bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The controversy over the use of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors: is there some light at the end of the tunnel?
Authors: Quintão Eder C. R. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundAccording to epidemiological studies, there is no clear relationship between the plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) concentration and the development of atherosclerosis in human populations. Although some studies suggest that increased CETP activity relates to undesirable profiles of plasma lipoproteins, promoting an anti‐atherogenic plasma lipoprotein profile by drugs that inhibit CETP has not succeeded in preventing atherosclerosis in humans.Materials and MethodsThis review describes 28 investigations in human populations dealing with plasma CETP, 11 in mice that express human CETP and seven in animals (six in rabbits and one in mice) in which plasma CETP activity was inhibited by drugs.ResultsPresent review shows that models in mice expressing human CETP are not illuminating because they report increase as well reduction of atherosclerosis. However, investigations in rabbits and mice that develop severe hypercholesterolaemia clearly indicate that impairment of the plasma CETP activity elicits protection against the development of atherosclerosis; in all of these experiments are attained substantial reductions of the atherogenic lipoproteins, namely, plasma apoB containing lipoproteins.ConclusionThese models are strong indicators that the benefit in preventing atherosclerosis should be earned in cases of hyperlipidemia by CETP inhibitors.
Effects of larval dietary restriction on adult morphology, with implications for flight and life history
Authors: Boggs Carol L. , Niitepõld Kristjan 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMany morphological traits of adult insects show a plastic response to larval environmental conditions. Past studies of Lepidoptera, other than on irruptive species, focused on species with specific ecologies or life histories. These studies must be interpreted in the context of past selection associated with those specializations. Here, we examined the effects on adult morphology of quantitative dietary restriction in the late last instar of Speyeria mormonia Edwards (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiini). This univoltine species lives in open populations in montane meadows. Adults fed ad libitum as larvae on Viola sororia Willd. (Violaceae) were larger than those fed a restricted diet, for wet and dry body mass, dry mass of head, thorax, or abdomen, and forewing length. Females were larger than males for all but head mass. However, both males and individuals fed a restricted diet had a heavier head and thorax as a proportion of total mass, indicating conservation of visual or other sensory functions and flight. Females maintained a higher relative investment of mass in abdomens, indicating conservation of mass allocation to reproduction. Wing loading was greater in females and for individuals fed ad libitum. The sex*treatment interaction was also significant. The difference in wing loading between individuals fed ad libitum and those on a restricted diet were greater for females than for males. The allometric relationship between dry mass and wing area in both sexes was significantly less than isometric. Thus, allometry did not explain the effect of dietary restriction on wing loading. In contrast, wing aspect ratio was invariant. In combination with earlier studies, these results suggest that mass allocation in support of flight occurs generally under larval nutritional stress. Flight supports both reproduction and feeding. Our work thus highlights the need to include resource acquisition in studies of life history and fitness under nutritional stress.
Occupation and first episode psychosis in Northern Italy: better outcomes for migrants
Authors: Tarricone Ilaria , Morgan Craig , Boydell Jane , Panigada Serena , Morigi Raffaele , Braca Mauro , Sutti Enrico , Boldri Pierluigi , Di Forti Marta , Murray Robin M , Berardi Domenico 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAimsMany studies show that migrants have a higher incidence of psychosis compared to natives, but the influence of migration on psychosis outcomes is little investigated. We aimed to evaluate the occupational outcomes of a first episode psychosis (FEP) sample in Bologna (Northern Italy).MethodsAn incidence cohort of FEP patients presenting at the Bologna West Community Mental Health Centers between 2002 and 2009 was assessed at the baseline and at 12th month follow‐up. Return to school or work was used as occupational outcome.ResultsMost of the patients (82.8%) were still in contact at 12 months. Migrants showed significantly higher rate of return to work compared to natives (adjusted OR 4.45, 95% CI 1.55‐12.76).ConclusionsFirst generation migrants had better occupational outcomes. Further cross‐cultural studies are needed to further explain these findings.
