bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ecomorphological variation in male and female wall lizards and the macroevolution of sexual dimorphism in relation to habitat use
Authors: Kaliontzopoulou A. , Carretero M. A. , Adams D. C. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractUnderstanding how phenotypic diversity evolves is a major interest of evolutionary biology. Habitat use is an important factor in the evolution of phenotypic diversity of many animal species. Interestingly, male and female phenotypes have been frequently shown to respond differently to environmental variation. At the macroevolutionary level, this difference between the sexes is frequently analysed using phylogenetic comparative tools to assess variation in sexual dimorphism (SD) across taxa in relation to habitat. A shortcoming of such analyses is that they evaluate the degree of dimorphism itself and therefore they do not provide access to the evolutionary trajectories of each sex. As such, the relative contribution of male and female phenotypes on macroevolutionary patterns of sexual dimorphism cannot be directly assessed. Here, we investigate how habitat use shapes phenotypic diversity in wall lizards using phylogenetic comparative tools to simultaneously assess the tempo and mode of evolution in males, females and the degree of sexual dimorphism. We find that both sexes have globally diversified under similar, but not identical, processes, where habitat use seems to drive macroevolutionary variation in head shape, but not in body size or relative limb length. However, we also observe small differences in the evolutionary dynamics of male and female phenotypes that have a marked impact on macroevolutionary patterns ofSD, with important implications for our interpretation of what drives phenotypic diversification within and between the sexes.
A resource for those preparing for and responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and major healthcare emergencies
Authors: Allen Claire 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis article describes the dissemination and knowledge transfer activities of Evidence Aid, which was established after the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 to provide a single source of evidence that would help people make well‐informed decisions when preparing for and responding to disasters. Evidence Aid has a dedicated website (www.EvidenceAid.org) to provide access to more than 160 systematic reviews and several other documents relevant to people working on disaster risk reduction, planning, response, recovery, rehabilitation, and resilience. It combines this with a social media presence and Special Collections that bundle together related Cochrane Reviews (www.TheCochraneLibrary.com). The aim is to make it easier for users who need this evidence and don't have time to browse through multiple documents and distill them before making their decisions. Evidence Aid will continue to identify and share resources and knowledge with those who most need it at the time that they need it most. It is working with several partners to identify relevant Cochrane and non‐Cochrane systematic reviews and is engaging with users who, by sharing their information and their knowledge needs, will allow Evidence Aid to target its efforts to these priority areas.
Clues to the signals for chloroplast photo‐relocation from the lifetimes of accumulation and avoidance responses
Authors: Higa Takeshi , Wada Masamitsu 
Published: November 2014

AbstractChloroplast photo‐relocation movement is crucial for plant survival; however, the mechanism of this phenomenon is still poorly understood. Especially, the signal that goes from photoreceptor to chloroplast is unknown, although the photoreceptors (phototropin 1 and 2) have been identified and an actin structure (chloroplast actin filaments) has been characterized that is specific for chloroplast movement. Here, in gametophytes of the fern Adiantum capillus‐veneris, gametophores of the moss Physcomiterella patens, and leaves of the seed plant Arabidopsis thaliana, we sought to characterize the signaling system by measuring the lifetime of the induced response. Chloroplast movements were induced by microbeam irradiation with high‐intensity blue light and recorded. The lifetime of the avoidance state was measured as a lag time between switching off the beam and the loss of avoidance behavior, and that of the accumulation state was measured as the duration of accumulation behavior following the extinction of the beam. The lifetime for the avoidance response state is approximately 3–4 min and that for the accumulation response is 19–28 min. These data suggest that the two responses are based on distinct signals.
