bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aquatic macroinvertebrate community composition in tank‐bromeliads is determined by bromeliad species and its constrained characteristics
Authors: Marino Nicholas A. C. , Srivastava Diane S. , Farjalla Vinicius F. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Insect herbivore‐plant associations have been widely explored in the scientific literature over the past decades, but other insect‐plant associations have received little focus so far.
Tank‐bromeliads host a large number of invertebrate species and, even though previous studies showed a strong variation in community composition among tank‐bromeliad species, the reasons for this variation are still unclear.
In this study, we first examined whether different bromeliad species supports distinct and predictable community compositions and whether such variation was caused by (i) the bromeliad species itself, (ii) to its environment, and/or (iii) the covariance between both.
We found that different tank‐bromeliad species hosts distinct macroinvertebrate assemblages, but community composition was particularly less predictable in the smaller tank‐bromeliads. Aquatic macroinvertebrates were sorted along a gradient of environmental conditions presented by the set of tank‐bromeliad species examined, according to their functional and biological traits. The tank‐bromeliad species and the environmental conditions within its tanks were strongly related and equally important in structuring these communities.
These results suggest that associations between bromeliads and the fauna inhabiting its tanks are likely a result of the environmental characteristics particular to each bromeliad species.
Pulmonary hypertension associated with rheumatic diseases: baseline characteristics from the Korean registry
Authors: Jeon Chan Hong , Chai Ji‐Young , Seo Young‐Il , Jun Jae‐Bum , Koh Eun‐Mi , Lee Soo‐Kon 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjectivesThe REgistry of Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Rheumatic Disease (REOPARD) was established in Korea. The baseline data are described from the second year of the registry's operation.MethodsPatients with a connective tissue disease (CTD) who met the modified definition of the WHO group I pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were enrolled. PAH was defined as a systolic pulmonary arterial pressure > 40 mmHg by echocardiography or mean pulmonary arterial pressure > 25 mmHg by right heart catheterization. Hemodynamic parameters and clinical data such as demographics, functional class, underlying disease, organ involvement, laboratory tests and current treatment were recorded.ResultsA total of 321 patients were enrolled during the 2‐year study period from 2008 to 2010. The mean age of the patients at registration was 51.9 years and 87.5% were female. Most patients were diagnosed by echocardiography and only 24 patients (7.5%) underwent cardiac catheterization. Exertional dyspnea was present in 63.6% of patients and 31.8% were New York Heart Association class III or IV. Among the patients, systemic lupus erythematosus accounted for 35.3%, systemic sclerosis 28.3%, rheumatoid arthritis 7.8%, overlap syndrome 9.0%, and mixed connective tissue disease 5.9%. There were no significant differences in hemodynamics, functional class, diffusing capacity and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide levels between the disease subgroups. Treatments consisted of calcium antagonists (57.0%), endothelin antagonists (32.7%), prostanoids (27.1%), phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors (14.3%) and combinations (37.4%).ConclusionCompared with previous studies, the results showed some differences: underlying diseases, functional status and treatments. This may be due to differences in ethnic background and diagnostic methods of our study.
Effective UK weight management services for adults
Authors: McCombie L. , Lean M. E. J. , Haslam D. ,   The Counterweight Research Group
Published: September 2012

SummaryA number of evidence‐based weight management interventions are now available with different models and serving different patient/client groups. While positive outcomes are a key to the decision‐making process, so too is the information around how these outcomes were achieved, in what population, how transferable the outcomes would be to the population a service would be aiming to cover and at what cost to the service provider and or the individual. This paper examines all the UK interventions with recent peer‐reviewed evidence of their effectiveness in ‘realistic’ settings and cost‐effectiveness, in the context of National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) guidelines. It concludes that the evidence‐based approaches allow intervention at different stages in the disease process of obesity, which are effective in different settings. Self‐referral to commercial agencies, by individuals with relatively low body mass index (BMI) and few medical complications, is a reasonable first step. For more severely obese individuals (e.g. BMI > 35 kg m−2) requiring more medically complicated care, evidence is largely lacking for these services, but the community‐based Counterweight Programme is effective and cost‐effective in maintaining weight loss >5 kg up to 2 years for 30–40% of attenders. For more complicated and resistant obesity, referral to a secondary care‐based service can generate short‐term weight loss, but 12‐month data are unavailable.