The transition to self‐regulated learning for first‐year dental students: threshold concepts
Authors: Bowman M. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractResearch shows that when students arrive at university they are often not prepared for independent learning. New students enter a period of transition during their first year, which is often characterised by emotional destabilisation, as they move towards becoming more self‐regulating in their new learning environment. In this small‐scale qualitative study, data from an in‐depth pair interview were triangulated with data from a questionnaire, to explore participants' experiences of self‐regulated learning in the first year of a Dental Surgery course. Five threshold concepts relating to learning in transition emerged from the analysis of the data. These concepts were as follows: learning how to learn using a range of self‐chosen sources instead of a single textbook, learning how to organise incoming information without guidance, distinguishing between main ideas and detail during revision, coping with a heavy workload, and knowing what to expect from examinations and coursework. Strong emotions (feeling confused, overwhelmed and scared) were associated with negotiating these threshold concepts. However, the study illustrates how the participants adopted new cognitive and metacognitive strategies to become more self‐regulating over time. The findings of the study suggest that lecturers, tutors, study advisers and peers all have an important role to play in explicitly guiding first‐year students as they grapple with troublesome threshold concepts relating to self‐regulated learning. Furthermore, structural changes to the content‐heavy, lecture‐based curricula often associated with first‐year Medical and Dental courses would help ease students’ transition to independent learning, which may make an impact on student attainment.
Biogeographic bases for a shift in crop C : N : P stoichiometries during domestication
Authors: Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Reich Peter B. , García‐Palacios Pablo , Milla Rubén 
Published: March 2016

AbstractWe lack both a theoretical framework and solid empirical data to understand domestication impacts on plant chemistry. We hypothesised that domestication increased leaf N and P to support high plant production rates, but biogeographic and climate patterns further influenced the magnitude and direction of changes in specific aspects of chemistry and stoichiometry. To test these hypotheses, we used a data set of leaf C, N and P from 21 herbaceous crops and their wild progenitors. Domestication increased leaf N and/or P for 57% of the crops. Moreover, the latitude of the domestication sites (negatively related to temperature) modulated the domestication effects on P (+), C (−), N : P (−) and C : P (−) ratios. Further results from a litter decomposition assay showed that domestication effects on litter chemistry affected the availability of soil N and P. Our findings draw attention to evolutionary effects of domestication legacies on plant and soil stoichiometry and related ecosystem services (e.g. plant yield and soil fertility).
Brain derived neurotrophic factor in multiple sclerosis: effect of 24 weeks endurance and resistance training
Authors: Wens I. , Keytsman C. , Deckx N. , Cools N. , Dalgas U. , Eijnde B. O. 
Published: March 2016

Background and purposeBrain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is suggested to play a neuroprotective role in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the BDNF response to long‐term exercise in MS remains unknown. Our objective was to compare resting BDNF profiles of healthy controls (HCs) and persons with relapsing−remitting MS (RRMS) and to investigate the impact of a 24‐week exercise intervention on serum BDNF release in MS.MethodsAt baseline, blood BDNF levels were assessed in MS (n = 22, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale 2.6 ± 0.2, mean age 43 ± 2 years) and HCs (n = 19, mean age 47 ± 1 year). Next, persons with MS were randomized to an exercise intervention group (EX, n = 15) or a sedentary control group (SED, n = 7) completing a 24‐week randomized controlled trial. In persons with MS, muscle strength, exercise tolerance and body composition were assessed, as compliance measures, at baseline and after 24 weeks.ResultsAt baseline, the BDNF concentration of persons with RRMS was 21% lower than HCs. Following 24 weeks of intervention, changes in BDNF concentrations differed significantly between EX and SED. In particular, within EX BDNF concentrations increased 13.9% ± 8.8%, whereas it decreased 10.5% ± 4.1% within SED. Furthermore, 24 weeks of exercise induced changes in the compliance measures between EX and SED. In addition, within EX muscle strength, exercise tolerance and lean tissue mass improved, whereas these remained stable within SED.ConclusionIn conclusion, BDNF concentration of persons with RRMS was lower compared to HCs and increased after 24 weeks of exercise in persons with MS, compared to the non‐exercise MS control group.
