bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vitro evaluation of Pediococcus acidilactici NCDC 252 for its probiotic attributes
Authors: Attri Pooja , Jodha Drukshakshi , Gandhi Dimpi , Chanalia Preeti , Dhanda Suman 
Published: February 2015

In vitro probiotic attributes of Pediococcus acidilactici, viz. tolerance to acidity and bile salt, phenol resistance, lactic acid production, antioxidant activity, cell surface hydrophobicity, lysozyme resistance and the presence of β‐galactosidase, proteolytic, lipase and peptidoglycan hydrolase activities, were studied. The strain was found to be rich in different proteolytic activities, β‐galactosidase and antioxidant activities, and produced lactic acid. The studies conducted support that P. acidilactici national collection of dairy cultures (NCDC) 252 is a potential probiotic for humans with all the essential basic probiotic properties. This testing is useful to gain insight into this strain and its mechanism of action. All these attributes add to its therapeutic importance and industrial significance.
Pre‐pregnant body mass index and recreational physical activity: effects on perinatal mortality in a prospective pregnancy cohort
Authors: Sorbye LM , Klungsoyr K , Samdal O , Owe KM , Morken N‐H 
Published: February 2015

ObjectiveTo examine the effect of maternal pre‐pregnant body mass index (BMI) and recreational physical activity on perinatal mortality.DesignA prospective cohort study.SettingThe Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort (MoBa), 1999–2008.PopulationSingleton pregnancies without congenital anomalies (n = 77 246).MethodsPre‐pregnant BMI was classified as underweight (<18.5), normal weight (18.5–24.9), overweight (25–29.9), obese (30–34.9) or morbidly obese (BMI ≥35). Risk estimates were obtained by logistic regression and adjusted for confounders.Main outcome measuresPerinatal death (stillbirth ≥22 weeks plus early neonatal death 0–7 days after birth).ResultsAn increased risk of perinatal death was seen in obese [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.7–3.4] and morbidly obese women (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.1–5.1) as compared with normal weight women. In the group participating in recreational physical activity during pregnancy, obese women had an OR of 3.2 (95% CI 2.2–4.7) for perinatal death relative to non‐obese women. In the non‐active group the corresponding OR was 1.8 (95% CI 1.1–2.8) for obese women compared with non‐obese women. The difference in perinatal mortality risk related to obesity between the active and non‐active groups was statistically significant (P‐value for interaction = 0.046, multiplicative model).ConclusionsMaternal obesity was associated with a two‐ to three‐fold increased risk of perinatal death when compared with normal weight. For women with a BMI <30 the lowest perinatal mortality was seen in those performing recreational physical activity at least once a week.
Collecting in collections: a PCR strategy and primer set for DNA barcoding of decades‐old dried museum specimens
Authors: Mitchell Andrew 
Published: February 2015

AbstractNatural history museums are vastly underutilized as a source of material for DNA analysis because of perceptions about the limitations of DNA degradation in older specimens. Despite very few exceptions, most DNA barcoding projects, which aim to obtain sequence data from all species, generally use specimens collected specifically for that purpose, instead of the wealth of identified material in museums, constrained by the lack of suitable PCR methods. Any techniques that extend the utility of museum specimens for DNA analysis therefore are highly valuable. This study first tested the effects of specimen age and PCR amplicon size on PCR success rates in pinned insect specimens, then developed a PCR primer set and amplification strategy allowing greatly increased utilization of older museum specimens for DNA barcoding. PCR success rates compare favourably with the few published studies utilizing similar aged specimens, and this new strategy has the advantage of being easily automated for high‐throughput laboratory workflows. The strategy uses hemi‐nested, degenerate, M13‐tailed PCR primers to amplify two overlapping amplicons, using two PCRs per amplicon (i.e. four PCRs per DNA sample). Initial PCR products are reamplified using an internal primer and a M13 primer. Together the two PCR amplicons yield 559 bp of the COI gene from Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Odonata and presumably also other insects. BARCODE standard‐compliant data were recovered from 67% (56 of 84) of specimens up to 25 years old, and 51% (102 of 197) of specimens up to 55 years old. Given the time, cost and specialist expertise required for fieldwork and identification, ‘collecting in collections’ is a viable alternative allowing researchers to capitalize on the knowledge captured by curation work in decades past.
