bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Netrin G1: its downregulation in the nucleus accumbens of cocaine‐conditioned mice and genetic association in human cocaine dependence
Authors: Kelaï Sabah , Ramoz Nicolas , Moalic Jean‐Marie , Noble Florence , Mechawar Naguib , Imbeaud Sandrine , Turecki Gustavo , Simonneau Michel , Gorwood Philip , Maussion Gilles 
Published: January 2017

AbstractNetrin G1 is a presynaptic ligand involved in axonal projection. Although molecular mechanisms underlying cocaine addiction are still poorly understood, Netrin G1 might have a role as a regulator of anxiety, fear and spatial memory, behavioural traits impaired in the context of cocaine exposure. In this study, the Netrin G1 (Ntng1) expression was investigated in the nucleus accumbens of mice primarily conditioned to cocaine using a place preference paradigm. A genetic association study was then conducted on 146 multiplex families of the Collaborative study on Genetics of Alcoholism, in which seven single nucleotide polymorphisms located in the NTNG1 gene were genotyped. NTNG1 expression levels were also quantified in BA10, BA46 and the cerebellum of healthy controls (with no Axis 1 psychopathology). Decreased Ntng1 expression was initially observed in the nucleus accumbens of mice conditioned to cocaine. Significant genetic family‐based associations were detected between NTNG1 polymorphisms and cocaine dependence. NTNG1 expression in BA10, BA46 and the cerebellum, however, were not significantly associated with any allele or haplotype of this gene. These results confirm that Ntng1 expression is disturbed in the nucleus accumbens of mice, after cocaine conditioning. A haplotype of NTNG1 was found to constitute a vulnerability factor for cocaine use disorder in patients, although none of its single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with a differential expression pattern in healthy controls. The data suggest that change in the Ntng1 expression is a consequence of cocaine exposure, and that some of its genetic markers are associated with a greater risk for cocaine use disorder.
Low distress tolerance predicts heightened drug seeking and taking after extended abstinence from cocaine self‐administration
Authors: Moschak Travis M. , Terry Douglas R. , Daughters Stacey B. , Carelli Regina M. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractDistress tolerance (DT), defined as the ability to persist in goal‐directed behavior while experiencing psychological distress, is associated with greater frequency of substance use and poor treatment outcomes. To examine a potential causal role substance use may play in DT, we developed a rodent model of DT in which rats had to press a lever within a continuously decreasing time window for reward while receiving negative feedback on failure trials. DT was defined as the time rats continued to seek reward before quitting the task. We assessed the relationship of DT with cocaine seeking/taking by measuring DT before cocaine self‐administration (SA), and after 1 week and 1 month of drug abstinence. We found that DT prior to cocaine SA did not predict cocaine seeking/taking, yet DT measured after 1 month abstinence significantly predicted subsequent high levels of early session cocaine taking. Additionally, high DT measured after abstinence protected against high cocaine seeking, but this protective effect was blocked in rats with high impulsivity. Finally, while a decrease in 1 month‐abstinent DT was observed following SA across treatment conditions, among cocaine‐exposed rats, greater cocaine SA correlated with a steeper decrease in DT. These results show that low DT after drug abstinence is associated with heightened levels of cocaine seeking and taking behavior and that impulsivity influences this effect. Collectively, these results support the validity of our rodent DT model while extending the human literature and set the foundation for future animal studies designed to determine neural mechanisms underlying DT.
Motivations to grow energy crops: the role of crop and contract attributes
Authors: Khanna Madhu , Louviere Jordan , Yang Xi 
Published: January 2017

AbstractPerennial energy crops are a promising source of bioenergy whose production involves production risks, long‐term commitment of land and need for crop‐specific investments without the coverage of crop insurance potentially available for conventional crops. We conduct a choice experiment in five states in the Midwestern and South‐central regions of the U.S. to examine the effect of crop‐contract attributes on the joint discrete‐continuous choice decisions to adopt an energy crop and convert acres to it from a status quo use, while controlling for the effect of various farmers’ risk and time preferences, sociodemographic characteristics, and availability of crop insurance for conventional crops. We find robust evidence that high discount rates, high upfront establishment costs and need for crop‐specific investments create disincentives for adoption and allocation of land to energy crop production. The effects of riskiness of returns and risk aversion are less robust across specifications. The effect of conventional crop insurance on the energy crop adoption decision differs across types of insurance; in particular, farmers with revenue insurance are statistically significantly less likely to adopt an energy crop. Our results have implications for the design of effective contracts and policy incentives to induce the production of energy crops.
