bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Advances in endoscopic surgery for small animal reproduction
Authors: Katic N , Dupré G 
Published: September 2016

ContentsAlthough endoscopic surgery entered its “golden era” in the mid‐1980s, it is still advancing at a tremendous pace. Novel surgical techniques and devices are continuously developed and applied, and new indications (and/or contraindications) for the use of endoscopic surgery are routinely reported in the literature and subjected to systematic assessments. Although endoscopic surgery (laparoscopy in particular) has already become established as the gold standard in human medicine, it has yet to be proven as a viable alternative to open surgery in the field of veterinary medicine. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery include better intra‐operative visualization, reduced postoperative pain, reduced scar formation and increased postoperative mobility. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the application of this will continue to expand. Small animal reproduction, a field within the broad discipline of veterinary medicine, has already recognized and begun to reap the benefits of endoscopic surgery. Herein, we retrospectively review the most recent successful novel applications of endoscopic surgery in the small animal reproduction system to provide small animal reproductive surgeons with important knowledge to help improve their own veterinarian medical practice.
Assessment of canine neonatal viability—the Apgar score
Authors: Veronesi MC 
Published: September 2016

ContentsPerinatal mortality is relatively high in dogs, with deaths peaking around the time of birth and during the first week of age. Among the several causes of canine perinatal mortality, whelping is the greatest cause. Therefore, early neonatal assistance at birth should be mandatory with dogs. In comparison with human neonatology, knowledge and technological ability in canine neonatology is tremendously scarce. The Apgar score for the newborn viability assessment at birth represents a feasible method for the prompt recognition of newborns that will need special assistance immediately after birth. The five parameters of the Apgar score were adapted to the canine species by different studies. Advantages and limits, as well as clinical applications, are presented and discussed in further detail. It was concluded that the Apgar score represents the easiest and simplest, non‐invasive and reliable method, that could be performed under every clinical and practical condition, for newborn puppies viability evaluations and short‐term survival prognosis.
An overview of peatland restoration in North America: where are we after 25 years?
Authors: Chimner Rodney A. , Cooper David J. , Wurster Frederic C. , Rochefort Line 
Published: September 2016

AbstractPeatland restoration in North America (NA) was initiated approximately 25 years ago on peat‐extracted bogs. Recent advances in peatland restoration in NA have expanded the original concepts and methodology. Restoration efforts in NA now include restoring peatlands from many diverse types of disturbances (e.g. roads, agriculture, grazing, erosion, forestry, and petrol industry infrastructure impacts) and occur in a greater array of peatland types (e.g. fens and swamps). Because fens are groundwater and surface flow driven, techniques to restore the hydrology of fens are generally more complicated than bogs. Restoring a greater variety of peatland types on a large‐scale basis (>10 ha) commands new techniques for reestablishing a broader array of plants other than Sphagnum spp., including non‐Sphagnum mosses, sedges, nonericaceous shrubs, and trees. The rationale for restoring peatlands has expanded to include legal requirements, wetland mitigation and banking, climate mitigation, water quality, and as part of responsible ecosystem management for industry or society. In the past 25 years, peatland restoration in NA has evolved from (1) trial and error to a more empirically based scientific approach, (2) small site‐specific experiments to landscape‐scale restoration (e.g. hydrological connectivity, ecological fragmentation), and (3) individual stakeholder (academic) to multiple stakeholders across jurisdictional boundaries (private, local, and regional governmental agencies, NGOs, and so on). However, many research gaps still exist that must be addressed to enhance our ability to restore peatlands successfully.
Hydrologic restoration in a dynamic subtropical mangrove‐to‐marsh ecotone
Authors: Howard Rebecca J. , Day Richard H. , Krauss Ken W. , From Andrew S. , Allain Larry , Cormier Nicole 
Published: September 2016

