bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The broad range of contractile behaviour of the avian pectoralis: functional and evolutionary implications
Authors: Jackson Brandon E. , Tobalske Bret W. , Dial Kenneth P. 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYWing-assisted incline running (WAIR) in birds combines the use of the wings and hindlimbs to ascend otherwise insurmountable obstacles. It is a means of escape in precocial birds before they are able to fly, and it is used by a variety of juvenile and adult birds as an alternative to flight for exploiting complex three-dimensional environments at the interface of the ground and air. WAIR and controlled flapping descent (CFD) are the bases of the ontogenetic-transitional wing hypothesis, wherein WAIR and CFD are proposed to be extant biomechanical analogs for incremental adaptive stages in the evolutionary origin of flight. A primary assumption of the hypothesis is that work and power requirements from the primary downstroke muscle, the pectoralis, incrementally increase from shallow- to steep-angled terrestrial locomotion, and between terrestrial and aerial locomotion. To test this assumption, we measured in vivo force, electromyographic (EMG) activity and length change in the pectoralis of pigeons (Columba livia) as the birds engaged in shallow and steep WAIR (65 and 85 deg, respectively) and in three modes of slow flight immediately following take-off: ascending at 80 deg, level and descending at –60 deg. Mean EMG amplitude, muscle stress, strain, work and power were minimal during shallow WAIR and increased stepwise from steep WAIR to descending flight and level flight to reach the highest levels during ascending flight. Relative to resting length of the pectoralis, fractional lengthening (maximum muscle strain) was similar among behaviors, but fractional shortening (minimum muscle strain) was absent during WAIR such that the pectoralis did not shorten to less than the resting length. These data dramatically extend the known range of in vivo contractile behavior for the pectoralis in birds. We conclude that WAIR remains a useful extant model for the evolutionary transition from terrestrial to aerial locomotion in birds because work and power requirements from the pectoralis increase incrementally during WAIR and from WAIR to flight.
Audiogram of a stranded Blainville's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris) measured using auditory evoked potentials
Authors: Pacini Aude F. , Nachtigall Paul E. , Quintos Christopher T. , Schofield T. David , Look Dera A. , Levine Gregg A. , Turner Jason P. 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYQuantifying and understanding the impact of anthropogenic sound on marine mammals has been the focus of many researchers both in laboratory settings as well as in the field. This study presents the audiogram of a sub-adult Blainville's beaked whale that stranded in Hawaii. The hearing measurements were conducted using the non-invasive auditory brainstem response technique. A total of 11 sinusoidally amplitude modulated tones were tested ranging from 5.6 to 160 kHz. The audiogram data indicated that the region of best hearing was found between 40 and 50 kHz with thresholds below 50 dB. This frequency range partially overlaps with the frequency modulated upsweep that Blainville's beaked whales have been reported to use during echolocation. These results match the frequency range obtained from the hearing measurements of a Gervais' beaked whale previously tested using contact acoustic stimulation and emphasize the importance of obtaining rapid hearing measurements on live stranded animals to improve the understanding of poorly known species.
Variation in metabolic rate ofAnopheles gambiaeandA. arabiensisin a Sahelian village
Authors: Huestis Diana L. , Yaro Alpha S. , Traoré Adama I. , Adamou Abdoulaye , Kassogué Yaya , Diallo Moussa , Timbiné Seydou , Dao Adama , Lehmann Tovi 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYIn the Sahel, the Anopheles gambiae complex consists of Anopheles arabiensis and the M and S molecular forms of A. gambiae sensu stricto. However, the composition of these malaria vectors varies spatially and temporally throughout the region and is thought to be linked to environmental factors such as rainfall, larval site characteristics and duration of the dry season. To examine possible physiological divergence between these taxa, we measured metabolic rates of mosquitoes during the wet season in a Sahelian village in Mali. To our knowledge, this study provides the first measurements of metabolic rates of A. gambiae and A. arabiensis in the field. The mean metabolic rate of A. arabiensis was higher than that of M-form