bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of instant desensitization after a single topical application over 30 days: a randomized trial
Authors: Samuel SR , Khatri SG , Acharya S , Patil ST 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ProArgin™ (8% arginine), Gluma® and NovaMin® (5% calcium phosphosilicate) in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity immediately and over 30 days following a single topical application.MethodsA three‐cell, parallel group randomized trial was conducted among 56 patients exhibiting dentinal hypersensitivity with tooth as the unit of study. ProArgin™ paste, Gluma® Desensitizer and NovaMin® paste were applied on randomly assigned teeth in each participant. Three stimuli were tested: tactile stimulated by running an explorer and measured using VAS (1–10 scale); air blast and cold water stimulated hypersensitivity measured using the Schiff Sensitivity Scale at baseline, immediately, 15 days and 30 days after application. Friedman test and Wilcoxon test were used for within group comparisons. Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney U test were used for between group comparisons.ResultsAll three groups showed significant reductions in hypersensitivity from baseline at all time points (p < 0.05). ProArgin™ paste elicited a significantly higher reduction in hypersensitivity (p < 0.016) compared to Gluma® and NovaMin® for all stimuli at the end of 30 days.ConclusionsA single topical application of ProArgin™ paste is significantly more effective than both a single topical application of Gluma® and NovaMin® paste in relieving dentinal hypersensitivity immediately and over 30 days.
Pathways to rearrest among court mandated female substance use treatment patients
Authors: Kopak Albert M. , Proctor Steven L. , Hoffmann Norman G. 
Published: July 2015

Background and objectivesMany women who experience substance dependence come into contact with the criminal justice system and are mandated by the court to enter treatment. Treatment is a viable option and can have many positive outcomes, but there remains significant room for improvement. This study was designed to identify key risk factors that can be addressed to improve substance use treatment outcomes for this population.MethodsThe study sample consisted of (n) 381 women who were court mandated to enter substance use treatment. Multivariate path analyses were conducted to assess the associations between correlates of substance use treatment outcomes, risk for relapse, and rearrest.ResultsWomen who displayed certain demographic risk factors (ie, less educated and unmarried) and had greater levels of substance use severity prior to entering treatment experienced elevated risk for relapse. Consequently, women who relapsed were nearly three times (OR = 2.50, 95%CI = 1.26–4.93) as likely to be rearrested within 12 months of discharge from treatment compared to those who did not relapse.Discussion and ConclusionsCertain risk factors contribute to relapse, which increases risk for rearrest.Scientific SignificanceServices specifically tailored to women who were court mandated to enter treatment need to consider certain demographic risk factors, clinical substance use severity, and relapse prevention as key elements to minimize subsequent criminal offending. (Am J Addict 2015;24:495–498)
Refractory acne keloidalis nuchae treated with radiotherapy
Authors: Millán‐Cayetano José Francisco , Repiso‐Jiménez Juan Bosco , del Boz Javier , de Troya‐Martín Magdalena 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAcne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is difficult to treat, and the clinical response is usually poor. Few reports have been published about scarring alopecia treated with radiotherapy (RT). We report a case of AKN that had been refractory to various other treatments but which responded to RT with excellent clinical and cosmetic results.
Regional gastrointestinal transit and pH studied in 215 healthy volunteers using the wireless motility capsule: influence of age, gender, study country and testing protocol
Authors: Wang Y. T. , Mohammed S. D. , Farmer A. D. , Wang D. , Zarate N. , Hobson A. R. , Hellström P. M. , Semler J. R. , Kuo B. , Rao S. S. , Hasler W. L. , Camilleri M. , Scott S. M. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryBackgroundThe wireless motility capsule (WMC) offers the ability to investigate luminal gastrointestinal (GI) physiology in a minimally invasive manner.AimTo investigate the effect of testing protocol, gender, age and study country on regional GI transit times and associated pH values using the WMC.MethodsRegional GI transit times and pH values were determined in 215 healthy volunteers from USA and Sweden studied using the WMC over a 6.5‐year period. The effects of test protocol, gender, age and study country were examined.ResultsFor GI transit times, testing protocol was associated with differences in gastric emptying time (GET; shorter with protocol 2 (motility capsule ingested immediately after meal) vs. protocol 1 (motility capsule immediately before): median difference: 52 min, P = 0.0063) and colonic transit time (CTT; longer with protocol 2: median 140 min, P = 0.0189), but had no overall effect on whole gut transit time. Females had longer GET (by median 17 min, P = 0.0307), and also longer CTT by (104 min, P = 0.0285) and whole gut transit time by (263 min, P = 0.0077). Increasing age was associated with shorter small bowel transit time (P = 0.002), and study country also influenced small bowel and CTTs. Whole gut and CTTs showed clustering of data at values separated by 24 h, suggesting that describing these measures as continuous variables is invalid. Testing protocol, gender and study country also significantly influenced pH values.ConclusionsRegional GI transit times and pH values, delineated using the wireless motility capsule (WMC), vary based on testing protocol, gender, age and country. Standardisation of testing is crucial for cross‐referencing in clinical practice and future research.