Mobile task management tool that improves workflow of an acute general surgical service
Authors: Foo Elizabeth , McDonald Rod , Savage Earle , Floyd Richard , Butler Anthony , Rumball‐Smith Alistair , Connor Saxon 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding and being able to measure constraints within a health system is crucial if outcomes are to be improved. Current systems lack the ability to capture decision making with regard to tasks performed within a patient journey. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a mobile task management tool on clinical workflow within an acute general surgical service by analysing data capture and usability of the application tool.MethodsThe Cortex iOS application was developed to digitize patient flow and provide real‐time visibility over clinical decision making and task performance. Study outcomes measured were workflow data capture for patient and staff events. Usability was assessed using an electronic survey.ResultsThere were 449 unique patient journeys tracked with a total of 3072 patient events recorded. The results repository was accessed 7792 times. The participants reported that the application sped up decision making, reduced redundancy of work and improved team communication. The mode of the estimated time the application saved participants was 5–9 min/h of work. Of the 14 respondents, nine discarded their analogue methods of tracking tasks by the end of the study period.ConclusionThe introduction of a mobile task management system improved the working efficiency of junior clinical staff. The application allowed capture of data not previously available to hospital systems. In the future, such data will contribute to the accurate mapping of patient journeys through the health system.
Hyperbilirubinaemia alone cannot distinguish a perforation in acute appendicitis
Authors: Silva Fábio R. , da Rosa Maria Inês , Silva Bruno R. , Simon Carla , Alexandre Maria Cecília , Medeiros Lidia R. , Bitencourt Fabrício S. , Fernandes dos Reis Maria Eduarda 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe objective of the study was to verify the accuracy of hyperbilirubinaemia as a marker for acute perforated appendicitis.MethodsA comprehensive search of the MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, IBECS, BIOSIS, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Congress Abstracts and Grey literature from January 1969 to July 2014. We included cross‐sectional and cohort studies, prospective and retrospective, which evaluated hyperbilirubinaemia level in perforated appendicitis and compared them with histological analysis of all appendectomy specimens.ResultsEleven studies were analysed, which included 5395 patients. Pooled sensitivity was 54.6% (95% confidence interval (CI), 42.8–65.8) and specificity was 70.0% (95% CI, 54.7–81.9%) using STATA. The diagnostic odds ratio was 2.82 (95% CI, 1.38–5.72%). Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed. The area under the curve was 0.65.ConclusionThis meta‐analysis showed that the value of hyperbilirubinaemia alone cannot predict acute perforated appendicitis.
Chromium released from leather – I: exposure conditions that govern the release of chromium(III) and chromium(VI)
Authors: Hedberg Yolanda S. , Lidén Carola , Odnevall Wallinder Inger 
Published: February 2015

SummaryBackgroundApproximately 1–3% of the adult population in Europe is allergic to chromium (Cr). A new restriction in REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) based on the ISO 17075 standard has recently been adopted in the EU to limit Cr(VI) in consumer and occupational leather products.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to critically assess key experimental parameters in this standard on the release of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) and their relevance for skin exposure.Material and methodsFour differently tanned, unfinished, leather samples were systematically investigated for their release of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in relation to surface area, key exposure parameters, temperature, ultraviolet irradiation, and time.ResultsAlthough the total release of Cr was largely unaffected by all investigated parameters, except exposure duration and temperature, the Cr oxidation state was highly dynamic, with reduced amounts of released Cr(VI) with time, owing to the simultaneous release of reducing agents from the leather. Significantly more Cr(III) than Cr(VI) was released from the Cr‐tanned leather for all conditions tested, and it continued to be released in artificial sweat up to at least 1 week of exposure.ConclusionsSeveral parameters were identified that influenced the outcome of the ISO 17075 test.
