bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of antenatal recognition and follow‐up on perinatal outcomes in small‐for‐gestational age infants delivered after 36 weeks
Authors: FRATELLI NICOLA , VALCAMONICO ADRIANA , PREFUMO FEDERICO , PAGANI GIORGIO , GUARNERI TIZIANA , FRUSCA TIZIANA 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjective. To compare perinatal outcomes of late small‐for‐gestational age (SGA, birthweight <10th percentile) infants, according to antenatal recognition. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. Tertiary referral center. Population. All singleton pregnancies with SGA (birthweight <10th percentile) infants born ≥36 weeks’ gestation from January 2007 to April 2009. Methods: Chart review of 771 pregnancies. SGA infants identified prior to delivery (group A) were compared with those not identified (group B). Main outcome measures. Mode of delivery, perinatal complications, admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In group A, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and area under the curve (AUC) of antenatal tests to predict NICU admission were calculated. Results. In 17% of infants, SGA was recognized before birth (group A), whereas in 83% it was recognized only at birth (group B). Infants with the most severe degree of SGA (birthweight <3rd percentile) were more frequently diagnosed antenatally (30%). Admission to NICU (14 vs. 3%, p < 0.001) and cesarean delivery (42 vs. 26%; p < 0.001) were more likely in group A. Adverse outcomes related to hypoxia were all observed in group B, but the difference was not significant. In antenatally detected fetuses a combination of fetal abdominal circumference, umbilical artery pulsatility index and middle cerebral artery pulsatility index z‐scores was useful for prediction of NICU admission (AUC = 0.94). Conclusion. Antenatal recognition of late SGA may improve perinatal outcomes. However, admission to neonatal intensive care and cesarean delivery were more frequent among SGA infants recognized antenatally.
Sleep disorders in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Bloetzer Clemens , Jeannet Pierre‐Yves , Lynch Bryan , Newman Christopher J. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAim:  Determine the frequency and predictors of sleep disorders in boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).Method:  Cross‐sectional study by postal questionnaire. Sleep disturbances were assessed using the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (validated on 1157 healthy children). A total sleep score and six sleep disturbance factors representing the most common sleep disorders were computed. Potential associations between pathological scores and personal, medical and environmental factors were assessed.Results:  Sixteen of 63 boys (25.4%) had a pathological total sleep score compared with 3% in the general population. The most prevalent sleep disorders were disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS) 29.7%, sleep‐related breathing disorders 15.6% and sleep hyperhydrosis 14.3%.On multivariate analysis, pathological total sleep scores were associated with the need to be moved by a carer (OR = 9.4; 95%CI: 2.2–40.7; p = 0.003) and being the child of a single‐parent family (OR = 7.2; 95%CI: 1.5–35.1; p = 0.015) and DIMS with the need to be moved by a carer (OR = 18.0; 95%CI: 2.9–110.6; p = 0.002), steroid treatment (OR = 7.7; 95%CI: 1.4–44.0; p = 0.021) and being the child of a single‐parent family (OR = 7.0; 95%CI: 1.3–38.4; p = 0.025).Conclusion:  Sleep disturbances are frequent in boys with DMD and are strongly associated with immobility. Sleep should be systematically assessed in DMD to implement appropriate interventions.
New rules governing synaptic plasticity in core nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons
Authors: Ji Xincai , Martin Gilles E. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe nucleus accumbens is a forebrain region responsible for drug reward and goal‐directed behaviors. It has long been believed that drugs of abuse exert their addictive properties on behavior by altering the strength of synaptic communication over long periods of time. To date, attempts at understanding the relationship between drugs of abuse and synaptic plasticity have relied on the high‐frequency long‐term potentiation model of T.V. Bliss & T. Lømo [(1973) Journal of Physiology, 232, 331–356]. We examined synaptic plasticity using spike‐timing‐dependent plasticity, a stimulation paradigm that reflects more closely the in vivo firing patterns of mouse core nucleus accumbens medium spiny neurons and their afferents. In contrast to other brain regions, the same stimulation paradigm evoked bidirectional long‐term plasticity. The magnitude of spike‐timing‐dependent long‐term potentiation (tLTP) changed with the delay between action potentials and excitatory post‐synaptic potentials, and frequency, whereas that of spike‐timing‐dependent long‐term depression (tLTD) remained unchanged. We showed that tLTP depended on N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors, whereas tLTD relied on action potentials. Importantly, the intracellular calcium signaling pathways mobilised during tLTP and tLTD were different. Thus, calcium‐induced calcium release underlies tLTD but not tLTP. Finally, we found that the firing pattern of a subset of medium spiny neurons was strongly inhibited by dopamine receptor agonists. Surprisingly, these neurons were exclusively associated with tLTP but not with tLTD. Taken together, these data point to the existence of two subgroups of medium spiny neurons with distinct properties, each displaying unique abilities to undergo synaptic plasticity.
Flow regulation affects temporal patterns of riverine plant seed dispersal: potential implications for plant recruitment
Authors: GREET JOE , COUSENS ROGER D. , WEBB J. ANGUS 
Published: September 2012

