bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Superficial dermal melanocytosis of the elderly: An exceptional occurrence?
Authors: Saggini Andrea , Dill Dorothee , Kleimann Pia , Kutzner Heinz 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe development of flat pigmented lesions on chronically sun‐damaged (CSD) skin of the face may represent the clinical manifestation of a wide variety of hyperplastic/neoplastic melanocytic proliferations. We report the exceptional case of an acquired pigmented patch occurring on CSD skin, histopathologically characterized by diffuse hyperplasia of dendritic/spindled melanocytes in the superficial dermis within a widened band of actinic elastosis. This lesion was associated with a small focus of early invasive lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM). We show the melanocytic nature of the population of dermal pigmented cells by means of single and double immunohistochemical staining for melanocytic and histiocytic markers. The biologic significance of the focus of LMM within the hyperpigmented lesion (whether random collision phenomenon or causally related occurrence), as well as the pathogenesis of the whole dermal lesion are difficult to elucidate. Our case emphasizes the need for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of so‐called dermal melanocytes.
Effect of pain on mood affective disorders in adults with cerebral palsy
Authors: Whitney Daniel G , Bell Sarah , Whibley Daniel , Van der Slot Wilma M A , Hurvitz Edward A , Haapala Heidi J , Peterson Mark D , Warschausky Seth A 
Published: May 2020

AimTo determine if pain is associated with 12‐month incidence of mood affective disorders (MAD) in adults with cerebral palsy (CP).MethodData from Optum Clinformatics® Data Mart (2013–2016) were used for this retrospective cohort study. Diagnostic codes were used to identify adults (≥18y) with CP, incident cases of MAD, and covariates (other neurodevelopmental conditions, sleep disorders, arthritis). Pain (any type, location) was identified between 1st October 2014 and 30th September 2015. The pain group was divided into new or consistent pain if they had a history of pain (i.e. consistent) in the 12 months before their first pain claim date. Crude incidence rates of MAD (expressed per 100 person‐years) were estimated. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) of MAD after adjusting for covariates.ResultsAdults that had new pain (n=859; incidence rate=15.5) or consistent pain (n=1303; incidence rate=17.9) had greater crude incidence rate of MAD compared to adults without pain (n=3726; incidence rate=5.9). The elevated rate of MAD remained after adjusting for covariates, for new pain (hazard ratio=2.4; 95% CI=1.9–3.0) and consistent pain (hazard ratio=2.1; 95% CI=1.7–2.7).InterpretationPain is associated with greater incidence of MAD in adults with CP. This association remained after accounting for potential confounding factors.What this paper adds

Pain was associated with higher 12‐month incidence of mood affective disorders (MAD).

The 12‐month MAD incidence was similar between new and consistent pain groups.

The MAD incidence remained higher adjusting for neurodevelopmental comorbidities, sleep disorders, and arthritis.
Direct measurement of cardiac stiffness using echocardiographic shearwave imaging during open‐chest surgery: A pilot study in human
Authors: Saloux Eric , Gauthier Michael , Buklas Dimitrios , Saplacan Vladimir , Denoyer Antoine , Labombarda Fabien , Raitiere Olivier , Criton Aline , Milliez Paul , Bauer Fabrice 
Published: May 2020

