bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emotional functioning: Long‐term outcomes after pediatric epilepsy surgery
Authors: Tavares Tamara P. , Puka Klajdi , Smith Mary Lou 
Published: March 2015

SummaryObjectiveChildren with epilepsy are at a high risk for developing symptoms of anxiety and depression. By improving seizure control, epilepsy surgery has the potential to improve patients’ anxiety and depression symptoms. Few studies have assessed the long‐term outcomes of anxiety and depressive symptoms after pediatric epilepsy surgery while using an appropriate control group. This study examined anxiety and depressive symptoms 4–11 years after surgery in surgical patients and in a control group of nonsurgical patients with pediatric‐onset epilepsy.MethodsSeventy‐three surgical patients with a mean age of 19.87 (standard deviation [SD] 4.46, range 10.08–28.50) and 40 nonsurgical controls with a mean age of 20.31 (SD 4.01, range 12.08–27.25) completed the study measures. Patients completed the Child Depression Inventory II/Beck Depression Inventory II and State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children/State Trait Anxiety Inventory and parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist/Adult Behavior Checklist to assess the patients’ anxiety and depressive symptoms. Baseline measurements of affective symptoms (Child Behavior Checklist) were retrieved from the patients’ medical records.ResultsPatient‐reported affective functioning was obtained at the follow‐up visit only. Patient‐reported depressive symptoms and state and trait anxiety were similar for both groups. Based on parent reports at follow‐up, patients with seizures were found to have significantly more depressive problems and anxious/depressed symptoms, and marginally more withdrawn symptoms relative to patients without seizures.SignificanceSeizure status was related to the presence of affective symptoms, irrespective of whether the patient had undergone surgery. In addition, parents and not patients reported the presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, which indicates the importance of obtaining multiple informants to assess affective symptomatology.
Total and aboveground radiation use efficiency in C3 and C4 grass species influenced by nitrogen and water availability
Authors: Cristiano Piedad M. , Posse Gabriela , Di Bella Carlos M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAbsorbed solar radiation and radiation use efficiency (RUE) can be used to estimate net primary productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. In ecosystems dominated by grasses, belowground productivity cannot be neglected in terms of carbon balance because of the high proportion of biomass allocated to roots. The objective of this study was to quantify total RUE (tRUE), which includes both below and aboveground biomass of two C3 (Lolium perenne and Dactylis glomerata) and one C4 (Cynodon dactylon) grass species, under four treatments with contrasting water and nitrogen availabilities. The ratios between tRUE and aboveground RUE (aRUE) for species and treatments were analyzed. The tRUE was calculated from measurements of incoming photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), the fraction of PAR intercepted and shoots and roots productivity in pot experiments. The highest tRUE values in the three species were found in the treatment without growth limitations (4.32–6.93 g MJ−1), while the lowest tRUE values were observed under water and nutrient deficits conditions (2.62–2.85 g MJ−1). Contrary to predictions from the optimization theory, one of the C3 grass species allocated relatively high biomass to the roots when water availability was high while for the C4 grass species the shoot:root ratios and the root mass fraction did not change under resource limitation conditions compared to ample resource availability. tRUE exhibited small changes in the C4 species with variations in resource availability while it did decrease substantially for the C3 species when at least one of the resources was limited. These results highlight belowground biomass importance in calculating RUE of grasses.
Large Scale Preparation of β‐CaSiO3 Nanostructures by Solid‐State Reaction in NaCl–H2O(v) System at Lower Temperature
Authors: Zhang Junhao , Huang Man , Yanagisawa Kazumichi , Yao Shanshan , Qiu Yushi , Zheng Hongjuan 
Published: March 2015

An environmentally friendly NaCl–H2O(v) system was developed to prepare β‐CaSiO3 nanostructures from commercially available raw materials, CaCO3 and amorphous SiO2 (α‐SiO2), by a one‐step solid‐state reaction at 575°C for 2 h. The formation of β‐CaSiO3 was accelerated by NaCl–H2O(v) system. The results demonstrated that both NaCl and H2O(v) played vital roles in the formation of β‐CaSiO3 nanostructures at a lower temperature. NaCl is considered to enhance the diffusivity of starting materials and the rate of solid‐state reactions, and promote the crystallization at lower temperature. Water vapor can accelerate the decomposition of CaCO3, and absorbed water on the surface of solid materials can dissolve NaCl to form an aqueous ionic liquid composed of Na and Cl ions, which is similar to a hydrothermal process, and will further increase the diffusivity of components and reduce the reaction temperature.
