bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temporal and spatial influences incur reconfiguration of Arctic heathland soil bacterial community structure
Authors: Hill Richard , Saetnan Eli R. , Scullion John , Gwynn‐Jones Dylan , Ostle Nick , Edwards Arwyn 
Published: August 2015

SummaryMicrobial responses to Arctic climate change could radically alter the stability of major stores of soil carbon. However, the sensitivity of plot‐scale experiments simulating climate change effects on Arctic heathland soils to potential confounding effects of spatial and temporal changes in soil microbial communities is unknown. Here, the variation in heathland soil bacterial communities at two survey sites in Sweden between spring and summer 2013 and at scales between 0–1 m and, 1–100 m and between sites (> 100 m) were investigated in parallel using 16S rRNA gene T‐RFLP and amplicon sequencing. T‐RFLP did not reveal spatial structuring of communities at scales < 100 m in any site or season. However, temporal changes were striking. Amplicon sequencing corroborated shifts from r‐ to K‐selected taxon‐dominated communities, influencing in silico predictions of functional potential. Network analyses reveal temporal keystone taxa, with a spring betaproteobacterial sub‐network centred upon a Burkholderia operational taxonomic unit (OTU) and a reconfiguration to a summer sub‐network centred upon an alphaproteobacterial OTU. Although spatial structuring effects may not confound comparison between plot‐scale treatments, temporal change is a significant influence. Moreover, the prominence of two temporally exclusive keystone taxa suggests that the stability of Arctic heathland soil bacterial communities could be disproportionally influenced by seasonal perturbations affecting individual taxa.
Control of Hypertension In Pregnancy Study randomised controlled trial—are the results dependent on the choice of labetalol or methyldopa?
Authors: Magee LA ,   the CHIPS Study Group, von Dadelszen P , Singer J , Lee T , Rey E , Ross S , Asztalos E , Murphy KE , Menzies J , Sanchez J , Gafni A , Gruslin A , Helewa M , Hutton E , Koren G , Lee SK , Logan AG , Ganzevoort JW , Welch R , Thornton JG , Moutquin J‐M 
Published: August 2015

ObjectiveTo determine whether the difference in outcomes between ‘less tight’ (target diastolic blood pressure [dBP] of 100 mmHg) versus ‘tight’ control (target dBP of 85 mmHg) in the CHIPS Trial (ISRCTN 71416914, http://pre-empt.cfri.ca/;CHIPS) depended on the choice of labetalol or methyldopa, the two most commonly used antihypertensive agents in CHIPS.DesignSecondary analysis of CHIPS Trial data.SettingInternational multicentre randomised controlled trial (94 sites, 15 countries).Population or sampleA total of 987 women with non‐severe non‐proteinuric pregnancy hypertension.MethodsLogistic regression was used for comparisons of ‘less tight’ versus ‘tight’ control among women treated with labetalol (but not methydopa) versus methyldopa (but not labetalol). Analyses were adjusted for the influence of baseline factors, including use of any antihypertensive therapy at randomisation.Main outcome measuresMain CHIPS Trial outcomes: primary (perinatal loss or high‐level neonatal care for > 48 hours), secondary (serious maternal complications), birthweight < 10th centile, severe maternal hypertension, pre‐eclampsia, and delivery at < 34 or < 37 weeks.ResultsOf 987 women in CHIPS, antihypertensive therapy was taken by 566 women at randomisation (labetalol 111 [‘less tight’] versus 127 [‘tight’] or methyldopa 126 [‘less tight’] versus 117 [‘tight’]) and 815 women after randomisation (labetalol 186 [‘less tight’] versus 247 [‘tight’] and methyldopa by 98 [‘less tight’] versus 126 [‘tight’]). Following adjustment, odds ratios for outcomes in ‘less tight’ versus ‘tight’ control were similar between antihypertensive groups according to ‘at randomisation’ and ‘after randomisation’ therapy.ConclusionOutcomes for ‘less tight’ versus ‘tight’ control were not dependent on use of methyldopa or labetalol.Tweetable abstractIn the CHIPS Trial, maternal and infant outcomes were not dependent on use of labetalol or methyldopa.
Survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for resectable esophageal carcinoma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Fan Mengying , Lin Yao , Pan Jianhong , Yan Wanpu , Dai Liang , Shen Luyan , Chen Keneng 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe efficacy of surgery alone for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC) is still unsatisfactory. Presently, induction therapy followed by surgery is the standard treatment. Preoperative chemotherapy (CT) and chemoradiation (CRT) are proven effective induction therapies; however, few sample studies have addressed these treatments, thus, their superiority remains uncertain. We performed a systemic review and meta analysis to test the hypothesis that induction CRT prior to surgery could improve survival compared with induction CT alone.MethodsA comprehensive search of PubMed and the Ovid database for relevant studies comparing EC patients undergoing resection after treatment with induction CT alone or induction CRT was conducted. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were extracted from these studies to provide pooled estimates of the effect of induction therapy on overall survival.ResultsFive studies met the criteria for analysis. Statistical analysis demonstrated a survival benefit of induction CRT compared with induction CT alone (HR0.73, 95% CI 0.61–0.89; P = 0.002). Further analysis showed that induction CRT perioperative mortality and complication rates were higher than for induction CT alone (HR 2.96, 95% CI 1.38–6.37; HR1.6, 95% CI 1.30–1.98; P = 0.01, respectively).ConclusionsPublished evidence comparing the different efficacies of induction CT and induction CRT is sparse, with few samples of adenocarcinoma. This analysis supports the view that, compared with induction CT, induction CRT could achieve a long‐term survival benefit in EC patients.
A prospective study of the use of the Myosure resectoscope to manage endometrial polyps in an outpatient setting
Authors: McIlwaine Patrick , McElhinney Bernadette , Karthigasu Krishnan Andrew , Hart Roger 
Published: August 2015

BackgroundThe Myosure resectoscope has been in use since 2009. Our unit is the first in Australia to describe the use of the Myosure device in the outpatient setting to resect endometrial polyps.AimTo compare patient satisfaction and pain scores of pre‐ and postmenopausal women undergoing outpatient removal of endometrial polyps using the Myosure device.Material and MethodsPublic hospital based prospective study. Patients (n=42) who opted to have resection of endometrial polyps under local anaethesia were recruited. Procedures were performed using a 6.25‐mm hysteroscope with a MyoSure Lite device. Patient experiences were collected using a questionnaire immediately postprocedure. Pain level was assessed using 100‐mm visual analogue score (VAS). Resection times and untoward events were recorded.ResultsMean endometrial polyp size was 13 mm and the mean resection time was 39.4s. Complete resection was achieved in 95.2% of cases. The median VAS was 2.7 (range 0.7–7.5). The pain scores did not differ significantly between nulliparous or parous women who only had a caesarean section delivery and those who have delivered vaginally. However, VAS was statistically less in postmenopausal women in comparison with premenopausal women (2.5 vs 3.2, respectively; (P = 0.047)). Overall, women were very satisfied; 97.6% would recommend the procedure to a friend and 95.2% happy to consider a repeat procedure in the future if required. The complication rate was 4.8%, and all were minor in nature.ConclusionOperative hysteroscopic procedures can be performed successfully in the outpatient setting using the Myosure Lite device with a high level of patient satisfaction.
Review article: biomarkers and personalised therapy in functional lower gastrointestinal disorders
Authors: Camilleri M. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryBackgroundTreatment of IBS and functional lower gastrointestinal disorders is still based predominantly on symptoms; biomarkers that reflect the mechanism or pathophysiology have been identified. Given the diverse mechanisms that result in the same clinical phenotype of IBS, it is hypothesised that identification of biomarkers may lead to individualisation of medical therapy.AimTo review the biomarkers that have been appraised in IBS.MethodsA single author reviewed the published literature on biomarkers appraised in IBS.ResultsThe current literature suggests that these biomarkers are insufficiently sensitive or specific to differentiate IBS from health or from other diseases causing similar symptoms, such as coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease. Most of the proposed biomarkers are not actionable, that is, they do not lead to an efficacious therapy based on the biological inference of the biomarker itself. However, among proposed biomarkers in IBS, some are actionable, as they specifically reflect a quantitative difference in a mediator of dysfunction or result in a quantifiable disturbance of function that can be specifically treated. Such biomarkers may potentially identify relevant subgroups that respond to specific therapy. The most promising actionable biomarkers are measurement of colonic transit (leading to treatments that reverse the abnormal transit) and measurements of bile acid diarrhoea to identify responders to bile acid sequestrants.ConclusionsTherefore, although biomarkers are not ready for prime time as diagnostic tests in IBS, some biomarkers could identify subgroups of patients with IBS for inclusion in clinical trials that target specific dysfunctions. Such an approach may enhance treatment efficacy, and may ultimately help reduce costs in drug development and in the management of patients in clinical practice.