Application and optimization of the tenderization of pig Longissimus dorsi muscle by adenosine 5'‐monophosphate (AMP) using the response surface methodology
Authors: Deng Shaoying , Wang Daoying , Zhang Muhan , Geng Zhiming , Sun Chong , Bian Huan , Xu Weimin , Zhu Yongzhi , Liu Fang , Wu Haihong 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBased on single factor experiments, NaCl concentration, adenosine 5'‐monophosphate (AMP) concentration and temperature were selected as independent variables for a three‐level Box‐Behnken experimental design, and the shear force and cooking loss were response values for regression analysis. According to the statistical models, it showed that all independent variables had significant effects on shear force and cooking loss, and optimal values were at the NaCl concentration of 4.15%, AMP concentration of 22.27 mmol/L and temperature of 16.70°C, which was determined with three‐dimensional response surface diagrams and contour plots. Under this condition, the observed shear force and cooking loss were 0.625 kg and 8.07%, respectively, exhibiting a good agreement with their predicted values, showing the good applicability and feasibility of response surface methodology (RSM) for improving pork tenderness. Compared with control pig muscles, AMP combined with NaCl treatment demonstrated significant effects on improvement of meat tenderness and reduction of cooking loss. Therefore, AMP could be regarded as an effective tenderization agent for pork.
Goat cathelicidin‐2 is secreted by blood leukocytes regardless of lipopolysaccharide stimulation
Authors: Srisaikham Supreena , Suksombat Wisitiporn , Yoshimura Yukinori , Isobe Naoki 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIt has been reported that goat cathelicidin‐2, an antimicrobial peptide, localizes in leukocytes and is present in milk. Here, we examined whether cathelicidin‐2 is secreted by leukocytes. Different concentrations (105–108 cells/mL) of blood leukocytes were cultured for 0–48 h with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After culture, the concentrations of cathelicidin‐2 in the conditioned media were measured. Blood was collected from male goats 0–24 h after the intravenous injection of Escherichia coli O111:B4 LPS. The plasma cathelicidin‐2 concentrations were determined and the blood leukocytes immunostained with anti‐cathelicidin‐2 antibody to calculate the proportion of cathelicidin‐2‐positive cells in the total leukocytes. When higher concentrations of leukocytes were cultured, the cathelicidin‐2 concentrations in the media increased significantly, whereas the addition of LPS to the media caused no further increase. The plasma cathelicidin‐2 concentrations did not increase with time after LPS infusion. The proportion of cathelicidin‐2‐positive cells in the total leukocytes was significantly reduced 1 h after LPS injection compared with that at 0 h, but increased again at 6 h and thereafter. These results suggest that cathlicidin‐2 is secreted by leukocytes even without LPS stimulation, whereas LPS may be required for cathelicidin‐2‐containing leukocytes to be recruited from the blood to tissues showing inflammation.
