bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The influence of number of line pairs in digital intra‐oral radiography on the detection accuracy of horizontal root fractures
Authors: Nejaim Yuri , Gomes Amanda Farias , Silva Emmanuel João Nogueira Leal da , Groppo Francisco Carlos , Haiter Neto Francisco 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimLine pairs are the unit for measurement of resolution and are related to the spatial quality of the system. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of number of line pairs in digital intra‐oral radiography on the detection accuracy of horizontal root fractures.Materials and MethodsSixty‐four extracted single‐root human teeth were used. Thirty‐two had horizontal root fractures created and were mounted in dry human mandibles. The teeth were radiographed with two digital receptors: the Digora Optime (14.3 lp mm‐1) and the Digora Toto (26.3 lp mm‐1). Images were viewed under standardized conditions by 3 calibrated examiners using the respective dedicated software (Digora for Windows 2.6® and Scanora®). Digora Toto® images were also evaluated through the Digora for Windows 2.6® software. The results were statistically analyzed based on the area under the ROC curve for each examiner.ResultsPairing Digora Toto® with Scanora® allowed for greater accuracy in horizontal root fractures diagnosis, while images acquired with that same system seem to lose accuracy when visualized with Digora for Windows 2.6®. Pairing Digora Optime® with Digora for Windows 2.6® resulted in the lowest accuracy for horizontal root fractures diagnosis.ConclusionsThe higher number of line pairs and the consequent higher image resolution provided by the Digora Toto® system and its dedicated software seem to enhance the accuracy of horizontal root fractures diagnostic imaging.
Effects of plateau pika activities on seasonal plant biomass and soil properties in the alpine meadow ecosystems of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Sun Feida , Chen Wenye , Liu Lin , Liu Wei , Cai Yimin , Smith Pete 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe foraging and burrowing activities of small mammalian herbivores may have either detrimental or beneficial effects on grassland ecosystems; the direction of the effect is determined by the species, population abundances and fluctuations. Twelve survey sites with active burrow of plateau pika were classified into four degrees of density: approximately zero‐density, low‐density, medium‐density and high‐density, to evaluate the impact of different pika densities on vegetation, plant biomass, soil organic carbon and nutrients in a whole growing season. We show that pika as a main supplement to livestock activities contributed to a decrease in the number of plant species, vegetation cover, plant height and seasonal mean biomass, while values at medium‐density site except above‐ground biomass were the lowest. With the exception of available potassium, soil organic carbon, nitrogen, total phosphorus and soil water content, zero‐density areas were significantly higher than those of pika occupied areas. However, there were slight or no differences in vegetation characteristics and soil properties between medium‐and high‐density sites. Our study suggests pika activities with high‐density made palatable forage less and soil carbon and nitrogen more than low‐density, moreover, plateau pika had greater impacts on above‐ground vegetation than on root system.
Nursing performance under high workload: a diary study on the moderating role of selection, optimization and compensation strategies
Authors: Baethge Anja , Müller Andreas , Rigotti Thomas 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to investigate whether selective optimization with compensation constitutes an individualized action strategy for nurses wanting to maintain job performance under high workload.BackgroundHigh workload is a major threat to healthcare quality and performance. Selective optimization with compensation is considered to enhance the efficient use of intra‐individual resources and, therefore, is expected to act as a buffer against the negative effects of high workload.DesignThe study applied a diary design. Over five consecutive workday shifts, self‐report data on workload was collected at three randomized occasions during each shift. Self‐reported job performance was assessed in the evening. Self‐reported selective optimization with compensation was assessed prior to the diary reporting.MethodsData were collected in 2010. Overall, 136 nurses from 10 German hospitals participated. Selective optimization with compensation was assessed with a nine‐item scale that was specifically developed for nursing. The NASA‐TLX scale indicating the pace of task accomplishment was used to measure workload. Job performance was assessed with one item each concerning performance quality and forgetting of intentions.ResultsThere was a weaker negative association between workload and both indicators of job performance in nurses with a high level of selective optimization with compensation, compared with nurses with a low level. Considering the separate strategies, selection and compensation turned out to be effective.ConclusionThe use of selective optimization with compensation is conducive to nurses’ job performance under high workload levels. This finding is in line with calls to empower nurses’ individual decision‐making.
Automated Outreach for Cardiovascular‐Related Medication Refill Reminders
Authors: Harrison Teresa N. , Green Kelley R. , Liu In‐Lu Amy , Vansomphone Southida S. , Handler Joel , Scott Ronald D. , Cheetham T. Craig , Reynolds Kristi 
Published: November 2015

