bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plantago ovata in broiler chicken nutrition: Performance, carcass criteria, intestinal morphology, immunity, and intestinal bacterial population
Authors: Divani A. , Bagherzadeh‐Kasmani F. , Mehri M. 
Published: June 2017

SummaryIn this experiment, the effect of dietary Plantago ovata (PO) on performance, carcass criteria, intestinal morphology, immunity, and intestinal bacterial population of broiler chickens was evaluated. A total of 250 one‐day‐old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to five treatments containing 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 g/kg of PO with five replicate pens and 10 birds in each replicate. Dietary PO increased body weight gain and decreased feed conversion ratio in the finisher period, improving the performance index (p < .05). Dietary treatments had no effects on carcass criteria, but breast meat percentage showed an increasing trend with incremental levels of PO in the diet (p = .069). The length of small intestine, especially jejunum section, as well as the villus height, villus width, villus area, and goblet cell numbers were significantly increased with supplemental PO (p < .05). Humoral and cellular immunity parameters, and oxidation stability of meat were improved due to use of dietary PO (p < .05). Dietary PO decreased the CFU of Escherichia coli, whereas the Lactobacilli population was increased (p = .001). Broken‐line regression revealed that dietary PO at the rate of 10 g/kg may results in the best performance in broiler chickens. This study showed that PO at the level of 10 g/kg could be considered as a beneficial feed additive in broiler diet.
Identification and Detection of the Pathogenic Bacteria Responsible for Swollen Abdomen Disease in Cultured Turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, and Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus
Authors: Xue Shuxia , Sun Jinsheng , Xu Wei 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSwollen abdomen disease (SAD) seriously threatens the aquaculture of turbots and flounders. Two dominant bacterial strains, FS1 and FS2, were isolated from the livers and kidneys of fish with diagnosed SAD. Applications of biochemical analyses, sequence analyses of 16S ribosomal RNA gene and heat shock protein 60 gene revealed two distinct pathogenic bacterial species, Edwardsiella tarda and Vibrio alginolyticus. These two hypothesized SAD‐causing pathogens were validated by challenge trials on flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. Challenges with E. tarda and V. alginolyticus demonstrated lethal dose 50 (LD50) values at 1.51 × 105 colony‐forming units (CFU) and 1.05 × 105 CFU, respectively. To develop a rapid SAD diagnosis method in flounders and turbots, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay method was developed to simultaneously detect E. tarda and V. alginolyticus. Our multiplex PCR assay successfully detected as low as 105 CFU/mL E. tarda and V. alginolyticus in flounders and turbots. No other common fish pathogens were detected with the multiplex PCR, suggesting a high specificity of this assay. The multiplex PCR assay developed in this study showed a great reliability in detecting SAD‐causing bacterial pathogens. Further optimization of this assay may contribute to the development of a novel SAD diagnosis tool in aquaculture.
Evaporation modelling using neural networks for assessing the self‐sustainability of a water body
Authors: Jain Ashu , Roy Tirthankar 
Published: June 2017

AbstractStudies addressing the self‐sustainability of water bodies are crucial from the perspective of sustainable water resources management. An artificial water body is vulnerable to drastic water level changes resulting from various hydroclimatical and geological factors. It is incumbent therefore to rigorously investigate the effects of these factors in order to assess the response of the water body, consequent to a wide range of scenarios. This study focuses on the self‐sustainability of a water body, based on the water budget approach, and taking into account various hydroclimatical and geological factors in the study area. As the available evaporation data shared a very short (~2 years) common time frame with the other variables, evaporation was modelled using regression and artificial neural network models. The study results indicated the water body would be self‐sustainable under the extreme climatical and hydrological conditions considered. While seepage exhibited substantial impacts on the storage of the water body, evaporation was found to have only marginal impacts.
Epistasis × environment interactions among Arabidopsis thaliana glucosinolate genes impact complex traits and fitness in the field
Authors: Kerwin Rachel E. , Feusier Julie , Muok Alise , Lin Catherine , Larson Brandon , Copeland Daniel , Corwin Jason A. , Rubin Matthew J. , Francisco Marta , Li Baohua , Joseph Bindu , Weinig Cynthia , Kliebenstein Daniel J. 
Published: June 2017

Summary

Despite the growing number of studies showing that genotype × environment and epistatic interactions control fitness, the influences of epistasis × environment interactions on adaptive trait evolution remain largely uncharacterized.

