bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neurofunctional assessment at term equivalent age can predict 3‐year neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants
Authors: Picciolini Odoardo , Montirosso Rosario , Porro Matteo , Giannì Maria L. , Mosca Fabio 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAimPreterm infants are at high risk of developing motor delay, learning difficulties and behavioural problems and the availability of valid neurodevelopmental assessments is a major clinical issue. This study evaluated the relationship between preterm infants' neurofunctional assessment at term equivalent age and neurodevelopment outcome at three years of chronological age.MethodsNeurofunctional assessment was performed in 70 very low birth weight infants at term equivalent age and neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed at three years of chronological age with the Griffiths Mental Development Scale – Extended Revised.ResultsAt term equivalent age, 81% of the children had normal neurofunctional scores and 82.5% of those showed normal neurodevelopmental outcome at three years. Of the 19% who had impaired development at term equivalent age, 38.5% had neurodevelopmental delay at three years. Impaired neurofunctional status was associated with an increased risk of developmental delay in the global quotient (odds ratio 12.1) and locomotor sub‐quotient (odds ratio 18.35) compared with normal neurofunctional status. Infants with sepsis or necrotising enterocolitis also faced a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delay.ConclusionNeurofunctional assessment performed at term equivalent age appeared to provide early identification of preterm infants at risk of neurodevelopmental delay at three years of chronological age.
In vivo reversal of the anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban with four‐factor prothrombin complex concentrate
Authors: Barco Stefano , Whitney Cheung Y. , Coppens Michiel , Hutten Barbara A. , Meijers Joost C. M. , Middeldorp Saskia 
Published: October 2015

SummaryFour‐factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) 50 iu/kg is able to swiftly restore haemostatic parameters in healthy subjects on rivaroxaban. We hypothesized that lower dosages of PCC may be sufficient to restore normal haemostasis. In this double‐blind, crossover, placebo‐controlled study, we compared the effects of PCC 37·5 iu/kg, PCC 25 iu/kg, and placebo on thrombin generation (endogenous thrombin potential, ETP) and prothrombin time in six healthy subjects receiving twice‐daily rivaroxaban 15 mg for 2·5 days. Fifteen min after infusion of PCC 37·5 iu/kg, ETP increased from 47 ± 16% to 64 ± 22% (P = 0·03; pre‐rivaroxaban ETP: 92 ± 14%) and remained higher than after placebo over 24 h (P = 0·001). PCC 25 iu/kg did not modify ETP within 15 min (53 ± 11% to 59 ± 12%; P = 0·14) and was not different from placebo over 24 h (P = 0·31). ETP reached pre‐rivaroxaban levels within 6 h after PCC 37·5 iu/kg infusion and within 12–24 h after PCC 25 iu/kg infusion. Both dosages restored rivaroxaban‐induced prothrombin time prolongation after 15 min (P < 0·001). Placebo did not have an effect on coagulation parameters. 37·5 iu/kg of PCC leads to partial restoration of thrombin generation, whereas 25 iu/kg does not. PCC 37·5 iu/kg may be insufficient for immediate full reversal of peak therapeutic rivaroxaban levels.
TLR3 ligand Poly IC Attenuates Reactive Astrogliosis and Improves Recovery of Rats after Focal Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Li Yang , Xu Xu‐Lin , Zhao Dan , Pan Lin‐Na , Huang Chun‐Wei , Guo Lian‐Jun , Lu Qing , Wang Jian 
Published: October 2015

SummaryAimsBrain ischemia activates astrocytes in a process known as astrogliosis. Although this process has beneficial effects, excessive astrogliosis can impair neuronal recovery. Polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid (Poly IC) has shown neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury, but whether it regulates reactive astrogliosis and glial scar formation is not clear.MethodsWe exposed cultured astrocytes to oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and used a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion model to investigate the effects of Poly IC. Astrocyte proliferation and proliferation‐related molecules were evaluated by immunostaining and Western blotting. Neurological deficit scores, infarct volumes and neuroplasticity were evaluated in rats after transient MCAO.ResultsIn vitro, Poly IC inhibited astrocyte proliferation, upregulated Toll‐like receptor 3 (TLR3) expression, upregulated interferon‐β, and downregulated interleukin‐6 production. These changes were blocked by a neutralizing antibody against TLR3, suggesting that Poly IC function is TLR3‐dependent. Moreover, in the MCAO model, Poly IC attenuated reactive astrogliosis, reduced brain infarction volume, and improved neurological function. In addition, Poly IC prevented MCAO‐induced reductions in soma size, dendrite length, and number of dendritic bifurcations in cortical neurons of the infarct penumbra.ConclusionsBy ameliorating astrogliosis‐related damage, Poly IC is a potential therapeutic agent for attenuating neuronal damage and promoting recovery after brain ischemia.
