bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Midwife‐ and Nurse‐Delivered 5 A's Prenatal Smoking Cessation Program
Authors: Chertok Ilana R. Azulay , Archer Stacey Haynes 
Published: March 2015

IntroductionWest Virginia has the highest rate of prenatal smoking in the United States. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the implementation of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' 5 A's smoking cessation intervention among pregnant women being cared for by 5 A's‐trained midwives working with a team of nurse researchers in an effort to reduce prenatal smoking exposure. The evidence‐based 5 A's smoking cessation program has been recommended for use in prenatal care by health care providers.MethodsA pilot study was conducted evaluating the implementation of the 5 A's prenatal smoking cessation program for 35 women who smoked during pregnancy. The women received consistent messages to quit or reduce smoking from the midwives and were followed by the nurse research team via telephone with continued support, guidance, and strategic planning for tobacco exposure reduction.ResultsAmong the 35 women who enrolled in the study, 32 (91.4%) decreased smoking and 3 (8.6%) quit smoking by one month after the intervention. For those who continued to smoke, the average number of cigarettes smoked was reduced from 10 cigarettes per day at baseline to 8 cigarettes per day at one month, 7 cigarettes per day at 2 months, and 6 cigarettes per day by the end of pregnancy. The women further reduced their tobacco exposure by delaying the timing of initiating smoking in the morning and by increasing indoor smoking restrictions.DiscussionMidwives and nurses can be trained in the implementation of the evidence‐based 5 A's smoking cessation program for incorporation into regular prenatal care of pregnant women who smoke. By guiding women in techniques aimed at reducing the amount and frequency of cigarette smoking, nurses and midwives facilitate a decrease in prenatal smoking exposure.
Influence of Acupuncture on the Third Stage of Labor: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: López‐Garrido Beatriz , García‐Gonzalo Javier , Patrón‐Rodriguez Clara , Marlasca‐Gutiérrez Maria Jesús , Gil‐Pita Roberto , Toro‐Flores Rafael 
Published: March 2015

IntroductionA prolonged third stage of labor is considered to be a risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of acupuncture to reduce the length of the third stage of labor.MethodsSeventy‐six puerperal women who had a normal spontaneous birth at the Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Spain, were included in a single‐blind randomized trial and evaluated by a third party. Women were randomly assigned to receive true acupuncture or placebo acupuncture (also known as sham acupuncture). In the first group, a sterilized steel needle was inserted at the Ren Mai 6 point, which is located on the anterior midline between the umbilicus and the upper part of the pubic symphysis. In the second group, the insertion site was located at the same horizontal level as the Ren Mai 6 point but shifted slightly to the left of the anterior midline. The management of the third stage of labor was the same in both groups.ResultsStatistically significant differences were found, with an average time to placental expulsion of 15.2 minutes in the placebo group and 5.2 minutes in the acupuncture group. No major complications occurred in either group.DiscussionThese results confirm that acupuncture at the Ren Mai 6 point can decrease the time to placental expulsion. This treatment represents a simple, safe, and inexpensive way of decreasing the duration of the third stage of labor.
Hypothalamic Neurones Governing Glucose Homeostasis
Authors: Coppari R. 
Published: March 2015

The notion that the brain directly controls the level of glucose in the blood (glycaemia) independent of its known action on food intake and body weight has been known ever since 1849. That year, the French physiologist Dr Claude Bernard reported that physical puncture of the floor of the fourth cerebral ventricle rapidly leads to an increased level of sugar in the blood (and urine) in rabbits. Despite this important discovery, it took approximately 150 years before significant efforts aimed at understanding the underlying mechanism of brain‐mediated control of glucose metabolism were made. Technological developments allowing for genetically‐mediated manipulation of selected molecular pathways in a neurone‐type‐specific fashion unravelled the importance of specific molecules in specific neuronal populations. These neuronal pathways govern glucose metabolism in the presence and even in the absence of insulin. Also, a peculiarity of these pathways is that certain biochemically‐defined neurones govern glucose metabolism in a tissue‐specific fashion.
Coordinated regulation of melatonin synthesis and degradation genes in rice leaves in response to cadmium treatment
Authors: Byeon Yeong , Lee Hyoung Yool , Hwang Ok Jin , Lee Hye‐Jung , Lee Kyungjin , Back Kyoungwhan 
Published: March 2015