Effects of Ultra‐High Pressure Tenderizing Treatment on the Quality Characteristics of Venison
Authors: Zhou Yajun , He Qin , Su Dan , Huang Hui 
Published: March 2015

AbstractTo improve quality of venison, the quality characteristics affected by the ultra‐high pressure tenderizing method were examined. Different pressures and pressurizing times were studied to compare their different effects on myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), content of soluble protein (CSP), collagen heat solubility and texture properties, which could present tenderizing effects. The results showed that ultra‐high pressure treatment can tenderize venison and had significant effects on the proteins therein. The optimized parameters were: a pressure of 300–400 MPa and a pressurizing time of 2–6 min. Compared with a control, MFI of treated samples increased by 32%, collagen heat solubility increased, CSP decreased slightly, hardness decreased by about 58.7% and chewiness decreased by 75%. Ultra‐high pressure treatment, as an emerging technology, exerted a significant influence on improving the quality characteristics of venison.Practical ApplicationsVenison is suitable for human consumption. The number of venison consumers has gradually increased because of its advantages of high protein content, low cholesterol and ease of digestion. Most deer are raised for long enough to allow their antlers to be taken and the quality of the resulting venison is poor. It is essential to improve the quality of venison to be sold in the market. This study of ultra‐high pressure methods used to tenderize venison is important to the development of the venison market. Consumers are more likely to purchase venison if it is tender. The results of this study are helpful to the further study of ultra‐high pressure methods of improving the quality of venison and, as such, are of practical significance.
Asia Pacific Consensus Statements on Crohn's disease. Part 1: Definition, diagnosis, and epidemiology
Authors: Ooi Choon Jin , Makharia Govind K , Hilmi Ida , Gibson Peter R , Fock Kwong Ming , Ahuja Vineet , Ling Khoon Lin , Lim Wee Chian , Thia Kelvin T , Wei Shu‐chen , Leung Wai Keung , Koh Poh Koon , Gearry Richard B , Goh Khean Lee , Ouyang Qin , Sollano Jose , Manatsathit Sathaporn , de Silva H Janaka , Rerknimitr Rungsun , Pisespongsa Pises , Abu Hassan Muhamad Radzi , Sung Joseph , Hibi Toshifumi , Boey Christopher C M , Moran Neil , Leong Rupert W L ,   Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE) Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Published: March 2015

AbstractInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was previously thought to be rare in Asia, but emerging data indicate rising incidence and prevalence of IBD in the region. The Asia Pacific Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease was established in Cebu, Philippines, at the Asia Pacific Digestive Week conference in 2006 under the auspices of the Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology with the goal of developing best management practices, coordinating research, and raising awareness of IBD in the region. The consensus group previously published recommendations for the diagnosis and management of ulcerative colitis with specific relevance to the Asia‐Pacific region. The present consensus statements were developed following a similar process to address the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of Crohn's disease. The goals of these statements are to pool the pertinent literature specifically highlighting relevant data and conditions in the Asia‐Pacific region relating to the economy, health systems, background infectious diseases, differential diagnoses, and treatment availability. It does not intend to be all comprehensive and future revisions are likely to be required in this ever‐changing field.
