bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Independent risk factors for a small placenta and a small‐for‐gestational‐age infant at 35–41 weeks of gestation: An association with circulating angiogenesis‐related factor levels at 19–31 weeks of gestation
Authors: Hirashima Chikako , Ohkuchi Akihide , Takahashi Kayo , Suzuki Hirotada , Shirasuna Koumei , Matsubara Shigeki 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAimOur aim was to investigate the effects of angiogenesis‐related factor levels at 19–25 and 26–31 weeks of gestation (WG) on the later occurrence of a small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) placenta (small placenta) or an SGA infant delivered at 35–41 WG.MethodsWe measured plasma levels of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt‐1) and placental growth factor (PlGF), and the serum level of soluble endoglin (sEng) in 679 pregnant women with blood sampling at both 19–25 and 26–31 WG in a prospective study. A small placenta and an SGA infant were defined as <10th percentile, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using maternal factors, a high mean pulsatility index (high mPI) of the uterine artery in the second trimester, and angiogenesis‐related factor levels.ResultsRegarding the occurrence of a small placenta, low PlGF at 19–25 WG (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.4 [1.01–5.7]) and a high mPI (2.5 [1.4–4.3]) were independent risk factors. Moreover, low PlGF at 26–31 WG (3.3 [1.5–7.0]) was also an independent risk factor after adjusting for the effect of mPI. Concerning the occurrence of an SGA infant, a high mPI (2.8 [1.6–5.2]) and high sEng at 26–31 WG (2.3 [1.2–4.5]) were independent risk factors.ConclusionLow levels of PlGF at 19–25 and 26–31 WG were independent risk factors for a small placenta at ≥35 WG; and a high sEng at 26–31 WG was an independent risk factor for an SGA infant at ≥35 WG.
Number of parity and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women: A dose–response meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Ren Lei , Guo Peng , Sun Qiao‐Mei , Liu Hong , Chen Yu , Huang Ying , Cai Xiao‐Jun 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAimThe association between parity and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk has been investigated, but results are controversial. Thus, our aim was to systematically analyze the effect of number of parity on the risk of RA in women.MethodsRelevant published studies were identified using PubMed and embase databases through 1 April 2016. We pooled the relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using random‐effects models.ResultsIn all, 12 studies with a total of 2 497 580 participants and 11 521 RA cases were included. A borderline significant inverse association was observed when we compared parity with nulliparity for RA, with summarized RR = 0.90 (95%CI: 0.79–1.02; I2 = 58.5%, Pheterogeneity = 0.010). In dose–response analysis, we observed a significant nonlinear (Pnonlinearity = 0.000) relation between parity number and the risk of RA. Compared with null parity, the pooled RR of RA were 0.89 (95%CI: 0.86–0.93), 0.84 (95%CI: 0.79–0.89), 0.85 (95%CI: 0.79–0.90), 0.88 (95%CI: 0.81–0.95), 0.90 (95%CI: 0.83–0.97), 0.92 (95%CI: 0.84–1.02), and 0.94 (95%CI: 0.83–1.07) for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 live births, respectively. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses showed similar associations. No publication bias was found.ConclusionThe findings from the current meta‐analysis indicate that parity was related to decreased risk of RA. The greatest risk reduction appeared when the parity number reached two. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings.
Primary care interventions to reduce childhood obesity and sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption: Food for thought for oral health professionals
Authors: Dooley Diane , Moultrie Nicolette M. , Sites Elsbeth , Crawford Patricia B. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectivesChildhood obesity remains a significant threat to America's children. Health care leaders have increasingly called upon oral health professionals to integrate healthy weight promotion and enhanced sugar‐sweetened beverage counseling into their professional practices. The aim of this scoping review is to examine recent evidence regarding the effectiveness of primary care childhood obesity interventions that have potential for adoption by oral health professionals.MethodsMedine, and PubMed were searched from 2010 to 2016 for review articles and studies reporting patient outcomes or policy outcomes relevant to primary care childhood obesity interventions for children ages 2–11 years. Additional articles were accessed through relevant websites, journals, and references. Our screening criteria included interventions that could be adopted by oral health professionals.ResultsForty‐two articles met inclusion criteria. Effective interventions fell into four domains: family‐based programs, motivational interviewing, office‐based practice tools, and policy interventions. Despite strong evidence linking the consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages to childhood obesity, our review did not find evidence of primary care programs effectively targeting and reducing childhood sugary drinks.ConclusionsEffective primary care interventions for addressing childhood obesity have been identified, although only short‐term effectiveness has been demonstrated. Dissemination of these practices as well as further research and advocacy are needed. Childhood obesity and poor oral health share many common risk factors. Additional research should focus on the benefits and feasibility of widespread interdisciplinary medical‐oral health collaboration in addressing the two most prevalent diseases of childhood.
