bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and MIA syndrome
Authors: Mikolasevic Ivana , Stimac Davor , Racki Sanjin , Zaputovic Luka , Devcic Bosiljka , Jelic Ita , Lukenda Vesna , Radic Mladen , Orlic Lidija 
Published: February 2015

AbstractNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases in the general population. Recently, it has been shown that NAFLD is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Ninety‐four hemodialysis (HD) patients were followed for a time period of 18 months or until death. Patient's survival rate was determined in relation to their nutritional and inflammatory state, and the presence of NAFLD. We also investigated the association between the presence of NAFLD and the patients' nutritional and inflammatory state. We did not find any significant association between the clinical parameters of nutritional status and the mortality rate. However, the mortality rate was statistically significantly higher in patients with low serum albumin and high high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) levels and in those who had NAFLD. Surprisingly, patients who had received enteral nutrition did not have a better survival rate. The severity of liver steatosis was negatively correlated with the serum albumin levels, while it was positively correlated with hs‐CRP values. Furthermore, serum albumin levels showed a negative correlation with hs‐CRP levels. We did not find any significant association between the presence of NAFLD and clinical parameters of nutrition. We have shown that NAFLD could be one more possible example of reverse epidemiology in patients undergoing HD. NAFLD may be the missing link that causally ties malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis syndrome to the morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing HD.
Empirical Estimation of Stream Discharge Using Channel Geometry in Low‐Gradient, Sand‐Bed Streams of the Southeastern Plains
Authors: Sefick Stephen A. , Kalin Latif , Kosnicki Ely , Schneid Brad P. , Jarrell Miller S. , Anderson Chris J. , Paller Michael H. , Feminella Jack W. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractManning's equation is used widely to predict stream discharge (Q) from hydraulic variables when logistics constrain empirical measurements of in‐bank flow events. Uncertainty in Manning's roughness (nM) is the major source of error in natural channels, and sand‐bed streams pose difficulties because flow resistance is affected by flow‐dependent bed configuration. Our study was designed to develop and validate models for estimatingQfrom channel geometry easily derived from cross‐sectional surveys and availableGISdata. A database was compiled consisting of 484Qmeasurements from 75 sand‐bed streams in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina (Southeastern Plains), and Florida (Southern Coastal Plain), with six New Zealand streams included to develop statistical models to predictQfrom hydraulic variables. Model error characteristics were estimated with leave‐one‐site‐out jackknifing. Independent data of 317Qmeasurements from 55 Southeastern Plains streams indicated the model (Q = AcRH0.6906S0.1216; whereAcis the channel area,RHis the hydraulic radius, andSis the bed slope) best predictedQ, based on Akaike's information criterion and root mean square error. Models also were developed from smallerQrange subsets to explore if subsets increased predictive ability, but error fit statistics suggested that these were not reasonable alternatives to the above equation. Thus, we recommend the above equation for predicting in‐bankQof unbraided, sandy streams of the Southeastern Plains.
The Visceromotor and Somatic Afferent Nerves of the Penis
Authors: Diallo Djibril , Zaitouna Mazen , Alsaid Bayan , Quillard Jeanine , Ba Nathalie , Allodji Rodrigue Sètchéou , Benoit Gérard , Bedretdinova Dina , Bessede Thomas 
Published: February 2015

Abstract

Introduction
Innervation of the penis supports erectile and sensory functions.

Aim
This article aims to study the efferent autonomic (visceromotor) and afferent somatic (sensory) nervous systems of the penis and to investigate how these systems relate to vascular pathways.

Methods
Penises obtained from five adult cadavers were studied via computer-assisted anatomic dissection (CAAD).

Main Outcome Measures
The number of autonomic and somatic nerve fibers was compared using the Kruskal–Wallis test.

Results
Proximally, penile innervation was mainly somatic in the extra-albugineal sector and mainly autonomic in the intracavernosal sector. Distally, both sectors were almost exclusively supplied by somatic nerve fibers, except the intrapenile vascular anastomoses that accompanied both somatic and autonomic (nitrergic) fibers. From this point, the neural immunolabeling within perivascular nerve fibers was mixed (somatic labeling and autonomic labeling). Accessory afferent, extra-albugineal pathways supplied the outer layers of the penis.