Considering the prominent complaint as a guide in medical therapy for overactive bladder syndrome in women over 45 years
Authors: Jafarabadi Mina , Jafarabadi Ladan , Shariat Mamak , Rabie Salehi Gelareh , Haghollahi Fedyeh , Rashidi Batool Hossein 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the response of women over 45 years with overactive bladder and detrusor overactivity to a 12‐week course of oxybutynin or tolterodine treatment.Material and MethodsA total of 301 eligible Iranian women were studied. In this double‐blinded trial, data were analyzed from 3‐day urinary diaries from before and after 12 weeks of treatment in which patients were randomly assigned to receive oxybutynin or tolterodine in recommended doses. Patients' convenience and the drugs' side‐effects were assessed by a monthly clinical appointment. End‐points were changed from baseline to week 12 in bladder‐diary variables and all observed or reported adverse events. The effectiveness of each drug was studied using the paired t‐test and improvement after treatment between the two groups was compared by independent t‐test.ResultsMean improvements in the terms of urgency (P = 0.64) and urge incontinence (P = 0.75) showed an insignificantly larger score in patients who were treated by oxybutynin. Improvement in night‐time urinary urgency and nocturia (41.2% and 54.3% vs 39.7% and 40.1% in oxybutynin vs tolterodine groups, respectively) were shown to be more improved by tolterodine in comparison to oxybutynin (P = 0.72 and 0.04 for night‐time urinary urgency and nocturia, respectively). Discontinuation of treatment due to adverse events was not significantly different in the two groups.ConclusionsOxybutynin and tolterodine showed similar efficacy on daytime symptoms of overactive bladder and similar side‐effects in perimenopausal patients. For patients with the chief complaint of nocturnal frequency, prescription of tolterodine is preferably suggested.
Abnormal cervicovaginal cytology, unsatisfactory colposcopy and the use of vaginal estrogen cream: An observational study of clinical outcomes for women in low estrogen states
Authors: Richards Anthony , Dalrymple Chris 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimTo determine the effectiveness of vaginal estrogen cream to improve the rate of satisfactory colposcopy and subsequent smear result in patients in a hypoestrogenic state and an abnormal Papanicolaou smear. To delineate between abnormal smears secondary to atrophy and inflammation from preneoplastic change and suggest an effective treatment strategy to deal with this challenging situation.MethodsPatients with abnormal cervicovaginal smears who were in a low estrogen state (postmenopausal or amenorrheic postnatal) undergoing colposcopy were identified. All patients had an unsatisfactory colposcopy and were treated with vaginal estrogen cream twice per week for 6 weeks and underwent repeat colposcopy, smear and targeted biopsy where required.ResultsFifty‐four patients had an abnormal smear and were clinically in a low estrogen state, with four having previously had a hysterectomy. After 6 weeks of vaginal estrogen therapy, 32 out of 50 patients' colposcopic examinations were satisfactory. Also, 40 out of 54 patients' smears returned to normal after treatment. Of the 14 patients with persistent smear abnormalities, only three were diagnosed with true high‐grade pre‐invasive disease.ConclusionThe use of vaginal estrogen cream for patients with smear abnormalities and a low estrogen status improves the satisfactory colposcopy rate and improves the accuracy of the prediction of true high‐grade pre‐invasive disease. This treatment may then reduce the number of patients that require definitive treatment for their screen‐detected abnormalities in this patient population.
