bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative pharmacokinetics of diaveridine in pigs and chickens following single intravenous and oral administration
Authors: Li Y.‐F. , Guo H.‐Y. , Yang F. , Zhou L.‐G. , Huang X.‐H. , Ding H.‐Z. , Zeng Z.‐L. 
Published: January 2017

Comparative pharmacokinetic profiles of diaveridine following single intravenous and oral dose of 10 mg/kg body weight in healthy pigs and chickens were investigated, respectively. Concentrations of diaveridine in plasma samples were determined using a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet (HPLC‐UV) method. The concentration–time data were subjected to noncompartmental kinetic analysis by WinNonlin program. The corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters in pigs or chickens after single intravenous administration were as follows, respectively: t1/2β (elimination half‐life) 0.74 ± 0.28 and 3.44 ± 1.07 h; Vd (apparent volume of distribution) 2.70 ± 0.99 and 3.86 ± 0.92 L/kg; ClB (body clearance) 2.59 ± 0.62 and 0.80 ± 0.14 L/h/kg; and AUC0‐∞ (area under the blood concentration vs. time curve) 4.11 ± 1.13 and 12.87 ± 2.60 μg∙h/mL. The corresponding pharmacokinetic parameters in pigs or chickens after oral administration were as follows, respectively: t1/2β 1.78 ± 0.41 and 2.91 ± 0.57 h; Cmax (maximum concentration) 0.43 ± 0.24 and 1.45 ± 0.57 μg/mL; Tmax (time to reach Cmax) 1.04 ± 0.67 and 3.25 ± 0.71 h; and AUC0‐∞1.33 ± 0.55 and 9.28 ± 2.69 μg∙h/mL. The oral bioavailability (F) of diaveridine in pigs or chickens was determined to be 34.6% and 72.2%, respectively. There were significant differences between the pharmacokinetics profiles in these two species.
The discovery of the virulence gene ToxA in the wheat and barley pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana
Authors: McDonald Megan C. , Ahren Dag , Simpfendorfer Steven , Milgate Andrew , Solomon Peter S. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryBipolaris sorokiniana is the causal agent of multiple diseases on wheat and barley and is the primary constraint to cereal production throughout South Asia. Despite its significance, the molecular basis of disease is poorly understood. To address this, the genomes of three Australian isolates of B. sorokiniana were sequenced and screened for known pathogenicity genes. Sequence analysis revealed that the isolate BRIP10943 harboured the ToxA gene, which has been associated previously with disease in the wheat pathogens Parastagonospora nodorum and Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis. Analysis of the regions flanking ToxA within B. sorokiniana revealed that it was embedded within a 12‐kb genomic element nearly identical to the corresponding regions in P. nodorum and P. tritici‐repentis. A screen of 35 Australian B. sorokiniana isolates confirmed that ToxA was present in 12 isolates. Sequencing of the ToxA genes within these isolates revealed two haplotypes, which differed by a single non‐synonymous nucleotide substitution. Pathogenicity assays showed that a B. sorokiniana isolate harbouring ToxA was more virulent on wheat lines that contained the sensitivity gene when compared with a non‐ToxA isolate. This work demonstrates that proteins that confer host‐specific virulence can be horizontally acquired across multiple species. This acquisition can dramatically increase the virulence of pathogenic strains on susceptible cultivars, which, in an agricultural setting, can have devastating economic and social impacts.
Two Approaches to Tonal Space in the Music of Muddy Waters
Authors: CURRY BEN 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThis article posits two approaches to blues tonal space: the networked approach and the laddered approach. The first is underpinned by the cyclical potential of equal temperament and is characterised by descending chromatic motions. The second is underpinned by the harmonic series and is characterised by microtonal shaping of pitch content within the framework of a ladder that approximates an equal‐tempered major‐minor seventh chord.Having explained the detail of these approaches to tonal space with reference to an early blues recording of Alberta Hunter and Fats Waller, the article goes on to examine Muddy Waters's use of the laddered approach to tonal space, but also develops novel ways of referencing the networked approach and of finding synergies between networked and laddered approaches. Analysis of key songs from Waters's repertoire offers insight into the interchange between networked and laddered tonal space in blues music. This interchange holds the major‐minor seventh chord to be structurally significant owing to the weight afforded by the sonority of the minor third and the affinity between microtonal and semitonal melodic motions.