Conclusions
There is a major change in the functional type of innervation between the proximal and distal parts of the intracavernosal sector of the penis. In addition to the pelvis and the hilum of the penis, the intrapenile neurovascular routes are the third level where the efferent autonomic (visceromotor) and the afferent somatic (sensory) penile nerve fibers are close. Intrapenile neurovascular pathways define a proximal penile segment, which guarantees erectile rigidity, and a sensory distal segment.
Multiattribute probabilistic prostate elastic registration (MAPPER): Application to fusion of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Sparks Rachel , Nicolas Bloch B. , Feleppa Ernest , Barratt Dean , Moses Daniel , Ponsky Lee , Madabhushi Anant 
Published: February 2015

Purpose:Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)‐guided needle biopsy is the current gold standard for prostate cancer diagnosis. However, up to 40% of prostate cancer lesions appears isoechoic on TRUS. Hence, TRUS‐guided biopsy has a high false negative rate for prostate cancer diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is better able to distinguish prostate cancer from benign tissue. However, MRI‐guided biopsy requires special equipment and training and a longer procedure time. MRI‐TRUS fusion, where MRI is acquired preoperatively and then aligned to TRUS, allows for advantages of both modalities to be leveraged during biopsy. MRI‐TRUS‐guided biopsy increases the yield of cancer positive biopsies. In this work, the authors present multiattribute probabilistic postate elastic registration (MAPPER) to align prostate MRI and TRUS imagery.Methods:MAPPER involves (1) segmenting the prostate on MRI, (2) calculating a multiattribute probabilistic map of prostate location on TRUS, and (3) maximizing overlap between the prostate segmentation on MRI and the multiattribute probabilistic map on TRUS, thereby driving registration of MRI onto TRUS. MAPPER represents a significant advancement over the current state‐of‐the‐art as it requires no user interaction during the biopsy procedure by leveraging texture and spatial information to determine the prostate location on TRUS. Although MAPPER requires manual interaction to segment the prostate on MRI, this step is performed prior to biopsy and will not substantially increase biopsy procedure time.Results:MAPPER was evaluated on 13 patient studies from two independent datasets—Dataset 1 has 6 studies acquired with a side‐firing TRUS probe and a 1.5 T pelvic phased‐array coil MRI; Dataset 2 has 7 studies acquired with a volumetric end‐firing TRUS probe and a 3.0 T endorectal coil MRI. MAPPER has a root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) for expert selected fiducials of 3.36 ± 1.10 mm for Dataset 1 and 3.14 ± 0.75 mm for Dataset 2. State‐of‐the‐art MRI‐TRUS fusion methods report RMSE of 3.06–2.07 mm.Conclusions:MAPPER aligns MRI and TRUS imagery without manual intervention ensuring efficient, reproducible registration. MAPPER has a similar RMSE to state‐of‐the‐art methods that require manual intervention.
Speed and Heart-Rate Profiles in Skating and Classical Cross-Country-Skiing Competitions
Authors: Bolger Conor M. , Kocbach Jan , Hegge Ann Magdalen , Sandbakk Øyvind 
Published: February 2015

Purpose:
To compare the speed and heart-rate profiles during international skating and classical competitions in male and female world-class cross-country skiers.

Methods:
Four male and 5 female skiers performed individual time trials of 15 km (men) and 10 km (women) in the skating and classical techniques on 2 consecutive days. Races were performed on the same 5-km course. The course was mapped with GPS and a barometer to provide a valid course and elevation profile. Time, speed, and heart rate were determined for uphill, flat, and downhill terrains throughout the entire competition by wearing a GPS and a heart-rate monitor.

Results:
Times in uphill, flat, and downhill terrain were ~55%, 15–20%, and 25–30%, respectively, of the total race time for both techniques and genders. The average speed differences between skating and classical skiing were 9% and 11% for men and women, respectively, and these values were 12% and 15% for uphill, 8% and 13% for flat (all P < .05), and 2% and 1% for downhill terrain. The average speeds for men were 9% and 11% faster than for women in skating and classical, respectively, with corresponding numbers of 11% and 14% for uphill, 6% and 11% for flat, and 4% and 5% for downhill terrain (all P < .05). Heart-rate profiles were relatively independent of technique and gender.

