bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abnormal motor cortex excitability during linguistic tasks in adductor‐type spasmodic dysphonia
Authors: Suppa A. , Marsili L. , Giovannelli F. , Di Stasio F. , Rocchi L. , Upadhyay N. , Ruoppolo G. , Cincotta M. , Berardelli A. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIn healthy subjects (HS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied during ‘linguistic’ tasks discloses excitability changes in the dominant hemisphere primary motor cortex (M1). We investigated ‘linguistic’ task‐related cortical excitability modulation in patients with adductor‐type spasmodic dysphonia (ASD), a speech‐related focal dystonia. We studied 10 ASD patients and 10 HS. Speech examination included voice cepstral analysis. We investigated the dominant/non‐dominant M1 excitability at baseline, during ‘linguistic’ (reading aloud/silent reading/producing simple phonation) and ‘non‐linguistic’ tasks (looking at non‐letter strings/producing oral movements). Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the contralateral hand muscles. We measured the cortical silent period (CSP) length and tested MEPs in HS and patients performing the ‘linguistic’ tasks with different voice intensities. We also examined MEPs in HS and ASD during hand‐related ‘action‐verb’ observation. Patients were studied under and not‐under botulinum neurotoxin‐type A (BoNT‐A). In HS, TMS over the dominant M1 elicited larger MEPs during ‘reading aloud’ than during the other ‘linguistic’/‘non‐linguistic’ tasks. Conversely, in ASD, TMS over the dominant M1 elicited increased‐amplitude MEPs during ‘reading aloud’ and ‘syllabic phonation’ tasks. CSP length was shorter in ASD than in HS and remained unchanged in both groups performing ‘linguistic’/‘non‐linguistic’ tasks. In HS and ASD, ‘linguistic’ task‐related excitability changes were present regardless of the different voice intensities. During hand‐related ‘action‐verb’ observation, MEPs decreased in HS, whereas in ASD they increased. In ASD, BoNT‐A improved speech, as demonstrated by cepstral analysis and restored the TMS abnormalities. ASD reflects dominant hemisphere excitability changes related to ‘linguistic’ tasks; BoNT‐A returns these excitability changes to normal.
Individual left‐hand and right‐hand intra‐digit representations in human primary somatosensory cortex
Authors: Schweisfurth Meike A. , Frahm Jens , Schweizer Renate 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIndividual intra‐digit somatotopy of all phalanges of the middle and little finger of the right and left hand was studied by functional magnetic resonance imaging in 12 healthy subjects. Phalanges were tactilely stimulated and activation in BA 3b of the human primary somatosensory cortex could be observed for each individual phalanx. Activation peaks were further analysed using the Direction/Order (DiOr) method, which identifies somatotopy, if a significantly high number of subjects exhibit ordered distal‐to‐proximal phalanx representions along a similar direction. Based on DiOr, ordered and similar‐direction‐aligned intra‐digit maps across subjects were found at the left hand for the little and middle finger and at the right hand for the little finger. In these digits the proximal phalanges were represented more medially along the course of the central sulcus than the distal phalanges. This is contrasted by the intra‐digit maps for the middle finger of the right hand, which showed larger inter‐subject variations of phalanx alignments without a similar within‐digit representation across subjects. As all subjects were right‐handed and as the middle finger of the dominant hand probably plays a more individual role in everyday tactile performance than the little finger of the right hand and all left‐hand digits, the observed variation might reflect a functional somatotopy based on individual use of that particular digit at the dominant hand.
Quantile regression improves models of lake eutrophication with implications for ecosystem‐specific management
Authors: Xu Yaoyang , Schroth Andrew W. , Isles Peter D. F. , Rizzo Donna M. 
Published: June 2015

Summary

Although commonly used by those tasked with lake management, the statistical approach of data averaging (DA) followed by ordinary least‐squares regression (OLSR) to generate nutrient limitation models is outdated and may impede the understanding and successful management of lake eutrophication.