AbstractWe investigated the expression patterns of genes involved in melatonin synthesis and degradation in rice leaves upon cadmium (Cd) treatment and the subcellular localization sites of melatonin 2‐hydroxylase (M2H) proteins. The Cd‐induced synthesis of melatonin coincided with the increased expression of melatonin biosynthetic genes including tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC), tryptamine 5‐hydroxylase (T5H), and N‐acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT). However, the expression of serotonin N‐acetyltransferase (SNAT), the penultimate gene in melatonin biosynthesis, was downregulated, suggesting that melatonin synthesis was counter‐regulated by SNAT. Notably, the induction of melatonin biosynthetic gene expression was coupled with the induction of four M2H genes involved in melatonin degradation, which suggests that genes for melatonin synthesis and degradation are coordinately regulated. The induced M2H gene expression was correlated with enhanced M2H enzyme activity. Three of the M2H proteins were localized to the cytoplasm and one M2H protein was localized to chloroplasts, indicating that melatonin degradation occurs both in the cytoplasm and in chloroplasts. The biological activity of 2‐hydroxymelatonin in the induction of the plant defense gene expression was 50% less than that of melatonin, which indicates that 2‐hydroxymelatonin may be a metabolite of melatonin. Overall, our data demonstrate that melatonin synthesis occurs in parallel with melatonin degradation in both chloroplasts and cytoplasm, and the resulting melatonin metabolite 2‐hydroxymelatonin also acts as a signaling molecule for defense gene induction.
Sudden Death Associated withQTInterval Prolongation andKCNQ1 Gene Mutation in a Family of English Springer Spaniels
Authors: Ware W.A. , Reina‐Doreste Y. , Stern J.A. , Meurs K.M. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundA 5‐year‐old, healthy English Springer Spaniel died suddenly 4 months after delivering a litter of 7 puppies. Within 4 months of the dam's death, 3 offspring also died suddenly.HypothesisAbnormal cardiac repolarization, caused by an inherited longQTsyndrome, is thought to be responsible for arrhythmias leading to sudden death in this family.AnimalsFour remaining dogs from the affected litter and 11 related dogs.MethodsPhysical examination and restingECGwere done on the littermates and 9 related dogs. Additional tests on some or all littermates included echocardiogram with Doppler, Holter monitoring, and routine serum biochemistry. Blood forDNAsequencing was obtained from all 15 dogs.ResultsThree of 4 littermates examined, but no other dogs, had prolongedQTintervals with unique T‐wave morphology.DNAsequencing of theKCNQ1 gene identified a heterozygous single base pair mutation, unique to these 3 dogs, which changes a conserved amino acid from threonine to lysine and is predicted to change protein structure.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThis family represents the first documentation in dogs of spontaneous familialQTprolongation, which was associated with aKCNQ1 gene mutation and sudden death. Although the final rhythm could not be documented in these dogs, their phenotypic manifestations ofQTinterval prolongation and abnormalECGrestitution suggested increased risk for sudden arrhythmic death. TheKCNQ1 gene mutation identified is speculated to impair the cardiac repolarizing currentIKs,similar toKCNQ1 mutations causing longQTsyndrome 1 in humans.
Changes in Serum and Urine SAA Concentrations and Qualitative and Quantitative Proteinuria in Abyssinian Cats with Familial Amyloidosis: A Five‐year Longitudinal Study (2009–2014)
Authors: Paltrinieri S. , Sironi G. , Giori L. , Faverzani S. , Longeri M. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundDiagnosis of familial amyloidosis (FA) in Abyssinian cats usually is made on postmortem examination.Hypothesis/ObjectivesSequential analysis of serum SAA (sSAA), urinary SAA (uSAA), urinary protein:creatinine (UPC) ratio, or sodium‐dodecylsulfate agarose gel electrophoresis (SDS‐AGE) may facilitate early identification of cats with FA.AnimalsTwenty‐three Abyssinian cats belonging to cattery A or B (low and high prevalence of FA, respectively).MethodsProspective longitudinal study using 109 blood and 100 urine samples collected over 4‐year period every 4 months, if possible, or more frequently in case of illness. Cats that died during study were necropsied. Health status of live cats was checked 5 years after enrollment. Serum amyloid A (sSAA) and urinary SAA (uSAA) were measured using ELISA kit. The UPC ratio and SDS‐AGE also was performed.ResultsFamilial amyloidosis was not identified in cattery A, whereas 7/14 cats from cattery B had FA. Serum amyloid A concentrations were not significantly different between cats in catteries A and B or between cats with or without FA, despite frequent peaks in cats from cattery B. Conversely, uSAA was significantly higher in cattery B, especially in the terminal phases of FA. Proteinuria occasionally was found in cats from both catteries, especially in those with FA. Urine protein electrophoresis identified mixed proteinuria only in cats with FA.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceSerum amyloid A and UPC ratio are not helpful for early identification of Abyssinian cats with FA. Conversely, increases in uSAA with or without mixed proteinuria may be found before onset of clinical signs in cats with FA.
Persistent Ehrlichia ewingii Infection in Dogs after Natural Tick Infestation
Authors: Starkey L.A. , Barrett A.W. , Beall M.J. , Chandrashekar R. , Thatcher B. , Tyrrell P. , Little S.E. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundEhrlichia ewingii, which causes disease in dogs and people, is the most common Ehrlichia spp. infecting dogs in the United States, but little is known about how long E. ewingii infection persists in dogs.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo evaluate the persistence of natural infection with E. ewingii in dogs.AnimalsFour Class A Beagles; no previous exposure to ticks or tick‐borne infectious agents.MethodsDogs were exposed to ticks by weekly walks through tick habitat in north central Oklahoma; dogs positive for infection with Ehrlichia spp. by sequence‐confirmed PCR and peptide‐specific serology were evaluated for 733 days (D). Whole blood was collected once weekly for PCR, and serum was collected once monthly for detection of antibodies to Ehrlichia canis (peptide p16), Ehrlichia chaffeensis (indirect fluorescence antibody [IFA] and variable‐length PCR target [VLPT]), and E. ewingii (peptide p28).ResultsAll dogs (4/4) became infected with Ehrlichia spp. as evidenced by seroconversion on IFA to E. chaffeensis (4/4); PCR detection of E. ewingii (4/4) and E. chaffeensis (2/4) DNA using both nested and real‐time assays; and presence of specific antibodies to E. ewingii (4/4) and E. chaffeensis (2/4). Infection with E. chaffeensis was not detected after D55. Intermittent E. ewingii rickettsemia persisted in 3 of 4 dogs for as long as 733 days.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceOur data demonstrate that dogs infected with E. ewingii from tick feeding are capable of maintaining infection with this pathogen long‐term, and may serve as a reservoir host for the maintenance of E. ewingii in nature.
Dietary Management of Labrador Retrievers with Subclinical Hepatic Copper Accumulation
Authors: Fieten H. , Biourge V.C. , Watson A.L. , Leegwater P.A.J. , van den Ingh T.S.G.A.M. , Rothuizen J. 
Published: March 2015