Conclusions:
The greatest performance differences between the skating and classical techniques and between the 2 genders were found on uphill terrain. Therefore, these speed differences could not be explained by variations in exercise intensity.
Factors Influencing Physical and Technical Variability in the English Premier League
Authors: Bush Michael D. , Archer David T. , Hogg Robert , Bradley Paul S. 
Published: February 2015

Purpose:
To investigate match-to-match variability of physical and technical performances in English Premier League players and quantify the influence of positional and contextual factors.

Methods:
Match data (N = 451) were collected using a multicamera computerized tracking system across multiple seasons (2005–06 to 2012–13). The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated from match to match for physical and technical performances in selected positions across different match contexts (location, standard, and result).

Results:
Wide midfielders demonstrated the greatest CVs for total distance (4.9% ± 5.9%) and central midfielders the smallest (3.6% ± 2.0%); nevertheless, all positions exhibited CVs <5% (P > .05, effect size [ES] 0.1–0.3). Central defenders demonstrated the greatest CVs and wide midfielders the lowest for both high-intensity running (20.2% ± 8.8% and 13.7% ± 7.7%, P < .05, ES 0.4–0.8) and sprint distance (32.3% ± 13.8% and 22.6% ± 11.2%, P < .05, ES 0.5–0.8). Technical indicators such as tackles (83.7% ± 42.3%), possessions won (47.2% ± 27.9%), and interceptions (59.1% ± 37.3%) illustrated substantial variability for attackers compared with all other positions (P < .05, ES 0.4–1.1). Central defenders demonstrated large variability for the number of times tackled per match (144.9% ± 58.3%) and passes attempted and received compared with other positions (39.2% ± 17.5% and 46.9% ± 20.2%, P < .001, ES 0.6–1.8). Contextual factors had limited impact on the variability of physical and technical parameters.

Conclusions:
The data demonstrate that technical parameters varied more from match to match than physical parameters. Defensive players (fullbacks and central defenders) displayed higher CVs for offensive technical variables, while attacking players (attackers and wide midfielders) exhibited higher CVs for defensive technical variables. Physical and technical performances are variable per se regardless of context.
Open Streets Initiatives in the United States: Closed to Traffic, Open to Physical Activity
Authors: Kuhlberg Jill A. , Hipp J. Aaron , Eyler Amy , Chang Genevieve 
Published: February 2015

Background:The ciclovía, or open streets concept, is a community-level physical activity (PA) promotion strategy where streets are closed to motorized traffic and open for individuals to engage in PA. This paper presents an overview of such initiatives in the United States (US) to understand their potential in PA promotion, comparing event and city characteristics.Methods:We searched ciclovía and open streets initiatives held in 2011 in the US using internet searches, publication databases, social media, and personal contacts. We extracted data on the each initiative’s frequency, route length, attendance, evaluation procedures, and sociodemographic characteristics of host cities.Results:Our search yielded 47 US cities with open streets in 2011. Cities were diverse in sociodemographic characteristics. Route lengths ranged from a few blocks to 51 miles and event frequency ranged from annual to monthly. Reporting number of participants for events was sporadic. Few events conducted formal evaluations.Conclusion:The number of US cities hosting open streets is increasing. The sociodemographics of the host cities suggest a potential to increase physical activity in populations at risk for developing chronic diseases through these initiatives. However, further evaluation is required. Identifying successful promotion and evaluation tactics would boost the health promotion potential of these initiatives.
Associations of Leisure Time, Commuting, and Occupational Physical Activity With Physical Fitness and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Men
Authors: Vaara Jani P. , Kyröläinen Heikki , Fogelholm Mikael , Santtila Matti , Häkkinen Arja , Häkkinen Keijo , Vasankari Tommi 
Published: February 2015