Using a 21‐year data set from Lake Champlain as a case study, the traditional DA‐OLSR‐coupled approach was re‐evaluated and improved to quantify the cause–effect relationships between chlorophyll (Chl) and total nitrogen (TN) or total phosphorus (TP).

We confirmed that the commonly used DA‐OLSR approach results in misleading cause–effect nutrient limitation inferences by illustrating how the process of DA reduces the range of data distribution considered and masks meaningful temporal variation observed within a given period.

Our model comparisons demonstrate that using quantile regression (QR) to fit the upper boundary of the response distribution (99th quantile model) is more robust than the OLSR analysis for generating eutrophication models and developing nutrient management targets, as this method reduces the effects of unmeasured factors that plague the OLSR‐derived model. Because our approach is statistically in line with the ecological ‘law of the minimum’, it is particularly powerful for inferring resource limitation with broad potential utility to the ecological research community.

By integrating percentile selection (PS) with QR‐derived model output, we developed a PS‐QR‐coupled approach to quantify the relative importance of TN and TP reductions in a eutrophic system. Utilising this approach, we determined that the reduction in TP to meet a specific Chl target should be the first priority to mitigate eutrophication in Lake Champlain. The structure of this statistically robust and straightforward approach for developing nutrient reduction targets can be easily adopted as an individual lake‐specific tool for the research and management of other lakes and reservoirs with similar water quality data sets.

Moreover, the PS‐QR‐coupled approach developed here is also of theoretical importance to understanding and modelling the interacting effects of multiple limiting factors on ecological processes (e.g. eutrophication) with broad application to aquatic research.
Projections of the availability and cost of residues from agriculture and forestry
Authors: Daioglou Vassilis , Stehfest Elke , Wicke Birka , Faaij Andre , van Vuuren Detlef P. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBy‐products of agricultural and forestry processes, known as residues, may act as a primary source of renewable energy. Studies assessing the availability of this resource offer little insight on the drivers and constraints of the available potential as well as the associated costs and how these may vary across scenarios. This study projects long‐term global supply curves of the available potential using consistent scenarios of agriculture and forestry production, livestock production and fuel use from the spatially explicit integrated assessment model IMAGE. In the projections, residue production is related to agricultural and forestry production and intensification, and the limiting effect of ecological and alternative uses of residues are accounted for. Depending on the scenario, theoretical potential is projected to increase from approximately 120 EJ yr−1 today to 140–170 EJ yr−1 by 2100, coming mostly from agricultural production. To maintain ecological functions approximately 40% is required to remain in the field, and a further 20–30% is diverted towards alternative uses. Of the remaining potential (approximately 50 EJ yr−1 in 2100), more than 90% is available at costs <10$2005 GJ−1. Crop yield improvements increase residue productivity, albeit at a lower rate. The consequent decrease in agricultural land results in a lower requirement of residues for erosion control. The theoretical potential is most sensitive to baseline projections of agriculture and forestry demand; however, this does not necessarily affect the available potential which is relatively constant across scenarios. The most important limiting factors are the alternative uses. Asia and North America account for two‐thirds of the available potential due to the production of crops with high residue yields and socioeconomic conditions which limit alternative uses.
MicroRNA‐205 inhibits cancer cell migration and invasion via modulation of centromere protein F regulating pathways in prostate cancer
Authors: Nishikawa Rika , Goto Yusuke , Kurozumi Akira , Matsushita Ryosuke , Enokida Hideki , Kojima Satoko , Naya Yukio , Nakagawa Masayuki , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Seki Naohiko 
Published: June 2015

