bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Topological plasticity increases robustness of mutualistic networks
Authors: Ramos‐Jiliberto Rodrigo , Valdovinos Fernanda S. , Moisset de Espanés Pablo , Flores José D. 
Published: February 2012

Summary1. Earlier studies used static models to evaluate the responses of mutualistic networks to external perturbations. Two classes of dynamics can be distinguished in ecological networks; population dynamics, represented mainly by changes in species abundances, and topological dynamics, represented by changes in the architecture of the web.2. In this study, we model the temporal evolution of three empirical plant–pollination networks incorporating both population and topological dynamics. We test the hypothesis that topological plasticity, realized through the ability of animals to rewire their connections after depletion of host abundances, enhances tolerance of mutualistic networks to species loss. We also compared the performance of various rewiring rules in affecting robustness.3. The results show that topological plasticity markedly increased the robustness of mutualistic networks. Our analyses also revealed that network robustness reached maximum levels when animals with less host plant availability were more likely to rewire. Also, preferential attachment to richer host plants, that is, to plants exhibiting higher abundance and few exploiters, enhances robustness more than other rewiring alternatives.4. Our results highlight the potential role of topological plasticity in the robustness of mutualistic networks to species extinctions and suggest some plausible mechanisms by which the decisions of foragers may shape the collective dynamics of plant–pollinator systems.
Did geckos ride the Palawan raft to the Philippines?
Authors: Siler Cameron D. , Oaks Jamie R. , Welton Luke J. , Linkem Charles W. , Swab John C. , Diesmos Arvin C. , Brown Rafe M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim  We examine the genetic diversity within the lizard genus Gekko in the Philippine islands to understand the role of geography and geological history in shaping species diversity in this group. We test multiple biogeographical hypotheses of species relationships, including the recently proposed Palawan Ark Hypothesis.Location  Southeast Asia and the Philippines.Methods  Samples of all island endemic and widespread Philippine Gekko species were collected and sequenced for one mitochondrial gene (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) and one nuclear gene (phosducin). We used maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic methods to derive the phylogeny. Divergence time analyses were used to estimate the time tree of Philippine Gekko in order to test biogeographical predictions of species relationships. The phylogenetic trees from the posterior distribution of the Bayesian analyses were used for testing biogeographical hypotheses. Haplotype networks were created for the widespread species Gekko mindorensis to explore genetic variation within recently divergent clades.Results  Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses indicated that Philippine Gekko species are a diverse clade with a long history in the archipelago. Ancestral range reconstruction and divergence time analyses suggest a Palawan microcontinental origin for this clade, coinciding with Palawan’s separation from Asia beginning 30 Ma, with subsequent diversification in the oceanic Philippine islands. The widespread species G. mindorensis and G. monarchus diversified in the late Miocene/early Pliocene and are potentially complexes of numerous undescribed species.Main conclusions  The view of the Philippine islands as a ‘fringing archipelago’ does not explain the pattern of species diversity in the genus Gekko. Philippine Gekko species have diversified within the archipelago over millions of years of isolation, forming a large diverse group of endemic species. Furthermore, the Philippine radiation of gekkonid lizards demonstrates biogeographical patterns most consistent with stochastic colonization followed by in situ diversification. Our results reveal the need to consider deeper time geological processes and their potential role in the evolution of some Philippine terrestrial organisms.
In vivo dynamic imaging of intestinal motions using diet‐related autofluorescence
Authors: Kwon S. , Davies‐Venn C. , Sevick‐Muraca E. M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractBackground  Tissue background autofluorescence induced by standard murine diets containing chlorophyll is a significant problem for fluorescence whole‐body imaging. However, as red chlorophyll autofluorescence delineates the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in the abdomen of the mouse, it should be possible to dynamically and non‐invasively image intestinal motions. Herein, we non‐invasively imaged for the first time intestinal motions, such as peristaltic and segmental motions, without an exogenous imaging agent, using red chlorophyll fluorescence.Methods  Mice were illuminated with 660‐nm light from a laser diode and autofluorescence at 710 nm was acquired dynamically for 5 min with 200‐ms exposure time. Fluorescent imaging data were analyzed to generate a three‐dimensional spatiotemporal map to quantitate intestinal motions.Key Results  Peristaltic and segmental motions were observed in vivo in mice. Our quantification showed that the frequency and propagation velocity of peristaltic contractile waves in the small intestine were measured to be 28.6 cycles per min and 1.82 ± 0.56 cm s−1, respectively.Conclusions & Inferences  This simple, but unexplored imaging technique can provide a means to monitor intestinal motility disorders and response to therapeutic agents.
