bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variation in Canopy Litterfall Along a Precipitation and Soil Fertility Gradient in a Panamanian Lower Montane Forest
Authors: Heineman Katherine D. , Caballero Pedro , Morris Arturo , Velasquez Carmen , Serrano Kiria , Ramos Nelly , Gonzalez Jonathan , Mayorga Luis , Corre Marife D. , Dalling James W. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractFertilization experiments in tropical forests have shown that litterfall increases in response to the addition of one or more soil nutrients. However, the relationship between soil nutrient availability and litterfall is poorly defined along natural soil fertility gradients, especially in tropical montane forests. Here, we measured litterfall for two years in five lower montane 1‐ha plots spanning a soil fertility and precipitation gradient in lower montane forest at Fortuna, Panama. Litterfall was also measured in a concurrent nitrogen fertilization experiment at one site. Repeated‐measuresANOVAwas used to test for site (or treatment), year, and season effects on vegetative, reproductive and total litterfall. We predicted that total litterfall, and the ratio of reproductive to leaf litterfall, would increase with nutrient availability along the fertility gradient, and in response to nitrogen addition. We found that total annual litterfall varied substantially among 1‐ha plots (4.78 Mg/ha/yr to 7.96 Mg/ha/yr), and all but the most aseasonal plot showed significant seasonality in litterfall. However, litterfall accumulation did not track soil nutrient availability; instead forest growing on relatively infertile soil, but dominated by an ectomycorrhizal tree species, had the highest total litterfall accumulation. In the fertilization plots, significantly more total litter fell in nitrogen addition relative to control plots, but this increase in response to nitrogen (13%) was small compared to variation observed among 1‐ha plots. These results suggest that while litterfall at Fortuna is nutrient‐limited, compositional and functional turnover along the fertility gradient obscure any direct relationship between soil resource availability and canopy productivity.
Large Mammal Distribution in a Transfrontier Landscape: Trade‐offs Between Resource Availability and Human Disturbance
Authors: Selier Jeanetta , Slotow Rob , Di Minin Enrico 
Published: April 2015

AbstractUnderstanding factors that affect the persistence of charismatic megafauna in human‐dominated landscapes is crucial to inform conservation decision‐making and reduce human‐wildlife conflict. We assessed the effect of environmental and anthropogenic factors at different landscape and management scales in predicting the distribution of African elephant (Loxodonta africana) within the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area in Southern Africa. We combined aerial distribution counts over a 12‐yr period with 14 variables, representing food availability, landscape, and anthropogenic effects, into generalized linear models. Generalized linear models were run for the broader landscape, as well as three separate management units within the broader landscape, namely ecotourism, trophy hunting, and a combination of hunting and ecotourism. Human activities within different management units forced elephant to trade‐off between disturbance avoidance, and good food and water availability. In addition, the important predictors of elephant distribution within each of the management units differed from the predictors at the broader landscape. Overall, our results suggest that at the fine scale, elephant are constraint by factors that may be masked at the broader landscape scale. We suggest that accounting for anthropogenic disturbance is important in determining the distribution of large, wide‐ranging, mammal species in increasingly human‐dominated landscapes, and that modeling needs to be done at the spatial scales at which conservation decisions are made.
Diverse involvement of isoforms and gene aberrations of Akt in human lung carcinomas
Authors: Dobashi Yoh , Tsubochi Hiroyoshi , Matsubara Hirochika , Inoue Jun , Inazawa Johji , Endo Shunsuke , Ooi Akishi 
Published: April 2015

