bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional models for studying atherosclerosis pathogenesis induced by periodontopathogenic microorganisms
Authors: Gualtero D.F. , Lafaurie G.I. , Fontanilla M.R. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryEpidemiological studies have established a clinical association between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis. Bacteremia and endotoxemia episodes in patients with periodontitis appear to link these two diseases by inducing a body‐wide production of cardiovascular markers. The presence of oral bacteria in atherosclerotic lesions in patients with periodontitis suggests that bacteria, or their antigenic components, induce alterations in the endothelium associated with atherosclerosis. Therefore, a causal mechanism explaining the association between both diseases can be constructed using in vitro models. This review presents current experimental approaches based on in vitro cell models used to shed light on the mechanism by which periodontal pathogenic microorganisms, and their antigenic components, induce proatherosclerotic endothelial activity. Monolayer cultures of endothelial vascular or arterial cells have been used to assess periodontal pathogenic bacteria and their antigenic compounds and endothelial activation. However, these models are not capable of reflecting the physiological characteristics of the endothelium inside vascularized tissue. Therefore, the shift from two‐dimensional (2D) cellular models toward three‐dimensional (3D) models of endothelial cells resembling an environment close to the physiological environment of the endothelial cell within the endothelium is useful for evaluating the physiological relevance of results regarding the endothelial dysfunction induced by periodontopathogens that are currently obtained from 2D models. The use of in vitro 3D cellular models can also be relevant to the search for therapeutic agents for chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis. Here, we present some strategies for the assembly of 3D cultures with endothelial cells, which is useful for the study of periodontopathogen‐mediated disease.
Predictors of aging based on the analysis of heart rate variability
Authors: Botsva Nataliia , Naishtetik Iryna , Khimion Ludmyla , Chernetchenko Dmitriy 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe current significant progress in the use of heart rate variability in the solution of many diagnostic and therapeutic problems is determined by the availability of standardized methods of measurement and physiological interpretation of heart rate variability indices on the one hand and the high technological level of state‐of‐the‐art electronic measuring equipment that is used for automatic registration and computer processing of cardio‐signals.MethodsA retrospective analysis of anonymized cardio screening results of 22,433 adult residents of 565 settlements (cities and villages) across all 20 administrative districts of the Khmelnytskyi Region (Ukraine) was conducted to find a statistically significant connection between individual heart rate variability parameters and the age of people.ResultsPrimary statistical analysis and visualization showed a correlation between the selected heart rate variability parameters and the age and sex of the examined persons.The study found values of the predicted age slightly over estimation versus the actual age for very young test subjects and below estimation for elderly subjects.ConclusionThe use of neural network computations and the modification of the algorithm through the construction of individual training samples for different age intervals, and the creation of individual ensembles of classification neural networks, therefore achieved a prediction of the age of examined persons based on the values of their time and frequency domain heart rate variability indices, with 87% accuracy for women and 85% accuracy for men in the 66–85 years age interval and at least 85% for age groups across the entire sample.
Hypertension and improved left ventricular mass index in children after renal transplantation
Authors: Ramoğlu Mehmet G. , Uçar Tayfun , Yılmaz Songül , Özçakar Z. Birsin , Kurt‐Şükür Eda Didem , Tutar Ercan , Yalçınkaya Fatoş , Atalay Semra 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThis study was conducted to evaluate the changes in BP and LVH after the transplantation and to evaluate the effect of BP changes in LVH. Forty‐three pediatric renal transplant patients, with a mean age of 16.99 ± 3.88 years, were enrolled in this study. Twenty‐three (53.5%) of the patients were male. Medical records for pretransplantation period (closest to the time of transplantation) and for post‐transplantation period (9‐12 months after transplantation) were reviewed. All the patients had BP measurements and echocardiographic evaluation in pre‐ and post‐transplantation period. Hypertension was defined as an average systolic and/or diastolic BP that is ≥95th percentile for sex, age, and height. Although the number of patients with hypertension increased from 30 (69.76%) to 35 (81.4%), the number of patients with LVH decreased from 19 (44.1%) to 9 (20.9%) after the transplantation. Although the only significant difference in BP measurements was between the mean Z scores of 24 hour and nighttime mean DBP before and after the transplantation; the mean LVMI, and the prevalence of LVH was significantly lower after the transplantation. There was no significant correlation between the LVMI and the BP measurements. Even though hypertension may persist, there is significant improvement in LVH after renal transplantation.
Physiological dissection revealed that both uptake and assimilation are the major components regulating different growth responses of two tobacco cultivars to nitrogen nutrition
Authors: Fan T.‐F. , He M.‐J. , Li C.‐J. , Shi D.‐X. , Yang C. , Chen Y.‐Y. , Ke J. , Chen Y.‐X. , Zhang L. , Li D.‐Q. , Liu L.‐H. , Xu C. 
Published: October 2017

