bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cool sperm: why some placental mammals have a scrotum
Authors: Lovegrove B. G. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThroughout the Cenozoic, the fitness benefits of the scrotum in placental mammals presumably outweighed the fitness costs through damage, yet a definitive hypothesis for its evolution remains elusive. Here, I present an hypothesis (Endothermic Pulses Hypothesis) which argues that the evolution of the scrotum was driven by Cenozoic pulses in endothermy, that is, increases in normothermic body temperature, which occurred in Boreotheria (rodents, primates, lagomorphs, carnivores, bats, lipotyphylans and ungulates) in response to factors such as cursoriality and climate adaptation. The model argues that stabilizing selection maintained an optimum temperature for spermatogenesis and sperm storage throughout the Cenozoic at the lower plesiomorphic levels of body temperature that prevailed in ancestral mammals for at least 163 million years. Evolutionary stasis may have been driven by reduced rates of germ‐cell mutations at lower body temperatures. Following the extinction of the dinosaurs at the Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary 65.5 mya, immediate pulses in endothermy occurred associated with the dramatic radiation of the modern placental mammal orders. The fitness advantages of an optimum temperature of spermatogenesis outweighed the potential costs of testes externalization and paved the way for the evolution of the scrotum. The scrotum evolved within several hundred thousand years of the K‐Pg extinction, probably associated initially with the evolution of cursoriality, and arguably facilitated mid‐ and late Cenozoic metabolic adaptations to factors such as climate, flight in bats and sociality in primates.
Serum cytokine/chemokine profiles in acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B: Clinical and mechanistic implications
Authors: Wu Hui‐Lin , Kao Jia‐Horng , Chen Ting‐Chih , Wu Wen‐Hsuan , Liu Chen‐Hua , Su Tung‐Hung , Yang Hung‐Chih , Chen Ding‐Shinn , Chen Pei‐Jer , Liu Chun‐Jen 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackground and AimsAcute exacerbation (AE) of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is common and negatively impacts the clinical outcome. Although upsurge of viral load always precedes or coincides with AE, the underlying immunological mechanisms remain unclear and were investigated.MethodsWe prospectively followed the serum cytokine/chemokine profiles, viral load, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in 250 patients and identified 44 consecutive patients (male: 72.7%; age: 40.4 ± 9.7 years; hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg] positivity: 63.6%; genotype B/C: 75%/25%) who developed AE during the follow‐up in a medical center. The impact of clinical characteristics (age, gender, HBeAg, ALT, HBV genotype), cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, interferon gamma, interleukin [IL]‐2, IL‐4, IL‐6, and IL‐10), and chemokines (CXCL10/interferon gamma‐induced protein [IP]‐10, CCL2/MCP‐1, CXCL9/MIG, CCL5/RANTES, and CXCL8/IL‐8) on the serum HBV DNA dynamics at different time points (baseline, peak of serum HBV DNA level, peak of serum ALT level, and after AE) were analyzed.ResultsOf 44 patients, serum HBV DNA level surged before the peak of serum ALT level in 23 (52.3%), and coincided with the peak of ALT in 21 (47.7%). The upsurge of serum viral load significantly correlated with the increase of IL‐10 (P = 0.0037) and CXCL10/IP‐10 (P = 0.0044). Upsurge of serum viral load was preceded by an increase in serum IL‐4 (P < 0.05), IL‐6 (P < 0.05), and IL‐10 (P < 0.05). Combination of HBV genotype, IL‐6 level at baseline, and ALT level at the peak of serum HBV DNA reliably predicted subsequent AE pattern (P = 0.0116).ConclusionsEnhanced Th2 activity is likely involved in the surge of HBV DNA level before hepatitis exacerbation.
Comprehensive profiling and natural variation of flavonoids in rice
Authors: Dong Xuekui , Chen Wei , Wang Wensheng , Zhang Hongyan , Liu Xianqing , Luo Jie 
Published: April 2014