Summary1. Changes to the natural flow regime of a river caused by flow regulation may affect waterborne seed dispersal (hydrochory), and this may be an important mechanism by which regulation affects riverine plant communities. We assessed the effect of altered timing of seasonal flow peaks on hydrochory and considered the potential implications for plant recruitment.2. We sampled hydrochory within five lowland rivers of temperate Australia, three of which are regulated by large dams. These dams are operated to store winter and spring rains and release water in summer and autumn for agriculture. At three sites on each river, hydrochory was sampled monthly for 12 months using passive drift nets. The contents of the drift samples were determined using the seedling‐emergence method.3. More than 33 000 seedlings from 142 taxa germinated from the samples. In general, more seeds and taxa were observed in the drift at higher flows. By altering the period of peak flows from winter–spring to summer–autumn, flow regulation similarly affected the period of peak seed dispersal. The effect of regulation on seed dispersal varied between taxa depending on their timing of seed release and whether or not they maintain a persistent soil seed bank.4. Hydrochory in rivers is a product of flow regime and the life history of plants. By altering natural flow regimes and thus hydrochorous dispersal patterns, flow regulation is likely to affect adversely the recruitment of native plant species with dispersal phenologies adapted to natural flow regimes (such as many riparian trees and shrubs) and encourage the spread of non‐native (exotic) species.5. Changes to hydrochorous dispersal patterns are an important mechanism by which altered flow timing affects riverine plant communities. Natural seasonal flow peaks (in this case spring) are likely to be important for the recruitment of many native riparian woody taxa.
Variation in beetle community structure across five microhabitats in Australian tropical rainforest trees
Authors: Wardhaugh Carl W. , Edwards Will , Stork Nigel E. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Beetles (Coleoptera) are the most species‐rich and ecologically diverse group of organisms in tropical rainforest canopies. This study reports on the distribution of the beetle community on five discrete canopy microhabitats (mature leaves, new leaves, flowers, fruit, and suspended dead wood) on 23 tree species in an Australian tropical rainforest. We tested the hypothesis that the beetle fauna will vary in community structure between microhabitats based on differences in the quantity, quality as a food source and availability of different canopy microhabitats.

There was substantial variation in dominant beetle families in terms of abundance between microhabitats. All assemblages contained a high number of rare species, with flowers supporting most of the more abundant species. Consequently, the flower‐visitor assemblage was more heterogeneous than expected by chance, whereas the mature leaf assemblage was more even in the proportional abundances of species than expected.

The distribution of singletons was also non‐random and flowers, which are spatially and temporally restricted, supported fewer singletons than expected by chance, whereas mature leaves and dead wood supported more. These differences were insensitive to beetle feeding guild, and are most likely related to variation in microhabitat distribution and availability, which influenced relative sampling efforts and the probability of random microhabitat/beetle associations.

High dissimilarity in species overlap between microhabitats suggests that each microhabitat attracts a unique beetle assemblage, which has an additive effect on canopy‐wide species richness patterns. Consequently, biodiversity studies that focus on single microhabitats may inadvertently omit a large proportion of canopy species.
Transcriptomic insights into mechanisms of symbiotic cooperation
Authors: Simms Ellen L. , Porter Stephanie S. 
Published: September 2012

Intraspecific genetic variation can affect community structure and ecosystem processes (Bolnick et al. 2011). It can also influence phenotypic expression by genotypes within other species to produce genotype‐by‐genotype (G × G) interaction (Falconer & Mackay 1996). Evolution of one species drives correlated evolution of others when it causes G × G for fitness (Thompson 2005). However, the mechanisms by which species interact also influence evolutionary outcomes (Kummel & Salant 2006; Golubski & Klausmeier 2010; Akçay & Simms 2011; Grman et al. 2012). To identify genes and putative functional mechanisms underlying G × G interactions, Heath et al. (2012) analysed natural variation in the symbiotic transcriptome of the mutualistic nutritional symbiosis between a legume host Medicago truncatula and the facultative endosymbiotic rhizobium Sinorhizobium meliloti. Using twelve microarrays, the authors simultaneously measured host and symbiont gene expression in root nodules from four factorial pairings of host and symbiont genotypes that produced G × G in host fitness (Fig. 1, upper panel). Rhizobium gene expression was influenced by rhizobium and plant genotype and the G × G interaction (Fig. 1, lower panel), whereas plant gene expression was influenced primarily by plant genotype. The authors identified rhizobium genes that might contribute to G × G in host plant fitness. Heath et al. (2012) have moved beyond the constraints of single organism analysis towards a more realistic understanding of plants and bacteria as organisms inextricably linked with symbioses that affect even basic patterns of gene expression.
Invasion of the hybrids
Authors: Hegarty M. J. 
Published: September 2012