Abstract

K326 and HD represent major tobacco cultivars in China, which required large N fertiliser input but at different application rates. To understand primary components affecting tobacco N use physiology, we adopted these two varieties as valuable genetic material to assess their growth response to N nutrition.

We established a hydroponic culture system to grow plants supplied with different N regimes. Plant biomass, N, ammonium, nitrate, arginine, GS and NR activity, N transfer and use efficiency as well as root uptake were examined.

Our data revealed the preference of K326 and HD to utilise nitrate or ammonium nitrate but not ammonium alone, with 2 mm N supply probably sufficient and economical to achieve good biomass production at the vegetative stage. Moreover, both varieties were very sensitive to ammonium, perhaps due to lack of or abnormal signalling related to nitrate and/or arginine rather than impairment of N acquisition and initial assimilation; this was supported by measurements of the plant content of N, ammonium and activities of GS and NR. Notably, short‐term 15N root influx studies identified differential uptake kinetics of K326 and HD, with distinct affinities and transport rates for ammonium and nitrate.

The data suggest that the growth adaptation of K326 or HD to higher or lower N may be ascribed to different competences for effective N uptake/translocation and assimilation. Thus, our work provides valuable information to prompt deeper investigation of the molecular basis controlling plant N use efficiency.
How does climate change affect regeneration of Mediterranean high‐mountain plants? An integration and synthesis of current knowledge
Authors: Giménez‐Benavides L. , Escudero A. , García‐Camacho R. , García‐Fernández A. , Iriondo J. M. , Lara‐Romero C. , Morente‐López J. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMediterranean mountains are extraordinarily diverse and hold a high proportion of endemic plants, but they are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and most species distribution models project drastic changes in community composition. Retrospective studies and long‐term monitoring also highlight that Mediterranean high‐mountain plants are suffering severe range contractions. The aim of this work is to review the current knowledge of climate change impacts on the process of plant regeneration by seed in Mediterranean high‐mountain plants, by combining available information from observational and experimental studies. We also discuss some processes that may provide resilience against changing environmental conditions and suggest some research priorities for the future. With some exceptions, there is still little evidence of the direct effects of climate change on pollination and reproductive success of Mediterranean high‐mountain plants, and most works are observational and/or centred only in the post‐dispersal stages (germination and establishment). The great majority of studies agree that the characteristic summer drought and the extreme heatwaves, which are projected to be more intense in the future, are the most limiting factors for the regeneration process. However, there is an urgent need for studies combining elevational gradient approaches with experimental manipulations of temperature and drought to confirm the magnitude and variability of species′ responses. There is also limited knowledge about the ability of Mediterranean high‐mountain plants to cope with climate change through phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation processes. This could be achieved by performing common garden and reciprocal translocation experiments with species differing in life history traits.
Internal architecture of mass‐transport deposits in basinal carbonates: A case study from southern Italy
Authors: Jablonská Danica , Di Celma Claudio Nicola , Alsop Geoffrey Ian , Tondi Emanuele 
Published: October 2017