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an automated telephone system reminding patients with hypertension and/or cardiovascular disease to obtain overdue medication refills. The authors compared the intervention with usual care among patients with an overdue prescription for a statin or lisinopril‐hydrochlorothiazide (lisinopril‐HCTZ). The primary outcome was refill rate at 2 weeks. Secondary outcomes included time to refill and change in low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure. Significantly more patients who received a reminder call refilled their prescription compared with the usual‐care group (statin cohort: 30.3% vs 24.9% [P<.0001]; lisinopril‐HCTZ cohort: 30.7% vs 24.2% [P<.0001]). The median time to refill was shorter in patients receiving the reminder call (statin cohort: 29 vs 36 days [P<.0001]; lisinopril‐HCTZ cohort: 24 vs 31 days [P<.0001]). There were no statistically significant differences in mean low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure. These findings suggest the need for interventions that have a longer‐term impact.
Epigenetic‐Imprinting Changes Caused by Neonatal Fasting Stress Protect From Future Fasting Stress
Authors: Jiang Y. , Denbow C. , Meiri N. , Denbow D. M. 
Published: November 2015

Unfavourable nutritional conditions during the neonatal critical period can cause both acute metabolic disorders and severe metabolic syndromes in later life. These phenomena have been tightly related to the epigenetic modification controlling the balance between satiety and hunger in the hypothalamus. In the present study, we investigated epigenetic modification associated with both the fasting stress effects and the short‐term resilience to fasting stress in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of chicks. Fasting for 24 h at 3 days of age (D) (i.e. D3) significantly increased global methylation at lysine 27 of histone 3 (H3K27) and its specific histone methyltransferase (HMT) expression level in the PVN. Because global methylation could not fully reveal the changes at specific genes, the regulation of the gene for brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), which was recently also found to have an anorexigenic effect, was evaluated as a potential target. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay analysis revealed that tri‐ (me3) and di‐methylated (me2) H3K27 exhibited an instant (on D4 only) and latent increase (on both D11 and D41), respectively, at the putative promoter of Bdnf after 24 h of fasting on D3. This indicated that fasting could regulate energy‐expenditure‐related genes via modifying methylation at H3K27, which we suspected might be a protective mechanism for keeping the inner environment homeostatic. To test this hypothesis, a short‐term repetitive fasting stress was applied to chickens, which were fasted for 24 h either on D10 only or on both D3 and D10. It was found that pre‐existing fasting on D3 could induce a short‐term fasting resilience, which rescued the reduction of Bdnf expression from future fasting on D10. We call this phenomenon the ‘molecular memory’, which was mainly conducted by HMTs and H3K27me2/me3 in the PVN. In conclusion, chicks respond to fasting with dynamic methylation at H3K27 in the PVN during the neonatal critical period. This allows the PVN to form a ‘molecular memory’, which keeps the individual inner environment homeostatic and resilient to future fasting over the short term.
A Placebo‐Controlled, Prospective, Randomized Clinical Trial of Polyethylene Glycol and Methylprednisolone Sodium Succinate in Dogs with Intervertebral Disk Herniation
Authors: Olby N.J. , Muguet‐Chanoit A.C. , Lim J.‐H. , Davidian M. , Mariani C.L. , Freeman A.C. , Platt S.R. , Humphrey J. , Kent M. , Giovanella C. , Longshore R. , Early P.J. , Muñana K.R. 
Published: November 2015