A population‐based study comparing multiple sclerosis clinic users and non‐users in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: McKay K. A. , Tremlett H. , Zhu F. , Kastrukoff L. , Marrie R. A. , Kingwell E. 
Published: March 2016

Background and purposeMuch clinical knowledge about multiple sclerosis (MS) has been gained from patients who attend MS specialty clinics. However, there is limited information about whether these patients are representative of the wider MS population. The objective of this study was to compare incident MS cases who were MS clinic users to non‐users of the specialty MS clinics in British Columbia, Canada.MethodsThis was a retrospective record‐linkage cohort study using prospectively collected data from the British Columbia Multiple Sclerosis database and province‐wide health administrative databases.ResultsThere were 2841 incident MS cases between 1996 and 2004 including 1648 (58%) that had registered at an MS clinic (‘clinic cases’) and 1193 (42%) that had not (‘non‐clinic cases’). Gender and socioeconomic status distributions were similar; however, non‐clinic cases were older, accessed health services more frequently and had a higher burden of comorbidity than clinic cases. Only 1% of the non‐clinic cases had filled a prescription for an MS‐specific disease‐modifying therapy, compared to 51% of the clinic cases.ConclusionsOur findings have several important implications: even within a publicly funded healthcare system, a high proportion of individuals with MS may not access a specialty MS clinic; the needs of MS patients managed in the community may differ from those referred to an MS clinic; findings from studies involving clinic‐based MS cohorts may not always be generalizable to the wider MS population; and access to population‐based health administrative data offers the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of MS.
The Association Between Personality Traits, Morphological Traits and Alternative Mating Behaviour in Male Endler's Guppies, Poecilia wingei
Authors: Řežucha Radomil , Reichard Martin 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAlternative mating behaviour, personality traits and morphological characters are predicted to be correlated. Bolder, larger and more colourful males are expected to preferentially court females, while shy, small and drab‐coloured individuals are predicted to sneak copulations. We used males of Endler's guppy, Poecilia wingei, to test this association over a long temporal period (hence including ontogenetic changes) and under two social environments (male‐biased and female‐biased). We found that personality traits (exploration, boldness, activity) of P. wingei males were highly repeatable across long time spans, but they were not correlated (formed no behavioural syndrome). Male age and social environment had no effect on any personality trait, despite their effects on alternative mating behaviour. Young males with higher activity levels were more likely to attempt sneaking. In older fish, there was an association between orange coloration, courtship and boldness, but this was not observed in young males. Our results suggest that alternative mating behaviour is more flexible than personality traits and is independent of them. Non‐colour‐based morphological traits (gonopodium length, body length, caudal straps length, dorsal fin length) were not correlated with any particular mating behaviour.
Female Attraction to Higher Pitched Male Enticement Calls in Barn Swallows
Authors: Hasegawa Masaru , Arai Emi 
Published: March 2016

AbstractCurrent sexual selection studies demonstrate that female mate preference almost always favors exaggerated male traits, such as colorful plumage and elongated tails. However, such studies focused mainly on secondary sexual characteristics, i.e., traits that are fully developed at maturation, while ignoring others, which precludes generalization of the findings. We studied the expression of the male enticement call, a nestling‐like courtship trait, in relation to female attraction and to the expression of secondary sexual ornaments in the Japanese barn swallowHirundo rustica gutturalis. First, we showed that the peak amplitude frequency of male enticement calls was, on average, lower than that of nestling food‐begging calls, indicating that higher pitched calls are more similar to nestling food‐begging calls than are lower pitched calls. Second, we conducted an experimental playback of male enticement calls during the courtship period with the female's mate removed, and found that females were more attracted to heightened‐pitch calls than to control calls. Lastly, the peak amplitude frequency of male enticement calls was negatively related to the ornamentation, as measured by throat coloration. Taken together, these findings suggest the following: (1) females are attracted to a more nestling‐like trait, and (2) similarity to nestling food‐begging calls increases with decreasing secondary sexual ornaments. Nestling‐like male traits that are not secondary sexual characteristics should be considered when studying the general pattern of female attraction to male traits.