Purse‐string double‐layer closure: A novel technique for repairing the uterine incision during cesarean section
Authors: Turan Cem , Büyükbayrak Esra Esim , Onan Yilmaz Aylin , Karageyim Karsidag Yasemin , Pirimoglu Meltem 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimTo compare the classical double‐layer uterine closure to a double‐layer purse‐string uterine closure (Turan technique) in cesarean section regarding short‐ and long‐term results.MethodsPatients were randomized into either the double‐layer purse‐string uterine closure arm (study group, 84 patients) or the classical double‐layer uterine closure arm (control group, 84 patients). For short‐term comparison, a detailed transvaginal ultrasound examination was planned in all patients 6 weeks after the operation and a wedge‐shaped defect in the uterine incision scar was accepted as uterine scar defect and recorded. For the long‐term comparison, subsequent pregnancies of these patients were followed up for any complication.ResultsThe number of patients with ultrasonographically visible uterine scar defect was 12 (23.5% of all scar defects) in the study group whereas it was 39 (76.5% of all scar defects) in the control group (P < 0.001, χ2 = 15.42). Demographic data, operation time, hospitalization time, preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin values were not significantly different between the groups. During the 2‐year of the follow‐up period, five patients in the study group and six patients in the control group became pregnant again. No complication during their pregnancies and second cesarean operation were encountered.ConclusionWith the Turan technique, the uterine incision length becomes shorter, and the frequency of uterine scar defect is lower regarding short‐term results. More data is needed for long‐term results. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01287611
Enhancement of ovarian cancer chemotherapy by delivery of multidrug‐resistance gene small interfering RNA using tumor targeting Salmonella
Authors: Deng Jiaqi , Guo Yi , Jiang Zhongmin , Yang Min , Li Huaifang , Wang Jianjun 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to observe the effect of attenuated Salmonella typhi as a tumor‐targeting delivery vector for multidrug‐resistance gene (MDR1) small interfering RNA (siRNA).Material and MethodsThe cisplatin (DDP)‐resistant ovarian cancer cell line SKOV‐3/DDP was established by treatment with gradually increasing concentrations of cisplatin. MDR1 siRNA expression plasmid containing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) of MDR1 gene was constructed and transformed into attenuated Salmonella typhi strain SL7207. SKOV‐3/DDP cells were incubated with recombinant Salmonella and then subjected to analysis of MDR1 expression by real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. SKOV‐3/DDP tumor‐bearing mice were established by subcutaneously injecting BALB/c nude mice with SKOV‐3/DDP cells, and were orally inoculated with Salmonella carrying MDR1 siRNA plasmid and simultaneously injected intraperitoneally with cisplatin. Tumor growth and mouse survival were observed.ResultsCompared with parental cell line, the DDP‐resistant SKOV‐3/DDP cells expressed a much higher level of MDR1. The expression of MDR1 in SKOV‐3/DDP cells infected with the Salmonella strain bearing MDR1 siRNA plasmid in vitro was detected to be downregulated and DDP tolerance of these cells was reversed. Tumor‐bearing nude mice that were orally receiving recombinant Salmonella experienced a slow tumor growth and became more sensitive to DDP.ConclusionAttenuated Salmonella typhi may represent a promising vector for in vivo administration of RNA interference therapy against malignant tumors.
Recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with increased red cell distribution width and platelet distribution width
Authors: Dundar Ozgur , Pektas Mıne Kanat , Bodur Serkan , Bakır Lale Vuslat , Cetin Ahmet 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAimThe present study aims to evaluate how components of complete blood count are altered in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.Material and MethodsThis was a retrospective evaluation of 60 women who had a history of recurrent pregnancy loss, 60 healthy women who had a first trimester pregnancy and 60 healthy parous women.ResultsWhen compared with pregnant women and healthy controls, the women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss had significantly higher red cell distribution width (RDW) and platelet distribution width (PDW) (P = 0.001 for both). Thrombophilia was detected in 31.7% of the women who had a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (19 out of 60). When compared to the women without thrombophilia, the women with thrombophilia had significantly lower body mass index (P = 0.034) but significantly higher RDW, PDW and plateletcrit (respectively, P = 0.043, P = 0.001 and P = 0.002). There were significant and positive correlations between RDW and PDW (r = 0.615, P = 0.001), RDW and plateletcrit (r = 0.343, P = 0.007) and PDW and plateletcrit (r = 0.340, P = 0.008) in women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss.ConclusionAn elevation in PDW and RDW values was found to be associated with recurrent pregnancy loss.
Assessment of the hemodynamic profile in periodontal tissues of diabetic subjects with periodontitis by optical spectroscopy
Authors: Duarte P. M. , Sowa M. G. , Xiang X. , Zhang C. , Santos V. R. , Miranda T. S. , Reis A. F. , Liu K.‐Z. 