AbstractExtensive hydrologic modifications in coastal regions across the world have occurred to support infrastructure development, altering the function of many coastal wetlands. Wetland restoration success is dependent on the existence of hydrologic regimes that support development of appropriate soils and the growth and persistence of wetland vegetation. In Florida, United States, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program (CERP) seeks to restore, protect, and preserve water resources of the greater Everglades region. Herein we describe vegetation dynamics in a mangrove‐to‐marsh ecotone within the impact area of a CERP hydrologic restoration project currently under development. Vegetation communities are also described for a similar area outside the project area. We found that vegetation shifts within the impact area occurred over a 7‐year period; cover of herbaceous species varied by location, and an 88% increase in the total number of mangrove seedlings was documented. We attribute these shifts to the existing modified hydrologic regime, which is characterized by a low volume of freshwater sheet flow compared with historical conditions (i.e. before modification), as well as increased tidal influence. We also identified a significant trend of decreasing soil surface elevation at the impact area. The CERP restoration project is designed to increase freshwater sheet flow to the impact area. Information from our study characterizing existing vegetation dynamics prior to implementation of the restoration project is required to allow documentation of long‐term project effects on plant community composition and structure within a framework of background variation, thereby allowing assessment of the project's success in restoring critical ecosystem functions.
Probing the global kinome and phosphoproteome in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii via sequential enrichment and quantitative proteomics
Authors: Werth Emily G. , McConnell Evan W. , Gilbert Thomas S. Karim , Couso Lianez Inmaculada , Perez Carlos A. , Manley Cherrel K. , Graves Lee M. , Umen James G. , Hicks Leslie M. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryThe identification of dynamic protein phosphorylation events is critical for understanding kinase/phosphatase‐regulated signaling pathways. To date, protein phosphorylation and kinase expression have been examined independently in photosynthetic organisms. Here we present a method to study the global kinome and phosphoproteome in tandem in a model photosynthetic organism, the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Chlamydomonas), using mass spectrometry‐based label‐free proteomics. A dual enrichment strategy targets intact protein kinases via capture on immobilized multiplexed inhibitor beads with subsequent proteolytic digestion of unbound proteins and peptide‐based phosphorylation enrichment. To increase depth of coverage, both data‐dependent and data‐independent (via SWATH, Sequential Windowed Acquisition of All Theoretical Fragment Ion Mass Spectra) mass spectrometric acquisitions were performed to obtain a more than 50% increase in coverage of the enriched Chlamydomonas kinome over coverage found with no enrichment. The quantitative phosphoproteomic dataset yielded 2250 phosphopeptides and 1314 localized phosphosites with excellent reproducibility across biological replicates (90% of quantified sites with coefficient of variation below 11%). This approach enables simultaneous investigation of kinases and phosphorylation events at the global level to facilitate understanding of kinase networks and their influence in cell signaling events.
A survey of the use of arterial catheters in anesthetized dogs and cats: 267 cases
Authors: Trim Cynthia M. , Hofmeister Erik H. , Quandt Jane E. , Shepard Molly K. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractObjectivesTo describe the clinical practice of insertion of arterial catheters in anesthetized dogs and cats, to document complications of arterial catheterization, and to determine risk factors associated with the complications.DesignProspective clinical study and retrospective evaluation of medical records.SettingUniversity teaching hospital.AnimalsDogs (n = 251) and 13 cats anesthetized for clinical procedures with arterial catheters inserted for blood pressure monitoring.InterventionsNone.Measurements and Main ResultsDetails of the animal and catheter were collected at the time of anesthesia. On the following day, the catheter site was palpated and observed for abnormalities and the medical records of all animals were reviewed retrospectively for complications. Details of catheter placement were available for 216 catheters: 158 catheters in a dorsal pedal artery, 50 catheters in the median caudal (coccygeal) artery, 6 in the median artery, and 1 each in a cranial tibial and lingual artery. Blood pressure was obtained from 200 catheters, and 12 catheters failed before the end of anesthesia. Postoperative observational data obtained from 112 catheters described a palpable arterial pulse at 73 sites and no pulse at 21 sites. No risk factor for arterial occlusion was identified. No complications resulting from arterial catheterization were noted in the medical records.ConclusionsArterial catheterization resulted in loss of a peripheral pulse postoperatively in 21/94 (22.3%) of animals examined, although no evidence of tissue ischemia was noted in the medical records of any of the patients in this study. These results suggest that insertion of a catheter in the dorsal pedal or coccygeal arteries was not associated with a high risk for complications. However, the course of arterial occlusion postoperatively warrants further investigation.
Cost‐effectiveness of negative pressure wound therapy in patients with many comorbidities and severe wounds of various etiology
Authors: Driver Vickie R. , Eckert Kristen A. , Carter Marissa J. , French Michael A. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTThis study analyzed a cross‐section of patients with severe chronic wounds and multiple comorbidities at an outpatient wound clinic, with regard to the cost‐effectiveness and cost‐benefit of negative pressure wound therapy (intervention) vs. no negative pressure wound therapy (control) at 1 and 2 years. Medicare reimbursement charges for wound care were used to calculate costs. Amputation charges were assessed using diagnosis‐related groups. Cost‐benefit analysis was based on ulcer‐free months and cost‐effectiveness on quality‐adjusted life‐years. Undiscounted costs, benefits, quality‐adjusted life‐years, undiscounted and discounted incremental net health benefits, and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios were calculated for unmatched and matched cohorts. There were 150 subjects in the intervention group and 154 controls before matching and 103 subjects in each of the matched cohorts. Time to heal for the intervention cohort was significantly shorter compared to the controls (270 vs. 635 days,p = 1.0 × 10−7, matched cohorts). The intervention cohort had higher benefits and quality‐adjusted life‐year gains compared to the control cohort at years 1 and 2; by year 2, the gains were 68–73% higher. In the unmatched cohorts, the incremental net health benefit was $9,933 per ulcer‐free month at year 2 for the intervention; the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was −825,271 per quality‐adjusted life‐year gained (undiscounted costs and benefits). For the matched cohorts, the incremental net health benefits was only $1,371 per ulcer‐free month for the intervention, but the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was $366,683 per quality‐adjusted life‐year gained for year 2 (discounted costs and benefits). In a patient population with severe chronic wounds and serious comorbidities, negative pressure wound therapy resulted in faster healing wounds and was more cost‐effective with greater cost‐benefits than not using negative pressure wound therapy. Regarding overall cost‐effectiveness, the intervention was still expensive, but that is the reality amidst limited treatment options for such serious cases of chronic wounds.
The phylogenomic forest of bird trees contains a hard polytomy at the root of Neoaves
Authors: Suh Alexander 
Published: September 2016