Human activity and climate change are increasingly driving species, which were once separate together, leading to the potential for gene flow. Hybridization between diverged species brings together two genomes which have evolved to meet different adaptive requirements. The unique combination of these traits in a hybrid may be beneficial or maladaptive, but either way it results in increased phenotypic variation. A percentage of hybrid individuals may, therefore, find themselves able to exploit environmental niches which their progenitors cannot, leading to invasive hybrid swarms becoming established in new habitats. Previous research into hybrids, most famously that of Loren Rieseberg and co‐workers (Rieseberg et al. 1999, 2003) in sunflowers, demonstrated that hybridization can give rise to transgressive segregation of adaptive traits, wherein the combination of favourable alleles from both parents in hybrids can enable them to outperform either. However, the question still remains as to how much of the competitive ability of hybrids is a direct result of admixture and how much is the result of selection after the fact. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, (Czypionka et al. 2012) describe their study of transcriptional changes resulting from hybridization in a fish hybrid termed invasive sculpins (Cottus). Using gene expression microarray assays, they compare gene expression in both wild and lab‐reared invasive hybrids to the progenitor species and experimentally produced F2 hybrids. They demonstrate that whilst hybridization alone does result in higher variance in gene expression (some of which is transgressive), many of the transgressive changes distinguishing the invasives appear to have come about subsequent to the initial natural hybridization event. They speculate that initial success of the hybrids in their new habitat is facilitated by hybridization, but that optimization of the invasive phenotype and removal of maladaptive traits rapidly reduces the variation in gene expression seen in early hybrids.
Characterization of pruritus in canine atopic dermatitis, flea bite hypersensitivity and flea infestation and its role in diagnosis
Authors: Bruet Vincent , Bourdeau Patrick J. , Roussel Anne , Imparato Latitia , Desfontis Jean‐Claude 
Published: September 2012

