bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Respiratory mode and gear type are important determinants of elasmobranch immediate and post‐release mortality
Authors: Dapp Derek R , Walker Terence I , Huveneers Charlie , Reina Richard D 
Published: July 2015

AbstractEstimated declines in shark and ray populations worldwide have raised major, widespread concern about the impacts of global fisheries on elasmobranchs. The mechanisms causing elasmobranch mortality during fisheries’ capture are not fully understood, but we must gain greater clarity on this topic for fisheries managers to develop effective conservation plans to mitigate further population declines. To evaluate how two important factors, respiratory mode and fishing gear type, impact elasmobranch survival, we compiled publicly available data sources on the immediate mortality percentages of 83 species and post‐release mortality percentages of 40 species. Using Bayesian models, we found that sharks and rays captured in longlines had significantly lower immediate mortality than those caught in trawls or gillnets. Our models also predicted the mean total discard mortality (combined immediate and post‐release mortality) percentages of obligate ram‐ventilating elasmobranchs caught in longline, gillnet and trawl gear types to be 49.8, 79.0 and 84.2%, respectively. In contrast, total discard mortality percentages of stationary‐respiring species were significantly lower (longline capture mean = 7.2%, gillnet capture mean = 25.3%, trawl capture mean = 41.9%). Our global meta‐analysis provides the first quantified demonstration of how mortality is affected by these two factors across a broad range of species. Our results and approach can be applied to data‐deficient elasmobranchs and fisheries to identify species that are likely to experience high rates of mortality due to respiratory mode and/or fishing methods used, so that appropriate mitigation measures can be prioritized and investigated.
Biocompatibility of a titanium dioxide‐coating method for denture base acrylic resin
Authors: Tsuji Masashi , Ueda Takayuki , Sawaki Kohei , Kawaguchi Mitsuru , Sakurai Kaoru 
Published: July 2015

ObjectivesEase of denture cleaning is of paramount importance in geriatric patients and those with limited dexterity. We have previously investigated methods of coating dentures with titanium dioxide (TiO2) and reported the effects (self‐cleaning and antibacterial) of such treatments in in vitro studies. This study was to verify the biocompatibility of a TiO2‐coated acrylic resin produced by the new coating method with spray‐coating technique.MethodsSpecimens were prepared from denture base acrylic resin and polished up to grit #1000. The TiO2‐coating agent was sprayed onto the specimens using an airbrush gun. Specimens were then divided into ‘polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)’, ‘primer‐coated PMMA’ and ‘TiO2‐coated PMMA’ groups to be evaluated for biological safety using a hamster oral mucosa irritation test, a guinea pig skin sensitisation test and a rabbit intracutaneous test. The biological reaction was scored.ResultsReaction scores were considerably <1.0, the acceptable limit set by the ISO, in all three tests. Indeed, in most samples, there was no deleterious effect at all.ConclusionThese results tested on animals demonstrate that denture base resin coated with TiO2 by this method does not cause irritation or sensitisation of the oral mucosa, skin or intracutaneous tissue and is therefore good biocompatibility for use in close proximity to oral mucosa and skin.
Voltage‐dependent anion channel (VDAC‐1) is required for olfactory sensing in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Uozumi Takayuki , Hamakawa Masayuki , Deno Yu‐ki , Nakajo Nobushige , Hirotsu Takaaki 
Published: July 2015

The Ras–MAP kinase signaling pathway plays important roles for the olfactory reception in olfactory neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans. However, given the absence of phosphorylation targets of MAPK in the olfactory neurons, the mechanism by which this pathway regulates olfactory function is unknown. Here, we used proteomic screening to identify the mitochondrial voltage‐dependent anion channel VDAC‐1 as a candidate target molecule of MAPK in the olfactory system of C. elegans. We found that Amphid Wing “C” (AWC) olfactory neuron‐specific knockdown of vdac‐1 caused severe defects in chemotaxis toward AWC‐sensed odorants. We generated a new vdac‐1 mutant using the CRISPR‐Cas9 system, with this mutant also showing decreased chemotaxis toward odorants. This defect was rescued by AWC‐specific expression of vdac‐1, indicating that functions of VDAC‐1 in AWC neurons are essential for normal olfactory reception in C. elegans. We observed that AWC‐specific RNAi of vdac‐1 reduced AWC calcium responses to odorant stimuli and caused a decrease in the quantity of mitochondria in the sensory cilia. Behavioral abnormalities in vdac‐1 knockdown animals might therefore be due to reduction of AWC response, which might be caused by loss of mitochondria in the cilia. Here, we showed that the function of VDAC‐1 is regulated by phosphorylation and identified Thr175 as the potential phosphorylation site of MAP kinase.
