bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Remote ischemic preconditioning triggers changes in autonomic nervous system activity: implications for cardioprotection
Authors: Abdul‐Ghani Safa , Fleishman Arnold N. , Khaliulin Igor , Meloni Marco , Angelini Gianni D. , Suleiman M‐Saadeh 
Published: February 2017

AbstractCardioprotective efficacy of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) remains controversial. Experimental studies investigating RIPC have largely monitored cardiovascular changes during index ischemia and reperfusion with little work investigating changes during RIPC application. This work aims to identify cardiovascular changes associated with autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity during RIPC and prior to index ischemia. RIPC was induced in anesthetized male C57/Bl6 mice by four cycles of 5 min of hindlimb ischemia using inflated cuff (200 mmHg) followed by 5 min reperfusion. Electrocardiography (ECG) and microcirculatory blood flow in both hindlimbs were recorded throughout RIPC protocol. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was performed using ECG data. Hearts extracted at the end of RIPC protocol were used either for measurement of myocardial metabolites using high‐performance liquid chromatography or for Langendorff perfusion to monitor function and injury during 30 min index ischemia and 2 h reperfusion. Isolated‐perfused hearts from RIPC animals had significantly less infarct size after index ischemia and reperfusion (34 ± 5% vs. 59 ± 7%; mean ± SE P < 0.05). RIPC protocol was associated with increased heart rate measured both in ex vivo and in vivo. Frequency ratio of HRV spectra was altered in RIPC compared to control. RIPC was associated with a standard hyperemic response in the cuffed‐limb but there was a sustained reduction in blood flow in the uncuffed contralateral limb. RIPC hearts (prior to index ischemia) had significantly lower phosphorylation potential and energy charge compared to the control group. In conclusion, RIPC is associated with changes in ANS activity (heart rate, blood flow, HRV) and mild myocardial ischemic stress that would contribute to cardioprotection.
Evaluation of the agreement of tidal breathing parameters measured simultaneously using pneumotachography and structured light plethysmography
Authors: Motamedi‐Fakhr Shayan , Iles Richard , Barney Anna , de Boer Willem , Conlon Jenny , Khalid Amna , Wilson Rachel C. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractStructured light plethysmography (SLP) is a noncontact, noninvasive, respiratory measurement technique, which uses a structured pattern of light and two cameras to track displacement of the thoraco–abdominal wall during tidal breathing. The primary objective of this study was to examine agreement between tidal breathing parameters measured simultaneously for 45 sec using pneumotachography and SLP in a group of 20 participants with a range of respiratory patterns (“primary cohort”). To examine repeatability of the agreement, an additional 21 healthy subjects (“repeatability cohort”) were measured twice during resting breathing and once during increased respiratory rate (RR). Breath‐by‐breath and averaged RR, inspiratory time (tI), expiratory time (tE), total breath time (tTot), tI/tE, tI/tTot, and IE50 (inspiratory to expiratory flow measured at 50% of tidal volume) were calculated. Bland–Altman plots were used to assess the agreement. In the primary cohort, breath‐by‐breath agreement for RR was ±1.44 breaths per minute (brpm). tI, tE, and tTot agreed to ±0.22, ±0.29, and ±0.32 sec, respectively, and tI/tE, tI/tTot, and IE50/IE50SLP to ±0.16, ±0.05, and ±0.55, respectively. When averaged, agreement for RR was ±0.19 brpm. tI, tE, and tTot were within ±0.16, ±0.16, and ±0.07 sec, respectively, and tI/tE, tI/tTot, and IE50 were within ±0.09, ±0.03, and ±0.25, respectively. A comparison of resting breathing demonstrated that breath‐by‐breath and averaged agreements for all seven parameters were repeatable (P > 0.05). With increased RR, agreement improved for tI, tE, and tTot (P ≤ 0.01), did not differ for tI/tE, tI/tTot, and IE50 (P > 0.05) and reduced for breath‐by‐breath (P < 0.05) but not averaged RR (P > 0.05).
The evolutionary origin and possible functional roles of FNIII domains in two Microbacterium aurum B8.A granular starch degrading enzymes, and in other carbohydrate acting enzymes
Authors: Valk Vincent , Kaaij Rachel M. van der , Dijkhuizen Lubbert 
Published: February 2017