Background:The aim was to study the relationships between different domains of physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors and physical fitness.Methods:781 young men participated. Self-reported leisure-time (LTPA), commuting (CPA) and occupational (OPA) activity were determined. Blood pressure, s-HDL-cholesterol, s-triglycerides and s-LDL-cholesterol, and glucose were measured. The continuous cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor score was calculated from the z-score mean of each cardiovascular risk factor. The cutpoint was defined as 1 standard deviation above the mean. Cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness were measured.Results:The likelihood of CVD risk factor score was higher in moderate [OR 1.99 (95% CI 1.21–3.28)] and low [1.87 (1.16–3.02)] CPA groups compared with the high group, whereas neither low nor moderate LTPA or OPA groups showed similar associations after adjustments. Low OPA combined either with low LTPA [2.01 (1.08–3.74)] or low CPA [1.90 (1.05–3.44)] had a higher likelihood for CVD risk factor compared with combined moderate-high categories after adjustments. LTPA was positively associated with all physical fitness parameters, CPA with cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular endurance, and OPA with grip strength.Conclusion:The results emphasize the beneficial role of CPA regarding CVD risk factor score and stress the avoidance of low physical activity in its different domains.
Insect-Derived Cecropins Display Activity against Acinetobacter baumannii in a Whole-Animal High-Throughput Caenorhabditis elegans Model
Authors: Jayamani Elamparithi , Rajamuthiah Rajmohan , Larkins-Ford Jonah , Fuchs Beth Burgwyn , Conery Annie L. , Vilcinskas Andreas , Ausubel Frederick M. , Mylonakis Eleftherios 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

The rise of multidrug-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
and a concomitant decrease in antibiotic treatment options warrants a search for new classes of antibacterial agents. We have found that
A. baumannii
is pathogenic and lethal to the model host organism
Caenorhabditis elegans
and have exploited this phenomenon to develop an automated, high-throughput, high-content screening assay in liquid culture that can be used to identify novel antibiotics effective against
A. baumannii
. The screening assay involves coincubating
C. elegans
with
A. baumannii
in 384-well plates containing potential antibacterial compounds. At the end of the incubation period, worms are stained with a dye that stains only dead animals, and images are acquired using automated microscopy and then analyzed using an automated image analysis program. This robust assay yields a Z′ factor consistently greater than 0.7. In a pilot experiment to test the efficacy of the assay, we screened a small custom library of synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that were synthesized using publicly available sequence data and/or transcriptomic data from immune-challenged insects. We identified cecropin A and 14 other cecropin or cecropin-like peptides that were able to enhance
C. elegans
survival in the presence of
A. baumannii
. Interestingly, one particular hit, BR003-cecropin A, a cationic peptide synthesized by the mosquito
Aedes aegypti
, showed antibiotic activity against a panel of Gram-negative bacteria and exhibited a low MIC (5 μg/ml) against
A. baumannii
. BR003-cecropin A causes membrane permeability in
A. baumannii
, which could be the underlying mechanism of its lethality.
The Strength of Synergistic Interaction between Posaconazole and Caspofungin Depends on the Underlying Azole Resistance Mechanism of Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Mavridou Eleftheria , Meletiadis Joseph , Rijs Antony , Mouton Johan W. , Verweij Paul E. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

The majority of azole resistance mechanisms in
Aspergillus fumigatus
correspond to mutations in the
cyp51A
gene. As azoles are less effective against infections caused by multiply azole-resistant
A. fumigatus
isolates, new therapeutic options are warranted for treating these infections. We therefore investigated the
in vitro
combination of posaconazole (POSA) and caspofungin (CAS) against 20 wild-type and resistant
A. fumigatus
isolates with 10 different resistance mechanisms. Fungal growth was assessed with the XTT [2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt] method. Pharmacodynamic interactions were assessed with the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index (FICi) on the basis of 10% (FICi-0), 25% (FICi-1), or 53 0% (FICi-2) growth, and FICs were correlated with POSA and CAS concentrations. Synergy and antagonism were concluded when the FICi values were statistically significantly (
t
test,
P
< 0.05) lower than 1 and higher than 1.25, respectively. Significant synergy was found for all isolates with mean FICi-0 values ranging from 0.28 to 0.75 (median, 0.46). Stronger synergistic interactions were found with FICi-1 (median, 0.18; range, 0.07 to 0.47) and FICi-2 (0.31; 0.07 to 0.6). The FICi-2 values of isolates with tandem-repeat-containing mutations or codon M220 were lower than those seen with the other isolates (
P
< 0.01). FIC-2 values were inversely correlated with POSA MICs (