Across three field trials, we quantified aliphatic glucosinolate (GSL) defense chemistry, leaf damage, and relative fitness using mutant lines of Arabidopsis thaliana varying at pairs of causal aliphatic GSL defense genes to test the impact of epistatic and epistasis × environment interactions on adaptive trait variation.

We found that aliphatic GSL accumulation was primarily influenced by additive and epistatic genetic variation, leaf damage was primarily influenced by environmental variation and relative fitness was primarily influenced by epistasis and epistasis × environment interactions. Epistasis × environment interactions accounted for up to 48% of the relative fitness variation in the field. At a single field site, the impact of epistasis on relative fitness varied significantly over 2 yr, showing that epistasis × environment interactions within a location can be temporally dynamic.

These results suggest that the environmental dependency of epistasis can profoundly influence the response to selection, shaping the adaptive trajectories of natural populations in complex ways, and deserves further consideration in future evolutionary studies.
Intraspecific genetic diversity modulates plant–soil feedback and nutrient cycling
Authors: Semchenko Marina , Saar Sirgi , Lepik Anu 
Published: June 2017

Summary

Plant genetic diversity can affect ecosystem functioning by enhancing productivity, litter decomposition and resistance to natural enemies. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that genetic diversity may influence ecosystem processes by eliciting functional plasticity among individuals encountering kin or genetically diverse neighbourhoods.

We used soil conditioned by groups of closely related (siblings) and diverse genotypes of Deschampsia cespitosa – a species known to exhibit kin recognition via root exudation – to investigate the consequences of kin interactions for root litter decomposition and negative feedback between plants and soil biota.

Genetically diverse groups produced root litter that had higher nitrogen (N) content, decomposed faster and resulted in greater N uptake by the next generation of seedlings compared with litter produced by sibling groups. However, a similar degree of negative soil feedback on plant productivity was observed in soil conditioned by siblings and genetically diverse groups. This suggests that characteristics of roots produced by sibling groups slow down N cycling but moderate the expected negative impact of soil pathogens in low‐diversity stands.

These findings highlight interactions between neighbouring genotypes as an overlooked mechanism by which genetic diversity can affect biotic soil feedback and nutrient cycling.
Liver transplantation may prevent neurodevelopmental deterioration in high‐risk patients with urea cycle disorders
Authors: Kido Jun , Matsumoto Shirou , Momosaki Ken , Sakamoto Rieko , Mitsubuchi Hiroshi , Endo Fumio , Nakamura Kimitoshi 
Published: June 2017

