bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting dietary specialization in Neotropical frugivorous bats
Authors: Saldaña‐Vázquez Romeo A. 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Frugivory is a feeding habit that evolved on two independent occasions in the order Chiroptera. In the Neotropical phyllostomid bats Carollia, Sturnira and Artibeus, this feeding habit has evolved to become specialized in the core plant taxa Piper, Solanum, and Ficus and Cecropia, respectively.
I review the intrinsic factors that promote differences in diet among frugivorous bats of the genera Carollia, Sturnira and Artibeus and the interaction between these and extrinsic factors that affect bat community structure.
The intrinsic factors are internal variables associated with fruit selection, body mass and nutrient digestibility that constrain the animals to exploit fruits with different morphological and nutritional characteristics. Intrinsic factors that explain frugivorous bat diet can thus drive community structure in frugivorous bats. The extrinsic factors that affect frugivorous bat community structure are associated with chiropterochoric plant phenology and composition, as well as with human activities that impact food availability.
Nutritional diversity in chiropterochoric plants and the digestive capacity of frugivorous bats are key factors in understanding diet partitioning in Neotropical frugivorous bats. These factors are related to food availability and nutrition in bats and could be the major determinants of community structure of frugivorous bats in conserved and disturbed habitats.
Interaction of Decidual CD56+ NK with Trophoblast Cells during Normal Pregnancy and Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion at Early Term of Gestation
Authors: Sotnikova N. , Voronin D. , Antsiferova Y. , Bukina E. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe immunological paradox of pregnancy, when maternal immune system recognizes but does not reject the semiallogenic foetus, is not yet fully understood. The aim of this work was to detail the mechanisms of the interaction of decidual CD56+ NK, infiltrating the maternal part of placenta, and trophoblast cells of foetal origin. Samples of the endometrial tissue from 13 healthy non‐pregnant women, 37 placentas, obtained after medical abortion of viable pregnancy at 7–10 weeks of gestation, and 26 samples of placentas from first‐trimester recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) were used as the material for investigation. Phenotype of NK was assessed by flow cytometry. The influence of trophoblast cells upon IFNγ and GrB mRNAs expression by dNK was investigated by RT‐PCR. The influence of dNK upon trophoblast cells migration and invasion was studied using collagen and Matrigel systems. In RSA group comparing to the normal pregnancy, the decrease of dNK with inhibitory receptors (NKG2A) and elevation of activated dNK were seen. In normal pregnancy, but not in RSA, trophoblast cells increased the expression of IFNγ and GrB mRNAs by CD56+ dNK. Both in normal and RSA pregnancy, dNK inhibited the migration and invasion of trophoblast cells. Initially, low invasive and migration capacities of trophoblast cells were seen during RSA. Thus, unbalanced activation of dNK can lead to the impairment of dNK and trophoblast cells interaction during RSA.
Estimating the impact of unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene on the global burden of disease: evolving and alternative methods
Authors: Clasen Thomas , Pruss‐Ustun Annette , Mathers Colin D. , Cumming Oliver , Cairncross Sandy , Colford John M. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractThe 2010 global burden of disease (GBD) study represents the latest effort to estimate the global burden of disease and injuries and the associated risk factors. Like previous GBD studies, this latest iteration reflects a continuing evolution in methods, scope and evidence base. Since the first GBD Study in 1990, the burden of diarrhoeal disease and the burden attributable to inadequate water and sanitation have fallen dramatically. While this is consistent with trends in communicable disease and child mortality, the change in attributable risk is also due to new interpretations of the epidemiological evidence from studies of interventions to improve water quality. To provide context for a series of companion papers proposing alternative assumptions and methods concerning the disease burden and risks from inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene, we summarise evolving methods over previous GBD studies. We also describe an alternative approach using population intervention modelling. We conclude by emphasising the important role of GBD studies and the need to ensure that policy on interventions such as water and sanitation be grounded on methods that are transparent, peer‐reviewed and widely accepted.
PCR amplification and DNA sequence identification of an unusual morphological form of Demodex cati in a cat
Authors: Bernstein Joseph A. , Frank Linda A. , Kania Stephen A. 
Published: June 2014