AbstractFibronectin type III (FNIII) domains were first identified in the eukaryotic plasma protein fibronectin, where they act as structural spacers or enable protein-protein interactions. Recently we characterized two large and multi-domain amylases in Microbacterium aurum B8.A that both carry multiple FNIII and carbohydrate binding modules (CBMs). The role of (multiple) FNIII domains in such carbohydrate acting enzymes is currently unclear. Four hypothetical functions are considered here: a substrate surface disruption domain, a carbohydrate binding module, as a stable linker, or enabling protein-protein interactions. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of all FNIII domains identified in proteins listed in the CAZy database. These data clearly show that the FNIII domains in eukaryotic and archaeal CAZy proteins are of bacterial origin and also provides examples of interkingdom gene transfer from Bacteria to Archaea and Eucarya. FNIII domains occur in a wide variety of CAZy enzymes acting on many different substrates, suggesting that they have a non-specific role in these proteins. While CBM domains are mostly found at protein termini, FNIII domains are commonly located between other protein domains. FNIII domains in carbohydrate acting enzymes thus may function mainly as stable linkers to allow optimal positioning and/or flexibility of the catalytic domain and other domains, such as CBM.
Intraindividual variation of microRNA expression levels in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the associations of these levels with the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases
Authors: Otsu Hiroshi , Watanabe Mikio , Inoue Naoya , Masutani Ryota , Iwatani Yoshinori 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackground:microRNAs (miRNAs) circulate in the blood and negatively regulate the expression of mRNAs. Some miRNAs are associated with the development of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD); however, there are few reports on the association between miRNA expression and the pathogenesis of AITD or the physiological variations of circulating miRNAs, which are important to examine as biomarkers.Methods:We examined the circadian and day-to-day variations in the expression levels of 5 miRNAs (miR-125a, miR-146a, miR-155, let-7e and miR-106a) in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We also analysed the expression levels of two of these miRNAs (miR-146a and miR-155) in 20 healthy controls, 60 Graves’ disease (GD) patients and 50 Hashimoto’s disease (HD) patients.Results:For each miRNA, we observed wide intraindividual variation [coefficient of variation value (CV): 70%–100%] compared to measurement error (CV: 20%–40%). In patients with AITD, HD, GD in remission and mild HD, the expression levels of miR-146a in PBMC were increased 296%, 328%, 348% and 464% above the levels in healthy controls, respectively (p=0.0443 and p=0.0273, p=0.0267 and p=0.0052, respectively). In severe HD, the expression level of miR-155 in plasma was increased to 347% of that in healthy controls (p=0.0256).Conclusions:The expression levels of miRNAs in plasma and PBMC showed wide intraindividual variation. In addition, miR-146a may be associated with the development of AITD.
Slices to sums of adjoint orbits, the Atiyah-Hitchin manifold, and Hilbert schemes of points
Authors: Bielawski Roger 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
We show that the regular Slodowy slice to the sum of two semisimple adjoint orbits of GL(n, ℂ) is isomorphic to the deformation of the D2-singularity if n = 2, the Dancer deformation of the double cover of the Atiyah-Hitchin manifold if n = 3, and to the Atiyah-Hitchin manifold itself if n = 4. For higher n, such slices to the sum of two orbits, each having only two distinct eigenvalues, are either empty or biholomorphic to open subsets of the Hilbert scheme of points on one of the above surfaces. In particular, these open subsets of Hilbert schemes of points carry complete hyperkähler metrics. In the case of the double cover of the Atiyah-Hitchin manifold this metric turns out to be the natural L2-metric on a hyperkähler submanifold of the monopole moduli space.