AbstractFlavonoids constitute a major group of plant phenolic compounds. While extensively studied in Arabidopsis, profiling and naturally occurring variation of these compounds in rice (Oryza sativa), the monocot model plant, are less reported. Using a collection of rice germplasm, comprehensive profiling and natural variation of flavonoids were presented in this report. Application of a widely targeted metabolomics method facilitated the simultaneous identification and quantification of more than 90 flavonoids using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Comparing flavonoid contents in various tissues during different developmental stages revealed tissue‐specific accumulation of most flavonoids. Further investigation indicated that flavone mono‐C‐glycosides, malonylated flavonoid O‐hexosides, and some flavonoid O‐glycosides accumulated at significantly higher levels in indica than in japonica, while the opposite was observed for aromatic acylated flavone C‐hexosyl‐O‐hexosides. In contrast to the highly differential accumulation between the two subspecies, relatively small variations within subspecies were detected for most flavonoids. Besides, an association analysis between flavonoid accumulation and its biosynthetic gene sequence polymorphisms disclosed that natural variation of flavonoids was probably caused by sequence polymorphisms in the coding region of flavonoid biosynthetic genes. Our work paves the way for future dissection of biosynthesis and regulation of flavonoid pathway in rice.
Adolescent Personality: Associations With Basal, Awakening, and Stress‐Induced Cortisol Responses
Authors: Laceulle Odilia M. , Nederhof Esther , van Aken Marcel A. G. , Ormel Johan 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the associations between personality facets and hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis functioning. Previous studies have mainly focussed on stress‐induced HPA‐axis activation. We hypothesized that other characteristics of HPA‐axis functioning would have a stronger association with personality based on the neuroendocrine literature. Data (n = 343) were used from the TRacking Adolescents' Individual Lives Survey (TRAILS), a large prospective cohort study of Dutch adolescents. We studied the association between facets of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness and basal cortisol, the cortisol awakening response (CAR), and four measures of stress‐induced HPA‐axis activity. Basal cortisol levels were related to facets of all three personality traits. The CAR and stress‐induced cortisol were not related to personality. Possibly due to its more trait‐like nature, basal cortisol seems more informative than stress‐induced cortisol when investigating trait‐like characteristics such as personality facets.
HOW DO SUPPLY CHAIN NETWORKS AFFECT THE RESILIENCE OF FIRMS TO NATURAL DISASTERS? EVIDENCE FROM THE GREAT EAST JAPAN EARTHQUAKE
Authors: Todo Yasuyuki , Nakajima Kentaro , Matous Petr 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACTThis paper uses firm‐level data to examine how supply chain networks affected the recovery of firms from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Extensive supply chains can negatively affect recovery through higher vulnerability to network disruption and positively through support from trading partners, easier search for new partners, and general benefits of agglomeration. Our results indicate that networks with firms outside of the impacted area contributed to the earlier resumption of production, whereas networks within the region contributed to sales recovery in the medium term. The results suggest that the positive effects of supply chains typically exceed the negative effects.
Antidiabetic plants improving insulin sensitivity
Authors: Eddouks Mohamed , Bidi Amina , El Bouhali Bachir , Hajji Lhoussain , Zeggwagh Naoufel Ali 
Published: April 2014

Abstract

Background
Globally, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing at an alarming rate. This chronic pathology gravely troubled the human health and quality of life. Both insulin deficiency and insulin resistance are involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. Moreover, insulin resistance is being diagnosed nowadays in a growing population of diabetic and obese patients, especially in industrialized societies. There are lots of conventional agents available to control and to treat diabetes, but total recovery from this disorder has not been reported up to this date. Plants provided a potential source of hypoglycemic drugs and are widely used in several traditional systems of medicine to prevent diabetes. A few reviews with less attention paid to mechanisms of action have been published on antidiabetic plants.

Objectives
The present review focuses on the various plants that have been reported to be effective in improving insulin sensitivity associated with diabetes.

Key findings
In this work, an updated systematic review of the published literature has been conducted to review the antidiabetic plants improving insulin sensitivity and 111 medicinal plants have been reported to have a beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity using several in-vitro and in-vivo animal models of diabetes.