Supraspinal inhibitory effects of chimeric peptide MCRT on gastrointestinal motility in mice
Authors: He Chunbo , Li Hailan , Zhang Jing , Kang Yanping , Jia Fang , Dong Shouliang , Zhou Lanxia 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Objectives
Chimeric peptide MCRT, based on morphiceptin and PFRTic-NH2, was a bifunctional ligand of μ- and δ-opioid receptors (MOR-DOR) and produced potent analgesia in tail-withdrawal test. The study focused on the supraspinal effects of morphiceptin, PFRTic-NH2 and MCRT on gastrointestinal motility. Moreover, opioid receptor antagonists, naloxone (non-selective), cyprodime (MOR selective) and naltrindole (DOR selective) were utilized to explore the mechanisms.

Methods
Intracerebroventricular administration was achieved via the implanted cannula. Gastric emptying and intestinal transit were measured to evaluate gastrointestinal motility.

Key findings
(1) At supraspinal level, morphiceptin, PFRTic-NH2 and MCRT significantly decreased gastric emptying and intestinal transit; (2) MCRT at 1 nmol/mouse, far higher than its analgesic dose (ED50 = 29.8 pmol/mouse), failed to regulate the gastrointestinal motility; (3) MCRT-induced gastrointestinal dysfunction could be completely blocked by naloxone and naltrindole, but not affected by cyprodime.

Conclusions
(1) Morphiceptin and PFRTic-NH2 played important roles in the regulation of gastrointestinal motility; (2) MCRT possessed higher bioactivity of pain relief than gastrointestinal regulation, suggesting its promising analgesic property; (3) MCRT-induced motility disorders were sensitive to DOR but not to MOR blockade, indicating the pain-relieving specificity of speculated MOR subtype or splice variant or MOR-DOR heterodimer.
Sleep structure in blindness is influenced by circadian desynchrony
Authors: Aubin Sébrina , Jennum Poul , Nielsen Tore , Kupers Ron , Ptito Maurice 
Published: June 2017

SummaryWe examined the structure, duration and quality of sleep, including non‐rapid eye movement sleep and rapid eye movement sleep, in 11 blind individuals without conscious light perception and 11 age‐ and sex‐matched sighted controls. Because blindness is associated with a greater incidence of free‐running circadian rhythms, we controlled for circadian phase by a measure of melatonin onset timing. When circadian rhythm was entrained and melatonin onset occurred at normal times, sleep structure did not differ between blind and sighted individuals. On the other hand, an abnormal timing of the circadian phase, including delayed, shifted and unclassifiable melatonin onsets, led to larger rapid eye movement sleep latencies and increased wake times. No differences were observed for stages of non‐rapid eye movement sleep, either between congenital and late blind and sighted individuals, or across the different circadian phases. Moreover, abnormal circadian phases were more common in the blind (n = 5) than the sighted (n = 2) sample. Our findings suggest that the sleep structure of blind individuals depends on entrainment of circadian phase, rather than on the absence of vision.