BackgroundGenetic and environmental factors, including dietary copper intake, contribute to the pathogenesis of copper‐associated hepatitis in Labrador retrievers. Clinical disease is preceded by a subclinical phase in which copper accumulates in the liver.ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of a low‐copper, high‐zinc diet on hepatic copper concentration in Labrador retrievers with increased hepatic copper concentrations.AnimalsTwenty‐eight clinically healthy, client‐owned Labrador retrievers with a mean hepatic copper concentration of 919 ± 477 mg/kg dry weight liver (dwl) that were related to dogs previously diagnosed with clinical copper‐associated hepatitis.MethodsClinical trial in which dogs were fed a diet containing 1.3 ± 0.3 mg copper/Mcal and 64.3 ± 5.9 mg zinc/Mcal. Hepatic copper concentrations were determined in liver biopsy samples approximately every 6 months. Logistic regression was performed to investigate effects of sex, age, initial hepatic copper concentration and pedigree on the ability to normalize hepatic copper concentrations.ResultsIn responders (15/28 dogs), hepatic copper concentrations decreased from a mean of 710 ± 216 mg/kg dwl copper to 343 ± 70 mg/kg dwl hepatic copper after a median of 7.1 months (range, 5.5–21.4 months). Dogs from a severely affected pedigree were at increased risk for inability to have their hepatic copper concentrations normalized with dietary treatment.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceFeeding a low‐copper, high‐zinc diet resulted in a decrease in hepatic copper concentrations in a subset of clinically normal Labrador retrievers with previous hepatic copper accumulation. A positive response to diet may be influenced by genetic background. Determination of clinical benefit requires further study.
Identification of microRNAs and their mRNA targets during soybean nodule development: functional analysis of the role of miR393j‐3p in soybean nodulation
Authors: Yan Zhe , Hossain Md Shakhawat , Arikit Siwaret , Valdés‐López Oswaldo , Zhai Jixian , Wang Jun , Libault Marc , Ji Tieming , Qiu Lijuan , Meyers Blake C. , Stacey Gary 
Published: March 2015

