bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Developmental plasticity affects sexual size dimorphism in an anole lizard
Authors: Bonneaud Camille , Marnocha Erin , Herrel Anthony , Vanhooydonck Bieke , Irschick Duncan J. , Smith Thomas B. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryWhile developmental plasticity has been shown to contribute to sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in laboratory studies, its role in shapingSSDvariation in wild vertebrate populations is unclear.Here we use a field study and a laboratory experiment to show that resource availability influences the degree ofSSDamong insular populations ofAnolis sagreilizards in the Bahamas.Total amounts of food biomass explained variation in male, but not female, body size on six Bahamian islands, giving rise to significant differences inSSD.Laboratory experiments on a captive colony ofA. sagreiconfirmed that variation inSSDwas mediated by the effects of prey biomass on developmental plasticity in males, but not females. Indeed, males grew faster and attained larger sizes as adults under high‐food treatments than under restricted diets, whereas adult females retained similar body sizes under both conditions.Our results indicate that the amount of food available can influence intersexual variation in body size within a vertebrate species. Sex‐specific developmental plasticity may be favoured if it allows individuals to take advantage of varying levels of food opportunities offered by different habitats, by reducing competition between the sexes. As such, plasticity in response to food availability may have played a role in the invasion success ofA. sagrei.This study adds to our growing understanding of the effect of resource availability in shapingSSDin reptiles and lends further support to the condition‐dependent hypothesis, according to which the larger sex should display greater plasticity in growth in response to environmental conditions.
Human disturbance increases functional but not structural variability of stream fungal communities
Authors: Tolkkinen Mikko , Mykrä Heikki , Markkola Annamari M. , Muotka Timo 
Published: May 2015

Summary

Temporal stability of ecosystem functions is often regulated by the same environmental factors that also shape diversity. Therefore, species diversity, ecosystem functions and their environmental regulators should be considered together to understand and predict the consequences of anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystems.

We studied the influence of land‐use disturbance (agriculture) and a natural stressor (low pH due to specific geology) on the temporal variability (variability among successive years) of fungal decomposer communities and leaf decomposition rates in streams. We used next‐generation sequencing techniques (pyrosequencing) to determine the composition of fungal assemblages.

Temporal variability of leaf decomposition was higher in human‐disturbed streams than in circumneutral reference or naturally acidic sites, whereas the latter two did not differ. Fungal operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness and evenness were lower in human‐impacted sites than in circumneutral reference sites. However, there were no significant differences between stream types in the temporal variability of fungal community composition.

Fungal OTU evenness was negatively and among‐year variability of water chemistry positively related to temporal variability in leaf decomposition. Partial regressions showed that these two factors had independent effects on decomposition rates. Although the dominant OTUs in the disturbed streams were temporally stable, they did not maintain stable ecosystem functions, suggesting that variability in decomposition was driven mainly by changes in the metabolic responses of dominant taxa to environmental fluctuations.

Our results show that leaf decomposition rates in reference sites vary little through time, supporting the use of leaf decomposition assays in bioassessment. Our results also highlight the importance of measuring not only the mean rates, but also temporal variability of process rates when assessing the influence of human disturbance on ecosystem functioning.
Expression of Smad7 and Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 2 in a rat model of chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Hou Xiao Jia , Jin Zhen Dong , Jiang Fei , Zhu Jian Wei , Li Zhao Shen 
Published: May 2015