Effects of pre‐slaughter showering and ventilation on stress, meat quality and metabolite concentrations of broilers in summer
Authors: Jiang Nannan , Xing Tong , Xu Xinglian 
Published: August 2015

AbstractEffects of pre‐slaughter showering and ventilation on stress, meat quality and energy metabolism of broilers in summer were investigated. After transport, 84 Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into four treatment groups: (i) control group without ventilation and showering (C); (ii) 10 min ventilation without showering (VWS); (iii) 10 min showering without ventilation (SWV); (iv) 5 min showering and then 5 min ventilation (SV). Compared with the control group, plasma lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase activities in the other three treatment groups were (P < 0.05) lower; however, the plasma glucose level did not show any significant changes among all the groups. The breast meat in the SV group had significantly (P < 0.05) higher pHu, glycogen content, lower L*, ΔpH, drip loss, cook loss, R‐value and lactate content than the control group; however, there was no significant difference in shear force values among all the groups. In conclusion, this study indicated broilers in the SV group showed a lower stress level and greater meat quality, which suggest that showering and ventilation after transportation may be a good measure to relieve stress caused by transport under high temperature and improve the meat quality of broilers.
Effects of exposure to artificial long days on milk yield, maternal insulin‐like growth factor 1 levels and kid growth rate in subtropical goats
Authors: Hernández Horacio , Flores José Alfredo , Delgadillo José Alberto , Fernández Ilda G. , Flores Manuel de Jesús , Mejía Ángel , Elizundia José Manuel , Bedos Marie , Ponce José Luis , Ramírez Sergio 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThis study was designed to determine whether any relationship exists between exposure to artificial long days, milk yield, maternal plasma insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1) levels, and kid growth rate in goats. One group of lactating goats was maintained under naturally decreasing day length (control group; n = 19), while in another one, they were kept under artificial long days (LD group; n = 19). Milk yield was higher in goats from the LD group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Maternal IGF‐1 levels at day 57 of lactation were higher (P < 0.05) in goats from the LD group than the levels in the control group and were positively correlated with the total milk yields per goat at days 43 and 57 of lactation (r = 0.77 and r = 0.84, respectively; P < 0.01). Daily weight gain at week 4 was higher (P < 0.01) in kids from the LD group than that in kids from the control group and was correlated with total and average IGF‐1 maternal levels (r = 0.60 and r = 0.60, P < 0.05). It was concluded that submitting lactating goats to artificial long days increases milk yield, plasma IGF‐1 maternal levels and the growth rate of the kids.
Higher Prevalence of TDP‐43 Proteinopathy in Cognitively Normal Asians: A Clinicopathological Study on a Multiethnic Sample
Authors: Nascimento Camila , Suemoto Claudia K. , Rodriguez Roberta D. , Alho Ana Tereza Di Lorenzo , Leite Renata P. , Farfel Jose Marcelo , Pasqualucci Carlos Augusto Gonçalves , Jacob‐Filho Wilson , Grinberg Lea T. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractTransactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP‐43) proteinopathy is the major hallmark of frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It is also present in a subset of Alzheimer's disease cases. Recently, few reports showed TDP‐43 changes in cognitively normal elderly. In Caucasians, TDP‐43 proteinopathy independently correlate with cognitive decline. However, it is challenging to establish direct links between cognitive and/or neuropsychiatric symptoms and protein inclusions in neurodegenerative diseases because individual cognitive reserves modify the threshold for clinical disease expression. Cognitive reserve is influenced by demographic, environmental and genetic factors. We investigated the relationships between demographic, clinical and neuropathological variables and TDP‐43 proteinopathy in a large multiethnic sample of cognitively normal elderly. TDP‐43 proteinopathy was identified in 10.5%, independently associated with older age (P = 0.03) and Asian ethnicity (P = 0.002). Asians showed a higher prevalence of TDP‐43 proteinopathy than Caucasians, even after adjustment for sex, age, Braak stage and schooling (odds ratio = 3.50, confidence interval 1.41–8.69, P = 0.007). These findings suggested that Asian older adults may be protected from the clinical manifestation of brain TDP‐43 proteinopathy. Future studies are needed to identify possible race‐related protective factors against clinical expression of TDP‐43 proteinopathies.