Hepatic stellate cells promote the differentiation of embryonic stem cell‐derived definitive endodermal cells into hepatic progenitor cells
Authors: Chan Kun‐Ming , Fu Yi‐Hsuan , Wu Ting‐Jung , Hsu Pao‐Yueh , Lee Wei‐Chen 
Published: September 2012

AimHepatic non‐parenchymal cells are well known to be capable of providing an important microenvironment and growth factors for hepatic regeneration, but their capacity for directing embryonic stem cells (ESC) toward hepatocytes remains to be assessed. Thus, this study aims to investigate the role of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), the major type of hepatic non‐parenchymal cells, in the differentiation of ESC as well as exploring the potentiality of ESC in regeneration medicine for cell‐based therapy.MethodsA two‐step differentiation procedure that utilized the capability of HSC to regulate proliferation and differentiation of hepatocytes was used to develop an approach for directing the differentiation of ESC towards hepatic progenitor cells. Mouse ESC were cultivated in a serum‐free medium containing Activin A and fibroblast growth factor to generate definitive endodermal cells characterized by the CXCR4 cell‐surface marker. After 6–8 days in culture, approximately 60% of the differentiated cells expressed CXCR4, and more than 90% of the CXCR4 positive cells could be recovered by cell sorting. The purified CXCR4 positive cells were co‐cultured with mouse HSC as feeder cells in basal medium without additional hepatocyte growth factors. Differentiation was complete after 10–12 days of co‐culture, and hepatic progenitor cell markers such as α‐fetoprotein (afp) and albumin (alb) were detected in the terminally differentiated ESC.ConclusionThese results show that HSC provide an appropriate microenvironment and pivotal growth factors for generation of hepatic progenitor cells from ESC‐derived definitive endodermal cells, and suggest that this approach possibly allows for hepatic differentiation of ESC imitating the process of hepatic regeneration.
A review of equine mucocutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Taylor S. , Haldorson G. 
Published: September 2012

SummarySquamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for approximately 20% of all equine mucocutaneous (MC) tumours and continues to present a therapeutic challenge to practitioners. MostMC‐SCCare locally invasive and slow to metastasise, but metastasis to local lymph nodes is not uncommon. The most common location forMC‐SCCis the periorbital region, with the eyelid most commonly affected. Although only 13% ofMC‐SCCinvolves the external genitalia,MC‐SCCis the most common neoplasm of male genitalia. Equine caballus papillomavirus‐2 has recently been linked toMC‐SCCand may prove to be necessary for tumour development. Risk factors may include chronic exposure to ultraviolet light and chronic skin irritation. Horses developing genitalMC‐SCCtend to be older compared to those with periorbitalMC‐SCC. Histopathology is required for definitive diagnosis ofMC‐SCC, although horse phenotype and lesion location may suggestMC‐SCC. Several treatment modalities have been successful in eliminating or managingMC‐SCC, with surgical excision and intratumoural chemotherapy yielding the best results. Other treatment options including cryotherapy, hyperthermia, radiotherapy and photodynamic therapy are often used as adjunctive therapies. Early recognition of tumours and prompt intervention are associated with a positive outcome.
Perceptions of the unregistered healthcare worker's role in pre‐registration student nurses' clinical training
Authors: Hasson Felicity , McKenna Hugh P. , Keeney Sinead 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAimTo explore the unregistered healthcare worker's role and influence on student nurses' clinical learning experience.BackgroundAcross the developed world, the role of the unregistered worker is exceeding its traditional boundaries. Evidence suggests that this includes the day‐to‐day mentoring of pre‐registration student nurses. However, no research to date has explored reasons as to why this is occurring, what types of tasks are taught, and the consequence of this.DesignA sequential exploratory mixed method research design was adopted.MethodReporting on the final qualitative phase of a mixed method sequential research study, semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with 59 unregistered healthcare workers across four hospitals in Northern Ireland. Transcriptions were analysed using a content analysis approach; all data were collected in 2010.ResultsFindings show the diversity of the unregistered healthcare workers' roles and confirm that they play a major part in the education of student nurses with regards to basic, clinical, and non‐clinical tasks, with and without the approval of registered staff. However, their involvement did not reflect their levels of expertise as evidenced by certified training. Their participation was justified based on mentor unavailability, their closeness to the student and the patient. While some did raise concerns, they recommended that these workers be formally involved in nurse education.ConclusionMechanisms of workforce planning need to pay particular attention to the expanding role of unregistered healthcare workers as ‘role drift’ has the potential to alter patterns of work and affect current educational approaches impacting on the acquisition of clinical skills. Further research is recommended in this domain.
