bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Life history evolution under climate change and its influence on the population dynamics of a long‐lived plant
Authors: Williams Jennifer L. , Jacquemyn Hans , Ochocki Brad M. , Brys Rein , Miller Tom E. X. 
Published: January 2015

Summary

One of the key components of an organism's life history is the delay of reproduction until it reaches or returns to an optimal size. While we know climate can influence vital rates that shape life‐history strategies, it is also critical to understand the effects of climate change on rapid life history evolution, which might modify the influence of climate change on population dynamics.

We asked how realistic changes in temperature and precipitation influence vital rates, costs of reproduction, and ultimately, evolutionarily stable (ES) flowering size in a long‐lived perennial plant, Orchis purpurea. We also explored how evolution of flowering size could influence population persistence under changing climate.

Our approach combined model selection methods to characterize climate dependence in vital rates, stochastic integral projection models to integrate vital rates into an estimate of fitness, and adaptive dynamics to identify ES flowering sizes.

Vital rates responded uniquely to seasonal temperature and precipitation, with the largest response in the size‐dependent probability of flowering. The predicted ES flowering size closely matched that observed, and responded strongly to adjusting the frequencies of extreme climate years. For example, increasing the frequency of extreme drought conditions was predicted to favour smaller reproductive sizes (and hence a shorter reproductive delay), despite observation that smaller plants were less likely to flower in dry years. This apparent discrepancy stems from a smaller payoff to delaying reproduction due to lower costs of reproduction in dry years.

The model of stochastic population dynamics predicted long‐term persistence of the focal populations, even under the most extreme climate scenarios, while incorporating rapid life history evolution into predictions reduced the sensitivity of population growth to changing climate.