AbstractPurposeCardiac stiffness is a marker of diastolic function with a strong prognostic significance in many heart diseases that is not measurable in clinical practice. This study investigates whether elastometry, a surrogate for organ stiffness, is measurable in the heart using ShearWave Imaging.MethodsIn 33 anesthetized patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, ShearWave imaging was acquired epicardially using a dedicated ultrasound machine on the left ventricle parallel to the left anterior descending coronary artery in a loaded heart following the last cardiac beat. Cardiac elastometry was measured offline using the Young modulus with customized software.ResultsOverall, the ejection fraction was 61 ± 10%. E/A and E/e′ ratios were 1.0 ± 0.5 and 10.5 ± 4.1, respectively. Cardiac elastometry averaged 15.3 ± 5.3 kPa with a median of 18 kPa. Patients with high elastometry >18 kPa were older (P = .04), had thicker (P = .02) but smaller LV (P = .004), had larger left atria (P = .05) and a higher BNP level (P = .04). We distinguished three different transmural elastometry patterns: higher epicardial, higher endocardial, or uniformly distributed elastometry.ConclusionElastometry measurement was feasible for the human heart. This surrogate for cardiac stiffness dichotomized patients with low and high elastometry, and provided three different phenotypes of transmural elastometry with link to diastolic function.
Bacteria associated with Lucilia sericata larvae reared on fish wastes
Authors: Ulanova Ruzalia V. , Tikhonova Ekaterina N. , Kravchenko Irina K. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe green blowfly, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), is a cosmopolitan species of great medical, veterinary, and forensic importance. In addition, their larvae are among the most promising agents for the bioconversion of low‐quality biomass, such as organic waste, into sustainable and nutritionally valuable proteins for farmed fish and poultry. Despite the considerable medical and economic importance, the current literature provides limited information about microbiota associated with larvae. The present study aims to fill this knowledge gap. Freshly harvested L. sericata larvae (maggots) grown on fish wastes were investigated by conventional and molecular approaches to evaluate culturable microbial numbers and unculturable microbial diversity associated with the larval cuticle (external samples) and the internal body. In total 200 bacterial isolates were obtained; 46% of the strains originated from external samples and 58% originated from internal body samples produced extracellular protease enzymes, which may be involved in the digestion of proteins during larval feeding. In total 12 predominant bacteria with high proteolytic activity were further identified by morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular tools. Proteolytic bacteria in internal samples included Proteus, Providencia, Micrococcus, Deinococcus, whereas in external samples Providencia, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter were found. 16S rRNA clone library analysis revealed that the majority of internal bacteria (35%) were taxonomically assigned as Xanthomonadaceae (Schineria, Xylella, Ignnatzchineria), 28% Morganellaceae (Proteus, Providencia, Serratia), and 14% Enterobacteriaceae (Vagococcus, Serratia). Less abundant were bacteria of the genera Clostridium (3%), Erypelothrix (3%), and Oceanispherum (2%). This knowledge will be useful for biotechnological application of L. sericata.
Relationships between spectral features, iron oxides and colours of surface soils in northern Jordan
Authors: Sahwan Wahib , Lucke Bernhard , Sprafke Tobias , Vanselow Kim A. , Bäumler Rupert 
Published: May 2020

AbstractGround data on spectral characteristics of Jordan's soils remain sparse, which makes the interpretation of remote sensing datasets challenging. These are, however, very useful for predicting soil properties and agricultural suitability. Previous studies have shown that soil colours correlate well with degrees of weathering intensity, as indicated by magnetic parameters and dithionite‐extractable iron (Fed) contents along a climosequence in northern Jordan. This study enlarges the database by the results of 160 bulk samples that were collected systematically from the soil surface at 40 locations. In addition to soil colour and contents of Fed, we explore mean soil reflectance spectra (MSRS) measured by analytical spectral devices (ASD) and analyse the morphological conditions of the spectra referring to the effects of iron oxides on spectral behaviours. Results show a high correlation of spectral behaviours and colour variations with Fe oxides, and no correlation with soil organic carbon Corg. The influence of the Fe oxide contents is clearly apparent in the visible range (VIS). The presence of CaCO3 increases the reflectance in all spectral ranges. Six soil groups (Gr. I ‐ Gr. VI) were discerned qualitatively and quantitatively in the study area, which largely mirror the intensity of red colour expressed by redness indices.Highlights
In northwestern Jordan there is an evident connection between the spectral properties, chemistry and soil colour.
This study established a preliminary spectral library of soils in NW Jordan to facilitate the use of remote sensing in soil studies.
The morphological properties and statistical analysis of the spectral data show that spectra of soils in NW Jordan are dominated by iron oxides.
Spectral properties can be used to characterize the soil colours and types of Fe oxides in soils of Jordan.
Open approach to correct traumatic closed tracheal lacerations: A case series
Authors: Iglesias‐García M. , Lepage O. M. , Ezquerra Calvo L. J. , Muñoz Morán J. A. 
Published: May 2020