Summary

Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) play important regulatory roles in a number of developmental processes. The present work investigated the roles of miRNAs during nodule development in the crop legume soybean (Glycine max).

Fifteen soybean small RNA libraries were sequenced from different stages of nodule development, including young nodules, mature nodules and senescent nodules. In order to identify the regulatory targets of the miRNAs, five parallel analysis of RNA ends (PARE) libraries were also sequenced from the same stages of nodule development.

Sequencing identified 284 miRNAs, including 178 novel soybean miRNAs. Analysis of miRNA abundance identified 139 miRNAs whose expression was significantly regulated during nodule development, including 12 miRNAs whose expression changed > 10‐fold. Analysis of the PARE libraries identified 533 miRNA targets, including three nodulation‐related genes and eight nodule‐specific genes.

miR393j‐3p was selected for detailed analysis as its expression was significantly regulated during nodule formation, and it targeted a nodulin gene, Early Nodulin 93 (ENOD93). Strong, ectopic expression of miR393j‐3p, as well as RNAi silencing of ENOD93 expression, significantly reduced nodule formation. The data indicate that miR393j‐3p regulation of ENOD93 mRNA abundance is a key control point for soybean nodule formation.
Confluence, synnovation, and depauperons in plant diversification
Authors: Donoghue Michael J. , Sanderson Michael J. 
Published: March 2015

SummaryWe review the empirical phylogenetic literature on plant diversification, highlighting challenges in separating the effects of speciation and extinction, in specifying diversification mechanisms, and in making convincing arguments. In recent discussions of context dependence, key opportunities and landscapes, and indirect effects and lag times, we see a distinct shift away from single‐point/single‐cause ‘key innovation’ hypotheses toward more nuanced explanations involving multiple interacting causal agents assembled step‐wise through a tree. To help crystalize this emerging perspective we introduce the term ‘synnovation’ (a hybrid of ‘synergy’ and ‘innovation’) for an interacting combination of traits with a particular consequence (‘key synnovation’ in the case of increased diversification rate), and the term ‘confluence’ for the sequential coming together of a set of traits (innovations and synnovations), environmental changes, and geographic movements along the branches of a phylogenetic tree. We illustrate these concepts using the radiation of Bromeliaceae. We also highlight the generality of these ideas by considering how rate heterogeneity associated with a confluence relates to the existence of particularly species‐poor lineages, or ‘depauperons.’ Many challenges are posed by this re‐purposed research framework, including difficulties associated with partial taxon sampling, uncertainty in divergence time estimation, and extinction.