Synthesis. Our results illustrate that long‐lived organisms can exhibit complex demographic responses to changing climate regimes. Additionally, they highlight that long‐term evolutionary responses may be in opposing directions from short‐term plastic responses to climate and emphasize the need for demographic models to integrate ecological and evolutionary influences of climate across the life cycle.
A combined parasitological molecular approach for noninvasive characterization of parasitic nematode communities in wild hosts
Authors: Budischak Sarah A. , Hoberg Eric P. , Abrams Art , Jolles Anna E. , Ezenwa Vanessa O. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMost hosts are concurrently or sequentially infected with multiple parasites; thus, fully understanding interactions between individual parasite species and their hosts depends on accurate characterization of the parasite community. For parasitic nematodes, noninvasive methods for obtaining quantitative, species‐specific infection data in wildlife are often unreliable. Consequently, characterization of gastrointestinal nematode communities of wild hosts has largely relied on lethal sampling to isolate and enumerate adult worms directly from the tissues of dead hosts. The necessity of lethal sampling severely restricts the host species that can be studied, the adequacy of sample sizes to assess diversity, the geographic scope of collections and the research questions that can be addressed. Focusing on gastrointestinal nematodes of wild African buffalo, we evaluated whether accurate characterization of nematode communities could be made using a noninvasive technique that combined conventional parasitological approaches with molecular barcoding. To establish the reliability of this new method, we compared estimates of gastrointestinal nematode abundance, prevalence, richness and community composition derived from lethal sampling with estimates derived from our noninvasive approach. Our noninvasive technique accurately estimated total and species‐specific worm abundances, as well as worm prevalence and community composition when compared to the lethal sampling method. Importantly, the rate of parasite species discovery was similar for both methods, and only a modest number of barcoded larvae (n = 10) were needed to capture key aspects of parasite community composition. Overall, this new noninvasive strategy offers numerous advantages over lethal sampling methods for studying nematode–host interactions in wildlife and can readily be applied to a range of study systems.
Cost comparison of re‐usable and single‐use fibrescopes in a large English teaching hospital
Authors: McCahon R. A. , Whynes D. K. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryA number of studies in the USA and mainland Europe have described the costs of fibreoptic tracheal intubation. However, no such data from the UK appear available. We performed a cost assessment of fibreoptic intubation, using re‐usable (various devices from Olympus, Acutronic and Karl Storz) and single‐use (Ambu® aScope™) fibrescopes, at the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK, between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2014. The total annual cost of fibreoptic intubation with re‐usable fibrescopes was £46 385. Based on 141 fibreoptic intubations per year, this equated to £329 per use, an average dominated by repair/maintenance costs (43%) and capital depreciation costs (42%). In comparison, the total annual cost of using single‐use fibrescopes for the same work would have been around £200 per use. The analysis enabled us to develop a generic model, wherein we were able to describe the relationship between total cost of use vs number of uses for a fibrescope. An ‘isopleth’ was identified for this relationship: a line that joined all the points where the cost of re‐usable vs single‐use fibrescopes was equal. It appears cheaper to use single‐use fibrescopes at up to 200 fibreoptic intubations per year (a range commensurate with normal practice) even when the repair rate for re‐usable fibrescopes is low. Any centre, knowing its fibrescope use and repair rate, can plot its data similarly to help ascertain which of the re‐usable or single‐use fibrescope represents better value.
What are the demographic predictors in laparoscopic simulator performance?
Authors: Lin Diwei , Pena Guilherme , Field John , Altree Meryl , Marlow Nicholas , Babidge Wendy , Hewett Peter , Maddern Guy 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundSimulation is playing an increasingly important role in surgical education. There are a number of laparoscopic simulators of which the design and tasks vary considerably. It is unknown if any particular type may result in better outcomes for a specific population. This study assesses the predictors of acquisition of basic surgical skills on two different laparoscopic simulators.MethodsParticipants (n = 370) were randomized to be trained and assessed using either a fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) or a LapSim (Surgical Science, Goteborg, Sweden) simulator. The number of attempts required to reach proficiency on individual tasks and on each simulator was recorded and compared with demographic data and surgical experience.ResultSkills acquisition on both simulators was positively affected by surgical experience. Gender was an influential factor on the LapSim with men reaching proficiency sooner than women. The effect of gaming had no clear influence on the participants' scores; however, for those who reported more than 1 h/week gaming, it had a positive influence on skills acquisition on the FLS and a negative influence on the LapSim. Playing a musical instrument had no impact. Practising non‐surgical tasks requiring manual dexterity and handedness were not an influential factor in total proficient scores, but had a significant impact on individual task scores on the FLS simulator.ConclusionsThe rate of skills acquisition on each simulator and individual tasks are influenced by different demographic characteristics of the participants. This has implications for surgical education as it may inform the selection of the most suitable laparoscopic simulators for specific populations of trainees.
Study findings challenge the content validity of the Canadian Consensus Criteria for adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Asprusten Tarjei Tørre , Fagermoen Even , Sulheim Dag , Skovlund Eva , Sørensen Øystein , Mollnes Tom Eirik , Wyller Vegard Bruun 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAimThe 2003 Canadian Consensus Criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are often assumed to suggest low‐grade systemic inflammation, but have never been formally validated. This study explored the content validity of the Criteria in a sample of adolescents with CFS selected according to a wide case definition.MethodsA total of 120 patients with CFS with a mean age of 15.4 years (range 12–18 years) included in the NorCAPITAL project were post hoc subgrouped according to the Canadian Consensus Criteria. Those who satisfied the criteria (Criteria positive) and those who did not (Criteria negative) were compared across a wide range of disease markers and markers of prognosis.ResultsA total of 46 patients were classified as Criteria positive, 69 were classified as Criteria negative, and five could not be classified. All disease markers were equal across the two groups, except the digit span backward test of cognitive function, which showed poorer performance in the Criteria‐positive group. Also, the prognosis over a 30‐week period was equal between the groups.ConclusionThis study questions the content validity of the Canadian Consensus Criteria, as few differences were found between adolescent patients with CFS who did and did not satisfy the Criteria.
Involvement of Spinal Bv8/Prokineticin 2 in a Rat Model of Cancer‐Induced Bone Pain
Authors: Hang Li‐Hua , Luo Hong , Li Shu‐Na , Shu Wei‐Wei , Chen Zheng , Chen Yuan‐Feng , Yuan Ju‐Fang , Shi Lei‐Lei , Shao Dong‐Hua 
Published: January 2015