A. gambiae when accounting for the effects of female gonotrophic status, temperature and flight activity. However, after accounting for their difference in body size, no significant difference in metabolic rate was found between these two species (whilst all other factors were found to be significant). Thus, body size may be a key character that has diverged in response to ecological differences between these two species. Alternatively, these species may display additional differences in metabolic rate only during the dry season. Overall, our results indicate that changes in behavior and feeding activity provide an effective mechanism for mosquitoes to reduce their metabolic rate, and provide insight into the possible strategies employed by aestivating individuals during the dry season. We hypothesize that female mosquitoes switch to sugar feeding while in dormancy because of elevated metabolism associated with blood digestion.
Hyperbaric computed tomographic measurement of lung compression in seals and dolphins
Authors: Moore Michael John , Hammar Terrence , Arruda Julie , Cramer Scott , Dennison Sophie , Montie Eric , Fahlman Andreas 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYLung compression of vertebrates as they dive poses anatomical and physiological challenges. There has been little direct observation of this. A harbor and a gray seal, a common dolphin and a harbor porpoise were each imaged post mortem under pressure using a radiolucent, fiberglass, water-filled pressure vessel rated to a depth equivalent of 170 m. The vessel was scanned using computed tomography (CT), and supported by a rail and counterweighted carriage magnetically linked to the CT table movement. As pressure increased, total buoyancy of the animals decreased and lung tissue CT attenuation increased, consistent with compression of air within the lower respiratory tract. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the external surface of the porpoise chest showed a marked contraction of the chest wall. Estimation of the volumes of different body compartments in the head and chest showed static values for all compartments except the lung, which showed a pressure-related compression. The depth of estimated lung compression ranged from 58 m in the gray seal with lungs inflated to 50% total lung capacity (TLC) to 133 m in the harbor porpoise with lungs at 100% TLC. These observations provide evidence for the possible behavior of gas within the chest of a live, diving mammal. The estimated depths of full compression of the lungs exceeds previous indirect estimates of the depth at which gas exchange ceases, and concurs with pulmonary shunt measurements. If these results are representative for living animals, they might suggest a potential for decompression sickness in diving mammals.
Transepitheliald-glucose andd-fructose transport across the American lobster,Homarus americanus, intestine
Authors: Obi Ijeoma E. , Sterling Kenneth M. , Ahearn Gregory A. 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYTransepithelial transport of dietary d-glucose and d-fructose was examined in the lobster Homarus americanus intestine using d-[3H]glucose and d-[3H]fructose. Lobster intestines were mounted in a perfusion chamber to determine transepithelial mucosal to serosal (MS) and serosal to mucosal (SM) transport mechanisms of glucose and fructose. Both MS glucose and fructose transport, as functions of luminal sugar concentration, increased in a hyperbolic manner, suggesting the presence of mucosal transport proteins. Phloridizin inhibited the MS flux of glucose, but not that of fructose, suggesting the presence of a sodium-dependent (SGLT1)-like glucose co-transporter. Immunohistochemical analysis, using a goat anti-rabbit GLUT5 polyclonal antibody, revealed the localization of a brush border GLUT5-like fructose transport protein. MS fructose transport was decreased in the presence of mucosal phloretin in warm spring/summer animals, but the same effect was not observed in cold autumn/winter animals, suggesting a seasonal regulation of sugar transporters. Mucosal phloretin had no effect on MS glucose transport. Both SM glucose and SM fructose transport were decreased in the presence of increasing concentrations of serosal phloretin, providing evidence for the presence of a shared serosal GLUT2 transport protein for the two sugars. The transport of d-glucose and d-fructose across lobster intestine is similar to sugar uptake in mammalian intestine, suggesting evolutionarily conserved absorption processes for these solutes.
Movements ofRana catesbeianatadpoles in weak current flows resemble a directed random walk
Authors: Schmidt Brian P. , Knowles Jeffrey M. , Simmons Andrea Megela 
Published: June 2011