Genomewide transcriptional reprogramming in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa under experimental ocean acidification
Authors: Ruocco Miriam , Musacchia Francesco , Olivé Irene , Costa Monya M. , Barrote Isabel , Santos Rui , Sanges Remo , Procaccini Gabriele , Silva João 
Published: June 2017

AbstractHere, we report the first use of massive‐scale RNA‐sequencing to explore seagrass response to CO2‐driven ocean acidification (OA). Large‐scale gene expression changes in the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa occurred at CO2 levels projected by the end of the century. C. nodosa transcriptome was obtained using Illumina RNA‐Seq technology and de novo assembly, and differential gene expression was explored in plants exposed to short‐term high CO2/low pH conditions. At high pCO2, there was a significant increased expression of transcripts associated with photosynthesis, including light reaction functions and CO2 fixation, and also to respiratory pathways, specifically for enzymes involved in glycolysis, in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and in the energy metabolism of the mitochondrial electron transport. The upregulation of respiratory metabolism is probably supported by the increased availability of photosynthates and increased energy demand for biosynthesis and stress‐related processes under elevated CO2 and low pH. The upregulation of several chaperones resembling heat stress‐induced changes in gene expression highlighted the positive role these proteins play in tolerance to intracellular acid stress in seagrasses. OA further modifies C. nodosa secondary metabolism inducing the transcription of enzymes related to biosynthesis of carbon‐based secondary compounds, in particular the synthesis of polyphenols and isoprenoid compounds that have a variety of biological functions including plant defence. By demonstrating which physiological processes are most sensitive to OA, this research provides a major advance in the understanding of seagrass metabolism in the context of altered seawater chemistry from global climate change.
Exogenously applied dsRNA molecules deriving from the Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) genome move systemically and protect cucurbits against ZYMV
Authors: Kaldis Athanasios , Berbati Margarita , Melita Ourania , Reppa Chrysavgi , Holeva Maria , Otten Patricia , Voloudakis Andreas 
Published: June 2017

SummaryZucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) causes serious damage in a large number of cucurbits, and control measures are necessary. Transgenic cucurbits expressing parts of the ZYMV genome have been shown to be resistant to the cognate virus. A non‐transgenic approach involving the exogenous application of double‐stranded RNA (dsRNA) has also been shown to induce resistance in tobacco against Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). In the present study, dsRNA molecules derived from the helper component‐proteinase (HC‐Pro) and coat protein (CP) genes of the ZYMV_DE_2014 isolate were produced in vitro. On exogenous dsRNA application in cucumber, watermelon and squash plants, dsRNA HC‐Pro conferred resistance of 82%, 50% and 18%, and dsRNA CP molecules of 70%, 43% and 16%, respectively. On deep sequencing analysis of ZYMV‐infected watermelon, hot‐spot regions for viral small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs) in the genome of ZYMV were identified. Stem‐loop reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) detection of selected 21‐nucleotide‐long vsiRNAs in plants that received only dsRNA molecules suggested that the dsRNAs exogenously applied onto plants were successfully diced, thus initiating RNA silencing. dsRNA molecules were found to be progressively degraded in planta, and strongly detected by semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR for at least 9 days after exogenous application. Moreover, dsRNA molecules were detected in systemic tissue of watermelon and squash, showing that dsRNA is transported long distances in these plants.
Mapping quantitative trait loci controlling soybean seed starch content in an interspecific cross of ‘Williams 82’ (Glycine max) and ‘PI 366121’ (Glycine soja)
Authors: Dhungana Sanjeev K. , Kulkarni Krishnanand P. , Park Cheol W. , Jo Hyun , Song Jong T. , Shin Dong‐Hyun , Lee Jeong‐Dong 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSeed starch content (SSC) greatly affects the taste, flavour and processing properties of soy foods. The objective in this study was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for SSC in soybean. A total in 169 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross in ‘Williams 82’ and ‘PI 366121’ were grown for three consecutive years. The SSC of the RILs displayed continuous variation with transgressive segregation and hence amenable for QTL mapping. Nine significant QTL exhibiting 5.6–11.3% of the total phenotypic variation (PVE) were identified. The QTL qSTR06_2 showed highest PVE (9.1–11.3%) at LOD values of 4.25–5.39. No stable QTL over 3 years were identified, indicating strong environmental influence on SSC. The QTL qSTR11_1 and qSTR20_1 were found to colocalize with some of the previously reported QTL for sucrose content in soybean, implying the interrelationship between starch and sucrose biosynthesis. As the carbohydrate components may affect key constituents such as oil and protein in soybean seed, findings of the study may be useful in breeding soybeans with improved seed composition.
