bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of dietary Chlorella vulgaris supplementation on micro‐organism community, enzyme activities and fatty acid profile in the rumen liquid of goats
Authors: Tsiplakou E. , Abdullah M. A. M. , Skliros D. , Chatzikonstantinou M. , Flemetakis E. , Labrou N. , Zervas G. 
Published: May 2016

SummaryMicroalgae might be considered as an alternative source of fat and/or protein for ruminant's diets. However, changes in populations of ruminal micro‐organisms associated with biohydrogenation process, methane and ammonia production in response to microalgae dietary supplementation have not been well characterized. Thus, 16 cross‐bred goats were divided into two groups. Each goat of both groups was fed individually with alfalfa hay and concentrates separately. The concentrates of the control group had no microalgae while those of the treated group were supplemented with 10 g lyophilized Chlorella vulgaris/kg concentrate (chlor). On the 30th experimental day, samples of rumen fluid were collected for microbial DNA extraction, fatty acid profile and enzyme activity analyses. The results showed that the chlor diet compared with the control increased significantly the populations of Methanosphaera stadtmanae, Methanobrevibacter ruminantium and Methanogens bacteria and protozoa in the rumen of goats. A significant reduction in the cellulase activity and in the abundance of Ruminococcus albus, and a significant increase in the protease activity and in the abundance of Clostridium sticklandii in the rumen liquid of goats fed with the chlor diet, compared with the control, were found. Chlorella vulgaris supplementation promoted the formation of trans C18:1, trans‐11 C18:1 and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), while the proportions of C18:0 and long‐chain fatty acids (LCFA) reduced significantly in the rumen liquid of goats. This shift in ruminal biohydrogenation pathway was accompanied by a significant increase in Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens trans C18:1‐producing bacteria. In conclusion, the supplementation of diets with microalgae needs further investigation because it enhances the populations of methane‐producing bacteria and protozoa.
Punishing Sex: Sex Offenders and the Missing Punitive Turn in Sexuality Studies
Authors: Hoppe Trevor 
Published: May 2016

At precisely the same time that gay and lesbian activists were securing marriage rights for same-sex couples nationwide, courts and “tough on crime” state legislatures were devising new ways to regulate sex. Despite recent estimates that over 750,000 Americans are registered sex offenders, few sexuality scholars have examined the growth of punitive policies regulating sex offenders. In this article, I draw on a unique set of data on the population of sex offenders in the United States to analyze: (1) whether recent trends in sex offender registration mirror those of corrections more generally, and (2) whether these policies disproportionally impact racial minorities. Findings reveal that sex offender registries grew dramatically between 2005 and 2013; that this growth is out of step with concurrent trends in corrections; and that black communities are disproportionately impacted. I conclude by considering whether these data reveal a new mode of “governing through crime” specifically targeting sex.

It might as well be admitted that sex is a disgrace.
Michael Warner (1999)
There is a big secret about sex: most people don't like it.