BackgroundMolecular characterization of Demodex mites is being used to identify mite species in dogs. This technique is now being applied to cat Demodex species, allowing for better characterization of the mites.Hypothesis/ObjectivesMolecular diagnostics will clarify the existence of diverse Demodex mites identified morphologically.AnimalsA cat with generalized demodicosis secondary to chronic steroid treatment for erythroid dysplasia.MethodsSkin scrapings demonstrated large numbers of follicular mites consistent with Demodex cati as well as a morphologically different Demodex mite with a blunted abdomen. The 16S rRNA DNA was amplified by PCR, sequenced and compared with available Demodex sequences, including Demodex cati, Demodex gatoi and an unnamed Demodex sp.ResultsA single PCR product was obtained, the DNA sequence of which was an exact match with D. cati.Conclusions and clinical importanceThe shorter unnamed mite was not a different species in this case, but a different morphological form of D. cati. This report demonstrates the utility of molecular diagnostics to clarify the identity of mites that differ morphologically.
On the family of affine threefolds
Authors: Gupta Neena 
Published: June 2014

AbstractLet $k$ be a field and $\mathbb{V}$ the affine threefold in $\mathbb{A}^4_k$ defined by $x^m y=F(x, z, t)$, $m \ge 2$. In this paper, we show that $\mathbb{V} \cong \mathbb{A}^3_k$ if and only if $f(z, t): = F(0, z, t)$ is a coordinate of $k[z, t]$. In particular, when $k$ is a field of positive characteristic and $f$ defines a non-trivial line in the affine plane $\mathbb{A}^2_k$ (we shall call such a $\mathbb{V}$ as an Asanuma threefold), then $\mathbb{V}\ncong \mathbb{A}^3_k$ although $\mathbb{V} \times \mathbb{A}^1_k \cong \mathbb{A}^4_k$, thereby providing a family of counter-examples to Zariski’s cancellation conjecture for the affine 3-space in positive characteristic. Our main result also proves a special case of the embedding conjecture of Abhyankar–Sathaye in arbitrary characteristic.
Pleurodesis Induction in Rats by Copaiba (Copaifera multijugaHayne) Oil
Authors: Westphal Fernando Luiz , Canzian Mauro , Pieri Fabio Alessandro , Reichl Alfredo Coimbra , Pêgo-Fernandes Paulo Manuel , Lima Luis Carlos , Veiga-Junior Valdir F. 
Published: June 2014

This study aims to assess and compare copaiba oleoresin ofCopaifera multijugaand 0.5% silver nitrate for the induction of pleurodesis in an experimental model. Ninety-six male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (0.9% saline solution), copaiba (copaiba oil), and silver nitrate (0.5% silver nitrate). The substances were injected into the right pleural cavity and the alterations were observed macroscopically and microscopically at 24, 48, 72, and 504 h. The value of macroscopic alterations grade and acute inflammatory reaction grade means was higher in the 24 h copaiba group in relation to silver nitrate. Fibrosis and neovascularization means in the visceral pleura were higher in 504 h copaiba group in relation to the silver nitrate group. The grade of the alveolar edema mean was higher in the silver nitrate group in relation to the copaiba group, in which this alteration was not observed. The presence of bronchopneumonia was higher in the 24 h silver nitrate group (n = 4) in relation to the copaiba group (n = 0). In conclusion, both groups promoted pleurodesis, with better results in copaiba group and the silver nitrate group presented greater aggression to the pulmonary parenchyma.
Entering the Era of +30-Year Satellite Cloud Climatologies: A North American Case Study
Authors: Foster Michael J. , Heidinger Andrew 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The emergence of satellite-based cloud records of climate length and quality hold tremendous potential for climate model development, climate monitoring, and studies on global water cycling and its subsequent energetics. This article examines the more than 30-yr Pathfinder Atmospheres–Extended (PATMOS-x) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) cloudiness record over North America and assesses its suitability as a climate-quality data record. A loss of ~4.2% total cloudiness is observed between 1982 and 2012 over a North American domain centered over the contiguous United States. While ENSO can explain some of the observed change, a weather state clustering analysis identifies shifts in weather patterns that result in loss of water cloud over the Great Lakes and cirrus over southern portions of the United States. The radiative properties of the shifting weather states are characterized, and the results suggest that extended cloud satellite records may prove useful tools for increasing knowledge of cloud feedbacks, a long-standing issue in the climate change community.
Comparison of Surface Wind and Temperature Analyses from an Ensemble Kalman Filter and the NWS Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis System
Authors: Ancell Brian C. , Mass Clifford F. , Cook Kirby , Colman Brad 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Operational, high-resolution analyses are a vital part of the National Weather Service (NWS) forecasting process. Currently, the Real-Time Mesoscale Analysis (RTMA) system fills this need by providing hourly analyses using a two-dimensional variational assimilation scheme. While success has been shown with the RTMA, an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) approach should outperform the RTMA, since the EnKF utilizes purely flow-dependent covariances during assimilation. The purpose of this study is to compare surface wind and temperature analyses from an EnKF to those of the RTMA to determine the relative skill of each approach. To reveal the influence of complex terrain, comparisons are performed for both the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Midwest. As expected, EnKF analysis increments reveal structures that align with the instantaneous flow, particularly regarding the wind field, for which the EnKF produces superior analyses. The EnKF is no better than the RTMA in strongly varying terrain, which may be a result of enhanced representativeness error in such regions. In contrast, temperature analysis increments are far less sensitive to flow dependence and are similar for both the EnKF and RTMA. RTMA temperature analyses possess slightly better skill than those produced by the EnKF, likely due to sampling error within the EnKF. Similar results for wind and temperature are found when assimilating significantly more and less observations in both systems. The implications of these results for operational production of finescale analyses are discussed.
Human resources in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey
Authors: Kebede Derege , Zielinski Chris , Mbondji Peter Ebongue , Sanou Issa , Kouvividila Wenceslas , Lusamba-Dikassa Paul-Samson 
Published: June 2014