AbstractSubmarine mass‐transport deposits represent important stratigraphic heterogeneities within slope and basinal sedimentary successions. A poor understanding of how their distribution and internal architecture affect the fluid flow migration pathway may lead to unexpected compartmentalization issues in reservoir analysis. Studies of modern carbonate mass‐transport deposits mainly focus on large seismic‐scale slope failures; however, the near‐platform basinal depositional environment often hosts mass‐transport deposits of various dimensions. The small‐scale and meso‐scale (metres to several tens of metres) carbonate mass‐transport deposits play a considerable role in distribution of sediment and therefore have an impact on the heterogeneity of the succession. In order to further constrain the geometry and internal architecture of mass‐transport deposits developed in near‐slope basinal carbonates, a structural and sedimentological analysis of sub‐seismic‐scale mass‐transport deposits has been undertaken on the eastern margin of the Apulian carbonate platform in the Gargano Promontory, south‐east Italy. These mass‐transport deposits, that locally comprise a large proportion (50 to 60%) of the base of slope to basinal sediments of the Cretaceous Maiolica Formation, typically display a vertically bipartite character, including debrites and slump deposits of varying volume ratios. A range of brittle and ductile deformation styles developed within distinct bed packages, together with the presence of both chert clasts, folded chert layers and spherical chert nodules, suggest that sediments were at different stages of lithification prior to downslope movement associated with mass‐transport deposits. This study helps elucidate the emplacement processes, frequency and character of subseismic‐scale mass‐transport deposits within the basinal carbonate environment, and thereby reduces the uncertainties in the characterization of subsurface carbonate geofluid reservoirs.
Eogenetic diagenesis of Chinle sandstones, Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona, USA): A record of Late Triassic climate change
Authors: Jin Cong , Dworkin Steve , Atchley Stacy , Nordt Lee 
Published: October 2017

AbstractFluvially derived tuffaceous Chinle sandstones from Petrified Forest National Park provide a well‐preserved Late Triassic archive of climate information. Petrographic analysis of 38 Chinle sandstones provides new insight into the depositional history and evolution of palaeoclimate during Chinle deposition. This study focuses on the relationship between climate and meteoric diagenesis as a guide for constraining climate change in western equatorial Pangea during the Late Triassic. Petrographic analysis of Chinle sandstones reveals their wide range of textural attributes, as well as pedogenic and shallow burial diagenetic features that occurred during the Late Triassic. These diverse petrological characteristics are indicative of the evolving Late Triassic climate, when placed into a well‐constrained stratigraphic and geochronological framework. The stratigraphic succession is characterized by variations in the abundance of framework grains, detrital matrix, weathering intensity of feldspar and volcanic rock fragments, and the mineralogy of clay cements. Climate records from Chinle palaeosol geochemistry indicate a progression from wet to dry conditions. This trend is also reflected in the meteoric diagenetic features of Chinle sandstones. During deposition of the lower Chinle, elevated rainfall promoted the weathering of labile volcanic detritus to kaolinite, whereas feldspars (especially plagioclase) were partially or completely dissolved. In the upper Chinle, a trend towards drier conditions favoured the formation of smectite and less feldspar dissolution resulting in a higher abundance of well‐preserved plagioclase grains. Shallow burial meteoric weathering reactions in Chinle sandstones reflect the evolving climate during the Late Triassic.
When less is more: Psychometric properties of Norwegian short‐forms of the Ambivalent Sexism Scales (ASI and AMI) and the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance (IRMA) Scale
Authors: Bendixen Mons , Kennair Leif Edward Ottesen 
Published: October 2017

