bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parental socioeconomic status and the neural basis of arithmetic: differential relations to verbal and visuo‐spatial representations
Authors: Demir Özlem Ece , Prado Jérôme , Booth James R. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractWe examined the relation of parental socioeconomic status (SES) to the neural bases of subtraction in school‐age children (9‐ to 12‐year‐olds). We independently localized brain regions subserving verbal versus visuo‐spatial representations to determine whether the parental SES‐related differences in children's reliance on these neural representations vary as a function of math skill. At higher SES levels, higher skill was associated with greater recruitment of the left temporal cortex, identified by the verbal localizer. At lower SES levels, higher skill was associated with greater recruitment of right parietal cortex, identified by the visuo‐spatial localizer. This suggests that depending on parental SES, children engage different neural systems to solve subtraction problems. Furthermore, SES was related to the activation in the left temporal and frontal cortex during the independent verbal localizer task, but it was not related to activation during the independent visuo‐spatial localizer task. Differences in activation during the verbal localizer task in turn were related to differences in activation during the subtraction task in right parietal cortex. The relation was stronger at lower SES levels. This result suggests that SES‐related differences in the visuo‐spatial regions during subtraction might be based in SES‐related verbal differences.
Growth, development, and behaviour of the parasitised and unparasitised larvae of a shelter‐building moth and consequences for the resulting koinobiont parasitoid
Authors: Morse Douglass H. , Chapman Grant H. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMost attention to size‐time trade‐offs of insects has focused on herbivore risk, with considerably less attention paid to parasitoids. Here, we focus on parasitoid risk, comparing the fates of unparasitised herbivore hosts and parasitised hosts that protect the parasitoids. Success of a koinobiont parasitoid (host grows after parasitisation) depends on maintaining a delicate balance with its host, thereby ensuring its own survival while the host grows. To evaluate growth rate–mortality rate relationships of host and parasitoid, we compared several aspects of the growth, phenology, and behaviour of unparasitised fern moth [Herpetogramma theseusalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)] larvae and larvae parasitised by Alabagrus texanus (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary koinobiont (one parasitoid per host) wasp. Host larvae feed and construct shelters on sensitive fern, Onoclea sensibilis L. (Dryopteridaceae). Alabagrus texanus parasitise early‐instar moths in late summer, which overwinter in their host, emerging in mid‐summer to pupate and eclose. During the autumn following hatching and the immediately following spring, parasitised and unparasitised moth larvae did not differ in size, took similar time to choose between satisfactory and unsatisfactory foods, and built similar shelters. Prior to any other changes noted, more parasitised than unparasitised larvae also died when severely starved. Parasitised larvae subsequently grew less and pupated later than unparasitised ones (small size, slow growth), but consumed similar amounts of food. Although the numerically dominant parasitoid of fern moths, we concluded that A. texanus do not efficiently exploit their hosts.
Metapopulation analysis indicates native and non‐native fishes respond differently to effects of wildfire on desert streams
Authors: Whitney James E. , Gido Keith B. , Pilger Tyler J. , Propst David L. , Turner Thomas F. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAsh flows and flooding associated with wildfires represent important but understudied sources of disturbance for fish populations. Knowledge concerning these disturbances is especially limited for larger streams where warm water species dominate. Fire‐related disturbances have been hypothesised to differentially affect native and non‐native fishes, although this hypothesis has only been tested for salmonids. The objective of our research was to contrast effects of uncharacteristically large wildfires followed by flooding on metapopulations of native and non‐native fishes in theGilaRiver of southwestNewMexico. Probabilities of occupancy, colonisation and local extinction of fishes were calculated across sites before and during disturbance and were also measured across a broader spatial scale during disturbance to identify potential refuge locations. Occupancy was higher for native fishes than non‐natives, but multiple wildfire and flood events increased extinction probabilities of native species. Responses of non‐native species to wildfires were mixed; extinction of non‐native salmonids increased during disturbance, while extinction of several warm water species remained unchanged or decreased. Several undisturbed sites were poor refugia for natives as they were impacted by non‐native piscivores, dewatering, and fragmentation. However, despite exposure to multiple disturbances, sites located in large tributary and valley reaches were consistently occupied by native species, suggesting these habitats provided refugia. We suggest that management actions (forest thinning; prescribed burning) that restore a more natural disturbance regime of small and less severe fires coupled with habitat remediation activities (non‐native removal; decreased water withdrawal; improved connectivity) might diminish extinction risk for native fishes exposed to wildfire disturbance.
Prevalence of indirect toxicity effects of aluminium flakes on a shredder‐fungal‐leaf decomposition system
Authors: Pacioglu Octavian , Cornut Julien , Gessner Mark O. , Kasprzak Peter 
Published: February 2015