„Im Schema: ‚Caput mortuum‘“
Authors: Coomann Nicholas 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIn the preface of theDialectic of Enlightenment(1947), Adorno and Horkheimer mention the term “dialectical anthropology,” a concept they did not fully elaborate in this passage. To find out more about this quite unresearched term this essay examines two lesser-known papers written by Adorno in 1941:Notizen zur neuen Anthropologie(“notes on a new anthropology”) andProblem des neuen Menschentypus(“problem of a new type of human being”). In contrast to the philosophical anthropology in the tradition of Max Scheler, both documents discuss a specific notion of anthropology that focuses on the radical transformation of human nature in late capitalist society. In the light of this background, the author discusses why this theoretical draft was left unfinished and remained fragmented in Adorno’s œuvre.
Seasonal changes in avian communities living in an extensively used farmland of Western Poland
Authors: Kwieciński Zbigniew , Morelli Federico , Antczak Marcin , Hromada Martin , Szymański Paweł , Tobolka Marcin , Jankowiak Łukasz , Tryjanowski Piotr 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
To study the seasonal changes in avian communities, we collected data in an extensively used farmland in Western Poland during 2006-2013. Generalized additive mixed models were used in order to study the effects of seasonality and protected areas on the overall bird species richness. A similarity percentage analysis was also conducted in order to identify the species that contribute most strongly to dissimilarity among each bird according to the phenological season. Furthermore, the differences in bird communities were investigated applying the decomposition of the species richness in season, trend, and remainder components. Each season showed significant differences in bird species richness (seasonality effect). The effect of the protected areas was slightly positive on the overall species richness for all seasons. However, an overall negative trend was detected for the entire period of eight years. The bird community composition was different among seasons, showing differences in terms of dominant species. Greater differences were found between breeding and wintering seasons, in particular, the spatial pattern of sites with higher bird richness (hotspots) were different between breeding and wintering seasons. Our findings showed a negative trend in bird species richness verified in the Polish farmlands from 2006. This result mirrors the same negative trend already highlighted for Western Europe. The role of protected areas, even if slightly positive, was not enough to mitigate this decline process. Therefore, to effectively protect farmland birds, it is necessary to also consider inter-seasons variation, and for this, we suggest the use of medium-term temporal studies on bird communities’ trends.
Some Algebraic Properties of Polynomial Rings
Authors: Schwarzweller Christoph , Korniłowicz Artur , Rowinska-Schwarzweller Agnieszka 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
In this article we extend the algebraic theory of polynomial rings, formalized in Mizar [1], based on [2], [3]. After introducing constant and monic polynomials we present the canonical embedding of R into R[X] and deal with both unit and irreducible elements. We also define polynomial GCDs and show that for fields F and irreducible polynomials p the field F[X]/<p> is isomorphic to the field of polynomials with degree smaller than the one of p.
Adsorption and inactivation of proteolytic enzymes by Triaenophorus nodulosus (Cestoda)
Authors: Izvekova G.I. , Frolova T.V. , Izvekov E.I. 
Published: February 2017