Estimating product‐specific and multiproduct economies of scale with data envelopment analysis
Authors: Parman Bryon J. , Featherstone Allen M. , Coffey Brian K. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractNonparametric cost frontier estimation and subsequent analysis of the relative efficiency of firms has historically been conducted without critically examining the shape of the cost frontier. The shape of the cost frontier has been examined using additional parametric estimation methods to recover potential cost savings from multiproduct and product‐specific economies of scale. This paper presents and tests an approach to estimate multiproduct and product‐specific economies of scale using data envelopment analysis. Data for the study are simulated assuming an underlying production technology. Nonparametric estimates of efficiency, multiproduct scale, product specific scale, and scope economies are compared to those of the assumed production technology. Results show that the nonparametric approach accurately estimates multiproduct economies of scale and product‐specific economies of scale under alternative inefficiency distributional assumptions.
Site locked headaches in paediatric patients do not require routine brain imaging and rarely have a serious aetiology
Authors: Ahmed MAS , Grossman S , Rafique B , Momoh Ojewuyi A 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAimThe main aim of this study was to examine the aetiology and the yield of brain imaging of children with site locked headaches (SLH).MethodsThis study was carried out at Queen's University Hospital, Essex,UK, from August 2011 to August 2015 and focused on patients who were at least five years of age, had experienced at least fiveSLHattacks and had a normal neurological examination. Bilateral or alternating unilateral headaches were excluded. Data were collected prospectively, and the headache diagnosis was based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders.ResultsWe identified 292 eligible patients (60% female) aged 5.1–17 years: 177 with unilateralSLH, 104 with occipitalSLHand 11 with vertexSLH. Anterior headaches were the most frequent (n = 133), and the diagnoses included migraine (n = 192), tension type headaches (n = 30) and medication‐overuse headaches (n = 22). The headache was unspecified in 43 cases. Magnetic resonance imaging was normal in 96% of the 283/292 scanned or showed a nonspecific, nonsignificant abnormality in 4%.ConclusionSite locked headaches were most likely to be caused by primary headaches, particularly migraine. AnSLHwithout abnormal neurological findings is unlikely to have an underlying sinister aetiology, and routine brain imaging is not required in such cases.
Remote ischaemic preconditioning suppresses endogenous plasma nitrite during ischaemia–reperfusion: a randomized controlled crossover pilot study
Authors: Nair Ashok , Khan Sitara , Omar Sami , Pei Xiao‐Qing , McNeill Karen , Chowienczyk Phil , Webb Andrew James 
Published: January 2017

AimThe aim of this article is to test the hypothesis that remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) increases circulating endogenous local and systemic plasma (nitrite) during RIPC and ischaemia–reperfusion (IR) as a potential protective mechanism against ischaemia–reperfusion injury (IRI).MethodsSix healthy male volunteers (mean age 29.5 ± 7.6 years) were randomized in a crossover study to initially receive either RIPC (4 × 5 min cycles) to the left arm, or no RIPC (control), both followed by an ischaemia–reperfusion (IR) sequence (20 min cuff inflation to 200 mmHg, 20 min reperfusion) to the right arm. The volunteers returned at least 7 days later for the alternate intervention. The primary outcome was the effect of RIPC vs. control on local and systemic plasma (nitrite).ResultsRIPC did not significantly change plasma (nitrite) in either the left or the right arm during the RIPC sequence. However, compared to control, RIPC decreased plasma (nitrite) during the subsequent IR sequence by ~26% (from 118 ± 9 to 87 ± 5 nmol l−1) locally in the left arm (P = 0.008) overall, with an independent effect of −58.70 nmol l−1 (95% confidence intervals −116.1 to −1.33) at 15 min reperfusion, and by ~24% (from 109 ± 9 to 83 ± 7 nmol l−1) systemically in the right arm (P = 0.03).ConclusionsRIPC had no effect on plasma (nitrite) during the RIPC sequence, but instead decreased plasma (nitrite) by ~25% during IR. This would likely counteract the protective mechanisms of RIPC, and contribute to RIPC's lack of efficacy, as observed in recent clinical trials. A combined approach of RIPC with nitrite administration may be required.