SummaryReports of tracheal injuries in horses are rare compared with those in small animals and humans. Although uncommon, tracheal injuries can be life threatening if they progress or are not treated. Different treatments have been described depending on the severity of the problem. This report describes the successful surgical treatment of three cases of closed tracheal lacerations through an intraluminal surgical approach.
Mu opioid receptors in the medial preoptic area govern social play behavior in adolescent male rats
Authors: Zhao Changjiu , Chang Liza , Auger Anthony P. , Gammie Stephen C. , Riters Lauren V. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractNeural systems underlying important behaviors are usually highly conserved across species. The medial preoptic area (MPOA) has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in reward associated with affiliative, nonsexual, social communication in songbirds. However, the role of MPOA in affiliative, rewarding social behaviors (eg, social play behavior) in mammals remains largely unknown. Here we applied our insights from songbirds to rats to determine whether opioids in the MPOA govern social play behavior in rats. Using an immediate early gene (ie, Egr1, early growth response 1) expression approach, we identified increased numbers of Egr1‐labeled cells in the MPOA after social play in adolescent male rats. We also demonstrated that cells expressing mu opioid receptors (MORs, gene name Oprm1) in the MPOA displayed increased Egr1 expression when adolescent rats were engaged in social play using double immunofluorescence labeling of MOR and Egr1. Furthermore, using short hairpin RNA‐mediated gene silencing we revealed that knockdown of Oprm1 in the MPOA reduced the number of total play bouts and the frequency of pouncing. Last, RNA sequencing differential gene expression analysis identified genes involved in neuronal signaling with altered expression after Oprm1 knockdown, and identified Egr1 as potentially a key modulator for Oprm1 in the regulation of social play behavior. Altogether, these results show that the MPOA is involved in social play behavior in adolescent male rats and support the hypothesis that the MPOA is part of a conserved neural circuit across vertebrates in which opioids act to govern affiliative, intrinsically rewarded social behaviors.
Low‐severity fire as a mechanism of organic matter protection in global peatlands: Thermal alteration slows decomposition
Authors: Flanagan Neal E. , Wang Hongjun , Winton Scott , Richardson Curtis J. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWorldwide, regularly recurring wildfires shape many peatland ecosystems to the extent that fire‐adapted species often dominate plant communities, suggesting that wildfire is an integral part of peatland ecology rather than an anomaly. The most destructive blazes are smoldering fires that are usually initiated in periods of drought and can combust entire peatland carbon stores. However, peatland wildfires more typically occur as low‐severity surface burns that arise in the dormant season when vegetation is desiccated, and soil moisture is high. In such low‐severity fires, surface layers experience flash heating, but there is little loss of underlying peat to combustion. This study examines the potential importance of such processes in several peatlands that span a gradient from hemiboreal to tropical ecozones and experience a wide range of fire return intervals. We show that low‐severity fires can increase the pool of stable soil carbon by thermally altering the chemistry of soil organic matter (SOM), thereby reducing rates of microbial respiration. Using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared, we demonstrate that low‐severity fires significantly increase the degree of carbon condensation and aromatization of SOM functional groups, particularly on the surface of peat aggregates. Laboratory incubations show lower CO2emissions from peat subjected to low‐severity fire and predict lower cumulative CO2emissions from burned peat after 1–3 years. Also, low‐severity fires reduce the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of peat, indicating that these fires can inhibit microbial access to SOM. The increased stability of thermally altered SOM may allow a greater proportion of organic matter to survive vertical migration into saturated and anaerobic zones of peatlands where environmental conditions physiochemically protect carbon stores from decomposition for thousands of years. Thus, across latitudes, low‐severity fire is an overlooked factor influencing carbon cycling in peatlands, which is relevant to global carbon budgets as climate change alters fire regimes worldwide.
Growth and resilience responses of Scots pine to extreme droughts across Europe depend on predrought growth conditions
Authors: Bose Arun K. , Gessler Arthur , Bolte Andreas , Bottero Alessandra , Buras Allan , Cailleret Maxime , Camarero J. Julio , Haeni Matthias , Hereş Ana‐Maria , Hevia Andrea , Lévesque Mathieu , Linares Juan C. , Martinez‐Vilalta Jordi , Matías Luis , Menzel Annette , Sánchez‐Salguero Raúl , Saurer Matthias , Vennetier Michel , Ziche Daniel , Rigling Andreas 
Published: May 2020