Emerging evidence confirms a central role of Akt in cancer. To evaluate the relative contribution of deregulated Akt and their clinicopathological significance in lung carcinomas, overexpression, activation of Akt and AKT gene increases were investigated. Immunohistochemical staining for 108 cases revealed overexpression of total Akt, Akt1, Akt2 and Akt3 in 61.1, 47.2, 40.7 and 23.1%, respectively, and phosphorylated Akt in 42.6% of cases. Expression of total Akt, Akt2 and Akt3 were frequently observed in small cell carcinoma, but phosphorylated Akt and Akt1 were more frequently observed in squamous cell carcinoma. FISH analysis to evaluate gene increases of AKT1‐3 revealed amplification of AKT1 in 4.2% and AKT1 increase by polysomy of chromosome 14 in 27.3% of cases. For AKT2, amplification was observed in 3.2% and polysomy of chromosome 19 in 26.3% of cases. AKT3 increase was observed in 40.0% of cases only by polysomy of chromosome 1. Although “FISH‐positive” AKT1 and AKT2 gene increases (amplification/high‐level polysomy) were found exclusively in the cases overexpressing total Akt, Akt1 or Akt2, respectively, AKT3 increase was irrelevant of Akt3 expression. Statistically, expressions of Akt2, p‐Akt and cytoplasmic‐p‐Akt were correlated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0479, P = 0.0371 and P = 0.0310, respectively). Although AKT1 and AKT2 gene increase showed positive correlation with, or trend towards a positive correlation with tumor size (P = 0.0430, P = 0.0590, respectively), AKT3 did not. In conclusion, Akt isoforms are differentially involved in the pathological phenotype of lung carcinoma in a diverse manner. Because abnormality of Akt1/AKT1 and Akt2/AKT2 correlated with clinicopathological profiles, Akt1/2‐specific targeting may open a novel therapeutic window for the group showing Akt deregulation.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Derivatives of the Proteasome Deubiquitinase Inhibitor b‐AP15
Authors: Wang Xin , D'Arcy Pádraig , Caulfield Thomas R. , Paulus Aneel , Chitta Kasyapa , Mohanty Chitralekha , Gullbo Joachim , Chanan‐Khan Asher , Linder Stig 
Published: April 2015

The ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) is increasingly recognized as a therapeutic target for the development of anticancer therapies. The success of the 20S proteasome core particle (20S CP) inhibitor bortezomib in the clinical management of multiple myeloma has raised the possibility of identifying other UPS components for therapeutic intervention. We previously identified the small molecule b‐AP15 as an inhibitor of 19S proteasome deubiquitinase (DUB) activity. Building upon our previous data, we performed a structure–activity relationship (SAR) study on b‐AP15 and identified VLX1570 as an analog with promising properties, including enhanced potency and improved solubility in aqueous solution. In silico modeling was consistent with interaction of VLX1570 with key cysteine residues located at the active sites of the proteasome DUBs USP14 and UCHL5. VLX1570 was found to inhibit proteasome deubiquitinase activity in vitro in a manner consistent with competitive inhibition. Furthermore, using active‐site‐directed probes, VLX1570 also inhibited proteasome DUB activity in exposed cells. Importantly, VLX1570 did not show inhibitory activity on a panel of recombinant non‐proteasome DUBs, on recombinant kinases, or on caspase‐3 activity, suggesting that VLX1570 is not an overtly reactive general enzyme inhibitor. Taken together, our data shows the chemical and biological properties of VLX1570 as an optimized proteasome DUB inhibitor.
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation over premotor cortex facilitates observational learning of a motor sequence
Authors: Wade Stephanie , Hammond Geoff 
Published: April 2015

AbstractMotor skills, including complex movement sequences, can be acquired by observing a model without physical practice of the skill, a phenomenon known as observational learning. Observational learning of motor skills engages the same memory substrate as physical practice, and is thought to be mediated by the action observation network, a bilateral fronto‐parietal circuit with mirror‐like properties. We examined the effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over premotor cortex, a key node of the action observation network, on observational learning of a serial response time task. Results showed that anodal tDCS during observation of the to‐be‐learned sequence facilitated reaction times in the subsequent behavioral test. The study provides evidence that increasing excitability of the action observation network during observation can facilitate later motor skill acquisition.
Hippocampal antioxidative system in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Ristić Aleksandar J. , Savić Danijela , Sokić Dragoslav , Bogdanović Pristov Jelena , Nestorov Jelena , Baščarević Vladimir , Raičević Savo , Savić Slobodan , Spasojević Ivan 
Published: April 2015