AbstractUCDs are among the most common inherited metabolic diseases in Japan. We investigated the clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognoses of 177 patients with UCDs who were evaluated and treated from January 1999 to March 2009 in Japan, using a questionnaire survey. Among these 177 patients, 42 (seven with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 deficiency, 27 with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, seven with argininosuccinate synthetase deficiency, and one with arginase 1 deficiency) underwent living‐donor LT. Although this study was retrospective and included limited neurodevelopmental information before and after LT, we evaluated whether LT could improve neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with UCDs. The neurodevelopmental outcomes of patients with a MAC of <300 μmol/L at the time of onset were not significantly different between the LT and non‐LT groups (P=.222). LT may have prevented further neurodevelopmental complications in children with MAC ≥300 μmol/L (P=.008) compared with non‐transplant management. Therefore, Liver transplant should be considered in patients with UCD with a MAC of ≥300 μmol/L at the time of disease onset.
Continuous glucose monitoring following pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation in children
Authors: Elder Deborah A. , Jiminez‐Vega Jose M. , Hornung Lindsey N. , Chima Ranjit S. , Abu‐El‐Haija Maisam , Lin Tom K. , Palermo Joseph J. , Nathan Jaimie D. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAim was to determine whether CGM could accurately monitor blood glucose concentration in the immediate postoperative period following pancreatectomy with IAT in children. CGM was used in nine patients undergoing IAT at our institution between April 2015 and September 2016 (eight total pancreatectomy and one subtotal pancreatectomy). MAD and MARD of CGM values compared to time‐matched serum blood glucose were calculated during the first 5 days of ICU admission. Goal range was defined as 70‐140 mg/dL and out‐of‐range was >140 mg/dL or <70 mg/dL. Of 89 time‐matched measures found, 75% of CGM values were within 15 mg/dL, and 51% were within 10 mg/dL, compared to serum glucose. MAD was 11.6 mg/dL, and MARD was 10.6%. CGM values did not differ from serum glucose (P=.74). By Clarke error grid analysis, 100% of paired values were in clinically acceptable zones. By surveillance error grid analysis, 96% of paired values were within clinically acceptable agreement. CGM is a reliable tool in monitoring glycemic control in the immediate postoperative period following pancreatectomy with IAT in children.
Monitoring of libido and semen quality parameters in melatonin‐treated French alpine bucks during the non‐breeding season
Authors: Vince S , Valpotić H , Berta V , Milinković‐Tur S , Samardžija M , Grizelj J , Špoljarić B , Đuričić D , Nazansky I , Žura Žaja I 
Published: June 2017

ContentsThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous melatonin on libido and semen quality parameters in bucks during the non‐breeding season. Twelve bucks of the French alpine breed from 1.5 to 4 years of age were assigned into melatonin (MG) and control (CG) groups, with 6 bucks in each group. The experimental period was 3 months (March–May), divided into six periods of 15 days each. The bucks in the MG group received four melatonin implants at the end of March. Two semen samples were taken from the bucks by artificial vagina once per week and their libido estimated. Volume and spermatozoa concentration, their mass motility and motility, proportion of live and total abnormal and forms with abnormal head and tail were determined in the obtained ejaculate samples. The total number of spermatozoa and functional spermatozoa fraction in the ejaculate was also calculated. The MG bucks had significantly higher mass motility and motility of spermatozoa in the first half of April, and a higher proportion of live spermatozoa in the first and second half of April (p < .05). Differences in libido intensity were not significant. The results indicated that the application of melatonin significantly improved the qualitative parameters of semen in bucks, as seen in increased mass motility, motility of spermatozoa and proportion of live spermatozoa shortly following melatonin insertion. Therefore, the results of the current study are novel regarding the use of melatonin treatment during the non‐breeding season to improve the qualitative parameters of ejaculates in bucks.
Hormonal changes in hemodialysis patients: Novel risk factors for mortality?
Authors: Gungor Ozkan , Kocyigit Ismail , Carrero Juan Jesus , Yılmaz Mahmut Ilker 
Published: June 2017

AbstractPatients with end‐stage renal disease undergoing dialysis commonly experience derangements in the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis together with alterations at the level of synthesis and clearance of many hormones. This hormonal imbalance, even if asymptomatic, has recently been associated with increased mortality in these patients. In this review, we summarize observational and mechanistic evidence linking hormonal alterations at the level of the thyroid and sex‐hormone systems with this mortality risks.
Clinical aspects of magnesium physiology in patients on dialysis
Authors: Misra Paraish S. , Nessim Sharon J. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractMagnesium balance is infrequently discussed in the dialysis population, and the clinical consequences of derangements in magnesium homeostasis are incompletely understood. There is an association between hypomagnesemia and adverse outcomes including increases in cardiovascular disease and mortality, while elevated magnesium levels have also been linked with complications such as osteomalacia. In this review, we discuss the features of magnesium physiology relevant to dialysis patients and provide an updated summary of the literature linking magnesium derangements with bone disease, cardiovascular disease, sudden cardiac death, and mortality.
HIV in the dialysis population: Current issues and future directions
Authors: Boyle Suzanne M. , Lee Dong H. , Wyatt Christina M. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAntiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced mortality due to HIV infection, but the aging HIV‐positive patient population now faces a growing burden of comorbidity. This review describes the changing epidemiology of chronic kidney disease and end‐stage renal disease in this population, and highlights recent advances in antiretroviral therapy and kidney transplantation that directly impact the care of patients with HIV infection and end‐stage renal disease.
Is There a ‘National Body’? How National Cultures Shape the ‘Fat’ Body and the Food Practices
Authors: Carof Solenn 
Published: June 2017

