bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trait and state binge eating predispose towards cocaine craving
Authors: Barnea Royi , Bekker Liza , Zifman Noa , Marco Asaf , Yadid Gal , Weller Aron 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBinge eating (BE) and drug seeking share similar behavioral features, including loss of control over consumption and compulsive seeking of the craved substance. Previous studies in animal models have demonstrated a complex interaction between ‘state’ BE, produced by intermittent access to a palatable diet, and ‘trait’ BE, a phenotypical proneness towards overeating. In the present study, we examined the relationship between state and trait BE and cocaine seeking. We used Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty rats, a genetic model for obesity that demonstrates BE‐like behavior, and Long Evans Tokushima Otsuka controls. They received a schedule of limited access to a palatable diet (3 days/week or 5 days/week access to Ensure for a month). Next, they underwent cocaine self‐administration training (1 mg/kg, 1 hour/day for 10 days) followed by extinction sessions (7 days). We found that the degree of BE‐like behavior and the state and trait BE combination predicted cocaine craving patterns. Lower levels of dopamine D2 receptors in the prefrontal cortex were correlated with increased drug craving. Moreover, restricted access to an attractive diet was found to be a risk factor for heightened cocaine craving, particularly in trait binge eaters, as rats on the 3 days/week access schedule persistently failed to cease cocaine seeking throughout extinction. Hence, we postulate a joint role of state and trait BE as risk factors for heightened cocaine craving.
The drug situation in Europe: an overview of data available on illicit drugs and new psychoactive substances from European monitoring in 2015
Authors: Mounteney Jane , Griffiths Paul , Sedefov Roumen , Noor Andre , Vicente Julián , Simon Roland 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAimA central task for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is to produce an annual report of the latest data available on drug demand and drug supply in Europe. This paper is intended to facilitate a better understanding of, and easier access to, the main quantitative European level data sets available in 2015.MethodsThe European reporting system formally covers all 28 European Union (EU) Member States, Norway and Turkey and incorporates multiple indicators alongside an early warning system (EWS) on uncontrolled new psychoactive substances (NPS). While epidemiological information is based largely on registries, surveys and other routine data reported annually, the EWS collects case‐based data on an ongoing basis. The 2015 reporting exercise is centred primarily on a set of standardized reporting tools.ResultsThe most recent data provided by European countries are presented, including data on drug use, drug‐related morbidity and mortality, treatment demand, drug markets and new psychoactive substances, with data tables provided and methodological information. A number of key results are highlighted for illustrative purposes. Drug prevalence estimates from national surveys since 2012 (last year prevalence of use among the 15–34 age band) range from 0.4% in Turkey to 22.1% in France for cannabis, from 0.2% in Greece and Romania to 4.2% in the United Kingdom for cocaine, from 0.1% in Italy and Turkey to 3% in the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom for ecstasy, and from 0.1% or less in Romania, Italy and Portugal to 2.5% in Estonia for amphetamine. Declining trends in new HIV detections among people who inject drugs are illustrated, in addition to presentation of a breakdown of NPS reported to the EU early warning system, which have risen exponentially from fewer than 20 a year between 2005 and 2008, to 101 reported in 2014.ConclusionsStructured information is now available on patterns and trends in drug consumption in Europe, which permits triangulation of data from different sources and consideration of methodological limitations. Opioid drugs continue to place a burden on the drug treatment system, although both new heroin entrants and injecting show declines. More than 450 new psychoactive substances are now monitored by the European early warning system with 31 new synthetic cathinones and 30 new synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists notified in 2014.