Leo Bersani (1987)
Achieving behaviour change at scale: Alive & Thrive's infant and young child feeding programme in Bangladesh
Authors: Sanghvi Tina , Haque Raisul , Roy Sumitro , Afsana Kaosar , Seidel Renata , Islam Sanjeeda , Jimerson Ann , Baker Jean 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe Alive & Thrive programme scaled up infant and young child feeding interventions in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2014. In all, 8.5 million mothers benefited. Approaches – including improved counselling by frontline health workers during home visits; community mobilization; mass media campaigns reaching mothers, fathers and opinion leaders; and policy advocacy – led to rapid and significant improvements in key practices related to breastfeeding and complementary feeding. (Evaluation results are forthcoming.) Intervention design was based on extensive formative research and behaviour change theory and principles and was tailored to the local context. The programme focused on small, achievable actions for key audience segments identified through rigorous testing. Promotion strategies took into account underlying behavioural determinants and reached a high per cent of the priority groups through repeated contacts. Community volunteers received monetary incentives for mothers in their areas who practised recommended behaviours. Programme monitoring, midterm surveys and additional small studies to answer questions led to ongoing adjustments. Scale‐up was achieved through streamlining of tools and strategies, government branding, phased expansion through BRAC – a local non‐governmental implementing partner with an extensive community‐based platform – and nationwide mainstreaming through multiple non‐governmental organization and government programmes.Key messagesWell‐designed and well‐implemented large‐scale interventions that combine interpersonal counselling, community mobilization, advocacy, mass communication and strategic use of data have great potential to improve IYCF practices rapidly.Formative research and ongoing studies are essential to tailor strategies to the local context and to the perspectives of mothers, family members, influential community members and policymakers. Continued use of data to adjust programme elements is also central to the process.Scale‐up can be facilitated through strategic selection of partners with existing community‐based platforms and through mass media, where a high proportion of the target audience can be reached through communication channels such as broadcast media.Sustaining the impacts will involve commitments from government and capacity building. The next step for capacity building would involve understanding barriers and constraints and then coming up with appropriate strategies to address them. One of the limitations we experienced was rapid transition of staff in key positions of implementing agencies, in government leadership, donors and other stakeholders. There was a need for continued advocacy, orientation and teaching related to strategic programme design, behaviour change, effective implementation and use of data.
Telomere length reveals cumulative individual and transgenerational inbreeding effects in a passerine bird
Authors: Bebbington Kat , Spurgin Lewis G. , Fairfield Eleanor A. , Dugdale Hannah L. , Komdeur Jan , Burke Terry , Richardson David S. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractInbreeding results in more homozygous offspring that should suffer reduced fitness, but it can be difficult to quantify these costs for several reasons. First, inbreeding depression may vary with ecological or physiological stress and only be detectable over long time periods. Second, parental homozygosity may indirectly affect offspring fitness, thus confounding analyses that consider offspring homozygosity alone. Finally, measurement of inbreeding coefficients, survival and reproductive success may often be too crude to detect inbreeding costs in wild populations. Telomere length provides a more precise measure of somatic costs, predicts survival in many species and should reflect differences in somatic condition that result from varying ability to cope with environmental stressors. We studied relative telomere length in a wild population of Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) to assess the lifelong relationship between individual homozygosity, which reflects genome‐wide inbreeding in this species, and telomere length. In juveniles, individual homozygosity was negatively associated with telomere length in poor seasons. In adults, individual homozygosity was consistently negatively related to telomere length, suggesting the accumulation of inbreeding depression during life. Maternal homozygosity also negatively predicted offspring telomere length. Our results show that somatic inbreeding costs are environmentally dependent at certain life stages but may accumulate throughout life.
Chronic kidney disease in Asia: Protocol for a collaborative overview
Authors: Liyanage Thaminda , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Perkovic Vlado , Woodward Mark , Stirnadel‐Farrant Heide , Matsushita Kunihiro , Iseki Kunitoshi , Seong Hooi Lai , Monaghan Helen , Jha Vivekanand 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAimThe burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is growing rapidly around the world. However, there is limited information on the overall regional prevalence of CKD, as well as the prognostic implications and treatment patterns in Asian region. We have established the Asian Renal Collaboration (ARC) with the goal of consolidating region‐wide data regarding CKD.MethodsThis collaborative project will synthesize data and perform meta‐analyses of observational studies conducted in Asia. Studies will be identified through a systematic literature search including abstracts, proceedings of meetings, electronic databases such as MEDLINE and EMBASE. Personal enquiry among collaborators and experts in the region will identify additional studies, or other data sources such as registries. Both cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies that describe the prevalence of CKD and its complications will be included, as will longitudinal studies that describe important clinical outcomes for people with CKD. Individual participant data will be sought, where possible, from each of the studies included in the collaboration for baseline parameters and subsequent outcomes, in order to maximize flexibility and consistency of data analyses.ConclusionsThis study is an initiative offering a unique opportunity to obtain information about the prevalence and manifestations of CKD in Asia, as well as its risk factors. The ARC will also provide insights into important outcomes including progression of CKD, CKD complications, cardiovascular disease and death. These findings will improve our understanding of kidney disease in Asia, and thus help inform service provision, preventive care and further research across the region.