The current and future role of biomarkers in type 2 cytokine‐mediated asthma management
Authors: Pavord I. D. , Afzalnia S. , Menzies‐Gow A. , Heaney L. G. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryAssessment and management of asthma is complicated by the heterogeneous pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie its clinical presentation, which are not necessarily reflected in standardized management paradigms and which necessitate an individualized approach to treatment. This is particularly important with the emerging availability of a variety of targeted forms of therapy that may only be appropriate for use in particular patient subgroups. The identification of biomarkers can potentially aid diagnosis and inform prognosis, help guide treatment decisions and allow clinicians to predict and monitor response to treatment. Biomarkers for asthma have been identified from a variety of sources, including airway, exhaled breath and blood. Biomarkers from exhaled breath include fractional exhaled nitric oxide, measurement of which can help identify patients most likely to benefit from inhaled corticosteroids and targeted anti‐immunoglobulin E therapy. Biomarkers measured in blood are relatively non‐invasive and technically more straightforward than those measured from exhaled breath or directly from the airway. The most well established of these are the blood eosinophil count and serum periostin, both of which have demonstrated utility in identifying patients most likely to benefit from targeted anti‐interleukin and anti‐immunoglobulin E therapies, and in monitoring subsequent treatment response. For example, serum periostin appears to be a biomarker for responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroid therapy and may help identify patients as suitable candidates for anti‐IL‐13 treatment. The use of biomarkers can therefore potentially help avoid unnecessary morbidity from high‐dose corticosteroid therapy and allow the most appropriate and cost‐effective use of targeted therapies. Ongoing clinical trials are helping to further elucidate the role of established biomarkers in routine clinical practice, and a range of other circulating novel potential biomarkers are currently being investigated in the research setting.
Level of environmental threat posed by horticultural trade in Cactaceae
Authors: Novoa Ana , Le Roux Johannes J. , Richardson David M. , Wilson John R.U. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractOrnamental horticulture has been identified as an important threat to plant biodiversity and is a major pathway for plant invasions worldwide. In this context, the family Cactaceae is particularly challenging because it is considered the fifth most threatened large taxonomic group in the world; several species are among the most widespread and damaging invasive species; and Cactaceae is one of the most popular horticultural plant groups. Based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and the 11 largest online auction sites selling cacti, we documented the international cactus trade. To provide an in‐depth look at the dynamics of the industry, we surveyed the businesses involved in the cactus trade in South Africa (a hotspot of cactus trade and invasions). We purchased seeds of every available species and used DNA barcoding to identify species to the genus level. Although <20% of this trade involved threatened species and <3% involved known invasive species, many species were identified by a common name. However, only 0.02% of the globally traded cacti were collected from wild populations. Despite a large commercial network, all South African imports (of which 15% and 1.5% were of species listed as threatened and invasive, respectively) came from the same source. With DNA barcoding, we identified 24% of the species to genus level. Based on our results, we believe that if trade restrictions are placed on the small proportion of cacti that are invasive and there is no major increase in harvesting of native populations, then the commercial trade in cactus poses a negligible environmental threat. However, there are currently no effective methods for easily identifying which cacti are traded, and both the illicit harvesting of cacti from the wild and the informal trade in invasive taxa pose on‐going conservation challenges.
Effects of traffic noise on tree frog stress levels, immunity, and color signaling
Authors: Troïanowski Mathieu , Mondy Nathalie , Dumet Adeline , Arcanjo Caroline , Lengagne Thierry 
Published: January 2017

AbstractDuring the last decade, many studies have focused on the detrimental effects of noise pollution on acoustic communication. Surprisingly, although it is known that noise exposure strongly influences health in humans, studies on wildlife remain scarce. In order to gain insight into the consequences of traffic noise exposure, we experimentally manipulated traffic noise exposure as well as the endocrine status of animals to investigate physiological and phenotypic consequences of noise pollution in an anuran species. We showed that noise exposure increased stress hormone level and induced an immunosuppressive effect. In addition, both traffic noise exposure and stress hormone application negatively impacted H. arborea vocal sac coloration. Moreover, our results suggest profound changes in sexual selection processes because the best quality males with initial attractive vocal sac coloration were the most impacted by noise. Hence, our study suggests that the recent increases in anthropogenic noise worldwide might affect a broader range of animal species than previously thought, because of alteration of visual signals and immunity. Generalizing these results to other taxa is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity in an increasingly noisy world.
Microbiological findings and antibacterial therapy in Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis patients from a Swedish Burn Center
Authors: Tocco‐Tussardi Ilaria , Huss Fredrik , Presman Benjamin 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundSuperimposed infections/sepsis are the major cause of morbidity/mortality in Stevens–Johnson syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (SJS/TEN). It is a delicate balance between avoiding new pharmaceuticals and prophylactically treat an incipient infection. The objective of this study was to investigate the rates and types of infection‐microbials and antibiotics involved in SJS/TEN patients.Materials and MethodsMicrobiology and clinical data were collected for SJS/TEN patients admitted to our Burn Center from January 2010 through January 2016.ResultsA total of 24 patients were admitted over the study period. There were 303 bacterial cultures taken whereof 113 (37.3%) were positive (median of 4.4 per patient). Twenty‐two (91.7%) patients had at least 1 positive sample recorded. Fifteen (62.5%) patients had a confirmed episode of sepsis with skin being the most common source of colonization (77.8%). Eleven (45.8%) patients received empiric antibiotic therapy at referral facility/prior to admission to our Center. Patients who grew a higher number of different species were significantly less likely to have received early empiric antimicrobial therapy (P < .001).ConclusionSecondary bacterial infection and sepsis were a highly common finding in our patient population. Despite the risk of resistance and further immunological provocation, empirical antibiotic treatment might have a place in clinical management.