Retrospective Study of Extensive Heat‐Pressed Ceramic Veneers after 36 Months
Authors: Rinke Sven , Lange Katharina , Ziebolz Dirk 
Published: September 2012

AbstractStatement of the ProblemThe clinical performance of ceramic veneers is influenced by various clinical and material‐related factors.PurposeRetrospective evaluation of extensive anterior ceramic veneers in the upper and lower jaw 36 months after placement in a private practice.Materials and MethodsThirty‐seven patients (21 female, 16 male) were restored with adhesively luted extensive ceramic veneers made from a heat‐pressed ceramic (Cergo, DeguDent, Hanau, Germany). One dentist restored a total of 130 teeth (maxilla N = 76, mandible N = 54). Adhesive cementation was performed with an etch‐and‐rinse adhesive (Optibond FL, Kerr Hawe, Karlsruhe, Germany) and a dual‐curing composite cement.ResultsAfter 36 months, the survival rate (in situ criteria) according to Kaplan–Meier was 95.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88; 1). Reasons for failure were four ceramic fractures and one biological failure in five restored teeth. Of the restorations, 92.8% (95% CI: 0.86;1) were in service without any clinical intervention and rated successful after 36 months. Interventions were necessary in five cases (three recementations, two endodontic treatments). Clinical performance was not influenced by the veneer position (maxillar/mandibular, survival p = 0.3/success p = 0.4). Veneers with more than 50% of exposed dentin demonstrated a significantly increased risk (hazard ratio 10.6, p = 0.026) for a clinical intervention (recementation, endodontic treatment), whereas no effect on the survival rate could be detected (p = 0.17).ConclusionsAfter 36 months of clinical service, extensive veneer restorations made of a pressable ceramic showed a comparable survival and success rate in the upper and lower jaw. Large areas of exposed dentin (>50%) were associated with lower success rates.Clinical SignificanceMandibular ceramic veneers made using a heat‐pressed ceramic offer the same clinical reliability as do veneers on anterior maxillary teeth. Dentin exposure significantly affects the clinical performance of heat‐pressed ceramic veneers.
Microwave irradiation decreases ATP, increases free [Mg2+], and alters in vivo intracellular reactions in rat brain
Authors: Srivastava Shireesh , Kashiwaya Yoshihiro , Chen Xuesong , Geiger Jonathan D. , Pawlosky Robert , Veech Richard L. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractRapid inactivation of metabolism is essential for accurately determining the concentrations of metabolic intermediates in the in vivo state. We compared a broad spectrum of energetic intermediate metabolites and neurotransmitters in brains obtained by microwave irradiation to those obtained by freeze blowing, the most rapid method of extracting and freezing rat brain. The concentrations of many intermediates, cytosolic free NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H ratios, as well as neurotransmitters were not affected by the microwave procedure. However, the brain concentrations of ATP were about 30% lower, whereas those of ADP, AMP, and GDP were higher in the microwave‐irradiated compared with the freeze‐blown brains. In addition, the hydrolysis of approximately 1 μmol/g of ATP, a major in vivo Mg2+‐binding site, was related to approximately five‐fold increase in free [Mg2+] (0.53 ± 0.07 mM in freeze blown vs. 2.91 mM ± 0.48 mM in microwaved brains), as determined from the ratio [citrate]/[isocitrate]. Consequently, many intracellular properties, such as the phosphorylation potential and the ∆G' of ATP hydrolysis were significantly altered in microwaved tissue. The determinations of some glycolytic and TCA cycle metabolites, the phosphorylation potential, and the ∆G' of ATP hydrolysis do not represent the in vivo state when using microwave‐fixed brain tissue.
Both chronic treatments by epothilone D and fluoxetine increase the short‐term memory and differentially alter the mood status of STOP/MAP6 KO mice
Authors: Fournet Vincent , de Lavilléon Gaetan , Schweitzer Annie , Giros Bruno , Andrieux Annie , Martres Marie‐Pascale 
Published: September 2012

AbstractRecent evidence underlines the crucial role of neuronal cytoskeleton in the pathophysiology of psychiatric diseases. In this line, the deletion of STOP/MAP6 (Stable Tubule Only Polypeptide), a microtubule‐stabilizing protein, triggers various neurotransmission and behavioral defects, suggesting that STOP knockout (KO) mice could be a relevant experimental model for schizoaffective symptoms. To establish the predictive validity of such a mouse line, in which the brain serotonergic tone is dramatically imbalanced, the effects of a chronic fluoxetine treatment on the mood status of STOP KO mice were characterized. Moreover, we determined the impact, on mood, of a chronic treatment by epothilone D, a taxol‐like microtubule‐stabilizing compound that has previously been shown to improve the synaptic plasticity deficits of STOP KO mice. We demonstrated that chronic fluoxetine was either antidepressive and anxiolytic, or pro‐depressive and anxiogenic, depending on the paradigm used to test treated mutant mice. Furthermore, control‐treated STOP KO mice exhibited paradoxical behaviors, compared with their clear‐cut basal mood status. Paradoxical fluoxetine effects and control‐treated STOP KO behaviors could be because of their hyper‐reactivity to acute and chronic stress. Interestingly, both epothilone D and fluoxetine chronic treatments improved the short‐term memory of STOP KO mice. Such treatments did not affect the serotonin and norepinephrine transporter densities in cerebral areas of mice. Altogether, these data demonstrated that STOP KO mice could represent a useful model to study the relationship between cytoskeleton, mood, and stress, and to test innovative mood treatments, such as microtubule‐stabilizing compounds.