Shortfalls and Solutions for Meeting National and Global Conservation Area Targets
Authors: Butchart Stuart H.M. , Clarke Martin , Smith Robert J. , Sykes Rachel E. , Scharlemann Jörn P.W. , Harfoot Mike , Buchanan Graeme M. , Angulo Ariadne , Balmford Andrew , Bertzky Bastian , Brooks Thomas M. , Carpenter Kent E. , Comeros‐Raynal Mia T. , Cornell John , Ficetola G. Francesco , Fishpool Lincoln D.C. , Fuller Richard A. , Geldmann Jonas , Harwell Heather , Hilton‐Taylor Craig , Hoffmann Michael , Joolia Ackbar , Joppa Lucas , Kingston Naomi , May Ian , Milam Amy , Polidoro Beth , Ralph Gina , Richman Nadia , Rondinini Carlo , Segan Daniel B. , Skolnik Benjamin , Spalding Mark D. , Stuart Simon N. , Symes Andy , Taylor Joseph , Visconti Piero , Watson James E.M. , Wood Louisa , Burgess Neil D. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractGovernments have committed to conserving ≥17% of terrestrial and ≥10% of marine environments globally, especially “areas of particular importance for biodiversity” through “ecologically representative” Protected Area (PA) systems or other “area‐based conservation measures”, while individual countries have committed to conserve 3–50% of their land area. We estimate that PAs currently cover 14.6% of terrestrial and 2.8% of marine extent, but 59–68% of ecoregions, 77–78% of important sites for biodiversity, and 57% of 25,380 species have inadequate coverage. The existing 19.7 million km2 terrestrial PA network needs only 3.3 million km2 to be added to achieve 17% terrestrial coverage. However, it would require nearly doubling to achieve, cost‐efficiently, coverage targets for all countries, ecoregions, important sites, and species. Poorer countries have the largest relative shortfalls. Such extensive and rapid expansion of formal PAs is unlikely to be achievable. Greater focus is therefore needed on alternative approaches, including community‐ and privately managed sites and other effective area‐based conservation measures.
Heterogeneity and proliferation of invasive cancer subclones in game theory models of the Warburg effect
Authors: Archetti M. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractObjectivesThe Warburg effect, a switch from aerobic energy production to anaerobic glycolysis, promotes tumour proliferation and motility by inducing acidification of the tumour microenvironment. Therapies that reduce acidity could impair tumour growth and invasiveness. I analysed the dynamics of cell proliferation and of resistance to therapies that target acidity, in a population of cells, under the Warburg effect.Materials and methodsThe dynamics of mutant cells with increased glycolysis and motility has been assessed in a multi‐player game with collective interactions in the framework of evolutionary game theory. Perturbations of the level of acidity in the microenvironment have been used to simulate the effect of therapies that target glycolysis.ResultsThe non‐linear effects of glycolysis induce frequency‐dependent clonal selection leading to coexistence of glycolytic and non‐glycolytic cells within a tumour. Mutants with increased motility can invade such a polymorphic population and spread within the tumour. While reducing acidity may produce a sudden reduction in tumour cell proliferation, frequency‐dependent selection enables it to adapt to the new conditions and can enable the tumour to restore its original levels of growth and invasiveness.ConclusionsThe acidity produced by glycolysis acts as a non‐linear public good that leads to coexistence of cells with high and low glycolysis within the tumour. Such a heterogeneous population can easily adapt to changes in acidity. Therapies that target acidity can only be effective in the long term if the cost of glycolysis is high, that is, under non‐limiting oxygen concentrations. Their efficacy, therefore, is reduced when combined with therapies that impair angiogenesis.