Objective To describe human capacity and staff movement in national health research institutions in 42 sub-Saharan African countries. Design A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information on governance and stewardship from health research institutions. Setting Eight hundred and forty-seven health research institutions in 42 sub-Saharan African countries. Participants Key informants from 847 health research institutions. Main outcome measures The availability, mix and quality of human resources in health research institutions. Results On average, there were 122 females employed per respondent health research institution, compared with 159 males. For researchers, the equivalent figures were nine females to 17 males. The average annual gross salary of researchers varied between US$ 12,260 for staff with 5–10 years of experience and US$ 14,772 for the institution head. Of those researchers who had joined the institution in the previous 12 months, 55% were employed on a full-time basis. Of the researchers who left the institutions in the same period, 71% had a full-time contract. Among all those who left, those who left to a non-research sector and to another country accounted for two-thirds. Conclusions The study revealed significant gaps in the area of human capacity development for research in Africa. The results showed a serious shortage of qualified staff engaged in health research, with a dearth of staff that held at least a master’s degree or doctoral degree. Major efforts will be required to strengthen human resource capacity, including addressing the lack of motivation or time for research on the part of existing capable staff.
Research and its governance in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey
Authors: Kebede Derege , Zielinski Chris , Mbondji Peter Ebongue , Sanou Issa , Kouvividila Wenceslas , Lusamba-Dikassa Paul-Samson 
Published: June 2014

Summary Objective: To describe governance and stewardship of research in health research institutions in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. Design: A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information on governance and stewardship from health research institutions. Setting: Forty-two Member States of the WHO African Region. Participants: Key informants from the respondent health research institutions in the respondent sub-Saharan African countries. Main outcome measures: Institutions’ participation in setting the national health research agenda. Institutional research priorities, scientific reviews and governance structure. Results: During the previous 12 months, the heads of 49% of respondent health research institutions participated in the setting or coordination of national research priorities. The most frequently cited priorities for contributing to or performing research were improving health programmes, producing new knowledge, influencing health policies and conducting operational research. For 78% of respondent institutions, scientific review was required for research funded directly by the institution, and for 73% of respondent institutions, scientific review was required for research not funded by the institution. However, most respondent institutions did not have written policies or guidelines, either for the scientific review of proposals (70%) or regarding conflict of interest on scientific review committees (80%). Conclusions: Some health research institutions demonstrate good practice in terms of the establishment of structures and processes for governance and stewardship, many others do not. There is a need for the strengthening of the stewardship capacity of research institutions in the Region.
Mesozoic lacewings from China provide phylogenetic insight into evolution of the Kalligrammatidae (Neuroptera)
Authors: Yang Qiang , Wang Yongjie , Labandeira Conrad C , Shih Chungkun , Ren Dong 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe Kalligrammatidae are distinctive, large, conspicuous, lacewings found in Eurasia from the Middle Jurassic to mid Early Cretaceous. Because of incomplete and often inadequate fossil preservation, an absence of detailed morphology, unclear relationships, and unknown evolutionary trends, the Kalligrammatidae are poorly understood.ResultsWe describe three new subfamilies, four new genera, twelve new species and four unassigned species from the late Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan and mid Early Cretaceous Yixian Formations of China. These kalligrammatid taxa exhibit diverse morphological characters, such as mandibulate mouthparts in one major clade and siphonate mouthparts in the remaining four major clades, the presence or absence of a variety of distinctive wing markings such as stripes, wing spots and eyespots, as well as multiple major wing shapes. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the Kalligrammatidae are divided into five principal clades: Kalligrammatinae Handlirsch, 1906, Kallihemerobiinae Ren & Engel, 2008, Meioneurinae subfam. nov., Oregrammatinae subfam. nov. and Sophogrammatinae subfam. nov., each of which is accorded subfamily-level status. Our results show significant morphological and evolutionary differentiation of the Kalligrammatidae family during a 40 million-year-interval of the mid Mesozoic.ConclusionA new phylogeny and classification of five subfamilies and their constituent genera is proposed for the Kalligrammatidae. These diverse, yet highly specialized taxa from northeastern China suggest that eastern Eurasia likely was an important diversification center for the Kalligrammatidae. Kalligrammatids possess an extraordinary morphological breadth and panoply of adaptations during the mid-Mesozoic that highlight our conclusion that their evolutionary biology is much more complex than heretofore realized.
REGNET: mining context-specific human transcription networks using composite genomic information
Authors: Chi Sang-Mun , Seo Young-Kyo , Park Young-Kyu , Yoon Sora , Park Chan Young , Kim Yong Sung , Kim Seon-Young , Nam Dougu 
Published: June 2014