ObjectivesTo investigate the functional roles of microRNA‐205 in the modulation of novel cancer pathways in prostate cancer cells.MethodsFunctional studies of microRNA‐205 were carried out to investigate cell proliferation, migration and invasion in prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU145) by restoration of mature microRNA. In silico database and genome‐wide gene expression analyses were carried out to identify molecular targets and pathways mediated by microRNA‐205. Loss‐of‐function studies were applied to microRNA‐205 target genes.ResultsRestoration of microRNA‐205 in cancer cell lines significantly inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. Our data showed that the centromere protein F gene was overexpressed in prostate cancer clinical specimens and was a direct target of microRNA‐205 regulation. Silencing of centromere protein F significantly inhibited cancer cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, MCM7, an oncogenic gene functioning downstream of centromere protein F, was identified by si‐centromere protein F transfectants in prostate cancer cells.ConclusionsLoss of tumor‐suppressive microRNA‐205 seems to enhance cancer cell migration and invasion in prostate cancer through direct regulation of centromere protein F. Our data describing pathways regulated by tumor‐suppressive microRNA‐205 provide new insights into the potential mechanisms of prostate cancer oncogenesis and metastasis.
Telocytes in regenerative medicine
Authors: Bei Yihua , Wang Fei , Yang Changqing , Xiao Junjie 
Published: June 2015

AbstractTelocytes (TCs) are a distinct type of interstitial cells characterized by a small cell body and extremely long and thin telopodes (Tps). The presence ofTCs has been documented in many tissues and organs (go tohttp://www.telocytes.com). Functionally,TCs form a three‐dimensional (3D) interstitial network by homocellular and heterocellular communication and are involved in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. As important interstitial cells to guide or nurse putative stem and progenitor cells in stem cell niches in a spectrum of tissues and organs,TCs contribute to tissue repair and regeneration. This review focuses on the latest progresses regardingTCs in the repair and regeneration of different tissues and organs, including heart, lung, skeletal muscle, skin, meninges and choroid plexus, eye, liver, uterus and urinary system. By targetingTCs alone or in tandem with stem cells, we might promote regeneration and prevent the evolution to irreversible tissue damage. Exploring pharmacological or non‐pharmacological methods to enhance the growth ofTCs would be a novel therapeutic strategy besides exogenous transplantation for many diseased disorders.
Impact of fibrosis progression on clinical outcome in patients treated for post‐ transplant hepatitis C recurrence
Authors: Dhanasekaran Renumathy , Sanchez William , Mounajjed Taofic , Wiesner Russell H. , Watt Kymberly D. , Charlton Michael R. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsPatients who achieve sustained virological response (SVR) following the treatment of post‐liver transplant (LT) recurrence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have improved outcomes. The full impact of eradication of HCV on allograft histology is, however, not clearly known.MethodsWe studied allograft histology in protocol‐based paired liver biopsies in consecutive LT recipients who underwent post‐LT treatment of recurrence of HCV.ResultsA total of 116 patients were treated with interferon‐based therapy for recurrent HCV. Paired pre‐treatment baseline biopsies and post‐treatment biopsies were available in 83.2% of patients. SVR was achieved in 37.9% of patients. Among the patients who achieved SVR, 20.5% had progression of fibrosis on post‐treatment biopsies vs. 65.5% of patients with non‐response/relapse (P < 0.001). The impact of virological response on fibrosis progression was sustained and a similar outcome was observed in the subset of patients who had 4–5 year post‐treatment biopsies available. In the SVR group, 12.8% progressed to fibrosis stage ≥3 on post‐treatment biopsies vs. 37.9% in the non‐response/relapse group (P = 0.001). The 5‐year survival in patients with progression of fibrosis 86% vs. 98% among patients who had improvement/stable fibrosis [P = 0.003; HR 3.8 (1.2–11.8)]. A small subset of patients who achieve SVR unfortunately still experience progression of fibrosis, most commonly associated with plasma cell hepatitis.ConclusionsIn post‐transplant patients treated for HCV, SVR is associated with improved graft survival and also with sustained and significant improvement in histological outcome. Importantly, progression of fibrosis still occurred in a small subset of patients who achieved SVR.
Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis is characterised by high blood markers of translocation, inflammation and fibrosis
Authors: Sinkala Edford , Kapulu Melissa C. , Besa Ellen , Zyambo Kanekwa , Chisoso Ng'andu J. , Foster Graham R. , Kelly Paul 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsCirrhosis is the main cause of portal hypertension worldwide but schistosomiasis dominates in much of the tropics. The seroprevalence of Schistosoma mansoni is up to 77% in endemic parts of Zambia. Morbidity is attributed to portal hypertension causing variceal bleeding which can be fatal. Bacterial translocation is associated with portal hypertension in cirrhosis but this is almost unexplored in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Liver biopsy is usually used to assess fibrosis although it is invasive and prone to sampling error. We aimed to investigate translocation, fibrosis and inflammatory makers in a case‐control study of schistosomiasis at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.MethodsPatients had oesophageal varices, but were negative for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses. Plasma lipopolysaccharide binding protein was used as a marker of translocation while hyaluronan and laminin measured liver fibrosis. Inflammatory markers were measured in blood. Controls were patients with non‐specific abdominal pain who had normal endoscopy.ResultsMedian (interquartile range) lipopolysaccharide binding protein was elevated in patients [44.3 ng/ml (35.7, 57.1)] compared to controls [30.7 ng/ml (30.4, 35.5), P < 0.0001]. Hyaluronan was higher in patients [111.6 ng/ml (39.1, 240.3)] compared to controls [21.0 ng/ml (12.4, 37.6), P < 0.0001] and so was laminin [2.2 μg/ml (1.0, 3.7)] compared to controls [0.9 μg/ml (0.7, 1.2), P = 0.0015]. Inflammatory markers, except C‐reactive protein, were elevated in patients.ConclusionsThese data suggest that the bacterial translocation contributes to systemic inflammation in hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Elevated fibrotic markers suggest they may be useful in diagnosing and monitoring periportal fibrosis.
‘This little piranha’: a qualitative analysis of the language used by health professionals and mothers to describe infant behaviour during breastfeeding
Authors: Burns Elaine , Fenwick Jenny , Sheehan Athena , Schmied Virginia 
Published: June 2015

AbstractExclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life offers the recommended best start in the life for a newborn baby. Yet, in Australia only a small number of babies receive breast milk exclusively for the first 6 months. Reasons for the introduction of formula milk are multi‐factorial including access to appropriate support and the woman's experience of breastfeeding. The language and practices of health professionals can impact upon how a woman feels about breastfeeding and her breastfeeding body. One aspect of breastfeeding support that has had scarce attention in the literature is the language used by health professionals to describe the behaviour of the breastfeeding infant during the early establishment phase of breastfeeding. This paper reveals some of the ways in which midwives, lactation consultants and breastfeeding women describe the newborn baby during the first week after birth. The study was conducted at two maternity units in New South Wales. Interactions between midwives and breastfeeding women were observed and audio recorded on the post‐natal ward and in women's homes, in the first week after birth. The transcribed data were analysed using discourse analysis searching for recurring words, themes and metaphors used in descriptions of the breastfeeding baby. Repeated negative references to infant personality and unfavourable interpretations of infant behaviour influenced how women perceived their infant. The findings revealed that positive language and interpretations of infant breastfeeding behaviour emerged from more relationship‐based communication.
An analysis of England's nursing policy on compassion and the 6Cs: the hidden presence of M. Simone Roach's model of caring
Authors: Bradshaw Ann 
Published: June 2015