AbstractUsing qualitative and quantitative methods, the objective of this article is to seize the national variability of the physical norms of overweight and obesity by comparing France, England, and Germany. The bodily representations and food practices, as well as the daily‐life experiences of stigmatization and discrimination, are influenced by national characteristics such as food traditions, aesthetical values, and political philosophies. In France, being overweight or obese is socially viewed as a lack of taste, whereas in England it can be seen as an individual moral ‘fault’. In Germany, being slightly overweight is defined as a ‘normal’ body, whereas being obese is strongly criticized. These country‐level variations reveal what could be called a ‘national body’.
Politicized Ethnicity and Income Inequality
Authors: Terry Dana 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis article examines the effect of politicized ethnicity on income inequality. It hypothesizes that ethnically diverse countries that politicize ethnicity are more likely to have greater economic inequality than ethnically diverse countries that do not politicize ethnicity. The idea behind this hypothesis is that the more polarized a state is, the weaker its institutions, and thus the poorer the state's economy and the greater the chance of corruption and ethnic patronage. Since identity and governing structures are difficult to change, a country that politicizes ethnicity can be seen as institutionalizing ethnic differences for the long term. The article discusses how existing literature reaffirms this hypothesis through a variety of theoretical explanations and case studies. However, the results find that politicized ethnic identity is negatively correlated to higher inequality. Though these results are negative, more research must be done before this debate can be considered fully conclusive, as data for politicized ethnicity is limited. The article concludes with a brief statement on the policy implications of the findings for post‐conflict state building.
Aetiology and outcome of massive transfusion in two large London teaching hospitals over a 3‐year period (2012–2014)
Authors: Green L. , Tan J. , Grist C. , Kaur M. , MacCallum P. 
Published: June 2017

SUMMARYObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to determine: (i) the incidence of massive transfusion (MT) (defined as transfusion of ≥5 red‐blood‐cell (RBC) units within 4 h, and/or ≥10 RBC units within 24 h of bleeding) over a 3‐year period; (ii) the cause, and mortality rate of patients who received MT (from any cause); and (iii) the risk factors for death.BackgroundMT can occur in different clinical settings, yet little is known about its epidemiology/clinical outcomes.MethodsData was extracted using transfusion laboratory information management system (LIMS) and patients' electronic databases.ResultsWe identified 701 episodes (incidence 1.7 per 1000 admissions [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–1.9], belonging to 678 patients (225 females and 453 males, median age 61). Main causes of MT were cardiac surgery (35%), trauma (28%), medical (10%) and vascular surgery (9%). The overall mortality was 32%, and the median number of days spent in hospital was 14 and 2 for those who survived and those who died, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that cardiac surgery was associated with 56% (95% CI: 9–78%) lower odds of death compared to other surgery, and transfusion of 10–14 RBC and >15 RBC units (compared with 5–9 RBC units) were associated with 2.1 (95% CI: 1.4–3.3) and 9.9 (95% CI: 4.6–21.1) times higher odds of dying, respectively.ConclusionIn‐hospital morbidity and mortality of MT is high. Future research should focus on unifying the definition of MT, and early identification of the MT markers in order to improve outcomes.
Intestinal tuberculosis: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Kentley J. , Ooi J. L. , Potter J. , Tiberi S. , O'Shaughnessy T. , Langmead L. , Chin Aleong J. , Thaha M. A. , Kunst H. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo describe characteristics, presentation, time to diagnosis and diagnostic findings of patients with intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) in a low‐burden country.MethodRetrospective study of 61 consecutive ITB patients diagnosed between 2008 and 2014 at a large East London hospital.ResultsForty of sixty‐one patients were male. Mean age was 34.6 years. 93% of patients were born abroad, mostly from TB‐endemic areas (Indian subcontinent: 88%, Africa: 9%). 25% had concomitant pulmonary TB. Median time from symptom onset to ITB diagnosis was 13 weeks (IQR 3–26 weeks). Ten patients were initially treated for IBD, although patients had ITB. The main sites of ITB involvement were the ileocaecum (44%) or small bowel (34%). Five patients had isolated perianal disease. Colonoscopy confirmed a diagnosis of ITB in 77% of those performed. 42 of 61 patients had a diagnosis of ITB confirmed on positive histology and/or microbiology.ConclusionDiagnosis of ITB is often delayed, which may result in significant morbidity. ITB should be excluded in patients with abdominal complaints who come from TB‐endemic areas to establish prompt diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is challenging but aided by axial imaging, colonoscopy and tissue biopsy for TB culture and histology.
The Rome Transplant Network model compared to the Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry activity for unrelated donor search process and transplant efficiency for hematologic malignancy
Authors: Picardi Alessandra , Arcese William , Pollichieni Simona , Di Piazza Fabio , Mangione Ilaria , Gallina Anna Maria , Cerretti Raffaella , Cudillo Laura , De Angelis Gottardo , Mengarelli Andrea , Dentamaro Teresa , Tirindelli Maria Cristina , Chierichini Anna , Ferrari Antonella , Marciano Renato , Andreani Marco , Bonifazi Francesca , Sacchi Nicoletta 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDFrom 2011 to 2014, a total of 71% of the 3834 patients with hematologic malignancies successfully identified a matched unrelated donor (MUD) through the Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (IBMDR), corresponding to a transplant efficiency of 62%.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSFrom 2006, the Rome Transplant Network (RTN) followed a hierarchical selection strategy for the alternative donor search: first MUD, second cord blood, and third haploidentical donor. Using a low‐resolution HLA, a preliminary query (PQ) was performed in all cases with assignment of good or poor score if more or less than 10 MUDs were identified in Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide. Herein we assessed the utility of PQ and of high‐resolution (HR) HLA from the start of the search. Moreover, we compared the donor identification and the transplant efficiency between IBMDR and RTN.RESULTSAt RTN 79% of 417 patients met a good PQ with a 50% MUD identification versus 12.5% with poor PQ. Our policy led to 78 and 74% of alternative donor identification and transplant efficiency, respectively, higher than IBMDR data equal to 71% (p = 0.007) and 62% (p < 0.0001). The timing for donor identification was significantly reduced using HR HLA at the start of the search from 88 to 66 days at IBMDR (p < 0.001) and from 61 to 41 days at RTN (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSBoth PQ and HR HLA at the start of the process represents a useful tool to address the search towards the best and timely donor choice. Moreover, establishing a specific donor policy significantly improves the transplant efficiency.
Transfusion‐related acute lung injury: critical neutrophil activation by anti‐HLA‐A2 antibodies for endothelial permeability
Authors: Khoy Kathy , Nguyen Minh Vu Chuong , Masson Dominique , Bardy Béatrice , Drouet Christian , Paclet Marie‐Hélène 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDTransfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a major complication of hemotherapy that may occur after the transfusion of any blood type component. Several clinical reports have suggested the presence of anti‐HLA antibodies in the blood product. This study sought to examine the role of anti‐HLA‐A2 antibodies in polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) activation and thus in endothelial permeability.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSPMN activation was assessed by both nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase) activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. A coculture assay of EA.hy926 endothelial cells with PMNs or differentiated‐PLB‐985 cells, a model of neutrophil‐like cells, was performed to estimate the impact of ROS on endothelial permeability.RESULTSAnti‐HLA‐A2 antibodies significantly increased PMN activation, with subsequent endothelial dysfunction. Phagocyte NADPH oxidase (NOX2) activity was shown to be involved in this process and ROS themselves were demonstrated to induce VE‐cadherin cleavage and endothelial permeability.CONCLUSIONOur data may support the existence of a critical anti‐HLA‐A2 antibody threshold for PMN activation, with NOX2 activity and subsequent endothelial permeability in the two‐hit model of TRALI.