bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phylogeny of the Poorly Known Ciliates, Microthoracida, a Systematically Confused Taxon (Ciliophora), with Morphological Reports of Three Species
Authors: Fan Xinpeng , Pan Hongbo , Li Lifang , Jiang Jiamei , Al‐Rasheid Khaled A. S. , Gu Fukang 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThree species of Microthoracids, Lopezoterenia paratorpens n. sp., Trochiliopsis australis Foissner et al., 1988 and Discotricha papillifera Tuffrau, 1954, collected from Chinese coastal waters, were investigated using live observation and protargol staining methods. Lopezoterenia paratorpens n. sp. was characterized by its squarely shaped cortical papillae and by dorsal kineties which contained loosely distributed basal bodies. Trochiliopsis australis was revealed to have two oral membranelles, which was not recorded in the original report. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data from each of the three species, and on other available data for microthoracids. The results showed that the order Microthoracida is not monophyletic because the family Discotrichidae, which contains L. paratorpens and D. papillifera, forms a clade separated from the “core” Microthoracids clade. The topologies of the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference trees, along with the distinct morphological characteristics found previously, suggest that the family Discotrichidae should not be assigned to the order Microthoracida. We propose to designate a new order, Discotrichida n. ord. which diagnosed as: flattened ciliates with conspicuous cortical papillae on both dorsal and ventral faces, rod‐shaped mucocysts, and an asymmetric cytopharyngeal basket. Also, the fact that Leptopharynx clusters with the assemblage including T. australis, and Pseudomicrothorax is located distantly from Leptopharynx indicates that the classification of Pseudomicrothoracidae and Microthoracidae by Foissner (1985) is justified.
Dopamine denervation of the prefrontal cortex increases expression of the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT‐1
Authors: Vollbrecht Peter J. , Simmler Linda D. , Blakely Randy D. , Deutch Ariel Y. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBoth dopamine and glutamate are critically involved in cognitive processes such as working memory. Astrocytes, which express dopamine receptors, are essential elements in the termination of glutamatergic signaling: the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT‐1 is responsible for > 90% of cortical glutamate uptake. The effect of dopamine depletion on glutamate transporters in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) remains unknown. In an effort to determine if astrocytes are a locus of cortical dopamine–glutamate interactions, we examined the effects of chronic dopamine denervation on PFC protein and mRNA levels of glutamate transporters. PFC dopamine denervation elicited a marked increase in GLT‐1 protein levels, but had no effect on levels of other glutamate transporters; high‐affinity glutamate transport was positively correlated with the extent of dopamine depletion. GLT‐1 gene expression was not altered. Our data suggest that dopamine depletion may lead to post‐translational modifications that result in increased expression and activity of GLT‐1 in PFC astrocytes.
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The glutamate transporter GLT‐1 is expressed by astrocytes, which also express dopamine receptors. Regulation of prefrontal cortical (PFC) GLT‐1 potentially offers a novel treatment approach to the cognitive deficits of schizophrenia. Partial PFC dopamine deafferentation increased membrane expression of GLT‐1 protein and glutamate uptake, but did not alter levels of the other two neocortical glutamate transporters, GLAST and EAAC1.
Susceptibility Weighted Imaging Features of Nonketotic Hyperglycemia: Unusual Cause of Hemichorea‐Hemiballismus
Authors: Atay Musa , Yetis Huseyin , Kurtcan Serpil , Aralasmak Ayse , Alkan Alpay 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTNonketotic hyperglycemia has been described as a metabolic cause of Hemiballism‐hemichorea (HB‐HC), especially in elderly patients with poorly controlled diabetes. Pathophysiology is not known yet. MRI features tend to be hyperintense in the putamen on T1‐weighted images. We present conventional MRI with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) features of two cases with nonketotic hyperglycemia. T1 hyperintensity without diffusion restriction on DWI and minimal putaminal hypointensity without phase shift on SWI were compatible with either pathological mineralization or petechial microhemorrhage or protein denaturation. In the type 2 diabetic patients with HC‐HB, conventional MRI together with SWI and DWI will guide to clinician to plan treatment approach.
High‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for infants with bronchiolitis: Pilot study
Authors: Mayfield Sara , Bogossian Fiona , O'Malley Lee , Schibler Andreas 
Published: February 2014

