bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The influence of early modified constraint‐induced movement therapy training on the longitudinal development of hand function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy
Authors: Eliasson Ann‐Christin , Holmefur Marie 
Published: September 2014

AimThere is evidence that modified constraint‐induced movement therapy (mCIMT) has a short‐term positive effect on hand function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), but the long‐term effect is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not a single block of mCIMT (2h/d for 2mo) at age 2 to 3 years influences the course of development of bimanual hand function at around 8 years of age.MethodA convenience sample of 45 children (24 males, 21 females) with unilateral CP and mean (SD) age at first assessment 32 months (13mo) was included in this study. The participants were divided into the mCIMT group (n=26) and the reference group (no mCIMT; n=19). Brain lesion characteristics were available for 32 children. The children were measured repeatedly with the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) for a mean period of 4 years and 6 months. Development curves were created and compared with a non‐linear mixed effects model.ResultsChildren who were receiving mCIMT had an upper limit of development of bimanual hand function that was 8.5 AHA units higher than in the reference group (p=0.022). However, when controlling for brain lesion characteristics and baseline in a subgroup of 32 children, the difference was considerably smaller and no longer significant.ConclusionmCIMT may have a positive impact on long‐term development of bimanual hand function, but the results are inconclusive and further research is necessary.
Open flow microperfusion: pharmacokinetics of human insulin and insulin detemir in the interstitial fluid of subcutaneous adipose tissue
Authors: Höfferer C. , Tutkur D. , Fledelius C. , Brand C. L. , Alsted T. J. , Damgaard J. , Nishimura E. , Jeppesen C.B. , Mautner S. I. , Pieber T. R. , Sinner F. 
Published: September 2014

AimsTo compare the time profile of insulin detemir and human insulin concentrations in the interstitial fluid (ISF) of subcutaneous adipose tissue during constant i.v. infusion and to investigate the relationship between the pharmacokinetics of both insulin molecules in plasma and the ISF of subcutaneous adipose tissue.MethodsDuring a 6‐h hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp (plasma glucose level 8 mmol/l) human insulin (21 and 42 pmol/min/kg) or insulin detemir (209 and 417 pmol/min/kg) were infused i.v. in eight rats per dose level. Open flow microperfusion (OFM) was used to continuously assess interstitial insulin concentrations in subcutaneous adipose tissue.ResultsAt the lower infusion rate, insulin detemir appeared significantly later in the ISF than in the plasma (p < 0.05) and also appeared later in the ISF relative to human insulin (p < 0.005).ConclusionsBy using OFM we were able to monitor albumin‐bound insulin detemir directly in the ISF of subcutaneous tissue and confirm its delayed transendothelial passage to a peripheral site of action.
Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathies: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Diagnosis
Authors: Limongelli Giuseppe , Rea Alessandra , Masarone Daniele , Francalanci M. Paola , Anastasakis Aris , Calabro' Raffaele , Maria Giovanna Russo , Bossone Eduardo , Elliott Perry Mark , Pacileo Giuseppe 
Published: September 2014

The physiological importance of the right ventricle (RV) has been underestimated over the past years. Finally in the early 1950s through the 1970s, cardiac surgeons recognized the importance of RV function. Since then, the importance of RV function has been recognized in many acquired cardiac heart disease. RV can be mainly or together with left ventricle (LV) affected by inherited or acquired cardiomyopathy. In fact, RV morphological and functional remodeling occurs more common during cardiomyopathies than in ischemic cardiomyopathies and more closely parallels LV dysfunction.Moreover, there are some cardiomyopathy subtypes showing a predominant or exclusive involvement of the RV, and they are probably less known by cardiologists. The clinical approach to right ventricular cardiomyopathies is often challenging. Imaging is the first step to raise the suspicion and to guide the diagnostic process. In the differential diagnosis, cardiologists should consider athlete's heart, congenital heart diseases, multisystemic disorders, and inherited arrhythmias. However, a multiparametric and multidisciplinary approach, involving cardiologists, experts in imaging, geneticists, and pathologists with a specific expertise in these heart muscle disorders is required.