Abnormal sebaceous gland differentiation in 10 kittens (‘sebaceous gland dysplasia’) associated with generalized hypotrichosis and scaling
Authors: Yager Julie A. , Gross Thelma Lee , Shearer David , Rothstein Emily , Power Helen , Sinke Jacqueline D. , Kraus Hans , Gram Dunbar , Cowper Ellie , Foster Aiden , Welle Monika 
Published: February 2012

A rare congenital dermatosis, characterized by progressive hypotrichosis with variable scaling and crusting, occurred in 10 short‐haired kittens in North America and Europe. Lesions appeared at between 4 and 12 weeks of age, commencing on the head and becoming generalized. The tail was spared in two kittens. Generalized scaling was mild to moderate, often with prominent follicular casts. Periocular, perioral, pinnal and ear canal crusting was occasionally severe. The skin was thick and wrinkled in two kittens.Histologically, the main lesion was abnormal sebaceous gland morphology. Instead of regular differentiation from basal cells to mature sebocytes, the glands were composed of a haphazard collection of undifferentiated basaloid cells, some partly vacuolated and a few containing eosinophilic globules. Mitotic figures and apoptotic cells were present in an irregularly thickened follicular isthmus. Lymphocytic mural folliculitis and mild sebaceous adenitis were rare. Orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and follicular casts were present. Hair follicles were of normal density and were mostly in anagen, but some contained malacic hair shafts. Perforating folliculitis, leading to dermal trichogranuloma formation, occurred occasionally. Further biopsy samples taken at 2 years and at 3 and 4 years, respectively, from two kittens revealed similar but often more severe sebaceous gland lesions. Hair follicles were smaller, with many in telogen.The young age of onset suggests a genetic defect interfering with sebaceous and, possibly, follicular development. These lesions are discussed with reference to studies of mouse mutants in which genetic defects in sebaceous differentiation cause a similar phenotype of hyperkeratosis and progressive alopecia.
Sound or Silence: Call Recognition in the Temporal Domain by the Frog Allobates femoralis
Authors: Vélez Alejandro , Hödl Walter , Amézquita Adolfo 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAcoustic communication often mediates agonistic interactions in territorial species. Because both the reaction to potential intruders and the lack thereof are costly, mechanisms that allow recognition of conspecific signals should be evident in intrasexual communication systems. While the spectral domain of the recognition space of the frog Allobates femoralis appears asymmetrically shaped in a way that reduces masking interference by the often syntopic frog Ameerega trivittata, frequency alone does not appear to account for the correct identification of conspecific intruders (Amézquita et al., Animal Behaviour, 70, 2005: 1377). As signal recognition may rely on a combination of spectral and temporal parameters of the signal, we test here the subsequent prediction that the recognition space should be asymmetrical in the temporal domain as well. We conducted playback experiments with 80 synthetic calls on 30 males and modeled all‐or‐none responses to define unidimensional functions of the recognition space for two call parameters: note duration and internote interval. For both parameters, male maximal response matched very well the average values of the conspecific signal and decreased with concomitant deviations from these values. While the response curves exceeded the range of signal variation and were not asymmetrical for either call parameter, they differed in breadth. The highest male permissiveness to variation in internote interval, as evidenced by a broader response curve, coincided with the lower probability of between‐species overlap in this signal parameter. Together with previous studies, our data suggest that a combination of spectral and temporal parameters of the advertisement call is necessary for recognition of calling intruders in A. femoralis. Our results emphasize the importance of multidimensional approaches in understanding signal recognition mechanisms in acoustically complex environments.
Risk factors for the prognosis of acute kidney injury under the Acute Kidney Injury Network definition: A retrospective, multicenter study in critically ill patients
Authors: ZHOU JIAOJIAO , YANG LICHUAN , ZHANG KANGYI , LIU YUN , FU PING 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTAim:  Despite significant advances in medical management and therapeutics, acute kidney injury (AKI) is still a common and serious complication with high morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients, especially in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The primary purpose of this study is to apply the definition proposed by the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) to investigate the incidence, 28‐day mortality and risk factors for the prognosis of AKI in ICU.Methods:  In this retrospective study, data from a cohort of 4642 patients admitted to five ICUs were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the risk factors for prognosis of AKI.Results:  A total of 1036 patients were enrolled. AKI occurred in 353 of them (34.1%) under the AKIN criteria and the mortality was 54.4%. Multivariable analysis showed that variables related to the prognosis of AKI were: four or more (≥4) organ failed systems (odds ratio (OR) = 25.612), AKI III (OR = 14.441), AKI II (OR = 4.491), mechanical ventilation (OR = 7.201), sepsis (OR = 4.552), severe acute pancreatitis (OR = 3.299), base serum creatinine (OR = 1.004) and the length of stay in ICU (OR = 1.050).Conclusions:  For critically ill patient, the ICU mortality of AKI was correlated with various independent risk factors, especially AKI II, AKI III, severe acute pancreatitis and multiple organ failed systems.