Cortical representation of facial and tongue movements: a task functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Xiao Fu‐long , Gao Pei‐yi , Qian Tian‐yi , Sui Bin‐bin , Xue Jing , Zhou Jian , Lin Yan 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBackgroundFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mapping can present the activated cortical area during movement, while little is known about precise location in facial and tongue movements.ObjectiveTo investigate the representation of facial and tongue movements by task fMRI.MethodsTwenty right‐handed healthy subjects were underwent block design task fMRI examination. Task movements included lip pursing, cheek bulging, grinning and vertical tongue excursion. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM8) was applied to analysis the data.ResultsOne‐sample t‐test was used to calculate the common activation area between facial and tongue movements. Also, paired t‐test was used to test for areas of over‐ or underactivation in tongue movement compared with each group of facial movements.ConclusionsThe common areas within facial and tongue movements suggested the similar motor circuits of activation in both movements. Prior activation in tongue movement was situated laterally and inferiorly in sensorimotor area relative to facial movements. Prior activation of tongue movement was investigated in left superior parietal lobe relative to lip pursing. Also, prior activation in bilateral cuneus lobe in grinning compared with tongue movement was detected.
microRNA deregulation in keloids: an opportunity for clinical intervention?
Authors: Yu Xin , Li Zheng , Chan Matthew T. V. , Wu William K. K. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractKeloids are defined as benign dermal scars invading adjacent healthy tissue, characterized by aberrant fibroblast dynamics and overproduction of extracellular matrix. However, the aetiology and molecular mechanism of keloid production remain poorly understood. Recent discoveries have shed new light on the involvement of a class of non‐coding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNA), in keloid formation. A number of miRNAs have differential expression in keloid tissues and keloid‐derived fibroblasts. These miRNAs have been characterized as novel regulators of cellular processes pertinent to wound healing, including extracellular matrix deposition and fibroblast proliferation. Delineating the functional significance of miRNA deregulation may help us better understand pathogenesis of keloids, and promote development of miRNA‐directed therapeutics against this condition.
Niche variation and the maintenance of variation in body size in a burying beetle
Authors: HOPWOOD PAUL E. , MOORE ALLEN J. , TREGENZA TOM , ROYLE NICK J. 
Published: October 2015

1. In burying beetles (Nicrophorinae), body size is known to provide both a fecundity advantage (in females) and successful resource defence (in males and females). Despite this, considerable variation in body sizes is observed in natural populations.2. A possible explanation for the maintenance of this variation, even with intra‐ and inter‐specific resource competition, is that individuals might assort according to body size on different‐sized breeding resources.3. We tested prediction that ‘bigger is always better’, in the wild and in the laboratory, by experimentally manipulating combinations of available breeding‐resource size (mouse carcasses) and competitor's body size in Nicrophorus vespilloides (Herbst 1783).4. In the field, large female beetles deserted small carcasses, without breeding, more often than they did larger carcasses, but small females used carcasses indiscriminately with respect to size. In the laboratory, large beetles reared larger broods (with more offspring) on larger carcasses than small beetles, but on small carcasses small beetles had a reproductive advantage over large ones. Offspring size covaried with carcass size independently of parental body size.5. The present combined results suggest breeding resource value depends on an individual's body size, and variation in body size is environmentally induced: maintained by differences in available carcass sizes. This produces a mechanism by which individual specialisation leads to an increase in niche variation via body size in these beetles.
