bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical relevance of echocardiogram in patients with cerebral palsy undergoing posterior spinal fusion
Authors: DiCindio Sabina , Arai Lynda , McCulloch Michael , Sadacharam Kesavan , Shah Suken A. , Gabos Peter , Dabney Kirk , Theroux Mary C. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryBackgroundSpinal deformity is one of the secondary musculoskeletal problems that occur with cerebral palsy (CP). Of the co morbidities associated with CP and spinal deformity, cardiac function is of theoretical concern.ObjectiveThe goal of our study was to determine the clinical relevance of routine preoperative cardiology evaluation via echocardiogram for patients with CP presenting for posterior spine fusion (PSF) surgery.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed of CP patients presenting for scoliosis surgery. The data collected for each patient included: age, sex, height, weight, Cobb angle, and medical history. All patients had a preoperative cardiac evaluation.ResultsSeventy‐two patients were included. The mean age was 13.6 ± 3.4 years. Left ventricular systolic function was normal in all patients; the mean shortening fraction was 39.3 ± 6.2%. No patient had more than mild insufficiency of either the semilunar or atrioventricular valve. One patient was diagnosed with aortic root dilation as well as aortic valve insufficiency. All patients had PSF surgery without changes in anesthetic or surgical plans, and no patient experienced complications attributable to a cardiac origin.ConclusionThe results suggest that routine preoperative cardiology evaluation via echocardiogram for children with CP in the absence of clinical history or physical examination findings suggestive of cardiac disease is not necessary.
Revisiting a measure of child postoperative recovery: development of the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery
Authors: Jenkins Brooke N. , Kain Zeev N. , Kaplan Sherrie H. , Stevenson Robert S. , Mayes Linda C. , Guadarrama Josue , Fortier Michelle A. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryBackgroundThe Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire (PHBQ) was designed for assessing children's posthospitalization and postoperative new‐onset behavioral changes. However, the psychometric properties of the scale have not been re‐evaluated in the past five decades despite substantial changes in the practice of surgery and anesthesia. In this investigation, we examined the psychometric properties of the PHBQ to potentially increase the efficacy and relevance of the instrument in current perioperative settings.MethodThis study used principal components analysis, a panel of experts, Cronbach's alpha, and correlations to examine the current subscale structure of the PHBQ and eliminate items to create the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery (PHBQ‐AS). Data from previous investigations (N = 1064, Mage = 5.88) which utilized the PHBQ were combined for the purposes of this paper.ResultsA principal components analysis revealed that the original subscale structure of the PHBQ could not be replicated. Subsequently, a battery reduction, which utilized principal components analysis and a panel of experts, was used to eliminate the subscale structure of the scale and reduce the number of items from 27 to 11, creating the PHBQ‐AS. The PHBQ‐AS demonstrated good internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity with another measure of children's psychosocial and physical functioning.ConclusionRevising the former subscale structure and reducing the number of items in the PHBQ to create the PHBQ‐AS may provide a means for reducing the burden of postoperative behavioral assessment through decreasing time of administration and eliminating redundancy of items and allow for more accurate measurement of child postoperative behavioral changes.