Rock Harmony Reconsidered: Tonal, Modal and Contrapuntal Voice‐Leading Systems in Radiohead
Authors: OSBORN BRAD 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTA great deal of the harmony and voice leading in the British rock group Radiohead's recorded output between 1997 and 2011 can be heard as elaborating either traditional tonal structures or establishing pitch centricity through purely contrapuntal means. This mode of hearing Radiohead's music departs from theories of rock harmony that (1) focus on fretboard‐specific melodic gestures, (2) highlight the role of modal scalar collections or (3) associate pitch centricity with hypermetric emphasis. Willingness to hear Radiohead's contrapuntal practice – a keyboard‐centred affair in this mature period – in such a prolongational way demands hearing non‐tonic phrase beginnings and even entire formal sections in keys for which no tonic chord is present. Graphic techniques ultimately derived from Schenker (though adapted for rock music by Everett, Burns and Nobile) illuminate this comparatively conservative way of hearing rock harmony. Under this rigorous model, which privileges descending fifth motions and melodically fluent contrapuntal structure, Radiohead's 1997–2011 corpus reveals three distinct systems of voice leading and harmony: functional tonal, functional modal and contrapuntal.
Effects of simulation education on oral care practices – a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Jansson Miia M. , Syrjälä Hannu P. , Ohtonen Pasi P. , Meriläinen Merja H. , Kyngäs Helvi A. , Ala‐Kokko Tero I. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTBackgroundImplementation of evidence‐based oral care protocols, nurse education programmes and assessment tools may reduce the risk of developing ventilator‐associated pneumonia by increasing critical care nurses' knowledge and skills in adhering to current oral care recommendations.AimsTo evaluate the longitudinal effects of single‐dose simulation education with structured debriefing and verbal feedback on critical care nurses' knowledge and skills in adhering to current oral care recommendations.DesignA randomized controlled trial with repeated measurements.MethodThe data for the study were collected in a single academic centre in a 22‐bed adult, mixed, medical‐surgical intensive care unit in Finland from February 2012 to March 2014. The effectiveness of simulation education was evaluated through the validated Ventilator Bundle Questionnaire and Observation Schedule at baseline (n = 30) and 24 months (n = 17) after simulation education. Data were analysed using a linear mixed model and intention‐to‐treat analyses.ResultsDuring the study period, the average knowledge score in the intervention group increased significantly (44·0% to 56·0% of the total score) in the final post‐intervention measurement (pt = 0·51, pg = 0·002, pt*g = 0·023). However, single‐dose simulation education with structured debriefing and verbal feedback had no impact on critical care nurses' skill scores.ConclusionSingle‐dose simulation education had only a minimal effect on critical care nurses' knowledge and skills in adhering to current oral care recommendations. Despite increased awareness, there was no significant difference in oral care practices between the study groups after simulation education.Relevance for clinical practiceThe need for regularly repeated educational sessions with theoretical training and practical exercises and direct feedback is evident. Certain aspects of oral care, such as prevention of microaspiration of oropharyngeal secretions and moistening of oral mucosa and lips, require more reinforcement than others.
Inquiring about insomnia may facilitate diagnosis of depression in the primary care setting
Authors: Fujieda Megumi , Uchida Katsuhisa , Ikebe Shinichiro , Kimura Akihiro , Kimura Masashi , Watanabe Toshiaki , Sakamoto Hisako , Matsumoto Teruaki , Uchimura Naohisa 
Published: January 2017

AimDepression is often undiagnosed in primary care. Asking about sleep status is much easier than asking about mood. This study was conducted to examine the relation between insomnia and depression.MethodsNew patients aged 35–64 years were recruited from internal medicine clinics in Japan. Self‐administered questionnaires were employed. Depression was evaluated by the Zung Self‐Rating Depression Scale and the Profile of Mood States. Sleep status was investigated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Likelihood ratios of insomnia for depression were calculated. To assess the relation between insomnia and depression independent of confounding factors, adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses.ResultsAmong 598 subjects, 153 (25.6%) were assessed as having depression. ‘Very bad sleep quality, with difficulty falling asleep within 30 min ≥3 times/week’ showed a positive likelihood ratio of 20.36 (95%CI, 2.53–164) while ‘not very good sleep quality’ had a negative likelihood ratio of 0.32 (95%CI, 0.14–0.72). Adjusted for sex, age, underlying diseases, major life events, lifestyle habits, and relationship problems, significant OR for depression were observed for ‘difficulty falling asleep within 30 min ≥3 times/week’ (OR, 2.53; 95%CI, 1.07–5.98), ‘waking up in the middle of the night or early morning ≥3 times/week’ (OR, 3.09; 95%CI, 1.58–6.05), and ‘fairly bad sleep quality’ (OR, 3.65; 95%CI, 1.34–9.96).ConclusionInquiring about the weekly frequency of difficulty ‘falling asleep within 30 min,’ ‘waking up in the middle of the night or early morning,’ and ‘sleep quality’ may help to diagnose depression.
