bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of resistance training under hypoxic conditions on muscle hypertrophy and strength
Authors: Kurobe Kazumichi , Huang Zhong , Nishiwaki Masato , Yamamoto Masayoshi , Kanehisa Hiroaki , Ogita Futoshi 
Published: April 2014

SummaryIt has been reported that exercise under hypoxic conditions elevates acute growth hormone secretion after exercise compared with that under normoxic conditions. This study examined the influence of resistance training under moderate hypoxic conditions on muscle thickness, strength and hormonal responses. Thirteen healthy men were assigned into two groups matched for physical fitness level and then randomized into two groups that performed exercise under normoxic (FiO2 = 20·9%) or hypoxic (FiO2 = 12·7%) conditions. Three sets of elbow extensions with unilateral arm were performed to exhaustion at a workload of a 10 repetition maximum with 1‐minute intervals for 3 days per week for 8 weeks. The thickness of the biceps and triceps brachii was determined using B‐mode ultrasound before and after training. Blood sampling was carried out before and after exercise, as well as during the first and last training sessions. Increase in the thickness of the triceps brachii in trained arm was significantly greater in the hypoxic group than in the normoxic group. The 10 repetition maximum was significantly increased not only in the trained arm but also in the untrained arm in both groups. Serum growth hormone concentrations after exercise were significantly higher in the hypoxic group than in the normoxic group on both the first and last training sessions. These findings suggest that hypoxic resistance training elicits more muscle hypertrophy associated with a higher growth hormone secretion, but that the greater muscle hypertrophy did not necessarily contribute a greater gain of muscle strength.
Uncertainty, priors, autocorrelation and disparate data in downscaling of species distributions
Authors: Keil Petr , Wilson Adam M. , Jetz Walter 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimWe provide a step‐by‐step demonstration of how a map of species' detections at continental extent can be downscaled to a fine‐grain map of occurrence probabilities using a two‐scale hierarchicalBayesian modelling (HBM). The method requires fine‐grain environmental data, but it does not require fine‐grain data on species detections. We demonstrate how it can incorporate spatial autocorrelation (SAC) and informative priors based on known habitat preferences, and how it can provide maps of uncertainty about the downscaled predictions.LocationUSA.MethodsWe used range map and point record data on the distribution ofAmerican three‐toed woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis,Baird 1858) to produce a reliable coarse‐grain (160 km × 160 km) map of the species' presences and absences. We developed anHBMcombining coarse‐grain information with fine‐grain (20 km × 20 km) environmental data to predict probabilities of occurrence at the fine grain together with 95% prediction intervals. The model incorporatedSACin the form of conditional autoregressive (CAR) random effects. It also incorporated prior knowledge on habitat preferences in the form of prior distribution of parameters. We evaluated the predictions using 751 well‐surveyed fine‐grain cells.ResultsOurHBMproduced reliable fine‐grain probabilities of occurrence that matched the detections and non‐detections in the 751 validation cells well (Nagelkerke'sR2 = 0.69,AUC = 0.93). By mapping the uncertainty in the downscaled predictions, we identified areas of low uncertainty and high occurrence probability, as well as large areas of high prediction uncertainty. Mapping the autocorrelation term enabled to identify areas of likely spurious observations.Main conclusionsWe demonstrate how hierarchical downscaling enables estimation of species distributions at grains finer than the grain of the original data. The approach can integrate various types of information on distribution and biology in a single statistical framework, and it enables propagating and mapping prediction uncertainty. Yet there are also computational challenges for large datasets.
Can coarse‐grain patterns in insect atlas data predict local occupancy?
Authors: Barwell Louise J. , Azaele Sandro , Kunin William E. , Isaac Nick J. B. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimSpecies atlases provide an economical way to collect data with national coverage, but are typically too coarse‐grained to monitor fine‐grain patterns in rarity, distribution and abundance. We test the performance of ten downscaling models in extrapolating occupancy across two orders of magnitude. To provide a greater challenge to downscaling models, we extend previous downscaling tests with plants to highly mobile insect taxa (Odonata) with a life history that is tied to freshwater bodies for reproduction. We investigate the species‐level correlates of predictive accuracy for the best performing model to understand whether traits driving spatial structure can cause interspecific variation in downscaling success.LocationMainland Britain.MethodsOccupancy data for 38 British Odonata species were extracted from the Dragonfly Recording Network (DRN). Occupancy at grains ≥ 100 km2 was used as training data to parameterize ten downscaling models. Predicted occupancy at the 25, 4 and 1 km2 grains was compared to observed data at corresponding grains. Model predictive error was evaluated across species and grains.Main conclusionsThe Hui model gave the most accurate downscaling predictions across 114 species:grain combinations and the best predictions for 14 of the 38 species, despite being the only model using information at a single spatial grain. The occupancy–area relationship was sigmoidal in shape for most species. Species' distribution type and dispersal ability explained over half of the variation in downscaling predictive error at the species level. Species with a climatic range limit in Britain were poorly predicted compared with other distribution types, and high dispersal ability was associated with relatively poor downscaling predictions. Our results suggest that downscaling models, using widely available coarse‐grain atlas data, provide reasonable estimates of fine‐grain occupancy, even for insect taxa with strong spatial structure. Linking species‐level traits with predictive accuracy reveals general principles about when downscaling will be successful.
Severe infantile epileptic encephalopathy due to mutations in PLCB1: expansion of the genotypic and phenotypic disease spectrum
Authors: Ngoh Adeline , McTague Amy , Wentzensen Ingrid M , Meyer Esther , Applegate Carolyn , Kossoff Eric H , Batista Denise A , Wang Tao , Kurian Manju A 
Published: March 2014