Continuous minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring with the COstatus in a neonatal swine model: recalibration is necessary during vasoconstriction and vasodilation
Authors: Cisternas Alvaro F. , Martin‐Flores Manuel , Gleed Robin D. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryBackgroundThe COstatus monitor measures cardiac output via the transpulmonary ultrasound dilution method (COTPUD) after injection of normal saline, and can calculate continuous cardiac output (CCO) from the arterial pressure waveform. The relationship between arterial waveform and COTPUD however, might be degraded during vasoconstriction/vasodilation.ObjectivesTo examine if recalibration of arterial waveform‐derived CCO is required during mild vasoconstriction/vasodilation.MethodsIn 10 anesthetized piglets (6.6–10.1 kg), two COstatus monitors calculated the CCO from the same femoral arterial waveform before and during infusions of phenylephrine (PE; 1 or 3 mg·kg−1·min−1) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 1 or 5 mg·kg−1·min−1), administered in random order. One monitor was recalibrated (CCORecal) after each intervention, while the other monitor was not (CCONon‐Recal). Recalibration was performed with COTPUD with 1 ml·kg−1 normal saline as indicator. The effects of each infusion on hemodynamic parameters were compared with baseline using paired t‐tests. The bias, limits of agreement (LOA), and percentage error between simultaneous measurements (CCORecal and CCONon‐Recal) were examined with Bland–Altman plots.ResultsInfusion of PE significantly increased COTPUD, heart rate (HR), and arterial pressures but not systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Infusion of SNP decreased arterial pressures without affecting COTPUD, HR, and SVR. There was no bias between CCORecal and CCONon‐Recal at the baseline, but a small bias was observed during PE and SNP infusions. The LOA increased approximately 10 fold during vasoconstriction and vasodilation. The percentage error increased from ≤ 5% to 32% and 27% during PE and SNP infusions, respectively.ConclusionContinuous cardiac output (CO) measured with the COstatus monitor requires recalibration during vasoconstriction and vasodilation, even if changes in COTPUD or SVR are not substantial.
Achieving Transparency: An Argument For Enactivism
Authors: Ward Dave 
Published: May 2015

The transparency of perceptual experience has been invoked in support of many views about perception. I argue that it supports a form of enactivism—the view that capacities for perceptual experience and for intentional agency are essentially interdependent. I clarify the perceptual phenomenon at issue, and argue that enactivists should expect to find a parallel instance of transparency in our agentive experience, and that the two forms of transparency are constitutively interdependent (Section 1). I then argue that i) we do indeed find such parallels: the way in which an action is directed towards its goal through our bodily movements parallels the way in which an experience is directed towards its object through our perceptual sensation (Section 2), and ii) reflecting on sensorimotor skills shows why the two instances of transparency are constitutively interdependent (Section 3). Section 4 gives reasons for generalizing beyond the cases considered so far by applying the enactive view to Kohler's landmark studies of perceptual adaptation. The final section clarifies the form of enactivism to which the previous sections point. The view that emerges is one whereby our perceptual and practical skills are interrelated aspects of a single capacity to have one's mind intentionally directed upon the world. The transparency of experience, on this view, is achieved in virtue of our capacities as agents as much as it is given in virtue of our capacities as perceivers.
Effects of water turbulence on variations in cell ultrastructure and metabolism of amino acids in the submersed macrophyte, Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) H. St. John
Authors: Atapaththu K. S. S. , Miyagi A. , Atsuzawa K. , Kaneko Y. , Kawai‐Yamada M. , Asaeda T. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe interactions between macrophytes and water movement are not yet fully understood, and the causes responsible for the metabolic and ultrastructural variations in plant cells as a consequence of turbulence are largely unknown. In the present study, growth, metabolism and ultrastructural changes were evaluated in the aquatic macrophyte Elodea nuttallii, after exposure to turbulence for 30 days. The turbulence was generated with a vertically oscillating horizontal grid. The turbulence reduced plant growth, plasmolysed leaf cells and strengthened cell walls, and plants exposed to turbulence accumulated starch granules in stem chloroplasts. The size of the starch granules increased with the magnitude of the turbulence. Using capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry (CE‐MS), analysis of the metabolome found metabolite accumulation in response to the turbulence. Asparagine was the dominant amino acid that was concentrated in stressed plants, and organic acids such as citrate, ascorbate, oxalate and γ‐amino butyric acid (GABA) also accumulated in response to turbulence. These results indicate that turbulence caused severe stress that affected plant growth, cell ultrastructure and some metabolic functions of E. nuttallii. Our findings offer insights to explain the effects of water movement on the functions of aquatic plants.
