bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modelling maternal obesity: the effects of a chronic high-fat, high-cholesterol diet on uterine expression of contractile-associated proteins and ex vivo contractile activity during labour in the rat
Authors: Muir Ronan , Ballan Jean , Clifford Bethan , McMullen Sarah , Khan Raheela , Shmygol Anatoly , Quenby Siobhan , Elmes Matthew 
Published: November 2015

Maternal obesity is associated with prolonged and dysfunctional labour and emergency caesarean section, but the mechanisms are unknown. The present study investigated the effects of an adiposity-inducing high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet on uterine contractile-associated protein (CAP) expression and ex vivo uterine contractility in term non-labouring (TNL) and term labouring (TL) rats. Female rats were fed either control chow (CON n=20) or HFHC (n=20) diet 6 weeks before conception and during pregnancy. On gestational day 21 (TNL) or day 22 (TL) CON and HFHC (n=10) rats were killed to determine plasma cholesterol, triacylglycerol and progesterone concentrations and collection of myometrium for contractility studies and expression of CAPs caveolin-1 (Cav-1), connexin-43 (CX-43) and it's phosphorylated form (pCX-43), oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). HFHC feeding increased visceral fat (P≤0.001), plasma cholesterol (P≤0.001) and triacylglycerol (P=0.039) concentrations. Stage of labour effected uterine expression of CAV-1 (P&lt;0.02), pCX43 and COX-2 (both P&lt;0.03). CAV-1 and pCX43 decreased but COX-2 increased with parturition. Significant diet- and labour-stage interactions were evident for CX-43 and pCX43 (P&lt;0.03 and P&lt;0.004 respectively). CX-43 decreased with TL in HFHC animals but was unaltered in CON. pCX-43 fell with labour in CON but remained high in HFHC. OXTR expression was significantly higher in HFHC compared with CON animals (P&lt;0.03). Progesterone was higher in HFHC rats at term (P&lt;0.014) but fell significantly with labour to similar concentrations as CON. Contractility studies identified synchronous contractions of stable amplitude in lean animals, but unstable asynchronous contractions with obesity. Uterine dose response to oxytocin was blunted during labour in HFHC rats with a log EC50 of −8.84 compared with −10.25 M in CON for integral activity (P&lt;0.05). In conclusion, our adiposity model exhibits adverse effects on contractile activity during labour that can be investigated further to unravel the mechanisms causing uterine dystocia in obese women.
Planar out‐of‐phase Gysel power divider with high power splitting ratio
Authors: Chen Shiyong , Yu Yantao , Tang Mingchun 
Published: November 2015

A planar out‐of‐phase Gysel power divider (PD) with high power splitting ratio based on shorted coupled lines is proposed. The design parameters of the proposed PD are analysed according to transmission line theory. For illustration, a 2 GHz experimental circuit with power dividing ratio of 10:1 is designed and fabricated. The measured results are shown in good agreements with the simulated ones.
Energy‐efficient successive‐approximation‐register based capacitive interface for pressure sensors
Authors: Ismail A. , El‐Nafarawi M. 
Published: November 2015

A novel energy‐efficient 8 bit 2.78 kS/s capacitance‐to‐digital converter (CDC) interface for capacitive pressure sensors is presented. A new direct‐capacitance‐comparison technique (DCCT) is proposed and employed together with a successive approximation register (SAR) algorithm to resolve the sensor capacitance by, directly, comparing it with an on‐chip binary‐weighted capacitive digital‐to‐analogue converter (DAC) array. An offset DAC array compensates for the sensor rest and parasitic capacitances, accordingly, the interface gives a dynamically zoomed digital‐output code that corresponds only to the sensor capacitance change. The full‐scale input capacitance of the CDC is easily adjustable to interface to a wide range of sensors. The proposed 8 bit SAR‐based CDC is designed and simulated using 0.18 μm standard CMOS technology. The CDC exhibits a capacitance sensing range from 4 to 6 pF, provides a resolution and linearity of 7.26 and 8.2 bit, respectively. It achieves a figure‐of‐merit of 1.8 pJ/step at 1.4 V supply and 36 μs conversion time. Compared with the state‐of‐the‐art implementations with similar performance.
HD2 reduction technique for single‐ended amplifier
Authors: Sharma S. , Khandelwal S. , Ytterdal T. , Niknejad A.M. 
Published: November 2015

