bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiple marker effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms in three genes, AKIRIN2, EDG1 and RPL27A, for marbling development in Japanese Black cattle
Authors: Sukegawa Shin , Miyake Takeshi , Ibi Takayuki , Takahagi Yoichi , Murakami Hiroshi , Morimatsu Fumiki , Yamada Takahisa 
Published: August 2013

AbstractMarbling in beef, measured by Beef Marbling Standard (BMS) number, is an economically important trait for beef cattle breeding and markets in Japan. We previously detected three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BMS number of Japanese Black in Oita prefecture: c.*188G>A in AKIRIN2, g.1471620G>T in EDG1 and g.3109537C>T in RPL27A. Here, we carried out single and multiple marker association analyses for the three SNPs in a different commercial Japanese Black population of 892 genotyped animals. The single marker analyses with the model including a single SNP showed significant associations of all SNPs with BMS number. The multiple marker analysis with the model including the main effects of the three SNPs and their interactions detected only significant main effects of g.1471620G>T and g.3109537C>T and a significant interaction between c.*188G>A and g.1471620G>T. These findings suggest the presence of inter‐allelic interactions among genes affecting the development of beef marbling. For effective marker‐assisted selection for BMS number, interactions among these markers need to be considered.
Role of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Snow Leopard Conservation
Authors: LI JUAN , WANG DAJUN , YIN HANG , ZHAXI DUOJIE , JIAGONG ZHALA , SCHALLER GEORGE B. , MISHRA CHARUDUTT , MCCARTHY THOMAS M. , WANG HAO , WU LAN , XIAO LINGYUN , BASANG LAMAO , ZHANG YUGUANG , ZHOU YUNYUN , LU ZHI 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe snow leopard (Panthera uncia) inhabits the rugged mountains in 12 countries of Central Asia, including the Tibetan Plateau. Due to poaching, decreased abundance of prey, and habitat degradation, it was listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 1972. Current conservation strategies, including nature reserves and incentive programs, have limited capacities to protect snow leopards. We investigated the role of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in snow leopard conservation in the Sanjiangyuan region in China's Qinghai Province on the Tibetan Plateau. From 2009 to 2011, we systematically surveyed snow leopards in the Sanjiangyuan region. We used the MaxEnt model to determine the relation of their presence to environmental variables (e.g., elevation, ruggedness) and to predict snow leopard distribution. Model results showed 89,602 km2 of snow leopard habitat in the Sanjiangyuan region, of which 7674 km2 lay within Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve's core zones. We analyzed the spatial relation between snow leopard habitat and Buddhist monasteries and found that 46% of monasteries were located in snow leopard habitat and 90% were within 5 km of snow leopard habitat. The 336 monasteries in the Sanjiangyuan region could protect more snow leopard habitat (8342 km2) through social norms and active patrols than the nature reserve's core zones. We conducted 144 household interviews to identify local herders’ attitudes and behavior toward snow leopards and other wildlife. Most local herders claimed that they did not kill wildlife, and 42% said they did not kill wildlife because it was a sin in Buddhism. Our results indicate monasteries play an important role in snow leopard conservation. Monastery‐based snow leopard conservation could be extended to other Tibetan Buddhist regions that in total would encompass about 80% of the global range of snow leopards.Papel de los Monasterios Budistas Tibetanos en la Conservación del Leopardo de las Nieves
Class-Biased Electoral Participation: The Youth Vote in Chile
Authors: Corvalan Alejandro , Cox Paulo 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThere is no other country where the division between the old and young electorate is as striking as in Chile. For older voters, turnout exceeded, on average, 90 percent in 2009; for those aged less than 30, it fell below 30 percent. Using individual survey data from 2006, 2008, and 2010, this article studies the current socioeconomic composition of the Chilean young electorate. First, it shows that the young electorate is class-biased. Income is highly correlated with both registration and turnout even after controlling for education. Second, it presents evidence that class bias for the whole electorate has been increasing over time, due to generational replacement. The results are not promising for Chile’s democracy in the years to come, since equal participation is worsening over time.