Sarcopenia is a risk factor for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment
Authors: Kamachi Saori , Mizuta Toshihiko , Otsuka Taiga , Nakashita Shunya , Ide Yasushi , Miyoshi Atsushi , Kitahara Kenji , Eguchi Yuichiro , Ozaki Iwata , Anzai Keizo 
Published: July 2015

Background and AimSarcopenia, initially proposed as decreased of muscle mass and strength, is associated with aging and malignant diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine whether there is a correlation between sarcopenia and the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive naive patients with HCC who underwent curative resection or radiofrequency ablation. To eliminate the influence of cause or the severity of liver damage, subjects were limited to those with HCC with hepatitis C‐related cirrhosis and Child–Pugh class A liver function. Patients were assessed using computed tomographic measurement of muscle mass at the level of the third lumbar (L3) vertebrae, the L3 skeletal muscle index (L3 SMI). Sarcopenia was defined by using previously published, sex‐specific cut‐off value.ResultsSarcopenia was present in 61 of 92 patients. Patients’ median age was 71.5 years (range, 47–84), and the baseline characteristics of patients were comparable between patients with and without sarcopenia except for sex, serum albumin level, prothrombin time, diabetes mellitus and body mass index. Recurrence rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 39.1%,77.1%,81.7% for patients with sarcopenia and 23.5%,59.5% and 75.7% for patients without sarcopenia, respectively (P = 0.03). Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that sarcopenia and preoperative α‐fetoprotein of more than 40 ng/mL were significant independent factors for recurrence.ConclusionSarcopenia is a risk factor for recurrence in patients with HCC who were treated with curative treatment.
Efficacy of additional radiofrequency ablation after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Azuma Seishin , Asahina Yasuhiro , Nishimura‐Sakurai Yuki , Kakinuma Sei , Kaneko Shun , Nagata Hiroko , Goto Fumio , Ootani Satoshi , Kawai‐Kitahata Fukiko , Taniguchi Miki , Murakawa Miyako , Watanabe Takako , Tasaka‐Fujita Megumi , Itsui Yasuhiro , Nakagawa Mina , Watanabe Mamoru 
Published: July 2015

AimFor intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) therapy is recommended in the guidelines as a monotherapy, although TACE is a non‐curative therapy. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy of adding radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to TACE in patients with intermediate HCC, and to identify the factors that were associated with favorable survival in these patients.MethodsFifty‐nine patients with intermediate HCC were enrolled in this retrospective study. Thirty‐nine patients were treated with TACE alone and 20 patients were treated with additional RFA after TACE.ResultsThe recurrence‐free survival rates at 0.5, 1 and 2 years for the additional RFA group were 32%, 19% and 13%, respectively, and these were significantly higher than those of the TACE group (8%, 3% and 0%, respectively; log–rank test, P = 0.001). The cumulative survival rates of the additional RFA group were significantly higher than those of the TACE group (log–rank test, P = 0.002), although this significant difference was not found in the subgroup of treatment naive patients because of small sample size. Multivariate analysis indicated male sex, lower total bilirubin, lower α‐fetoprotein, lower des‐γ‐carboxyprothrombin, newly recurrent HCC nodules within the last 12 months and additional RFA as independent factors that were significantly associated with favorable overall survival.ConclusionAdditional RFA of nodules insufficiently treated by TACE is effective therapy for obtaining favorable disease‐free survival in patients with intermediate HCC, and leads to better overall survival particularly in recurrent patients.
Screening for lupus anticoagulants in patients treated with vitamin K antagonists
Authors: Isert M. , Miesbach W. , Stoever G. , Lindhoff‐Last E. , Linnemann B. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryIntroductionThe dRVVT test for detecting lupus anticoagulants (LA) is difficult to interpret when patients are treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA).MethodsWe performed LA testing in 33 VKA‐treated patients with definite antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and compared the results with 100 controls subjects not receiving VKA and 110 APL‐negative patients anticoagulated for reasons other than APS.ResultsCompared with the dRVVT ratio before the initiation of VKA therapy, a higher cutoff value, defined as the 99th percentile, was established for VKA‐treated patients with INR values between 2.0 and 3.5. A dRVVT ratio of >1.7 yielded a sensitivity of 81.3%, specificity of 99.1%, and positive and negative predictive values of 98.7% and 85.8%, respectively, for detecting LA. Cohen's kappa coefficient indicated good agreement for the dRVVT ratio obtained from testing with and without VKA treatment (κ = 0.813; 95% CI: 0.773–0.853), which was higher (κ = 0.941; 95% CI: 0.917–0.965) when the LA diagnosis was based on the results of both the dRVVT and a second test system (i.e., Mixcon‐LA assay).ConclusionsLupus anticoagulants testing in VKA‐treated patients with APS according to current guidelines appears to be possible for the majority of patients without discontinuing anticoagulant therapy.