Molecular mechanism of monoamine oxidase A gene regulation under inflammation and ischemia‐like conditions: key roles of the transcription factors GATA2, Sp1 and TBP
Authors: Gupta Vinayak , Khan Abrar A. , Sasi Binu K. , Mahapatra Nitish R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractMonoamine oxidase A (MAOA) plays important roles in the pathogenesis of several neurological and cardiovascular disorders. The mechanism of transcriptional regulation of MAOA under basal and pathological conditions, however, remains incompletely understood. Here, we report systematic identification and characterization of cis elements and transcription factors that govern the expression of MAOA gene. Extensive computational analysis of MAOA promoter, followed by 5′‐promoter deletion/reporter assays, revealed that the −71/−40 bp domain was sufficient for its basal transcription. Gel‐shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays provided evidence of interactions of the transcription factors GATA‐binding protein 2 (GATA2), Sp1 and TATA‐binding protein (TBP) with this proximal promoter region. Consistently, over‐expression of GATA2, Sp1 and TBP augmented MAOA promoter activity in a coordinated manner. In corroboration, siRNA‐mediated down‐regulation of GATA2/Sp1/TBP repressed the endogenous MAOA expression as well as transfected MAOA promoter activity. Tumor necrosis factor‐α and forskolin activated MAOA transcription that was reversed by Sp1 siRNA; in support, tumor necrosis factor‐α‐ and forskolin‐induced activities were enhanced by ectopic over‐expression of Sp1. On the other hand, MAOA transcription was diminished upon exposure of neuroblasts or cardiac myoblasts to ischemia‐like conditions because of reduced binding of GATA2/Sp1/TBP with MAOA promoter. In conclusion, this study revealed previously unknown roles of GATA2, Sp1 and TBP in modulating MAOA expression under basal as well as pathophysiological conditions such as inflammation and ischemia, thus providing new insights into the molecular basis of aberrant MAOA expression in neuronal/cardiovascular disease states.
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Dysregulation of monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) have been implicated in several behavioral and neuronal disease states. Here, we identified three crucial transcription factors (GATA2, Sp1 and TBP) that regulate MAOA gene expression in a coordinated manner. Aberrant MAOA expression under pathophysiological conditions including inflammation and ischemia is mediated by altered binding of GATA2/Sp1/TBP with MAOA proximal promoter. Thus, these findings provide new insights into pathogenesis of several common diseases. GATA2, GATA‐binding protein 2; Sp1, specificity protein 1; TBP, TATA‐binding protein.
Modulation of actin dynamics by Rac1 to target cognitive function
Authors: Tejada‐Simon Maria V. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe small GTPase Rac1 is well known for regulating actin cytoskeleton reorganization in cells. Formation of extensions at the surface of the cell is required for migration and even for cell invasion and metastases. Because an elevated level and hyperactivation of this protein has been associated with metastasis in cancer, direct regulators of Rac1 are currently envisioned as a potential strategy to treat certain cancers. Less research, however, has been done regarding the role of this small GTP‐binding protein in brain development, where it has an important role in dendritic spine morphogenesis through the regulation of actin. Alteration of dendritic development and spinogenesis has been often associated with mental disorders. Rac1 is associated with and required for learning and the formation of memories in the brain. Rac1 appears to be dysregulated in certain neurodevelopmental disorders that present all these three alterations: mental retardation, atypical synaptic plasticity and aberrant spine morphology. Thus, to develop novel therapies for rescuing cognitive impairment, a reasonable approach might be to target this protein, Rac1, which plays a pivotal role in directing signals that regulate actin dynamics, which in turn might have an effect in spine cytoarchitecture and synaptic function. It is possible that novel drugs that regulate Rac1 activation and function could modulate actin cytoskeleton and spine dynamics, representing potential candidates to repair intellectual disability in disorders associated with spine abnormalities. Herein, we present a list of the current Rac1 inhibitors that might fulfill this role together with a summary of the latest findings concerning their function as they relate to neuronal studies.
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While the small GTPase Rac1 is well known for regulating actin cytoskeleton reorganization in different type of cells, it appears to be also required for learning and the formation of memories in the brain. Abnormal regulation of this protein has been associated with cognitive disabilities, atypical synaptic plasticity and abnormal morphology of dendritic spines in certain neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, modulation of Rac1 activity using novel inhibitors might be a strategy to reestablish cognitive function.