Transcriptome‐based prediction of hybrid performance with unbalanced data from a maize breeding programme
Authors: Zenke‐Philippi Carola , Frisch Matthias , Thiemann Alexander , Seifert Felix , Schrag Tobias , Melchinger Albrecht E. , Scholten Stefan , Herzog Eva 
Published: June 2017

AbstractmRNA transcription profiles are an alternative to DNA markers for predicting hybrid performance. Our objective was to investigate their prediction accuracy in an unbalanced maize data set. We focused on the effectiveness of preselecting a core set of genes for transcription profiling and on the comparison of prediction models. A total of 254 hybrids were evaluated for grain yield and grain dry matter content. The mRNA transcripts of a core set of 2k genes and the genotype of 1k AFLP markers were assessed in the parental lines. Predictions based on transcriptome‐based distances determined from the 2k core set of genes resulted in prediction accuracies below 0.5 and could not reach the high accuracies observed with a 46k micro‐array in earlier studies. Predictions based on ridge regression resulted in prediction accuracies greater 0.6. Only marginal differences were observed in the prediction accuracies of mRNA transcripts compared with AFLPs. We conclude that mRNA transcription profiles are suitable for hybrid prediction with ridge‐regression models in unbalanced designs, even if limited resources allow only transcription profiling of a core set of genes.
Autonomic nervous system function in adolescent migraineurs
Authors: Yoshida Seiji , Tanaka Hidetaka , Mizutani Midori , Nakao Ryota , Okamoto Naoyuki , Kajiura Mitsugu , Kanbara Yukiko , Tamai Hiroshi 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundMigraine is a common and disabling neurological disorder. Studies on the relationship between migraine and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) have been inconclusive. Moreover, pediatric studies are extremely limited. Therefore, the present study investigated interictal ANS function in adolescent migraineurs.MethodsWe studied 21 patients with migraine and 26 healthy controls. Beat‐to‐beat blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were non‐invasively and continuously measured in the supine and standing positions. ANS function was evaluated on power spectral analysis of HR variability and diastolic BP (DBP) variability.ResultsHeart rate and systolic BP were not different between the two groups in either the supine or standing position. DBP did not differ between groups in the standing position, but was significantly higher in migraineurs in the supine position. The vasoconstrictor index was significantly higher in migraineurs. High‐frequency (HF) RR interval variability (RR‐HF) and the ratio of the low‐frequency (LF) to HF component of RR interval variability (RR‐LF/HF) were not different between the two groups in both positions. The LF component of DBP variability (DBP‐LF) in the supine position was significantly lower in migraineurs, while DBP‐LF during standing in migraineurs was significantly higher than in controls.ConclusionMigraineurs have significantly lower sympathetic vasomotor activity in the supine position, while sympathetic vasomotor activity was hyperresponsive during standing.
Older adults display diminished error processing and response in a continuous tracking task
Authors: Colino Francisco L. , Howse Harvey , Norton Angela , Trska Robert , Pluta Anthony , Luehr Stephen J. C. , Handy Todd C. , Krigolson Olave E. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAdvancing age is often accompanied by a decline in motor control that results in a decreased ability to successfully perform motor tasks. While there are multiple factors that contribute to age‐related deficits in motor control, one unexplored possibility is that age‐related deficits in our ability to evaluate motor output result in an increase in motor errors. In line with this, previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that motor errors evoked an error‐related negativity (ERN)—a component of the human ERP associated with error evaluation originating within the human medial‐frontal cortex. In the present study, we examined whether or not deficits in the medial‐frontal error evaluation system contribute to age‐related deficits in motor control. Two groups of participants (young, old) performed a computer‐based tracking task that paralleled driving while EEG data were recorded. Our results show that older adults committed more behavioral errors than young adults during performance of the tracking task. An analysis of our ERP data revealed that the amplitude of the ERN was reduced in older adults relative to young adults following motor errors. Our results make an important extension from previous work demonstrating age‐related reductions in the ERN during performance of cognitive tasks. Importantly, our results imply the possibility of understanding motor deficits in older age.