Summary

Polyaluminium chloride (PAC) addition has been proposed as a technique to precipitate dissolved phosphorus (P) and reduce the internal loading of P in eutrophic hardwater lakes. However, the direct and indirect detrimental effects of PAC on aquatic communities and ecosystem processes are virtually unknown.

We determined how PAC may affect a leaf litter–fungus–shredder decomposition system in the littoral habitat of eutrophic hardwater lakes.We hypothesised that PAC will exert little direct toxicity on aquatic organisms at high pH but trigger indirect bottom‐up effects by affecting fungal biomass, leaf litter food quality (Al, N and P contents), trophic transfer and the behaviour and performance of a leaf‐shredding consumer.

We tested these hypotheses in a microcosm experiment involving a leaf‐shredding amphipod, Gammarus pulex, offered conditioned aspen leaves as food. We measured concentrations of Al, N, P and organic C in water, leaves and gammarids; fungal biomass associated with leaf litter; gammarid survival, body mass, feeding rate (FR) and N assimilation efficiency; and fine‐particulate organic matter (FPOM) generation in microcosms receiving 0, 2 and 20 g Al flakes per m2.

Survival rates of G. pulex were similar in all microcosms, suggesting that even the high dose of Al flakes was below lethal levels. However, exposure to Al flakes decreased fungal biomass in leaves, the FR of gammarids, FPOM production and N assimilation efficiency. The C/N and C/P ratios of both leaves and gammarids also decreased in microcosms receiving Al flakes, supporting the hypothesis that stoichiometric imbalances between food and consumers were altered by exposure to Al flakes.

These results point to the importance of indirect effects of PAC on lake communities and ecosystems beyond direct toxicity on invertebrates. Although not all those effects are necessarily undesirable, their numbers, interdependencies and potential to act in concert suggest they need to be considered in ecotoxicological assessments.
Physical fitness and oral function in community‐dwelling older people: a pilot study
Authors: Izuno Hiromi , Hori Kazuhiro , Sawada Misao , Fukuda Masayo , Hatayama Chikako , Ito Kayoko , Nomura Yoshio , Inoue Makoto 
Published: February 2015