Outcome comparison of very preterm infants cared for in the neonatal intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand and in Canada
Authors: Hossain Sadia , Shah Prakesh S , Ye Xiang Y , Darlow Brian A , Lee Shoo K , Lui Kei ,   Canadian Neonatal Network,   Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network
Published: March 2015

AimTo compare risk‐adjusted neonatal intensive care unit outcomes between regions of similar population demography and health‐care systems in Australia–New Zealand and Canada to generate meaningful hypothesis for outcome improvements.MethodsRetrospective study of data from preterm infants (<32 weeks gestational age) cared for in 29 ANZNN (Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network) and 26 Canadian Neonatal Network (CNN) intensive care unit admitted between 2005 and 2007. Moribund infants or those with major congenital malformation were excluded.ResultsThe 9995 ANZNN infants had a higher gestational age (29 vs. 28 weeks, P < 0.0001), lower rate of outborn status (13.2% vs. 19.1%, P < 0.0001) and Apgar score <7 at 5 min (14.8% vs. 21.6%, P < 0.0001) than their 7141 CNN counterparts. After adjustment, ANZNN and CNN infants had a similar likelihood of survival (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.01 (0.88, 1.16)), but ANZNN infants were at lower risk of severe retinopathy (AOR 0.71 (0.61, 0.83)), severe ultrasound neurological injury (AOR 0.68 (0.59, 0.78)), necrotising enterocolitis (AOR 0.65 (0.56, 0.76)), chronic lung disease (AOR 0.67 (0.62, 0.73)) and late‐onset sepsis (AOR 0.83 (0.76, 0.91)). ANZNN infants were at a higher risk of pulmonary air leak (AOR 1.20 (1.01, 1.42)), early‐onset sepsis (AOR 1.33 (1.02, 1.74)). More ANZNN infants received any respiratory support (AOR 1.27 (1.14, 1.41)) and continuous positive airway pressure as sole respiratory support (AOR 2.50 (2.27, 2.70)).ConclusionsDespite similarities in settings, ANZNN infants fared better in most measures. Outcome disparities may be related to differences in tertiary service provision, referral and clinical practices.
Temporal fine‐scale genetic variation in the zoonosis‐carrying long‐tailed pygmy rice rat in Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: González‐Ittig R. E. , Polop F. J. , Andreo V. C. , Chiappero M. B. , Levis S. , Calderón G. , Provensal M. C. , Polop J. J. , Gardenal C. N. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractFactors modeling the population genetic structure are of major importance when species involved in the transmission of zoonoses are considered. The long‐tailed pygmy rice rat or ‘colilargo’ Oligoryzomys longicaudatus is a highly vagile rodent species which acts as the reservoir of the Andes hantavirus in southern Argentina and Chile. To contribute to the knowledge of the processes determining the microgeographical genetic structure of populations of this species, we used 10 microsatellite loci to estimate the levels of polymorphism, individual relatedness and the population effective sizes through time and to explore if the effective size correlated with density. Individuals were sampled seasonally during a 25‐month period in a population from the Argentinean Patagonia located in the endemic area of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. We detected three genetic clusters. An important temporal change in cluster prevalence was detected after a population bottleneck. Individuals of the same period presented higher mean relatedness values than between consecutive periods. Density and effective population size estimations were correlated. All analyses performed in this study are in line with the conclusion that high levels of gene flow encompassing different habitats would be a major process producing fine‐scale temporal changes in the genetic composition of the studied population.