Conclusion
The different metabolic and cellular effects of the antidiabetic plants improving insulin sensitivity are reported indicating the important role of medicinal plants as potential alternative or complementary use in controlling insulin resistance associated with diabetes mellitus.
The incidence and temporal patterning of insomnia: a second study
Authors: Perlis Michael L. , Zee Jarcy , Swinkels Cindy , Kloss Jacqueline , Morgan Kevin , David Beverly , Morales Knashawn 
Published: April 2014

SummaryWhether subjects with insomnia exhibit good sleep on some interval basis is unclear. Prior research suggests that patients with insomnia are highly variable with respect to night‐to‐night sleep continuity, that more than 40% of patients exhibit temporal patterning of good sleep, and that nearly 90% of patients exhibit better than average sleep following 1 to 3 nights of relatively poor sleep. The aim of the present study was to replicate and extend the above‐noted findings utilizing: (i) a large sample studied over an extended time interval (ii) absolute standards for ‘good’ and ‘poor’ sleep; and (iii) a formal statistical methodology to assess temporal patterning and the association of time in bed with bout duration of poor or average sleep. Thirty‐three subjects with insomnia and 33 good sleepers completed sleep diaries over the course of 110 days. It was found that subjects with insomnia (compared to good sleepers) had more poor nights (e.g. about 39 versus 7% of the assessed nights), a higher probability of a having a poor night on any given occasion (60% greater probability than good sleepers) and more consecutive nights of poor sleep between good sleep nights (median bout duration of approximately three versus one night). Lastly, it was found that (as would be predicted by both the Spielman model and the two‐process model) time in bed moderated bout duration in the insomnia group. That is, longer times in bed were associated with longer bouts of poor sleep.
Detection, quantifications, and pharmacokinetics of ponazuril in healthy swine
Authors: Zou M. , Guo G. , Zhao Y. , Zhang Q. 
Published: April 2014

A study on pharmacokinetics of ponazuril in piglets was conducted after a single oral dose of 5.0 mg/kg b.w. Plasma concentrations were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography assay with UV detector at 255‐nm wavelength. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived by use of a standard noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis. Samples from six piglets showed good plasma concentrations of ponazuril, which peaked at 5.83 ± 0.94 μg/mL. Mean ± SD area under the plasma concentration–time curve was 1383.42 ± 363.26 h/μg/mL, and the elimination half‐life was 135.28 ± 19.03 h. Plasma concentration of ponazuril peaked at 42 h (range, 36–48 h) after administration and gradually decreased but remained detectable for up to 33 days. No adverse effects were observed during the study period. The results indicate that ponazuril was relatively well absorbed following a single dose, which makes ponazuril likely to be effective in swine.
The effect of breed and sex on sulfamethazine, enrofloxacin, fenbendazole and flunixin meglumine pharmacokinetic parameters in swine
Authors: Howard J. T. , Baynes R. E. , Brooks J. D. , Yeatts J. L. , Bellis B. , Ashwell M. S. , Routh P. , O'Nan A. T. , Maltecca C. 
Published: April 2014

Drug use in livestock has received increased attention due to welfare concerns and food safety. Characterizing heterogeneity in the way swine populations respond to drugs could allow for group‐specific dose or drug recommendations. Our objective was to determine whether drug clearance differs across genetic backgrounds and sex for sulfamethazine, enrofloxacin, fenbendazole and flunixin meglumine. Two sires from each of four breeds were mated to a common sow population. The nursery pigs generated (n = 114) were utilized in a random crossover design. Drugs were administered intravenously and blood collected a minimum of 10 times over 48 h. A non‐compartmental analysis of drug and metabolite plasma concentration vs. time profiles was performed. Within‐drug and metabolite analysis of pharmacokinetic parameters included fixed effects of drug administration date, sex and breed of sire. Breed differences existed for flunixin meglumine (P‐value<0.05; Cl, Vdss) and oxfendazole (P‐value<0.05, AUC0→∞). Sex differences existed for oxfendazole (P‐value < 0.05; Tmax) and sulfamethazine (P‐value < 0.05, Cl). Differences in drug clearance were seen, and future work will determine the degree of additive genetic variation utilizing a larger population.
Efficacy of gallium maltolate against Lawsonia intracellularis infection in a rabbit model
Authors: Sampieri F. , Allen A. L. , Alcorn J. , Clark C. R. , Vannucci F. A. , Pusterla N. , Mapes S. M. , Ball K. R. , Dowling P. M. , Thompson J. , Bernstein L. R. , Gebhart C. J. , Hamilton D. L. 
Published: April 2014