Altered metabolite accumulation in tomato fruits by coexpressing a feedback‐insensitive AroG and the PhODO1 MYB‐type transcription factor
Authors: Xie Qingjun , Liu Zhongyuan , Meir Sagit , Rogachev Ilana , Aharoni Asaph , Klee Harry J. , Galili Gad 
Published: May 2016

SummaryTargeted manipulation of phenylalanine (Phe) synthesis is a potentially powerful strategy to boost biologically and economically important metabolites, including phenylpropanoids, aromatic volatiles and other specialized plant metabolites. Here, we use two transgenes to significantly increase the levels of aromatic amino acids, tomato flavour‐associated volatiles and antioxidant phenylpropanoids. Overexpression of the petunia MYB transcript factor, ODORANT1 (ODO1), combined with expression of a feedback‐insensitive E. coli 3‐deoxy‐D‐arabino‐heptulosonate 7‐phosphate synthase (AroG), altered the levels of multiple primary and secondary metabolites in tomato fruit, boosting levels of multiple secondary metabolites. Our results indicate that coexpression of AroG and ODO1 has a dual effect on Phe and related biosynthetic pathways: (i) positively impacting tyrosine (Tyr) and antioxidant related metabolites, including ones derived from coumaric acid and ferulic acid; (ii) negatively impacting other downstream secondary metabolites of the Phe pathway, including kaempferol‐, naringenin‐ and quercetin‐derived metabolites, as well as aromatic volatiles. The metabolite profiles were distinct from those obtained with either single transgene. In addition to providing fruits that are increased in flavour and nutritional chemicals, coexpression of the two genes provides insights into regulation of branches of phenylpropanoid metabolic pathways.
Comparison of suitable protein measurement for Thalassiosira weissflogii (Bacillariophyta) and Tetraselmis chuii (Chlorophyta)
Authors: Chotipan Ninlawan , Boonrungsiman Suwimon , Direkbusarakom Sataporn 
Published: May 2016

SUMMARYTo perform effective measurement of the protein contents, it is necessary to apply the most suitable extraction technique. We compared protein extraction techniques for two microalgal species with entirely different cell wall structures, such as diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii and green flagellate Tetraselmis chuii, using mechanical, physical, and chemical extraction methods. Our results showed that in Th. weissflogii, the control treatment without extraction and mechanical disruption using ultrasonication was sufficient to disrupt its brittle cell wall, resulting in the protein yield of 19.03 and 19.46% of dry weight (DW), respectively. In case of Te. chuii, the chemical extraction using 6% trichloroacetic acid at 95°C was the most suitable extraction method, resulting in the protein yield of 23.78% of DW. Therefore, the most suitable extraction technique must be individually selected for each species depending on their cell wall properties.
Reward positivity: Reward prediction error or salience prediction error?
Authors: Heydari Sepideh , Holroyd Clay B. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe reward positivity is a component of the human ERP elicited by feedback stimuli in trial‐and‐error learning and guessing tasks. A prominent theory holds that the reward positivity reflects a reward prediction error signal that is sensitive to outcome valence, being larger for unexpected positive events relative to unexpected negative events (Holroyd & Coles, 2002). Although the theory has found substantial empirical support, most of these studies have utilized either monetary or performance feedback to test the hypothesis. However, in apparent contradiction to the theory, a recent study found that unexpected physical punishments also elicit the reward positivity (Talmi, Atkinson, & El‐Deredy, 2013). The authors of this report argued that the reward positivity reflects a salience prediction error rather than a reward prediction error. To investigate this finding further, in the present study participants navigated a virtual T maze and received feedback on each trial under two conditions. In a reward condition, the feedback indicated that they would either receive a monetary reward or not and in a punishment condition the feedback indicated that they would receive a small shock or not. We found that the feedback stimuli elicited a typical reward positivity in the reward condition and an apparently delayed reward positivity in the punishment condition. Importantly, this signal was more positive to the stimuli that predicted the omission of a possible punishment relative to stimuli that predicted a forthcoming punishment, which is inconsistent with the salience hypothesis.