Biochemical and physiological processes associated with the differential ozone response in ozone‐tolerant and sensitive soybean genotypes
Authors: Chutteang C. , Booker F. L. , Na‐Ngern P. , Burton A. , Aoki M. , Burkey K. O. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBiochemical and physiological traits of two soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] genotypes differing in sensitivity to ozone (O3) were investigated to determine the possible basis for the differential response. Fiskeby III (O3‐tolerant) and Mandarin (Ottawa) (O3‐sensitive) were grown in a greenhouse with charcoal‐filtered air for 4 weeks, then treated with O3 for 7 h·day−1 in greenhouse chambers. Mandarin (Ottawa) showed significantly more leaf injury and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and superoxide (O2−) production compared with Fiskeby III. Peroxidase activity in Mandarin (Ottawa) was 31% higher with O3 but was not significantly different in Fiskeby III. Ozone did not affect superoxide dismutase or glutathione reductase activities, or leaf concentrations of glutathione or ascorbic acid. Thus, variation in O3 response between Fiskeby III and Mandarin (Ottawa) was not explained by differences in antioxidant enzymes and metabolites tested. Ethylene emission from leaves declined in Fiskeby III following O3 exposure but not in Mandarin (Ottawa). Ozone exposure reduced quantum yield (ΦPSII), electron transport rate (ETR) and photochemical quenching (qp) in Mandarin (Ottawa) more than in Fiskeby III, indicating that efficiency of energy conversion of PSII and photosynthetic electron transport was altered differently in the two genotypes. Short‐term exposure to O3 had minimal effects on net carbon exchange rates of both soybean cultivars. A trend toward higher stomatal conductance in Mandarin (Ottawa) suggested stomatal exclusion might contribute to differential O3 sensitivity of the two genotypes. Increased sensitivity of Mandarin (Ottawa) to O3 was associated with higher H2O2 and O2− production compared with Fiskeby III, possibly associated with genotype differences in stomatal function or regulation of ethylene during the initial phases of O3 response.
Effect of Sildenafil on Pre‐Eclampsia‐Like Mouse Model Induced By L‐Name
Authors: Motta C , Grosso C , Zanuzzi C , Molinero D , Picco N , Bellingeri R , Alustiza F , Barbeito C , Vivas A , Romanini MC 
Published: May 2015

ContentsN(omega)‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) decreases the vasodilator effect of nitric oxide (NO) and induces pre‐eclampsia in mouse. Sildenafil inhibits the degradation of nitric oxide and increases vasodilation. This study aimed to determine the effects of sildenafil citrate on angiogenesis and oxidative stress at the maternal foetal interface on pre‐eclampsia‐like mouse model induced byL‐NAME. Twenty pregnant mice were divided into four groups: (i) vehicle control; (ii)L‐NAME; (iii) sildenafil; (4)L‐NAME+sildenafil.L‐NAMEwas administered from day 7 of pregnancy and sildenafil from day 8 until day 16; animals were euthanized on day 17. Placental and foetal sizes and weights were measured; lipid peroxide levels and catalase activity in placental homogenates were determined, and placental vascular endothelia were identified by lectin‐histochemistry usingBSA‐Ilectin. Western blot analysis was used to determineVEGFexpression in placental homogenates. No changes were seen in placental and foetal development in mice with normal pregnancies treated with sildenafil. Treatments withL‐NAMEreduced significantly the placental weight and average height and decreased the percentage of the endothelial surface. These alterations may be mediated by the reduction ofNOlevels in trophoblastic cells, due to the inhibitory effect ofL‐NAMEon nitric oxide synthase (NOS) synthesis. This effect was offset by the treatment with sildenafil, with an increase in the percentage of the endothelial surface. In conclusion, our results indicate that treatment with sildenafil on pre‐eclampsia mouse model can be used without adverse effects on the concept and its use in the treatment of pre‐eclampsia is promising.