Parity and litter size effects on maternal behavior of Small Tail Han sheep in China
Authors: Lv Shen‐Jin , Yang Yan , Li Fu‐Kuan 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe effects of parity and litter size on maternal behavior of Small Tail Han sheep was investigated at Linyi University, China. Sixty‐eight ewes were observed from parturition to weaning. Continuous focal animal sampling was used to quantify the duration of maternal behaviors. Ewe feces were collected every 2 days and estradiol concentration was measured with an enzyme immunoassay kit. All lambs were weighed 24 h after parturition and again at 35 days of age. Parity increased sucking, following, grooming, low‐pitched bleat, head‐up and udder‐refusal behavior and decreased aggressive behavior (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), and litter size showed significant effect on sucking, following and low‐pitched bleat behavior (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.05, respectively). The lambs of multiparous ewes were significantly heavier than primiparous ewes at birth (P < 0.01) and were significantly heavier at weaning age (P < 0.01). Similar results were founded for birth weight and weaning weight gain in litter size (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, respectively). Estradiol concentration in feces was higher in multiparous ewes than primiparous ewes. Parity and litter size may have effects on maternal behavior during lactation. Ewes that have 2–3 lambs may be more suitable for production of Small Tail Han sheep in China.
Sex pheromone of the alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus
Authors: Zhang Tao , Mei Xiang‐Dong , Li Yao‐Fa , Zhang Kaixin , Wu Kong‐Ming , Ning Jun 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIn northern China, due to the large‐scale adoption of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt) cotton, the number of Adelphocoris lineolatus (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Miridae) has increased quickly, causing significant loss in cotton and alfalfa production. One of the environmentally safe strategies without use of pesticides is the application of insect pheromone for mating disruption. In our study, we aim to identify the active components in sexually mature virgin female A. lineolatus, and activity and optimal ratio of these components. By using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and gas chromatography–electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD), we identified three active compounds: hexyl butyrate (HB), (E)‐2‐hexenyl butyrate (E2HB), and (E)‐4‐oxo‐2‐hexenal (4‐OHE). We examined the release rate of septum and tube dispensers in a wind tunnel. In a field experiment, deletion of 4‐OHE or E2HB resulted in significant suppression of male trap catches, indicating that E2HB or 4‐OHE may be the active pheromone components. Traps baited with a blend of 4‐OHE and E2HB at 2:5, 3:4, and 4:3 caught significantly more males, suggesting that the optimal ratio of 4‐OHE and E2HB could be in the range of 1:1 to 1:2. The addition of a large amount of HB could strongly reduce the attractive activity of both virgin females and artificial lures. We also compared the attractiveness of septum lures and tube lures in field experiments. The septum lures attracted males in the first 3 days. The tube lures caught more males after 3 days and the attractive effects existed up to 5 weeks, suggesting them as a tool for long‐term monitoring and control of plant bugs.
Cortical inhibition of laser pain and laser‐evoked potentials by non‐nociceptive somatosensory input
Authors: Testani Elisa , Le Pera Domenica , Del Percio Claudio , Miliucci Roberto , Brancucci Alfredo , Pazzaglia Costanza , De Armas Liala , Babiloni Claudio , Rossini Paolo Maria , Valeriani Massimiliano 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAlthough the inhibitory action that tactile stimuli can have on pain is well documented, the precise timing of the interaction between the painful and non‐painful stimuli in the central nervous system is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate this issue by measuring the timing of the amplitude modulation of laser evoked potentials (LEPs) due to conditioning non‐painful stimuli. LEPs were recorded from 31 scalp electrodes in 10 healthy subjects after painful stimulation of the right arm (C6–C7 dermatomes). Non‐painful electrical stimuli were applied by ring electrodes on the second and third finger of the right hand. Electrical stimuli were delivered at +50, +150, +200 and +250 ms interstimulus intervals (ISIs) after the laser pulses. LEPs obtained without any conditioning stimulation were used as a baseline. As compared to the baseline, non‐painful electrical stimulation reduced the amplitude of the vertex N2/P2 LEP component and the laser pain rating when electrical stimuli followed the laser pulses only at +150 and +200 ms ISIs. As at these ISIs the collision between the non‐painful and painful input is likely to take place at the cortical level, we can conclude that the late processing of painful (thermal) stimuli is partially inhibited by the processing of non‐painful (cutaneous) stimuli within the cerebral cortex. Moreover, our results do not provide evidence that non‐painful inputs can inhibit pain at a lower level, including the spinal cord.