Hold your pauses: external globus pallidus neurons respond to behavioural events by decreasing pause activity
Authors: Noblejas Maria Imelda , Schechtman Eitan , Adler Avital , Joshua Mati , Katabi Shiran , Bergman Hagai 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAwareness of its rich structural pathways has earned the external segment of the globus pallidus (GPe) recognition as a central figure within the basal ganglia circuitry. Interestingly, GPe neurons are uniquely identified by the presence of prominent pauses interspersed among a high‐frequency discharge rate of 50–80 spikes/s. These pauses have an average pause duration of 620 ms with a frequency of 13/min, yielding an average pause activity (probability of a GPe neuron being in a pause) of (620 × 13)/(60 × 1000) = 0.13. Spontaneous pause activity has been found to be inversely related to arousal state. The relationship of pause activity with behavioural events remains to be elucidated. In the present study, we analysed the electrophysiological activity of 200 well‐isolated GPe pauser cells recorded from four non‐human primates (Macaque fascicularis) while they were engaged in similar classical conditioning tasks. The isolation quality of the recorded activity and the pauses were determined with objective automatic methods. The results showed that the pause probability decreased by 9.09 and 10.0%, and the discharge rate increased by 2.96 and 1.95%, around cue and outcome presentation, respectively. Analysis of the linear relationship between the changes in pause activity and discharge rate showed r2 = 0.46 and r2 = 0.66 upon cue onset and outcome presentation, respectively. Thus, pause activity is a pertinent element in short‐term encoding of relevant behavioural events, and has a significant, but not exclusive, role in the modulation of GPe discharge rate around these events.
Frontiers in research on biodiversity and disease
Authors: Johnson Pieter T. J. , Ostfeld Richard S. , Keesing Felicia 
Published: August 2015

AbstractGlobal losses of biodiversity have galvanised efforts to understand how changes to communities affect ecological processes, including transmission of infectious pathogens. Here, we review recent research on diversity–disease relationships and identify future priorities. Growing evidence from experimental, observational and modelling studies indicates that biodiversity changes alter infection for a range of pathogens and through diverse mechanisms. Drawing upon lessons from the community ecology of free‐living organisms, we illustrate how recent advances from biodiversity research generally can provide necessary theoretical foundations, inform experimental designs, and guide future research at the interface between infectious disease risk and changing ecological communities. Dilution effects are expected when ecological communities are nested and interactions between the pathogen and the most competent host group(s) persist or increase as biodiversity declines. To move beyond polarising debates about the generality of diversity effects and develop a predictive framework, we emphasise the need to identify how the effects of diversity vary with temporal and spatial scale, to explore how realistic patterns of community assembly affect transmission, and to use experimental studies to consider mechanisms beyond simple changes in host richness, including shifts in trophic structure, functional diversity and symbiont composition.