Abstract

Background
Genome-wide expression profiles reflect the transcriptional networks specific to the given cell context. However, most statistical models try to estimate the average connectivity of the networks from a collection of gene expression data, and are unable to characterize the context-specific transcriptional regulations. We propose an approach for mining context-specific transcription networks from a large collection of gene expression fold-change profiles and composite gene-set information.

Results
Using a composite gene-set analysis method, we combine the information of transcription factor binding sites, Gene Ontology or pathway gene sets and gene expression fold-change profiles for a variety of cell conditions. We then collected all the significant patterns and constructed a database of context-specific transcription networks for human (REGNET). As a result, context-specific roles of transcription factors as well as their functional targets are readily explored. To validate the approach, nine predicted targets of E2F1 in HeLa cells were tested using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Among them, five (Gadd45b, Dusp6, Mll5, Bmp2 and E2f3) were successfully bound by E2F1. c-JUN and the EMT transcription networks were also validated from literature.

Conclusions
REGNET is a useful tool for exploring the ternary relationships among the transcription factors, their functional targets and the corresponding cell conditions. It is able to provide useful clues for novel cell-specific transcriptional regulations. The REGNET database is available at http://mgrc.kribb.re.kr/regnet.
β-amyloid deposition is shifted to the vasculature and memory impairment is exacerbated when hyperhomocysteinemia is induced in APP/PS1 transgenic mice
Authors: Sudduth Tiffany L , Weekman Erica M , Brothers Holly M , Braun Kaitlyn , Wilcock Donna M 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition, it is estimated that almost half of all AD patients have significant cerebrovascular disease comorbid with their AD pathology. We hypothesized that cerebrovascular disease significantly impacts AD pathological progression.

Methods
We used a dietary model of cerebrovascular disease that relies on the induction of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). HHcy is a significant clinical risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we induced HHcy in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Results
While total β-amyloid (Aβ) load is unchanged across groups, Congophilic amyloid deposition was decreased in the parenchyma and significantly increased in the vasculature as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA; vascular amyloid deposition) in HHcy APP/PS1 mice. We also found that HHcy induced more microhemorrhages in the APP/PS1 mice than in the wild-type mice and that it switched the neuroinflammatory phenotype from an M2a biased state to an M1 biased state. Associated with these changes was an induction of the matrix metalloproteinase protein 2 (MMP2) and MMP9 systems. Interestingly, after 6 months of HHcy, the APP/PS1 mice were cognitively worse than wild-type HHcy mice or APP/PS1 mice, indicative of an additive effect of the cerebrovascular pathology and amyloid deposition.

Conclusions
These data show that cerebrovascular disease can significantly impact Aβ distribution in the brain, favoring vascular deposition. We predict that the presence of cerebrovascular disease with AD will have a significant impact on AD progression and the efficacy of therapeutics.
Cross-cultural validation of the Persian version of the Manual Ability Classification System for children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Riyahi Azade , Rassafiani Mehdi , AkbarFahimi Nazila , Sahaf Robab , Yazdani Farzaneh 
Published: June 2014

Objectives: To determine the reliability and cross-cultural validation of the Persian translation of the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: After the forward-backward translation procedures and investigation of face and content validity, inter-rater and test-retest reliability was assessed between parents and occupational therapists using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Parents and therapists classified 100 children (4–18 years, mean age of 8.13 years, SD=3.40, 63 boys, 37 girls) with various types of CP using MACS. Additional data on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and accompanying conditions were also collected. Findings: The inter-rater reliability was high; the ICC was 0.96 (ranged between 0.94–0.97) among occupational therapists and parents. The ICC for the test-retest reliability was high; the ICC related to parents was 0.97 (ranged between 0.95–0.98) and the ICC related to occupational therapists was 0.97 (ranged between 0.96–0.98). Discussion: The Persian version of MACS is found to be valid and reliable, and is suggested to be appropriate for assessing the manual ability of children with CP within the Iranian population.