bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional Benefits of Tai Chi Training in Senior Housing Facilities
Authors: Manor Brad , Lough Matt , Gagnon Margaret M. , Cupples Adrienne , Wayne Peter M. , Lipsitz Lewis A. 
Published: August 2014

ObjectivesTo determine the effects of tai chi training on functional performance and walking with and without the addition of the performance of a cognitive task, in older adults living in supportive housing facilities.DesignSecondary data analysis comparing a single‐blind, randomized controlled trial of tai chi training with an attention‐matched educational control intervention with crossover to tai chi.SettingTwo supportive housing facilities.ParticipantsSixty‐six men and women living in supportive housing facilities entered the study, and 57 aged 87 ± 7 completed all study procedures.InterventionInterventions consisted of two 1‐hour‐long instructor‐led group sessions per week for 12 weeks. Tai chi training consisted of movements based upon the Yang‐style short form. Educational sessions consisted of lectures and discussions of age‐related health topics.MeasurementsSubjects were tested for physical function (Short Physical Performance Battery, SPPB), balance (Berg Balance Scale, BBS), mobility (timed up‐and‐go, TUG), and walking speed under normal and cognitive dual‐task conditions.ResultsThe tai chi group exhibited greater improvement in SPPB scores (baseline 8.1 ± 2.9, follow‐up 9.0 ± 2.6) than controls (baseline 8.2 ± 2.6, follow‐up 8.2 ± 2.6) (P = .005). Tai chi also increased normal and dual‐task walking speed (P < .001) yet did not affect BBS (P = .02) or TUG (P = .02) after accounting for multiple comparisons. The dual‐task cost (percentage change) to walking speed was unaffected. After the crossover tai chi intervention, the control group improved performance in the SPPB, BBS, and TUG, and increased walking speed under normal and dual‐task conditions (P = .008).ConclusionTai chi training may be a safe and effective therapy to help improve physical function and dual‐task walking in very old adults living in supportive housing facilities.
Use of Combination Antihypertensive Therapy Initiation in Older Americans without Prevalent Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Li Xiaojuan , Camelo Castillo Wendy , Stürmer Til , Pate Virginia , Gray Christine L. , Simpson Ross J. , Setoguchi Soko , Hanson Laura C. , Jonsson Funk Michele 
Published: August 2014

ObjectivesTo describe new users of antihypertensive medications and identify predictors of combination therapy initiation in older Americans.DesignRetrospective observational cohort study.SettingPopulation‐based study using U.S. Medicare fee‐for‐service healthcare claims (2007–2010).ParticipantsMedicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older with no recent diagnoses, procedures, or medications for cardiovascular disease who newly initiated an antihypertensive therapy (n = 275,493; 210,605 initiated monotherapy, 64,888 initiated combination therapy).MeasurementsMultivariable Poisson regression was used to assess factors associated with initiation of combination therapy versus monotherapy, including participant characteristics, prescriber characteristics, and participant encounters with the healthcare system.ResultsInitiation of combination therapy increased from 21.9% in 2007 to 24.7% in 2010. The most frequently initiated combinations were angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors with thiazide (29.7%) and angiotensin II receptor antagonists with thiazide (18.7%). Blacks (prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.45–1.51 vs whites), individuals seeing a generalist (PR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.07–1.14), individuals seeing more than one doctor (PR = 3.38, 95% CI = 3.33–3.44), and participants with no pharmacy claims in the previous 6 months (PR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.30–1.37 vs ≥3 unique drug classes) were more likely to initiate combination therapy, whereas those who had more outpatient visits in the previous 12 months were less likely to initiate combination therapy (per five visits, PR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.80–0.83).ConclusionNearly one in four new users of antihypertensive medications aged 65 and older started treatment with combination therapy. Blacks, individuals living in the south, and those with fewer outpatient physician office visits were more likely to initiate combination therapy. Further research is needed to determine whether this approach to managing hypertension is being well targeted to individuals who will require combination treatment.