Immunological effects in patients with steroid‐refractory graft‐versus‐host disease following treatment with basiliximab, a CD25 monoclonal antibody
Authors: Chakupurakal Geothy , García‐Márquez María Alejandra , Shimabukuro‐Vornhagen Alexander , Theurich Sebastian , Holtick Udo , Hallek Michael , Scheid Christof , von Bergwelt‐Baildon Michael 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSteroid‐refractory graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) is a complication following an allogeneic stem cell transplantation with limited therapeutic options. Studies have shown a response in up to 80% of patients with this condition after treatment with the CD25 monoclonal antibody, basiliximab. Despite the good responses to treatment, around 50% of the patients experience recurrence of their GvHD symptoms 4–6 wk following cessation of therapy. The in vivo changes in the following treatment with this antibody have not been elucidated so far. We treated 14 patients with severe steroid‐refractory GvHD with basiliximab weekly for 4 wk and monitored the changes in the T‐, B‐, NK‐ and dendritic cell subsets over this time period. The overall response to treatment was 92% (13/14) with 50% (7/14) achieving a complete response. Fifty four percentage (7/13) of the patients who responded showed recurrence of their GvHD symptoms. Contrary to expectations, our observations showed a significant depletion of the regulatory T‐cell subset following treatment. Our findings suggest that the undesirable depletion of the regulatory T cells along with the CD25+ acute inflammatory cells might be responsible for the high incidence of GvHD recurrence in this cohort of patients.
Continent‐scale global change attribution in European birds ‐ combining annual and decadal time scales
Authors: Jørgensen Peter Søgaard , Böhning‐Gaese Katrin , Thorup Kasper , Tøttrup Anders P. , Chylarecki Przemysław , Jiguet Frédéric , Lehikoinen Aleksi , Noble David G. , Reif Jiri , Schmid Hans , van Turnhout Chris , Burfield Ian J. , Foppen Ruud , Voříšek Petr , van Strien Arco , Gregory Richard D. , Rahbek Carsten 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSpecies attributes are commonly used to infer impacts of environmental change on multiyear species trends, e.g. decadal changes in population size. However, by themselves attributes are of limited value in global change attribution since they do not measure the changing environment. A broader foundation for attributing species responses to global change may be achieved by complementing an attributes‐based approach by one estimating the relationship between repeated measures of organismal and environmental changes over short time scales. To assess the benefit of this multiscale perspective, we investigate the recent impact of multiple environmental changes on European farmland birds, here focusing on climate change and land use change. We analyze more than 800 time series from 18 countries spanning the past two decades. Analysis of long‐term population growth rates documents simultaneous responses that can be attributed to both climate change and land‐use change, including long‐term increases in populations of hot‐dwelling species and declines in long‐distance migrants and farmland specialists. In contrast, analysis of annual growth rates yield novel insights into the potential mechanisms driving long‐term climate induced change. In particular, we find that birds are affected by winter, spring, and summer conditions depending on the distinct breeding phenology that corresponds to their migratory strategy. Birds in general benefit from higher temperatures or higher primary productivity early on or in the peak of the breeding season with the largest effect sizes observed in cooler parts of species' climatic ranges. Our results document the potential of combining time scales and integrating both species attributes and environmental variables for global change attribution. We suggest such an approach will be of general use when high‐resolution time series are available in large‐scale biodiversity surveys.
A model for mechanistic and system assessments of biochar effects on soils and crops and trade‐offs
Authors: Archontoulis Sotirios V. , Huber Isaiah , Miguez Fernando E. , Thorburn Peter J. , Rogovska Natalia , Laird David A. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractWe developed a biochar model within the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) software that integrates biochar knowledge and enables simulation of biochar effects within cropping systems. The model has algorithms that mechanistically connect biochar to soil organic carbon (SOC), soil water, bulk density (BD), pH, cation exchange capacity, and organic and mineral nitrogen. Soil moisture (SW)–temperature–nitrogen limitations on the rate of biochar decomposition were included as well as biochar‐induced priming effect on SOC mineralization. The model has 10 parameters that capture the diversity of biochar types, 15 parameters that address biochar‐soil interactions and 4 constants. The range of values and their sensitivity is reported. The biochar model was connected to APSIM's maize and wheat crop models to investigate long‐term (30 years) biochar effects on US maize and Australia wheat in various soils. Results from this sensitivity analysis showed that the effect of biochar was the largest in a sandy soil (Australian wheat) and the smallest in clay loam soil (US maize). On average across cropping systems and soils the order of sensitivity and the magnitude of the response of biochar to various soil‐plant processes was (from high to low): SOC (11% to 86%) > N2O emissions (−10% to 43%43%) > plant available water content (0.6% to 12.9%) > BD (−6.5% to −1.7%) > pH (−0.8% to 6.3%) > net N mineralization (−19% to 10%) > CO2 emissions (−2.0% to 4.3%) > water filled pore space (−3.7% to 3.4%) > grain yield (−3.3% to 1.8%) > biomass (−1.6% to 1.4%). Our analysis showed that biochar has a larger impact on environmental outcomes rather than agricultural production. The mechanistic model has the potential to optimize biochar application strategies to enhance environmental and agronomic outcomes but more work is needed to fill knowledge gaps identified in this work.