Published: November 2014

Background and ObjectiveThe influence of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the hemodynamics of periodontal tissues has not been assessed previously. The primary objective of this study was to validate optical spectroscopy as a periodontal diagnostic tool for subjects with type 2DMand chronic periodontitis.Material and MethodsUsing a portable optical near‐infrared spectrometer, optical spectra were obtained from healthy (n = 127), gingivitis (n = 115), and periodontitis (n = 109) sites of 65 subjects with type 2DMand chronic periodontitis. Healthy (n = 65) sites of 15 nondiabetic subjects without periodontitis were used as controls. A modified Beer–Lambert unmixing model that incorporates a nonparametric scattering‐loss function was used to determine the relative contribution of deoxygenated hemoglobin and oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) to the overall spectrum. The balance between tissue oxygen delivery and oxygen utilization in periodontal tissues was assessed.ResultsIn diabetic subjects, tissue oxygen saturation and HbO2concentration were significantly decreased in the periodontitis sites (p < 0.01) compared with the healthy and gingivitis sites. Furthermore, tissue oxygenation in healthy sites of control subjects was significantly higher than that in sites of diabetic subjects (p < 0.01).ConclusionIn summary, the results of this study suggest that optical spectroscopy can monitor the hemodynamic profile in diabetic subjects with chronic periodontitis. Furthermore, healthy sites of diabetic subjects presented lower tissue oxygenation than did those of nondiabetic subjects.
Complementarity of statistical treatments to reconstruct worldwide routes of invasion: the case of the Asian ladybird Harmonia axyridis
Authors: Lombaert Eric , Guillemaud Thomas , Lundgren Jonathan , Koch Robert , Facon Benoît , Grez Audrey , Loomans Antoon , Malausa Thibaut , Nedved Oldrich , Rhule Emma , Staverlokk Arnstein , Steenberg Tove , Estoup Arnaud 
Published: November 2014

AbstractInferences about introduction histories of invasive species remain challenging because of the stochastic demographic processes involved. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) can help to overcome these problems, but such method requires a prior understanding of population structure over the study area, necessitating the use of alternative methods and an intense sampling design. In this study, we made inferences about the worldwide invasion history of the ladybird Harmonia axyridis by various population genetics statistical methods, using a large set of sampling sites distributed over most of the species’ native and invaded areas. We evaluated the complementarity of the statistical methods and the consequences of using different sets of site samples for ABC inferences. We found that the H. axyridis invasion has involved two bridgehead invasive populations in North America, which have served as the source populations for at least six independent introductions into other continents. We also identified several situations of genetic admixture between differentiated sources. Our results highlight the importance of coupling ABC methods with more traditional statistical approaches. We found that the choice of site samples could affect the conclusions of ABC analyses comparing possible scenarios. Approaches involving independent ABC analyses on several sample sets constitute a sensible solution, complementary to standard quality controls based on the analysis of pseudo‐observed data sets, to minimize erroneous conclusions. This study provides biologists without expertise in this area with detailed methodological and conceptual guidelines for making inferences about invasion routes when dealing with a large number of sampling sites and complex population genetic structures.
Genic rather than genome‐wide differences between sexually deceptiveOphrysorchids with different pollinators
Authors: Sedeek Khalid E. M. , Scopece Giovanni , Staedler Yannick M. , Schönenberger Jürg , Cozzolino Salvatore , Schiestl Florian P. , Schlüter Philipp M. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractHigh pollinator specificity and the potential for simple genetic changes to affect pollinator attraction make sexually deceptive orchids an ideal system for the study of ecological speciation, in which change of flower odour is likely important. This study surveys reproductive barriers and differences in floral phenotypes in a group of four closely related, coflowering sympatricOphrysspecies and uses a genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) approach to obtain information on the proportion of the genome that is differentiated between species.Ophrysspecies were found to effectively lack postpollination barriers, but are strongly isolated by their different pollinators (floral isolation) and, to a smaller extent, by shifts in flowering time (temporal isolation). Although flower morphology and perhaps labellum coloration may contribute to floral isolation, reproductive barriers may largely be due to differences in flower odour chemistry.GBSrevealed shared polymorphism throughout theOphrysgenome, with very little population structure between species. Genome scans forFSToutliers identified few markers that are highly differentiated between species and repeatable in several populations. These genome scans also revealed highly differentiated polymorphisms in genes with putative involvement in floral odour production, including a previously identified candidate gene thought to be involved in the biosynthesis of pseudo‐pheromones by the orchid flowers. Taken together, these data suggest that ecological speciation associated with different pollinators in sexually deceptive orchids has a genic rather than a genomic basis, placing these species at an early phase of genomic divergence within the ‘speciation continuum’.
