optimal to achieve minimum back fat loss and maximum piglet growth rate using a linear‐break point model which exceeds the requirement of 85% that is estimated by the National Research Council (2012).
Pharmacodynamic response profiles of anxiolytic and sedative drugs
Authors: Chen Xia , Broeyer Freerk , de Kam Marieke , Baas Joke , Cohen Adam , van Gerven Joop 
Published: December 2016

AimCentrally‐acting acutely anxiolytic drugs, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates and gabapentinoids, affect various central nervous system (CNS) functions, which reflects not only their anxiolytic effects but also neuropsychological side‐effects. To validate the pharmacodynamic biomarkers for GABA‐ergic anxiolytics, this study determined the pharmacodynamics of two anxiolytics and a nonanxiolytic control, and linked them to their anxiolytic and sedative effects, during an anxiety‐challenge study day.MethodsTwenty healthy volunteers were randomized in this placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, four‐way cross‐over study with single‐dose alprazolam (1 mg), diphenhydramine (50 mg), pregabalin (200 mg) or placebo. The Neurocart was used between repeated fear‐potentiated startle assessments. Thus, the potential influence of anxiety on CNS pharmacodynamic markers could be examined.ResultsCompared to placebo, VAScalmness increased with alprazolam (2.0 mm) and pregabalin (2.5 mm) but not with diphenhydramine. Saccadic peak velocity (SPV) declined after alprazolam (−57 ° s–1) and pregabalin (−28 ° s–1), more than with diphenhydramine (−14 ° s–1); so did smooth pursuit. The average responses of SPV and smooth pursuit were significantly correlated with the drug‐induced increases in VAScalmness. The SPV‐relative responses of VASalertness, body‐sway and adaptive‐tracking also differed among alprazolam, pregabalin and diphenhydramine.ConclusionsCompared with the antihistaminergic sedative diphenhydramine, alprazolam and pregabalin caused larger SPV reduction, which was correlated with simultaneous improvement of subjective calmness, during a study day in which anxiety was stimulated repeatedly. The different effect profiles of the three drugs are in line with their pharmacological distinctions. These findings corroborate the profiling of CNS effects to demonstrate pharmacological selectivity, and further support SPV as biomarker for anxiolysis involving GABA‐ergic neurons. The study also supports the use of prolonged mild threat to demonstrate anxiolytic effects in healthy volunteers.
Relaxin family peptides: structure–activity relationship studies
Authors: Patil Nitin A , Rosengren K Johan , Separovic Frances , Wade John D , Bathgate Ross A D , Hossain Mohammed Akhter 
Published: December 2016

The human relaxin peptide family consists of seven cystine‐rich peptides, four of which are known to signal through relaxin family peptide receptors, RXFP1–4. As these peptides play a vital role physiologically and in various diseases, they are of considerable importance for drug discovery and development. Detailed structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies towards understanding the role of important residues in each of these peptides have been reported over the years and utilized for the design of antagonists and minimized agonist variants. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the SAR of human relaxin 2 (H2 relaxin), human relaxin 3 (H3 relaxin), human insulin‐like peptide 3 (INSL3) and human insulin‐like peptide 5 (INSL5).Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc
Sitagliptin reduces inflammation, fibrosis and preserves diastolic function in a rat model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Esposito Grazia , Cappetta Donato , Russo Rosa , Rivellino Alessia , Ciuffreda Loreta Pia , Roviezzo Fiorentina , Piegari Elena , Berrino Liberato , Rossi Francesco , De Angelis Antonella , Urbanek Konrad 
Published: December 2016