Measuring Core Inflation inSouthAfrica
Authors: du Plessis Stan , du Rand Gideon , Kotzé Kevin 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMeasures of core inflation convey critical information about an economy. They have a direct effect on the policymaking process, particularly in inflation‐targeting countries, and are utilised in forecasting and modelling exercises. In South Africa, the price indices on which inflation is based have been subject to important structural breaks following changes to the underlying basket of goods and the methodology for constructing price indices. This paper seeks to identify a consistent measure of core inflation for South Africa using trimmed means estimates, measures that exclude changes in food and energy prices, dynamic factor models, and wavelet decompositions. After considering the forecasting ability of these measures, which provide an indication of expected second‐round inflationary effects, traditional in‐sample criteria were used for further comparative purposes. The results suggest that wavelet decompositions provide a useful measure of this critical variable.
Evaluation of accelerated corneal collagen cross‐linking for the treatment of bullous keratopathy in eight dogs (10 eyes)
Authors: Famose Frank 
Published: May 2015

AbstractObjectiveBullous keratopathy (BK) is a serious corneal condition leading to impaired vision and ocular pain, due to chronic corneal edema and recurrent superficial ulceration. BK is refractory to conventional therapy. In human patients, corneal collagen cross‐linking (CXL) has been used for the treatment of BK, and CXL treatment was recently described for canine patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and pachymetric effects of accelerated CXL in dogs affected by BK.Animal studiedEight dogs (10 eyes) with BK underwent accelerated CXL.ProceduresCXL treatment comprised 30 min of riboflavin–dextran instillation, followed by 3 min of UVA irradiation at 30 mW/cm². Ocular pain, corneal edema, corneal ulceration, and pachymetry were evaluated 7, 14, 30, 90, and 180 days after treatment.ResultsCorneal ulceration and ocular pain were resolved by 1 week after CXL treatment and did not recur during the 6‐month follow‐up period. Corneal edema improved in the first 3 months, but worsened from months 3 to 6. Corneal thickness initially decreased, but returned to baseline by 6 months post‐CXL.ConclusionsCXL is a useful treatment option for BK in dogs, despite the short‐lasting effects on corneal thickness. Patient comfort improved rapidly after a single procedure, although CXL did not achieve resolution of corneal edema. Treatment protocols may be refined to produce more durable effects on corneal edema.
Using the age shift method to determine gains from weed management for Pinus radiata in New Zealand
Authors: Watt M S , Rolando C A , Kimberley M O , Coker G W R 
Published: May 2015

SummaryUnderstanding the effects of interspecific competition on long‐term growth of plantation forestry crops is critical to forest management decisions around methods used for weed control. A series of permanent sample plots (31) incorporating trees maintained either weedy or weed‐free until canopy closure were established across New Zealand between 2000 and 2002. We used the age shift method to characterise growth responses of Pinus radiata, in New Zealand, to interspecific competition over the first third of a typical rotation. Eight years after planting, age shifts between treatments ranged between −0.60 years and +3.07 years. On average, the age shift due to weed control increased from 0.62 to 0.96 years between 4 and 8 years of age. This was due to divergent tree growth between weedy and weed‐free plots at 55% of the sites, while at 32% and 13% of sites, respectively, differences between treatments remained constant or decreased beyond age 4 years. The magnitude of the age shift was found to be related to the type of weed dominating early interspecific competition, with woody weeds associated with significantly greater age shifts. Continued divergence in tree growth between weedy and weed‐free treatments up to 8 years after planting at the majority of sites was an unexpected result and contrasts with previous literature. In situations where growth divergence continues beyond 2 years, managers should consider continued treatment of weeds to mitigate the detrimental impacts of on‐going competition.