Metabolized‐Water Breeding Diseases in Urban India: Sociospatiality of Water Problems and Health Burden in Ahmedabad City
Authors: Saravanan V.S. , Mavalankar Dileep , Kulkarni Suhas P. , Nussbaum Sven , Weigelt Martin 
Published: August 2014

SummaryStudies on urban metabolism have provided important insights in the material and sociopolitical issues associated with the flow of water. However, there is a dearth of studies that reveal how infrastructure, as a hybrid of social and material construct, facilitates disease emergence. The article brings together urban metabolism, political ecology, and anthropological studies to examine the social construction and reconstruction of the material flow through everyday practices for addressing the water problem and its health burden in Ahmedabad city. The article georeferences the water problems and occurrence of diseases and, through interviews, documents Ahmedabad's sociospatial characteristics of water problems and health burden in two case study wards. Through a situated understanding of the everyday practices, the infrastructure is exposed through leakages, reveals the citizens desire for better water quality, and struggle to gain access to water using diverse ‘pressure’ tactics. It is these social‐material constructs of water that give structure and coherence to urban space, which spatially coincides with the occurrence of diseases. It reveals the sociopolitical drivers of the water problems and identifies different hypotheses of the hotspots of disease emergences. The methodology offers a way forward for researchers and development agencies to improve the surveillance and monitoring of water infrastructure and public health through an incremental approach that takes into consideration the diffuse interplay of power by diverse actors. It charts out avenues for building on the urban metabolism by emphasizing the importance of examining the sociospatiality of the everyday practices for improving resource use efficiencies in cities of rapidly growing economies.
A two‐hybrid screen identifies an unconventional role for the intermediate filament peripherin in regulating the subcellular distribution of the SNAP25‐interacting protein, SIP30
Authors: Gentil Benoit J. , McLean Jesse R. , Xiao Shangxi , Zhao Beibei , Durham Heather D. , Robertson Janice 
Published: August 2014

AbstractPeripherin is a type III intermediate filament protein, the expression of which is associated with the acquisition and maintenance of a terminally differentiated neuronal phenotype. Peripherin up‐regulation occurs during acute neuronal injury and in degenerating motor neurons of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The functional role(s) of peripherin during normal, injurious, and disease conditions remains unknown, but may be related to differential expression of spliced isoforms. To better understand peripherin function, we performed a yeast two‐hybrid screen on a mouse brain cDNA library using an assembly incompetent peripherin isoform, Per‐61, as bait. We identified new peripherin interactors with roles in vesicular trafficking, signal transduction, DNA/RNA processing, protein folding, and mitochondrial metabolism. We focused on the interaction of Per‐61 and the constitutive isoform, Per‐58, with SNAP25 interacting protein 30 (SIP30), a neuronal protein involved in SNAP receptor‐dependent exocytosis. We found that peripherin and SIP30 interacted through coiled‐coil domains and colocalized in cytoplasmic aggregates in SW13vim(−) cells. Interestingly, Per‐61 and Per‐58 differentially altered the subcellular distribution of SIP30 and SNAP25 in primary motor neurons. Our findings suggest a novel role of peripherin in vesicle trafficking.
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The functional roles of the intermediate filament peripherin remain enigmatic. We performed a two‐hybrid screen and identified that peripherin interacts with SIP30 (a), a vesicle trafficking protein. Per‐58 and toxic Per‐61 isoforms coaggregated with SIP30 in SW13vim(−) cells and altered SIP30 and SNAP25 subcellular localization in primary motor neurons (b). Our results support a role for peripherin in vesicle trafficking.
