bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Body mass relationships affect the age structure of predation across carnivore–ungulate systems: a review and synthesis
Authors: Gervasi Vincenzo , Nilsen Erlend B. , Linnell John D. C. 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The size or body mass of predators relative to prey plays a key role in structuring animal communities, as the strength of predator–prey interactions is often dependent on the body mass relationship. Also, in long‐lived species, a direct functional relationship exists between adult survival and population growth rate. Therefore, any cause of mortality acting on the adult segment of the population is expected to exert a strong influence on population performance.
Despite the large amount of literature available on carnivore–ungulate predation patterns, the relationship of predator and prey body mass with the age structure of predation has not yet been synthesised within a common framework. We review the main studies conducted during the last five decades on carnivore–ungulate predation patterns, and synthesise how the body mass relationship influences the age composition of individuals killed.
For each study, we compiled the predator and prey species under study, their body mass and sex, the geographical location of the study site, the methodology used, and the resulting age composition of individuals killed, at the highest available resolution. We used generalised linear mixed effects models to assess the influence of all these variables on the proportion of individuals killed consisting of juveniles.
The proportion of individuals killed that were juvenile in a given predator–prey system was strongly dependent on prey body mass, with a positive asymptotic relationship. The asymptote value decreased for increasing predator body mass. Also, felids and canids followed different trajectories. Male predators killed more adults than female predators, and the proportion of juveniles in their diet was lower when predators were preying on solitary ungulates, than when they were preying on species living in groups or herds.
Morphological and behavioural traits of predator and prey species interact to influence the age structure of predation, with possible consequences on the potential for different carnivore species to affect their prey demography.
Audit of practice in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) post mortems and neuropathological findings
Authors: Thom Maria , Michalak Zuzanna , Wright Gabriella , Dawson Timothy , Hilton David , Joshi Abhijit , Diehl Beate , Koepp Matthias , Lhatoo Samden , Sander Josemir W. , Sisodiya Sanjay M. 
Published: August 2015

AimsSudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is one of the leading causes of death in people with epilepsy. For classification of definite SUDEP, a post mortem (PM), including anatomical and toxicological examination, is mandatory to exclude other causes of death. We audited PM practice as well as the value of brain examination in SUDEP.MethodsWe reviewed 145 PM reports in SUDEP cases from four UK neuropathology centres. Data were extracted for clinical epilepsy details, circumstances of death and neuropathological findings.ResultsMacroscopic brain abnormalities were identified in 52% of cases. Mild brain swelling was present in 28%, and microscopic pathologies relevant to cause or effect of seizures were seen in 89%. Examination based on whole fixed brains (76.6% of all PMs), and systematic regional sampling was associated with higher detection rates of underlying pathology (P < 0.01). Information was more frequently recorded regarding circumstances of death and body position/location than clinical epilepsy history and investigations.ConclusionOur findings support the contribution of examination of the whole fixed brain in SUDEP, with high rates of detection of relevant pathology. Availability of full clinical epilepsy‐related information at the time of PM could potentially further improve detection through targeted tissue sampling. Apart from confirmation of SUDEP, complete neuropathological examination contributes to evaluation of risk factors as well as helping to direct future research into underlying causes.
Association between sap flow‐derived and eddy covariance‐derived measurements of forest canopyCO2uptake
Authors: Klein Tamir , Rotenberg Eyal , Tatarinov Fyodor , Yakir Dan 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe carbon sink intensity of the biosphere depends on the balance between gross primary productivity (GPP) of forest canopies and ecosystem respiration.GPP, however, cannot be directly measured and estimates are not well constrained. A new approach relying on canopy transpiration flux measured as sap flow, and water‐use efficiency inferred from carbon isotope analysis (GPPSF) has been proposed, but not tested against eddy covariance‐based estimates (GPPEC).Here we take advantage of parallel measurements using the two approaches at a semi‐arid pine forest site to compare theGPPSFandGPPECestimates on diurnal to annual timescales.GPPSFcaptured the seasonal dynamics ofGPPEC(GPPSF = 0.99 × GPPEC,r2 = 0.78,RMSE = 0.82,n = 457 d) with good agreement at the annual timescale (653 vs 670 g C m−2 yr−1). Both methods showed thatGPPranged between 1 and 8 g C m−2 d−1, and theGPPSF/GPPECratio was between 0.5 and 2.0 during 82% of the days. Carbon uptake dynamics at the individual tree scale conformed with leaf scale rates of net assimilation.GPPSFcan produce robust estimations of tree‐ and canopy‐scale rates ofCO2uptake, providing constraints and greatly extending currentGPPECestimations.
Lymphoid susceptibility to the Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans cytolethal distending toxin is dependent upon baseline levels of the signaling lipid, phosphatidylinositol‐3,4,5‐triphosphate
Authors: Shenker B.J. , Walker L.P. , Zekavat A. , Boesze‐Battaglia K. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) induces G2 arrest and apoptosis in lymphocytes and other cell types. We have shown that the active subunit, CdtB, exhibits phosphatidylinositol‐3,4,5‐triphosphate (PIP3) phosphatase activity and depletes lymphoid cells of PIP3. Hence we propose that Cdt toxicity results from depletion of this signaling lipid and perturbation of phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase (PI‐3K)/PIP3/Akt signaling. We have now focused on the relationship between cell susceptibility to CdtB and differences in the status of baseline PIP3 levels. Our studies demonstrate that the baseline level of PIP3, and likely the dependence of cells on steady‐state activity of the PI‐3K signaling pathway for growth and survival, influence cell susceptibility to the toxic effects of Cdt. Jurkat cells with known defects in both PIP3 degradative enzymes, PTEN and SHIP1, not only contain high baseline levels of PIP3, pAkt, and pGSK3β, but also exhibit high sensitivity to Cdt. In contrast, HUT78 cells, with no known defects in this pathway, contain low levels of PIP3, pAkt, and pGSK3β and likely minimal dependence on the PI‐3K signaling pathway for growth and survival, and exhibit reduced susceptibility to Cdt. These differences in susceptibility to Cdt cannot be explained by differential toxin binding or internalization of the active subunit. Indeed, we now demonstrate that Jurkat and HUT78 cells bind toxin at comparable levels and internalize relatively equal amounts of CdtB. The relevance of these observations to the mode of action of Cdt and its potential role as a virulence factor is discussed.
MITF is a critical regulator of the carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) in malignant melanoma
Authors: Ullrich Nico , Löffek Stefanie , Horn Susanne , Ennen Marie , Sánchez‐del‐Campo Luis , Zhao Fang , Breitenbuecher Frank , Davidson Irwin , Singer Bernhard B. , Schadendorf Dirk , Goding Colin R. , Helfrich Iris 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe multifunctional Ig‐like carcinoembryonic antigen‐related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is neo‐expressed in the majority of malignant melanoma lesions. CEACAM1 acts as a driver of tumor cell invasion, and its expression correlates with poor patient prognosis. Despite its importance in melanoma progression, how CEACAM1 expression is regulated is largely unknown. Here, we show that CEACAM1 expression in melanoma cell lines and melanoma tissue strongly correlates with that of the microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF), a key regulator of melanoma proliferation and invasiveness. MITF is revealed as a direct and positive regulator for CEACAM1 expression via binding to an M‐box motif located in the CEACAM1 promoter. Taken together, our study provides novel insights into the regulation of CEACAM1 expression and suggests an MITF‐CEACAM1 axis as a potential determinant of melanoma progression.
Identification of immunodominant Leishmania major antigenic markers of the early C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infection stages