Preparation of Na‐P1‐Type Zeolite and its Composite Material with Nanosized Magnetite
Authors: Aono Hiromichi , Tamura Kazumasa , Johan Erni , Yamamoto Toru , Matsue Naoto , Henmi Teruo 
Published: August 2013

The Na‐P1‐type zeolite having a high cation‐exchange capacity (CEC) was obtained using the waste coal fly ash from thermal power stations and a 2M NaOH solution at 100°C. The Na‐P1‐type zeolite was formed with the reaction time of 6 h at 100°C, and its CEC value increased with an increase in the reaction time. The addition of a suitable amount of NaAlO2 to the fly ash was also effective for improving the CEC value. A new composite material consisting of the Na‐P1‐type zeolite and magnetite was synthesized from the fly ash and iron chlorides because the magnetic collection was possible using this composite material after radioactive Cs+ ion adsorption. The existence of nanosized magnetites in the polycrystalline zeolite (several micrometers) was confirmed by TEM observations. The CEC and magnetic property of these composite materials were characterized.
Fire regimes and woody biomass dynamics in Australian savannas
Authors: Murphy Brett P. , Lehmann Caroline E. R. , Russell‐Smith Jeremy , Lawes Michael J. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAimMany tropical savannas are undergoing a trend of increasing woody biomass, or ‘woody thickening’. Management to reduce fire frequency and intensity in savannas could substantially increase the amount of carbon stored in woody biomass. We addressed two questions: (1) are northern Australian savannas thickening; and (2) to what extent, and by what demographic processes, does fire affect woody biomass accumulation?LocationThree large national parks, covering 24,000 km2, in monsoonal northern Australia.MethodsWe examined changes in woody biomass carbon stocks – inferred from tree basal area and the density of woody understorey plants – over a 10‐year period in 136 savanna monitoring plots. We statistically assessed these changes in relation to fire frequency and severity. We used a meta‐analysis to identify general trends in woody cover in Australian savannas over the last half‐century.ResultsWoody biomass carbon stocks were relatively stable across the three national parks, but rates of change were statistically indistinguishable from earlier findings of a weak thickening trend. Change was negatively correlated with fire frequency, particularly the frequency of severe fires. High frequencies of severe fires decreased rates of accumulation of biomass by existing trees (through reductions in tree growth and death of individual stems), rather than whole‐tree mortality and suppression of recruitment. However, across northern Australia, our meta‐analysis identified a general, albeit weak, trend of woody thickening.Main conclusionsThe drivers of northern Australia's weak thickening trend are uncertain, but likely candidates include increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and water availability, and pastoral intensification. We demonstrate that changes to fire management have the potential to either increase or decrease rates of woody thickening relative to any underlying trend. Understanding how savanna fires affect woody biomass, and how fire effects are mediated by climate and CO2, are essential research priorities to predict the fate of savannas.
Membranes over the lateral window in sinus augmentation procedures: a two‐arm and split‐mouth randomized clinical trials
Authors: Torres García‐Denche Jesús , Wu Xixi , Martinez Pedro‐Pablo , Eimar Hazem , Ikbal Daher Jalil‐Abumalham , Hernández Gonzalo , López‐Cabarcos Enrique , Fernandez‐Tresguerres Isabel , Tamimi Faleh 
Published: August 2013

AbstractObjectiveThis study evaluates whether or not, among other factors, membrane‐coverage of antrostomy defects improves implant survival in sinus augmentation procedures.Materials and MethodsWe performed a two‐arm and split‐mouth randomized controlled clinical trial on 104 and 5 patients respectively. In the two‐arm study, antrostomy defects were membrane‐covered in 66 procedures and uncovered in 69, before placing a total of 265 implants that were followed up for 1 year. In the split‐mouth study, following bilateral sinus augmentation, antrostomy defects were membrane‐covered on one side and left uncovered on the contra‐lateral. Bone biopsies from each sinus were histologically analysed 6 months later.ResultsIn the two‐arm study, implant survival rates were similar (p = 0.08) in the membrane‐covered (96.1%) and uncovered (94.2%) groups. In the split‐mouth study, bone augmentation was similar in both groups (p = 0.52). Delayed implant placement (p = 0.04), thick Schneider's membrane (≥2 mm) (p < 0.01), treatment for hypertension (p = 0.04) and non‐smoking (p = 0.01) seemed to be associated with lower risk of implant failure.ConclusionsImplant survival in sinus lifting procedures could be influenced significantly by timing of implant placement, Schneider's membrane thickness, antihypertensive treatment and smoking habits, but not by antrostomy membrane coverage.