This paper reports on the development and the psychometric properties of short forms of Ambivalent Sexism Scales toward women (ASI; Glick & Fiske, 1996) and men (AMI; Glick & Fiske, 1999), and a scale measuring rape stereotypes (IRMA; McMahon & Farmer, 2011). The short form AMI/ASI were applied for examining gender and educational differences in university students (N = 512) and in high school students (N = 1381), and for predicting individual differences in rape stereotypes in the latter. The short forms demonstrated good to excellent psychometric properties across samples of emerging adults. Relative to female students, male students reported markedly more hostility toward women and more stereotypical beliefs about rape. Despite sampling from a highly gender egalitarian and secular culture, these gender differences are on a par with those reported internationally. Rape stereotypes were predicted by sexism in high school students. Additional predictors were educational program, relationship status, and acceptance of derogatory sexual slurs. The paper questions the validity of separate constructs for benevolent sexism toward women versus men. The short form versions of the scales may substitute the original versions in future research, and help prevent attrition while measuring the same constructs.
A psychometric evaluation of the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire (TMCQ) in a Swedish sample
Authors: Nystrom Beatrice , Bengtsson Hans 
Published: October 2017

Personality is generally considered to be biologically founded in temperament, and temperamental qualities have proven to be relatively stable across childhood and into adulthood (Caspi, Roberts & Shiner, ). Temperament predicts important developmental outcomes such as academic performance (Muris, ), and social functioning (Eisenberg, Fabes, Guthrie & Reiser, ), and it has also been found to be strongly related to the etiology and maintenance of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology in children (Muris, Meesters & Blijlevens, ; Nigg, ). To allow for the possibility of making early interventions, identification of potential risk factors (such as temperamental dispositions) is of great importance (Rettew & McKee, ). As temperament is multidimensional and has many different manifestations, parents and teachers are valuable sources in providing information about children's temperament (Rothbart & Bates, ; Tackett, Slobodskaya, Mar et al., ), and caregiver questionnaires are frequently used in child personality research. However, such questionnaires are only useful if their reliability and validity have been established. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire (TMCQ; Simonds, Kieras, Rueda & Rothbart, ), which focuses specifically on the ages between 7 and 11 years. The TMCQ is the least validated of the Rothbart measures, and although reliability data have been presented, together with some validity data, for a computerized self‐report version of the questionnaire (Simonds & Rothbart, ), information about the reliability and validity for the caregiver version is scant. In the present paper, we report such data for a Swedish sample.
“Why I Can't Stand Out in Front of My House?”: Street‐Identified Black Youth and Young Adult's Negative Encounters With Police
Authors: Payne Yasser Arafat , Hitchens Brooklynn K. , Chambers Darryl L. 
Published: October 2017

This street participatory action research (StreetPAR) study organized 15 residents to document street‐identified Black youth and adult's negative experiences with police in Wilmington, Delaware. Data were collected on mostly street‐identified Black men and women aged 18–35 in the forms of (1) 520 surveys, (2) 24 individual interviews, (3) four dual interviews, (4) three group interviews, and (5) extensive field observations. Forty‐two percent of survey participants reported being stopped by police in the last year. However, with the exception of being “stopped,” participants overall reported little negative contact with police at least within the past year. Chi‐square andANOVAanalyses suggest an interactional relationship exists between race, gender, and age on experiences with police. Younger Black men (18–21) were found to have the most negative contact with police. Analysis suggests a smaller, more hardened mostly male variant of the larger street community has had repeated contact with police. Qualitative analysis reveals at least two major themes: (1) disrespect and disdain for residents and (2) low motivation for working with police. StreetPARmethodology was also found to be instrumental in working with local residents and the Wilmington Police Department to improve conditions between residents and police.
Influence of soil properties on Ni accumulation in food crops and corresponding dietary health risk with a typical Chinese diet
Authors: Luo D. , Zheng H. , Chen Y. , Deleporte P. , Xie T. , Staunton S. , Wang G. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractNickel (Ni), an essential micronutrient, is toxic to plants and animals at elevated levels. Fewer data are available on the dynamics of Ni than for trace metals such as Cu and Zn. Dietary intake is the major source of Ni, but almost no information is available on dietary intake for Asian populations whose diet contains much less animal products and processed foods than in Western countries. In south‐eastern China, most food is grown on peri‐urban agricultural land and thus, food crops from these areas should be the major source of dietary Ni. A large‐scale survey of Ni in soils and edible crops, including 515 sites and 24 crop species from 10 crop groups, was conducted in Fujian Province, SE China, to assess Ni intake for a typical SE Asian diet. Correlation, principal component analysis (PCA) and data mining were used to identify soil and plant factors that determine Ni accumulation in crops. Both soil Ni content and plant species contributed to Ni accumulation. Crop Ni (Nicrop) was positively correlated with soil Ni DTPA‐extractible (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) (NiDTPA) for many crops. PCA did not identify strong relations between soil‐to‐crop transfer factors and any soil properties. Stepwise linear correlations found positive correlations between Nicrop and NiDTPA; however, relationships between Nicrop and both silt content and pH varied between crops. Dietary intake of foods containing mean Ni content could lead to health risks, especially for children. It was concluded that sandy soils, rich in organic matter with a large Ni content, are unsuitable for the production of rice and legumes.
Investigation of the correlation of serum IL‐31 with severity of dermatitis in an experimental model of canine atopic dermatitis using beagle dogs
Authors: Marsella Rosanna , Ahrens Kim , Sanford Rachel 
Published: October 2017