Elderly patients with maxillofacial trauma: study of mandibular condyle fractures
Authors: Nogami Shinnosuke , Yamauchi Kensuke , Yamashita Toshio , Kataoka Yoshihiro , Hirayama Bunichi , Tanaka Kenko , Takahashi Tetsu 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackground/AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the trends and characteristic features of mandibular condyle fractures in elderly patients in terms of etiology, patterns, and treatment modalities.Patients and methodsRecords of 201 patients aged 65 years and older, who were treated for maxillofacial fractures at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kyushu Dental University, and Tohoku University from January 2002 to December 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. Patient records and radiographs were examined, with the following information: relevant medical history, cause of fracture, the presence and state of premolars and molars in the maxilla and mandible, number and location of mandible fracture, and method of treatment. As for the state of premolars and molars, premolars or molars in the mandible in contact with the maxilla were regarded as contacted.ResultsA fall was responsible for the majority of the fractures (173/201). With condyle fractures, there was a significant difference between the contacted and non‐contacted group in regard to incidence. Furthermore, there was a significantly greater number of cases with symphysis and condyle combination fractures in the non‐contacted group (70.9%) than in the contacted group (51.9%). As for the method of treatment, arthrocentesis was the most commonly employed.ConclusionsThe present findings suggest that contacted molars in the maxilla and mandible have an influence on condyle fractures in elderly individuals.
Student Guidance and Attention to Diversity in the Processes of Quality Assurance in Higher Education
Authors: Ferreira Camino , Vidal Javier , Vieira María José 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe main objective of this article is to analyse the importance given to student guidance and diversity in the standards and criteria used in the quality accreditation and evaluation processes in Europe and the US. Agencies selected in this study are the members of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education), EQAR (European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) and regional and programme accrediting organisations in the US that are recognised by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The data were analysed by means of qualitative and content analysis of the principles, standards and criteria published in the guidelines of the respective agencies. The results of this study reveal that guidance and attention to diversity are included in the quality evaluation guidelines for university study programmes and for higher education institutions in different ways. The main conclusion is that most guidelines include general criteria about guidance and diversity. In order to assist HEIs in the way to plan this support, guidelines should include specific criteria for the provision of academic, career and personal guidance within general student support services. Additionally, criteria should specify the actions to be taken and the resources to respond to diversity.
Serotonergic responses to stress are enhanced in the central amygdala and inhibited in the ventral hippocampus during amphetamine withdrawal
Authors: Li Hao , Scholl Jamie L. , Tu Wenyu , Hassell James E. , Watt Michael J. , Forster Gina L. , Renner Kenneth J. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractWithdrawal from amphetamine increases anxiety and reduces the ability to cope with stress, which are factors that are believed to contribute to drug relapse. Stress‐induced serotonergic transmission in the central nucleus of the amygdala is associated with anxiety states and fear. Conversely, stress‐induced increases in ventral hippocampal serotonin (5‐HT) levels have been linked to coping mechanisms. The goal of this study was to investigate the neurobiological changes induced by amphetamine that contribute to stress sensitivity during withdrawal. We tested the hypothesis that limbic serotonergic responses to restraint stress would be altered in male Sprague‐Dawley rats chronically pretreated with amphetamine (2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and then subjected to 2 weeks of withdrawal. Amphetamine withdrawal resulted in increased stress‐induced behavioral arousal relative to control treatment, suggesting that drug withdrawal induced greater sensitivity to the stressor. When microdialysis was used to determine the effects of restraint on extracellular 5‐HT, stress‐induced increases in 5‐HT levels were abolished in the ventral hippocampus and augmented in the central amygdala during amphetamine withdrawal. Reverse dialysis of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone into the ventral hippocampus blocked the stress‐induced increase in 5‐HT levels in saline‐pretreated rats, suggesting that glucocorticoid receptors mediate stress‐induced increases in 5‐HT levels in the ventral hippocampus. However, mifepristone had no effect on stress‐induced increases in 5‐HT levels in the central amygdala, indicating that stress increases 5‐HT levels in this region independently of glucocorticoid receptors. During amphetamine withdrawal, the absence of stress‐induced increases in ventral hippocampal 5‐HT levels combined with enhanced stress‐induced serotonergic responses in the central amygdala may contribute to drug relapse by decreasing stress‐coping ability and heightening stress responsiveness.