AbstractCancer‐induced bone pain (CIBP) is seriously disruptive to the quality of life in cancer patients, and present therapies are limited. The Bv8/prokineticin 2, a new family of chemokines, has been demonstrated to be involved in inflammatory and neuropathic pain. However, whether it is involved in CIBP remains unclear. This study was designed to examine whether spinal Bv8 was involved in the development of CIBP in rats. A rat CIBP model was constructed by injecting Walker 256 carcinoma cells into the medullary cavity of rat tibia. Tibia inoculation with Walker 256 tumour cells resulted in the development of mechanical hyperalgesia. Compared with sham rats, spinal Bv8 mRNA and protein levels were markedly and time‐dependently increased in CIBP rats. Intrathecal administration of Bv8 neutralizing antibody (5 ng) could markedly attenuate pain behaviour as well as up‐regulation of spinal TNF‐α expression at day 18 after inoculation. Intrathecal pre‐treatment with synthetic Bv8 (50 pg) almost completely abolished these effects. These data suggested that spinal Bv8/prokineticin 2 participated in the development of CIBP. Targeting of spinal Bv8 might be a promising strategy for the management of cancer‐induced bone pain.
On the Alleged Right to Participate in High‐Risk Research
Authors: Różyńska Joanna 
Published: February 2015

AbstractReigning regulatory frameworks for biomedical research impose on researchers and research ethics committees an obligation to protect research participants from risks that are unnecessary, disproportionate to potential research benefits, and non‐minimized. Where the research has no potential to produce results of direct benefit to the subjects and the subjects are unable to give consent, these requirements are strengthened by an additional condition, that risks should not exceed a certain minimal threshold. In this article, I address the question of whether there should be limits of permissible risks in non‐therapeutic research involving competent and healthy subjects. Some commentators argue that competent and informed individuals should have a right to participate even in extremely risky research and that research ethics committees should never reject studies because they are too dangerous. To use David Shaw's expression, competent volunteers should have ‘a right to participate in high‐risk research’. I argue that this idea is ill‐founded, as it does not take into account the social mission and complex collaborative nature of research practice as well as the inequity of power between researchers and subjects. Imposition of limits on permissible risks for healthy volunteers is justified by the need to protect research enterprise and the need to protect the weaker party, namely the subjects. Also, I suggest that the best way to set boundaries on research risks is to leave the judgment of risk acceptability to research ethics committees.
Tumor‐suppressive microRNA‐145 induces growth arrest by targeting SENP1 in human prostate cancer cells
Authors: Wang Chunyang , Tao Weiyang , Ni Shaobin , Chen Qiyin , Zhao Zhongshan , Ma Li , Fu Yiming , Jiao Zhixing 
Published: February 2015

Prostate cancer (PCa) prevails as the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in men and the third leading cause of cancer‐related deaths in developed countries. One of the distinct characteristics of prostate cancer is overexpression of the small ubiquitin‐like modifier (SUMO)‐specific protease 1 (SENP1), and the upregulation of SENP1 contributes to the malignant progression and cell proliferation of PCa. Previous studies have shown that the expression of microRNA‐145 (miRNA‐145) was extensively deregulated in PCa cell lines and primary clinical prostate cancer samples. Independent target prediction methods have indicated that the 3′‐untranslated region of SENP1 mRNA is a potential target of miR‐145. Here we found that low expression of miR‐145 was correlated with high expression of SENP1 in PCa cell line PC‐3. The transient introduction of miR‐145 caused cell cycle arrest in PC‐3 cells, and the opposite effect was observed when miR‐145 inhibitor was transfected. Further studies revealed that the SENP1 3′‐untranslated region was a regulative target of miR‐145 in vitro. MicroRNA‐145 also suppressed tumor formation in vivo in nude mice. Taken together, miR‐145 plays an important role in tumorigenesis of PCa through interfering SENP1.
Proportions of several types of plasma and urine microparticles are increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with active disease
Authors: Viñuela-Berni V , Doníz-Padilla L , Figueroa-Vega N , Portillo-Salazar H , Abud-Mendoza C , Baranda L , González-Amaro R 
Published: January 2015