BackgroundIL‐31 is a cytokine that is believed to play an important role in atopic dermatitis (AD). IL‐31 levels positively correlate with disease severity in children with AD. Currently, there is no study that has investigated such a correlation in atopic dogs.Hypothesis/objectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between IL‐31 serum levels and severity of dermatitis. It was hypothesized that a positive correlation exists between severity of AD and circulating levels of IL‐31.AnimalsSixteen atopic beagles experimentally sensitized to house dust mites.MethodsAtopic beagles were exposed to dust mites epicutaneously twice weekly for four weeks. Severity of dermatitis was scored by the Canine Atopic Dermatitis and Extent Severity Index, 3rd iteration (CADESI‐03) on days 0 and 28. Blood samples were taken on days 0 and 28 to measure serum IL‐31 using a commercially available ELISA.ResultsCorrelation between CADESI‐03 scores and serum IL‐31 levels was not detected on day 0 (Pearson, r = −0.2609, P = 0.3291). After flare‐up of dermatitis was induced with allergen exposure, a significant positive correlation was detected between serum IL‐31 and CADESI‐03 on Day 28 (r = 0.6738, P = 0.004).Conclusions and clinical importancePositive correlation was detected in active disease between severity of dermatitis and circulating levels of IL‐31. Additional studies are needed to investigate this correlation in other breeds of dogs and to test whether circulating levels of IL‐31 may predict clinical response to biological agents aimed at IL‐31.
An unresponsive progressive pustular and crusting dermatitis with acantholysis in nine cats
Authors: Outerbridge Catherine A. , Affolter Verena K. , Lyons Leslie A. , Crothers Samantha L. , Lam Andrea T. H. , Bonenberger Terri E. , Ihrke Peter J. , White Stephen D. 
Published: October 2017

BackgroundBetween 2000 and 2012, nine cats were examined with a visually distinctive, progressive crusting dermatitis that was poorly responsive to all attempted therapies.ObjectivesDocumentation of clinical and histopathological findings of this disease.AnimalsNine privately owned cats.MethodsRetrospective study.ResultsEight neutered males and one (presumably spayed) female ranging in age from two to eight years, presented for a progressive, well‐demarcated, crusting dermatitis with variable pruritus of 1.5 months to five years duration. All cats lived in northern California, USA; seven lived within a 30 mile radius. Two males were littermates. Histopathological investigation showed both parakeratotic and orthokeratotic crusts, intraepidermal pustules and superficial folliculitis with rare to frequent acantholytic cells. Bacterial and fungal cultures were performed in six cats: meticillin‐susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was isolated in three cats, two colonies of Trichophyton terrestre and three of Malassezia pachydermatis were isolated from one cat each. Treatment with various antibiotics, antifungal and a variety of immunosuppressive medications did not alter the progressive nature of the skin disease.Conclusions and clinical importanceThe described disease shares some clinical and histopathological features with pemphigus foliaceus, but the lack of response to treatment, its progressive nature and the possible relatedness of some of the cats set it apart. The aetiology of this acantholytic dermatitis remains unknown.