Hybridisation is associated with increased fecundity and size in invasive taxa: meta‐analytic support for the hybridisation‐invasion hypothesis
Authors: Hovick Stephen M. , Whitney Kenneth D. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe hypothesis that interspecific hybridisation promotes invasiveness has received much recent attention, but tests of the hypothesis can suffer from important limitations. Here, we provide the first systematic review of studies experimentally testing the hybridisation‐invasion (H‐I) hypothesis in plants, animals and fungi. We identified 72 hybrid systems for which hybridisation has been putatively associated with invasiveness, weediness or range expansion. Within this group, 15 systems (comprising 34 studies) experimentally tested performance of hybrids vs. their parental species and met our other criteria. Both phylogenetic and non‐phylogenetic meta‐analyses demonstrated that wild hybrids were significantly more fecund and larger than their parental taxa, but did not differ in survival. Resynthesised hybrids (which typically represent earlier generations than do wild hybrids) did not consistently differ from parental species in fecundity, survival or size. Using meta‐regression, we found that fecundity increased (but survival decreased) with generation in resynthesised hybrids, suggesting that natural selection can play an important role in shaping hybrid performance – and thus invasiveness – over time. We conclude that the available evidence supports the H‐I hypothesis, with the caveat that our results are clearly driven by tests in plants, which are more numerous than tests in animals and fungi.
Copy number variations and susceptibility to lateral temporal epilepsy: A study of 21 pedigrees
Authors: Fanciulli Manuela , Pasini Elena , Malacrida Sandro , Striano Pasquale , Striano Salvatore , Michelucci Roberto , Ottman Ruth , Nobile Carlo 
Published: September 2014

SummaryObjectiveAutosomal dominant lateral temporal epilepsy (ADLTE) is a focal epileptic syndrome characterized by auditory or aphasic auras. Mutations in the LGI1 gene account for <50% of ADLTE families. To identify copy number variants (CNVs) related to ADLTE, we examined a collection of ADLTE families without LGI1 mutations.MethodsTwenty‐one families were included based on a history of focal seizures with auditory and/or receptive aphasic symptoms in two or more individuals, absence of brain abnormalities, and negative LGI1 test. DNA suitable for single nucleotide polymorphism‐array analysis was genotyped using the high‐density HumanOmni1‐Quad v1.0 beadchip (Illumina). CNVs were inferred using the PennCNV algorithm. Selected CNVs were validated by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).ResultsWe analyzed 62 affected and 114 unaffected members of our study families and identified a total of 11,214 CNVs, corresponding to 1,890 unique regions with an average size of 67.3 kb. Most CNVs were <50 kb, whereas a small proportion (1.2%) exceeded 500 kb. We identified 12 rare CNVs that segregated with lateral temporal epilepsy in single families. Particularly, we found rare microdeletions within or near two genes, RBFOX1 and NRXN1, previously shown to harbor deletions associated with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, and a microduplication in the proximal region of chromosome 1q21.1, where duplications have been associated with various neurodevelopmental disorders and epilepsy. We also found numerous polymorphic CNVs in the affected members of one or more families, including a deletion of the PCDHA8/10 genes, which was enriched in the patients of our family cohort.SignificanceOur results provide clues on genes for susceptibility to ADLTE, particularly in those families where the inheritance pattern is less compatible with autosomal dominance. Some of these genes also confer risk for other epilepsy syndromes.