Contents

Summary
260

I.
Introduction
260

II.
Lessons from the literature
261

III.
New terms, new possibilities
265

IV.
Rate heterogeneity and depauperons
268

V.
Obstacles to identifying synnovation, confluence, and depauperons
269

VI.
Conclusions
270

Acknowledgements
270

References
270
Differential effects of two probiotics on the risks of eczema and atopy associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms to Toll‐like receptors
Authors: Marlow Gareth , Han Dug Yeo , Wickens Kristin , Stanley Thorsten , Crane Julian , Mitchell Edwin A. , Dekker James , Barthow Christine , Fitzharris Penny , Ferguson Lynnette R. , Morgan Angharad R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundThere is strong evidence to support a genetic predisposition to eczema and more recently studies have suggested that probiotics might be used to prevent eczema by modifying the expression of putative allergy‐associated genes. The aim of this present study was to investigate whether two probiotics, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 (HN001) and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 (HN019), can modify the known genetic predisposition to eczema conferred by genetic variation in the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) genes in a high‐risk infant population.MethodsWe selected 54 SNPs in the Toll‐like receptor genes. These SNPs were analysed in 331 children of sole European ancestry as part of a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial examining the effects of HN001 and HN019 supplementation on eczema development and atopic sensitization.ResultsThe data showed that 26 TLR SNPs interacted with HN001 resulting in a significantly reduced risk of eczema, 18 for eczema severity as defined by SCORAD ≥10 and 20 for atopic sensitization compared to placebo. There were only two SNPs that interacted with HN019 resulting in a reduced risk of eczema, eczema severity or atopy.ConclusionsThis is the first study to show that the negative impact of specific TLR genotypes may be positively affected by probiotic supplementation. HN001 exhibits a much stronger effect than HN019 in this respect.
New ammonoid taxa from theLowerCretaceousGiumalFormation of theTethyanHimalaya (NorthernIndia)
Authors: Lukeneder Alexander , Suttner Thomas J. , Bertle Rufus J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractKnowledge of theEarlyCretaceous ammonoids of theNW‐Himalayas was poor until recent discoveries. Intense sampling from theGiumalFormation exposed near the village ofChikkim (SpitiValley,HimachalPradesh,India) led to the recognition of a newEarlyCretaceous ammonoid fauna. The succession consists of arenitic sandstone interbedded with shale that was deposited by turbidity currents on an unstable shelf in theEarlyCretaceous. Ammonoids have been obtained only from sandstone beds in the lower one‐third and close to the top of thec. 350‐m‐thick section. Eight new ammonoid taxa (1 genus and 7 species) are described:Sinzovia frankisp. nov. (rare),Giumaliceras giumaliensegen. et sp. nov. (abundant),Giumaliceras bhargavaigen. et sp. nov. (rare),Neocomites(Eristavites)platycostatiformissp. nov. (rare),Cleoniceras oberhauserisp. nov. (abundant),Australiceras himalayensesp. nov. (rare) andDeshayesites fuchsisp. nov. (rare).SinzoviaandDeshayesitesare reported for the first time from theTethyanHimalaya. According to the biostratigraphic relevance of some ammonoid taxa described here, the age of theGiumalFormation can be constrained fromBerriasian (Giumalicerasassemblage) toAptian (Cleonicerasassemblage). The discovery of the new fauna substantiates the significance of theGiumalFormation aroundChikkim and facilitates comparison with faunal assemblages from other regions in theTethysOcean and beyond.
The earliest known strophomenoids (Brachiopoda) from early Middle Ordovician rocks Of South China
Authors: Renbin Zhan , Jisuo Jin , Jiayu Rong , Yan Liang 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe upper Daguanshan Formation (middle Expansograptus hirundo graptolite biozone, Dapingian, early Middle Ordovician) of the Shuanghe area, Changning County, southern Sichuan Province, contains three new genera and species of strophomenoids: Ochyromena plana, Shuangheella elongata, and Primotimena globula, which are attributed to the Strophomenidae, Rafinesquinidae and Glyptomenidae respectively. These are the earliest known strophomenoids from the South China palaeoplate, and also the oldest rafinesquinid and glyptomenid brachiopods worldwide. Global review of the superfamily Strophomenoidea of Middle Ordovician age suggests that the first diversity peak at the species level occurred in late Darriwilian (Llanvirn) time, mainly as a result of the rapid diversification of the family Strophomenidae. The first appearance datum (FAD) of strophomenoids and their possible westward dispersal were from North China (latest Floian) and/or South China (early Dapingian), through the Chu‐Ili terrane of Kazakhstan, Iran, and Baltica (early Darriwilian), to Avalonia and Laurentia (late Darriwilian). This points to the existence of early diversification hotspots of the strophomenoid superfamily in the North and South China palaeoplates during the early Middle Ordovician in generally shallow water (corresponding to BA2) environments. The high degree of similarity in the external morphology and ventral interior of the three new genera indicates that the early diversification of strophomenoids began with differentiation of the cardinalia, especially in the configuration of the bilobed cardinal process, a key evolutionary novelty for the strophomenoids.