SummaryObjectiveTo examine antioxidative system in hippocampi of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy associated with hippocampal sclerosis (mTLE‐HS).MethodsActivity and levels of antioxidative enzymes—catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and copper‐zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD)—were assessed in hippocampi of nine pharmacoresistant mTLE‐HS patients (mean age 37.7 ± [standard deviation] 6.6 years) who underwent amygdalohippocampectomy, and in 10 hippocampi obtained via autopsy from five neurologically intact controls (mean age 34.4 ± 9.0 years). Subfield and cellular (neuron/astrocyte) distribution of CAT, GPx, and MnSOD was analyzed in detail using immunohistochemical staining.ResultsSclerotic hippocampi showed drastically increased activity of hydrogen peroxide–removing enzymes, CAT (p < 0.001), GPx (p < 0.001), and GR (p < 0.001), and significantly higher protein levels of CAT (p = 0.006), GPx (p = 0.040), GR (p = 0.024), and MnSOD (p = 0.004), compared to controls. CAT immunofluorescence was located mainly in neurons in both controls and HS. Control hippocampi showed GPx staining in blood vessels and CA neurons. In HS, GPx‐rich loci, representing bundles of astrocytes, emerged in different hippocampal regions, whereas the number of GPx‐positive vessels was drastically decreased. Neurons with abnormal morphology and strong MnSOD immunofluorescence were present in all neuronal layers in HS. Small autofluorescent deposits, most likely lipofuscin, were observed, along with astrogliosis, in CA1 in HS.SignificanceAntioxidative system is upregulated in HS. This documents, for the first time, that epileptogenic hippocampi are exposed to oxidative stress. Our findings provide a basis for understanding the potential involvement of redox alterations in the pathology of epilepsy, and may open new pharmacologic perspectives for mTLE‐HS treatment.
Aldosterone and testosterone: two steroid hormones structurally related but with opposite electrophysiological properties during myocardial ischemia–reperfusion
Authors: Alexandre Joachim , Milliez Paul , Rouet René , Manrique Alain , Allouche Stéphane , Piccirillo Gianfranco , Schiariti Michele , Puddu Paolo‐Emilio 
Published: April 2015

AbstractSteroid hormones appear to be a key factor in the gender differences in the rates and severity of cardiovascular diseases. Aldosterone and testosterone have typical steroid ring structure, but despite this, they demonstrate very different properties. During acute myocardial ischemia–reperfusion, the deleterious impact of aldosterone is now well established. Conversely, the electrophysiological impact of testosterone in this context remained unknown. We used female rabbit in vitro models and standard microelectrode technique including right ventricle mimicking the ‘border zone’ existing between normal and ischemic/reperfused areas and isolated right ventricle experiments to assess the acute electrophysiological impact of both aldosterone and testosterone. During ischemia–reperfusion, acute superfusion of 10 and 100 nmol/L testosterone decreased normoxic and reperfused action potential duration at 90% (APD90), systematically induced conduction blocks, and decreased APD90 dispersion between ischemic and nonischemic areas (from 98 ± 4 to 57 ± 7 ms and 66 ± 3 ms, for, respectively, testosterone 10 and 100 nmol/L, P < 0.05). Testosterone 10 and 100 nmol/L concomitantly decreased sustained premature ventricular contraction (PVC) occurrence (from 55 to 0%, P < 0.05). Conversely, aldosterone 10 and 100 nmol/L increased normoxic and reperfused APD90, APD90 dispersion, and reperfusion‐induced PVCs. Furthermore, testosterone demonstrated cycle length‐dependent effects on APD90 for high heart rate, whereas aldosterone did not exhibit any significant effect compared with controls. During acute myocardial ischemia–reperfusion, acute superfusion of physiological concentrations of testosterone seemed to be anti‐arrhythmic by removing a pro‐arrhythmic substrate (APD90 dispersion), inducing conduction blocks and decreasing triggered activities (PVC occurrence). Further experiments are warranted to confirm our results.
Anticardiolipin Antibodies in Children with Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Sarıcı Serdar Umit , Gursel Orhan , Kurekci Emin , Kesik Vural , Atay Avni , Okutan Vedat , Inal Ali , Pekel Aysel , Ozguven Mehmet Ali , Ozcan Okan 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundAnticardiolipin (aCL) antibodies are associated with thrombosis and have an important role in the etiology of diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction whose etiologies were based on thrombosis. H. pylori has been proposed to be responsible for the pathophysiology of some diseases including stroke, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, and autoimmune diseases. From this point of view, we hypothesized a possible relationship between H. pylori infection and aCL antibodies and initially aimed to determine the prevalence of aCL antibody positivity in children with H. pylori infection.Materials and MethodsAnticardiolipin antibodies were studied in 84 patients before and after eradication therapy and in a control group including 40 children.ResultsThe pretreatment aCL IgA (median 12.78 APL/mL), aCL IgM (median 21.60 MPL/mL), and aCL IgG antibody levels (median 14.22 GPL/mL) were significantly higher than those of post‐treatment results (median 5.38 APL/mL, 7.02 MPL/mL, and 6.64 GPL/mL, respectively) and controls (median 5.90 APL/mL, 4.80 MPL/mL, and 4.81 GPL/mL, respectively). Anticardiolipin antibodies revealed no significant differences between the study group after therapy and the control group.ConclusionsIn our particular experience, H. pylori can cause aCL antibody positivity in children and eradication of H. pylori provides the disappearance of these antibodies.
Validation of the Japanese version of the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire for the assessment of health‐related quality of life in patients with chronic viral hepatitis
Authors: Tanaka Atsushi , Kikuchi Kentaro , Miura Ryo , Miura Kotaro , Mikami Masaki , Aiso Mitsuhiko , Takamori Yoriyuki , Takikawa Hajime 
Published: April 2015