Authors: Sassi A. , Kaak O. , Ben Ammar Elgaied A. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe C57BL/6 mouse strain is resistant to Leishmania (L.) major infection and, unlike susceptible BALB/c, develops small self‐healing cutaneous lesions. The specific antibody responses of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice were previously characterized by the predominance of IgG2a (‘resistant’ isotype associated with Th1) and IgG1 (‘pathogenic’ isotype associated with Th2) antibodies, respectively. In this study, we looked for the presence of antigens able to elicit an exclusive or predominant IgG1 production during the early stages of C57BL/6 lesion development and checked whether they are recognized or not by BALB/c mice. We demonstrate first that IgG2a predominance in C57BL/6 sera occurs only late after infection, whereas in BALB/c, IgG1 antibodies dominate mostly in the early stages. Interestingly, soon after inoculation of live amastigotes, C57BL/6 displayed an exclusive IgG1 reactivity against particular L. major antigens but with MWs different from those identified in BALB/c. Furthermore, mice immunized with killed amastigotes displayed striking differences in their immunodetection profiles, particularly for the IgG1 isotype. Taken together, the observed differences in the specific antibody repertoires between infected mice resulted, at least in part, from immunological events independent from those triggered by the replicating parasite, and bring new insights into the selection of future vaccine candidates.
Trade Liberalization and Heterogeneous Technology Investments
Authors: Bas Maria , Ledezma Ivan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWe propose a trade model where heterogeneous firms decide on a productivity‐enhancing technology investment. The model analyzes the impact of multilateral trade liberalization on firm‐ and industry‐level productivity. Freer trade increases the incentives to invest in technology by raising export profits. It also dampens these incentives, however, as profits stemming from domestic sales are reduced. Only exporters benefit from the former positive effect. The shape of the distribution of efficiency draws, the level of trade costs and the technology intensity of the industry are key elements removing the ambiguities regarding the net impact of trade liberalization.
HLA‐A‐B‐C‐DRB1‐DQB1 phased haplotypes in 124 Nigerian families indicate extreme HLA diversity and low linkage disequilibrium in Central‐West Africa
Authors: Testi M. , Battarra M. , Lucarelli G. , Isgro A. , Morrone A. , Akinyanju O. , Wakama T. , Nunes J. M. , Andreani M. , Sanchez‐Mazas A. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractThe simultaneous typing of five‐HLA loci at high resolution and the availability of pedigree data allowed us to characterize extended five‐locus phased haplotypes in 124 Nigerian families and to compare the observed frequencies with those expected by an expectation–maximization algorithm for unphased data. Despite the occurrence of some frequent alleles at each locus (e.g. B*53:01, which is assumed to protect against Plasmodium falciparum), as many as 82% of the sampled individuals carry two unique five‐locus haplotypes and only three extended haplotypes with frequency above 1% exhibit significant linkage disequilibrium. Although preliminary, these results reveal an extreme level of HLA diversity in the Nigerian population, which reflects both its multi‐ethnic composition and the very ancient demographic history of African populations.
The animal‐dependent risk factors in canine T‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Jankowska U. , Jagielski D. , Czopowicz M. , Sapierzyński R. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractMalignant lymphomas are one of the most common malignancies occurring in dogs; among them T‐cell tumours are less commonly recognized. Recently, many authors have recommended cytology as a sufficient diagnostic method for canine lymphomas, especially if supported by immunocytochemistry or flow cytometry. The aim of the study was to characterize animal‐dependent risk factors in canine T‐cell lymphomas (TCLs) in Poland, including specific cytological subtypes. Determination of the type and subtype of the tumour was made based on the updated Kiel cytological classification adopted for dogs as previously described. Two breeds turned out predisposed to TCL (dog de Bordeaux and Boxer) while no predisposition to B‐cell lymphoma could be evidenced. Dogs with low‐grade lymphoma were significantly older than those with high‐grade lymphoma.
Swine Influenza Virus and Association with the Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex in Pig Farms in Southern Brazil
Authors: Schmidt C. , Cibulski S. P. , Andrade C. P. , Teixeira T. F. , Varela A. P. M. , Scheffer C. M. , Franco A. C. , de Almeida L. L. , Roehe P. M. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryDespite the putative endemic status of swine influenza A virus (swIAV) infections, data on the occurrence of swine influenza outbreaks are scarce in Brazil. The aim of this study was to detect and subtype swIAVs from six outbreaks of porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) in southern Brazil. Nasal swabs were collected from 66 piglets with signs of respiratory disease in six herds. Lung tissue samples were collected from six necropsied animals. Virus detection was performed by PCR screening and confirmed by virus isolation and hemagglutination (HA). Influenza A subtyping was performed by a real‐time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT‐PCR) to detect the A(H1N1)pdm09; other swIAV subtypes were determined by multiplex RT‐PCR. In lung tissues, the major bacterial and viral pathogens associated with PRDC (Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and PCV2) were investigated. In some affected pigs, clinico‐pathological evaluations were conducted. Influenza A was detected by screening PCR in 46 of 66 swab samples and from five of six lungs. Virus was recovered from pigs of all six herds. Subtype A(H1N1)pdm09 was detected in four of six herds and H1N2 in the other two herds. In lung tissues, further agents involved in PRDC were detected in all cases; Pasteurella multocida was identified in five of six samples and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in three of six. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (1/6), Haemophilus parasuis (1/6) and PCV2 (1/6) were also detected. These findings indicate that subtypes A(H1N1)pdm09 and H1N2 were present in pigs in southern Brazil and were associated with PRDC outbreaks.
Sesamin prevents decline in exercise capacity and impairment of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in mice with high‐fat diet‐induced diabetes
Authors: Takada Shingo , Kinugawa Shintaro , Matsushima Shouji , Takemoto Daisuke , Furihata Takaaki , Mizushima Wataru , Fukushima Arata , Yokota Takashi , Ono Yoshiko , Shibata Hiroshi , Okita Koichi , Tsutsui Hiroyuki 
Published: August 2015