Summary
We analysed the proportions of different microparticles (MPs) in plasma from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and assessed their relationship with disease activity/therapy and their in-vitro effect on proinflammatory cytokine release. Blood and urine samples were obtained from 55 patients with RA (24 untreated and 31 under conventional therapy) and 20 healthy subjects. Fourteen patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were also studied. The proportions of CD3+, CD14+, CD19+, CD41+ and CD62E+ MPs were determined by flow cytometry analysis. The in-vitro effect of plasma MPs on the release of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-17 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α was also analysed. We detected that the proportions of different types of annexin-V+ MPs were enhanced in plasma (CD3+, CD14+, CD19+, CD41+ and CD62E+ MPs) and urine (CD14+, CD3+ and CD19+ MPs) from RA patients with high disease activity (DAS28 index &gt; 5·1). Accordingly, a significant positive correlation was observed between the levels of MPs and DAS28 score, and these levels diminished significantly at week 4 of immunosuppressive therapy. Finally, MPs isolated from patients with high disease activity induced, in vitro, an enhanced release of IL-1, IL-17 and TNF-α. In SLE, enhanced levels of different types of plasma MPs were also detected, with a tight correlation with disease activity. Our data further support that MPs have a relevant role in the pathogenesis of RA and suggest that the analysis of the proportions of these microvesicles in plasma could be useful to monitor disease activity and therapy response in patients with RA.
RETRACTED: Xenografts Supplemented with Pamindronate placed in postextraction sockets to avoid crestal bone resorption. Experimental study in Fox hound dogs
Authors: Lozano‐Carrascal Naroa , Delgado‐Ruiz Rafael arcesio , Gargallo‐Albiol Jordi , Maté‐Sánchez José Eduardo , Hernandez Alfaro Federico , Calvo‐Guirado José Luis 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of the study was to compare the effects of porcine xenografts (MP3®) with or without pamindronate for the healing of small and large defects of postextraction sockets.Materials and methodsSix beagle dogs were used in the study; second premolars and first molars of the mandible were extracted, small defects (SD) and large defects (LD) were identified. Each defect was measured and randomly filled as follows: SC (small control defects filled with MP3® alone), ST (small test defects filled with MP3® modified with pamindronate), LC (large control defects filled with MP3® alone), LT (large test defects filled with MP3® modified with pamindronate). After 4 and 8 weeks, the animals were euthanized and the percentages of new bone formation (NB), residual graft (RG) and connective tissue (CT) were analysed by histology and histomorphometry of undecalcified samples.ResultsAfter 4 weeks, NB formation was higher for ST compared to all groups and for LT compared to LC (P < 0.05); RG was significantly higher in both control groups compared to tests (P < 0.05); and CT was higher in large defects (LC and LT) compared to small defects. After 8 weeks, NB formation was higher for test groups (ST and LT) compared to controls (P < 0.05); RG was significantly higher in both control groups compared to tests (P < 0.05); and CT was higher in large defects (LC and LT) compared to small defects (P < 0.05).ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this experimental study, the findings suggest that porcine xenografts modified with pamindronate favours the new bone formation and increased the porcine xenograft substitution/replacement after 4 and 8 weeks of healing.
Stimulation of EphB2/ephrin‐B1 signalling by tumour necrosis factor alpha in human dental pulp stem cells
Authors: Zhu Lifang , Dissanayaka Waruna Lakmal , Green David William , Zhang Chengfei 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate whether in vitro stimulation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) by tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) would induce secretion of EphB2/ephrin‐B1 signalling.Materials and methodsDental pulp stem cells isolated from human dental pulp were treated with TNF‐α (5–100 ng/ml) over 2–48 h. EphB2/ephrin‐B1 mRNA and protein levels were measured by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and western blot analysis respectively. Additionally, DPSCs were pre‐incubated with TNF‐α receptor neutralizing antibodies or infected with nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐ĸB) inhibitor, p38 MAPK inhibitor, Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor and MEK inhibitor before TNF‐α treatment. Results were analysed by one‐way ANOVA.ResultsTumour necrosis factor alpha increased EphB2 mRNA expression in DPSCs at concentrations up to 20 ng/ml and ephrin‐B1 at concentrations up to 40 ng/ml (P < 0.05). Its mRNA expression reached maximum at 24 h when treated with TNF‐α at 20 ng/ml (P < 0.05). EphB2/ephrin‐B1 protein expression levels were high at 16 and 24 h as shown by western blotting. Neutralizing antibodies for TNFR1/2 receptors down‐regulated EphB2/ephrin‐B1 mRNA expression (P < 0.05) and ephrin‐B1 protein expression, but not EphB2 protein expression. JNK‐inhibitor inhibited EphB2 mRNA expression only (P < 0.05).ConclusionsEphB2/ephrin‐B1 were invoked in DPSCs with TNF‐α treatment via the JNK‐dependent pathway, but not NF‐ĸB, p38 MAPK or MEK signalling.
Evaluating developmental motor plasticity with paired afferent stimulation
Authors: Damji Omar , Keess Jamie , Kirton Adam 
Published: January 2015