AimTo obtain data on the safety and clinical impact of managing infants with bronchiolitis on the ward with high‐flow nasal cannula (HFNC) treatment.MethodsA prospective pilot study was conducted of 61 infants aged <12 months with bronchiolitis and oxygen requirement presenting to the emergency department. HFNC was commenced at 2 L/kg/min, and fraction of inspired oxygen was titrated to oxygen saturation > 94%. A standard‐treatment group (n = 33) managed with standard low‐flow subnasal oxygen during the same time period was retrospectively identified.ResultsAdmission demographics, heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were similar in test and standard‐treatment groups. Responders and non‐responders to HFNC were identified within 60 min of treatment. Non‐responders to HFNC requiring paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission showed no change in HR and RR, whereas responders showed decreases in HR and RR (P < 0.02). Patients receiving HFNC were four times less likely to need PICU admission than the standard treatment group (OR 4.086, 95%CI 1.0–8.2; P = 0.043). No adverse events such as pneumothorax, bradycardia, bradypnoea, emergency intubation or cardiopulmonary resuscitation were observed. No patients admitted to the PICU required intubation.ConclusionsHFNC treatment in the paediatric ward is safe. Non‐responders requiring PICU admission can be identified within the first hour of HFNC treatment by monitoring HR and RR. It is feasible to undertake a randomised controlled trial based on this pilot with the aim of decreasing PICU admissions.
Utility of peritoneal dialysis in neonates affected by inborn errors of metabolism
Authors: Bilgin Leyla , Unal Sevim , Gunduz Mehmet , Uncu Nermin , Tiryaki Tugrul 
Published: February 2014

AimSome inborn errors of metabolism induce metabolic encephalopathy through accumulation of neurotoxic metabolites. Rapid elimination of these metabolites by peritoneal or extracorporeal dialysis is crucial to prevent neuronal damage or death. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the outcomes of nine neonates with metabolic crisis treated with peritoneal dialysis.MethodSix neonates with hyperammonemic coma (four with organic acidemias, two with urea cycle disorders) and three with leucine accumulation due to maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) were managed with peritoneal dialysis in conjunction with dietary and pharmacological therapy.ResultsThree patients with organic acidemia survived. One of the patients was normal; others had moderate and severe neurological impairments. One neonate with organic acidemia and both neonates with urea cycle disorders died. Two of the three patients withMSUDsurvived without neurological impairment; the other had severe neurological damage and died at 9 months of age due to sepsis.ConclusionTheoretically, extracorporeal dialysis should be the first dialysis treatment of choice; however, this report demonstrates that peritoneal dialysis has a chance to prevent neurological damage in some patients. Therefore, in developing countries without extracorporeal dialysis opportunities, it can be still a life‐saving procedure, if it is applied with skilled staff and standard procedures.
Paediatricians' perceptions of a potential online psychosocial intervention for children with recurrent abdominal pain
Authors: Boixadós Mercè , Hernández Encuentra Eulàlia , Nieto Luna Ruben , Huguet Anna , Aumatell Eva 
Published: February 2014

AimsTo evaluate paediatricians' perceived effectiveness of an online psychosocial intervention for children with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP). Also, to explore which elements of this intervention they would consider necessary when applied in the clinical context.MethodsA total of 131 paediatricians affiliated to Catalan and Balearic paediatric societies completed an online survey about how effective they would perceive an online psychosocial intervention for RAP (for reducing pain intensity, reducing disability and preventing chronicity) and how this intervention should be carried out. They were asked about the perceived effectiveness of the standard medical treatments they routinely applied for RAP and also their opinion of face‐to‐face psychosocial interventions.ResultsA face‐to face psychosocial intervention was considered better (to reduce pain intensity, reduce disability and prevent chronic pain) than an online psychological intervention and the standard medical treatment. Online and face‐to‐face psychosocial interventions are considered equally useful for children with mild disability, but a face‐to‐face psychosocial intervention is considered better for those with moderate and severe levels of disability. Paediatricians considered that an online psychosocial intervention for children with RAP should be simple and consistent; it should provide easy access for users; and its interface should be easy to use and attractive.ConclusionsPaediatricians show a positive attitude towards a potential online psychosocial intervention for children and adolescents with RAP. However, they do not use the Internet for offering health care, and they would prefer a face‐to‐face psychosocial intervention.
A sixth personality domain that is independent of the Big Five domains: The psychometric properties of the HEXACO Personality Inventory in a Japanese sample
Authors: Wakabayashi Akio 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe investigated the reliability of the HEXACO‐Personality Inventory (HEXACO‐PI) using the NEO Five‐Factor Inventory (NEO‐FFI) and the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) Big Five scales in a Japanese sample of 492 respondents (mean age = 20.4 years). The psychometric properties of the HEXACO‐PI were examined and found to be satisfactory. The results of the factor analysis showed that the six hypothesized personality domains were found independently. A total of 307 participants responded to the NEO‐FFI and the IPIP Big Five scales. The results showed that the five domains of the HEXACO model corresponded to the Five‐Factor domains and were relative to the Big Five personality domains as a whole, but the sixth domain, Honesty‐Humility, showed weak to moderate correlations with some factors of the NEO‐FFI and the IPIP Big Five scales. These results suggest that the Honesty‐Humility domain is independent of the five fundamental personality factors and that the HEXACO‐PI is a useful and reliable questionnaire for investigating personality structure in cross‐cultural and other context.
Fish oil supplementation increases concentration of adiponectin in healthy dogs
Authors: Mazaki‐Tovi M. , Abood S. K. , Schenck P. A. 
Published: February 2014