Sillem's Mountain Finch Leucosticte sillemi is a valid species of rosefinch (Carpodacus, Fringillidae)
Authors: Sangster George , Roselaar Cees S. , Irestedt Martin , Ericson Per G. P. 
Published: October 2015

Sillem's Mountain Finch Leucosticte sillemi was described in 1992 on the basis of an adult and an immature specimen collected in western Tibet in September 1929, but its taxonomic validity and phylogenetic position have been unclear. Based on phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA from the holotype, we show that L. sillemi is not a colour morph of Brandt's Mountain Finch Leucosticte brandti but represents a valid, previously overlooked species of rosefinch (Carpodacus) that has secondarily acquired a pale plumage convergent on that of Leucosticte. Sillem's Mountain Finch is one of the least known species of bird and represents the only known species of rosefinch in which males have no reddish plumage coloration. This species and its sister taxon, the Tibetan Rosefinch Carpodacus roborowskii, are likely to be the world's highest‐altitude sister‐species pair of birds.
The effect of embryonic development on metal and calcium content in eggs and eggshells in a small passerine
Authors: Orłowski Grzegorz , Hałupka Lucyna , Pokorny Przemysław , Klimczuk Ewelina , Sztwiertnia Hanna , Dobicki Wojciech 
Published: October 2015

Published information relating to changes in the chemical element content of avian eggs caused by embryonic development is extremely scarce, although it may be crucial for understanding both the presence of anthropogenic pollutants as well as physiological levels of micronutrients. We assessed the variation in concentrations of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and nine trace elements: seven essential (chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and zinc (Zn)) and two non‐essential (lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)) in shells and contents (both egg yolk and egg white) of embryonated and non‐embryonated eggs. We investigated the eggs of the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, a large proportion of whose eggs are infertile in our study population (almost 43% of clutches contain unhatched eggs) as well as significant embryo‐induced eggshell thinning at the equator of embryonated eggs. We found significantly higher concentrations (≥ 22.7%) of all the focal elements in the contents of embryonated eggs in comparison with non‐embryonated eggs, and a very pronounced one for Ca (nearly twice as high). The shells of embryonated eggs contained significantly higher concentrations of Zn (104.1%), Fe (56.5%), Pb (32.8%) and Cu (28.0%) but significantly lower ones of Co (8.9%) and Ca (9.3%) than the shells of non‐embryonated eggs. The simultaneous higher concentrations of all elements in the content of thinner‐shelled embryonated eggs suggest the parallel transfer of these elements along with Ca resorption from the shell into the egg interior during embryo formation. The higher concentration of most elements in the thinner shells of embryonated eggs may be indicative of the maternal deposition of some of these elements in a shell layer not subject to embryonic depletion, or in the eggshell membrane. Our results highlight the need for the careful selection of egg samples, which should differentiate between embryonated and non‐embryonated eggs in the analytical treatment of eggs and eggshells.