The biogeography and phylogeny of schizothoracine fishes (Schizopygopsis) in the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Qi Delin , Guo Songchang , Chao Yan , Kong Qinghui , Li Changzhong , Xia Mingzhe , Xie Baosheng , Zhao Kai 
Published: May 2015

Freshwater fish belonging to the genus Schizopygopsis are widespread in drainages throughout the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau and, thus, a model group with which to investigate how paleo‐drainage changes linked to historical uplifting within the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau influence speciation. To date, the phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships within Schizopygopsis remain controversial. In this study, we constructed a comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Schizopygopsis based on six mitochondrial gene sequences. We compared the taxonomic relationships revealed by this phylogeny with those obtained from morphological data. We also used this phylogeny to assess the extent to which the evolution of Schizopygopsis has been driven by paleo‐drainage changes linked to uplifting of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. Results indicated that all Schizopygopsis taxa formed a monophyletic group comprising five major clades, which were inconsistent with the taxonomic relationships based on morphology for this group. Our results also strongly supported the validity of S. anteroventris and S. microcephalus as distinct species within Schizopygopsis. Molecular calibrations showed that species within the middle Yangtze species diverged earlier (~4.5 Mya) than species within the Indus River (~3.0 Mya), the Mekong River (~2.8 Mya) and the Tsangpo + Salween rivers (~2.5 Mya). The most recent evolutionary splits occurred among species from the upper and lower Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Qiadam Basin at about 1.8 to 0.3 Mya. Our molecular evidence and use of the molecular clock calibration have allowed us to associate speciation events within the genus Schizopygopsis to the formation and separation of paleo‐drainage connections caused by tectonic events during the uplifting of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (~4.5 Mya). This work underlines the dominant role of vicariance in shaping the evolutionary history of the genus Schizopygopsis. Further research using multiple loci and more extensive sampling will reveal a more complete picture of the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of Schizopygopsis fishes.
Role of Extracellular Structures of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Initial Attachment to Biotic and Abiotic Surfaces
Authors: Nagy Attila , Mowery Joseph , Bauchan Gary R. , Wang Lili , Nichols-Russell Lydia , Nou Xiangwu 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

Infection by human pathogens through the consumption of fresh, minimally processed produce and solid plant-derived foods is a major concern of the U.S. and global food industries and of public health services. Enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
O157:H7 is a frequent and potent foodborne pathogen that causes severe disease in humans. Biofilms formed by
E. coli
O157:H7 facilitate cross-contamination by sheltering pathogens and protecting them from cleaning and sanitation operations. The objective of this research was to determine the role that several surface structures of
E. coli
O157:H7 play in adherence to biotic and abiotic surfaces. A set of isogenic deletion mutants lacking major surface structures was generated. The mutant strains were inoculated onto fresh spinach and glass surfaces, and their capability to adhere was assessed by adherence assays and fluorescence microscopy methods. Our results showed that filament-deficient mutants bound to the spinach leaves and glass surfaces less strongly than the wild-type strain did. We mimicked the switch to the external environment—during which bacteria leave the host organism and adapt to lower ambient temperatures of cultivation or food processing—by decreasing the temperature from 37°C to 25°C and 4°C. We concluded that flagella and some other cell surface proteins are important factors in the process of initial attachment and in the establishment of biofilms. A better understanding of the specific roles of these structures in early stages of biofilm formation can help to prevent cross-contaminations and foodborne disease outbreaks.
The Host Genotype and Environment Affect Strain Types of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum Inhabiting the Intestinal Tracts of Twins
Authors: Zhang Min , Hang Xiaomin , Tan Jing , Yang Hong 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACT

To investigate the influences of host genotype and environment on
Bifidobacterium longum
subsp.
longum
inhabiting human intestines at the strain level, six pairs of twins, divided into two groups (children and adults), were recruited. Each group consisted of two monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs and one dizygotic (DZ) twin pair. Child twins had been living together from birth, while adult twins had been living separately for 5 to 10 years. A total of 345
B. longum
subsp.
longum
isolates obtained from 60 fecal samples from these twins were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and 35 sequence types (STs) were finally acquired. Comparison of strains within and between the twin pairs showed that no strains with identical STs were observed between unrelated individuals or within adult DZ twin pairs. Eight STs were found to be monophyletic, existing within MZ twins and child DZ twins. The similarity of strain types within child cotwins was significantly higher than that within adult cotwins, which indicated that environment was one of the important determinants in
B. longum
subsp.
longum
strain types inhabiting human intestines. However, although these differences between MZ and DZ twins were observed, it is still difficult to reach an exact conclusion about the impact of host genotype. This is mainly because of the limited number of subjects tested in the present study and the lack of strain types tracing in the same twin pairs from birth until adulthood.