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of fish oil supplementation on circulating concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, insulin, glucose, triglyceride and cholesterol in healthy dogs.METHODSTwenty healthy adult dogs were administered 220 mg/kg of a fish oil supplement once daily for 30 days. At baseline, on supplement and 10 to 20 weeks off supplement, dogs were examined, body condition scores determined (range: 4 to 6), body measurements recorded for % body fat calculation and fasted blood samples collected.RESULTSSerum concentrations of the measured individual and total n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increased following supplementation (P<0·001). Mean serum adiponectin concentration on supplement was 3·4 µg/mL(95% confidence interval: 0·8 to 6·0; P=0·006) higher than baseline, and 5·3 µg/mL(2·0 to 8·7; P<0·001) higher than off supplement. Concentrations of adiponectin off supplement were not different from baseline. There were no significant differences in weight, body condition scores, % body fat and concentrations of other measured analytes between baseline and on supplement.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEFish oil supplementation significantly increased circulating concentration of adiponectin in healthy non‐obese dogs. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether this effect may be extended to obese dogs and to evaluate the potential role of fish oil supplementation in the management of disorders associated with low circulating adiponectin concentrations.
An Increased Arginase Activity Is Associated with Corpus Cavernosum Impairment Induced by Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Fraga-Silva Rodrigo A. , Costa-Fraga Fabiana P. , Faye Younoss , Sturny Mikaël , Santos Robson A.S. , da Silva Rafaela F. , Stergiopulos Nikolaos 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Introduction
Hypercholesterolemia is a prevalent risk factor for the development of erectile dysfunction (ED), mostly due to an increase in oxidative stress and impaired nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability within the penis. Arginase is an enzyme that shares the common substrate L-arginine with NO synthase. Augmented arginase activity reduces NO production and is associated with ED development. However, the contribution of arginase hyperactivity in hypercholesterolemia-induced ED is unknown.

Aim
In the present study, we investigated the activity and role of arginase in the corpus cavernosum of hypercholesterolemic mice.

Methods
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene-deleted mice fed with a Western-type diet for 11 weeks were treated with the selective arginase inhibitor, N-ω-Hydroxy-L-norarginine (NOHA), or vehicle (saline 0.9%) during the last 9 weeks. Arginase activity and expression were measured in penis protein extraction. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) content within the corpus cavernosum was measured by dihydroethidium staining. Functional in vitro studies were performed using cavernosal strips mounted in an isometric organ bath to evaluate NO production.

Main Outcome Measure
Arginase activity and its role in modulating NO and ROS production within the corpus cavernosum of hypercholesterolemic mice is the main outcome measure.

Results
Total arginase activity and arginase type II protein expression were increased in hypercholesterolemic mice compared with wild-type mice. The long-term treatment with NOHA normalized this alteration. Moreover, pharmacological arginase inhibition by NOHA attenuated the augmented ROS production within the corpus cavernosum of ApoE−/− mice, which increased the NO-dependent response in cavernosal strips.