Government Communication Effectiveness and Satisfaction with Police Performance: A Large‐Scale Survey Study
Authors: Ho Alfred Tat‐Kei , Cho Wonhyuk 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
For the last two decades, performance management theories and practices have focused on outcome‐oriented management but have paid little attention to the role of public communication. Using multiple large data sets from Kansas City, Missouri, for 2009–14, this research suggests that the perceived effectiveness of public communication has a more substantial impact on public satisfaction with police protection and crime prevention than neighborhood crime rates and broken windows factors and that perceived effectiveness moderates the negative impact of crime rates. After controlling for residents’ demographic characteristics, the authors find that the perceived effectiveness of communication is associated with public satisfaction with the content and quality of the city website and the government television channel. The implications for public safety management and police–citizen relations as well as directions for future research on public communication strategies and public performance management are presented.
Use of shelter tubes, grass‐specific herbicide, and herbivore exclosures to reduce stressors and improve restoration of semiarid thornscrub forests
Authors: Dick Krysten , Alexander Heather D. , Moczygemba Jonathan D. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn semiarid south Texas, land conversion has reduced thornscrub forests by greater than 95%, and stressors, including competition with invasive grasses, mammalian herbivory, and drought, threaten the success of restoration efforts. This study assessed the effectiveness of multiple restoration treatments aimed at improving survival and growth of thornscrub forest seedlings planted in old agricultural fields. In January 2013, we treated greater than 1,100 seedlings with grass‐specific herbicide, herbivore exclosures, and shelter tubes, used separately or combined. We further evaluated the effects of shelter tube duration (0, 6, 12, and 18 months). For each seedling, we quantified surrounding invasive grass cover, browse intensity, height, and basal diameter every 4 months until September 2014. Herbicide application decreased invasive grass cover approximately 5‐fold and increased seedling survival (23%) and basal diameter (26%). Shelter tube application for 12 and 18 months increased seedling survival (10%) and height (43 and 74%, respectively), whereas seedlings treated with tubes for only 6 months performed similar to those left untreated. Exclosures had no impact on seedling survival but increased seedling height (23%) and basal diameter (26%). We found no significant interactive effects of treatments. Overall, herbicide most effectively increased seedling survival and basal diameter growth, whereas shelter tubes proved most useful for promoting height growth. Combined, these treatments increased implementation and maintenance costs 2‐fold, but minimized seedling mortality and maximized restoration potential. These findings highlight the necessity of post‐planting seedling management to reduce stress from invasive grasses, mammalian herbivory, and drought and improve restoration potential in semiarid thornscrub forests.
Bile acids induce activation of alveolar epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts through farnesoid X receptor‐dependent and independent pathways
Authors: Chen Bi , Cai Hou‐Rong , Xue Shan , You Wen‐Jie , Liu Bin , Jiang Han‐Dong 
Published: May 2016

AbstractBackground and objectiveThe roles of bile acid microaspiration and bile acid‐activated farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remain unclear. We hypothesized that bile acids activate alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) and lung fibroblasts, which may be regulated by FXR activation.MethodsHuman AECs and normal or IPF‐derived lung fibroblast cells were incubated with the three major bile acids: lithocholic acid (LCA), deoxycholic acid (DCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA). The AECs injury indices, epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and lung fibroblast activation were evaluated. FXR expression in IPF lungs and the roles of FXR and FXR‐independent pathways in bile acid‐induced profibrotic effects were also investigated.ResultsLCA, DCA and CDCA reduced cell viability and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in A549 cells. They all induced EMT, as shown by enhanced α‐SMA and vimentin and decreased E‐cadherin levels. LCA directly induced differentiation of lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. All three bile acids promoted cellular migration but not proliferation of lung fibroblasts. FXR expression was upregulated in IPF lungs, and inhibition of FXR restrained the bile acid‐induced EMT and lung fibroblast activation. Differentiation and proliferation were enhanced in lung fibroblasts exposed to conditioned medium from bile acid‐stimulated A549 cells, which contained increased levels of profibrotic factors. TGF‐β/Smad3 signaling was also involved in the bile acid‐induced EMT and lung fibroblast differentiation.ConclusionBile acid microaspiration may promote the development of pulmonary fibrosis by inducing activation of AECs and lung fibroblasts via FXR‐dependent and independent pathways.