SUMMARYCurrent flow is an important biological stimulus for larval anuran amphibians, but little is known about how it is perceived. We quantified behavioral responses to controlled water flow in the bullfrog tadpole (Rana catesbeiana) at developmental stages prior to metamorphic climax, and examined the contribution of a functioning lateral line system to these behaviors. Tadpoles at these developmental stages show a significant preference for the sides and bottom of a flow tank. In response to water flow at three different rates, they exhibit a significant, time-dependent tendency to move downstream, away from the source of the flow, and to remain in areas where flow is minimized. The consistency of these behaviors at all tested flow rates suggests that the animals are not simply passively pushed by the current; instead, they actively swim away from the current source. Tadpoles do not exhibit positive rheotaxis towards the source of the flow at any flow rate but as a group are randomly oriented. Treatment with cobalt chloride, a known blocker of superficial neuromast function, significantly reduces the tendency to move downstream, but does not alter the preference for the sides and bottom of the tank. Tadpoles' movements under flow are consistent with a model of locomotion based on a directed random walk.
Dihydroergotamine-Induced Vasospastic Angina in a Patient Taking a Calcium Channel Blocker
Authors: Schenkat Daniel H , Schulz Lucas T , Johnson Benjamin D 
Published: June 2011

Objective: To report a probable case of vasospastic angina after administration of dihydroergotamine mesylate in a patient without coronary artery disease. Case Summary: A 49-year-old woman with relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis was admitted for severe headache and pain crisis. She received a single dose of intravenous dihydroergotamine and, within 30 minutes, experienced chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. No changes on electrocardiogram were noted, but cardiac enzyme levels were elevated. Brief episodes of chest pain persisted for several days and resolved spontaneously before the woman's discharge. She had several cardiac risk factors, including cigarette smoking, hypertension, and a family history of coronary artery disease, but cardiac catheterization on hospital day 5 revealed no underlying coronary artery disease. Discussion: Although cardiovascular adverse reactions have been reported with ergotamine tartrate, dihydroergotamine has rarely been linked with such reactions, including coronary vasospasm and myocardial infarction. Prescribing information for dihydroergotamine cautions against its use in patients with coronary artery disease or risk factors for underlying coronary artery disease without a cardiac workup before initiation of therapy. This patient had several cardiac risk factors, but cardiac catheterization revealed no underlying coronary artery disease. Concomitant verapamil therapy for hypertension did not prevent the vasospastic effects of dihydroergotamine. The Naranjo probability scale revealed a probable adverse reaction of vasospastic angina associated with dihydroergotamine. Conclusions: Health-care professionals should be aware of the possibility for vasospastic angina in patients receiving dihydroergotamine who have no underlying coronary artery disease. Prescribing information should be closely followed.
Oxidized LDL and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: Results from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg Study
Authors: Koenig Wolfgang , Karakas Mahir , Zierer Astrid , Herder Christian , Baumert Jens , Meisinger Christa , Thorand Barbara 
Published: June 2011

BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) is a marker of oxidative stress. We prospectively investigated whether increased serum oxLDL concentrations are associated with incident coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS
We conducted a prospective population-based case–cohort study within the MONICA/KORA Augsburg studies. Serum oxLDL concentrations were measured in 333 case individuals with incident CHD and in 1727 noncase individuals selected from a source population of 9300 middle-aged, healthy men and women. The mean (SD) follow-up time was 10.8 (4.6) years.

RESULTS
Baseline oxLDL concentrations were higher in case individuals than in noncase individuals (P &lt; 0.001). After adjustment for age, sex, survey, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, physical activity, diabetes, body mass index, parental history of myocardial infarction, and alcohol consumption, the hazard ratio (HR) for comparing the first and third tertiles was 1.87 (95% CI, 1.33–2.64; P &lt; 0.001). Additional adjustment for lipid parameters, inflammatory markers, and markers of endothelial dysfunction attenuated the association (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.88–1.89; P = 0.087). We observed no significant interactions between oxLDL and sex or being overweight.

