bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bisphenol A affects placental layers morphology and angiogenesis during early pregnancy phase in mice
Authors: Tait Sabrina , Tassinari Roberta , Maranghi Francesca , Mantovani Alberto 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread endocrine disrupter mainly used in food contact plastics. Much evidence supports the adverse effects of BPA, particularly on susceptible groups such as pregnant women. The present study considered placental development – relevant for pregnancy outcomes and fetal nutrition/programming – as a potential target of BPA. Pregnant CD‐1 mice were administered per os with vehicle, 0.5 (BPA05) or 50 mg kg−1 (BPA50) body weight day−1 of BPA, from gestational day (GD) 1 to GD11. At GD12, BPA50 induced significant degeneration and necrosis of giant cells, increased vacuolization in the junctional zone in the absence of glycogen accumulation and reduction of the spongiotrophoblast layer. In addition, BPA05 induced glycogen depletion as well as significant nuclear accumulation of β‐catenin in trophoblasts of labyrinthine and spongiotrophoblast layers, supporting the activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that BPA05 promoted and BPA50 inhibited blood vessel development and branching; morphologically, maternal vessels were narrower in BPA05 placentas, whereas embryonic and maternal vessels were irregularly dilated in the labyrinth of BPA50 placentas. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction evidenced an estrogen receptor β induction by BPA50, which did not correspond to downstream genes activation; indeed, the transcription factor binding sites analysis supported the AhR/Arnt complex as regulator of BPA50‐modulated genes. Conversely, Creb appeared as the main transcription factor regulating BPA05‐modulated genes. Embryonic structures (head, forelimb) showed divergent perturbations upon BPA05 or BPA50 exposure, potentially related to unbalanced embryonic nutrition and/or to modulation of genes involved in embryo development. Our findings support placenta as an important target of BPA, even at environmentally relevant dose levels. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differences in the behavior and ecology of wild type medaka (Oryzias latipes complex) and an orange commercial variety (himedaka)
Authors: Nakao Ryohei , Kitagawa Tadao 
Published: June 2015

ABSTRACTGenetic disturbance in wild populations of medaka (Oryzias latipes complex) has been mainly caused by the introduction of the orange–red commercial variety medaka (himedaka) in Japan. To examine whether survival, reproduction, and species recognition would be influenced by this difference in body coloration, we conducted three laboratory experiments (predatory pressure, mate choice, schooling behavior) using wild type medaka and himedaka. In the predation experiment using dark chub (Candidia temminckii) as a predator, himedaka were predated upon more often than wild type medaka. However, individuals did not choose mates or select schooling groups based on himedaka or wild type medaka phenotypes. The results indicate that himedaka receive higher predation pressure but are able to easily mate with wild type medaka in a natural environment. To conserve the genetic diversity of wild medaka populations, we need to control the risk of genetic disturbance caused by himedaka. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 349–358, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Carbonic anhydrase II is found in the placenta of a viviparous, matrotrophic lizard and likely facilitates embryo‐maternal CO2 transport
Authors: Van Dyke James U. , Lindsay Laura A. , Murphy Christopher R. , Thompson Michael B. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe evolution of viviparity requires the development of mechanisms that facilitate transport of respiratory gases between mother and developing embryo. Of particular importance is maternal excretion of embryonic carbon dioxide (CO2), which increases as the embryo grows in size during development. The carbonic anhydrases are a family of enzymes that convert CO2 to bicarbonate for transport throughout the cardiovascular system and which may also be important for CO2 transport from embryo to mother. We used immunohistochemistry to localize carbonic anhydrase II in the placental tissues of a viviparous and highly placentotrophic lizard, Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii. Carbonic anhydrase II is localized in the uterine component of the paraplacentome, presumably to facilitate transport of embryonic CO2 to the mother. Carbonic anhydrase II is also localized in both the uterine and embryonic components of the placentome, a region heavily involved in placental nutrient transport rather than respiratory gas exchange. In contrast, carbonic anhydrase II is not present in the uterine or embryonic components of the omphaloplacenta, another region responsible for nutrient transport. While carbonic anhydrase II in the paraplacentomal uterus is likely to be responsible for embryo‐maternal CO2 transport, the distribution of carbonic anhydrase II throughout the placentome indicates a different function. Instead of transporting embryonic CO2, placentomal carbonic anhydrase II appears to be responsible for transporting CO2 produced by energetically expensive nutrient transport mechanisms in both the uterus and the embryo, which implies that the mechanisms of nutrient transport in the omphaloplacenta may not be as energetically expensive. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 636–646, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wave forces limit the establishment of submerged macrophytes in large shallow lakes