Summary
The proteolytic activity in washings off the Triaenophorus nodulosus cestode tegument and the ability of the worms to inactivate proteolytic enzymes were studied. It was found that the major proteolytic activity in the washing samples is represented by the easily desorbed fraction most probably characterizing the activity of the host’s enzymes. Serine proteinases are an essential part of these enzymes. It was shown that the worms’ incubation medium and their homogenates can inhibit host proteinases and commercial trypsin samples. Suppressive activity of the incubation medium suggests that the inhibitors are rather spontaneously produced by the worms than induced by the presence of proteinases in the surrounding medium. The inhibitor produced by the cestode is hypothesized to be trypsin-specific.
Parasite communities in two sparid fishes from the western Mediterranean: a comparative analysis based on samples from three localities off the Algerian coast
Authors: Benhamou F. , Marzoug D. , Boutiba Z. , Kostadinova A. , Pérez-Del-Olmo A. 
Published: February 2017

Summary
We provide the first known comparative assessment of metazoan parasite communities in two taxonomically and ecologically related sparids, Boops boops and Spicara maena, that are common in the coastal infralittoral habitats in the Mediterranean. Using abundant data for infracommunities in three localities off the Algerian coasts of the Mediterranean, we tested the general prediction that the phylogenetic proximity of the two hosts, their overlapping geographical distribution and habitat occupation, as well as the similar feeding habits and diet would contribute to a homogenization of their parasite community composition and structure. The regional fauna of parasites of B. boops and S. maena along the Algerian coasts of the western Mediterranean was species-rich (36 species) and dominated by heteroxenous species (27 spp; of these 20 digenean spp.). The phylogenetic relatedness between the two hosts resulted in a large number of shared parasites (56 %, 20 spp.). However, the significant overlap in the parasite faunas of the two sparid hosts and their similar feeding habits and diet did not translate into homogeneous parasite community pattern; a significant differentiation in terms of both, composition and structure, was observed.
Windstorms as mediator of soil nematode community changes: Evidence from European spruce forest
Authors: Renčo M. , Čerevková A. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryNematode communities in a Norway spruce forest in High Tatra National Park, Slovakia were monitored for the period of several years (2006 and 2013). Unfortunately, in May 2014 natural windstorm damaged the forest. This disastrous event, together with preliminary obtained results allowed us to compare the direct impact of windstorm damage of forest habitat on soil nematode assemblages. The forest destruction by windstorm had a significant effect on the total nematode abundance, the abundance of omnivores and herbivores, as well as the nematode species diversity. The most dominant species, representing 55 % of the total nematode fauna, in the plot studied were Acrobeloides nanus followed by Malenchus exiguus, Filenchus vulgaris, Plectus communis, Plectus parvus and Tylencholaimus mirabilis. The abundance of bacterivorous signifi cantly increased after the windstorm, meanwhile the abundance of omnivores, fungivores, and herbivores ectoparasites and epidermal/root hair feeders showed an opposite trend. Of the evaluative indicators, Shannon species diversity (H’spp), maturity index (MI), maturity index 2-5 (MI2-5), sigma maturity index (ΣMI), enrichment index (EI) and structure index (SI) decreased significantly after windstorm. The EI and SI indexes characterized soil ecosystems before windstorm (2006 - 2013) as maturing with low or moderate disturbance, but soil ecosystems shortly after the windstorm (2014) were degraded and nutrient depleted. This also corresponded with graphical display of metabolic footprints characteristics of soil food web. Overall, the nematode communities differed significantly before and after forest damage. These results suggest the role of nematode communities as indicators of environment condition quality or its disruption.
Soil nematodes in alpine meadows of the Tatra National Park (Slovak Republic)
Authors: Háněl L. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryThe assemblages of soil nematodes were studied at five alpine meadow sites, 1763-2200 m. a. s. I., in the Tatra National Park in the Slovak Republic. A total of 110 species were distinguished, 19 species were recorded in the Slovak Republic for the first time. The interesting new records are the occurrence of Sphaeronema alni at the elevation of 2003 m a . s. I. and the populations of Coomansus menzeli at four sites. The total numbers of species at individual sites varied from 45 to 72. The most abundant nematode genera were Aglenchus, Plectus. Acrobeloides, Paratylenchus, Eudorylaimus, Helicotylechus, and Aphelenchoides. The total mean abundance ranged from 704 to 2054 × 103ind.m-2and the total mean biomass from 442 to 1531 mg.m-2. The lowest values of the Maturity Indices (ΣMI, Ml) were found at the highest elevation. The significantly highest values of the Plant Parasite Index were at the lowest elevation. The mean values of the of the Enrichment Index varied from 16.3 to 38.4, the mean values of the Structure Index from 64.1 to 85.4. The Structure metabolic footprints were significantly greater at the lowest elevation than at the highest elevation. Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis performed on species presence and absence, genera abundance and genera metabolic footprints showed nematode assemblages at sites of high­er elevations different from those at sites of lower elevations.
Gastrointestinal digeneans (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda) of horseshoe and vesper bats (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae and Vespertilionidae) in Serbia
Authors: Horvat Ž. , Čabrilo B. , Paunović M. , Karapandža B. , Jovanović J. , Budinski I. , Bjelić Čabrilo O. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryThe qualitative and quantitative analyses of the digenean fauna of bats were conducted for the first time in Serbia. The sample comprised of 118 individuals of 12 bat species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis mystacinus, M. alcathoe, M. brandtii, M. oxygnathus, M. myotis, Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, P. nathusii, Plecotus auritus, P. austriacus and Nyctalus noctula) collected from 15 sites throughout Serbia. Six digenean species were identified: Lecithodendrium linstowi, Plagiorchis sp., Prosthodendrium longiforme, P. chilostomum, P. parvouterus and Mesotretes peregrinus. The helminths were recorded from 35 individual hosts (29.7 %). The species Lecithodendrium linstowi infected the highest percentage of hosts (19.5 %), with a mean abundance of 4.6. GLM analysis of exploratory factors showed that host species and host sex had a significant influence on parasite load, while locality and host age did not influence parasite abundance. No evidence of zoonotic species was found.
Nail manifestations in Hong Kong Chinese patients with psoriatic arthropathy (PsA)
Authors: Lai Tin Lok 
Published: February 2017