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to quantify the relation between physical fitness and oral function, including tongue and lip movements.BackgroundPhysical fitness and oral function influence quality of life and activities of daily living in older individuals. Occlusal contact and mastication performance are associated with physical fitness, but the association between tongue and lip movements and physical fitness is unclear.Material and methodsSixty‐six independent community‐dwelling older individuals (24 men, 42 women; mean age, 70.3 ± 5.9 years) participated in this study. Measures of physical fitness were the one‐leg standing time with eyes open, the functional reach test, anteflexion, the timed up and go test, and grip strength. Measures of oral function were tongue pressure, lip pressure, tongue movement from side to side, the repetitive saliva‐swallowing test (RSST), oral diadochokinesis and masticatory efficiency. Multiple regression analysis was used to quantify the relation between physical fitness and oral function.ResultsAfter adjustment for age, sex, BMI, exercise habits and number of remaining teeth, the tongue movement from side to side and/or oral diadochokinesis were chosen as significant factors in each physical fitness measurement. Furthermore, the lip pressure and masticatory efficiency were associated with handgrip strength.ConclusionOral function, including tongue and lip movements, was associated with physical fitness in older people in this study. Tongue dexterity as characterised by tongue movement from side to side and oral diadochokinesis particularly associated with physical fitness.
Analysis of flowering dynamics heritability in the perennial warm‐season grass Paspalum dilatatum
Authors: González Barrios P. , Speranza P. , Glison N. , Piccardi M. , Balzarini M. , Gutiérrez L. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractUnderstanding the flowering cycles of perennial warm‐season grass species may be very important to the design of management practices and breeding. However, developmental dynamics are not well understood. As most plant traits associated with flowering dynamics do not follow a normal distribution, the use of general linear models to describe and compare these variables might be misleading. The aims of this study were (i) to find a methodology to compare panicle accumulation curves and (ii) to estimate heritabilities for flowering curve attributes. Panicle counts were recorded during a complete flowering cycle on a diverse collection of dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum). We compared the efficiency of different linear mixed models based on whole plot or individual plant data; then, we adjusted nonlinear regression curves for individual plants to estimate several curve attributes and compared this approach to the area under the curve. Finally, we calculated the broad‐sense heritabilities of the estimated curve parameters. The following reproductive curve attributes were obtained: panicle production potential, panicle accumulation rate and days until 3, 5, 10 and 15 panicles. We found that monitoring individual plants is more efficient when studying flowering attributes. Significant differences among genotypes for several flowering cycle attributes were found. Heritabilities were very high for all flowering cycle initiation and duration attributes. We also showed that the number of days until the emergence of a given low number of panicles can be used as a highly heritable measure to characterize flowering cycles.
Review: Prospects for the Use of Extracts and Polysaccharides from Marine Algae to Prevent and Treat the Diseases Caused by Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Besednova Natalya N. , Zaporozhets Tatyana S. , Somova Larisa M. , Kuznetsova Tatyana A. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractHelicobacter pylori possesses a broad spectrum of pathogenic factors that allow it to survive and colonize the gastric mucosa, and thus, the pathogenetic targets, which have the same diversity, require search for and the development of alternative, effective, and innocuous means for the eradication of H. pylori. In recent years, fucoidans have been extensively studied due to the numerous interesting biological activities, including the anti‐adhesive, anti‐oxidative, antitoxic, immunomodulatory, anticoagulant, and anti‐infection effects. This review summarizes the data on the effects of extracts and sulfated polysaccharides of marine algae, mainly fucoidans, on pathogenic targets in Helicobacter infection. The pathogenetic targets for therapeutic agents after H. pylori infection, such as flagellas, urease, and other enzymes, including adhesins, cytotoxin A (VacA), phospholipase, and L‐8, are characterized here. The main target for the sulfated polysaccharides of seaweed is cell receptors of the gastric mucosa. This review presents the published data about the pleiotropic anti‐inflammatory effects of polysaccharides on the gastric mucosa. It is known that fucoidan and other sulfated polysaccharides from algae have anti‐ulcer effects, prevent the adhesion of H. pylori to, and reduce the formation of biofilm. The authors speculate that the effect of sulfated polysaccharides on the infectious process caused by H. pylori is related to their action on innate and adaptive immunity cells, and also anti‐oxidant and antitoxic potential. Presented in the review are materials indicated for the study of extracts and sulfated polysaccharides from seaweed during H. pylori infection, as these compounds are characterized by multimodality actions. Based on the analysis of literary materials in recent years, the authors concluded that fucoidan can be attributed to the generation of new candidates to create drugs intended for the inclusion in the scheme of eradication therapy of H. pylori infection.
Increased Outer Membrane Vesicle Formation in a Helicobacter pylori tolB Mutant
Authors: Turner Lorinda , Praszkier Judyta , Hutton Melanie L. , Steer David , Ramm Georg , Kaparakis‐Liaskos Maria , Ferrero Richard L. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackgroundMultiple studies have established the importance of the tol‐pal gene cluster in bacterial cell membrane integrity and outer membrane vesicle (OMV) formation in Escherichia coli. In contrast, the functions of Tol‐Pal proteins in pathogenic organisms, including those of the Epsilonproteobacteria, remain poorly if at all defined. The aim of this study was to characterize the roles of two key components of the Tol‐Pal system, TolB and Pal, in OMV formation in the pathogenic bacterium, Helicobacter pylori.MethodsH. pylori ΔtolB, Δpal and ΔtolBpal mutants, as well as complemented strains, were generated and assessed for changes in morphology and OMV production by scanning electron microscopy and enzyme‐linked immunoassay (ELISA), respectively. The protein content and pro‐inflammatory properties of OMVs were determined by mass spectroscopy and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) ELISA on culture supernatants from OMV‐stimulated cells, respectively.ResultsH. pylori ΔtolB and Δpal bacteria exhibited aberrant cell morphology and/or flagella biosynthesis. Importantly, the disruption of H. pylori tolB but not pal resulted in a significant increase in OMV production. The OMVs from H. pylori ΔtolB and Δpal bacteria harbored many of the major outer membrane and virulence proteins observed in wild‐type (WT) OMVs. Interestingly, ΔtolB, Δpal and ΔtolBpal OMVs induced significantly higher levels of IL‐8 production by host cells, compared with WT OMVs.ConclusionsThis work demonstrates that TolB and Pal are important for membrane integrity in H. pylori. Moreover, it shows how H. pylori tolB‐pal genes may be manipulated to develop “hypervesiculating” strains for vaccine purposes.
Inhibition of endogenous glucocorticoid synthesis aggravates lung injury triggered by septic shock in rats
Authors: Incerpi Erika K. , Oliveira Luiz M. , Pereira Elisângela M. , Soncini Roseli 
Published: February 2015

SummaryThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of previous administration of metyrapone (met) on the acute lung injury (ALI) induced by caecal ligation and puncture (CLP) and to explore met's relationship with endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) as measured by inflammatory, oxidative and functional parameters. One hundred and thirty‐five Wistar rats were divided into three main groups: Control (Naïve), Sham and CLP. The animals received pretreatment one hour before surgery. The Naïve group did not undergo any procedure or pretreatment. The Sham group only had the caecum exposed and was pretreated with saline. The CLP group was divided into three pretreatments: metyrapone (CLP met 50 mg/kg i.p.), dexamethasone (CLP dex 0.5 mg/kg i.p.) or saline (CLP sal equivalent volume of 0.9% NaCl). Analyses were performed after 6 and 24 h of sepsis. Previous administration of met significantly increased inflammatory cells, as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lung tissue and alveolar collapsed area, with consequent impairment of respiratory mechanics being observed compared to Sham and Naïve; CLP sal exhibited similar results to those of met. The met reduced corticosterone (CCT) levels and dramatically increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in the lung tissue compared to CLP sal. Our results suggest that previous administration of met may have contributed to increased pulmonary oxidative stress and increased mortality by mechanisms dependent of endogenous GC.
Nurse‐led empowerment strategies for patients with hypertension: a questionnaire survey
Authors: Rasjö Wrååk G. , Törnkvist L. , Hasselström J. , Wändell P.E. , Josefsson K. 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundHypertension is common and may lead to cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events and mortality. District nurses frequently encounter patients requiring blood pressure monitoring, lifestyle counsel and support. Empowerment as a method enables patients to both increase their control over their health and improve it.AimThis study aims to describe the effects of the counsel and support from district nurses to patients with hypertension.MethodsA randomized controlled intervention trial. Questionnaires were answered by patients with hypertension before and after the intervention comprising district nurses' counsel and support based upon empowerment. A specially developed card for blood pressure monitoring was also used.ResultsBlood pressure decreased in intervention and the control groups. The intervention group experienced significantly improved health, with better emotional and physical health, and reduced stress. Living habits did not change significantly in either group. Satisfaction with knowledge of hypertension increased significantly in both groups. The intervention group reported that their care was based upon their health needs.LimitationsConducting large multi‐centre studies with long follow‐ups is complicated and results sometimes have a tendency to decline with time. A shorter follow‐up might have shown a greater difference between the groups.ConclusionNursing interventions through district nurses' counsel and support with empowerment improved patients' health. More research is needed to evaluate nursing interventions' effect on hypertension.Implications for nursing and health policyThis study highlighted that district nurses' counsel and support increased patients' health and decreased stress by focusing on empowerment.
Attenuation of atherosclerotic lesions in diabetic apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice using gene silencing of macrophage migration inhibitory factor
Authors: Sun Hui , Zhang XianJun , Zhao Lei , Zhen Xi , Huang ShanYing , Wang ShaSha , He Hong , Liu ZiMo , Xu NaNa , Yang FaLin , Qu ZhongHua , Ma ZhiYong , Zhang Cheng , Zhang Yun , Hu Qin 
Published: February 2015

AbstractMacrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) involves the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis (AS) and increased plasma MIF levels in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are associated with AS. Here, we have been suggested that MIF could be a critical contributor for the pathological process of diabetes‐associated AS by using adenovirus‐mediated RNA interference. First, streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic animal model was constructed in 114 apolipoprotein E‐deficient mice (apoE−/− mice) fed on a regular chow diet. Then, the animals were randomly divided into three groups: Adenovirus‐mediated MIF interference (Ad‐MIFi), Ad‐enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and normal saline (NS) group (n ≈ 33/group). Non‐diabetic apoE−/− mice (n = 35) were served as controls. Ad‐MIFi, Ad‐EGFP and NS were, respectively, injected into the tail vein of mice from Ad‐MIFi, Ad‐EGFP and NS group, which were injected repeatedly 4 weeks later. Physical, biochemical, morphological and molecular parameters were measured. The results showed that diabetic apoE−/− mice had significantly aggravated atherosclerotic lesions. MIF gene interference attenuated atherosclerotic lesions and stabilized atheromatous plaque, accompanied by the decreased macrophages and lipids deposition and inflammatory cytokines production, improved glucose intolerance and plasma cholesterol level, the decreased ratio of matrix matalloproteinase‐2/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase‐1 and plaque instability index. An increased expression of MIF and its ligand CD74 was also detected in the diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. The results suggest that MIF gene interference is able to inhibit atherosclerotic lesions and increase plaque stability in diabetic apoE−/−mice. MIF inhibition could be a novel and promising approach to the treatment of DM‐associated AS.
Telocytes in human liver fibrosis
Authors: Fu Siyi , Wang Fei , Cao Yan , Huang Qi , Xiao Junjie , Yang Changqing , Popescu Laurentiu M. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractLiver fibrosis is a wound‐healing response which engages a variety of cell types to encapsulate injury. Telocyte (TC), a novel type of interstitial cell, has been identified in a variety of tissues and organs including liver. TCs have been reported to be reduced in fibrotic areas after myocardial infarction, human interstitial wall's fibrotic remodelling caused either by ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, and skin of systemic sclerosis. However, the role of TCs in human liver fibrosis remains unclear. Liver samples from human liver biopsy were collected. All samples were stained with Masson's trichrome to determine fibrosis. TCs were identified by several immunofluorescence stainings including double labelling for CD34 and c‐kit/CD117, or vimentin, or PDGF Receptor‐α, or β. We found that hepatic TCs were significantly decreased by 27%–60% in human liver fibrosis, suggesting that loss of TCs might lead to the altered organization of extracellular matrix and loss the control of fibroblast/myofibroblast activity and favour the genesis of fibrosis. Adding TCs might help to develop effective and targeted antifibrotic therapies for human liver fibrosis.