AbstractGlobal climate change is expected to further raise the frequency and severity of extreme events, such as droughts. The effects of extreme droughts on trees are difficult to disentangle given the inherent complexity of drought events (frequency, severity, duration, and timing during the growing season). Besides, drought effects might be modulated by trees’ phenotypic variability, which is, in turn, affected by long‐term local selective pressures and management legacies. Here we investigated the magnitude and the temporal changes of tree‐level resilience (i.e., resistance, recovery, and resilience) to extreme droughts. Moreover, we assessed the tree‐, site‐, and drought‐related factors and their interactions driving the tree‐level resilience to extreme droughts. We used a tree‐ring network of the widely distributed Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) along a 2,800 km latitudinal gradient from southern Spain to northern Germany. We found that the resilience to extreme drought decreased in mid‐elevation and low productivity sites from 1980–1999 to 2000–2011 likely due to more frequent and severe droughts in the later period. Our study showed that the impact of drought on tree‐level resilience was not dependent on its latitudinal location, but rather on the type of sites trees were growing at and on their growth performances (i.e., magnitude and variability of growth) during the predrought period. We found significant interactive effects between drought duration and tree growth prior to drought, suggesting that Scots pine trees with higher magnitude and variability of growth in the long term are more vulnerable to long and severe droughts. Moreover, our results indicate that Scots pine trees that experienced more frequent droughts over the long‐term were less resistant to extreme droughts. We, therefore, conclude that the physiological resilience to extreme droughts might be constrained by their growth prior to drought, and that more frequent and longer drought periods may overstrain their potential for acclimation.
Using Wavelet Coherence to Characterize Surface Water Infiltration into a Low‐Lying Karst Aquifer
Authors: Schuler Philip , Cantoni Èlia , Duran Léa , Johnston Paul , Gill Laurence 
Published: May 2020

AbstractKarstified carbonate aquifers may receive significant recharge contributions from losing streams, hence, the knowledge about surface water‐groundwater (SW‐GW) interactions is crucial with regard to water management (e.g., source protection zone delineation). The dynamics of SW‐GW interactions may depend on factors such as the relative water levels between streams and aquifers, resulting in a temporal variation of exchange, which imposes complexity to the understanding of such dynamics. This study highlights the use of high‐resolution time series and multiresolution analysis to help to gain insights into such complex dynamics. Wavelet coherence is applied on hourly time series of rainfall, stream, and spring discharges of a low‐lying karstified spring catchment to yield a correlation in the time‐frequency domain. This analysis provides comprehensive information on the overall impact of the river on the spring, which is supported by the cross‐correlation function, as well as by more detailed information, including time‐variant influences such as a threshold level of influence. Field observations of turbidity sampling at the spring appear to support this interpretation. This innovative approach relies on basic hydrological parameters, water level, or discharge, and is therefore applicable to many other systems with such existing time series.
Are Visible Fractures Accurate Predictors of Flow and Mass Transport in Fractured Till?
Authors: Young Nathan L. , Simpkins William W. , Horton Robert 
Published: May 2020

AbstractTracer experiments conducted in the laboratory on undisturbed core samples (<7.3‐cm‐diameter) have been a standard method for estimating hydraulic and transport properties of fractured till since the 1980s. This study assesses the relationship between visible fractures on the top and bottom of core samples and the resulting hydraulic and mass transport properties of the core. We hypothesized that more visible fractures would indicate the presence of a well‐connected fracture network, leading to greater hydraulic conductivity (K) values and earlier chemical breakthrough times. To test this hypothesis, water flow and bromide (Br‐) tracer experiments were performed on 10, 16‐cm diameter, 16‐cm‐tall samples of fractured Dows Formation till from central Iowa. Visually identifiable fractures were present on the top and bottom of every sample. Results indicate that the visual identification of fractures does not predict a connected fracture network, as some samples produced breakthrough curves showing rapid first arrival times and shapes characteristic of solute transport in a fractured medium, while others appeared similar to an unfractured medium. No correlation was found between the number of visible fractures and K (Pearson's r = 0.25), or Br‐ first arrival time (r = −0.33), but a strong negative correlation between K and first arrival time (r = −0.92). Results indicate that the sample volume was not large enough to reliably contain a connected fracture network. Thus, testing large volumes of till at the field scale coupled with fracture‐flow modeling likely represents the best approach for estimating hydraulic and mass transport properties for fractured till.
The increasing prevalence and adverse impact of morbid obesity in paediatric acute pancreatitis
Authors: Thavamani Aravind , Umapathi Krishna K. , Roy Aparna , Krishna Somashekar G. 
Published: May 2020