Kidney clamp, perfuse, re‐implant: a useful technique for graft salvage after vascular complications during kidney transplantation
Authors: Mekeel Kristin L. , Halldorson Jeffery B. , Berumen Jennifer A. , Hemming Alan W. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAlthough intra‐operative vascular complications during renal transplantation are rare, injuries associated with prolonged ischemia may lead to graft threatening early and late complications. This series describes a novel technique for intra‐operative repair of vascular complications in five patients over a three‐yr period. The method consists of rapid graft nephrectomy and re‐preservation of the graft with cold University of Wisconsin solution, which allows for controlled/precise back table repair of the vascular injury without incurring prolonged warm ischemia time. In three cases, the donor renal vein (2) and donor renal artery (1) were damaged and required back table reconstruction. In two cases, the recipient iliac artery needed reconstruction. Three of the five cases used deceased donor iliac vessels from another donor for reconstruction. Two patients required postoperative dialysis for delayed graft function for three to nine d (average six d) and two patients had slow graft function. All grafts were functioning at 17 months (mean) after transplant, with a median serum of 1.61 mg/dL (0.74–3.69). This series demonstrates the effectiveness of kidney clamp, perfuse, resuscitate as an effective intra‐operative technique to salvage grafts after vascular injury. Although the grafts may suffer from delayed or slow graft function, excellent long‐term function is attainable.
Long‐term change and spatial variation in butterfly communities over an elevational gradient: driven by climate, buffered by habitat
Authors: Nieto‐Sánchez Susana , Gutiérrez David , Wilson Robert J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimEfforts to adapt conservation to climate change are hampered by a scarcity of studies of community‐level ecological responses. We examined temporal (40 years) and spatial (1700 m elevational gradient) variation in butterfly communities, aiming to test whether the composition of communities in terms of species' thermal envelopes tracked regional warming, and whether local habitat influenced community responses to climate variation.LocationSierra de Guadarrama (central Spain).MethodsButterfly assemblages were sampled at sites between 550 and 2250 m elevation, in 1967–1973 and 2006–2012. Changes in community composition over time and space were evaluated using the community temperature index, or CTI, which reflects for local assemblages the balance between species whose geographic ranges occupy regions of low vs. high temperatures. We used multiple regressions and an information‐theoretic approach to test: (1) whether relationships of CTI with elevation or temperature remained consistent after an estimated 1.78 °C regional warming; and (2) how spatial variation in CTI was related to air temperature and land cover.ResultsCommunity temperature index decreased consistently with increasing elevation and increased after 40 years of warming, as communities were increasingly composed by species with warmer geographic ranges. Long‐term CTI change represented a c. 160 m uphill shift in community thermal composition, whereas isotherms shifted 307 m upwards. In 2006–2012, CTI was influenced positively by temperature, and negatively by forest and meadow cover.Main conclusionsVariation in community composition over space and time suggested a role of climate in structuring butterfly assemblages. Despite this, changing spatial patterns of community composition (CTI) did not appear to keep pace with climate change. In addition, lower values of CTI recorded for sites with greater forest and meadow/pasture cover suggested a role for local habitat in buffering the effects of climate change on community composition.
Armillaria novae‐zelandiae and other basidiomycete wood decay fungi in New Zealand Pinus radiata thinning stumps
Authors: Hood I. A. , Oliva J. , Kimberley M. O. , Arhipova N. , Bakys R. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryTwo studies were undertaken in a young New Zealand Pinus radiata stand to find a biological control agent for armillaria root disease caused by Armillaria novae‐zelandiae. Fresh thinning stumps were inoculated with saprophytic basidiomycete species as wooden dowel cultures or as homogenized aqueous mycelial suspensions, while all stumps were also inoculated with dowel cultures of A. novae‐zelandiae. After a period of between one and two years, no differences were found among test fungi in the percentage of Armillaria species isolated from stumps. However, inoculation of Stereum sanguinolentum as homogenate, and of Phlebiopsis gigantea, Sistotrema brinkmannii, Hypholoma acutum and Rigidoporus concrescens as dowel cultures, significantly increased their isolation incidence in comparison with stumps not treated by these species. Phlebiopsis gigantea, Resinicium bicolor and R. concrescens were also isolated with greater frequency nearer to their dowel inoculation points. Results suggest that P. gigantea and S. sanguinolentum should be included in further testing. However, a future trial is likely to be more effective if evaluation is directed towards the portion of the stump below the soil surface, particularly the root system.