BackgroundAcute intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH) is a common cause of spinal cord injury in dogs and currently there is no proven medical treatment to counter secondary injury effects. Use of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) or polyethylene glycol (PEG) as neuroprotectants is advocated but controversial because neither treatment has been tested in placebo‐controlled, randomized, blinded trials in dogs.HypothesisPolyethylene glycol will improve the outcome of severe spinal cord injury caused byIVDHcompared toMPSSor placebo.AnimalsClient‐owned dogs with acute onset of thoracolumbarIVDHcausing paralysis and loss of nociception for <24 hours.MethodsDogs were randomized to receiveMPSS,PEG, or placebo; drugs appeared identical and group allocation was masked. Drug administration was initiated once the diagnosis ofIVDHwas confirmed and all dogs underwent hemilaminectomy. Neurologic function was assessed 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks postoperatively using an open field gait score (OFS) as the primary outcome measure. Outcomes were compared by the Wilcoxon rank sum test.ResultsSixty‐three dogs were recruited and 47.6% recovered ambulation. 17.5% developed progressive myelomalacia but there was no association with group. There was no difference inOFSamong groups. Although full study power was not reached, conditional power analyses indicated the futility of continued case recruitment.ConclusionsThis clinical trial did not show a benefit of eitherMPSSorPEGin the treatment of acute, severe thoracolumbarIVDHwhen used as adjunctive medical treatment administered to dogs presenting within 24 hours of onset of paralysis.
Preventing environmental enteric dysfunction through improved water, sanitation and hygiene: an opportunity for stunting reduction in developing countries
Authors: Mbuya Mduduzi N. N. , Humphrey Jean H. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn 2011, one in every four (26%) children under 5 years of age worldwide was stunted. The realization that most stunting cannot be explained by poor diet or by diarrhoea, nor completely reversed by optimized diet and reduced diarrhoea has led to the hypothesis that a primary underlying cause of stunting is subclinical gut disease. Essentially, ingested microbes set in motion two overlapping and interacting pathways that result in linear growth impairment. Firstly, partial villous atrophy results in a reduced absorptive surface area and loss of digestive enzymes. This in turn results in maldigestion and malabsorption of much needed nutrients. Secondly, microbes and their products make the gut leaky, allowing luminal contents to translocate into systemic circulation. This creates a condition of chronic immune activation, which (i) diverts nutrient resources towards the metabolically expensive business of infection fighting rather than growth; (ii) suppresses the growth hormone‐IGF axis and inhibits bone growth, leading to growth impairment; and (iii) causes further damage to the intestinal mucosa thereby exacerbating the problem. As such, the unhygienic environments in which infants and young children live and grow must contribute to, if not be the overriding cause of, this environmental enteric dysfunction. We suggest that a package of baby‐WASH interventions (sanitation and water improvement, handwashing with soap, ensuring a clean play and infant feeding environment and food hygiene) that interrupt specific pathways through which feco‐oral transmission occurs in the first two years of a child's life may be central to global stunting reduction efforts.
Role of Laser Doppler for the Evaluation of Pedal Microcirculatory Function in Diabetic Neuropathy Patients
Authors: Park Hyung Sub , Yun Han Mi , Jung In Mok , Lee Taeseung 
Published: November 2015