Melatonin normalizes clinical and biochemical parameters of mild inflammation in diet‐induced metabolic syndrome in rats
Authors: Cano Barquilla Pilar , Pagano Eleonora S. , Jiménez‐Ortega Vanesa , Fernández‐Mateos Pilar , Esquifino Ana I. , Cardinali Daniel P. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin to affect mild inflammation in the metabolic syndrome (MS) induced by a high‐fat diet in rats. Adult Wistar male rats were divided into four groups (n = 16/group): (i) control diet (3% fat); (ii) high‐fat (35%) diet; (iii) high‐fat diet + melatonin; and (iv) melatonin. Rats had free access to high‐fat or control chow and one of the following drinking solutions for 10 wk: (a) tap water; (b) 25 μg/mL of melatonin. Plasma interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interferon (IFN)‐γ, and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were measured at two time intervals, that is, the middle of daylight period and the middle of the scotophase. In addition, a number of somatic and metabolic components employed clinically to monitor the MS were measured. Melatonin decreased the augmented circulating levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, and CRP seen in obese rats and restored the depressed levels of IL‐4 and IL‐10. Rats fed with the high‐fat diet showed significantly higher body weights and augmented systolic blood pressure from the third and fourth week onwards, respectively, melatonin effectively preventing these changes. In high‐fat‐fed rats, circulating low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglyceride concentration augmented significantly, melatonin being effective to counteract these changes. Melatonin‐treated rats showed a decreased insulin resistance, the highest values of plasma high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, and the lowest values of plasma uric acid. The results indicate that melatonin is able to normalize the altered biochemical pro‐inflammatory profile seen in rats fed with a high‐fat diet.
The Sphagnum microbiome supports bog ecosystem functioning under extreme conditions
Authors: Bragina Anastasia , Oberauner‐Wappis Lisa , Zachow Christin , Halwachs Bettina , Thallinger Gerhard G. , Müller Henry , Berg Gabriele 
Published: August 2014

AbstractSphagnum‐dominated bogs represent a unique yet widely distributed type of terrestrial ecosystem and strongly contribute to global biosphere functioning. Sphagnum is colonized by highly diverse microbial communities, but less is known about their function. We identified a high functional diversity within the Sphagnum microbiome applying an Illumina‐based metagenomic approach followed by de novo assembly and MG‐RAST annotation. An interenvironmental comparison revealed that the Sphagnum microbiome harbours specific genetic features that distinguish it significantly from microbiomes of higher plants and peat soils. The differential traits especially support ecosystem functioning by a symbiotic lifestyle under poikilohydric and ombrotrophic conditions. To realise a plasticity–stability balance, we found abundant subsystems responsible to cope with oxidative and drought stresses, to exchange (mobile) genetic elements, and genes that encode for resistance to detrimental environmental factors, repair and self‐controlling mechanisms. Multiple microbe–microbe and plant–microbe interactions were also found to play a crucial role as indicated by diverse genes necessary for biofilm formation, interaction via quorum sensing and nutrient exchange. A high proportion of genes involved in nitrogen cycle and recycling of organic material supported the role of bacteria for nutrient supply. 16S rDNA analysis indicated a higher structural diversity than that which had been previously detected using PCR‐dependent techniques. Altogether, the diverse Sphagnum microbiome has the ability to support the life of the host plant and the entire ecosystem under changing environmental conditions. Beyond this, the moss microbiome presents a promising bio‐resource for environmental biotechnology – with respect to novel enzymes or stress‐protecting bacteria.
Long‐term sevelamer treatment lowers serum fibroblast growth factor 23 accompanied with increasing serum Klotho levels in chronic haemodialysis patients
Authors: Lin Hsin‐Hung , Liou Hung‐Hsiang , Wu Ming‐Shiou , Lin Ching‐Yuang , Huang Chiu‐Ching 
Published: August 2014

AbstractAimsFibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and Klotho are associated with vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients. Sevelamer has been shown to reduce progression of vascular calcification. This study aimed to determine the long‐term effect of sevelamer treatment on serum FGF23 and Klotho levels in chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients.MethodsIn the post‐hoc analysis, we measured serum FGF23, Klotho and other biochemical factors (Ca, P, i‐PTH, hsCRP, LDL‐C) in 50 haemodialysis patients, who completed a 48‐week, open‐Label, controlled randomized parallel‐group study. Twenty‐three patients received sevelamer and 27 patients received calcium carbonate.ResultsAfter 48‐week sevelamer treatment, there were significant changes with lower LDL‐C (from 2.82 ± 0.78 to 1.65 ± 0.53 mmol/L, P = 0.000), lower FGF23 (from 2465.97 (2568.88) to 795.61 (1098.39), P = 0.000) and higher s‐Klotho levels (from 189.35 (161.88) to 252.94 (517.80) pg/mL, P = 0.000). In calcium carbonate group, there were no significant changes of LDL‐C and FGF23, but with a borderline significant increase of s‐Klotho level (from 142.34 (265.24) to 188.57 (252.38) pg/mL, P = 0.054). Multivariate analysis showed that FGF23 decrement was associated with sevelamer treatment (β = −0.277, P = 0.005), change of serum phosphate (β = 0.609, P = 0.000) and calcium levels (β = 0.635, P = 0.000). The increase of serum Klotho was associated with the decrease of serum phosphate (β = 0.490, P = 0.019).ConclusionMaintenance HD patients had lower serum FGF23 levels, accompanied with significantly increased serum Klotho levels, after 48‐week sevelamer treatment. The FGF23 decrement was associated with sevelamer use, the change of serum phosphate and calcium levels. The serum Klotho increment was proportional to the phosphate‐lowering power of the binders.