Effects of interocclusal distance on bite force and masseter EMG in healthy participants
Authors: Arima T. , Takeuchi T. , Honda K. , Tomonaga A. , Tanosoto T. , Ohata N. , Svensson P. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe aim of this study was to investigate effects of interocclusal distance (IOD) on bite force and masseter electromyographic (EMG) activity during different isometric contraction tasks. Thirty‐one healthy participants (14 women and 17 men, 21·2 ± 1·8 years) were recruited. Maximal Voluntary Occlusal Bite Force (MVOBF) between the first molars and masseter EMG activity during all the isometric‐biting tasks were measured. The participants were asked to bite at submaximal levels of 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% MVOBF with the use of visual feedback. The thickness of the force transducer was set at 8, 12, 16 and 20 mm (= IOD), and sides were tested in random sequence. MVOBF was significantly higher at 8 mm compared with all other IODs (P < 0·001). Only in women, IOD always had significant influence on the corresponding root‐mean‐square (RMS) value of EMG (P < 0·011). When biting was performed on the ipsilateral side to the dominant hand, the working side consistently showed higher masseter EMG activity compared with the balancing side (P < 0·020). On the contralateral side, there was no difference between the masseter EMG at any IODs. The results replicated the finding that higher occlusal forces can be generated between the first molars at shorter IODs. The new finding in this study was that an effect of hand dominance could be found on masseter muscle activity during isometric biting. This may suggest that there can be a general dominant side effect on human jaw muscles possibly reflecting differences in motor unit recruitment strategies.
Southern montane populations did not contribute to the recolonization of West Siberian Plain by Siberian larch (Larix sibirica): a range‐wide analysis of cytoplasmic markers
Authors: Semerikov Vladimir L. , Semerikova Svetlana A. , Polezhaeva Maria A. , Kosintsev Pavel A. , Lascoux Martin 
Published: August 2013

AbstractWhile many species were confined to southern latitudes during the last glaciations, there has lately been mounting evidence that some of the most cold‐tolerant species were actually able to survive close to the ice sheets. The contribution of these higher latitude outposts to the main recolonization thrust remains, however, untested. In the present study, we use the first range‐wide survey of genetic diversity at cytoplasmic markers in Siberian larch (Larix sibirica; four mitochondrial (mt) DNA loci and five chloroplast (cp) DNA SSR loci) to (i) assess the relative contributions of southern and central areas to the current L. sibirica distribution range; and (ii) date the last major population expansion in both L. sibirica and adjacent Larix species. The geographic distribution of cpDNA variation was uninformative, but that of mitotypes clearly indicates that the southernmost populations, located in Mongolia and the Tien‐Shan and Sayan Mountain ranges, had a very limited contribution to the current populations of the central and northern parts of the range. It also suggests that the contribution of the high latitude cryptic refugia was geographically limited and that most of the current West Siberian Plain larch populations likely originated in the foothills of the Sayan Mountains. Interestingly, the main population expansion detected through Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) in all four larch species investigated here pre‐dates the LGM, with a mode in a range of 220 000–1 340 000 years BP. Hence, L. sibirica, like other major conifer species of the boreal forest, was strongly affected by climatic events pre‐dating the Last Glacial Maximum.