Birds have arguably been the most intensely studied animal group for their phylogenetic relationships. However, the recent advent of genome‐scale phylogenomics has made the forest of bird phylogenies even more complex and confusing. Here, in this perspective piece, I show that most parts of the avian Tree of Life are now firmly established as reproducible phylogenetic hypotheses. This is to the exception of the deepest relationships among Neoaves. Using phylogenetic networks and simulations, I argue that the very onset of the super‐rapid neoavian radiation is irresolvable because of eight near‐simultaneous speciation events. Such a hard polytomy of nine taxa translates into 2 027 025 possible rooted bifurcating trees. Accordingly, recent genome‐scale phylogenies show extremely complex conflicts in this (and only this) part of the avian Tree of Life. I predict that the upcoming years of avian phylogenomics will witness many more, highly conflicting tree topologies regarding the early neoavian polytomy. I further caution against bootstrapping in the era of genomics and suggest to instead use reproducibility (e.g. independent methods or data types) as support for phylogenetic hypotheses. The early neoavian polytomy coincides with the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K‐Pg) mass extinction and is, to my knowledge, the first empirical example of a hard polytomy.
Leptin modifies the prosecretory and prokinetic effects of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 on colonic function in Sprague–Dawley rats
Authors: Buckley Maria M. , O'Brien Rebecca , Devlin Michelle , Creed Aisling A. , Rae Mark G. , Hyland Niall P. , Quigley Eamonn M. M. , McKernan Declan P. , O'Malley Dervla 
Published: September 2016

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Does crosstalk exist between leptin and interleukin‐6 in colonic enteric neurons, and is this a contributory factor in gastrointestinal dysfunction associated with irritable bowel syndrome?

What is the main finding and its importance?
Leptin ameliorates the prosecretory and prokinetic effects of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 on rat colon. Leptin also suppresses the neurostimulatory effects of irritable bowel syndrome plasma, which has elevated concentrations of interleukin‐6, on enteric neurons. This may indicate a regulatory role for leptin in immune‐mediated bowel dysfunction.

In addition to its role in regulating energy homeostasis, the adipokine leptin modifies gastrointestinal (GI) function. Indeed, leptin‐resistant obese humans and leptin‐deficient obese mice exhibit altered GI motility. In the functional GI disorder irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), circulating leptin concentrations are reported to differ from those of healthy control subjects. Additionally, IBS patients display altered cytokine profiles, including elevated circulating concentrations of the pro‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), which bears structural homology and similarities in intracellular signalling to leptin. This study aimed to investigate interactions between leptin and IL‐6 in colonic neurons and their possible contribution to IBS pathophysiology. The functional effects of leptin and IL‐6 on colonic contractility and absorptosecretory function were assessed in organ baths and Ussing chambers in Sprague–Dawley rat colon. Calcium imaging and immunohistochemical techniques were used to investigate the neural regulation of GI function by these signalling molecules. Our findings provide a neuromodulatory role for leptin in submucosal neurons, where it inhibited the stimulatory effects of IL‐6. Functionally, this translated to suppression of IL‐6‐evoked potentiation of veratridine‐induced secretory currents. Leptin also attenuated IL‐6‐induced colonic contractions, although it had little direct effect on myenteric neurons. Calcium responses evoked by IBS plasma in both myenteric and submucosal neurons were also suppressed by leptin, possibly through interactions with IL‐6, which is elevated in IBS plasma. As leptin has the capacity to ameliorate the neurostimulatory effects of soluble mediators in IBS plasma and modulated IL‐6‐evoked changes in bowel function, leptin may have a role in immune‐mediated bowel dysfunction in IBS patients.
Simulation of Long Semi-Flexible Fiber Orientation During Injection Molding
Authors: Chen Hongyu , Wapperom Peter , Baird Donald G. 
Published: September 2016