The investigation of circulating microRNAs associated with lipid metabolism in childhood obesity
Authors: Can U. , Buyukinan M. , Yerlikaya F. H. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryBackgroundChildhood obesity is an increasing health challenge related to increased risk of chronic diseases. microRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding short RNA molecules regulating multiple biological processes linked to obesity.ObjectivesWe aimed at evaluating the association between circulating miRNA levels and lipid metabolism in obese and non‐obese children and adolescents.MethodsBy constituting study group, 45 obese children and adolescents were recruited. To perform comparisons with study group, 41 lean controls were matched for age and sex. Using real‐time quantitative PCR analysis, circulating miRNAs were evaluated in both groups.ResultsCirculating miR‐335 (P < 0.001), miR‐143 (P = 0.001) and miR‐758 (P = 0.006) in obese children were significantly lower than those of controls. However, circulating miR‐27 (P = 0.032), miR‐378 (P < 0.001) and miR‐370 (P = 0.045) in obese children were significantly higher, compared with those of controls. In addition, circulating miR‐33 in obese children was higher than those of controls, but no significant difference was present (P = 0.687).ConclusionOur findings showed that a significant association is present between circulating miR‐370, miR‐33, miR‐378, miR‐27, miR‐335, miR‐143 and miR‐758 values, and childhood obesity. Low levels of miR‐335, miR‐143 and miR‐758, and high levels of miR‐27, miR‐378, miR‐33 and miR‐370 may have been responsible for elevated triglycerides and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL‐C) levels, and low level of high‐density lipoprotein (HDL‐C) in obese subjects. Therefore, miRNAs may be a good novel biomarker for childhood obesity.
Nurses' health‐related behaviours: protocol for a quantitative systematic review of prevalence of tobacco smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption and dietary habits
Authors: Neall Rosie A. , Atherton Iain M. , Kyle Richard G. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAimTo enumerate nurses' health‐related behaviour by critically appraising studies on tobacco smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption and dietary habits.BackgroundNurses represent the largest occupational group in healthcare systems internationally and have an established and expanding public health role. Nurses own health‐related behaviour is known to impact nurses' ability and confidence to engage in health promotion, and how patients receive and respond to advice and guidance nurses' give. However, there has been no comprehensive and comparable assessment of evidence on nurses' health‐related behaviours.DesignQuantitative systematic review of prevalence of tobacco smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption and dietary habits.MethodsSystematic searches for literature published between January 2000 and February 2015 and indexed in Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Psychological Information. Eligibility criteria will be applied to titles and abstracts by two reviewers independently. Full text will be reviewed and the same criteria and process applied. Two reviewers will independently assess study quality guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute handbook for the systematic review of prevalence and incidence data. Discrepancies in eligibility or quality assessment will be resolved through discussion and, where required, a third reviewer. Data synthesis will be conducted and findings reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses checklist.DiscussionEnumerating prevalence of nurses' health‐related behaviours is crucial to direct future research, inform public health policy, particularly around health promotion and to better support the nursing workforce through the development of behaviour change interventions.PROSPERO registration: CRD42015016751.
Immature spinal cord neurons are dynamic regulators of adult nociceptive sensitivity
Authors: Rusanescu Gabriel , Mao Jianren 
Published: July 2015

AbstractChronic pain is a debilitating condition with unknown mechanism. Nociceptive sensitivity may be regulated by genetic factors, some of which have been separately linked to neuronal progenitor cells and neuronal differentiation. This suggests that genetic factors that interfere with neuronal differentiation may contribute to a chronic increase in nociceptive sensitivity, by extending the immature, hyperexcitable stage of spinal cord neurons. Although adult rodent spinal cord neurogenesis was previously demonstrated, the fate of these progenitor cells is unknown. Here, we show that peripheral nerve injury in adult rats induces extensive spinal cord neurogenesis and a long‐term increase in the number of spinal cord laminae I–II neurons ipsilateral to injury. The production and maturation of these new neurons correlates with the time course and modulation of nociceptive behaviour, and transiently mimics the cellular and behavioural conditions present in genetically modified animal models of chronic pain. This suggests that the number of immature neurons present at any time in the spinal cord dorsal horns contributes to the regulation of nociceptive sensitivity. The continuous turnover of these neurons, which can fluctuate between normal and injured states, is a dynamic regulator of nociceptive sensitivity. In support of this hypothesis, we find that promoters of neuronal differentiation inhibit, while promoters of neurogenesis increase long‐term nociception. TrkB agonists, well‐known promoters of nociception in the short‐term, significantly inhibit long‐term nociception by promoting the differentiation of newly produced immature neurons. These findings suggest that promoters of neuronal differentiation may be used to alleviate chronic pain.