Twenty‐One Novel EGFR Kinase Domain variants in Patients with Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Hasenahuer Marcia A. , Parisi Gustavo , Gautier Marien , Lazarowski Alberto , Bramuglia Guillermo F. , Fornasari Maria Silvina 
Published: September 2015

SummarySomatic sequence variants in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase domain are associated with sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients exhibiting sequence variants in this domain that produce kinase activity enhancement, are more likely to benefit from TKIs than patients with EGFR wild‐type disease. Although most NSCLC EGFR‐related alleles are concentrated in a few positions, established protocols recommend sequencing EGFR exons 18–21. In this study, 21 novel somatic variants belonging to such exons in adult Argentinean patients affected with NSCLC are reported. Of these, 18 were single amino acid substitutions (SASs), occurring alone or in combination with another genetic alteration (complex cases), one was a short deletion, one was a short deletion‐short insertion combination, and one was a duplication. New variants and different combinations of previously reported variants were also found. Moreover, two of the reported SASs occurred in previously unreported positions of the EGFR kinase domain. In order to characterize the new sequence variants, physicochemical, sequence and conformational analyses were also performed. A better understanding of sequence variants in NSCLC may facilitate the most appropriate treatment choice for this complex disease.
Pacific Populations, Metabolic Disease and ‘Just‐So Stories’: A Critique of the ‘Thrifty Genotype’ Hypothesis in Oceania
Authors: Gosling Anna L. , Buckley Hallie R. , Matisoo‐Smith Elizabeth , Merriman Tony R. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryPacific populations have long been observed to suffer a high burden of metabolic disease, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and gout. The ‘Thrifty Genotype’ hypothesis has frequently been used to explain this high prevalence of disease. Here, the ‘Thrifty Genotype’ hypothesis and the evolutionary background of Pacific populations are examined. We question its relevance not only in the Pacific region but more generally. Not only has the hypothesis not been explicitly tested, but most archaeological and anthropological data from the Pacific fundamentally do not support its application.
Estimation of genetic parameters for carcass defects of Japanese Black cattle in Kagoshima
Authors: Nishi Kazutaka , Shimogiri Takeshi , Kusano Akinori , Sakamoto Shinichi , Shiromoto Kiyomi , Kawabe Kotaro , Okamoto Shin , Honda Takeshi , Oyama Kenji 
Published: September 2015

AbstractCattle exhibit a range of carcass defects, including blood splash (BLS), intramuscular edema (INE), muscle steatosis (MUS), bruising (BR), trim loss (TRL) and others (OTH). These defects lower the carcass value and can result in significant economic loss to producers. We estimated the incidence, relationship with inbreeding coefficients and genetic parameters of carcass defects in Japanese Black cattle using 561 619 carcass records from Kagoshima, Japan during April 1988 through March 2011. The defect incidence ranged from 0.22% for TRL to 5.73% for BR. The incidence of MUS and BR increased from 1.21% to 6.57% and from 1.06% to 9.31%, respectively. The incidence of INE peaked at 7.44% in 1999 and decreased thereafter. We observed a positive linear relationship between the defect incidence and the inbreeding coefficients in MUS, BR and TRL (P < 0.01). The heritabilities estimated by univariate animal model with Gibbs sampling for BLS, INE, MUS, BR and TRL were 0.24, 0.06, 0.18, 0.05 and 0.02, respectively. The contribution of farm variance to phenotypic variance was negligible (0.01 to 0.04). Significant genetic correlations of TRL were estimated with MUS (0.63) and BR (0.63). Our results suggest that genetic factors contribute to the incidence of BLS and MUS.
Relationship between serum cortisol levels and some physiological parameters following reining training session in horse
Authors: Casella Stefania , Vazzana Irene , Giudice Elisabetta , Fazio Francesco , Piccione Giuseppe 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe changes of cortisol, red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were evaluated after a reining training session in eight Quarter Horses. All parameters were measured before exercise (T0), immediately after exercise (T1), 1 h after exercise (T2), 2 h after exercise (T3) and 24 h after exercise (T4). One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, followed Bonferroni's post hoc test, showed a significant effect of the reining training session (P < 0.0001) on cortisol, RBC, Hb, Hct, HR, RR and RT. Simple linear regression analysis showed the positive correlation (P < 0.05) between cortisol changes and variations of studied parameters in T1, T3 and T4. Exercise‐induced cortisol concentrations reflect the physiological response of reining training, suggesting that the changes observed are useful to assess the performance in reining horses and their reining training adaptability.