The Impact of Transvenous Lead Extraction on Tricuspid Valve Function
Authors: COFFEY JAMES O. , SAGER SOLOMON J. , GANGIREDDY SANDEEP , LEVINE AVI , VILES‐GONZALEZ JUAN F. , FISCHER AVI 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundFew data exist regarding the effect of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) on tricuspid valve function. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of TLE on the development of postprocedure tricuspid regurgitation (TR).ObjectiveTo assess the impact of TLE on tricuspid valve function.MethodsA single center retrospective analysis of consecutive patients referred for TLE between June 2006 and November 2011. Patients were included only if they underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) before and after lead extraction (N = 124). Patients were assigned a preprocedure and postprocedure TR score on a continuous scale from 0 to 6 (0 = none, 1 = trace, 2 = mild, 3 = mild/moderate, 4 = moderate, 5 = moderate/severe, and 6 = severe). A clinically significant increase in TR was defined as both (1) an increase in TR score of at least two points, and (2) a postprocedure TR score ≥4 (moderate).ResultsA total of 124 patients referred for TLE underwent a TTE both before (9 ±16 months) and after lead extraction (4 ± 8 months). A total of 200 leads (1.6 ± 0.8 per patient) were extracted. The mean change in TR score after lead extraction was +0.18 (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.03 to 0.39, P = 0.11). A clinically significant increase in TR occurred in 7/124 (5.6% [CI 2.3–11.3%]) patients. Age ≥75 (+0.45, [CI 0.07–0.84, P = 0.02]), removal of ≥2 leads (+0.40 [CI 0–0.81, P = 0.05]), and powered sheath‐assisted extraction (+0.34 [CI 0.05–0.62, P = 0.02]) were significantly associated with an increase in TR score.ConclusionTLE is rarely associated with the development of clinically significant TR. In our cohort, patient age ≥75 years, pacemaker as opposed to ICD, and removal of ≥2 leads predicted worsening TR.
Immersive Simulation Education: A Novel Approach to Pandemic Preparedness and Response
Authors: Rega Paul P. , Fink Brian N. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractPandemic management involves strategic and tactical concepts rarely experienced with other disasters. To comprehend the enormity of these tasks and experience the critical decision‐making required, local public health and other stakeholders participate in tabletop and functional exercises. Students in Master of Public Health (MPH) programs not only rarely experience this educational format, but also are seldom afforded substantive time to appreciate the critical decision making that is unique to pandemics. An immersive semester‐long simulation exercise was created to educate graduate public health students about pandemics. Students in a MPH course were divided into groups representing county health departments. During the semester, students collaborated and completed incident command training, received audio lectures, and materials concerning an imminent pandemic. The students then participated in the 2.5‐hr facilitated tabletop exercises in the classroom. A survey was developed to assess their perceptions of the experience. Most students felt more knowledgeable afterward and thought that this training style was innovative, entertaining, educational, and recommended it to fellow students and colleagues. The students believed that delivering a tabletop exercise in this fashion was educational and entertaining. It gave the students a better appreciation of the role of public health in managing the complexities associated with pandemics.
Optimal immunity meets natural variation: the evolutionary biology of host defence
Authors: Graham A. L. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThis editorial introduces the seven articles that comprise the Parasite Immunology special issue on the Evolutionary Biology of Host Defence. The rationale for an evolutionary approach to immunoparasitology is briefly outlined, and then the articles are placed in that broader context. A central aim of each article is to explain the generation and maintenance of immunological heterogeneity among hosts in nature. The authors describe new tools and approaches that enable unprecedented insight into evolutionary and immunological processes in both the laboratory and the wild. The examples discussed include insects, birds and mammals (as hosts) and trypanosomes, apicomplexans and nematodes (as parasites).
The effects of performance‐based rewards on neurophysiological correlates of stimulus, error, and feedback processing in children with ADHD
Authors: Rosch Keri Shiels , Hawk Larry W. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractRewards have been shown to improve behavior and cognitive processes implicated in attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the information‐processing mechanisms by which these improvements occur remain unclear. We examined the effect of performance‐based rewards on ERPs related to processing of the primary task stimuli, errors, and feedback in children with ADHD and typically developing controls. Participants completed a flanker task containing blocks with and without performance‐based rewards. Children with ADHD showed reduced amplitude of ERPs associated with processing of the flanker stimuli (P3) and errors (ERN, Pe), but did not differ in feedback‐processing (FRN). Rewards enhanced flanker‐related P3 amplitude similarly across groups and error‐related Pe amplitude differentially for children with ADHD. These findings suggest that rewards may improve cognitive deficits in children with ADHD through enhanced processing of relevant stimuli and increased error evaluation.