Background – In dogs, flea infestation (FI), flea bite hypersensitivity (FBH) and canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) have been mainly characterized by their lesions but never by their pruritus. In clinical practice, many of these dogs exhibit only pruritus.Hypothesis/Objectives – The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of pruritus in these dermatoses and their potential usefulness for diagnosis.Animals – Dogs included were selected from the Oniris clinical data. Cases were selected in which the dogs had only one of the three dermatoses diagnosed. The diagnosis of CAD was based on Prélaud’s criteria and positive intradermal tests except flea; for FBH by compatible clinical signs and a response to an intradermal test with flea allergen; and for FI by the presence of fleas. Moreover, in each group, other primary pruritic skin diseases were excluded.Methods – Location, behavioural manifestations, seasonality and quantification of the pruritus were evaluated. The statistical analysis used chi‐squared test with aP‐value <0.05.Results – Three hundred and forty‐six dogs were analysed, 91 with CAD, 110 FI and 145 FBH. The period (season) of onset was not statistically different either for each dermatosis or among the three dermatoses. Some locations were highly specific for one dermatosis as follows: ventral abdomen/medial surface of thigh (chewing) and radius/carpus/tibia/tarsus (chewing) in FI; back/dorsolumbar area (chewing) and tail (chewing) in FBH; and paws (chewing/licking) and face/neck (rubbing) in CAD.Conclusions and clinical importance – Some features of pruritus could be suggestive of the causal disease, with possible diagnostic value in pruritic dogs.
Zygomycosis over‐infection during voriconazole therapy for aspergillosis in a heart transplant patient, successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin and posaconazole
Authors: Bourke P. , Castro P. , Rabagliati R. , Beltran C. , Verdejo H. , Winter J.L. , Bourge R.C. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAspergillosis and zygomycosis are life‐threatening fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. We report a heart transplant recipient with an early pulmonary invasive aspergillosis successfully treated with association of voriconazole and caspofungin. Zygomycosis sinusitis, which was diagnosed while he still was on voriconazole therapy, was successfully treated with the use of combination antifungal therapy including liposomal amphotericin plus posaconazole and conservative surgical debridement.
Scale effects on the body size frequency distributions of African birds: patterns and potential mechanisms
Authors: Coetzee Bernard W. T. , le Roux Peter C. , Chown Steven L. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAimTo describe and analyse the body size frequency distributions (BSFDs) of avian assemblages at several spatial scales in the Afrotropics. We also tested if the variation in median body size across assemblages at different spatial scales was related to environmental variables and whether purely stochastic processes could explain BSFDs.LocationThe Afrotropical biogeographic realm.MethodsAvian body masses for 1960 species where analysed at continental, biome, ecoregion and local spatial scales with standard metrics. Variation in median assemblage body size was modelled as a function of environmental and spatial explanatory variables to assess non‐random assemblage structure. We tested if BSFDs of smaller spatial scale distributions are random subsets of the larger spatial scale assemblages in which they are embedded, and used three different null model randomizations to investigate the influence of stochastic processes on BSFDs.ResultsThe African avifauna's continental BSFD is unimodal and right‐skewed. BSFDs generally become less skewed and less modal with decreasing spatial scale. The best‐fit model explained 71% of median body size values at the ecoregion scale as a function of latitude, latitude2, longitude, species richness and species range size. BSFDs at smaller scales show non‐random assembly from larger scale BSFDs distributions.Main conclusionAfrican avifaunal BSFDs are quantitatively dissimilar to African mammal BSFDs, which are bimodal at all spatial scales. Much of the change in median body size with spatial scale can be captured by a range‐weighted null model, suggesting that differential turnover between smaller‐ and larger‐bodied species might explain the shift in the central tendency of the BSFD. At the local scale, energy may well contribute to structuring BSFDs, but this pattern is less pronounced at larger spatial scales.
Natural Revegetation of a Boreal Gold Mine Tailings Pond
Authors: Young Ian W. R. , Naguit Christian , Halwas Sara J. , Renault Sylvie , Markham John H. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractUnderstanding the natural revegetation of forests disturbed by the dumping of mine wastes is vital for the success of reclamation strategies. The Gunnar gold mine tailings pond in southeast Manitoba has remained largely unvegetated since the mine was closed in 1942, with limited vegetation developed on one side of the pond. We examined the natural Picea mariana/Larix laricina forest that has developed on the pond to determine how the plant community develops and what changes in the tailings are associated with this development. Vegetation sampled along transects showed a consistent pattern of succession from Equisetum palustre to Salix spp., and Populus balsamifera, to Larix laricina and finally to P. mariana. Larix laricina and P. mariana are moving into the site at the rate of 1.5 m per year with L. laricina invading 4 years ahead of P. mariana. Both tree species show a similar pattern of annual growth, showing positive correlations with spring precipitation, a pattern also occurring on L. laricina growing on a nearby site. The establishment of E. palustre was accompanied by initially rapid decreases in compaction and conductivity of the tailings, and an increase in inorganic nitrogen. Surface organic matter depth, coarse organic matter mass, and soil organic carbon increased at a constant rate, whereas subsurface coarse organic matter had an initial rapid increase followed by a gradual increase. As fern allies (and specifically members of the Equisetaceae family) have a number of properties that facilitate succession on mine wastes, their use should be explored further.
Neighborhood Revitalization and New Life: A Land Value Taxation Approach
Authors: VINCENT JOSHUA 
Published: September 2012

AbstractWhen a neighborhood declines, the poor get poorer, crime rises, and those who can leave the area. The tax base shrinks, so the rates paid by those least able to pay increase. The prevailing system of a low tax on land values leads to land speculation and private land banking, assuring that the landowner can hold out for a very high price for a very long time. A higher tax on land values (coupled with reduction in building taxes) creates an incentive to sell that land or do something with it rather than waiting. In cities that use land‐value taxes, real‐estate markets start to work again and neighborhoods recover. Clairton, Pennsylvania's adoption of a land‐value‐taxation system demonstrates the neighborhood revitalization to which it leads, as owner‐occupied residences and multi‐family units saw a relief in their tax burden. In contrast, vacant properties' contribution to the city budget tripled, providing the resources to pay for the education of Clairton's children and liberate working and middle‐class families from the bonds of labor and capital taxation.
A Little Common Sense: The Ethics of Immigration in Catholic Social Teaching
Authors: O'NEILL WILLIAM R. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractModern Catholic social teaching recurs to the idiom of human dignity and human rights. Our moral entitlement toequalrespect or consideration, in concert with the ethical ideal of the common good, moreover, justifiespreferentialtreatment for those whose basic rights are most imperiled. Thus states are morally bound to respect and promote the basic human rights of both citizen and resident alien, especially the most vulnerable—and of these, in particular, women and children. Indeed, the duty to protect grounds the subsidiary duty to rescue, for example, through diplomatic initiatives, sanctions, andin extremis, humanitarian intervention in the case of genocide or mass atrocity. Disciples thus see and have compassion, even as compassion becomes a way of seeing. Compassion, then, not only guides them in the fitting application of universal, essential norms, for example, the rights of migrants, but gives rise to existential (personal and ecclesial) imperatives as they come to the aid of wounded humanity.