Effective use of the TSPY gene‐specific copy number in determining fetal DNA in the maternal blood of cynomolgus monkeys
Authors: Yasmin Lubna , Takano Jun‐ichiro , Sankai Tadashi 
Published: September 2015

AbstractSince the available concentration of single‐copy fetal genes in maternal blood DNA is sometimes lower than detection limits by PCR methods, the development of specific and quantitative PCR detection methods for fetal DNA in maternal blood is anticipated, which may broaden the methods that can be used to monitor pregnancy. We used the TaqMan qPCR amplification for DYS14 multi‐copy sequence and the SRY gene in maternal blood plasma (cell‐free DNA) and fractional precipitated blood cells (cellular DNA) from individual cynomolgus monkeys at 22 weeks of pregnancy. The availability of cell‐free fetal DNA was higher in maternal blood plasma than that of cellular DNA from fractional precipitated blood cells. There was a significantly higher (P < 0.001) mean copy number of fetal male DYS14 from maternal plasma (4.4 × 104 copies/mL) than that of detected fetal cellular DNA from fractional blood cell pellets. The sensitivity of the DYS14 PCR assay was found to be higher than that of the SRY assay for the detection of fetal DNA when its presence was at a minimum. The DYS14 assay is an improved method for quantifying male fetal DNA in circulating maternal blood in the primate model.
Cascading effects of cannibalism in a top predator
Authors: HOGG BRIAN N. , DAANE KENT M. 
Published: September 2015

1. Predator interactions are often driven by size differences, with larger predators consuming smaller ones. Cannibalism is widespread among predators, and can be more intense than antagonistic interactions between different predator species.2. In a series of greenhouse experiments and a field experiment, we investigated the role of size structure in shaping the impacts of a top predator (the wandering spider Cheiracanthium mildei L. Koch) on an insect herbivore in vineyards of Napa County, California.3. In greenhouse cages, survival of small C. mildei was lower when large C. mildei were present, and the combined effects of small and large C. mildei on leafhopper numbers and grape leaf damage were non‐additive. The frequency of cannibalism in C. mildei did not change when the abundance of leafhoppers was manipulated. However, in the field experiment small and large C. mildei combined additively to reduce leafhopper numbers.4. Results show that cannibalism has the potential to dampen the cascading effects of C. mildei in a vineyard food web, but that it may be less important than other mortality factors in the field. Nonetheless, C. mildei substantially impacted leafhoppers in both the greenhouse and the field, suggesting that mortality caused by cannibalism or other factors may not compromise its overall predatory impacts.
A geostatistical method to account for the number of aliquots in composite samples for normal and lognormal random variables
Authors: Orton T. G. , Pringle M. J. , Allen D. E. , Dalal R. C. , Bishop T. F. A. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryGeostatistical methods can be used to calculate predictions of soil variables at unsampled locations, but the methodology is typically based on samples collected on identical sample supports. In this paper, we provide and test theory that allows the inclusion of data from mixed sample supports in a single analysis. In particular, we consider composite sample supports that are defined by the number of aliquots used to form a single composite sample, ni, and the set of locations, xi, from which the aliquots were collected. We allow both ni and xi to vary between samples (xi can vary in the extent and geometry of the aliquot locations), and thereby show how point data (a special case of composite data, defined by ni = 1 and xi as the known sample point) can be included in the same geostatistical analysis as composite data. A further complication arises when data are not normally distributed, rather their logarithm is. When composite sampling is used for such lognormal data, the sample support affects not only the variance but also the mean. We give the theory for normally distributed variables, and also derive an approximation that can be used when the point‐support variable is lognormal. We focus on this latter case, and test the approach with a series of simulation experiments. Finally, we illustrate the approach on a dataset of soil organic carbon (SOC) values from a grazing property in Queensland, Australia, where soil information from two measurement phases was obtained on different supports.