ObjectiveTo quantify the expressions of Smad7 and Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2) in the pancreas in rats with chronic pancreatitis (CP).MethodsA total of 16 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group and the CP group, with 8 rats in each group. CP was induced in vivo with dibutyltin dichloride (DBTC). Four weeks after DBTC administration, histological assessment and the measurement of hydroxyproline content in the pancreatic tissues were performed to assess the inflammation and fibrosis of the pancreas. Immunohistochemisty and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) were applied to assess activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) and TGF‐β1 expression. Smad7 and Smurf2 expressions in the pancreas were measured using Western blot and RT‐PCR.ResultsTypical histopathological characteristics of DBTC‐induced CP in the rats with extensively activated PSC. Compared with the control group, the expressions of TGF‐β1, α‐SMA and hydroxyproline content in the pancreatic tissues in the CP group were significantly increased. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein expressions of Smad7 and Smurf2 were significant increased in the fibrotic pancreas, in which the expressions of Smad7 proteins showed an obvious reduction compared with controls.ConclusionThe dysregulation of Smad7 and Smurf2 may be associated with the pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis through the TGF‐β signaling pathway.
Impaired postural stability after laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Eskildsen K. Z. , Staehr‐Rye A. K. , Rasmussen L. S. , Rosenberg J. , Claudius C. , Kjær B. H. , Clausen H. V. , Gätke M. R. 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundEarly postoperative mobilisation may reduce patient morbidity and improve hospital efficiency by accelerated discharge. The aim of this study was to measure postural stability early after laparoscopic surgery in order to assess how early it is safe to mobilise and discharge patients.MethodsWe included 25 women undergoing outpatient gynaecological laparoscopic surgery in the study. Patients received standardised anaesthesia with propofol, remifentanil and rocuronium. Postural stability was assessed preoperatively, at 30 min after tracheal extubation, and at discharge from the post‐anaesthesia care unit using a force platform where sway area, mean sway and sway velocity were determined. The assessments were done with eyes closed and with eyes open. The primary outcome was the change in sway area with eyes closed 30 min after extubation. Data are reported as median (25–75% range).ResultsThree patients could not perform all the test's 30 min after extubation.Thirty minutes after extubation, sway area with eyes closed had increased significantly with 84 mm2 (9–172, P = 0.011) and 108 mm2 with eyes open (25–295, P = 0.0017). Median mean sway had also increased significantly 30 min postoperatively. No significant changes were found for sway velocity.We found no significant changes in mean sway, sway area or sway velocity at discharge from the post‐anaesthesia care unit approximately 2 h after surgery.ConclusionPostural stability was significantly impaired 30 min after outpatient gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. However, the postural stability was normalised at discharge from the post‐anaesthesia care unit 2 h after surgery.
Examination of a Dual‐Process Model Predicting Riding with Drinking Drivers
Authors: Hultgren Brittney A. , Scaglione Nichole M. , Cleveland Michael J. , Turrisi Rob 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundNearly 1 in 5 of the fatalities in alcohol‐related crashes are passengers. Few studies have utilized theory to examine modifiable psychosocial predictors of individuals' tendencies to be a passenger in a vehicle operated by a driver who has consumed alcohol. This study used a prospective design to test a dual‐process model featuring reasoned and reactive psychological influences and psychosocial constructs as predictors of riding with drinking drivers (RWDD) in a sample of individuals aged 18 to 21.MethodsCollege students (N = 508) completed web‐based questionnaires assessing RWDD, psychosocial constructs (attitudes, expectancies, and norms), and reasoned and reactive influences (intentions and willingness) at baseline (the middle of the spring semester) and again 1 and 6 months later. Regression was used to analyze reasoned and reactive influences as proximal predictors of RWDD at the 6‐month follow‐up. Subsequent analyses examined the relationship between the psychosocial constructs as distal predictors of RWDD and the mediation effects of reasoned and reactive influences.ResultsBoth reasoned and reactive influences predicted RWDD, while only the reactive influence had a significant unique effect. Reactive influences significantly mediated the effects of peer norms, attitudes, and drinking influences on RWDD. Nearly all effects were constant across gender except parental norms (significant for females).ConclusionsFindings highlight that the important precursors of RWDD were reactive influences, attitudes, and peer and parent norms. These findings suggest several intervention methods, specifically normative feedback interventions, parent‐based interventions, and brief motivational interviewing, may be particularly beneficial in reducing RWDD.
Neonatal vitamin A supplementation associated with increased atopy in girls
Authors: Aage S. , Kiraly N. , Da Costa K. , Byberg S. , Bjerregaard‐Andersen M. , Fisker A. B. , Aaby P. , Benn C. S. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundNeonatal vitamin A supplementation (NVAS) is currently being considered as policy in countries at risk of deficiency. A previous study suggested that NVAS may be associated with increased atopy. We examined the effect of NVAS on atopy by conducting long‐term follow‐up of a previous randomized controlled trial in Guinea‐Bissau.MethodsIn 2002–2004, we randomized 4345 normal birthweight neonates to NVAS (50 000 IU retinyl palmitate) or placebo together with their Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccination. In 2013, we visited the 1692 (39%) children now aged 8–10 years who were still living in the study area, and 1478 (87%) were found at home. Provided consent, a skin prick test was performed, and history of allergic symptoms was recorded. Associations of NVAS and atopy (defined as skin prick test reaction of ≥3 mm) were analysed using binomial regression.ResultsOf the 1430 children with a valid skin prick test, 228 (16%) were positive (more boys (20%) than girls (12%), P‐value < 0.0001). NVAS did not increase the overall risk of atopy (RR 1.10 [95% CI 0.87–1.40]). However, NVAS was associated with significantly increased risk among females (RR 1.78 [1.17–2.72]) but not among males (0.86 [0.64–1.15], P‐value for interaction between NVAS and gender = 0.005). Furthermore, NVAS was associated with increased risk of wheezing among females (RR 1.80 [1.03–3.17], but not among males, P‐value for interaction = 0.05).ConclusionThe study corroborated previous observations; NVAS was associated with increased risk of atopy and wheezing, in this study only among females. Further studies on NVAS and atopy are warranted.
Re‐evaluation of Pre‐pump Arterial Pressure to Avoid Inadequate Dialysis and Hemolysis: Importance of Prepump Arterial Pressure Monitoring in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Shibata Eriko , Nagai Kojiro , Takeuchi Risa , Noda Yasuhiro , Makino Tomomi , Chikata Yusuke , Hann Michael , Yoshimoto Sakiya , Ono Hiroyuki , Ueda Sayo , Tamaki Masanori , Murakami Taichi , Matsuura Motokazu , Abe Hideharu , Doi Toshio 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPrepump arterial pressure (PreAP) is monitored to avoid generating excessive negative pressure. The National Kidney Foundation K/DOQI clinical practice guidelines for vascular access recommend that PreAP should not fall below −250 mm Hg because excessive negative PreAP can lead to a decrease in the delivery of blood flow, inadequate dialysis, and hemolysis. Nonetheless, these recommendations are consistently disregarded in clinical practice and pressure sensors are often removed from the dialysis circuit. Thus far, delivered blood flow has been reported to decrease at values more negative than −150 mm Hg of PreAP. These values have been analyzed by an ultrasonic flowmeter and not directly measured. Furthermore, no known group has evaluated whether PreAP‐induced hemolysis occurs at a particular threshold. Therefore, the aim of this study was to clarify the importance of PreAP in the prediction of inadequate dialysis and hemolysis. By using different diameter needles, human blood samples from healthy volunteers were circulated in a closed dialysis circuit. The relationship between PreAP and delivered blood flow or PreAP and hemolysis was investigated. We also investigated the optimal value for PreAP using several empirical monitoring methods, such as a pressure pillow. Our investigation indicated that PreAP is a critical factor in the determination of delivered blood flow and hemolysis, both of which occured at pressure values more negative than −150 mm Hg. With the exception of direct pressure monitoring, commonly used monitoring methods for PreAP were determined to be ineffective. We propose that the use of a vacuum monitor would permit regular measurement of PreAP.
Computational Modeling of Neonatal Cardiopulmonary Bypass Hemodynamics With Full Circle of Willis Anatomy
Authors: Piskin Senol , Ündar Akif , Pekkan Kerem 
Published: May 2015

AbstractCardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedure is employed to repair most congenital heart defects (CHD). Cannulation is a critical component of this procedure where the location and diameter of cannula controls the hemodynamic performance. State‐of‐the‐art computational studies of neonatal CPB employed an isolated aortic arch region by truncating the three‐dimensional (3D) patient‐specific cerebral system. The present work expanded these studies where the 3D patient‐specific MRI reconstruction of the cerebral system, including the Circle of Willis (CoW), is integrated with a hypoplastic neonatal aortic arch. The inlet of the arterial cannula is assigned a steady velocity boundary condition of the CPB pump, while all outlets are modeled as resistance boundary conditions, thus allowing acute comparisons between different cannula configurations. Three‐dimensional (3D) flow simulations in the aortic arch model are performed at a Reynolds number of 2150 using an experimentally validated commercial solver. Results demonstrate that the inclusion of 3D CoW is essential to predict the accurate head‐neck blood perfusion and therefore critical in deciding the neonatal aortic cannulation strategy preoperatively. Using this integrated model two CPB configurations are studied, where the cannulas were placed at innominate artery (IA) (IA‐cannula configuration) and ductus arteriosus (DA) (DA‐cannula configuration). Configuration change produced significant differences in flow splits and local hemodynamics of blood flow throughout the whole aortic arch, neck and cerebral arteries. Percent flow rate differences between the IA‐ and DA‐cannula configurations are computed to be: 19%, for descending aorta, 198% for ascending aorta (perfusing coronary arteries), 91% for right anterior cerebral artery, and 68% for left anterior cerebral artery. Another important finding is the retrograde flow at vertebral arteries for IA‐cannula configuration, but not for DA‐cannula. These results may help to translate better neonatal arterial cannulae design for minimizing cerebral complications during CPB procedures.
Intra‐Aortic Balloon Pump Support in the Isolated Beating Porcine Heart in Nonischemic and Ischemic Pump Failure
Authors: Schampaert Stéphanie , van Nunen Lokien X. , Pijls Nico H. J. , Rutten Marcel C. M. , van Tuijl Sjoerd , van de Vosse Frans N. , van ‘t Veer Marcel 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe blood pressure changes induced by the intra‐aortic balloon pump (IABP) are expected to create clinical improvement in terms of coronary perfusion and myocardial oxygen consumption. However, the measured effects reported in literature are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of ischemia on IABP efficacy in healthy hearts and in shock. Twelve slaughterhouse porcine hearts (hearts 1–12) were connected to an external circulatory system, while physiologic cardiac performance was restored. Different clinical scenarios, ranging from healthy to cardiogenic shock, were simulated by step‐wise administration of negative inotropic drugs. In hearts 7–12, severe global myocardial ischemia superimposed upon the decreased contractile states was created. IABP support was applied in all hearts under all conditions. Without ischemia, the IABP induced a mild increase in coronary blood flow and cardiac output. These effects were strongly augmented in the presence of persisting ischemia, where coronary blood flow increased by 49 ± 24% (P < 0.01) and cardiac output by 17 ± 6% (P < 0.01) in case of severe pump failure. As expected, myocardial oxygen consumption increased in case of ischemia (21 ± 17%; P < 0.01), while it slightly decreased without (−3 ± 6%; P < 0.01). In case of progressive pump failure due to persistent myocardial ischemia, the IABP increased hyperemic coronary blood flow and cardiac output significantly, and reversed the progressive hemodynamic deterioration within minutes. This suggests that IABP therapy in acute myocardial infarction is most effective in patients with viable myocardium, suffering from persistent myocardial ischemia, despite adequate epicardial reperfusion.
Carbon Dioxide and Acetate‐Free Biofiltration: A Relationship to be Investigated
Authors: Marano Marco , D'Amato Anna , Patriarca Alessandro , Di Nuzzi Luigi Michele , Giordano Gelsomina , Iulianiello Giuseppe 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAs the name reveals, acetate‐free biofiltration (AFB) is featured by lack of acetate and this would seem to allow better hemodynamic stability. However, AFB also has a unique characteristic of carbon dioxide (CO2)‐free dialysate, whereas all other modern dialysis techniques imply an overload of CO2 from dialysate to the patient. This notwithstanding the role of CO2 in tolerance to dialysis treatment, both AFB and all other dialysis techniques seem not investigated in due depth. Specifically, the amount of CO2 coming back to the patient's bloodstream during AFB and bicarbonate dialysis (BD) is unknown. We measured partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) in blood samples withdrawn from the venous line of the extracorporeal circuit during BD and subsequently during AFB in 22 stable chronic hemodialysis outpatients. The amount of CO2 coming back to the patient's bloodstream is higher in BD (59.1 ± 4.0 mmol/L) than in AFB (42.8 ± 4.5 mmol/L, P < 0.0001). Such difference exceeds 30%. Moreover, shifting from BD to AFB shows, notably for each patient, the reduction of pCO2 toward physiological values. BD implies CO2 overload from dialysate, whereas AFB does not. Further studies are required to evaluate if AFB would be the most appropriate dialysis technique in patients affected by chronic, but especially acute, lung diseases.
Subcutaneous immunization with a novel immunogenic candidate (urease) confers protection againstBrucella abortusandBrucella melitensisinfections
Authors: Abkar Morteza , Amani Jafar , Sahebghadam Lotfi Abbas , Nikbakht Brujeni Gholamreza , Alamian Saeed , Kamali Mehdi 
Published: May 2015