Speeding up the product release: a second‐sphere contribution from Tyr191 to the reactivity of l‐lactate oxidase revealed in crystallographic and kinetic studies of site‐directed variants
Authors: Stoisser Thomas , Klimacek Mario , Wilson David K. , Nidetzky Bernd 
Published: August 2015

Among α‐hydroxy acid‐oxidizing flavoenzymes l‐lactate oxidase (LOX) is unique in featuring a second‐sphere tyrosine (Tyr191 in Aerococcus viridans LOX; avLOX) at the binding site for the substrate's carboxylate group. Y191F, Y191L and Y191A variants of avLOX were constructed to affect a hydrogen‐bond network connecting Tyr191 to the carboxylate of the bound ligand via the conserved Tyr40 and to examine consequent effects on enzymatic reactivity. Kinetic studies at 20 °C and pH 6.5 revealed that release of pyruvate product was decreased 4.7‐fold (Y191F), 19‐fold (Y191L) and 28‐fold (Y191A) compared with wild‐type enzyme (~ 141 s−1) and thus became mainly rate limiting for l‐lactate oxidation by the variants at a steady‐state under air‐saturated conditions. In the Y191L and the Y191A variants, but not in the Y191F variant, l‐lactate binding was also affected strongly by the site‐directed substitution. Reduction of the flavin cofactor by l‐lactate and its reoxidation by molecular oxygen were, however, comparatively weakly affected by the replacements of Tyr191. Unlike the related lactate monooxygenase, which prevents the fast dissociation of pyruvate to promote its oxidative decarboxylation by H2O2 into acetate, CO2 and water as final reaction products, all avLOX variants retained their native oxidase activity where catalytic turnover results in the equivalent formation of H2O2. The 1.9 Å crystal structure of the Y191F variant bound with FMN and pyruvate revealed a strictly locally disruptive effect of the site‐directed substitution. Product off‐rates appear to be dictated by partitioning of residues including Tyr191 from an active‐site lid loop into bulk solvent and modulation of the hydrogen bond strength that links Tyr40 with the pyruvate's carboxylate group. Overall, this study emphasizes the possibly high importance of contributions from second‐sphere substrate‐binding residues to the fine‐tuning of reactivity in α‐hydroxy acid‐oxidizing flavoenzymes, requiring that the catalytic steps of flavin reduction and oxidation are properly timed with the physical step of α‐keto acid product release.DatabaseThe structure of Y191F variant of A. viridans l‐lactate oxidase was deposited in the wwPDB under the accession code 4YL2.
Response surface methodology in β‐glucan wheat rolls production using microwave convection
Authors: Kurek Marcin Andrzej , Wyrwisz Jarosław , Wierzbicka Agnieszka 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe aim of research was to test the response surface methodology for optimising the β‐glucan content (BG) and microwave power (MV) during baking the wheat bread rolls. The increasing content of BG in wheat bread rolls caused the shortening the time of baking. The firmness of breadcrumbs was significantly influenced by the BG content in linear terms (P ≤ 0.05) and not influenced by the MV. The content of BG in the final product was highest in the products obtained with the middle range of MV. The response surface methodology was employed for optimising the BG and MV to produce the best quality product.
Characterization of acute‐on‐chronic liver failure and prediction of mortality in Asian patients with active alcoholism
Authors: Kim Hwi Young , Chang Young , Park Jae Yong , Ahn Hongkeun , Cho Hyeki , Han Seung Jun , Oh Sohee , Kim Donghee , Jung Yong Jin , Kim Byeong Gwan , Lee Kook Lae , Kim Won 
Published: August 2015

AbstractBackground and AimsAlcoholic liver diseases often evolve to acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF), which increases the risk of (multi‐)organ failure and death. We investigated the development and characteristics of alcohol‐related ACLF and evaluated prognostic scores for prediction of mortality in Asian patients with active alcoholism.MethodsA total of 205 patients who were hospitalized with severe alcoholic liver disease were included in this retrospective cohort study, after excluding those with serious cardiovascular diseases, malignancy, or co‐existing viral hepatitis. The Chronic Liver Failure (CLIF) Consortium Organ Failure score was used in the diagnosis and grading of ACLF, and the CLIF Consortium ACLF score (CLIF‐C ACLFs) was used to predict mortality.ResultsPatients with ACLF had higher Maddrey discriminant function, model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD), and MELD‐sodium scores than those without ACLF. Infections were more frequently documented in patients with ACLF (33.3% vs 53.0%; P = 0.004). Predictive factors for ACLF development were systemic inflammatory response syndrome (odds ratio [OR], 2.239; P < 0.001), serum sodium level (OR, 0.939; P = 0.029), and neutrophil count (OR, 1.000; P = 0.021). For prediction of mortality at predefined time points (28‐day and 90‐day) in patients with ACLF, areas under the receiver‐operating characteristic were significantly greater for the CLIF‐C ACLFs than for Child–Pugh, MELD, and MELD‐sodium scores.ConclusionsInfection and systemic inflammatory response syndrome play an important role in the development of alcohol‐related ACLF in Asian patients with active alcoholism. The CLIF‐C ACLFs may be more useful for predicting mortality in ACLF cases than liver‐specific scoring systems.