What, if anything, are hybrids: enduring truths and challenges associated with population structure and gene flow
Authors: Gompert Zachariah , Buerkle C. Alex 
Published: March 2016

AbstractHybridization is a potent evolutionary process that can affect the origin, maintenance, and loss of biodiversity. Because of its ecological and evolutionary consequences, an understanding of hybridization is important for basic and applied sciences, including conservation biology and agriculture. Herein, we review and discuss ideas that are relevant to the recognition of hybrids and hybridization. We supplement this discussion with simulations. The ideas we present have a long history, particularly in botany, and clarifying them should have practical consequences for managing hybridization and gene flow in plants. One of our primary goals is to illustrate what we can and cannot infer about hybrids and hybridization from molecular data; in other words, we ask when genetic analyses commonly used to study hybridization might mislead us about the history or nature of gene flow and selection. We focus on patterns of variation when hybridization is recent and populations are polymorphic, which are particularly informative for applied issues, such as contemporary hybridization following recent ecological change. We show that hybridization is not a singular process, but instead a collection of related processes with variable outcomes and consequences. Thus, it will often be inappropriate to generalize about the threats or benefits of hybridization from individual studies, and at minimum, it will be important to avoid categorical thinking about what hybridization and hybrids are. We recommend potential sampling and analytical approaches that should help us confront these complexities of hybridization.
Are hand preference and sexual orientation possible predicting factors for finasteride adverse effects in male androgenic alopecia?
Authors: Motofei Ion G. , Rowland David L. , Georgescu Simona R. , Tampa Mircea , Baleanu Bogdan C. , Paunica Stana 
Published: March 2016

AbstractSexual side effects of finasteride seem to be redoubtable, being encountered not only during therapy but also after treatment cessation. Consequently, any possible clinical/paraclinical elements that might predict these adverse effects would be useful in the selection of a therapeutic strategy for male androgenic alopecia. Previous published studies show that some compounds that interfere with sexual hormones can decrease sexual activation and response, according to hand preference (as reported for finasteride and tamoxifen) and according to sexual orientation (as noted for bicalutamide). Our preliminary published data and the arguments presented here suggest that these two individual parameters might be used by dermatologists in the therapeutic approach of male androgenic alopecia, so as to alert specific subsets of men, prior to treatment, of the potential increased risk for developing adverse effects to finasteride.
Comparison between IV immune globulin (IVIG) and anti‐D globulin for treatment of immune thrombocytopenia: a randomized open‐label study
Authors: Eghbali Aziz , Azadmanesh Peyman , Bagheri Bahador , Taherahmadi Hasan , Sadeghi Sedeh Bahman 
Published: March 2016

AbstractTo compare the effect of IV immune globulin (IVIG) and anti‐D globulin (anti‐D) for treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in children. A randomized, open‐label, single‐center clinical trial was carried out in Amir‐Kabir Hospital (Arak, Iran). The study was performed on 60 children with acute and chronic ITP, aged from 1 to 15 years. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to 50 μg/kg anti‐D or 1 g/kg IVIG. Platelet counting was performed at baseline and at 3, 7, and 14 days after treatment termination. Safety assessment was performed in all patients. Anti‐D caused a quicker response on the 3rd day of treatment (P < 0.001). Both drugs caused a significant rise in number of platelets on the 7th and the 14th day of treatment. Compared to IVIG, except a significant drop in hemoglobin concentration (P < 0.001), anti‐D had lower rate of side effects including fever (P < 0.05), allergy (P < 0.01), and headache (P < 0.001). Our results showed that anti‐D was associated with rapid rise of platelets compared to IVIG. In addition, anti‐D treatment had acceptable safety profile.