Treatments for anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A literature review
Authors: CAFARELLA PAUL A. , EFFING TANJA W. , USMANI ZAFAR‐AHMAD , FRITH PETER A. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious contemporary health issue. Psychological co‐morbidities such as anxiety and depression are common in COPD. Current evidence for treatment options to reduce anxiety and depression in patients with COPD was examined. There is evidence available for the efficacy of pharmacological treatments, cognitive behavioural therapy, pulmonary rehabilitation, relaxation therapy and palliative care in COPD. Therapeutic modalities that have not been proven effective in decreasing anxiety and depression in COPD, but which have theoretical potential among patients, include interpersonal psychotherapy, self‐management programmes, more extensive disease management programmes, supportive therapy and self‐help groups. Besides pulmonary rehabilitation that is only available for a small percentage of patients, management guidelines make scant reference to other options for the treatment of mental health problems. The quantity and quality of research on mental health treatments in COPD have historically been insufficient to support their inclusion in COPD treatment guidelines. In this review, recommendations regarding assessment, treatment and future research in this important field were made.
Lack of dystrophin in mdx mice modulates the expression of genes involved in neuron survival and differentiation
Authors: Licursi Valerio , Caiello Ivan , Lombardi Loredana , De Stefano Maria Egle , Negri Rodolfo , Paggi Paola 
Published: February 2012

AbstractDuchenne muscular dystrophy is an X‐linked disease characterized by progressive and lethal muscular wasting. Dystrophic patients, however, are also afflicted by several neurological disorders, the importance of which is generally underestimated. As promising therapies for muscles are currently in clinical trial stages, with the potential to provide an increase in the lifespan of young patients, determination of the genetic and molecular aspects characterizing this complex disease is crucial in order to allow the development of therapeutic approaches specifically designed for the nervous system. In this study, differences in gene expression in the superior cervical ganglion of postnatal day (P)5, P10 and 6–7‐week‐old wild‐type and genetically dystrophic mdx mice were evaluated by DNA microarray analysis. The main aim was to verify whether the lack of dystrophin affected the transcript levels of genes related to different aspects of neuron development and differentiation. Ontological analysis of more than 500 modulated genes showed significant differences in genetic class enrichment at each postnatal date. Upregulated genes mainly fell in the categories of vesicular trafficking, and cytoskeletal and synaptic organization, whereas downregulated genes were associated with axon development, growth factors, intracellular signal transduction, metabolic processes, gene expression regulation, synapse morphogenesis, and nicotinic receptor clustering. These data strongly suggest that the structural and functional alterations previously described in both the autonomic and central nervous systems of mdx mice with respect to wild‐type mice and related to crucial aspects of neuron life (i.e. postnatal development, differentiation, and plasticity) result not only from protein post‐translational modifications, but also from direct and/or indirect modulation of gene expression.
Glucocorticoid‐induced tumour necrosis factor receptor expression: a potential molecular link between steroid intake and complicated diverticulitis?
Authors: von Rahden B. H. A. , Kircher S. , Landmann D. , Schlegel N. , Lazariotou M. , Jurowich C. F. , Germer C.‐T. , Grimm M. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim  Immunosuppression and steroid medication have been identified as risk factors for complicated sigmoid diverticulitis. The underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. We hypothesized that glucocorticoid‐induced tumour necrosis factor receptor (GITR) and matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) might play a role.Method  GITR and MMP‐9 were analysed at protein [immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence (IF)] and messenger RNA level (real‐time polymerase chain reaction) in surgical specimens with complicated and non‐complicated diverticulitis (n = 101). IF double staining and regression analysis were performed for both markers. GITR expression was correlated with clinical data and its usefulness as a diagnostic test was investigated.Results  High GITR expression (≥ 41%) was observed in the inflammatory infiltrate in complicated diverticulitis, in contrast to non‐complicated diverticulitis where GITR expression was low (P < 0.001). High GITR expression was significantly associated with steroid use and pulmonary diseases (both P < 0.001). MMP‐9 expression correlated with GITR expression (R2 = 0.7268, P < 0.0001, r = 0.85) as demonstrated with IF double‐staining experiments. Co‐labelling of GITR with CD68, but not CD15, suggested that GITR‐expressing cells in diverticulitis are macrophages. GITR expression was superior to C‐reactive protein (CRP), white cell count and temperature in distinguishing complicated and non‐complicated diverticulitis.Conclusions  Our results suggest that GITR expression in inflammatory cells might potentially indicate a molecular link between steroid use and complicated forms of acute sigmoid diverticulitis. Increased MMP‐9 expression by GITR signalling might explain the morphological changes in the colonic wall of perforated and phlegmonous diverticulitis. Analysis of soluble GITR might be a promising strategy for future research.