The maximal cumulative solar UVB dose allowed to maintain healthy and young skin and prevent premature photoaging
Authors: Ichihashi Masamitsu , Ando Hideya 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe young facial skin of children with a smooth healthy appearance changes over time to photoaged skin having mottled pigmentation, solar lentigines, wrinkles, dry and rough skin, leathery texture, and benign and malignant tumors after exposure to chronic, repeated solar radiation. The first sign of photoaging in Japanese subjects is usually solar lentigines appearing around 20 years of age on the face. Fine wrinkles can then appear after 30 years of age, and benign skin tumors, seborrhoeic keratoses, can occur after 35 years of age in sun‐exposed skin. We theoretically calculated the maximal daily exposure time to solar radiation, which could prevent the development of photoaged skin until 60 and 80 years of age, based on published data of personal solar UVB doses in sun‐exposed skin. One MED (minimal erythema dose) was determined to be 20 mJ/cm2, and 200 MED was used as the average yearly dose of Japanese children. Further, we hypothesized that the annual dose of Japanese adults is the same as that of the children. The cumulative UVB dose at 20 years of age was thus calculated to be 4000 MED, and 22 MED was used as the maximal daily UVB dose based on data measured in Kobe, located in the central area of Japan. We used the solar UVB dose from 10:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. which occupies 60% of the total daily UV dose, to obtain the maximal UVB per hour in a day, and calculated the maximal daily UV exposure time that would delay the onset of solar lentigines until 60 or 80 years of age. The mean daily sun exposure time to maintain healthy skin until 80 years of age in the summer was calculated to be 2.54 min (0.14 MED) for unprotected skin and 127 min with the use of a sunscreen of SPF (sun protection factor) of 50. In this study, we did not evaluate the photoaging effect of UVA radiation, but findings of the adverse effects of UVA radiation on the skin have accumulated in the last decade. Therefore, it will be important to estimate the maximal dose of solar UV radiation to retard the onset of photoaging based on an evaluation of both solar UVB and UVA in the future. Finally, we expect that this study may contribute to keeping Japanese and other types of skin young and healthy by limiting the exposure of the skin to solar radiation outdoors during the day.
Portulaca oleracea extracts protect human keratinocytes and fibroblasts from UV‐induced apoptosis
Authors: Lee Suyeon , Kim Ki Ho , Park Changhoon , Lee Jong‐Suk , Kim Young Heui 
Published: September 2014

AbstractPortulaca oleracea extracts, known as Ma Chi Hyun in the traditional Korean medicine, show a variety of biomedical efficacies including those in anti‐inflammation and anti‐allergy. In this study, we investigate the protective activity of the P. oleracea extracts against UVB‐induced damage in human epithelial keratinocytes and fibroblasts by several apoptosis‐related tests. The results suggest that P. oleracea extracts have protective effects from UVB‐induced apoptosis.
Pressure effects reveal that changes in the redox states of the heme iron complexes in the sensor domains of two heme‐based oxygen sensor proteins, EcDOS and YddV, have profound effects on their flexibility
Authors: Anzenbacher Pavel , Marchal Stéphane , Palacký Jan , Anzenbacherová Eva , Domaschke Thomas , Lange Reinhard , Shimizu Toru , Kitanishi Kenichi , Stranava Martin , Stiborová Marie , Martinkova Marketa 
Published: September 2014

The catalytic activity of a heme‐based oxygen sensor phosphodiesterase from Escherichia coli (EcDOS) towards cyclic diGMP is regulated by the redox state of the heme iron complex in the enzyme's sensing domain and the association of external ligands with the iron center. Specifically, the Fe(II) complex is more active towards cyclic diGMP than the Fe(III) complex, and its activity is further enhanced by O2 or CO binding. In order to determine how the redox state and coordination of the heme iron atom regulate the catalytic activity of EcDOS, we investigated the flexibility of its isolated N‐terminal heme‐binding domain (EcDOS‐heme) by monitoring its spectral properties at various hydrostatic pressures. The most active form of the heme‐containing domain, i.e. the Fe(II)–CO complex, was found to be the least flexible. Conversely, the oxidized Fe(III) forms of EcDOS‐heme and its mutants had relatively high flexibilities, which appeared to be linked to the low catalytic activity of the corresponding intact enzymes. These findings corroborate the suggestion, made on the basis of crystallographic data, that there is an inverse relationship between the flexibility of the heme‐containing domain of EcDOS and its catalytic activity. The Fe(II)–CO form of the heme domain of a second heme‐based oxygen sensor, diguanylate cyclase (YddV), was also found to be quite rigid. Interestingly, the incorporation of a water molecule into the heme complex of YddV caused by mutation of the Leu65 residue reduced the flexibility of this heme domain. Conversely, mutation of the Tyr43 residue increased its flexibility.