Significant effects of RNAi silencing of the venom allergen‐like protein (Mhi‐vap‐1) of the root‐knot nematodeMeloidogyne hispanicain the early events of infection
Authors: Duarte A. , Maleita C. , Egas C. , Abrantes I. , Curtis R. 
Published: January 2017

Gene silencing usingRNAi is a powerful tool for functional analysis of nematode genes and can provide a new strategy for the management of root‐knot nematodes. The transcript of the venom allergen‐like protein gene (Mhi‐vap‐1) ofMeloidogyne hispanicais localized in the subventral oesophageal gland cells of second‐stage juveniles (J2) and the gene is highly transcribed in this developmental nematode stage. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the silencing of theMhi‐vap‐1gene could affect nematode attraction to roots, penetration, development and reproduction in tomato plants. The optimum soaking time to generate silencing of this gene was determined by quantitativeRT‐PCRanalysis of the relative expression of theMhi‐vap‐1gene in the J2 incubated with the soaking solution for 24, 32 and 48 h. At 48 h, the relative expression ofMhi‐vap‐1decreased, which indicates that this period of time is optimum to silence this nematode gene using theRNAi method. Silencing of theMhi‐vap‐1gene interfered with the completion of the nematode life cycle and caused a reduction in nematode attraction to roots, penetration and infection of plants. A small difference in the number of females and galls formed was also observed, which caused a small decrease in the nematode reproduction factor. The use ofRNAi silencing of theMeloidogyneeffector geneMhi‐vap‐1showed that this gene is important for the plant–nematode interaction during the early events of infection and could be a target gene for anti‐nematode strategies.
Facilitation by pioneer shrubs for the ecological restoration of riparian forests in the Central Andes of Colombia
Authors: Galindo Víctor , Calle Zoraida , Chará Julian , Armbrecht Inge 
Published: January 2017

AbstractRiparian vegetation has great functional importance in agroscapes because it establishes physical connections between natural ecosystems embedded in an agricultural matrix. Throughout the tropics, the historical demand for cropland and pastures in the lands adjacent to streams has led to the replacement of forests by exotic grasses. In order to find new methods for initiating the restoration of riparian forests, we evaluated the use of the pioneer shrubs Tithonia diversifolia and Piper auritum as nurse species for their effects on (1) competition with dominant grasses; (2) natural regeneration and the ecological facilitation of six native tree species of different successional stages; and (3) influence on microclimate. Over a period of 15 months, 4.4% coverage of P. auritum was insufficient to inhibit grasses. In contrast, 81% coverage of T. diversifolia limited the growth of dominant grasses such as Cenchrus purpureus, Paspalum paniculatum, and Cynodon plectostachyus likely by intercepting more than 90% of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), even though other factors cannot be ruled out. T. diversifolia showed simultaneous effects of facilitation and competition by promoting higher survival of the planted native trees while slowing the growth of pioneer species and inhibiting the regeneration of native woody plants probably as a result of high light interception. This study suggests that planting T. diversifolia as a nurse shrub may facilitate early stages of restoration by inhibiting the growth of pastures, but requires pruning, both to increase light availability and promote the growth of planted trees and the recruitment of woody plants.
Age and Adaptation: Stronger Decision Updating about Real World Risks in Older Age
Authors: Rolison Jonathan J , Wood Stacey , Hanoch Yaniv 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIn later life, people are faced with a multitude of risky decisions that concern their health, finance, and personal security. Older adults often exercise caution in situations that involve risk. In this research, we asked whether older adults are also more responsive to warnings about potential risk. An answer to this question could reveal a factor underlying increased cautiousness in older age. In Study 1, participants decided whether they would engage in risky activities (e.g., using an ATM machine in the street) in four realistic scenarios about which participants could be expected to have relevant knowledge or experience. They then made posterior decisions after listening to audio extracts of real reports relevant to each activity. In Study 2, we explored the role that emotions play in decision updating. As in Study 1, participants made prior and posterior decisions, with the exception that for each scenario the reports were presented in their original audio format (high emotive) or in a written transcript format (low emotive). Following each posterior decision, participants indicated their emotional valence and arousal responses to the reports. In both studies, older adults engaged in fewer risky activities than younger adults, indicative of increased cautiousness in older age, and exhibited stronger decision updating in response to the reports. Older adults also showed stronger emotional responses to the reports, even though emotional responses did not differ for audio and written transcript formats. Finally, age differences in emotional responses to the reports accounted for age differences in decision updating.