CONCLUSIONS
Increased oxLDL concentrations were associated with an increased risk for incident CHD. Nevertheless, because this effect became nonsignificant after adjustment for covariates, particularly the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol, it may be mediated primarily by lipid parameters. Further studies are warranted to clarify this issue.
The value of N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide for early identification of myocardial infarction in patients with high-risk non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Riezebos Robert K. , Laarman Gerrit J. , Tijssen Jan G.P. , Verheugt Freek W.A. 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Background: N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a marker of biomechanical strain, secreted by cardiomyocytes in response to ischemia. As necrosis occurs after prolonged ischemia, a rise in NT-proBNP concentration could precede a rise in markers of necrosis.

Methods: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether NT-proBNP is able to identify those patients with an evolving myocardial infarction (MI) with high-risk non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS). Data were analyzed from a prospective cohort of 103 high-risk NSTE-ACS patients admitted within 6 h after onset of pain and treated with an early invasive strategy. NT-proBNP samples, obtained immediately upon admission, were related to the presence of an in hospital MI. The optimal cut-off value for NT-proBNP was determined using receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis.

Results: Analyses was performed separately for creatinine kinase MB-mass (CKMB) and troponin T (TnT) based MI definitions. In both cases, a NT-proBNP concentration above 40 pmol/L (339 ng/L) at admission proved to be independently associated with the presence of MI. The diagnostic odds ratio (OR) for CKMB-MI was 4.9 (confidence interval 2.0–11.9, p<0.001). The diagnostic OR for TnT-MI was 4.9 (1.8–14.4, p=0.003). Adjusting for differences in baseline variables did not weaken the diagnostic OR. In addition, elevated NT-proBNP concentrations were related to unfavour-able demographic, physical and biochemical parameters.

Conclusions: With a dichotomous cut-off value, a single elevated NT-proBNP (>40 pmol/L) at admission provides independent information about the presence of MI in high-risk NSTE-ACS patients.
Time and the Keyboard Fugue
Authors: Chapin Keith 
Published: June 2011

Abstract
Throughout the history of Western music, musicians have almost invariably discussed the keyboard fugue and other extreme forms of polyphony as signs of something that transcends human subjectivity. Despite the persistence of this critical topos, musicians shifted their approach to it around the beginning of the nineteenth century. The shift involved both a change in the technique of counterpoint and a change in the way counterpoint was interpreted. Composers sought to invest the fugue with a new dramatic and teleological thrust suitable to modern times, and critically minded musicians changed their interpretive method so as to emphasize the passage of time. Whereas musicians of the early eighteenth century read counterpoint and the fugue allegorically and annulled time through the conceptual precision of the allegorical image, musicians of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries read the fugue symbolically and worked time into their interpretive process. In both eras, the practice of interpretation coincided with and affected the reading of the genre's temporality.
The Public Health Implications of Water in Disasters
Authors: McCann David GC , Moore Ainsley , Walker Mary‐Elizabeth A 
Published: June 2011

AbstractDisasters are becoming more frequent worldwide and water figures prominently in many of them. Disasters can result from a severe shortage of water (drought, famine) or too much of it (floods, tsunamis). The recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan offers an excellent example of the critical role water can play, given that the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant weathered the 9.0 moment magnitude earthquake well but suffered catastrophic failure from the resulting tsunami. After disasters, water contamination can compound an already miserable situation. This article will discuss the most current literature on the public health implications of water in disasters and offer recommendations for public policy changes to improve water security. Key policy implications include: reestablishment of water and sanitation are top priorities in the immediate post‐disaster period; shelters must not be overcrowded and should have adequate latrines; public health education about personal hygiene is critically important along with liquid soap and safe water to clean hands; supplies of water chlorination products and covered water storage receptacles need to be adequately stockpiled before a disaster.
Dehiscence and fenestration in skeletal Class I, II, and III malocclusions assessed with cone-beam computed tomography
Authors: Yagci Ahmet , Veli İlknur , Uysal Tancan , Ucar Faruk Izzet , Ozer Törün , Enhos Sukru 
Published: June 2011

Abstract

Objective:
To test the null hypothesis that the presence of dehiscence and fenestration was not different among patients with skeletal Class I, II, and III malocclusions.