Authors: Van Zuidam Bastiaan G. , Peeters Edwin T. H. M. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractWe studied the effect of waves on submerged macrophytes and hypothesized that exposure to large wave forces can hamper seedling establishment. In an indoor experiment in cylindrical mesocosms we tested whether large wave forces indeed inhibited the establishment of Chara globularis and Potamogeton pusillus from the propagule bank. We mimicked the effect of wave forces by generating a circular flow that caused resuspension of the sediment. Four treatments were applied, consisting of different repetition frequencies of resuspension events. Emergence and early growth of both species were monitored over 8 weeks. The resuspension treatments significantly reduced the emergence of both species, by 91% and 45% on average for Chara sp. and P. pusillus, respectively. We analysed field observations on the two species in the lakes of the IJsselmeer area in the Netherlands to evaluate whether wave forces may also inhibit establishment of macrophytes in the field. The field data seemed to support the hypothesis as both species hardly occurred in areas where a large bottom shear stress had occurred in spring, according to simulations with the SWAN wave model. The calculated maximum bottom shear stress correlated well with the occurrence of both Chara sp. and P. pusillus in the field. Regressions showed that this effect of wave forces was additional to the effect of light availability. Our study indicates that large wave forces may inhibit the establishment of macrophytes in large lakes. Reducing large wave forces can therefore potentially promote macrophyte development in these large lakes.
Combinatorial nanomedicines for colon cancer therapy
Authors: Anitha A. , Maya S. , Sivaram Amal J. , Mony U. , Jayakumar R. 
Published: June 2015

Colon cancer is one of the major causes of cancer deaths worldwide. Even after surgical resection and aggressive chemotherapy, 50% of colorectal carcinoma patients develop recurrent disease. Thus, the rationale of developing new therapeutic approaches to improve the current chemotherapeutic regimen would be highly recommended. There are reports on the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy in colon cancer and it has been practiced in clinics for long time. These approaches are associated with toxic side effects. Later, the drug delivery research had shown the potential of nanoencapsulation techniques and active targeting as an effective method to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy with less toxicity. This current focus article provides a brief analysis of the ongoing research in the colon cancer area using the combinatorial nanomedicines and its outcome. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2015, 8:151–159. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1353This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
A novel high-throughput and quantitative method based on visible color shifts for screening Bacillus subtilis THY-15 for surfactin production
Authors: Yang Huan , Yu Huimin , Shen Zhongyao 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
A novel chromatic visible screening method using bromothymol blue (BTB) as a color indicator and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a mediator was constructed to obtain the high titer surfactin-producing strains. The reliability and quantification accuracy of color shift were also confirmed. Regular chromatic responses from faint yellow-green to dark green and bright blue reflected the different ranges of surfactin concentrations. Moreover, the quantitative accuracy of surfactin quantification in the range of 100–500 mg/L was verified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using different fermentation supernatant samples. Using this CPC–BTB method, a superior surfactin producer, Bacillus subtilis THY-15, was successfully screened. The producer’s surfactin (Srf) titer reached 1240 mg/L. RP-HPLC analysis of THY-15 revealed four surfactin isoforms. As identified by amino acid analysis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis, the isoforms of surfactin in fraction 1, 2 and 4 had the same circular peptide sequence of Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Asp-Leu-Leu but different iso-C13, C14 and C15 fatty acid chains, but the isoform in fraction 3 possessed a special peptide sequence of Glu-Val-Leu-Leu-Asp-Leu-Val.