Value of a facilitated quality improvement initiative on cardiovascular disease risk: findings from an evaluation of the Aggressively Treating Global Cardiometabolic Risk Factors to Reduce Cardiovascular Events (AT GOAL)
Authors: Losby Jan L. , Osuji Thearis A. , House Marnie J. , Davis Rachel , Boyce Simone Peart , Greenberg Michael Canter , Whitehill John M. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesIn the United States, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contracted an evaluation of the Aggressively Treating Global Cardiometabolic Risk Factors to Reduce Cardiovascular Events (AT GOAL) programme as part of its effort to identify strategies to address CVD risk factors.MethodsThis study analysed patient‐level data from 7527 patients in 43 primary care practices. The researchers assessed average change in control rates for CVD‐related measures across practices, and then across patients between baseline and a patient's last visit during the practice's tenure in the programme (referred to as ‘end line’) using repeated measures analysis of variance and random effects generalized least squares, respectively.ResultsAmong non‐diabetic patients, there were significant increases in control rates for overall blood pressure (74.3% to 78.0%, P = 0.0002), systolic blood pressure (70.3% to 80.6%, P = 0.0099), diastolic blood pressure (90.1% to 92.7%, P = 0.0001) and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL; 48.6% to 53.1%, P = 0.0001) between baseline and end line. Among diabetic patients, there was a significant increase in diastolic blood pressure control (59.8% to 61.9%, P = 0.0141). While continuous CVD‐related outcomes show an overall trend between baseline and end line, patients with uncontrolled measures at baseline showed a decrease between baseline and end line relative to their counterparts who were controlled at baseline.ConclusionsFindings from the AT GOAL evaluation support the value of a facilitated quality improvement (QI) initiative on managing CVD risk.
Cyclic Loading Effect on Color Stability of Unshaded versus Shaded Zirconia
Authors: Spyropoulou Panagiota‐Eirini , Kamposiora Phophi , Eliades George , Papavasiliou George , Razzoog Michael E. , Bayne Stephen C. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractStatement of ProblemShaded versions of dental zirconia may improve initial color matching to teeth, but might change color with cyclic mechanical loading.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to measure the color of unshaded and shaded zirconia dental ceramic before and after cyclic mechanical loading and calculate color differences (ΔE).Material and MethodsDisk‐shaped specimens (N = 30, Nobel Procera, 0.8 mm thick, 12 mm diameter) of unshaded or shaded zirconia (intrinsically shaded by small oxide modifications) were fabricated by the Nobel Biocare using standard CAD‐CAM processing. Milled surfaces were polished. CIE L*a*b* values were measured (Konica Minolta spectrophotometer) before and after mechanical cycling (custom modified Leinfelder test machine, biaxial flexure loading, load = 80 N × 500,000 cycles, dry), and L*a*b* individual differences and ΔE color differences were calculated and compared (ANOVA, p < 0.05).ResultsMean L*a*b* values for the unshaded group before (U1 = 86.165, −0.887, 0.372) and after (U2 = 84.860, −0.805, 0.097) cyclic loading were compared to the shaded group before (S1 = 75.281, −0.679, 23.251) and after (S2 = 74.961, −1.233, 22.439) cyclic loading. All color variables for both unshaded and shaded groups were significantly different between before and after cyclic loading (p < .004) except for the L* value of the shaded group. The ΔE for unshaded (1.441 ± 0.495) versus shaded (1.252 ± 0.363) were statistically different but clinically the change would not be detectable at this point.ConclusionsThe color of the unshaded and shaded zirconia specimens was influenced by cyclic loading (p < 0.05). Color changes were detectable but small at levels up to 500,000 cycles, and remained clinically acceptable at that point.Clinical SignificanceIt is important to acknowledge any possible color changes that might occur in zirconia restorations, especially in the esthetic zone. Minor color changes that are individually imperceptible to the human eye within different restorative components may be compounded to produce clinically significant color change that is not aesthetically acceptable.
The use of wave propagation and reduced complexity inundation models and metamodels for coastal flood risk assessment
Authors: Rueda A. , Gouldby B. , Méndez F.J. , Tomás A. , Losada I.J. , Lara J.L. , Díaz‐Simal P. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractTo estimate coastal risk it is necessary to integrate the joint probability density function, including extremes, of the sea condition variables over a function that defines the consequences, typically economic damage. The use of Monte Carlo methods is common practice to undertake this integration; however, it can introduce a high computational burden for use in practical applications. Hence, a simplifying assumption of full dependence between the sea condition variables is often made. This paper describes a method that overcomes this simplifying assumption through the use of two techniques. A hybrid emulator of the simulating waves nearshore model is used to increase the computational efficiency associated with the wave transformations. In addition, a computationally efficient dynamic inundation model has been incorporated to further reduce the computational burden. To demonstrate the system, it has been applied to an urban coastal area located in northern Spain.