Background and PurposeHeart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a systemic syndrome driven by co‐morbidities, and its pathophysiology is poorly understood. Several studies suggesting that dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) might be involved in the pathophysiology of heart failure have prompted experimental and clinical investigations of DPP4 inhibitors in the cardiovascular system. Here we have investigated whether the DPP4 inhibitor sitagliptin affected the progression of HFpEF independently of its effects on glycaemia.Experimental ApproachSeven‐week‐old Dahl salt‐sensitive rats were fed a high‐salt diet for 5 weeks to induce hypertension. Then the rats continued with the high‐salt diet and were treated with either sitagliptin (10 mg·kg−1) or vehicle for the following 8 weeks. Blood pressure and cardiac function were measured in vivo. Histochemical and molecular biology analyses of myocardium were used to assay cytokines, fibrotic markers, DPP4 and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1)/GLP‐1 receptor.Key ResultsTreatment with sitagliptin attenuated diastolic dysfunction, reduced mortality and reduced cardiac DPP4 activity, along with increased circulating GLP‐1 and myocardial expression of GLP‐1 receptors. Myocardial levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐6 and CCL2) were reduced. Sitagliptin treatment decreased the levels of endothelial NOS monomer, responsible for generation of ROS, while the amount of NO‐producing dimeric form increased. Markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress were decreased. Moreover, increased collagen deposition and activation of pro‐fibrotic signalling, inducing elevated myocardial stiffness, were attenuated by sitagliptin treatment.Conclusions and ImplicationsSitagliptin positively modulated active relaxation and passive diastolic compliance by decreasing inflammation‐related endothelial dysfunction and fibrosis, associated with HFpEF.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed section on Targeting Inflammation to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.22/issuetoc and http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.v82.4/issuetoc
Effects of economics and demographics on global fisheries sustainability
Authors: Ding Qi , Wang Yali , Chen Xinjun , Chen Yong 
Published: December 2016

AbstractA good understanding of social factors that lead to marine ecological change is important to developing sustainable global fisheries. We used balanced panel models and conducted cross‐national time‐series analyses (1970–2010) of 122 nations to examine how economic prosperity and population growth affected the sustainability of marine ecosystems. We used catches in economic exclusive zone (EEZ); mean trophic level of fishery landings (MTL); primary production required to sustain catches (expressed as percentage of local primary production [%PPR]); and an index of ecosystem overfishing (i.e., the loss in secondary production index [L index]) as indicators of ecological change in marine ecosystems. The EEZ catch, %PPR, and L index declined gradually after gross domestic product (GDP) per capita reached $15,000, $14,000, and $19,000, respectively, and MTL increased steadily once GDP per capita exceeded $20,000. These relationships suggest that economic growth and biodiversity conservation are compatible goals. However, increasing human populations would degrade marine ecosystems. Specifically, a doubling of human population caused an increase in the %PPR of 17.1% and in the L index of 0.0254 and a decline in the MTL of 0.176. A 1% increase in human population resulted in a 0.744% increase in EEZ catch. These results highlight the importance of considering social and economic factors in developing sustainable fisheries management policy.
Perceptual narrowing towards adult faces is a cross‐cultural phenomenon in infancy: a behavioral and near‐infrared spectroscopy study with Japanese infants
Authors: Kobayashi Megumi , Macchi Cassia Viola , Kanazawa So , Yamaguchi Masami K. , Kakigi Ryusuke 
Published: December 2016

AbstractRecent data showed that, in Caucasian infants, perceptual narrowing occurs for own‐race adult faces between 3 and 9 months of age, possibly as a consequence of the extensive amount of social and perceptual experience accumulated with caregivers and/or other adult individuals of the same race of the caregiver. The neural correlates of this developmental process remain unexplored, and it is currently unknown whether perceptual tuning towards adult faces can be extended to other cultures. To this end, in the current study we tested the ability of 3‐ and 9‐month‐old Japanese infants to discriminate among adult and infant Asian faces in a visual familiarization task (Experiment 1), and compared 9‐month‐olds’ cerebral hemodynamic responses to adult and infant faces as measured by near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) (Experiment 2). Results showed that 3‐month‐olds exhibit above‐chance discrimination of adult and infant faces, whereas 9‐month‐olds discriminate adult faces but not infant faces (Experiment 1). Moreover, adult faces, but not infant faces, induced significant increases in hemodynamic responses in the right temporal areas of 9‐month‐old infants. Overall, our data suggest that perceptual narrowing towards adult faces is a cross‐cultural phenomenon occurring between 3 and 9 months of age, and translates by 9 months of age into a right‐hemispheric specialization in the processing of adult faces.
Relationship Lending and Firms’ Leverage: Empirical Evidence in Europe
Authors: Guida Roberto , Sabato Valentina 
Published: December 2016