Renal function assessment in child and adolescent heart transplant recipients during routine cardiac catheterization
Authors: Lin Kimberly Y. , Furth Susan L. , Schwartz George J. , Shaddy Robert E. , Ruebner Rebecca L. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractCKD identification after pediatric heart transplantation (PHT) is limited by inaccuracies in estimates of GFR. We hypothesized that GFR can be measured by a modified iohexol clearance protocol in PHT recipients and that the CKiD formula provides a better estimate of GFR than other estimating equations. A cross‐sectional study of PHT recipients, ages 2–18 yr, undergoing coronary angiography was undertaken. The angiography dose of iohexol was divided by the area under the curve from three iohexol levels post‐infusion to calculate GFR. Agreement between iGFR and multiple estimating equations (eGFR) was assessed. In 31 subjects, median age was 15.0 yr (IQR 7.6, 16.6). Mean iGFR was 93.8 (s.d. 22.5) mL/min/1.73 m2; 16 (52%) had an iGFR <90 mL/min/1.73 m2. The full CKiD formula (mean eGFR 88.9, s.d. 14.9) had low bias (−5.0), narrowest 95% limits of agreement (−42.0, 32.1), highest 30% (94%) and 10% (52%) accuracy, and highest correlation coefficient (0.576) relative to iGFR. We describe a novel modified iohexol clearance method to assess GFR after PHT. Over half of the cohort had an iGFR <90, suggesting CKD. The full CKiD formula performs best with respect to bias, accuracy, and correlation.
Pollination syndromes in a specialised plant‐pollinator interaction: does floral morphology predict pollinators in Calceolaria?
Authors: Murúa M. , Espíndola A. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractPollination syndromes are defined as suites of floral traits evolved in response to selection imposed by a particular group of pollinators (e.g., butterflies, hummingbirds, bats). Although numerous studies demonstrated their occurrence in plants pollinated by radically different pollinators, it is less known whether it is possible to identify them within species pollinated by one functional pollinator group. In such a framework, we expect floral traits to evolve also in response to pollinator subgroups (e.g., species, genera) within that unique functional group. On this, specialised pollination systems represent appropriate case studies to test such expectations. Calceolaria is a highly diversified plant genus pollinated by oil‐collecting bees in genera Centris and Chalepogenus. Variation in floral traits in Calceolaria has recently been suggested to reflect adaptations to pollinator types. However, to date no study has explicitly tested that observation. In this paper, we quantitatively test that hypothesis by evaluating the presence of pollination syndromes within the specialised pollination system formed by several Calceolaria and their insect pollinators. To do so, we use multivariate approaches and explore the structural matching between the morphology of 10 Calceolaria taxa and that of their principal pollinators. Our results identify morphological matching between floral traits related to access to the reward and insect traits involved in oil collection, confirming the presence of pollinator syndromes in Calceolaria. From a general perspective, our findings indicate that the pollination syndrome concept can be also extended to the intra‐pollinator group level.