Antimicrobial efficacy against Lawsonia intracellularis is difficult to evaluate in vitro, thus, the effects of gallium maltolate's (GaM) were investigated in a rabbit model for equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE). Juvenile (5–6‐week‐old) does were infected with 3.0 × 108 L. intracellularis/rabbit and allocated into three groups (n = 8). One week postinfection, one group was treated with GaM, 50 mg/kg; one, with doxycycline, 5 mg/kg; and one with a sham‐treatment (control). Feces and blood were collected daily and weekly, respectively, to verify presence of L. intracellularis fecal shedding using qPCR, and seroconversion using immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. Rabbits were sacrificed after 1 week of treatment to collect intestinal tissues focusing on EPE‐affected sections. Intestinal lesions were confirmed via immunohistochemistry. No difference was noted between treatments regarding EPE‐lesions in jejunum (P = 0.51), ileum (P = 0.74), and cecum (P = 0.35), or in L. intracellularis fecal shedding (P = 0.64). GaM and doxycycline appear to have similar efficacy against EPE in infected rabbits.
Role of PdxR in the activation of vitamin B6 biosynthesis in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Belitsky Boris R. 
Published: April 2014

SummaryListeria monocytogenes PdxR is a member of the poorly characterized but widespread group of MocR/GabR‐type chimeric bacterial proteins that have DNA‐binding and aminotransferase‐like domains. Using mutational analysis, real‐time RT‐PCR, transcriptional fusions, gel‐shift assays, DNase I footprinting, and in vitro transcription, it was shown that PdxR is a direct activator of the pdxST operon, transcribed divergently from pdxR and responsible for the de novo synthesis of pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate (PLP), the major active form of vitamin B6. PLP acts as an anti‐activator of PdxR and is the only effector required to reduce the activity of PdxR. PdxR is also a negative autoregulator, and its ability to repress is increased by PLP. A dyad‐symmetry sequence, which overlaps the −35 region of the pdxS promoter and lies downstream of the pdxR transcription start point, serves as an important element of the PdxR binding site. Unexpectedly, some mutations in this activator binding site, disrupting the dyad‐symmetry element, caused constitutive, B6‐independent expression from the pdxS promoter. The data suggest that PdxR‐like proteins, for which PLP plays just a signalling role, form a separate functional group among the MocR/GabR‐type proteins.
Acute kidney injury in rats with or without pre‐existing chronic kidney disease: Cytokine/chemokine response
Authors: Skott Martin , Nørregaard Rikke , Birke‐Sørensen Hanne , Palmfeldt Johan , Kwon Tae‐Hwan , Frøkiær Jørgen , Nielsen Søren 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAimEvidence suggests the possibility that pre‐existing chronic kidney (CKD) disease may result in a more severe outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to examine whether CKD enhances the inflammatory response in the kidney, as well as other organs, in response to AKI in rats.MethodsCKD was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx) and AKI by intestinal ischaemia and reperfusion (IIR).ResultsFor 6 weeks following Nx there was a progressive increase in serum creatinine with associated development of albuminuria. The increment in creatinine above baseline determination 90 min following IIR was comparable in 5/6 Nx and in the sham 5/6 Nx. Similarly, increased levels of serum alanine transaminase and histomorphological changes in the lungs were observed in the rats exposed to IIR compared with those exposed to sham IIR, with no additional significant impact of 5/6 Nx. In kidney tissue the levels of cytokines/chemokines were equally elevated regardless of exposure to sham IIR or IIR. In lung and liver tissue the levels of cytokines/chemokines were equally elevated in the rats that were exposed to IIR, regardless of exposure to sham Nx or Nx.ConclusionWe conclude that the immediate severity of AKI induced by IIR in rats with CKD is similar to that induced in rats without CKD. However, the impact of Nx on the cytokine/chemokine response after AKI is not uniform in kidney, lung or liver tissue.
Respect China's Red Lines
Authors: WEIWEI ZHANG 
Published: April 2014

Despite grand visions of a cosmopolitan planet living in peace, the first globalization at the turn of the 20th century descended into World War I as the old empires scrambled to preserve themselves as others sought self‐determination. Powers on the losing end of that war reasserted themselves in yet another worldwide calamity within decades.After World War II, in the early 1950s, with the victorious American‐led alliance in the driver's seat, institutions such as the United Nations and the Bretton Woods arrangements created a global stability that enabled peace, prosperity and the “rise of the rest.”In 2014, the world order is shifting again with the rise of China reviving in Asia the very kind of nationalist rivalries that led Europe to war twice in the 20th century.Will we be able to build new institutions that accommodate the new powershift without resorting to war, or will the second globalization collapse as well? Top strategists from the US, Japan and China respond to this momentous question.
Monitoring intraocular pressure changes after intravitreal Ranibizumab injection using rebound tonometry
Authors: Fuest Matthias , Kotliar Konstantin , Walter Peter , Plange Niklas 
Published: April 2014