AbstractObjectiveWe evaluated whetherLDcan detect alterations in skin microcirculatory flow in type II diabetic neuropathy patients and determined which parameters were most predictive.MethodsA prospective analysis was performed for three groups with presumed varying degrees of microvascular dysfunction: diabetics with neuropathy (DMN,n = 20), diabetics without microangiopathic complications (DM,n = 20), and healthy controls (n = 16).LDwas performed under strictly controlled protocols with provocation, consisting of vasoconstrictive (valsalva, postural) and vasodilative tests (PORH,LTH).ResultsThere was an overall decrease inLDvalues in response to both vasoconstrictive and vasodilative provocations inDMNpatients compared toDMand control groups. Statistically significant parameters were as follows: valsalva,PORHandLTHbetweenDMNand control; valsalva only betweenDMNandDM; andPORHandLTHbetweenDMand control. ROC curve analysis showed that Valsalva was the most accurate parameter inDMNpatients.ConclusionsLDcould consistently detect differences in microcirculatory flow between the three study groups consisting of gradually more severe microvascular dysfunction. The Valsalva parameter was the most accurate in detecting established microvascular dysfunction, whereasPORHandLTHmay have a possible role for detection of early microvascular impairment.
Endothelium‐Derived Hyperpolarization and Coronary Vasodilation: Diverse and Integrated Roles of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Gap Junctions
Authors: Ellinsworth David C. , Sandow Shaun L. , Shukla Nilima , Liu Yanping , Jeremy Jamie Y. , Gutterman David D. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractMyocardial perfusion and coronary vascular resistance are regulated by signaling metabolites released from the local myocardium that act either directly on the VSMC or indirectly via stimulation of the endothelium. A prominent mechanism of vasodilation is EDH of the arteriolar smooth muscle, with EETs and H2O2 playing important roles in EDH in the coronary microcirculation. In some cases, EETs and H2O2 are released as transferable hyperpolarizing factors (EDHFs) that act directly on the VSMCs. By contrast, EETs and H2O2 can also promote endothelial KCa activity secondary to the amplification of extracellular Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores, respectively. The resulting endothelial hyperpolarization may subsequently conduct to the media via myoendothelial gap junctions or potentially lead to the release of a chemically distinct factor(s). Furthermore, in human isolated coronary arterioles dilator signaling involving EETs and H2O2 may be integrated, being either complimentary or inhibitory depending on the stimulus. With an emphasis on the human coronary microcirculation, this review addresses the diverse and integrated mechanisms by which EETs and H2O2 regulate vessel tone and also examines the hypothesis that myoendothelial microdomain signaling facilitates EDH activity in the human heart.
Histopathologic patterns among achalasia subtypes
Authors: Sodikoff J. B. , Lo A. A. , Shetuni B. B. , Kahrilas P. J. , Yang G.‐Y. , Pandolfino J. E. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBackgroundAchalasia has three distinct manometric phenotypes. This study aimed to determine if there were corresponding histopathologic patterns.MethodsWe retrospectively examined surgical muscularis propria biopsies obtained from 46 patients during laparoscopic esophagomyotomy. Pre‐operative (conventional) manometry tracings were reviewed by two expert gastroenterologists who categorized patients into Chicago Classification subtypes. Pathology specimens were graded on degree of neuronal loss, inflammation, fibrosis, and muscle changes.Key ResultsManometry studies were categorized as follows: type I (n = 20), type II (n = 20), type III (n = 3), and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO) (n = 3). On histopathology, complete ganglion cell loss occurred in 74% of specimens, inflammation in 17%, fibrosis in 11%, and muscle atrophy in 2%. Comparing type I and type II specimens, there was a statistically significant greater proportion of type I specimens with aganglionosis (19/20 vs 13/20, p = 0.044) and a statistically significant greater degree of ganglion cell loss in type I specimens (Wilcoxon Rank‐Sum, p = 0.016). CD3+/CD8+ cytotoxic T cells represented the predominant inflammatory infiltrate on immunohistochemistry. Three patients had completely normal appearing tissue (1 each in type II, type III, EGJOO).Conclusions & InferencesThe greater degree, but similar pattern, of ganglion cell loss observed in type I compared to type II achalasia specimens suggests that type I achalasia represents a progression from type II achalasia. The spectrum of histopathologic findings – from complete neuronal loss to lymphocytic inflammation to apparently normal histopathology – emphasizes that ‘achalasia’ represents a pathogenically heterogeneous patient group with the commonality being EGJ outflow obstruction.
Differentially expressed small RNAs in Arabidopsis galls formed by Meloidogyne javanica: a functional role for miR390 and its TAS3‐derived tasiRNAs
Authors: Cabrera Javier , Barcala Marta , García Alejandra , Rio‐Machín Ana , Medina Clémence , Jaubert‐Possamai Stephanie , Favery Bruno , Maizel Alexis , Ruiz‐Ferrer Virginia , Fenoll Carmen , Escobar Carolina 
Published: November 2015