A new technique for second harmonic distortion (HD2) reduction is presented. The proposed technique can be very useful for front‐end receiver applications where single‐ended high‐gain, low‐distortion amplifiers are required. The theoretical analysis and simulations of this scheme in which the second derivative of the current can be cancelled by using an extra transistor biased in the triode region in parallel to a MOSFET in saturation is presented. This technique is also robust to process variations as a result of the use of a tuning voltage in the proposed design. A 9 dB reduction in the magnitude of HD2 has been achieved with this technique compared with an amplifier of similar power consumption. This technique can be used in a design without significant impact on area, power or noise performance.
Rain attenuation time series synthesizer based on inverse Gaussian distribution
Authors: Kourogiorgas C. , Panagopoulos A.D. , Livieratos S.N. , Chatzarakis G.E. 
Published: November 2015

A new rain attenuation time series synthesizer for Earth–space links is presented based on the fundamental assumption that the long‐term distribution of the rain induced attenuation follows the inverse Gaussian (IG) distribution. Accurate time series synthesizers are very important for the system evaluation of satellite communication networks operating above 10 GHz. The proposed synthesizer is based on the first order stochastic differential equations and the hypothesis that IG describes the long‐term exceedance probability. The synthesizer is tested against experimental data and theoretical modelling of the exceedance probability of rain attenuation, showing that the synthesizer reproduces the first order statistics. It has also been tested on time diversity experimental data, with very encouraging results.
Reconstitution of biosynthetic machinery of fungal polyketides: unexpected oxidations of biosynthetic intermediates by expression host
Authors: Fujii Ryuya , Ugai Takahiro , Ichinose Hirofumi , Hatakeyama Mayumi , Kosaki Takuto , Gomi Katsuya , Fujii Isao , Minami Atsushi , Oikawa Hideaki 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Reconstitution of whole biosynthetic genes in Aspergillus oryzae has successfully applied for total biosynthesis of various fungal natural products. Heterologous production of fungal metabolites sometimes suffers unexpected side reactions by host enzymes. In the studies on fungal polyketides solanapyrone and cytochalasin, unexpected oxidations of terminal olefin of biosynthetic intermediates were found to give one and four by-products by host enzymes of the transformants harboring biosynthetic genes. In this paper, we reported structure determination of by-products and described a simple solution to avoid the undesired reaction by introducing the downstream gene in the heterologous production of solanapyrone C.
Water-soluble ferulic acid derivatives improve amyloid-β-induced neuronal cell death and dysmnesia through inhibition of amyloid-β aggregation
Authors: Kikugawa Masaki , Tsutsuki Hiroyasu , Ida Tomoaki , Nakajima Hidemitsu , Ihara Hideshi , Sakamoto Tatsuji 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Ferulic acid (FA) has been reported to exhibit protective effects against amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced neurodegeneration in vitro and in vivo. Recently, we developed two water-soluble FA derivatives: 1-feruloyl glycerol and 1-feruloyl diglycerol. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of these water-soluble FA derivatives on Aβ-induced neurodegeneration both in vitro and in vivo. FA and water-soluble FA derivatives inhibited Aβ aggregation and destabilized pre-aggregated Aβ to a similar extent. Furthermore, water-soluble FA derivatives, as well as FA, inhibited Aβ-induced neuronal cell death in cultured neuronal cells. In in vivo experiments, oral administration of water-soluble FA derivatives to mice improved Aβ-induced dysmnesia assessed by contextual fear conditioning test and protected hippocampal neurons against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. This study provides useful evidence suggesting that water-soluble FA derivatives are expected to be effective neuroprotective agents.
Heartwood extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes and its active constituent fisetin attenuate vasoconstriction through calcium-dependent mechanism in rat aorta