Nucleus accumbens shell and core dopamine responsiveness to sucrose in rats: role of response contingency and discriminative/conditioned cues
Authors: Bassareo V. , Cucca F. , Musio P. , Lecca D. , Frau R. , Di Chiara G. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThis study investigated by microdialysis the role of response contingency and food‐associated cues in the responsiveness of dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens shell and core to sucrose feeding. In naive rats, single‐trial non‐contingent presentation and feeding of sucrose pellets increased dialysate shell dopamine and induced full habituation of dopamine responsiveness to sucrose feeding 24 and 48 h later. In rats trained to respond for sucrose pellets on a fixed ratio 1 (FR1) schedule, dialysate dopamine increased in the shell but not in the core during active responding as well as under extinction in the presence of sucrose cues. In rats yoked to the operant rats, the presentation of sucrose cues also increased dialysate dopamine selectively in the shell. In contrast, non‐contingent sucrose presentation and feeding in FR1‐trained and in yoked rats increased dialysate dopamine to a similar extent in the shell and core. It is concluded that, whereas non‐contingent sucrose feeding activated dopamine transmission in the shell and core, response‐contingent feeding activated, without habituation, dopamine transmission selectively in the shell as a result of the action of sucrose conditioned cues. These observations are consistent with a critical role of conditioned cues acquired during training and differential activation of shell vs. core dopamine for response‐contingent sucrose feeding.
Rethinking equine gastric ulcer syndrome: Part 2 – Equine squamous gastric ulcer syndrome (ESGUS)
Authors: Sykes B. W. , Jokisalo J. M. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryIt has recently been highlighted that significant differences in prevalence, risk factors and the response to treatment exist between ulceration of the squamous gastric mucosa and ulceration of the glandular gastric mucosa in the horse. In the first article in the series, the term equine squamous gastric ulcer syndrome (ESGUS)was used to describe disease of the squamous gastric mucosa with clinical signs and diagnosis discussed. The purpose of this article is to review the pathophysiology, risk factors, prevalence, treatment and prevention ofESGUS.
Acute normovolaemic haemodilution in a Clydesdale gelding prior to partial resection of the left ventral concha under general anaesthesia
Authors: Thompson K. R. , Rioja E. , Bardell D. , Dugdale A. 
Published: February 2015

SummaryA 16‐year‐old Clydesdale gelding underwent oral extraction of tooth 210 under standing sedation with partial resection of the left ventral concha under general anaesthesia 4 days later. Due to the highly vascular nature of the surgical site, significant intraoperative haemorrhage was anticipated. A lack of compatible donor horses confirmed by crossmatching prompted an autologous donation of 6 l of blood and acute normovolaemic haemodilution using a gelatine solution immediately prior to surgery. Intraoperative haemorrhage was estimated at 5% circulating volume and autologous transfusion was commenced once haemostasis was confirmed. The horse recovered uneventfully from general anaesthesia and surgery. To our knowledge this is the first report of acute normovolaemic haemodilution used in a clinical equine case.
Novel TGM5 mutations in acral peeling skin syndrome
Authors: van der Velden Jaap J. A. J. , van Geel Michel , Nellen Ruud G. L. , Jonkman Marcel F. , McGrath John A. , Nanda Arti , Sprecher Eli , van Steensel Maurice A. M. , McLean W. H. Irwin , Cassidy Andrew J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAcral peeling skin syndrome (APSS, MIM #609796) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by superficial exfoliation and blistering of the volar and dorsal aspects of hands and feet. The level of separation is at the junction of the stratum granulosum and stratum corneum. APSS is caused by mutations in the TGM5 gene encoding transglutaminase‐5, which is important for structural integrity of the outermost epidermal layers. The majority of patients originate from Europe and carry a p.(Gly113Cys) mutation in TGM5. In this study, we report both European and non‐European families carrying other mutations in the TGM5 gene. In 5 patients, we found 3 novel mutations: c.1001+2_1001+3del, c.1171G>A and c.1498C>T. To confirm their pathogenicity, we performed functional analyses with a transglutaminase activity assay, determined alternative splicing by reverse‐transcribed PCR analysis and used databases and in silico prediction tools.