Homozygous deletions of chromosome 20p12.3, disrupting the promoter region and first three coding exons of the phospholipase C β1 gene (PLCB1), have previously been described in two reports of early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE). Both children were born to consanguineous parents, one presented with infantile spasms, the other with migrating partial seizures of infancy. We describe an infant presenting with severe intractable epilepsy (without a specific EIEE electroclinical syndrome diagnosis) and neurodevelopmental delay associated with compound heterozygous mutations in PLCB1. A case note review and molecular genetic investigations were performed for a child, approximately 10 months of age, admitted to Johns Hopkins University Hospital for developmental delay and new‐onset seizures. The patient presented at 6 months of age with developmental delay, followed by the onset of intractable, focal, and generalized seizures associated with developmental regression from 10 months of age. Presently, at 2 years of age, the child has severe motor and cognitive delays. Diagnostic microarray revealed a heterozygous 476kb deletion of 20p12.3 (encompassing PLCB1), which was also detected in the mother. The genomic breakpoints for the heterozygous deletion were determined. In order to investigate the presence of a second PLCB1 mutation, direct Sanger sequencing of the coding region and flanking intronic regions was undertaken, revealing a novel heterozygous intron 1 splice site variant (c.99+1G>A) in both the index individual and the father. Advances in molecular genetic testing have greatly improved diagnostic rates in EIEE, and this report further confirms the important role of microarray investigation in this group of disorders. PLCB1‐EIEE is now reported in a number of different EIEE phenotypes and our report provides further evidence for phenotypic pleiotropy encountered in early infantile epilepsy syndromes.
Migration, self‐selection and income distributions
Authors: Xing C. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractSelf‐selection in rural–urban migration is examined using three datasets from rural and urban China in 2002. We construct a migrant sample including both migrants who converted their hukou status from rural to urban (permanent migrants) and those who did not (temporary migrants). We find a strong positive selection for permanent migrants, but the selection for temporary migrants is ambiguous. We reach these conclusions by comparing migrants' counterfactual wage densities, assuming they are paid as rural local workers, to actual wage densities of rural local workers. Our results imply that permanent migration has negative effects on rural human capital accumulation and income levels.
Glucocorticoid receptor deletion from the dorsal raphé nucleus of mice reduces dysphoria‐like behavior and impairs hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical axis feedback inhibition
Authors: Vincent Melanie Y. , Jacobson Lauren 
Published: March 2014

AbstractGlucocorticoids can cause depression and anxiety. Mechanisms for glucocorticoid effects on mood are largely undefined. The dorsal raphé nucleus (DRN) produces the majority of serotonin in the brain, and expresses glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Because we previously showed that antidepressants used to treat depression and anxiety decrease DRN GR expression, we hypothesized that deleting DRN GR would have anxiolytic‐ and antidepressant‐like effects. We also hypothesized that DRN GR deletion would disinhibit activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Adeno‐associated virus pseudotype AAV2/9 expressing either Cre recombinase (DRNGRKO mice) or GFP (DRN‐GFP mice) was injected into the DRN of floxed GR mice to test these hypotheses. Three weeks after injection, mice underwent 21 days of social defeat or control handling and were tested for anxiety‐like behavior (open‐field test, elevated‐plus maze), depression‐like behavior [sucrose preference, forced‐swim test (FST), tail‐suspension test (TST)], social interaction, and circadian and stress‐induced HPA activity. DRN GR deletion decreased anxiety‐like behavior in control but not in defeated mice. DRN GR deletion decreased FST and tended to decrease TST despair‐like behavior in both control and defeated mice, but did not affect sucrose preference. Exploration of social (a novel mouse) as well as neutral (an empty box) targets was increased in DRNGRKO mice, suggesting that DRN GR deletion also promotes active coping. DRN GR deletion increased stress‐induced HPA activity without strongly altering circadian HPA activity. We have shown a novel role for DRN GR to mediate anxiety‐ and despair‐like behavior and to regulate HPA negative feedback during acute stress.
Association of moyamoya disease with thyroid autoantibodies and thyroid function: a case−control study and meta‐analysis
Authors: Lei C. , Wu B. , Ma Z. , Zhang S. , Liu M. 
Published: March 2014