Authors: Park Jung-Min , Lee Jun-Hyeong , Na Chun-Soo , Lee Dongho , Lee Jin-Yong , Satoh Masahiko , Lee Moo-Yeol 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) exert cardiovascular protective activity by promoting blood circulation, but its active ingredients and underlying mechanism have yet to be identified. This study investigated the vascular effects of RVS, focusing on vasoconstriction and smooth muscle Ca2+ signaling. RVS heartwood extract attenuated contraction of aortic rings induced by the vasoconstrictors serotonin and phenylephrine, and inhibited the Ca2+ signaling evoked by serotonin in vascular smooth muscle cells. Subsequent activity-guided fractionation identified fisetin as an active constituent exerting a Ca2+ inhibitory effect. Fisetin could inhibit major Ca2+ mobilization pathways including extracellular Ca2+ influx mediated by the L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel, Ca2+ release from the intracellular store and store-operated Ca2+ entry. In accordance with Ca2+ inhibitory effect, fisetin attenuated vasoconstriction by serotonin and phenylephrine. These results suggest that the anticontractile effect, which is presumably mediated by inhibition of Ca2+ signaling, may contribute to the improvement of blood circulation by RVS.
Quantifying Delayed Mortality from Barotrauma Impairment in Discarded Red Snapper Using Acoustic Telemetry
Authors: Curtis Judson M. , Johnson Matthew W. , Diamond Sandra L. , Stunz Gregory W. 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus is the most economically important reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico, and despite being intensively managed, the stock remains overfished. These fish are susceptible to pressure-related injuries (i.e., barotrauma) during fishing that compromise survival after catch and release. Barotrauma-afflicted fish may not only experience immediate mortality but also delayed mortality after returning to depth. This variability and unknown fate leads to uncertainty in stock assessment models and rebuilding plans. To generate better estimates of immediate and delayed mortality and postrelease behavior, Red Snapper were tagged with ultrasonic acoustic transmitters fitted with acceleration and depth sensors. Unique behavior profiles were generated for each fish using these sensor data that allowed the classification of survival and delayed mortality events. Using this information, we compared the survival of Red Snapper released using venting, nonventing, and descending treatments over three seasons and two depths. Red Snapper survival was highest at cooler temperatures and shallower depths. Fish released using venting and descender tools had similar survival, and both these groups of fish had higher survival than nonvented surface-released fish. Overall, Red Snapper had 72% survival, 15% immediate mortality, and 13% delayed mortality, and all fish suffering from delayed mortality perished within a 72-h period after release. Results from these field studies enhance the understanding of the delayed mortality and postrelease fate of Red Snapper regulatory discards. Moreover, these data support the practice of using venting or descender devices to increase the survival of discarded Red Snapper in the recreational fishery and show that acoustic telemetry can be a valuable tool in estimating delayed mortality.
Received March 6, 2015; accepted July 15, 2015
Functional Status and Antihypertensive Therapy in Older Adults: A New Perspective on Old Data
Authors: Charlesworth Christina J. , Peralta Carmen A. , Odden Michelle C. 
Published: November 2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Functional status may be useful for identifying older adults who benefit from lower blood pressure. We examined whether functional status modifies the effect of antihypertensive treatment among older adults.

METHODS
Post hoc analyses of the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP), a randomized trial of antihypertensive therapy vs. placebo (1985–1991) in 4,736 adults aged 60 years or older with isolated systolic hypertension. Outcomes were all-cause death, cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, falls, and symptoms of hypotension. The effect modifier of interest was functional status, assessed by self-reported physical ability limitation (PAL).