Fiber orientation simulation is conducted for the Center-Gated-Disk (CGD) geometry and compared with experimental data. Long-fiber thermoplastic composites (LFTs) possess competitive advantages over short glass fiber composites in terms of their mechanical properties while retain the ability to be injection molded. Mechanical properties of LFTs are highly dependent on the microstructural variables imparted by the injection molding process including fiber orientation and fiber length distribution. As the fiber length increased, the mechanical properties of the composites containing discontinuous fibers can approach those of continuous fiber materials. Several researchers have reported that flexural, creep and charpy impact properties increase as fiber length increases, while tensile modulus will plateau for glass fibers above 1 mm in length. Fibers less than the 1 mm threshold have been considered to be short while fibers with lengths greater than 1 mm are considered long. For long fibers, they will have the ability to deform, bend and even break during any stage of polymer processing.
There is a lack of knowledge about the effects of fiber length and fiber length variation on fiber orientation kinetics. This lack of information provides an opportunity to understand the length effect inherent to long fibers systems. The Bead-Rod fiber orientation model takes into account the flexibility of semi-flexible fibers that show small bending angles. In this model, a flexibility parameter representing the resistive bending potential is fiber length dependent (detailed explanation can be found in the reference)1. This work is concerned with the effect of fiber length on the performance of the Bead-Rod fiber orientation model which takes into account the flexibility of semi-flexible fibers. Different averaging techniques are used to represent the average fiber length for the population of fibers, which give different fiber length parameters for the Bead-Rod model. The sensitivity of the Bead-Rod model is evaluated with regard to the fiber flexibility parameter, k, and length parameter, lb. The other phenomenal parameters within the orientation model are obtained via basic rheological measurements using simple shear flow. As the value of average fiber length Lav increases and the corresponding flexibility parameter value decreases, the core regions become wider and the flow direction orientation gradually decreases especially near the walls for the Bead-Rod model predictions. In addition, as the parameters favor longer fiber lengths, the predicted extent of fiber bending increases. The simulation results are also compared with the experimental obtained fiber orientation at different flow length along the thickness direction. The Bead-Rod model shows improvement over the rigid rod model.
Tip-Based Nanomanufacturing (TBN) of Nanofluidics Using AFM
Authors: Promyoo Rapeepan , El-Mounayri Hazim , Karingula Varun Kumar , Varahramyan Kody 
Published: September 2016

Recent developments in science and engineering have advanced the atomic manufacturing of nanoscale structures, allowing for improved high-performance technologies. The challenge now is to expand nanomanufacturing capabilities in order to fabricate a broader range of structures with higher complexity, greater precision and accuracy, and with substantially improved performance. Also, reducing the cost by avoiding the use of expensive equipment/processes is highly desirable. While current nanomanufacturing capabilities limit the commercialization of such nanoscale structures, AFM-based nanomachining is a promising tool to address issues and is considered a potential manufacturing tool for operations including machining, patterning, and assembling with in situ metrology and visualization. Most existing techniques used in the fabrication of nanofluidic channels involved the use of electron-beam lithography systems, which are very expensive processes. In addition, one of the issues associated with electron-beam lithography is when the base material is changed; the energy of ejecting electrons needs to be adjusted. This results in time spending on developing the formula for different material. In this work, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is employed in the fabrication of a nanofluidic device for medical applications. Nanofluidic channels with various depths and widths are fabricated using AFM indentation and scratching techniques. Nanoscale channel is mainly used in the study of molecular behavior at single molecule level. The interaction of molecules with the nanochannels at persistence length has led to a new way of detecting, analyzing and separating these biomolecules. The resulting device from the current work can be used for the DNA stretching application and the separation of elite group of lysosome and other viruses.
The nanochannels are integrated between the microchannels and act as a filter to separate biomolecules. Sharply developed vertical microchannels are produced from a deep reaction ion etching followed by deposition of different materials such as gold and polymer on the top surface in order to study alternative ways of manufacturing the nanofluidic device. PDMS bonding is performed to close the top surface of the device. An experimental setup is used to test and validate the device by flowing fluid through the channels. A detailed cost evaluation is conducted to assess the economical merits of the proposed process. It is shown that there is 47.7% manufacturing-time savings and 60.6% manufacturing-cost savings, when using the proposed process compared to more traditional processes.