Evaluating attention in delirium: A comparison of bedside tests of attention
Authors: Adamis Dimitrios , Meagher David , Murray Orla , O'Neill Donagh , O'Mahony Edmond , Mulligan Owen , McCarthy Geraldine 
Published: September 2015

AimImpaired attention is a core diagnostic feature for delirium. The present study examined the discriminating properties for patients with delirium versus those with dementia and/or no neurocognitive disorder of four objective tests of attention: digit span, vigilance “A” test, serial 7s subtraction and months of the year backwards together with global clinical subjective rating of attention.MethodsThis as a prospective study of older patients admitted consecutively in a general hospital. Participants were assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method, Delirium Rating Scale–98 Revised and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scales, and months of the year backwards. Pre‐existing dementia was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition criteria.ResultsThe sample consisted of 200 participants (mean age 81.1 ± 6.5 years; 50% women; pre‐existing cognitive impairment in 126 [63%]). A total of 34 (17%) were identified with delirium (Confusion Assessment Method +). The five approaches to assessing attention had statistically significant correlations (P < 0.05). Discriminant analysis showed that clinical subjective rating of attention in conjunction with the months of the year backwards had the best discriminatory ability to identify Confusion Assessment Method‐defined delirium, and to discriminate patients with delirium from those with dementia and/or normal cognition. Both of these approaches had high sensitivity, but modest specificity.ConclusionObjective tests are useful for prediction of non‐delirium, but lack specificity for a delirium diagnosis. Global attentional deficits were more indicative of delirium than deficits of specific domains of attention. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 1028–1035.
7‐Ketocholesterol‐induced lysosomal dysfunction exacerbates vascular smooth muscle cell calcification via oxidative stress
Authors: Sudo Ryo , Sato Fumiaki , Azechi Takuya , Wachi Hiroshi 
Published: September 2015

Vascular calcification is known to reduce the elasticity of aorta. Several studies have suggested that autophagy–lysosomal pathway (ALP) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is associated with vascular calcification. A major component of oxidized low‐density lipoproteins, 7‐ketocholesterol (7‐KC), has been reported to promote inorganic phosphorus (Pi)‐induced vascular calcification and induce ALP. The aim of this study was to unravel the relationship between ALP and the progression of calcification by 7‐KC. Calcification of human VSMCs was induced by Pi stimulation in the presence or absence of 7‐KC. FACS analysis showed that 7‐KC‐induced apoptosis at a high concentration (30 μm), but not at a low concentration (15 μm). Interestingly, 7‐KC promoted calcification in VSMCs regardless of apoptosis. Immunoblotting and immunostaining showed that 7‐KC inhibits not only the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes but also causes a swell of lysosomes with the reduction of cathepsin B and D. Moreover, lysosomal protease inhibitors exacerbated the apoptosis‐independent calcification by 7‐KC although inhibition of autophagosome formation by Atg5 siRNA did not. Finally, the 7‐KC‐induced progression of calcification was alleviated by the treatment with antioxidant. Taken together, our data showed that 7‐KC promotes VSMC calcification through lysosomal‐dysfunction‐dependent oxidative stress.
Changes in biochemical, hemodynamic, and dialysis adherence parameters in hemodialysis patients during Ramadan
Authors: Alshamsi Shaikha , Binsaleh Fatima , Hejaili Fayez , Karkar Ayman , Moussa Dujana , Raza Hamad , Parbat Parkash , Al Suwida Abdulkareem , Alobaili Saad , AlSehli R. , Al Sayyari Abdulla 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis paper aimed to study the effect of Ramadan fasting on biochemical and clinical parameters and compliance for dialysis. A prospective multicenter observational cross‐sectional study comparing fasting with a non‐fasting stable adult hemodialysis patients for demographic and biochemical parameters, compliance with dialysis, inter‐dialytic weight gain, pre‐ and post‐blood pressure, and frequency of intradialytic hypotensive episodes was carried out. Six hundred thirty‐five patients, of whom 64.1% fasted, were studied. The fasters were younger (53.3 ± 16.2 vs. 58.4 ± 16.1 years; P = 0.001) but had similar duration on dialysis (P = 0.35). More fasters worked (22.0% vs. 14.6%; P = 0.001) and missed dialysis sessions during Ramadan. No differences were noted between groups in sex, diabetic status, or dialysis shift or day. There were no differences in the pre‐ and post‐dialysis blood pressure; serum potassium, albumin or weight gain; diabetic status; sex; and dialysis shift time or days. However, serum phosphorous was significantly higher in the fasting group (2.78 ± 1.8 vs. 2.45 ± 1.6 mmol/L; P = 0.045). There were no intragroup differences in any of the parameters studied when comparing the findings during Ramadan with those in the month before Ramadan. Fasters were significantly younger and more likely to be working, to miss dialysis sessions, and to have higher serum phosphorous levels. No other differences were observed.