Brucellosis is a world prevalent endemic illness that is transmitted from domestic animals to humans.Brucellaspp. exploits urease for survival in the harsh conditions of stomach during the gastrointestinal infection. In this study, we examined the immune response and the protection elicited by using recombinantBrucellaurease (rUrease) vaccination inBALB/c mice. Theureasegene was cloned inpET28a and the resulting recombinant protein was employed as subunit vaccine. Recombinant protein was administered subcutaneously and intraperitoneally. Dosage reduction was observed with subcutaneous (SC) vaccination when compared with intraperitoneal (IP) vaccination.rUrease induced mixed Th1–Th2 immune responses with high titers of specific IgG1 and IgG2a. In lymphocyte proliferation assay, splenocytes fromIPandSC‐vaccinated mice displayed a strong recall proliferative response with high amounts ofIL‐4,IL‐12 andIFN‐γ production. Vaccinated mice were challenged with virulentBrucella melitensis,B. abortusandB. suis. TheSCvaccination route exhibited a higher degree of protection thanIPvaccination (p value ≤ 0.05). Altogether, our results indicated thatrUrease could be a useful antigen candidate for the development of subunit vaccines against brucellosis.
Survey of farmer knowledge and attitudes to endemic disease management in South Australia, with a focus on bovine viral diarrhoea (bovine pestivirus)
Authors: Lanyon SR , Anderson ML , Reichel MP 
Published: May 2015