Ecotypes of an ecologically dominant prairie grass (Andropogon gerardii) exhibit genetic divergence across the U.S. Midwest grasslands' environmental gradient
Authors: Gray Miranda M. , St. Amand Paul , Bello Nora M. , Galliart Matthew B. , Knapp Mary , Garrett Karen A. , Morgan Theodore J. , Baer Sara G. , Maricle Brian R. , Akhunov Eduard D. , Johnson Loretta C. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBig bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) is an ecologically dominant grass with wide distribution across the environmental gradient of U.S. Midwest grasslands. This system offers an ideal natural laboratory to study population divergence and adaptation in spatially varying climates. Objectives were to: (i) characterize neutral genetic diversity and structure within and among three regional ecotypes derived from 11 prairies across the U.S. Midwest environmental gradient, (ii) distinguish between the relative roles of isolation by distance (IBD) vs. isolation by environment (IBE) on ecotype divergence, (iii) identify outlier loci under selection and (iv) assess the association between outlier loci and climate. Using two primer sets, we genotyped 378 plants at 384 polymorphic AFLP loci across regional ecotypes from central and eastern Kansas and Illinois. Neighbour‐joining tree and PCoA revealed strong genetic differentiation between Kansas and Illinois ecotypes, which was better explained by IBE than IBD. We found high genetic variability within prairies (80%) and even fragmented Illinois prairies, surprisingly, contained high within‐prairie genetic diversity (92%). Using Bayenv2, 14 top‐ranked outlier loci among ecotypes were associated with temperature and precipitation variables. Six of seven BayeScanFST outliers were in common with Bayenv2 outliers. High genetic diversity may enable big bluestem populations to better withstand changing climates; however, population divergence supports the use of local ecotypes in grassland restoration. Knowledge of genetic variation in this ecological dominant and other grassland species will be critical to understanding grassland response and restoration challenges in the face of a changing climate.
Perioperative respiratory complications following awake and deep extubation in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy
Authors: Baijal Rahul G. , Bidani Sudha A. , Minard Charles G. , Watcha Mehernoor F. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryBackgroundPerioperative respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy (T&A) are common and have been described to occur more frequently in children below 3 years of age, those with cranio‐facial abnormalities, Down syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, morbid obesity, and failure to thrive.AimsTo investigate the association between awake vs deep tracheal extubation and perioperative respiratory conditions.ResultsThe primary outcome was any perioperative respiratory complication. Major complications included the need for airway reinstrumentation, continuous or bi‐level positive airway pressure (CPAP or BiPAP) and ventilation, or pharmacologic intervention for managing airway obstruction. Minor respiratory complications included persistent hypoxemia defined as oxygen saturation (SpO2) <92% for ≥30 s or postoperative oxygen dependence for hypoxemia for ≥15 min. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of any perioperative respiratory complication in children undergoing an awake vs deep extubation (18.5% and 18.9% for awake and deep extubation, respectively (P = 0.93)). Only low weight (≤14 kg) was associated with increased perioperative respiratory complications (P = 0.005). In this study, factors found not to be statistically significant with perioperative respiratory complications included age; presence of Down syndrome, cranio‐facial abnormality, or cerebral palsy; obstructive sleep apnea confirmed by polysomnography; diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea by clinical history; presence of an upper respiratory tract infection (URI) within 2 weeks of presentation; history of reactive airway disease; status at extubation; endtidal sevoflurane and carbon dioxide concentrations at extubation; total intraoperative opioids administered in morphine equivalents (mg·kg−1); administration of propofol at extubation; and intraoperative administration of an anticholinergic drug.ConclusionsThere was no difference in the incidence of perioperative respiratory complications in children undergoing a T&A following an awake vs deep extubation. Only weight ≤14 kg was associated with increased perioperative respiratory complications.