AbstractUsing a novel measure of relationship lending based on the kind of information banks use to assess borrowers, we investigate the role of relationship lending in firms’ capital structure. Using a unique dataset of European manufacturing firms, we measure relationship lending based on three dimensions (closeness, soft information, exclusivity) and relate them to firms’ leverage. Overall our results support the hypothesis that supply factors matter. We find that the actual use of soft information increases leverage and only firms without soft information‐intensive relationships increase their leverage through multiple relationships. However, the effect of relationship lending on leverage varies across countries.
The effect of combined inositol hexakisphosphate and inositol supplement in streptozotocin‐induced type 2 diabetic rats
Authors: Foster Shadae R. , Omoruyi Felix O. , Bustamante Juan , Lindo Ruby L. A. , Dilworth Lowell L. 
Published: December 2016

SummaryInositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) and inositol both regulate insulin secretion, but their combined use in the management of diabetes deserves investigation. The combined effects of IP6 and inositol supplementation were investigated in streptozotocin‐induced type 2 diabetic rats. The following groups of rats were studied for 8 weeks: non‐diabetic control, non‐diabetic high‐fat diet control, diabetic untreated, diabetic rats treated with the combination of IP6 and inositol (650 mg/kg bw) and diabetic rats treated with glibenclamide (10 mg/kg bw). High‐fat diet and streptozotocin were used to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus in Sprague–Dawley rats. Body weight, blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin, insulin, serum leptin, HOMA‐insulin resistance scores, intestinal amylase activity, serum and faecal lipids and food and fluid consumption were measured. Treatment with the combination significantly reduced blood glucose (306 ± 53 mg/dl) and insulin resistance score (1.93 ± 0.45) compared with diabetic controls (522 ± 24 mg/dl and 5.1 ± 0.69 respectively). Serum leptin (2.8 ± 0.6 ng/dl) and faecal triglycerides (108 ± 8 mg/dl) were significantly increased in rats treated with the combination compared with the diabetic control (1.8 ± 0.06 ng/dl and 86 ± 4 mg/dl). Serum triglyceride (47 ± 5.1 mg/dl), total cholesterol (98 ± 3.2 mg/dl) and food intake (26 ± 0.3 g) were significantly reduced by 45%, 25% and 25%, respectively, in rats treated with the combination compared with the diabetic control. Inositol and IP6 combined supplementation may be effective in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and related metabolic disorders by regulating some aspects of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
Effects of air pollution exposure on glucose metabolism in Los Angeles minority children
Authors: Toledo‐Corral C. M. , Alderete T. L. , Habre R. , Berhane K. , Lurmann F. W. , Weigensberg M. J. , Goran M. I. , Gilliland F. D. 
Published: December 2016