Concomitant immune‐related events in Wilson disease: implications for monitoring chelator therapy
Authors: Seessle Jessica , Gotthardt Daniel Nils , Schäfer Mark , Gohdes Annina , Pfeiffenberger Jan , Ferenci Peter , Stremmel Wolfgang , Weiss Karl Heinz 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackground and AimsCurrent guidelines favor the use of chelating agents (d‐penicillamine, trientine) in first line therapy of symptomatic Wilson disease patients. Development of chelator induced immunological adverse events are a concern especially under d‐penicillamine therapy. This study assessed the prevalence of co‐existing or therapy‐related immune‐mediated diseases in Wilson disease patients, and evaluated the role of antinuclear antibodies in therapy monitoring.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 235 Wilson disease patients. Medical regimens were classified and analyzed in relation to adverse events and antinuclear antibody courses.ResultsCoexisting immune‐mediated diseases were evident in 19/235 (8.1 %) patients, of which 13/235 (5.5 %) had pre‐existing autoimmune diseases. Six patients (2.6 %) developed an autoimmune disease under therapy, all of them under long‐term d‐penicillamine treatment. Data relating to antinuclear antibody courses during treatment and adverse events were available for patients treated with d‐penicillamine (n = 91), trientine (n = 58), and zinc salts (n = 58). No significant increase in antinuclear antibody titers in patients treated with d‐penicillamine (16/91; 17.6 %), trientine (12/58; 20.7 %), and zinc (7/58; 12.1 %) were found.ConclusionUnder long‐term d‐penicillamine therapy a minority of patients developed immune‐mediated disease. Elevations in antinuclear antibodies were found frequently, but no correlations were evident between increases in antinuclear antibodies and the development of immune‐mediated diseases or medical regimes. Thus, the value of antinuclear antibodies for monitoring adverse events under chelator therapy seems to be limited.
The Role of Cardiac MRI in Patients with Troponin-Positive Chest Pain and Unobstructed Coronary Arteries
Authors: Dastidar Amardeep Ghosh , Rodrigues Jonathan C. L. , Ahmed Nauman , Baritussio Anna , Bucciarelli-Ducci Chiara 
Published: June 2015

AbstractAcute coronary syndrome (ACS) still remains one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Seven to fifteen percent of patients presenting with ACS have unobstructed coronary artery disease (CAD) on urgent angiography. Patients with ACS and unobstructed coronary arteries represent a clinical dilemma and their diagnosis and management is quite variable in current practice. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging with its unique non-invasive myocardial tissue characterization property has the potential to identify underlying etiologies and reach a final diagnosis. These include acute and chronic myocarditis, embolic/spontaneous recanalization myocardial infarction, and Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy, and other conditions. Establishing a final diagnosis has a direct implication on patient’s management and prognosis. In this article, we have reviewed the current evidence on the diagnostic role of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with ACS and unobstructed coronary arteries. We have also highlighted the potential role of CMR as a risk stratification or prognostication tool for this patient population.
National Survey of Emergency Physicians to Define Functional Decline in Elderly Patients with Minor Trauma
Authors: Abdulaziz Kasim , Brehaut Jamie , Taljaard Monica , Émond Marcel , Sirois Marie-Josée , Lee Jacques S. , Wilding Laura , Perry Jeffrey J. 