Influence of Distribution of Animals between Dose Groups on Estimated Benchmark Dose and Animal Distress for Quantal Responses
Authors: Kalantari Fereshteh , Ringblom Joakim , Sand Salomon , Öberg Mattias 
Published: January 2017

AbstractIncreasingly, dose‐response data are being evaluated with the benchmark dose (BMD) approach rather than by the less precise no‐observed‐adverse‐effect‐level (NOAEL) approach. However, the basis for designing animal experiments, using equally sized dose groups, is still primed for the NOAEL approach. The major objective here was to assess the impact of using dose groups of unequal size on both the quality of the BMD and overall animal distress. We examined study designs with a total number of 200 animals distributed in four dose groups employing quantal data generated by Monte Carlo simulations. Placing more animals at doses close to the targeted BMD provided an estimate of BMD that was slightly better than the standard design with equally sized dose groups. In situations involving a clear dose‐response, this translates into fewer animals receiving high doses and thus less overall animal distress. Accordingly, in connection with risk and safety assessment, animal distress can potentially be reduced by distributing the animals appropriately between dose groups without decreasing the quality of the information obtained.
(Re) Defining Emerging Risks
Authors: Mazri Chabane 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe concept of emergence in risk management can be seen as a revealing symptom of the increasing need for organizations to update their portfolio of risks and opportunities in a rapidly changing and highly competitive environment. Accordingly, the concept of emerging risks has been widely discussed in both scientific and business communities, with, however, a lack of agreement as to whether we should distinguish these risks from others and, if so, what should be the adopted approach for their governance. After reviewing a large set of definitions and conceptions of emerging risks, this article aims at exploring the existence of distinctive features allowing the characterization of a risk as emerging or not. First, we will demonstrate that the features used in the various definitions are ineffective to achieve this distinction. Furthermore, we will argue that all events and consequences associated with risks are or have been states of nature that emerged from complex interactions involving combinations of hazardous activities and stakes. Accordingly, emerging risks are no longer a specific category of risks; they are rather an early step in every risk life cycle that deserves specific governance approaches.
Determining the effective coverage of maternal and child health services in Kenya, using demographic and health survey data sets: tracking progress towards universal health coverage
Authors: Nguhiu Peter K. , Barasa Edwine W. , Chuma Jane 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectivesEffective coverage (EC) is a measure of health systems’ performance that combines need, use and quality indicators. This study aimed to assess the extent to which the Kenyan health system provides effective and equitable maternal and child health services, as a means of tracking the country's progress towards universal health coverage.Methods and resultsThe Demographic Health Surveys (2003, 2008–2009 and 2014) and Service Provision Assessment surveys (2004, 2010) were the main sources of data. Indicators of need, use and quality for eight maternal and child health interventions were aggregated across interventions and economic quintiles to compute EC. EC has increased from 26.7% in 2003 to 50.9% in 2014, but remains low for the majority of interventions. There is a reduction in economic inequalities in EC with the highest to lowest wealth quintile ratio decreasing from 2.41 in 2003 to 1.65 in 2014, but maternal health services remain highly inequitable.ConclusionsEffective coverage of key maternal and child health services remains low, indicating that individuals are not receiving the maximum possible health gain from existing health services. There is an urgent need to focus on the quality and reach of maternal and child health services in Kenya to achieve the goals of universal health coverage.
Sex, drugs and rock and roll: tales from preterm fetal life
Authors: Bennet Laura 
Published: January 2017

AbstractPremature fetuses and babies are at greater risk of mortality and morbidity than their term counterparts. The underlying causes are multifactorial, but include exposure to hypoxia. Immaturity of organs and their functional control may impair the physiological defence responses to hypoxia and the preterm fetal responses, or lack thereof, to moderate hypoxia appear to support this concept. However, as this review demonstrates, despite immaturity, the preterm fetus responds to asphyxia in a qualitatively similar manner to that seen at term. This highlights the importance in understanding metabolism versus homeostatic threat when assessing fetal responses to adverse challenges such as hypoxia. Data are presented to show that the preterm fetal adaptation to asphyxia is triphasic in nature. Phase one represents the rapid institution of maximal defences, designed to maintain blood pressure and central perfusion at the expense of peripheral organs. Phase two is one of adaptive compensation. Controlled reperfusion partially offsets peripheral tissue oxygen debt, while maintaining sufficient vasoconstriction to limit the fall in perfusion. Phase three is about decompensation. Strikingly, the preterm fetus generally performs better during phases two and three, and can survive for longer without injury. Paradoxically, however, the ability to survive can lead to longer exposure to hypotension and hypoperfusion and thus potentially greater injury. The effects of fetal sex, inflammation and drugs on the triphasic adaptations are reviewed. Finally, the review highlights the need for more comprehensive studies to understand the complexity of perinatal physiology if we are to develop effective strategies to improve preterm outcomes.
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