SummaryObjectiveMorbid obesity is proinflammatory has been associated with adverse clinical outcomes in acute pancreatitis (AP) among adults. Obesity is increasingly prevalent in children and hence, we sought to evaluate the impact of morbid obesity on the clinical outcomes of AP using a large paediatric population‐based cohort.MethodsWe analysed the US Kids' Inpatient Database between years 2003 and 2016 to include all patients (age ≤ 21 years) with a primary diagnosis of AP using specific ICD‐9‐CM and ICD‐10‐CM codes. We compared clinical outcomes between children without obesity (controls) and those with morbid obesity (cases). The primary outcome was severe AP (2012 revised Atlanta classification) and secondary outcomes included healthcare resource utilization (length of stay and hospital costs).ResultsAmong 36 698 paediatric AP hospitalizations, 1275 (3.5%) were found to have morbid obesity. From 2003 to 2016, the proportion of children with morbid obesity among AP patients increased from 1.3% to 5.5% (P < .001). More than half (54%) of the children with morbid obesity were presented with cholelithiasis as contributive aetiology. The prevalence of severe AP was significantly higher in morbid obesity (7.3% vs 3.8%, P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that morbid obesity was increasingly associated with severe AP (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.4, 2.26), prolonged hospitalization (by 0.41 days, P = .03), and higher hospital costs (by $1596, P < .001).ConclusionUnlike adult population, there is a lack of other confounding comorbidities in children and this national‐level analysis shows that morbid obesity independently prognosticates adverse clinical outcomes in paediatric AP.
Head‐to‐head comparison of cerebral blood flow single‐photon emission computed tomography and 18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease
Authors: Nadebaum David P. , Krishnadas Natasha , Poon Aurora M. T. , Kalff Victor , Lichtenstein Meir , Villemagne Victor L. , Jones Gareth , Rowe Christopher C. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundClinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (AD) is only 70% accurate. Reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) and metabolism in parieto‐temporal and posterior cingulate cortex may assist diagnosis. While widely accepted that 18F‐fluoro‐2‐deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F‐FDG PET) has superior accuracy to CBF‐SPECT for AD, there are very limited head‐to‐head data from clinically relevant populations and these studies relied on clinical diagnosis as the reference standard.AimsTo compare directly the accuracy of CBF‐SPECT and 18F‐FDG PET in patients referred for diagnostic studies in detecting β‐amyloid PET confirmed AD.MethodsA total of 126 patients, 56% with mild cognitive impairment and 44% with dementia, completed both CBF‐SPECT and 18F‐FDG PET as part of their diagnostic assessment, and subsequently underwent β‐amyloid PET for research purposes. Transaxial slices and Neurostat 3D‐SSP analyses of 18F‐FDG PET and CBF‐SPECT scans were independently reviewed by five nuclear medicine clinicians blinded to all other data. Operators selected the most likely diagnosis and their diagnostic confidence. Accuracy analysis used final diagnosis incorporating β‐amyloid PET as the reference standard.ResultsClinicians reported high diagnostic confidence in 83% of 18F‐FDG PET compared to 67% for CBF‐SPECT (P = 0.001). All reviewers showed individually higher accuracy using 18F‐FDG PET. Based on majority read, the combined area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in diagnosing AD was 0.71 for 18F‐FDG PET and 0.61 for CBF‐SPECT (P = 0.02). The sensitivity of 18F‐FDG PET and CBF‐SPECT was 76% versus 43% (P < 0.001), while specificity was 74% versus 83% (P = 0.45).Conclusions18F‐FDG PET is superior to CBF‐SPECT in detecting AD among patients referred for the assessment of cognitive impairment.