SummaryObjectivesGrowing evidence indicates that ambient (AAP: NO2, PM2.5 and O3) and traffic‐related air pollutants (TRAP) contribute to metabolic disease risk in adults; however, few studies have examined these relationships in children.MethodsMetabolic profiling was performed in 429 overweight and obese African‐American and Latino youth living in urban Los Angeles, California. This cross‐sectional study estimated individual residential air pollution exposure and used linear regression to examine relationships between air pollution and metabolic outcomes.ResultsAAP and TRAP exposure were associated with adverse effects on glucose metabolism independent of body fat percent. PM2.5 was associated with 25.0% higher fasting insulin (p < 0.001), 8.3% lower insulin sensitivity (p < 0.001), 14.7% higher acute insulin response to glucose (p = 0.001) and 1.7% higher fasting glucose (p < 0.001). Similar associations were observed for increased NO2 exposure. TRAP from non‐freeway roads was associated with 12.1% higher insulin (p < 0.001), 6.9% lower insulin sensitivity (p = 0.02), 10.8% higher acute insulin response to glucose (p = 0.003) and 0.7% higher fasting glucose (p = 0.047).ConclusionsElevated air pollution exposure was associated with a metabolic profile that is characteristic of increased risk for type 2 diabetes. These results indicate that increased prior year exposure to air pollution may adversely affect type 2 diabetes‐related pathophysiology in overweight and obese minority children.
The Role of Agents and Brokers in the Market for Health Insurance
Authors: Karaca‐Mandic Pinar , Feldman Roger , Graven Peter 
Published: December 2016

AbstractHealth insurance markets in the United States are characterized by imperfect information, complex products, and substantial search frictions. Insurance agents and brokers play a significant role in helping employers navigate these problems. However, little is known about the relations between the structure of the agent/broker market and access and affordability of insurance. This article aims to fill this gap by investigating the influence of agents/brokers on health insurance offering decisions of small firms, which are particularly vulnerable to problems of financing health insurance. Using a unique membership database from the National Association of Health Underwriters together with a nationally representative survey of employers, we find that small firms in more competitive agent/broker markets are more likely to offer health insurance and at lower premiums. Moreover, premiums are less dispersed in more competitive agent/broker markets.
Associations of Trait Emotional Intelligence with Social Support, Work Engagement, and Creativity in Japanese Eldercare Nurses
Authors: Toyama Hiroyuki , Mauno Saija 
Published: December 2016

AbstractWork‐related resources can be positive antecedents of employee work engagement (WE) and creativity. Although trait emotional intelligence (EI) and social support may be crucial resources in nursing, their relationships with WE and creativity remain unclear. Hence, with special focus on the role of trait EI, we examined this relationship by applying the job demands‐resources (JD‐R) model. The participants were 489 eldercare nurses in Japan (female: n = 401; male: n = 88; age = 39.5 ± 11.0 years). The results showed positive associations between EI and the other studied variables. Furthermore, moderated mediation analyses revealed that higher trait EI enhanced the positive association among the triad of social support, WE, and creativity. The findings provide additional evidence that, in nurses, trait EI may be a noteworthy personal resource for creativity in the relationship between social support and WE.
Dental caries and associated factors in twins with Down syndrome: a case report
Authors: Moreira Maurício José Santos , Schwertner Carolina , Dall'Onder Ana Paula , Klaus Natália Mincato , Parolo Clarissa Cavalcanti Fatturi , Hashizume Lina Naomi 
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACTDown syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic disorder in humans, but its incidence in monozygotic twins is extremely rare. The aim of this study was to determine the factors associated with dental caries in a pair of monozygotic twin girls with DS, where one had caries experience and the other did not. Clinical examination, salivary Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) levels and their genotypic diversity, the biochemical composition of the dental biofilm, the frequency of sucrose consumption, and toothbrushing habits were assessed from the twin girls. Twin with caries experience showed higher levels of S. mutans in the saliva and lower concentrations of calcium, phosphate, and fluoride and higher concentrations of extracellular polysaccharides in the biofilm compared to her sister. Genotypic diversity of S. mutans was also higher in the twin with caries experience. Dental biofilm composition showed different patterns of cariogenicity between the two sisters, which may also by itself explain the difference in the dental caries between them.
Multi‐scale approach to mining significant spatial co‐location patterns
Authors: Deng Min , He Zhanjun , Liu Qiliang , Cai Jiannan , Tang Jianbo 
Published: December 2016