RESULTS
Among persons with no PAL, those receiving treatment had a lower rate of death, CV death, and MI compared with placebo (4.0, 2.9, and 4.2 per 1,000 person-years lower, respectively). In contrast, among persons with a PAL, those receiving treatment had a higher rate of death, CV death, and MI compared with placebo (8.6, 5.3, and 2.7 per 1,000 person-years higher, respectively). These patterns persisted in Cox models, although interaction terms did not reach statistical significance. Treatment remained protective for stroke regardless of functional status. The rate of falls associated with treatment differed by functional status; incidence-rate ratio = 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (0.66, 0.99), and 1.32, 95% CI = (0.87, 2.00) in participants without and with a PAL, respectively, in models adjusted for demographics and baseline blood pressure ( P -value for interaction, 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS
Functional status may modify the effect of antihypertensive treatment on MI, mortality, and falls, but not stroke, in older adults. Functional status should be examined in other trial settings.
Major Adverse Events and Relationship to Nil per Os Status in Pediatric Sedation/Anesthesia Outside the Operating Room
Authors: Beach Michael L. , Cohen Daniel M. , Gallagher Susan M. , Cravero Joseph P. 
Published: November 2015

Abstract

Background
Studies that have attempted to define the incidence of aspiration or pulmonary complications during sedation/anesthesia of children with respect to nil per os (NPO) status or other factors are difficult because of the relatively infrequent rate of these complications.

Methods
The Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium consists of 42 participating institutions with elective sedation services that submit consecutive patient encounter information to a central database. The authors evaluated aspiration episodes and a combined outcome of major adverse events (defined as aspiration, death, cardiac arrest, or unplanned hospital admission) with respect to NPO status, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, age, propofol use, procedure types, and urgency of the procedure.

Results
A total of 139,142 procedural sedation/anesthesia encounters were collected between September 2, 2007 and November 9, 2011. There were 0 deaths, 10 aspirations, and 75 major complications. NPO status was known for 107,947 patients, of whom 25,401 (23.5 %) were not NPO. Aspiration occurred in 8 of 82,546 (0.97 events per 10,000) versus 2 of 25,401 (0.79 events per 10,000) patients who were NPO and not NPO, respectively (odds ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.08 to 4.08; P = 0.79). Major complications occurred in 46 of 82,546 (5.57 events per 10,000) versus 15 of 25,401 (5.91 events per 10,000) (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.93; P = 0.88). Multivariate adjustment did not appreciably impact the effect of NPO status.

Conclusions
The analysis suggests that aspiration is uncommon. NPO status for liquids and solids is not an independent predictor of major complications or aspiration in this sedation/anesthesia data set.
Effects of a Structured Discharge Planning Program on Perceived Functional Status, Cardiac Self-efficacy, Patient Satisfaction, and Unexpected Hospital Revisits Among Filipino Cardiac Patients
Authors: Cajanding Ruff Joseph 
Published: November 2015

Background:
Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among Filipinos and are responsible for a very large number of hospital readmissions. Comprehensive discharge planning programs have demonstrated positive benefits among various populations of patients with cardiovascular disease, but the clinical and psychosocial effects of such intervention among Filipino patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not been studied.

Aims/Objectives:
In this study we aimed to determine the effectiveness of a nurse-led structured discharge planning program on perceived functional status, cardiac self-efficacy, patient satisfaction, and unexpected hospital revisits among Filipino patients with AMI.

Methods:
A true experimental (randomized control) 2-group design with repeated measures and data collected before and after intervention and at 1-month follow-up was used in this study. Participants were assigned to either the control (n = 68) or the intervention group (n = 75). Intervention participants underwent a 3-day structured discharge planning program implemented by a cardiovascular nurse practitioner, which is comprised of a series of individualized lecture-discussion, provision of feedback, integrative problem solving, goal setting, and action planning. Control participants received standard routine care. Measures of functional status, cardiac self-efficacy, and patient satisfaction were measured at baseline; cardiac self-efficacy and patient satisfaction scores were measured prior to discharge, and perceived functional status and number of revisits were measured 1 month after discharge.