AbstractPurposeDirect drug delivery by intravitreal injection is an essential tool in the treatment of retinal diseases and can trigger transient and intermediate intraocular pressure (IOP) peaks. So far no reliable risk factors for pronounced IOP increments have been outlined, which might be particularly important for patients with increased IOP susceptibility such as glaucoma. In this prospective, interventional study IOP changes were analysed directly before and after injection in sitting and supine positions using the Icare rebound tonometer (RT).MethodsThe IOP of 29 patients with macular oedema, who underwent intravitreal injection of 0.05 mL Ranibizumab, was measured in a sitting position 5 min before and two, five and 10 min after surgery. In addition, IOP was also acquired 30 s before and 10 s after injection in a supine position. The effect of age, gender, pseudophakia, axial length, anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, scleral thickness and iridocorneal angle width was analysed.ResultsMean pre‐injection IOP sitting was 14.3 ± 2.6 mmHg for the treated and 15.5 ± 2.2 mmHg for the control eye. After injection mean IOP rose to 47.2 ± 11.2 mmHg on the treated eye. The IOP of 17 patients returned to values ≤21 mmHg within 10 min. In 12 patients, IOP remained above 21 mmHg after 10 min. No specific risk factor for this group was found. The absolute IOP increase 10 s after injection was significantly correlated to scleral thickness (r = 0.49, p = 0.036) and to the absolute (r = 0.40, p = 0.03) and relative increase (r = 0.39, p = 0.035) of IOP from sitting 5 min before injection to supine position 10 s before injection.ConclusionsPosture change related IOP increments might have a predictive value for post injection IOP increase. In 40% of the eyes higher IOP‐levels (>21 mmHg) remained persistent for a longer period of time. This should be considered especially for glaucomatous eyes.
Juvenile polyarteritis nodosa associated with toxoplasmosis presenting as Kawasaki disease
Authors: Başaran Özge , Çakar Nilgün , Gür Gökçe , Kocabaş Abdullah , Gülhan Belgin , Çaycı Fatma Şemsa , Çelikel Banu Acar 
Published: April 2014

AbstractPolyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a vasculitis characterized by inflammatory necrosis of medium‐sized arteries. Juvenile PAN and Kawasaki disease (KD) both cause vasculitis of the medium‐sized arteries, and share common features. They have overlapping clinical features. Treatment should be managed according to the severity of symptoms and persistence of clinical manifestations. Herein is described the case of a 14‐year‐old boy first diagnosed with KD, who then fulfilled the criteria for juvenile PAN due to the development of severe myalgia, persistent fever, polyneuropathy and coronary arterial dilatation. He also had acute toxoplasmosis at the onset of vasculitis symptoms. The final diagnosis was of juvenile PAN associated with toxoplasmosis infection. Toxoplasma infection can be considered as an etiological agent for PAN and other vasculitis syndromes. Awareness of toxoplasmosis‐related PAN facilitates early diagnosis, and instigation of appropriate treatment.
Neonatal leukemoid reaction associated with Candida albicans chorioamnionitis
Authors: Iwatani Sota , Mizobuchi Masami , Sofue Toshiki , Tanaka Satoshi , Sakai Hitomi , Yoshimoto Seiji , Nakao Hideto 
Published: April 2014

AbstractChorioamnionitis due to Candida species is relatively rare, despite the high prevalence (20–25%) of Candida vulvovaginitis during pregnancy. We describe a case of neonatal leukemoid reaction (NLR) associated with Candida albicans chorioamnionitis. A male infant was born at 31 weeks' gestation and weighed 1864 g. Laboratory tests at birth indicated marked leukocytosis (i.e. total leukocyte count 89.8 × 109/L including 66% polymorphonuclear leukocytes and 15% band forms). Samples of the infant's pharyngeal mucus and tracheal aspirate were positive for Candida albicans. On further histopathology of the placenta, C. albicans mycelia had invaded the placenta, chorioamniotic membrane, and umbilical cord. Although it is not very common, C. albicans chorioamnionitis should be considered in preterm infants with NLR.