In 2012, chief nursing officers (CNO) in England published a policy on compassion in response to serious criticisms of patients’ care. Because their objective is fundamentally to shape nursing, this study argues, following Popper, that the policy should be analysed. An appraisal tool, developed from Popper, Gadamer, Jauss and Thiselton, is the framework for this analysis. The CNO policy document identified six values and behaviours, termed ‘6Cs’, required by all nurses, midwives and care staff. The document contains no data, references or acknowledgements, but is similar to the 6Cs defined by the Canadian nursing nun, Sister M. Simone Roach, in her theory of caring published 30 years earlier. Roach considered caring and the components of it, including compassion, to be moral virtues, an inner motivation to care. This study suggests that without explicit reference to Roach's ideas, and her underlying theoretical base, the CNO requirement has the effect of turning virtues into commodities and a form of external control, described by Ritzer as a McDonaldized dehumanization. This study, which has international relevance beyond England and the UK, suggests that the CNO revise their policy by acknowledging Roach's 6Cs and openly discuss the implications of her work for their policy.
The Effect of a Novel form of Extended‐Release Gabapentin on Pain and Sleep in Fibromyalgia Subjects: An Open‐Label Pilot Study
Authors: North James M. , Hong Kyung‐soo J. , Rauck Richard L. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIntroductionWe assessed the efficacy and safety of extended‐release gabapentin in a 15‐week, open‐label, single‐arm, single‐center study in patients with fibromyalgia (FM).MethodsSubjects with documented diagnosis of FM were allowed to participate in the study. We opened enrollment to those who have tried and failed gabapentinoids such as gabapentin or pregabalin due to side effects. Subjects with autoimmune conditions, and or taking opioids for management of their FM pain, were excluded from the study. Subjects were given an extended‐release gabapentin starter pack and treated for total of 12 weeks. The primary study endpoint of pain relief was measured using Numeric Pain Rating System (NPRS) scores, and secondary study endpoints were measured with Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Patient's Global Impression of Change (PGIC), and Medical Outcome Sleep questionnaires (MOS).ResultsA total of 34 subjects were enrolled and 29 subjects completed the starter pack (85%). Patients reported significant pain relief on NPRS by end of 4 weeks (P < 0.0001) on NPRS. Subjects also reported similar magnitude of improvements in FM and its impact on daily life by end of 4 weeks on FIQ (P < 0.0001). Survey of MOS showed our subjects reporting improved sleep quantity (on average, 1.2 hours over baseline) with gradual and statistically significant improvement in quality. Improvements in primary and secondary measurements were reflected in PGIC, with significant improvement in patient's impression of FM by week 8.LimitationsSmall sample size, geographical bias, relatively short duration of treatment, and single‐arm study without control group.ConclusionsExtended‐release gabapentin relieved FM pain symptoms and improved quality‐of‐life for the FM subjects studied. Subjects reported improvements in both quantity and quality of sleep.
Mapping of clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) resistance in canola (Brassica napus)
Authors: Zhang H. , Feng J. , Hwang S.‐F. , Strelkov S. E. , Falak I. , Huang X. , Sun R. 
Published: June 2015

Clubroot disease, caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, has become a major problem in the production of cruciferous crops worldwide. In this study, a population of 121 doubled haploid (DH) lines derived from a crossing between a resistant and a susceptible canola (Brassica napus) genotype was subjected to phenotypic and genotypic studies to determine the inheritance and location of the resistance gene(s). After inoculation with pathotype 3 of P. brassicae, the lines showed a 1:1 segregation ratio for resistance, indicating that resistance in this population is controlled by a single gene. Fifteen PCR‐based markers that were known to be linked to clubroot resistance (CR) genes were screened against genomic DNA from parents and resistant and susceptible bulks. Marker GC1680, linked to the CR gene CRa, exhibited polymorphism between the parents and between the resistant and susceptible bulks. CRa target primers were used to amplify fragments from the two parents and the resultant sequences were compared. A high degree of sequence similarity was found between the parents in the nucleotide binding site domain of CRa. In contrast, sequence polymorphisms were detected in the leucine‐rich repeat (LRR) domain. One pair of primers that amplify a band from the LRR region of the resistant parent but not the susceptible parent was used to screen the DH population. Amplicons were obtained from 60 of the 61 resistant lines and two of the 60 susceptible lines; thus, three recombinants were found. Based on these results, a resistance locus linked to CRa was found.