Management of severe blunt renal trauma in adult patients: a 10‐year retrospective review from an emergency hospital
Authors: Aragona Francesco , Pepe Pietro , Patanè Domenico , Malfa Pierantonio , D'Arrigo Letterio , Pennisi Michele 
Published: February 2012

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Immediate surgery for major renal trauma has led to a high rate of nephrectomy in comparison with an expectant management.We reviewed our case material on the management of severe blunt renal trauma in adults with emphasis on conservative management. Only shattered kidneys and pedicle avulsion required immediate surgery.OBJECTIVE
To review retrospectively the management of major blunt renal truma in adult patients admitted to our level I trauma centre.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Among 1460 blunt abdominal trauma cases collected from January 2001 to December 2010, 221 (15%) affected the kidneys.
All patients, except seven who needed immediate laparotomy, underwent a computed tomography scan to stage the injuries.
Renal injuries were graded according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Grading System; grade 4 and 5 injuries were subclassified based on vascular or parenchymal injury.
RESULTS
Only 45/221 patients (20%) suffered major blunt renal trauma (21 grade 3, 18 grade 4 and six grade 5); 43% of the patients had associated lesions and 77% had gross haematuria.
Nephrectomy rates were 9% for grade 3, 22% for grade 4 and 83% for grade 5 with an exploration rate of 26% for major renal trauma.
CONCLUSIONS
Conservative management of grade 3–5 blunt renal trauma in haemodynamically stable patients yields more favourable results with high renal salvage rate.
Grade 5 injuries still result in a nephrectomy rate of more than 80%.
The absence of data on long‐term outcomes and a potential inclusion bias due to the retrospective nature of the data represent major limitations of this review.
Rapid detection of urinary tract pathogens using microcalorimetry: principle, technique and first results
Authors: Bonkat Gernot , Braissant Olivier , Widmer Andreas F. , Frei Reno , Rieken Malte , Wyler Stephen , Gasser Thomas C. , Wirz Dieter , Daniels Alma U. , Bachmann Alexander 
Published: February 2012

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort)Level of Evidence 2bWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Microcalorimetry has been applied in several microbiological studies, but never in a clinical urological context. In addition, basic knowledge on the growth of urinary pathogens in urine is still scarce and data regarding the growth rate of many urinary pathogens in urine are still not available.The study demonstrates that this innovative application of microcalorimetry is useful in (i) investigating the growth of urinary pathogens in sterilized urine and (ii) as a rapid tool for diagnosis of urinary infection as well as for further identification of the causative infectious agent.OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) in the detection and differentiation of common urinary tract pathogens in urine. IMC is a non‐specific analytical tool for the measurement of heat in the microwatt range.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A microcalorimeter equipped with 48 channels was used. Detection was accomplished, and growth was monitored for four bacterial strains in sterilized urine at 37 °C by measuring metabolic heat flow (µW =µJ/s) as a function of time.
The strains were Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus.
RESULTS
Bacterial growth was detected after 3.1 to 17.1 h with decreasing inocula.
The detection limit was 1 colony‐forming unit (CFU)/mL for E. coli, 10 CFU/mL for P. mirabilis and E. faecalis and 103 CFU/mL for S. aureus.
The total heat was highest in P. mirabilis ranging from 10 to 12 J, followed by E. coli (3–4 J), S. aureus (2–3 J) and E. faecalis (1.3–1.5 J).
The shape of the heat flow curves was characteristic for each species independent of its initial concentration.
CONCLUSIONS
IMC allows rapid detection of bacteriuria, much faster than conventional culture. Urinary tract pathogen detection after only 3.1 h is realistic.
Clearly different heat flow patterns enable accurate pathogen differentiation.
Due to expeditious identification of urine samples that contain only low colony counts (i.e. less than 103 CFU/mL), IMC may become a valuable screening tool for detecting the presence of significant bacteriuria.