Adaptive fast marching method for automatic liver segmentation from CT images
Authors: Song Xiao , Cheng Ming , Wang Boliang , Huang Shaohui , Huang Xiaoyang , Yang Jinzhu 
Published: August 2013

Purpose:Liver segmentation is a fundamental step in computer‐aided liver disease diagnosis and surgery planning. For the sake of high accuracy and efficiency, in this study, the authors present an automatic seed point selection method and an adaptive fast marching method (FMM) for liver segmentation.Methods:The automatic seed point selection method is according to the structure and intensity characteristics of liver. The proposed adaptive FMM is self‐adaptive parameter adjustment. The arrival time parameterT in FMM is adjusted according to the intensity statistics of the possible liver region, which can be used to estimate the size of liver region on the corresponding computed tomography (CT) slices. The proposed algorithm consists of the following steps. First, a thresholding operation was applied to remove the ribs, spines, and kidneys, followed by a smooth filter for noise reduction and a nonlinear gray scale converter, which was used to enhance the contrast of the liver parenchyma. Second, the seed points located in the liver were selected automatically. Finally, using the processed image as a speed function, adaptive FMM was employed to generate the liver contour.Results:Clinical validation has been performed on 30 abdominal CT data‐sets. The proposed algorithm achieved an overall true positive rate of 98.7%, false negative rate of 1.6%, false positive rate of 5.2%, and the DICE coefficient of 96.7%. It takes about 0.30s for a 512 × 512‐pixel slice.Conclusions:The method has been applied successfully to achieve fast and accurate liver segmentation.
Draft Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium massiliense Strain M159, Showing Phenotypic Resistance to β-Lactam and Tetracycline Antibiotics
Authors: Ngeow Yun Fong , Leong Mee Lian , Wong Yan Ling , Wong Guat Jah , Tan Joon Liang , Wee Wei Yee , Ong Chia Sui , Pang Yong Kek , Choo Siew Woh 
Published: August 2013

ABSTRACT

Mycobacterium massiliense
is a nontuberculous mycobacterium associated with human infections. We report here the draft genome sequence of
M. massiliense
strain M159, isolated from the bronchial aspirate of a patient who had a pulmonary infection. This strain showed genotypic and
in vitro
resistance to a number of tetracyclines and beta-lactam antibiotics.
Health-related quality of life after catheter-directed thrombolysis for deep vein thrombosis: secondary outcomes of the randomised, non-blinded, parallel-group CaVenT study
Authors: Enden Tone , Wik Hilde Skuterud , Kvam Ann Kristin , Haig Ylva , Kløw Nils Einar , Sandset Per Morten 
Published: August 2013

ObjectivesTo investigate whether additional catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) improves long-term quality of life (QOL) compared with standard treatment with anticoagulation and compression stockings alone in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT).DesignOpen-label randomised controlled trial.Setting19 Hospitals in the Norwegian southeastern health region.ParticipantsPatients (18–75 years) with a high proximal DVT, symptoms <21 days and no increased risk of bleeding were eligible. 189 of 209 recruited patients completed 24 months of follow-up.InterventionsParticipants were randomised to additional CDT with alteplase for 1–4 days or to standard treatment only with 6 months of anticoagulation and 24 months of compression stockings.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPlanned secondary outcome measures included QOL as assessed with the generic instrument EQ-5D and the disease-specific instrument VEINES-QOL/Sym. Primary outcome measure was post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) after 24 months.ResultsAfter 24 months there were no differences in QOL between the additional CDT and standard treatment arms; mean difference for the EQ-5D index was 0.04 (95% CI −0.10 to 0.17), for the VEINES-QOL score 0.2 (95% CI −2.8 to 3.0) and for the VEINES-Sym score 0.5 (95% CI −2.4 to 3.4; p values>0.37). Independent of treatment arms, patients with PTS had poorer outcomes than patient without PTS; mean difference for EQ-5D was 0.09 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.15), for VEINES-QOL score 8.6 (95% CI 5.9 to 11.2) and for VEINES-Sym score 9.8 (95% CI 7.3 to 12.3; p values<0.001).ConclusionsQOL did not differ between patients treated with additional CDT compared with standard treatment alone. Patients who developed PTS reported poorer QOL and more symptoms than patients without PTS. QOL should be included as an outcome measure in clinical studies on patients at risk of PTS.Trial registrationNCT00251771