Background and purposeEvidence suggests that elevated thyroid function and elevated levels of thyroid autoantibodies are associated with risk of moyamoya disease (MMD). Therefore a meta‐analysis of all available evidence was performed, including unpublished data from our own center, in order to assess this association.MethodsMajor literature databases were reviewed without language restrictions to identify studies examining the association between MMD and thyroid function or thyroid autoantibodies. These data were combined with those from our own prospective study. This study involved consecutively recruited patients with MMD and two groups of age‐matched control patients: patients with non‐MMD stroke and healthy individuals. The groups were compared in terms of serum triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free T4, free T3, thyroid stimulating hormone, anti‐thyroperoxidase antibody and anti‐thyroglobulin antibody.ResultsOur prospective study involved 28 patients with MMD, 28 age‐matched patients with non‐MMD stroke and 28 age‐matched healthy control participants. The results showed an association between risk of MMD and elevated thyroid autoantibodies [odds ratio (OR) 9.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–78.94] but not between risk of MMD and elevated thyroid function (OR 5.87, 95% CI 0.64–53.93). Meta‐analysis of our data with findings from the literature further supported the association with elevated thyroid autoantibodies (OR 8.77, 95% CI 4.45–17.29) and indicated an association with elevated thyroid function (OR 9.74, 95% CI 2.18–43.49).ConclusionsEvidence strongly suggests that elevated thyroid autoantibodies and elevated thyroid function are independently associated with MMD. These clinical variables may require regular monitoring in patients with MMD.
Muscle atrophy in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: a computed tomography assessment
Authors: Ohyama K. , Koike H. , Katsuno M. , Takahashi M. , Hashimoto R. , Kawagashira Y. , Iijima M. , Adachi H. , Watanabe H. , Sobue G. 
Published: March 2014

Background and purposeMuscle atrophy is generally mild in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) compared with the severity and duration of the muscle weakness. Muscle atrophy was evaluated using computed tomography (CT) in patients with CIDP.MethodsThirty‐one patients with typical CIDP who satisfied the diagnostic criteria for the definite CIDP classification proposed by the European Federation of Neurological Societies and the Peripheral Nerve Society were assessed. The clinicopathological findings in patients with muscle atrophy were also compared with those in patients without atrophy.ResultsComputed tomography evidence was found of marked muscle atrophy with findings suggestive of fatty degeneration in 11 of the 31 patients with CIDP. CT‐assessed muscle atrophy was in the lower extremities, particularly in the ankle plantarflexor muscles. Muscle weakness, which reflects the presence of muscle atrophy, tended to be more pronounced in the lower extremities than in the upper extremities in patients with muscle atrophy, whereas the upper and lower limbs tended to be equally affected in patients without muscle atrophy. Nerve conduction examinations revealed significantly greater reductions in compound muscle action potential amplitudes in the tibial nerves of patients with muscle atrophy. Sural nerve biopsy findings were similar in both groups. The functional prognoses after immunomodulatory therapies were significantly poorer amongst patients with muscle atrophy.ConclusionsMuscle atrophy was present in a subgroup of patients with CIDP, including patients with a typical form of the disease. These patients tended to demonstrate predominant motor impairments of the lower extremities and poorer functional prognoses.
Statins are associated with decreased mortality risk after status epilepticus
Authors: Sierra‐Marcos A. , Alvarez V. , Faouzi M. , Burnand B. , Rossetti A. O. 
Published: March 2014

Background and purposeStatins display anti‐inflammatory and anti‐epileptogenic properties in animal models, and may reduce the epilepsy risk in elderly humans; however, a possible modulating role on outcome in patients with status epilepticus (SE) has not been assessed.MethodsThis cohort study was based on a prospective registry including all consecutive adults with incident SE treated in our center between April 2006 and September 2012. SE outcome was categorized at hospital discharge into ‘return to baseline’, ‘new disability’ and ‘mortality’. The role of potential predictors, including statins treatment on admission, was evaluated using a multinomial logistic regression model.ResultsAmongst 427 patients identified, information on statins was available in 413 (97%). Mean age was 60.9 (±17.8) years; 201 (49%) were women; 211 (51%) had a potentially fatal SE etiology; and 191 (46%) experienced generalized‐convulsive or non‐convulsive SE in coma. Statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin or pravastatin) were prescribed prior to admission in 76 (18%) subjects, mostly elderly. Whilst 208 (50.4%) patients returned to baseline, 58 (14%) died. After adjustment for established SE outcome predictors (age, etiology, SE severity score), statins correlated significantly with lower mortality (relative risk ratio 0.38, P = 0.046).ConclusionThis study suggests for the first time that exposure to statins before an SE episode is related to its outcome, involving a possible anti‐epileptogenic role. Other studies are needed to confirm this intriguing finding.
Low risk of late intracranial complications in mild traumatic brain injury patients using oral anticoagulation after an initial normal brain computed tomography scan: education instead of hospitalization
Authors: Schoonman G. G. , Bakker D. P. , Jellema K. 
Published: March 2014