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish the attitudes of South Australian cattle farmers towards endemic animal disease prevention and control, with a particular focus on the awareness of and attitudes towards bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD).MethodsThis cross‐sectional postal survey involved mailing a questionnaire to all South Australian cattle owners with 35 or more head of cattle.ResultsWorms and lice were the most common animal disease concerns. Less than half of responding farmers were adequately vaccinating their herds against clostridial diseases, but 53.0% stated that they utilised quarantine procedures. Less than 20% of respondents had actively taken part in BVD educational opportunities, or had vaccinated or tested their herd for BVD; less than 20% of respondents were actively involved in any systematic control of Johne's disease. Overall, farmers’ actual knowledge of BVD was lower than their perceived understanding, although their interest in BVD and its control was high.ConclusionsDisease prevention measures such as vaccination, quarantine and participation in systematic control schemes were used by a minority of respondents. The results suggest that respondents acknowledge BVD as an important and relevant disease, despite many believing it was not a problem in their herd. Interest in BVD appears to be high and it is likely that an education program would be well received.
Unraveling the pathogenesis of Hoyeraal–Hreidarsson syndrome, a complex telomere biology disorder
Authors: Glousker Galina , Touzot Fabien , Revy Patrick , Tzfati Yehuda , Savage Sharon A. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryHoyeraal–Hreidarsson (HH) syndrome is a multisystem genetic disorder characterized by very short telomeres and considered a clinically severe variant of dyskeratosis congenita. The main cause of mortality, usually in early childhood, is bone marrow failure. Mutations in several telomere biology genes have been reported to cause HH in about 60% of the HH patients, but the genetic defects in the rest of the patients are still unknown. Understanding the aetiology of HH and its diverse manifestations is challenging because of the complexity of telomere biology and the multiple telomeric and non‐telomeric functions played by telomere‐associated proteins in processes such as telomere replication, telomere protection, DNA damage response and ribosome and spliceosome assembly. Here we review the known clinical complications, molecular defects and germline mutations associated with HH, and elucidate possible mechanistic explanations and remaining questions in our understanding of the disease.