Summary

Root‐knot nematodes (RKNs) induce inside the vascular cylinder the giant cells (GCs) embedded in the galls. The distinctive gene repression in early‐developing GCs could be facilitated by small RNAs (sRNA) such as miRNAs, and/or epigenetic mechanisms mediated by 24nt‐sRNAs, rasiRNAs and 21‐22nt‐sRNAs. Therefore, the sRNA‐population together with the role of the miR390/TAS3/ARFs module were studied during early gall/GC formation.

Three sRNA libraries from 3‐d‐post‐inoculation (dpi) galls induced by Meloidogyne javanica in Arabidopsis and three from uninfected root segments were sequenced following Illumina‐Solexa technology. pMIR390a::GUS and pTAS3::GUS lines were assayed for nematode‐dependent promoter activation. A sensor line indicative of TAS3‐derived tasiRNAs binding to the ARF3 sequence (pARF3:ARF3‐GUS) together with a tasiRNA‐resistant ARF3 line (pARF3:ARF3m‐GUS) were used for functional analysis.

The sRNA population showed significant differences between galls and controls, with high validation rate and correspondence with their target expression: 21‐nt sRNAs corresponding mainly to miRNAs were downregulated, whilst 24‐nt‐sRNAs from the rasiRNA family were mostly upregulated in galls. The promoters of MIR390a and TAS3, active in galls, and the pARF3:ARF3‐GUS line, indicated a role of TAS3‐derived‐tasiRNAs in galls.

The regulatory module miR390/TAS3 is necessary for proper gall formation possibly through auxin‐responsive factors, and the abundance of 24‐nt sRNAs (mostly rasiRNAs) constitutes a gall hallmark.
A systematic review of methodology applied during preclinical anesthetic neurotoxicity studies: important issues and lessons relevant to the design of future clinical research
Authors: Disma Nicola , Mondardini Maria C. , Terrando Niccolò , Absalom Anthony R. , Bilotta Federico 
Published: November 2015

SummaryPreclinical evidence suggests that anesthetic agents harm the developing brain thereby causing long‐term neurocognitive impairments. It is not clear if these findings apply to humans, and retrospective epidemiological studies thus far have failed to show definitive evidence that anesthetic agents are harmful to the developing human brain.AimThe aim of this systematic review was to summarize the preclinical studies published over the past decade, with a focus on methodological issues, to facilitate the comparison between different preclinical studies and inform better design of future trials.MethodThe literature search identified 941 articles related to the topic of neurotoxicity. As the primary aim of this systematic review was to compare methodologies applied in animal studies to inform future trials, we excluded a priori all articles focused on putative mechanism of neurotoxicity and the neuroprotective agents. Forty‐seven preclinical studies were finally included in this review.ResultsMethods used in these studies were highly heterogeneous—animals were exposed to anesthetic agents at different developmental stages, in various doses and in various combinations with other drugs, and overall showed diverse toxicity profiles. Physiological monitoring and maintenance of physiological homeostasis was variable and the use of cognitive tests was generally limited to assessment of specific brain areas, with restricted translational relevance to humans.ConclusionComparison between studies is thus complicated by this heterogeneous methodology and the relevance of the combined body of literature to humans remains uncertain. Future preclinical studies should use better standardized methodologies to facilitate transferability of findings from preclinical into clinical science.