Efficacy of entecavir therapy for hepatitis B e‐antigen positive chronic hepatitis B patients with prior exposure to interferon or nucleoside/nucleotide analogues
Authors: Tseng Kuo‐Chih , Tseng Chih‐Wei , Hsieh Tsai‐Yuan , Peng Cheng‐Yuan , Lin Chih‐Lin , Su Tung‐Hung , Tseng Tai‐Chung , Lin Hans Hsienhong , Wang Chia‐Chi , Kao Jia‐Horng 
Published: September 2015

AimThe efficacy of entecavir (ETV) in treatment‐experienced chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients remains unclear. We evaluated the therapeutic responses and virological breakthrough following ETV treatment in hepatitis B e‐antigen (HBeAg) positive CHB patients with prior exposure to interferon or nucleoside/nucleotide analog and treatment‐naive patients.MethodsThis was a retrospective, multicenter study of treatment (>1 year) with 0.5 mg ETV in 248 treatment‐naive and 48 treatment‐experienced HBeAg positive CHB patients (70.5% male; mean age, 40.5 years). The rates of undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, HBeAg loss and virological breakthrough were analyzed.ResultsThe median duration of ETV treatment was 27.3 months (range, 18.4–34.5). The rate of HBeAg loss was 41.9% (104/248) in treatment‐naive and 45.8% (22/48) in treatment‐experienced patients. The baseline serum HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase levels were significant predictors for HBeAg loss (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). There was no statistical difference between the groups in the rates of undetectable HBV DNA and HBeAg loss at any time point. Virological breakthrough occurred in 1.6% (4/248) of treatment‐naive and 8.3% (4/48) of treatment‐experienced patients. The four treatment‐experienced patients with virological breakthrough had received prior lamivudine treatment. After excluding those treated with interferon, lamivudine‐experienced patients had significantly greater virological breakthrough compared with treatment‐naive patients (log–rank test, P = 0.034; univariate Cox regression, P = 0.047).ConclusionETV treatment efficacy, including virological response and HBeAg loss, was comparable between treatment‐naive and treatment‐experienced HBeAg positive CHB patients. Lamivudine‐experienced patients had a higher risk of virological breakthrough than treatment‐naive patients.
Dignity, Disability, and Lifespan
Authors: Kerstein Samuel J. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn the Paraplegia Case, we must choose either to preserve the life of a paraplegic for 10 years or that of someone in full health for the same duration. Non‐consequentialists reject a benefit‐maximising view, which holds that since the person in full health will have a higher quality of life, we ought to save him straightaway. In the Unequal Lifespan Case, we face a choice between saving one person for 5 years in full health and another for 25 years in full health. Frances Kamm has recently unfurled an Equal Respect Argument in an effort to support the position that while we ought to give each person a 50% chance of being saved in the Paraplegia Case, we are morally permitted to save straightaway the person who would live longer in the Unequal Lifespan case. The article tries to show that a Kant‐inspired account of the dignity of persons is far more successful than Kamm's argument in supporting this position. The Kant‐inspired account owes this success to its conceiving of respect for persons not primarily as respect for their pursuit of what is of value for them, but rather as respect for the value in them.