Materials and Methods:
In this retrospective study, a total of 123 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were obtained with an iCAT scanner (Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, Pa). Patients with normal vertical patterns were classified according to dental malocclusion and ANB angle. Class I comprised 41 patients—21 girls and 20 boys (mean age, 22.4 ± 4.5 years); Class II comprised 42 patients—22 girls and 20 boys (mean age, 21.5 ± 4.2 years); and Class III comprised 40 subjects—22 girls and 18 boys (mean age, 22.1 ± 4.5 years). A total of 3444 teeth were evaluated. Analysis of variance and Tukey's test were used for statistical comparisons at the P &lt; .05 level.

Results:
Statistical analysis indicated that the Class II group had a greater prevalence of fenestration than the other groups (P &lt; .001). No difference was found in the prevalence of dehiscence among the three groups. Although fenestration had greater prevalence in the maxilla, more dehiscence was found in the mandible for all groups. In Class I, alveolar defects (dehiscence, fenestration) were matched relatively in both jaws. Furthermore, Class II and Class III subjects had more alveolar defects (41.11% and 45.02%, respectively) in the mandible. Dehiscences were seen with greater frequency in the mandibular incisors of all groups.

Conclusion:
The null hypothesis was rejected. Significant differences in the presence of fenestration were found among subjects with skeletal Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusions. Fenestrations had greater prevalence in the maxilla, but more dehiscences were found in the mandible.
Application of artificial neural networks in optimizing the fatty alcohol concentration in the formulation of an O/W emulsion
Authors: Kumar K. , Panpalia Gopal , Priyadarshini Surabhi 
Published: June 2011

Application of artificial neural networks in optimizing the fatty alcohol concentration in the formulation of an O/W emulsion
The purpose of this study was to optimize the concentration of a fatty alcohol, in addition to internal phase, for formulating a stable O/W emulsion, by using artificial neural networks (ANNs). Predictions from ANNs are accurate and allow quantification of the relative importance of the inputs. Furthermore, by varying the network topology and parameters it was possible to obtain output values that were close to experimental values. The ANN model's predictive results and the actual output values were compared. R2 values depict the percentage of response variability for the model; R2 value of 0.84 for the model suggested adequate modeling, which is supported by the correlation coefficient value of 0.9445.
Formulation and evaluation of effervescent floating tablets of tizanidine hydrochloride
Authors: Someshwar Komuravelly , Chithaluru Kalyani , Ramarao Tadikonda , Kumar K. 
Published: June 2011

Formulation and evaluation of effervescent floating tablets of tizanidine hydrochloride
Tizanidine hydrochloride is an orally administered prokinetic agent that facilitates or restores motility through-out the length of the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of the present investigation was to develop effervescent floating matrix tablets of tizanidine hydrochloride for prolongation of gastric residence time in order to overcome its low bioavailability (34-40 %) and short biological half life (4.2 h). Tablets were prepared by the direct compression method, using different viscosity grades of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M, K15M and K100M). Tablets were evaluated for various physical parameters and floating properties. Further, tablets were studied for in vitro drug release characteristics in 12 hours. Drug release from effervescent floating matrix tablets was sustained over 12 h with buoyant properties. DSC study revealed that there is no drug excipient interaction. Based on the release kinetics, all formulations best fitted the Higuchi, first-order model and non-Fickian as the mechanism of drug release. Optimized formulation (F9) was selected based on the similarity factor (f2) (74.2), dissolution efficiency at 2, 6 and 8 h, and t50 (5.4 h) and was used in radiographic studies by incorporating BaSO4. In vivo X-ray studies in human volunteers showed that the mean gastric residence time was 6.2 ± 0.2 h.