Published: June 2015

AbstractBackgroundThere are a number of screening tools to predict return to the emergency department (ED) in elderly trauma patients, but none exist to specifically screen for functional decline after a minor injury. The objective of this study was to identify outcome measures for a possible future clinical decision rule to be used in the ED to identify previously independent patients at high risk of functional decline at six months post minor injury.MethodsAfter a rigorous development process, a survey instrument was administered to a random sample of 178 emergency physicians using the Dillman’s Tailored Design Method.ResultsOf 156 eligible surveys, we received 81 completed surveys (response rate 51.9%). Considering all 14 activities of daily living (ADL) items, 90% of physicians deemed a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in function to be at least three points on the 28-point Older Americans Resources and Services (OARS) ADL Scale as clinically significant. A tool with a sensitivity of 93% to detect patients at risk of functional decline at six months post injury would meet or exceed the sensitivity deemed to be required by 90% of physicians. The majority of emergency physicians do not assess elderly injured patients for the majority of the tasks.ConclusionsA drop of three points on the 28-point OARS ADL Scale would be deemed clinically important by the vast majority of emergency physicians. Further, a sensitivity of 93% for a clinical decision tool would satisfy the MCID requirements of the vast majority of emergency physicians. There appears to be a gap between physician knowledge and actual practice. We intend to use these findings in the development of a clinical decision rule to identify high-risk elderly trauma patients.
A Daytime Fast Track Improves Throughput in a Single Physician Coverage Emergency Department
Authors: Copeland Julie , Gray Andrew 
Published: June 2015

AbstractObjectivesFast tracks are one approach to reduce emergency department (ED) crowding. No studies have assessed the use of fast tracks in smaller hospitals with single physician coverage. Our study objective was to determine if implementation of an ED fast track in a single physician coverage setting would improve wait times for low-acuity patients without negatively impacting those of higher acuity.MethodsA daytime fast track opened in 2010 at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital, a southwestern Ontario community hospital. Before and after intervention groups comprised of ED visits in 2009 and 2011 were compared. Pooled comparison of all Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS) patients in each period, and between subgroups CTAS 2-5 comparisons were performed for: wait time (WT), length of stay (LOS), WTs that met national CTAS time guidelines (MNCTG), and proportion of patients that left without being seen (LWBS).ResultsWT and LOS were six minutes (88 min to 82 min, p=0.002) and 15 minutes (158 min to 143 min, p<0.001) lower, respectively, in the post-intervention period. Subgroup analysis showed CTAS 4 had the most pre- to post-intervention decrease in WT, of 13 minutes (98 min to 85 min, p<0.001). There was statistical improvement in MNCTG in the post-intervention period. No differences were found in outcome measures for higher-acuity patients or LWBS rates.ConclusionsImplementation of a fast track in a medium-volume community hospital with single physician coverage can improve patient throughput by decreasing WT and LOS without negatively impacting high-acuity patients. This may be clinically relevant, particularly for hospital administrators, given the improvement in meeting national WT standards we found post-intervention.
Radical settlements to conflict: Conflict management and its implications for institutional change
Authors: Helms Wesley S. , Oliver Christine 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis paper theorizes that conflict management strategies influenceradical settlementsin institutional fields. Radical settlements are truces to conflict reached between field constituents that significantly change constituents’ relations and their institutional context. We develop theory on the concept of radical settlements by introducing a typology of conflict management strategies that predicts variance in the likelihood of a radical settlement in institutional fields. We ground this typology within a framework of two key antecedents – ideological salience and field polarization – proposed to influence conflict management strategies. Our paper provides new insights to the literature on conflict and institutional change by shedding new light on the counter-intuitive phenomenon of conflict settlement or cessation as a catalyst for change within institutional fields.