How to assess tonsilloliths and styloid chain ossifications on cone beam computed tomography images
Authors: Centurion BS , Imada TSN , Pagin O , Capelozza ALA , Lauris JRP , Rubira‐Bullen IRF 
Published: September 2012

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to establish an anatomical guideline in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images to discriminate soft‐tissue calcifications, specifically, tonsilloliths, and styloid chain ossification (SCO) in the multiplanar reconstruction screen of the i‐CAT Vision.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed 100 pairs of CBCT images and panoramic digital radiographies regarding the presence or absence of tonsilloliths and SCO. The intraobserver agreement varied from excellent to good. The statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney test, chi‐square test, Spearman test, Student's t‐test, and Wilcoxon test. The analyses were repeated without the guideline to verify its effectiveness.ResultsA total of 25 tonsilloliths were found in panoramic images while CBCT images revealed 60. Panoramic and CBCT images showed 42% and 63% of patients positive to SCO, respectively. We found a statistically significant difference when comparing the presence of tonsilloliths and SCO between panoramic and CBCT images (Wilcoxon test P < 0.05). The analyses without the guideline showed that the observer tended to diagnoses more false‐positive SCO.ConclusionBased on the results, we can suggest that CBCT images are more suitable to differentiate tonsilloliths and SCO than panoramic images. The guideline was more important to diagnosis SCO than tonsilloliths. SCO was misclassified in 34% without the guideline.
Genetic relationships and hybrid vigour in olive (Olea europaea L.) by microsatellites
Authors: Biton Iris , Shevtsov Sofia , Ostersetzer Oren , Mani Yair , Lavee Shimon , Avidan Benjamin , Ben‐Ari Giora 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe olive (Olea europaea) is one of the most important oleaginous crops of the Mediterranean basin. Increased demand for olive oil creates a need for new olive varieties to help meet the requirements of the global market. However, olive breeding has been handicapped by such varied challenges as a prolonged juvenile period, agrotechnical problems and insufficient genetic knowledge. The use of DNA markers has the potential to overcome these problems and increase the effectiveness of classical breeding programmes. In this study, co‐dominant polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were used as markers to analyse the genetic relationships between several local and other ‘non‐native’ olive cultivars. Cluster analysis revealed four major groups among the 15 cultivars examined in this study. Table and oil cultivars were clustered in different groups. However, the clusters did not differentiate between cultivars of different geographical origins. In addition, we used the data gathered to analyse genetic relationships to evaluate the effects of heterosis in agricultural traits. Genetic distances between cultivars were determined based on the SSR genotype data and were used for evaluating the possible effects of heterosis in various F1 populations. Interestingly, phenotypic data of F1 progenies from crosses between different cultivars indicated the potential effects of heterosis as expressed in several traits. Genetic distance between parents was significantly correlated to F1 performance for three traits: percentage of dry fruit weight, oil content and commercial oil production. Thus, crosses between olive cultivars exhibiting relatively extensive genetic distances one from the other are expected to result in better progeny performance in future Olea breeding programmes. Our study linked assessment of biodiversity of commercial olive cultivars with the application of this information in olive breeding programmes for selection of specific parents to generate superior new cultivars.
Implementing Provider‐based Sampling for the National Children's Study: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Belanger Kathleen , Buka Stephen , Cherry Debra C. , Dudley Donald J. , Elliott Michael R. , Hale Daniel E. , Hertz‐Picciotto Irva , Illuzzi Jessica L. , Paneth Nigel , Robbins James M. , Triche Elizabeth W. , Bracken Michael B. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackground:  The National Children's Study (NCS) was established as a national probability sample of births to prospectively study children's health starting from in utero to age 21. The primary sampling unit was 105 study locations (typically a county). The secondary sampling unit was the geographic unit (segment), but this was subsequently perceived to be an inefficient strategy.Methods and Results:  This paper proposes that second‐stage sampling using prenatal care providers is an efficient and cost‐effective method for deriving a national probability sample of births in the US. It offers a rationale for provider‐based sampling and discusses a number of strategies for assembling a sampling frame of providers. Also presented are special challenges to provider‐based sampling pregnancies, including optimising key sample parameters, retaining geographic diversity, determining the types of providers to include in the sample frame, recruiting women who do not receive prenatal care, and using community engagement to enrol women. There will also be substantial operational challenges to sampling provider groups.Conclusion:  We argue that probability sampling is mandatory to capture the full variation in exposure and outcomes expected in a national cohort study, to provide valid and generalisable risk estimates, and to accurately estimate policy (such as screening) benefits from associations reported in the NCS.