Ultraviolet B irradiation in the prevention of alloimmunization in a dog platelet transfusion model
Authors: Slichter Sherrill J. , Abrams Kraig , Gettinger Irena , Christoffel Todd , Gaur Lakshmi , Latchman Yvette , Nelson Karen , Pellham Esther , Bailey S. Lawrence , Bolgiano Doug 
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUNDAlloimmune platelet (PLT) refractoriness remains a significant problem for chronically transfused patients with thrombocytopenia.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSIn a dog PLT transfusion model, we evaluated ultraviolet B irradiation (UV‐B) of donor PLTs—either alone or in combination with centrifuge leukoreduction (C‐LR) or filtration leukoreduction (F‐LR)—to prevent refractoriness to donor PLTs and to induce tolerance to standard (STD) PLTs from the same donor or to tertiary donors.RESULTSRecipient acceptance rates for C‐LR donor PLT transfusions were 14%, F‐LR were 33%, and UV‐B irradiated were 45% with no significant differences among the treatments given to the donor's PLTs. Adding UV‐B irradiation to C‐LR or F‐LR PLTs increased acceptance rates to 50 and 68% (p = 0.02 and p = 0.05), respectively, comparing single treatments to the combined treatments. After a recipient had accepted any type of UV‐B–treated donor PLTs, specific tolerance to subsequent transfusions of the same donor's STD PLTs averaged 65%. Nonspecific tolerance to third‐party donor's STD PLTs averaged 36% if they had accepted their initial donor's treated PLTs but was only 4% (p < 0.001) if they had rejected these PLTs.CONCLUSIONCombining UV‐B irradiation with a method of leukoreduction produces additive effects on prevention of alloimmune PLT refractoriness.
A prospective evaluation of chronic Babesia microti infection in seroreactive blood donors
Authors: Bloch Evan M. , Levin Andrew E. , Williamson Phillip C. , Cyrus Sherri , Shaz Beth H. , Kessler Debra , Gorlin Jed , Bruhn Roberta , Lee Tzong‐Hae , Montalvo Leilani , Kamel Hany , Busch Michael P. 
Published: May 2016

BACKGROUNDBabesia microti is the foremost infectious risk to the US blood supply for which a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐licensed test is unavailable for donation screening. Characterization of the antibody response to B. microti and correlation with parasitemia is necessary to guide screening and donor management policies.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSDuring an FDA licensure trial, blood donors were prospectively screened (July‐November 2013) using a B. microti‐specific antibody enzyme immunoassay (EIA, Immunetics) in highly endemic (New York [NY]; n = 13,688), moderately endemic (Minnesota [MN]; n = 4583), and nonendemic (New Mexico [NM]; n = 8451) regions. Blood donors with repeat‐reactive (RR) results participated in a 12‐month prospective cohort study using B. microti EIA, immunofluorescent assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), blood smear, and clinical questionnaire.RESULTSThirty‐seven (61.67%; 24 NY, seven MN, six NM) of 60 eligible RR donors enrolled in the study; 20 of 37 (54%) completed the 12‐month follow‐up visit of which 15 (75%) were still seroreactive. Nine PCR‐positive donors were identified during index screening; five participated in the follow‐up study, three were PCR positive at 6 months, and two remained positive at final follow‐up (378 and 404 days). Most RR donors displayed low‐level seroreactivity that was either stable or waning during follow‐up. The level and pattern of reactivity correlated poorly with PCR positivity.CONCLUSIONThe findings indicate prolonged seropositivity in blood donors. Although rare, asymptomatic, persistent PCR positivity supports the current policy of indefinite deferral for donors with a history of babesiosis or positive test results. Repeat testing by PCR and serology will be necessary if reinstatement is to be considered.