Gauging the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: The important interplay between predictor variables and definition of a favorable outcome
Authors: Petrovic Milan , Petrovic Marija , Milasinovic Goran , Vujisic Tesic Bosiljka , Trifunovic Danijela , Petrovic Olga , Nedeljkovic Ivana , Petrovic Ivana , Banovic Marko , Boricic‐Kostic Marija , Petrovic Jelena , Arena Ross , Popovic Dejana 
Published: January 2017

AimsSelection of patients who are viable candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), prediction of the response to CRT as well as an optimal definition of a favorable response, all require further exploration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interplay between the prediction of the response to CRT and the definition of a favorable outcome.MethodsSeventy patients who received CRT were included. All patients met current guideline criteria for CRT. Forty‐three echocardiographic parameters were evaluated before CRT and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. M‐mode, 2D echocardiography, and Doppler imaging were used to quantify left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function, mitral regurgitation, right ventricular systolic function, pulmonary artery pressure, and myocardial mechanical dyssynchrony. The following definitions of a favorable CRT response were used: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement more >5% acutely following CRT, LVEF improvement >20% at 12‐month follow‐up, and a LV end‐systolic volume (LVESV) decrease >15% at 12‐month follow‐up.ResultsFor the LVEF improvement >5%, the best predictor was isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT; P=.035). For improvement of LVEF >20%, the best predictors were left ventricular stroke index (LVSI; P=.044) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS; P=.031). For the drop in left ventricular systolic volume (LVESV >15%), the best predictor was septal‐to‐lateral wall delay (ΔT) (P=.043, RR=1.023, 95% CI for RR=1.001‐1.045).ConclusionThe definition of a favorable CRT response influenced the optimal predictor variable(s). Standardization of defining a favorable response to CRT is needed to guide clinical decision making processes.
Convergence of bark investment according to fire and climate structures ecosystem vulnerability to future change
Authors: Pellegrini Adam F. A. , Anderegg William R. L. , Paine C. E. Timothy , Hoffmann William A. , Kartzinel Tyler , Rabin Sam S. , Sheil Douglas , Franco Augusto C. , Pacala Stephen W. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractFire regimes in savannas and forests are changing over much of the world. Anticipating the impact of these changes requires understanding how plants are adapted to fire. In this study, we test whether fire imposes a broad selective force on a key fire‐tolerance trait, bark thickness, across 572 tree species distributed worldwide. We show that investment in thick bark is a pervasive adaptation in frequently burned areas across savannas and forests in both temperate and tropical regions where surface fires occur. Geographic variability in bark thickness is largely explained by annual burned area and precipitation seasonality. Combining environmental and species distribution data allowed us to assess vulnerability to future climate and fire conditions: tropical rainforests are especially vulnerable, whereas seasonal forests and savannas are more robust. The strong link between fire and bark thickness provides an avenue for assessing the vulnerability of tree communities to fire and demands inclusion in global models.
Behavioural responses to human‐induced change: Why fishing should not be ignored
Authors: Diaz Pauli Beatriz , Sih Andrew 
Published: January 2017

AbstractChange in behaviour is usually the first response to human‐induced environmental change and key for determining whether a species adapts to environmental change or becomes maladapted. Thus, understanding the behavioural response to human‐induced changes is crucial in the interplay between ecology, evolution, conservation and management. Yet the behavioural response to fishing activities has been largely ignored. We review studies contrasting how fish behaviour affects catch by passive (e.g., long lines, angling) versus active gears (e.g., trawls, seines). We show that fishing not only targets certain behaviours, but it leads to a multitrait response including behavioural, physiological and life‐history traits with population, community and ecosystem consequences. Fisheries‐driven change (plastic or evolutionary) of fish behaviour and its correlated traits could impact fish populations well beyond their survival per se, affecting predation risk, foraging behaviour, dispersal, parental care, etc., and hence numerous ecological issues including population dynamics and trophic cascades. In particular, we discuss implications of behavioural responses to fishing for fisheries management and population resilience. More research on these topics, however, is needed to draw general conclusions, and we suggest fruitful directions for future studies.