Metabolism, health and fillet nutritional quality in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed diets containing n-3-rich microalgae
Authors: Kousoulaki Katerina , Østbye Tone-Kari Knutsdatter , Krasnov Aleksei , Torgersen Jacob Seilø , Mørkøre Turid , Sweetman John 
Published: June 2015

AbstractMicroalgae, as primary producers of EPA and DHA, are among the most prominent alternative sources to fish oil for n-3 long-chain PUFA in animal and human nutrition. The present study aimed to assess technical, nutritional and fish health aspects of producing n-3-rich Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fish fillets by dietary supplementation of increasing levels of a DHA-producing Schizochytrium sp. and reduced or without use of supplemental fish oil. Atlantic salmon smolt were fed diets with graded levels of microalgae for 12 weeks, during which all fish showed high feed intake rates with postprandial plasma leptin levels inversely correlating with final mean fish body weights. Fish performance was optimal in all experimental treatments (thermal growth coefficient about 4·0 and feed conversion ratio 0·8–0·9), protein digestibility was equal in all diets, whereas dietary lipid digestibility inversely correlated with the dietary levels of the SFA 16 : 0. Fillet quality was good and similar to the control in all treatments in terms of n-3 long-chain PUFA content, gaping, texture and liquid losses during thawing. Histological fluorescence staining and immunofluorescence analysis of salmon intestines (midgut: base of intestine and villi) revealed significant effects on slime, goblet cell production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity with increasing levels of dietary Schizochytrium sp. supplementation. Microarray analysis did not reveal any signs of toxicity, stress, inflammation or any other negative effects from Schizochytrium sp. supplementation in diets for Atlantic salmon.
The rational Islamic actor? Evidence from Islamic banking
Authors: Demiralp Seda , Demiralp Selva 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIslamic banks create an interest in their own right as a rising branch in financial intermediation, particularly in the post-crisis era. In addition, they also deserve the attention of students of Islamism due to their possible connection with Islamic movements. Through a comparison of Islamic and conventional banking, we analyze the motivations and behavior of Islamic economic actors who determine the cash flow to Islamic banks. Our findings suggest that, in contrast to popular views that portray these actors as ideologues or financiers of radical Islam, they have pragmatic motivations and may adapt to liberal systems in order to seize economic incentives.
Generation in debt: Family, politics, and youth subjectivities in Diyarbakır
Authors: Neyzi Leyla , Darıcı Haydar 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThis paper investigates the political subjectivities of Kurdish youth in Diyarbakır through the interplay of kinship and politics. We argue that it is through a framework of kinship that young people make sense of the Kurdish issue. We show that the war between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan, PKK) and the Turkish military has reshaped the Kurdish family, leading to a crisis in the life cycle. We suggest that the young feel indebted to the Kurdish movement, which they express using the term bedel (“debt”). Debt is related to the family, as the individual becomes indebted as part of a kinship group. We argue that the expansion of public space in Diyarbakır has created alternative ways of paying debt and doing politics.
The Development of a Humanitarian Health Ethics Analysis Tool
Authors: Fraser Veronique , Hunt Matthew R. , de Laat Sonya , Schwartz Lisa 
Published: June 2015

AbstractIntroductionHealth care workers (HCWs) who participate in humanitarian aid work experience a range of ethical challenges in providing care and assistance to communities affected by war, disaster, or extreme poverty. Although there is increasing discussion of ethics in humanitarian health care practice and policy, there are very few resources available for humanitarian workers seeking ethical guidance in the field. To address this knowledge gap, a Humanitarian Health Ethics Analysis Tool (HHEAT) was developed and tested as an action-oriented resource to support humanitarian workers in ethical decision making.While ethical analysis tools increasingly have become prevalent in a variety of practice contexts over the past two decades, very few of these tools have undergone a process of empirical validation to assess their usefulness for practitioners.MethodsA qualitative study consisting of a series of six case-analysis sessions with 16 humanitarian HCWs was conducted to evaluate and refine the HHEAT.ResultsParticipant feedback inspired the creation of a simplified and shortened version of the tool and prompted the development of an accompanying handbook.ConclusionThe study generated preliminary insight into the ethical deliberation processes of humanitarian health workers and highlighted different types of ethics support that humanitarian workers might find helpful in supporting the decision-making process.FraserV,HuntMR,de LaatS,SchwartzL.The development of a humanitarian health ethics analysis tool.Prehosp Disaster Med.2015;30(4):19.