Debt Brakes in the German States: Governments’ Rhetoric and Actions
Authors: Potrafke Niklas , Riem Marina , Schinke Christoph 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
In 2009, a new law on German debt brakes was passed: state governments are not allowed to run structural deficits after 2020. Consolidation strategies initiated between 2009 and 2020 influence if a state can comply with the debt brake in 2020. We describe to what extent government ideology predicts if state governments consolidate budgets and which fiscal adjustment path they choose. Attitudes toward budget consolidation, as expressed by politicians’ rhetoric in the public debate, differed among parties. Anecdotal evidence and descriptive statistics indicate that leftwing governments ran on average higher structural deficits than rightwing governments between 2010 and 2014. Primary deficits, however, hardly differed under leftwing and rightwing governments. Revenues of federal taxes were much higher than expected and facilitated budget consolidation. Leftwing governments did not need to run deficits to design generous budgets. It is conceivable that parties confirmed their identity by using expressive rhetoric, but responded to shifts in public opinion after the financial crisis and pursued more sustainable fiscal policies when in office.
Solute Migration from the Aquifer Matrix into a Solution Conduit and the Reverse
Authors: Li Guangquan , Field Malcolm S. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractA solution conduit has a permeable wall allowing for water exchange and solute transfer between the conduit and its surrounding aquifer matrix. In this paper, we use Laplace Transform to solve a one‐dimensional equation constructed using the Euler approach to describe advective transport of solute in a conduit, a production‐value problem. Both nonuniform cross‐section of the conduit and nonuniform seepage at the conduit wall are considered in the solution. Physical analysis using the Lagrangian approach and a lumping method is performed to verify the solution. Two‐way transfer between conduit water and matrix water is also investigated by using the solution for the production‐value problem as a first‐order approximation. The approximate solution agrees well with the exact solution if dimensionless travel time in the conduit is an order of magnitude smaller than unity. Our analytical solution is based on the assumption that the spatial and/or temporal heterogeneity in the wall solute flux is the dominant factor in the spreading of spring‐breakthrough curves, and conduit dispersion is only a secondary mechanism. Such an approach can lead to the better understanding of water exchange and solute transfer between conduits and aquifer matrix.Highlights:
Euler and Lagrangian approaches are used to solve transport in conduit.
Two‐way transfer between conduit and matrix is investigated.
The solution is applicable to transport in conduit of persisting solute from matrix.
Colonic mucosubmucosal elongated polyp: report of a series of 14 cases and review of the literature
Authors: Ali Rola H , Mohammad Nissreen M , Serra Stefano , Chetty Runjan 
Published: March 2016

AimsMost colorectal polyps can be reliably assigned to one of the known polyp categories, but a subset of polyps named colonic mucosubmucosal elongated polyps (CMSEPs) do not fall into any of these categories. First described in the Japanese literature, CMSEPs seem to be under‐recognized in the Western literature. The aims of this study were to describe the clinicopathological features of 14 CMSEPs, discuss potential pathogenetic mechanisms, and increase awareness of this entity among pathologists.Methods and resultsFourteen pedunculated colorectal polyps that met the histopathological criteria for CMSEP (as described by Matake et al. and Alizart et al.) were assessed (12 males and two females; mean age 59.7 years). Five polyps were located in the sigmoid colon, four in the rectum, two in the descending colon, and three in the colon not otherwise specified. Nine of 14 polyps were discovered incidentally: two of nine on routine screening colonoscopy, two of nine on surveillance colonoscopy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and five of nine upon surgical intervention for carcinoma or IBD. None coexisted with diverticular disease. The polyps were long and slender, varied from 5 to 30 mm in length (mean 15.9 mm), and showed a normal‐looking colonic mucosal layer and underlying loose submucosa with thick‐walled and congested blood vessels and lymphatics.ConclusionsCMSEPs show subtle but distinctive pathological features, and occur in normal and diseased colons. Pathologists need to be aware of this entity, to avoid confusion with other more commonly encountered colorectal polyps. With increasing colon cancer screening programmes and surveillance colonoscopy, it is likely that CMSEPs will be encountered more often.