Equine grass sickness in Scotland: A case‐control study of environmental geochemical risk factors
Authors: Wylie C. E. , Shaw D. J. , Fordyce F. M. , Lilly A. , Pirie R. S. , McGorum B. C. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryReasons for performing studyWe hypothesised that the apparent geographical distribution of equine grass sickness (EGS) is partly attributable to suboptimal levels of soil macro‐ and trace elements in fields whereEGSoccurs. If proven, altering levels of particular elements could be used to reduce the risk ofEGS.ObjectivesTo determine whether the geographical distribution ofEGScases in eastern Scotland is associated with the presence or absence of particular environmental chemical elements.Study designRetrospective time‐matched case‐control study.MethodsThis study used data for 455 geo‐referencedEGScases and 910 time‐matched controls in eastern Scotland, and geo‐referenced environmental geochemical data from the British Geological Survey Geochemical Baseline Survey of the Environment stream sediment (G‐BASE) and the James Hutton Institute, National Soil Inventory of Scotland (NSIS) datasets.ResultsMultivariable statistical analyses identified clusters of three main elements associated with cases from (i) the G‐BASEdataset ‐ higher environmental Ti and lower Zn, and (ii) theNSISdataset ‐ higher environmental Ti and lower Cr. There was also some evidence from univariable analyses for lower Al, Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb and higher Ca, K, Mo, Na and Se environmental concentrations being associated with a case. Results were complicated by a high degree of correlation between most geochemical elements.ConclusionsThe work presented here would appear to reflect soil‐ not horse‐level risk factors forEGS, but due to the complexity of the correlations between elements, further work is required to determine whether these associations reflect causality, and consequently whether interventions to alter concentrations of particular elements in soil, or in grazing horses, could potentially reduce the risk ofEGS. The effect of chemical elements on the growth of those soil microorganisms implicated inEGSaetiology also warrants further study.
Soil charcoal as long‐term pyrogenic carbon storage in Amazonian seasonal forests
Authors: Turcios Maryory M. , Jaramillo Margarita M. A. , do Vale José F. , Fearnside Philip M. , Barbosa Reinaldo Imbrozio 
Published: July 2015

AbstractForest fires (paleo + modern) have caused charcoal particles to accumulate in the soil vertical profile in Amazonia. This forest compartment is a long‐term carbon reservoir with an important role in global carbon balance. Estimates of stocks remain uncertain in forests that have not been altered by deforestation but that have been impacted by understory fires and selective logging. We estimated the stock of pyrogenic carbon derived from charcoal accumulated in the soil profile of seasonal forest fragments impacted by fire and selective logging in the northern portion of Brazilian Amazonia. Sixty‐nine soil cores to 1‐m depth were collected in 12 forest fragments of different sizes. Charcoal stocks averaged 3.45 ± 2.17 Mg ha−1 (2.24 ± 1.41 Mg C ha−1). Pyrogenic carbon was not directly related to the size of the forest fragments. This carbon is equivalent to 1.40% (0.25% to 4.04%) of the carbon stocked in aboveground live tree biomass in these fragments. The vertical distribution of pyrogenic carbon indicates an exponential model, where the 0–30 cm depth range has 60% of the total stored. The total area of Brazil's Amazonian seasonal forests and ecotones not altered by deforestation implies 65–286 Tg of pyrogenic carbon accumulated along the soil vertical profile. This is 1.2–2.3 times the total amount of residual pyrogenic carbon formed by biomass burning worldwide in 1 year. Our analysis suggests that the accumulated charcoal in the soil vertical profile in Amazonian forests is a substantial pyrogenic carbon pool that needs to be considered in global carbon models.