Effects of the duration of cold stratification on early life stages of the Mediterranean alpine plantSilene ciliata
Authors: García‐Fernández A. , Escudero A. , Lara‐Romero C. , Iriondo J. M. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractCold stratification provided by snow cover is essential to break seed dormancy in many alpine plant species. The forecast reduction in snow precipitation and snow cover duration in most temperate mountains as a result of global warming could threaten alpine plant populations, especially those at the edge of their species distribution, by altering the dynamics of early life stages. We simulated some effects of a reduction in the snow cover period by manipulating the duration of cold stratification in seeds ofSilene ciliata, a Mediterranean alpine specialist. Seeds from three populations distributed along an altitudinal gradient were exposed to different periods of cold stratification (2, 4 and 6 months) in the laboratory and then moved to common garden conditions in a greenhouse. The duration of the cold stratification treatment and population origin significantly affected seed emergence percentage, emergence rate and seedling size, but not the number of seedling leaves. The 6‐month and 4‐month cold stratification treatments produced higher emergence percentages and faster emergence rates than seeds without cold stratification treatment. No significant cold stratification duration x seed population origin interactions were found, thus differential sensitivity to cold stratification along elevation is not supported.
Assessment, validation and deployment strategy of a two‐barcode protocol for facile genotyping of duckweed species
Authors: Borisjuk N. , Chu P. , Gutierrez R. , Zhang H. , Acosta K. , Friesen N. , Sree K. S. , Garcia C. , Appenroth K. J. , Lam E. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractLemnaceae, commonly called duckweeds, comprise a diverse group of floating aquatic plants that have previously been classified into 37 species based on morphological and physiological criteria. In addition to their unique evolutionary position among angiosperms and their applications in biomonitoring, the potential of duckweeds as a novel sustainable crop for fuel and feed has recently increased interest in the study of their biodiversity and systematics. However, due to their small size and abbreviated structure, accurate typing of duckweeds based on morphology can be challenging. In the past decade, attempts to employ molecular barcoding techniques for species assignment have produced promising results; however, they have yet to be codified into a simple and quantitative protocol. A study that compiles and compares the barcode sequences within all known species of this family would help to establish the fidelity and limits of this DNA‐based approach. In this work, we compared the level of conservation between over 100 strains of duckweed for two intergenic barcode sequences derived from the plastid genome. By using over 300 sequences publicly available in the NCBI database, we determined the utility of each of these two barcodes for duckweed species identification. Through sequencing of these barcodes from additional accessions, 30 of the 37 known species of duckweed could be identified with varying levels of confidence using this approach. From our analyses using this reference dataset, we also confirmed two instances where mis‐assignment of species has likely occurred. Potential strategies for further improving the scope of this technology are discussed.
The Expression and Localization of Crb3 in Developmental Stages of the Mice Embryos and in Different Organs of 1‐week‐old Female Mice
Authors: Yin Y , Sheng J , Hu R , Yang Y , Qing S 
Published: August 2014

ContentsCrumbs homolog 3 (Crb3) is a member of the Crumbs family of proteins. This protein may play a role in epithelial cell polarity and is associated with tight junctions at the apical surface of epithelial cells. Alternative transcriptional splice variants that encode different Crb3 isoforms have been characterized. The expression of Crb3 mRNA and protein was observed in the pre‐implantation mouse embryos and different organs of 1‐week‐old mouse, and Crb3 expression was primarily observed in the cytoplasm. Crb3 was expressed in a unique temporal pattern in pre‐implantation embryos. The main characteristic of Crb3 expression was that the positive signals were stronger in the mature oocytes and zygotes than in the 2‐cell, 4‐cell, and 8‐cell stages and the morula, but a similar level of high expression was observed in blastocysts. Therefore, the Crb3 expression signal during the course of development process grew gradually stronger from the 2‐cell stage to blastocyst. In addition, Crb3 protein was widely distributed in each stage of the post‐implantation embryos. Crb3 expression was observed in the inner cell mass, trophoblast cells and endoderm of E4.5d embryos; in the chorion, amnion, trophoblast cells, yolk sac endoderm and embryo ectoderm of E7.5d embryos; in the amnion and limb bud of E8.0d embryos; and in the semicircular canal epithelium, retina, lens vesicle and liver tissue of E13.5d embryos. Crb3 was expressed at different levels in different organs of 1‐week‐old mouse with the strengths in the following order: kidney > small intestine > stomach > uterus > liver > skeletal muscle > cerebellum > brain. The presence of Crb3 in many organs and the regularity of Crb3 distribution in the process of mouse embryonic development indicate that Crb3 protein plays an important role in establishing and maintaining the polarity of mouse embryos.