AimBrain plasticity mechanisms are probably different in children but remain poorly understood. Paired afferent stimulation (PAS) combines peripheral sensory stimulation with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of primary motor cortex to induce rapid, reversible, topographically specific increases in primary motor cortex excitability suggestive of long‐term potentiation in adults. Our aim was to determine frequency, characteristics, age effects, and reproducibility of PAS in school‐age children.MethodTypically developing right‐handed children (6–18y) were recruited. Median nerve stimulation was delivered 25ms before suprathreshold primary motor cortex stimulation (0.2Hz, 7.5min). Primary outcome was changed in the amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) at five time points after PAS (0, 15, 30, 45, 75min) expressed as area under the curve. Reproducibility was evaluated. Secondary outcomes included stimulus response curves and safety/tolerability.ResultsOf 28 children (20 males, mean age 12y), 64% demonstrated PAS effects (11 definite, seven probable). PAS effects were sustained across all time points to 75min (p=0.004). Stimulus response curve scores increased after PAS (n=9, p=0.02). PAS effect and age were not correlated. PAS was highly reproducible (p=0.925, r=0.283). Tolerability was favorable without adverse events.InterpretationPAS effects are present and reproducible in children. Pediatric PAS paradigms appear safe and tolerable. PAS may provide insight into endogenous developmental plasticity, informing future studies in children with cerebral palsy and other motor disorders.
Differential effects of genetic vs. environmental quality in Drosophila melanogaster suggest multiple forms of condition dependence
Authors: Bonduriansky Russell , Mallet Martin A. , Arbuthnott Devin , Pawlowsky‐Glahn Vera , Egozcue Juan José , Rundle Howard D. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractCondition is a central concept in evolutionary ecology, but the roles of genetic and environmental quality in condition‐dependent trait expression remain poorly understood. Theory suggests that condition integrates genetic, epigenetic and somatic factors, and therefore predicts alignment between the phenotypic effects of genetic and environmental quality. To test this key prediction, we manipulated both genetic (mutational) and environmental (dietary) quality in Drosophila melanogaster and examined responses in morphological and chemical (cuticular hydrocarbon, CHC) traits in both sexes. While the phenotypic effects of diet were consistent among genotypes, effects of mutation load varied in magnitude and direction. Average effects of diet and mutation were aligned for most morphological traits, but non‐aligned for the male sexcombs and CHCs in both sexes. Our results suggest the existence of distinct forms of condition dependence, one integrating both genetic and environmental effects and the other purely environmental. We propose a model to account for these observations.