AimPatients with chronic liver diseases (CLD) suffer from a variety of subjective symptoms, and the assessment of health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is crucial. The Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) is the first liver disease‐specific instrument for this purpose. In this study we aimed to develop the Japanese version of CLDQ and to assess its validity and reliability in Japanese patients with chronic viral hepatitis.MethodsThe participants included 135 Japanese patients chronically infected with hepatitis B or C virus. The Japanese version of the CLDQ was developed according to the standard “back‐translation” method. In addition to the Japanese version of the CLDQ, we asked the patients to fill out two other self‐report questionnaires: the Japanese versions of the 36‐Item Short Form Survey (SF‐36) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Then, the internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity of the Japanese version of CLDQ were statistically examined.ResultsCronbach's alpha of the Japanese version of the CLDQ was acceptable. The mean score was lower in emotional domains of the CLDQ, compared with those in somatic domains. Pearson correlations between Japanese CLDQ and SF‐36 and HADS were significant. The mean of the CLDQ scores decreased in all domains in patients with liver cirrhosis compared with those in patients with chronic hepatitis.ConclusionThe Japanese version of the CLDQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessment of the HRQOL of Japanese patients with chronic viral hepatitis. The results also suggest that the HRQOL of Japanese patients is mainly impaired by emotional factors rather than somatic symptoms, and significantly worsened by progression of the disease.
A Pathological Perspective on the Natural History of Cerebral Atherosclerosis
Authors: Gutierrez Jose , Elkind Mitchell S. V. , Virmani Renu , Goldman James , Honig Lawrence , Morgello Susan , Marshall Randolph S. 
Published: April 2015