Conclusion
These evidences indicate that arginase hyperactivity is associated with ED induced by hypercholesterolemia, suggesting that this enzyme is a potential target for treating ED.
Boceprevir and telaprevir‐based triple therapy for chronic hepatitis C: virological efficacy and impact on kidney function and model for end‐stage liver disease score
Authors: Virlogeux V. , Pradat P. , Bailly F. , Funingana G. , Gonçalves F. , Maynard M. , Hartig‐Lavie K. , Amiri M. , Zoulim F. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryTriple therapy using telaprevir or boceprevir [hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐NS3/NS4A protease inhibitors (PI)] in association with PEG‐IFN/ribavirin has recently become the new standard of care (SOC) for treatment of HCV genotype 1 patients. Our objective was to assess the efficacy and tolerance of triple therapy in routine clinical practice. A total of 186 consecutive HCV patients initiating triple therapy were enrolled in a single centre study. Clinical, biological and virological data were collected at baseline and during follow‐up as well as tolerance and side effect details. Among 186 HCV patients initiating triple therapy, 69% received telaprevir and 31% boceprevir. Sixty‐one per cent of patients had cirrhosis. The overall extended rapid virological response (eRVR) rate and sustained virological response (SVR) rate were 57.0% and 59.7%, respectively. IL28B CC phenotype was associated with increased probability of achieving eRVR and SVR, whereas previous non‐response was associated with low eRVR and SVR rates. The SVR rate increased from 30.8% in previously non‐responders to 59.1% in partial non‐responders and 75% in relapsers. SVR rate in naive patients was 62.5%. Glomerular filtration rate assessed by MDRD after 12 weeks of therapy was significantly reduced for both PI (P < 0.001). The model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score was significantly increased at W12 for telaprevir (P = 0.008) and at W24 for boceprevir (P = 0.027). PI‐based triple therapy leads to high rates of virological response even in previously non‐responder patients. Renal function after triple therapy is impaired as well as MELD score in all patients. Cautious clinical monitoring should focus not only on haematological and dermatological side effects but also on renal function.
Specialists may thrive in small habitats: the case of high genetic diversity within a confined gecko population
Authors: Peled E. , Ben‐Shlomo R. , Shanas U. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractMaintaining a meta‐population structure significantly contributes to species viability and is often the basis for defining the difference between a naturally patchy and a fragmented landscape. However, a heterogeneous landscape may be patchy for habitat generalists and fragmented for specialists, preventing the formation of meta‐population structures in habitat specialists. We examined this hypothesis on the generalist Lichtenstein's short‐fingered geckoStenodactylus sthenodactylusand the endangered specialist Middle Eastern short‐fingered geckoS. doriae, two species of the genusStenodactylus, inhabiting the southernAravaValley inIsrael. We compared the genetic structure of the populations of these two geckos by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis, expecting to find decreased gene diversity within the small populations that fail to form a meta‐population structure. Indeed, we found that among populations, the habitat specialistS. doriaehad a low level of gene flow, whereas the habitat generalistS. sthenodactylushad a relatively high level of gene flow. However, unexpectedly, the most isolated population of the specialistS. doriae, located in theSamar dune (a small patch of 2.3 km2), exhibited the highest level of gene diversity of all the populations studied (expected heterozygosity = 0.4286). Moreover, the results showed that theSamar population is genetically unique when compared with its neighboring populations. Gene flow between two populations located to the north and to the south bypass theSamar population. The generalistS. sthenodactylus, in contrast, did not exhibit an exceptional level of gene diversity. The origin of the exceptional diversity and genetic uniqueness of theSamar population ofS. doriaemay be associated with traits that make this gecko highly adaptive to this specific landscape unit. It also emphasizes the need to establish special conservation efforts for the protection of high‐quality habitats that provide adequate conditions for a source population of specialist species.
The Acquisition of Polysynthetic Languages
Authors: Kelly Barbara , Wigglesworth Gillian , Nordlinger Rachel , Blythe Joseph 
Published: February 2014

AbstractOne of the major challenges in acquiring a language is being able to use morphology as an adult would, and thus, a considerable amount of acquisition research has focused on morphological production and comprehension. Most of this research, however, has focused on the acquisition of morphology inisolatinglanguages, or languages (such as English) with limited inflectional morphology. The nature of the learning task is different, and potentially more challenging, when the child is learning apolysyntheticlanguage – a language in which words are highly morphologically complex, expressing in a single word what in English takes a multi‐word clause. To date, there has been no cross‐linguistic survey of how children approach this puzzle and learn polysynthetic languages. This paper aims to provide such a survey, including a discussion of some of the general findings in the literature regarding the acquisition of polysynthetic systems.
Soil and geography are more important determinants of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal communities than management practices in Swiss agricultural soils
Authors: Jansa Jan , Erb Angela , Oberholzer Hans‐Rudolf , Šmilauer Petr , Egli Simon 
Published: February 2014

AbstractArbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous soil fungi, forming mutualistic symbiosis with a majority of terrestrial plant species. They are abundant in nearly all soils, less diverse than soil prokaryotes and other intensively studied soil organisms and thus are promising candidates for universal indicators of land management legacies and soil quality degradation. However, insufficient data on how the composition of indigenous AMF varies along soil and landscape gradients have hampered the definition of baselines and effect thresholds to date. Here, indigenous AMF communities in 154 agricultural soils collected across Switzerland were profiled by quantitative real‐time PCR with taxon‐specific markers for six widespread AMF species. To identify the key determinants of AMF community composition, the profiles were related to soil properties, land management and site geography. Our results indicate a number of well‐supported dependencies between abundances of certain AMF taxa and soil properties such as pH, soil fertility and texture, and a surprising lack of effect of available soil phosphorus on the AMF community profiles. Site geography, especially the altitude and large geographical distance, strongly affected AMF communities. Unexpected was the apparent lack of a strong land management effect on the AMF communities as compared to the other predictors, which could be due to the rarity of highly intensive and unsustainable land management in Swiss agriculture. In spite of the extensive coverage of large geographical and soil gradients, we did not identify any taxon suitable as an indicator of land use among the six taxa we studied.