r
s

= −0.52,
P
= 0.0006) and linearly with the ratio of drug concentrations in combination over the MIC of POSA (

r
s

= 0.76,
P
< 0.0001) and CAS (

r
s

= 0.52,
P
= 0.0004). The synergistic effect of the combination of POSA and CAS (POSA/CAS) against
A. fumigatus
isolates depended on the underlying azole resistance mechanism. Moreover, the drug combination synergy was found to be increased against isolates with elevated POSA MICs compared to wild-type isolates.
Sublethal Concentrations of Carbapenems Alter Cell Morphology and Genomic Expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae Biofilms
Authors: Van Laar Tricia A. , Chen Tsute , You Tao , Leung Kai P. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Klebsiella pneumoniae
, a Gram-negative bacterium, is normally associated with pneumonia in patients with weakened immune systems. However, it is also a prevalent nosocomial infectious agent that can be found in infected surgical sites and combat wounds. Many of these clinical strains display multidrug resistance. We have worked with a clinical strain of
K. pneumoniae
that was initially isolated from a wound of an injured soldier. This strain demonstrated resistance to many commonly used antibiotics but sensitivity to carbapenems. This isolate was capable of forming biofilms
in vitro
, contributing to its increased antibiotic resistance and impaired clearance. We were interested in determining how sublethal concentrations of carbapenem treatment specifically affect
K. pneumoniae
biofilms both in morphology and in genomic expression. Scanning electron microscopy showed striking morphological differences between untreated and treated biofilms, including rounding, blebbing, and dimpling of treated cells. Comparative transcriptome analysis using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology identified a large number of open reading frames (ORFs) differentially regulated in response to carbapenem treatment at 2 and 24 h. ORFs upregulated with carbapenem treatment included genes involved in resistance, as well as those coding for antiporters and autoinducers. ORFs downregulated included those coding for metal transporters, membrane biosynthesis proteins, and motility proteins. Quantitative real-time PCR validated the general trend of some of these differentially regulated ORFs. Treatment of
K. pneumoniae
biofilms with sublethal concentrations of carbapenems induced a wide range of phenotypic and gene expression changes. This study reveals some of the mechanisms underlying how sublethal amounts of carbapenems could affect the overall fitness and pathogenic potential of
K. pneumoniae
biofilm cells.
Amdinocillin (Mecillinam) Resistance Mutations in Clinical Isolates and Laboratory-Selected Mutants of Escherichia coli
Authors: Thulin Elisabeth , Sundqvist Martin , Andersson Dan I. 
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT

Amdinocillin (mecillinam) is a β-lactam antibiotic that is used mainly for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections. The objectives of this study were to identify mutations that confer amdinocillin resistance on laboratory-isolated mutants and clinical isolates of
Escherichia coli
and to determine why amdinocillin resistance remains rare clinically even though resistance is easily selected in the laboratory. Under laboratory selection, frequencies of mutation to amdinocillin resistance varied from 8 × 10
−8
to 2 × 10
−5
per cell, depending on the concentration of amdinocillin used during selection. Several genes have been demonstrated to give amdinocillin resistance, but here eight novel genes previously unknown to be involved in amdinocillin resistance were identified. These genes encode functions involved in the respiratory chain, the ribosome, cysteine biosynthesis, tRNA synthesis, and pyrophosphate metabolism. The clinical isolates exhibited significantly greater fitness than the laboratory-isolated mutants and a different mutation spectrum. The
cysB
gene was mutated (inactivated) in all of the clinical isolates, in contrast to the laboratory-isolated mutants, where mainly other types of more costly mutations were found. Our results suggest that the frequency of mutation to amdinocillin resistance is high because of the large mutational target (at least 38 genes). However, the majority of these resistant mutants have a low growth rate, reducing the probability that they are stably maintained in the bladder. Inactivation of the
cysB
gene and a resulting loss of cysteine biosynthesis are the major mechanism of amdinocillin resistance in clinical isolates of
E. coli
.