Effect of climate change, CO2 trends, nitrogen addition, and land‐cover and management intensity changes on the carbon balance of European grasslands
Authors: Chang Jinfeng , Ciais Philippe , Viovy Nicolas , Vuichard Nicolas , Herrero Mario , Havlík Petr , Wang Xuhui , Sultan Benjamin , Soussana Jean‐François 
Published: July 2015

AbstractSeveral lines of evidence point to European managed grassland ecosystems being a sink of carbon. In this study, we apply ORCHIDEE‐GM a process‐based carbon cycle model that describes specific management practices of pastures and the dynamics of carbon cycling in response to changes in climatic and biogeochemical drivers. The model is used to simulate changes in the carbon balance [i.e., net biome production (NBP)] of European grasslands over 1991–2010 on a 25 km × 25 km grid. The modeled average trend in NBP is 1.8–2.0 g C m−2 yr−2 during the past two decades. Attribution of this trend suggests management intensity as the dominant driver explaining NBP trends in the model (36–43% of the trend due to all drivers). A major change in grassland management intensity has occurred across Europe resulting from reduced livestock numbers. This change has ‘inadvertently’ enhanced soil C sequestration and reduced N2O and CH4 emissions by 1.2–1.5 Gt CO2‐equivalent, offsetting more than 7% of greenhouse gas emissions in the whole European agricultural sector during the period 1991–2010. Land‐cover change, climate change and rising CO2 also make positive and moderate contributions to the NBP trend (between 24% and 31% of the trend due to all drivers). Changes in nitrogen addition (including fertilization and atmospheric deposition) are found to have only marginal net effect on NBP trends. However, this may not reflect reality because our model has only a very simple parameterization of nitrogen effects on photosynthesis. The sum of NBP trends from each driver is larger than the trend obtained when all drivers are varied together, leaving a residual – nonattributed – term (22–26% of the trend due to all drivers) indicating negative interactions between drivers.
A reciprocal test of Darwin's naturalization hypothesis in two mediterranean‐climate regions
Authors: Park Daniel S. , Potter Daniel 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAimRegions with a mediterranean climate are among the most species‐rich regions in the world. They are also among the regions with the greatest number of non‐native invasive species. However, not all introduced species become invasive. Previously, we found that non‐native Asteraceae closely related to native species are more likely to establish and spread in California, USA. We conducted reciprocal studies in another mediterranean‐climate region with high species richness, the Italian Peninsula. Mediterranean Basin invaders in the Astereae mostly originated in temperate North America, whereas the invasive Cardueae of California are primarily from the Mediterranean Basin.LocationThe Mediterranean Basin (Italy).MethodsUtilizing the first fossil‐calibrated molecular phylogenies of the tribe Astereae, we explored the evolutionary patterns among native and non‐native taxa within this group. To elucidate the mechanisms driving the observed patterns, we modelled the ecological niches of Astereae species on a global scale and examined correlations between ecological similarity and evolutionary relatedness among taxa.ResultsNot only were invasive taxa highly clustered among natives, they were also more closely related to natives than were non‐invasive introduced taxa. We found that invasive species had higher degrees of niche overlap with native species than did non‐invasive introduced species. Moreover, pairwise niche distance among species was significantly correlated with evolutionary time, indicating that the ecological niche is phylogenetically conserved.Main conclusionsThe results of our study are consistent with those from our work in California, suggesting that introduced Asteraceae taxa that are closely related to native species are likely to become invasive on both sides of the Atlantic. Furthermore, existing ecological attributes seem to drive these evolutionary patterns. We suggest that potential invaders closely related to natives should be considered as high priorities for management.
Functional and conformational characterisation of walnut protein obtained through AOT reverse micelles
Authors: Hu Haifang , Sun Yali , Zhao Xiaoyan , Liu Di , Fu Lidan , Zhu Haitao 
Published: July 2015

SummaryWalnut protein was extracted from defatted walnut flour by bis (2‐ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micellar system and alkali solution with isoelectric precipitation. The functional and conformational characteristics of two proteins were investigated and compared. Walnut protein obtained through AOT reverse micelles was found to have higher extraction yield, solubility, emulsifying activity, foam capacities, water‐ and oil‐holding capacity compared to the protein from alkali solution along with isoelectric precipitation, while the surface hydrophobicity (H0), contents of disulphide bond (SS) and sulfhydryl group (SH) were relatively lower. The differences of H0, SS and SH contents could be due to the conformational changes of walnut proteins using two extraction methods. FTIR spectra and data showed that the reverse micelles caused the decrease in α‐helix, β‐sheet, random and β‐turn of walnut protein, the increase in the side‐chain structure content, which could be responsible for the modification of functional properties.