Pattern–Mixture Models with Incomplete Informative Cluster Size: Application to a Repeated Pregnancy Study
Authors: Chaurasia Ashok , Liu Danping , Albert Paul S. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe incomplete informative cluster size problem is motivated by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development consecutive pregnancies study, aiming to study the relationship between pregnancy outcomes and parity. These pregnancy outcomes are potentially associated with the number of births over a woman's lifetime, resulting in an incomplete informative cluster size (censored at the end of the study window). We develop a pattern–mixture model for informative cluster size by treating the lifetime number of births as a latent variable. We compare this approach with a simple alternative method that approximates the pattern–mixture model. We show that the latent variable approach has good statistical properties for estimating both the mean trajectory of birth weight and the proportion of gestational hypertension with increasing parity.
Environmental Policy and the Direction of Technical Change
Authors: Greaker Mads , Heggedal Tom‐Reiel , Rosendahl Knut Einar 
Published: June 2017

AbstractShould governments direct research and development (R&D) away from “dirty” technologies towards “clean” ones? How important is this compared to carbon pricing? We address these questions with the introduction of two model features to the literature on directed technological change and the environment. We introduce decreasing returns to R&D, and allow future carbon taxes to influence current R&D decisions. Our results suggest that governments should prioritize clean R&D. Dealing with major environmental problems requires an R&D shift towards clean technology. However, in the case where most researchers are working with clean technology, both productivity spillovers and the risks of future replacement increase. Consequently, the gap between the private and social values of an innovation is greatest for clean technologies.
Symbols, sentiments, and stories: Urban culture and social problems
Authors: Schafer Tyler S. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCultural approaches to the study of urban life have enjoyed brief bursts of popularity within the social sciences over the past century. Although many urban sociologists acknowledge that meanings, symbols, narratives, and feelings, in other words local culture, help shape urban places, relatively few take this notion any further. In this article, I first lay out the foundations of cultural approaches to the study of urban life. Second, I argue for the continued significance of the distinction between space and place. Third, I describe a contemporary stream of urban sociology called the urban culturalist perspective. Fourth, I describe important insights gleaned from studies embracing cultural urbanist approaches to an area of urban research receiving increasing attention: gentrification. Fifth, and finally, I outline a few ways in which micro‐cultural investigations of urban phenomena provide useful opportunities for public sociology.
Role of cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 100: anchoring poly(A) sites and modulating transcription termination
Authors: Lin Juncheng , Xu Ruqiang , Wu Xiaohui , Shen Yingjia , Li Qingshun Q. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryCPSF100 is a core component of the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) complex for 3′‐end formation of mRNA, but it still has no clear functional assignment. CPSF100 was reported to play a role in RNA silencing and promote flowering in Arabidopsis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are not fully understood. Our genetics analyses indicate that plants with a hypomorphic mutant of CPSF100 (esp5) show defects in embryogenesis, reduced seed production or altered root morphology. To unravel this puzzle, we employed a poly(A) tag sequencing protocol and uncovered a different poly(A) profile in esp5. This transcriptome‐wide analysis revealed alternative polyadenylation of thousands of genes, most of which result in transcriptional read‐through in protein‐coding genes. AtCPSF100 also affects poly(A) signal recognition on the far‐upstream elements; in particular it prefers less U‐rich sequences. Importantly, AtCPSF100 was found to exert its functions through the change of poly(A) sites on genes encoding binding proteins, such as nucleotide‐binding, RNA‐binding and poly(U)‐binding proteins. In addition, through its interaction with RNA Polymerase II C‐terminal domain (CTD) and affecting the expression level of CTD phosphatase‐like 3 (CPL3), AtCPSF100 is shown to potentially ensure transcriptional termination by dephosphorylation of Ser2 on the CTD. These data suggest a key role for CPSF100 in locating poly(A) sites and affecting transcription termination.