AbstractSpatial co‐location pattern mining aims to discover a collection of Boolean spatial features, which are frequently located in close geographic proximity to each other. Existing methods for identifying spatial co‐location patterns usually require users to specify two thresholds, i.e. the prevalence threshold for measuring the prevalence of candidate co‐location patterns and distance threshold to search the spatial co‐location patterns. However, these two thresholds are difficult to determine in practice, and improper thresholds may lead to the misidentification of useful patterns and the incorrect reporting of meaningless patterns. The multi‐scale approach proposed in this study overcomes this limitation. Initially, the prevalence of candidate co‐location patterns is measured statistically by using a significance test, and a non‐parametric model is developed to construct the null distribution of features with the consideration of spatial auto‐correlation. Next, the spatial co‐location patterns are explored at multi‐scales instead of single scale (or distance threshold) discovery. The validity of the co‐location patterns is evaluated based on the concept of lifetime. Experiments on both synthetic and ecological datasets show that spatial co‐location patterns are discovered correctly and completely by using the proposed method; on the other hand, the subjectivity in discovery of spatial co‐location patterns is reduced significantly.
Warm‐reactive (immunoglobulin G) autoantibodies and laboratory testing best practices: review of the literature and survey of current practice
Authors: Ziman Alyssa , Cohn Claudia , Carey Patricia M. , Dunbar Nancy M. , Fung Mark K. , Greinacher Andreas , Stanworth Simon , Heddle Nancy M. , Delaney Meghan ,   and the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative
Published: December 2016

BACKGROUNDWarm‐reactive autoantibodies (WAAs) are the most common cause of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and can also be present without clinically significant hemolysis. WAAs complicate immunohematological testing, yet there is no commonly accepted approach to laboratory evaluation and red blood cell (RBC) selection.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSWe searched PubMed/Cochrane Central for articles that described testing methodology and blood selection for patients with WAAs. We developed a 31‐question survey regarding local practice for immunohematology testing and RBC selection in patients with WAAs (with or without AIHA).RESULTSEighty‐six studies met the inclusion criteria and the aims of this review. Most of the literature was comprised of retrospective studies that often did not correlate laboratory results with clinical findings. Evidence‐based protocols to guide testing and RBC selection for transfusion in patients with WAAs are lacking. Individuals representing 54 laboratories completed the survey. The responses indicated that numerous methodologies are used to identify underlying alloantibodies: 75% of respondents use autoadsorption; in patients who have a recent history of transfusion, 76% of respondents use alloadsorption; 58% of respondents perform direct antiglobulin testing (DAT) each time the indirect antiglobulin test is positive; and 48% perform eluate studies at the initial identification of WAAs. Responding laboratories may use phenotyping (98%) or genotyping (80%) at some point in the work‐up. Seventy‐five percent of respondents provide phenotype‐matched or genotype‐matched RBCs for transfusion.CONCLUSIONThere is wide variability in immunohematology testing and RBC selection practices for patients who have WAAs (with or without AIHA). Future studies are needed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different testing algorithms and transfusion strategies.
Ciudadanía, representación política y territorio en la audiencia de Quito: entre el Pacto Solemne de 1812 y el censo poblacional de 1813
Authors: Cabrera Hanna Santiago 
Published: December 2016

<div class="page" title="Page 2"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><div class="page" title="Page 2"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><div class="page" title="Page 2"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><div class="page" title="Page 2"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><p><span>El artículo considera el Pacto Solemne promulgado por la Junta Superior de Gobierno de Quito, en 1812, y el censo dispuesto por Torivio Montes en 1813, como primer paso en la introducción de la Constitución de Cádiz en la audiencia de Quito, luego de la derrota del experimento juntista. Estos dos instrumentos normativos son apreciados en términos de los imaginarios de ciudadanía que forjaron y el tipo de representación política que intentaron instituir, en relación con la apelación al territorio como un elemento clave en las dinámicas institucionales de conformación de poderes locales con potenciales aspiraciones centralizadoras. Ambos instrumentos son considerados como herramientas de construcción de poderes centrales. </span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>