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Our aim was to examine whether sesamin can prevent a decline in exercise capacity in high‐fat diet‐induced diabetic mice. Our hypothesis was that maintenance of mitochondrial function and attenuation of oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle would contribute to this result.
What is the main finding and its importance?
The new findings are that sesamin prevents the diabetes‐induced decrease in exercise capacity and impairment of mitochondrial function through the inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidase‐dependent oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle. Sesamin may be useful as a novel agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
AbstractWe previously reported that exercise capacity and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in diabetic mice were impaired, in association with the activation of NAD(P)H oxidase. It has been reported that sesamin inhibits NAD(P)H oxidase‐induced superoxide production. Therefore, we examined whether the antioxidant sesamin could prevent a decline in exercise capacity in mice with high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced diabetes. C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or HFD, then treated or not with sesamin (0.2%) to yield the following four groups: ND, ND+Sesamin, HFD and HFD+Sesamin (n = 10 each). After 8 weeks, body weight, fat weight, blood glucose, insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol and fatty acid were significantly increased in HFD compared with ND mice. Sesamin prevented the increases in blood insulin and lipid levels in HFD‐fed mice, but did not affect the plasma glucose. Exercise capacity determined by treadmill tests was significantly reduced in HFD mice, but almost completely recovered in HFD+Sesamin mice. Citrate synthase activity was significantly decreased in the skeletal muscle of HFD mice, and these decreases were also inhibited by sesamin. Superoxide anion and NAD(P)H oxidase activity were significantly increased in HFD mice compared with the ND mice and were ameliorated by sesamin. Sesamin prevented the decline in exercise capacity in HFD‐induced diabetic mice via maintenance of mitochondrial function, fat oxidation and attenuation of oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle. Our data suggest that sesamin may be useful as a novel agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
Republished: Accuracy in interpreting the paediatric ECG: a UK-wide study and the need for improvement
Authors: Jheeta Jatinder S , Narayan Omendra , Krasemann Thomas 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACT

Background
Paediatric ECG interpretation is significant for informed treatment of several conditions. Formal training in paediatric ECG is rarely undertaken.

Methods
A prospective survey based study module of UK-wide paediatricians registered with the UK Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health (RCPCH) was conducted. 10 common clinical conditions seen in paediatrics for which there are recognisable ECGs had to be interpreted. After provision of an educational page, 10 further ECGs were presented.

Findings
8450 RCPCH members were emailed a link to the online survey–study module, of whom 764 participated. Of these, 493 interpreted the first 10 ECGs, and 385 interpreted both sets of ECGs. The accuracy for the first ECGs was 61.5% (63.5% for those who participated in the whole survey), and after use of the educational page increased to 73.3%. This was independent from previous ECG training.

Conclusions
The use of an easily accessible online educational page improved the accuracy of paediatric ECG interpretation significantly. Internet based education can improve the accuracy of paediatric ECG interpretation and should be developed further.
A Bio-Crypto Protocol for Password Protection Using ECC
Authors: Nagaraj Srinivasan , Raju G.V.S.P. , Apparao G , Kishore B. 
Published: August 2015

In information security the following security parameters like, integrity , non repudiation and confidentiality , authentication must be satisfied. To avoid thievery of organization resources it needs be secured in more efficient way and there is always demand for different levels of security attacks include virus , brute force and Eveadroper in business that organizations make use of voice biometrics an attractive low-cost. Voice biometrics is the cheapest among the other biometrics and used all levels for management to buy readily available metric and it is the way of identifying individuals remotely with high level of accuracy . In this work, we have been designed a new password- authentication approach that provides security using voice biometrics for authentication and uses the device itself into an authenticator which uses voice itself as its passwords and we are primarily interested in keys that can be temporally reproduced on the same device from the same user’s voice. Public and private keys are generated randomly from the user's voice and stored in the voice file(.wav).This Method uses voice recognition , include the operation of register( recording feature ) or voice prints and storing of one or more voice passwords into the database. It uses ECDSA to perform the authentication process that matching the voice sample with the database. The recognition, entity makes the database to decide that the sample is matched to perform an operation or not. Our proposed approach generates cryptographic keys from voice input itself and this algorithm developed an adhoc basis. It can effectively defend attacks specially brute force attack in system networks.
Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Circular Tube with Rectangular Opened Rings
Authors: Altaie Arkan , R. Hasan Moayed , Lafta Rashid Farhan 
Published: August 2015

Turbulent forced convection of coolant air flow (10 m/s velocity) in a steel tube of 50 cm long having outside diameter of 60 mm and inside diameter of 30 mm with constant outside surface temperature of 1000, 1200 and 1400 Ko is numerically analyzed. The renormalization group k-ε model is used to simulate turbulence in ANSYS - FLUENT 14.5. An opened ring of rectangular cross section (5x7 mm) is fitted in the tube and separated by 8cm pitch. Results of temperature and velocity distribution along the tube center line for the case of tube with internal ribs were compared with that of plain tube , these results show that the use of internal ribs enhance the heat transfer rate and found to possess the highest performance factors for turbulent flow.
Long-Term Outcome of Mustard/Senning Correction for Transposition of the Great Arteries in Sweden and Denmark
Authors: Vejlstrup Niels , Sørensen Keld , Mattsson Eva , Thilén Ulf , Kvidal Per , Johansson Bengt , Iversen Kasper , Søndergaard Lars , Dellborg Mikael , Eriksson Peter 
Published: August 2015

Background—
The atrial switch operation, the Mustard or Senning operation, for the transposition of the great arteries (TGA) was introduced in the late 1950s and was the preferred surgery for TGA until the early 1990s. The Mustard and Senning operation involves extensive surgery in the atria and leaves the right ventricle as the systemic ventricle. The Mustard and Senning cohort is now well into adulthood and we begin to see the long-term outcome.

Methods and Results—

All the 6 surgical centers that performed Mustard and Senning operations in Sweden and Denmark identified all operated TGA patients. Information about death was obtained in late 2007 and early 2008 from the Danish and Swedish Centralised Civil Register by using the patients’ unique national Civil Registration Numbers. Four hundred sixty-eight patients undergoing the atrial switch operation were identified. Perioperative 30-day mortality was 20%, and 60% were alive after 30 years of follow-up. Perioperative mortality was significantly increased by the presence of a ventricular septal defect, left ventricular outflow obstruction, surgery early in the Mustard and Senning era. However, only pacemaker implantation is predictive of long-term outcome (hazard ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–3.46,
P
=0.04), once the TGA patient has survived the perioperative period. The risk of reoperation was correlated to the presence of associated defects and where the first Mustard/Senning operation was performed.

Conclusions—
The long-term survival of patients with Mustard and Senning correction for TGA appears to be primarily determined by factors in the right ventricle and tricuspid valve and not the timing of or the type of surgery in childhood. Cardiac function necessitating the implantation of a pacemaker is associated with an increase in mortality.