Results:
Participants in the intervention group had significant improvement in functional status, cardiac self-efficacy, and patient satisfaction scores at baseline and at follow-up compared with the control participants. Furthermore, participants in the intervention group had significantly fewer hospital revisits compared with those who received only standard care.

Conclusion:
The results demonstrate that a nurse-led structured discharge planning program is an effective intervention in improving perceived functional health status, cardiac self-efficacy, and patient satisfaction, while reducing the number of unexpected hospital revisits, among Filipino patients with AMI. It is recommended that this intervention be incorporated in the optimal care of patients being discharged with an AMI.
Micronutrient Deficiency Independently Predicts Adverse Health Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Song Eun Kyeung , Kang Seok-Min 
Published: November 2015

Background:
Despite growing evidence on the important role of micronutrients in prognosis of heart failure (HF), there has been limited research that micronutrient deficiency predicts health outcomes in patients with HF.

Purpose:
The aim of this study was to determine whether micronutrient deficiency independently predicts adverse health outcomes.

Methods:
A total of 113 consecutive outpatients with HF completed a 3-day food diary to measure intake of 15 micronutrients. The Computer Aided Nutrition Analysis Program for Professionals was used to analyze the food diaries and determine dietary micronutrient deficiencies. Patients completed the Minnesota Living With HF Questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and were followed up for 1 year to determine cardiac-related hospitalization or cardiac death. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions and Cox proportional hazard regressions were used to determine whether micronutrient deficiencies predicted health outcomes.

Results:
Fifty-eight patients (51%) had at least 3 micronutrient deficiencies (range, 0–14). Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D were the most common micronutrient deficiencies. Micronutrient deficiency was independently associated with worse HRQoL (β = .187, P = .025) in hierarchical multiple linear regression. Thirty-nine patients were hospitalized or died during 1-year follow-up because of cardiac problems. The number of micronutrient deficiencies independently predicted cardiac event–free survival (hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.28).

Conclusions:
These findings show that micronutrient deficiency independently predicted poor HRQoL and earlier cardiac event–free survival in patients with HF. Further research is needed to provide for specific dietary guidelines for better health outcomes in HF patients.
Practical Use of Infliximab Concentration Monitoring in Pediatric Crohn Disease
Authors: Minar Phillip , Saeed Shehzad A. , Afreen Mahrukh , Kim Mi‐Ok , Denson Lee A. 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTObjectives:Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) that guides infliximab (IFX) intensification strategies has been shown to improve IFX efficacy. We conducted a review to evaluate the utility of TDM in the assessment and subsequent management of IFX loss of response in our pediatric population with Crohn disease (CD).Methods:Single‐center retrospective study of patients with CD receiving IFX that had TDM from December 2009 to September 2013. We defined subtherapeutic trough as a drug level below the detection limit of the Prometheus enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbant assay and AnserTM reference values (1.4 and 1 μg/mL, respectively) or a mid‐interval level <12 μg/mL.Results:One hundred ninety‐one IFX concentration tests were performed on 72 patients with CD with loss of response to therapy as the primary indication (72%). 34% of all TDM were subtherapeutic. After initial TDM, 25 of the 72 patients received regimen intensification with 72% in clinical remission at 6 months. Including all of the TDM that resulted in IFX dose intensification, we found a significant improvement in 6‐month remission rates whether intensification followed mid‐interval (88% remission) or trough (56% remission) testing (P = 0.026). Antibody to infliximab was found in 14 patients with 5 occurring in the first year of therapy. Furthermore, 71% of patients with antibody to infliximab that were switched to an alternative anti‐tumor necrosis factor achieved clinical remission at six months. In multivariable regression analysis, we found IFX dose (mg/kg), IFX dosing frequency (weeks), and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate at the previous infusion were significantly associated with the IFX concentration.Conclusions:TDM in our pediatric population with CD led to informed clinical decisions and improved rates of clinical remission.