Differences in species–area relationships among the major lineages of land plants: a macroecological perspective
Authors: Patiño Jairo , Weigelt Patrick , Guilhaumon François , Kreft Holger , Triantis Kostas A. , Naranjo‐Cigala Agustín , Sólymos Péter , Vanderpoorten Alain 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAimAlthough the increase in species richness with increasing area is considered one of the few laws in ecology, the role of environmental and taxon‐specific features in shaping species–area relationships (SARs) remains controversial. Using 421 land‐plant floras covering continents, continental islands and oceanic islands, we investigate whether variations in SAR parameters can be interpreted in terms of differences among lineages in speciation mode and dispersal capacities (TAXON), or of geological history and geographical isolation between continents and islands (GEO).LocationGlobal.MethodsLinear mixed‐effects models describing variation in SARs, depending on the factors GEO and TAXON and controlling for differences between realms (REALM) and biomes (BIOME).ResultsThe best random‐effect structure included both random slopes and random intercepts for GEO, TAXON, REALM and BIOME. This accounted for 77% of the total variation in species richness, substantially more than the 27% statistically explained by the model with fixed effects only (i.e. the simple SAR). The slopes of the SARs were higher for oceanic islands than for continental islands and continents, and higher in spermatophytes than in pteridophytes and bryophytes. The intercepts largely exhibited the reverse trend. TAXON was included in best‐fit models restricted to oceanic and continental islands, but not continents. Analysing each plant lineage separately, the intercept of GEO was only included in the random structure of spermatophytes.Main conclusionsSAR parameters varied considerably depending on geological history and taxon‐specific traits. Such differences in SARs among land plants challenge the neutral theory that the accumulation of species richness on islands is controlled exclusively by extrinsic factors. Taxon‐specific differences in SARs were, however, confounded by interactions with geological history and geographical isolation. This highlights the importance of applying integrative frameworks that take both environmental context and taxonomic idiosyncrasies into account in SAR analyses.
Productivity as related to diversity and age in planted versus natural forests
Authors: Guo Qinfeng , Ren Hai 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAimLittle is known about the performance of plantations relative to natural forests of the same climate zone and age. China has more plantations than any other country as a consequence of massive afforestation efforts. We use data fromChina to comparatively examine tree biomass and productivity of planted and natural stands in relation to climate zone, latitude, elevation, age and species diversity (richness).LocationSix forest climate/vegetation zones inChina.MethodsWe used a database completed in 2007 and then updated in 2013 that contained extensive records of forest stands (10 m × 10 m plots) acrossChina. The database records included a total of 6153 forest stands (1716 planted forests aged 0–80 years and 4437 natural forests of aged 0–400 years), located from 18.1 to 53.2° Nand 75.53 to 131.8° E, and between elevations of 7 and 4240 m above sea level. These forests were grouped into six climate zones for comparisons.ResultsUnder generally similar physical conditions (climate zones) to those in natural forests and despite having low diversity (i.e. often a single tree species), plantations aged 0–80 years already had similar biomass but much higher productivity, and thus much higher carbon sequestration rates, than natural forests. Tree biomass, productivity and their above/below ground ratios showed stronger latitudinal and elevational trends in natural forests than in planted forests. No difference in productivity was observed between the planted forests with one or two species; in natural forests, however, high diversity usually led to high productivity.Main conclusionsThe differences in performance between planted and natural forests were mainly explained by: (1) age (the plantations were in early succession), (2) elevation (plantations were located at lower elevations), and (3) species selection (only highly productive species were planted). As the plantations were all still young, closer monitoring of their performance is needed.