Background and purposeMild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common neurological disorder. Whether oral anticoagulation (OAC) use is a risk factor for secondary deterioration in mTBI patients after a normal computed tomography (CT) scan is unclear. Therefore data were retrospectively collected on patients with mTBI who used OAC to determine the incidence of secondary clinical deterioration after an initial normal head CT scan.MethodsThis was a retrospective single‐centre patient record study. All patients with an mTBI who presented at the emergency department between January 2007 and October 2011 were selected. Inclusion criteria were mTBI and at least 1 week of OAC use resulting in an international normalized radio > 1.1. CT scans were re‐evaluated for this study.ResultsA total of 211 mTBI patients using OAC and with an initial CT scan without abnormalities were included in the analysis. In five patients a secondary deterioration was found. One patient developed a subdural hematoma after 15 h of clinical observation. The other four patients became symptomatic between 2 and 28 days after trauma.ConclusionsA low risk of secondary deterioration within 24 h in mTBI patients taking OAC with a normal first head CT scan was found. Our study does not support the recommendation of the current guidelines that these patients should be clinically observed for at least 24 h. The fact that in our series the majority of secondary deteriorations occurred between 2 and 28 days after trauma underscores the importance of patient instructions upon discharge from the hospital.
ERK/MAPK regulates ERRγ expression, transcriptional activity and receptor‐mediated tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer
Authors: Heckler Mary M. , Thakor Hemang , Schafer Cara C. , Riggins Rebecca B. 
Published: March 2014

Selective estrogen receptor modulators such as tamoxifen (TAM) significantly improve breast cancer‐specific survival for women with estrogen receptor‐positive (ER+) disease. However, resistance to TAM remains a major clinical problem. The resistant phenotype is usually not driven by loss or mutation of the estrogen receptor; instead, changes in multiple proliferative and/or survival pathways over‐ride the inhibitory effects of TAM. Estrogen‐related receptor γ (ERRγ) is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily that promotes TAM resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells. This study sought to clarify the mechanism(s) by which this orphan nuclear receptor is regulated, and hence affects TAM resistance. mRNA and protein expression/phosphorylation were monitored by RT‐PCR and western blotting, respectively. Site‐directed mutagenesis was used to disrupt consensus extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) target sites. Cell proliferation and cell‐cycle progression were measured by flow cytometric methods. ERRγ transcriptional activity was assessed by dual‐luciferase promoter–reporter assays. We show that ERRγ protein levels are affected by the activation state of ERK/mitogen‐activated protein kinase, and mutation of consensus ERK target sites impairs ERRγ‐driven transcriptional activity and TAM resistance. These findings shed new light on the functional significance of ERRγ in ER+ breast cancer, and are the first to demonstrate a role for kinase regulation of this orphan nuclear receptor.
Failure assessment of the shaft of a pumped storage unit
Authors: Negru R. , Muntean S. , Pasca N. , Marsavina L. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTThe paper is focused on failure assessment of the shaft of a pumped storage unit. The shaft failure occurred during normal operation of the hydropower unit after 35 years of service. Three different methods are applied in order to assess its lifetime. Firstly, a finite element analysis was performed in order to obtain the static stress distribution and to apply a strain‐based crack initiation for the shaft under torsion load. The number of cycles for crack propagation was obtained using the Paris law for mode III. More precisely, the lifetime assessment of the shaft is obtained based on a low‐cycle fatigue analysis for estimating the number of cycles for crack initiation and then followed by that for fatigue crack propagation. Secondly, an analytical estimation based on failure assessment diagram is carried out for circumferential crack in order to determine the safe/unsafe region, where the shaft can operate with a crack. The failure assessment diagram for mode III loading was plotted in order to obtain the critical circumferential crack using the stress intensity factor solution and three analytical solutions for plastic zone. Thirdly, the theory of critical distance is employed for estimating the shaft life under torsional loading. A good agreement is obtained between the estimated results and experimental data for the shaft life and the crack length.