Natural variation of H3K27me3 modification in two Arabidopsis accessions and their hybrid
Authors: Yang Mei , Wang Xuncheng , Huang Hao , Ren Diqiu , Su Yan'e , Zhu Pan , Zhu Danmeng , Fan Liumin , Chen Liangbi , He Guangming , Deng Xing Wang 
Published: October 2015

AbstractHistone modifications affect gene expression, but the mechanism and biological consequence of natural variation in histone modifications remain unclear. Here, we generated genome‐wide integrated maps of H3K27me3 modification and transcriptome for Col, C24 and their F1 hybrid. A total of 1,828 genomic regions showing variation in H3K27me3 modification between Col and C24 were identified, most of which were associated with genic regions. Natural variation of H3K27me3 modification between parents could result in allelic bias of H3K27me3 in hybrids. Furthermore, we found that H3K27me3 variation between Col and C24 was negatively correlated with gene expression differences between two accessions, especially with those arising from the cis‐effect. Importantly, mutation of CLF, an Arabidopsis methyltransferase for H3K27, altered gene expression patterns between the parents. Together, these data provide insights into natural variation of histone modifications and their association with gene expression differences between Arabidopsis ecotypes.
Characteristics of prisoners with neurodevelopmental disorders and difficulties
Authors: McCarthy J. , Chaplin E. , Underwood L. , Forrester A. , Hayward H. , Sabet J. , Young S. , Asherson P. , Mills R. , Murphy D. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies have found high rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) within the criminal justice system (CJS). However, little is understood about prisoners with neurodevelopmental disorders and difficulties (NDD) or their needs. This study aimed to identify prisoners with NDD and compare their characteristics with prisoners without NDD on a range of socio‐demographic and social functioning measures.MethodThis was a descriptive, cross‐sectional study carried out using face‐to‐face interviews with 240 participants in a London Category C prison. Standardised tools were used to assess prisoners for ADHD, ASD and ID.ResultsThe study identified 87 prisoners who screened positive for one or more type of NDD. Participants with NDD were significantly younger and more likely to be single [(odds ratio) OR = 2.1], homeless (OR = 3.4) or unemployed (OR = 2.6) before they came into prison. They also had poorer educational achievements that those without NDD. Over 80% of those with NDD had a previous conviction or imprisonment.ConclusionsThe findings confirm the presence of significant numbers of people with NDD in a male prison. Services across the CJS are required for this group; specifically, there is a need for raised awareness among those working in the CJS to improve the recognition of offenders with NDD. Services in the community need to work with individuals with NDD who are at risk of offending, targeting those who are homeless, unemployed and have poor employment opportunities.
Nuclear import mechanism of neurofibromin for localization on the spindle and function in chromosome congression
Authors: Koliou Xeni , Fedonidis Constantinos , Kalpachidou Theodora , Mangoura Dimitra 
Published: October 2015

AbstractNeurofibromatosis type‐1 (NF‐1) is caused by mutations in the tumor suppressor gene NF1; its protein product neurofibromin is a RasGTPase‐activating protein, a property that has yet to explain aneuploidy, most often observed in astrocytes in NF‐1. Here, we provide a mechanistic model for the regulated nuclear import of neurofibromin during the cell cycle and for a role in chromosome congression. Specifically, we demonstrate that neurofibromin, phosphorylated on Ser2808, a residue adjacent to a nuclear localization signal in the C‐terminal domain (CTD), by Protein Kinase C‐epsilon (PKC‐ε), accumulates in a Ran‐dependent manner and through binding to lamin in the nucleus at G2 in glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, we identify CTD as a tubulin‐binding domain and show that a phosphomimetic substitution of its Ser2808 results in a predominantly nuclear localization. Confocal analysis shows that endogenous neurofibromin localizes on the centrosomes at interphase, as well as on the mitotic spindle, through direct associations with tubulins, in glioblastoma cells and primary astrocytes. More importantly, analysis of mitotic phenotypes after siRNA‐mediated depletion shows that acute loss of this tumor suppressor protein leads to aberrant chromosome congression at the metaphase plate. Therefore, neurofibromin protein abundance and nuclear import are mechanistically linked to an error‐free chromosome congression.
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Concerned with neurofibromin's, a tumor suppressor, mechanism of action, we demonstrate in astrocytic cells that its synthesis, phosphorylation by Protein Kinase C‐ε on Ser2808 (a residue adjacent to a nuclear localization sequence), and nuclear import are cell cycle‐dependent, being maximal at G2. During mitosis, neurofibromin is an integral part of the spindle, while its depletion leads to aberrant chromosome congression, possibly explaining the development of chromosomal instability in Neurofibromatosis type‐1.Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on page 11.Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13300.