Abstract

Background
Nail psoriasis is accepted as a common feature in psoriatic arthropathy (PsA) and is one of the diagnostic criteria for PsA. Several nail characteristics are allegedly associated with joint damage, however, information concerning their prevalence and features is extremely lacking, particularly in Hong Kong.

Objective
The primary objective of the study was to investigate the frequency of psoriatic nail disease and to understand their patterns. The secondary objective was to explore the associated factor for nail dystrophy among them.

Methods
This study was a cross-sectional observation study. The eligible PsA patients were recruited from Rheumatology Clinic of Tseung Kwan O Hospital. Their demographics and clinical characteristics were collected, their respective nail psoriasis were scored and the nail features were recorded. By comparing the clinical variables between PsA patients, with and without nail involvement, the associated factor was explored.

Results
A total of 106 PsA patients were recruited and 61.3% (65/106) of them had nail psoriasis. Among all the patients with nail involvement, 72.3% of them had pitting, 50.8% had onycholysis, 15.7 had crumbling, 6.9% had leukonychia and 3.9% suffered from nail-bed hyperkeratosis, with mean modified Nail Psoriasis Severity Index of 9.5 +/-15.3. Nail involvement was more common in those with severe skin extent, but neither related to psoriatic disease duration, arthritis subclasses, nor inflammatory markers.

Conclusion
A significant proportion of PsA patients had nail involvement and there were various nail features noted. The occurrence of psoriatic nail disease was found to be associated with severe skin problem. This common manifestation of PsA should not be overlooked in the rheumatologists’ daily practice, in view of its common prevalence.
A Modified Johnson Cook Constitutive Model for Aermet 100 at Elevated Temperatures
Authors: Zhanwei Yuan , Fuguo Li , Guoliang Ji 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
The predicted flow behaviors of Aermet 100 steel were analyzed within a wide range of temperatures of 1,073 K–1,473 K and strain rates of 0.01 s–1–50 s–1 based on isothermal compression tests. Using the original Johnson Cook (JC) model and a modified Johnson Cook (MJC) model, the constitutive equations were constructed in the case of elevated temperatures. For both the JC and MJC, and the previously studied (Arrhenius-type model and double-multivariate nonlinear regression (DMNR)) models, their respective predictability levels were evaluated by contrasting both the correlation coefficient R and the average absolute relative error (AARE). The results showed that the prediction from the three models meet the accuracy requirement based on the experimental data, the only exception being the JC model. By comparing the predictability and numbers of material constants involved, the modified Johnson Cook model is regarded as an excellent choice for predicting the flow behaviors of Aermet 100 steel within the range being studied.
Optimal Sizing of Battery Energy Storage System for Smoothing Power Fluctuations of a PV/Wind Hybrid System
Authors: Mahesh Aeidapu , Sandhu Kanwarjit Singh , Rao Jagilinki Venkata 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
This paper presents an approach to size the battery energy storage system (BESS) for the suppression of the output power fluctuations in a solar photovoltaic (PV)/Wind hybrid energy system. The strategy presented uses a dynamic averaging technique, with a different number of samples in order to produce different smoothing levels in the output power. The key advantage of the proposed strategy is that, apart from sizing the BESS, the same strategy can be implemented in real time to perform the energy management for the system. The gravitational search algorithm (GSA) has been used to find the optimum size of the BESS which will be able to produce the required level of smoothing. The effectiveness of the proposed strategy has been verified through a case study presented and the results indicate that the strategy is effectively able to size the BESS for reduced power fluctuations from the system. To verify the robustness of the proposed strategy, the uncertainty in the climatic conditions has also been considered and the results indicate that the proposed strategy works well even in the case of a change in the climatic conditions.