Detecting land use/land cover changes in the Lake Hayq (Ethiopia) drainage basin, 1957–2007
Authors: Yesuf Hassen M. , Assen Mohammed , Melesse Assefa M. , Alamirew Tena 
Published: March 2015

AbstractLand use/land cover changes in a lake drainage basin reflect changes in the magnitude of the water balance components and rate of sediment deposition in a lake as a reflection of the fundamental linkage between what happens in a lake considered against what is happening in the drainage basin of the lake. The objective of this study was to quantify the spatio‐temporal land cover/land use changes across the Lake Hayq closed drainage basin in north‐east Ethiopia over a 50‐years period, using multitemporal remote sensing and geospatial data. Two historical occasions of aerial photographs (1957 and 1986) and one satellite image (2007) were examined with image analysis tools: Leica Photogrammetric Suite (LPS 9.2) Project Manager, ArcGIS10.0, and ERDAS EMAGINE 9.2. Seven aerial coverage of land use/land cover categories were identified and mapped for the past three historical times. The results indicated that farmlands/settlements and shrublands/degraded lands increased by 43.1% and 136.9%, at an annual rate of 27.4 and 13.5 ha year−1, respectively, between 1957 and 2007. In contrast, bushlands, grasslands, forestlands and lake surface area were diminished by 68.8%, 62.7%, 90.5% and 7.6%, at a rate of 24.0, 7.6, 6.1 and 3.7 ha year−1, respectively, over the past five decades. The basin had undergone significant transformation in land use/land cover over the past half century, affecting the lake's biophysical stability by accelerating soil erosion in the basin, sediment accumulation, and a reduced quantity and quality of cumulative stream flow into the lake.
Regime shifts observed in Lake Kasumigaura, a large shallow lake in Japan: Analysis of a 40‐year limnological record
Authors: Fukushima Takehiko , Arai Hiroyuki 
Published: March 2015

AbstractLake Kasumigaura, which is composed of the two basins (Nishiura and Kitaura), is a large, shallow, hypereutrophic lake. Phytoplankton and water quality records from the past forty years were analysed to elucidate whether or not, when, and what type of certain regime shifts may have occurred, based on using inferential regime shift detectors. Characteristics of the phytoplankton and water quality changes were similar at 6 sampling sites in the two basins, with 20 water quality parameters being classified into four groups, based on cluster analysis. Shifts in dominant plankton groups (DPGs) and water quality occurring almost concomitantly, concentration on the period from 1987 to 1992 (Shift A) and from 1997 to 2001 (Shift B), with those observed for the two basins usually being similar with small differences. Two types of inferential regime shift detectors (sequential t‐test type; Rodionov's RSD and sequential F‐test type: package strucchange in R) yielded similar timings and significances of the shifts. Furthermore, changes in skewness and conditional heteroskedasticity (package early warnings in R) usually represented early warning signals before the shifts. Correlation analysis and ratios of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) vs. total phosphorus (TP) supported the hypothesis that phosphorus was the phytoplankton biomass limiting nutrient, except for one period for the Nishiura basin. Neither the nitrogen:phosphorus (N/P) ratio hypothesis and ammonia–nitrate (NH4‐N/NO3‐N) hypothesis satisfactorily explain the DPGs before and after Shift A (Microcystis spp. and Planktothrix spp., respectively), although it may be possible that these ratios triggered the DPG change in this shift. A considerable increase in silicon was observed for Shift B when the DPGs changed from cyanobacteria to diatoms. Further studies on the accurate types and triggers of the regime shifts are necessary to better understand the interactions between ecosystem and water quality for this and similar lakes elsewhere.
Likelihood Ratio Tests for High‐Dimensional Normal Distributions
Authors: Jiang Tiefeng , Qi Yongcheng 
Published: March 2015

AbstractIn their recent work, Jiang and Yang studied six classical Likelihood Ratio Test statistics under high‐dimensional setting. Assuming that a random sample of sizenis observed from ap‐dimensional normal population, they derive the central limit theorems (CLTs) whenpandnare proportional to each other, which are different from the classical chi‐square limits asngoes to infinity, whilepremains fixed. In this paper, by developing a new tool, we prove that the mentioned six CLTs hold in a more applicable setting:pgoes to infinity, andpcan be very close ton. This is an almost sufficient and necessary condition for the CLTs. Simulations of histograms, comparisons on sizes and powers with those in the classical chi‐square approximations and discussions are presented afterwards.