Background The natural history of intracranial large artery atherosclerosis has been mainly described from lumen-based imaging studies, and much of what is reported to be known about atherosclerosis is derived from non-cerebral arteries. Aims To test the hypothesis that atherosclerosis is only partially represented by stenosis and that advanced atherosclerosis is more common that severe stenosis in noncardioembolic infarcts. Methods Cerebral large arteries from 196 autopsy cases were studied. The revised American Heart Association classification for atherosclerosis was used to determine the phenotype in each available artery. Cross-sectional lumen stenosis was obtained as defined by the Glagov's method. Results As age of cases increased, there was a progressive increment in the frequency of atherosclerotic lesions, rising from 5% of all arteries at age 20–40, to more than 40% at age 60 or older. Stenosis also increased with age: less than 3% of the arteries in those ≤50 years had >40% stenosis, while one out of five arteries in those >80 years had >40% stenosis. In most cases (80%), atherosclerosis and stenosis were directly related. However, one out of five cases with advanced atherosclerosis had <30% stenosis. In arteries supplying brain areas with noncardioembolic infarcts, the majority of segments exhibiting advanced atherosclerosis had lumen stenosis of <40%. Conclusion Although intracranial atherosclerosis is typically associated with stenosis, a substantial minority of cases shows advanced atherosclerosis in the absence of stenosis >40%. Definitions based solely on stenosis may underestimate the extent and role of intracranial large artery atherosclerosis.
Patients’ Evaluations of Complete Denture Therapy and Their Association with Related Variables: A Pilot Study
Authors: Santos Beatriz Ferreira Oliveira , dos Santos Mateus Bertolini Fernandes , Santos Jarbas Francisco Fernandes , Marchini Leonardo 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPurposePatient satisfaction is an important goal in complete denture therapy, and many factors influence this parameter. This study aimed to evaluate expectations before and satisfaction after therapy with complete dentures. As a secondary objective, other variables that may interfere with patient satisfaction were also evaluated.Material and MethodsA representative sample of 99 patients assigned visual analog scale (VAS) scores to their expectations before and satisfaction after therapy regarding chewing, esthetics, comfort, and phonetics. Demographic data and answers to a questionnaire concerning the dentists’ conduct were recorded. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the association among studied variables and patients’ expectation and satisfaction with their dentures.ResultsThe average VAS scores were high for both expectations and satisfaction, and satisfaction exceeded expectations. Patients’ expectations about esthetics and comfort were associated with age and self‐reported time of using complete dentures. Patient satisfaction regarding chewing was associated with the number of postdelivery adjustments. Also, patient satisfaction regarding esthetics was associated with gender and esthetic expectations. In regard to phonetic satisfaction, associations were verified among self‐reported time of using complete dentures, comfort and phonetics expectations, and dentists’ explanations. Comfort satisfaction was associated only with educational level.ConclusionsPatient satisfaction regarding complete dentures exceeded expectations and an expressive majority of positive evaluations of the dentists was noticed. Many patient‐related variables seemed to influence their evaluations of their dentures.
Mental health nurses can increase capability and capacity in primary care by educating practice nurses: an evaluation of an education programme in England
Authors: Hardy S. A. , Kingsnorth R. 
Published: April 2015

Accessible summary
The majority of mental health problems in England are dealt with in primary care but most of the healthcare workers in primary care have little knowledge of mental health. We wanted to develop an accessible education programme which was appropriate to the learning needs of this workforce.
Mental health nurses can deliver training in mental health and well‐being (which has been developed by an expert) to practice nurses. This increases the knowledge of both parties and promotes working together. Utilizing mental health nurses as trainers improves both their clinical practice and that of the practice nurses they have taught. As the time mental health nurses need to spend away from practice to carry out education is minimal, it has little impact on their usual workload.
Other health organizations both nationally and internationally could adapt the education programme to suit their particular needs.
Research is required to find out whether training practice nurses in this way has an impact on patients.
AbstractMost people with a mental health problem in England are cared for by clinicians in primary care who may have had little or no training in this area. Our aim was to develop an accessible education programme which was appropriate to the learning needs of this workforce. A survey of the mental health and well‐being training needs and preferred learning methods of practice nurses was undertaken, then a programme of education was developed by a primary care mental health expert. Teaching was delivered by mental health nurses who were trained as educators. Both the practice nurses and mental health nurses felt their clinical practice would improve as a result of being involved in this programme. To sustain the learning, mental health nurses were supported by attending and then leading their own action learning sets. This model of education can be adapted and used by health organizations both nationally and internationally. Research is required to find out whether training practice nurses using this programme has an impact on patients.