bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Referendums in the European Union: Defective by Birth?
Authors: Cheneval Francis , Ferrín Mónica 
Published: April 2018

AbstractOn the basis of a combined examination of normative claims and empirical evidence this paper discusses minimal criteria for the institutional design of referendums on EU‐internal issues. These criteria concern the mandatory (vs. optional), the simultaneous (vs. serial) and binding (vs. consultative) nature of referendums. The proposed criteria are demanding, both for the Member States and the European Union, but experiences show that the EU is in fact participating actively in EU‐issues referendums and Member States as well as the EU need to surpass the current arbitrary use of plebiscites by governments. On a broader scale the paper contributes to the insight that it might be time to fully address the use of direct democracy at the national and EU levels.
Screening of candidate biomaterials for alveolar augmentation using a critical‐size rat calvaria defect model
Authors: Susin Cristiano , Lee Jaebum , Fiorini Tiago , Koo Ki‐Tae , Schüpbach Peter , Angst Patricia D. M. , Finger Stadler Amanda , Wikesjö Ulf ME 
Published: April 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo screen candidate biomaterials intended for alveolar augmentation relative to their potential to enhance local bone formation using a routine critical‐size (ø8‐mm) rat calvaria defect model.MethodsOne hundred and forty male Sprague Dawley outbred rats, age 11–12 weeks, weight 325–375 g, obtained from USDA approved breeder, randomised into 14 groups of 10 animals, each received one of the following treatments: sham‐surgery (empty control), Bio‐Oss (bovine HA/reference control), or candidate biomaterials including bovine HA, synthetic HA/ß‐TCP and calcium phosphate constructs, mineralised/demineralised human bone preparations, a ß‐TCP/calcium sulphate and an HA/calcium sulphate putty. A 4‐week healing interval was chosen to discern local bone formation using incandescent and polarised light microscopy. Statistical analysis used one‐way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni for pairwise comparisons.ResultsCandidate biomaterials all displayed biocompatibility. They exhibited limited, if any, appreciable bioerosion or biodegradation. No statistically significant differences in mean linear defect closure were observed among experimental groups, sham‐surgery displaying the highest score (48.1 ± 24.3%). Sham‐surgery also showed a significantly greater bone area fraction than all other groups (19.8 ± 13.9%, p < .001). The HA/calcium sulphate putty showed a significantly greater residual biomaterial area fraction than all other groups (61.1 ± 8.5%, p < .01).ConclusionWithin the limitations of this animal model, although biocompatible, none of the tested biomaterials enhanced local bone formation beyond the innate regenerative potential of this craniotomy defect.
Evaluation of the Relationship Between the 18S rRNA/rDNA Ratio and Population Growth in the Marine Diatom Skeletonema tropicum via the Application of an Exogenous Nucleic Acid Standard
Authors: Lin Yun‐Chi , Kang Lee‐Kuo , Shih Chi‐Yu , Gong Gwo‐Ching , Chang Jeng 
Published: April 2018

AbstractRibosomal RNA (rRNA) has been regarded as a proxy for metabolic activity and population growth in microbes, but the limitations and assumptions of this approach should be better defined, particularly in eukaryotic microalgae. In this study, the 18S rRNA/rDNA ratio of a marine diatom, Skeletonema tropicum, was examined in batch and semi‐continuous cultures subjected to low nitrogen and phosphorus treatments at a temperature of 20 °C. In the semi‐continuous cultures, the measured 18S rRNA/rDNA ratio ranged from 4.0 × 102 to 5.0 × 103, and the logarithmic form of this ratio increased linearly with the population growth rate under both low nitrogen and low phosphorus conditions. In batch cultures grown under low nitrogen or low phosphorus conditions, log (rRNA/rDNA) also increased linearly with growth rate when the latter ranged between −0.4 and 1.5 day−1. The 18S rRNA/rDNA ratios of Skeletonema sampled from in the southern East China Sea were substantially lower than measured from laboratory cultures. Among the field samples, ratios obtained at a coastal station were higher than those obtained farther offshore. These results imply higher growth rate at the coastal station, but the influences of other factors, such as cell size and temperature, cannot be ruled out.
An In Vitro Model of the Blood–Brain Barrier: Naegleria fowleri Affects the Tight Junction Proteins and Activates the Microvascular Endothelial Cells
Authors: Coronado‐Velázquez Daniel , Betanzos Abigail , Serrano‐Luna Jesús , Shibayama Mineko 
Published: April 2018

AbstractNaegleria fowleri causes a fatal disease known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. This condition is characterized by an acute inflammation that originates from the free passage of peripheral blood cells to the central nervous system through the alteration of the blood–brain barrier. In this work, we established models of the infection in rats and in a primary culture of endothelial cells from rat brains with the aim of evaluating the activation and the alterations of these cells by N. fowleri. We proved that the rat develops the infection similar to the mouse model. We also found that amoebic cysteine proteases produced by the trophozoites and the conditioned medium induced cytopathic effect in the endothelial cells. In addition, N. fowleri can decrease the transendothelial electrical resistance by triggering the destabilization of the tight junction proteins claudin‐5, occludin, and ZO‐1 in a time‐dependent manner. Furthermore, N. fowleri induced the expression of VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1 and the production of IL‐8, IL‐1β, TNF‐α, and IL‐6 as well as nitric oxide. We conclude that N. fowleri damaged the blood–brain barrier model by disrupting the intercellular junctions and induced the presence of inflammatory mediators by allowing the access of inflammatory cells to the olfactory bulbs.
Mitochondrial Genome of Vannella croatica (Amoebozoa, Discosea, Vannellida)
Authors: Bondarenko Natalya I. , Nassonova Elena S. , Mijanovic Olja , Glotova Anna A. , Kamyshatskaya Oksana G. , Kudryavtsev Alexander A. , Masharsky Alexey E. , Polev Dmitrii E. , Smirnov Alexey V. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMitochondrial genome sequence of Vannella croatica (Amoebozoa, Discosea, Vannellida) was obtained using pulse‐field gel electrophoretic isolation of the circular mitochondrial DNA, followed by the next‐generation sequencing. The mitochondrial DNA of this species has the length of 28,933 bp and contains 12 protein‐coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, and 16 transfer RNAs. Vannella croatica mitochondrial genome is relatively short compared to other known amoebozoan mitochondrial genomes but is rather gene‐rich and contains significant number of open reading frames.
Spirit‐Filled Geopolitics: Pentecostal Ontologies and the Honduran Coup
Authors: Girard William M. 
Published: April 2018

ResumenSituado en Copán Ruinas, Honduras, el trabajo de campo en que está basado este artículo, describe el papel de la ontología Cristiana Pentecostal en las lógicas que sustentaron apoyo generalizado de los cristianos al golpe de estado que derrocó al presidente, Manuel Zelaya, en 2009. La literatura reciente que describe cómo el compromiso de algunos movimientos indígenas latinoamericanos representa un quiebre con los marcos modernos de la “política” en aras de argumentar que la forma de hacer política de los pentecostales también es no‐moderna. Entre los elementos no‐modernos de la política pentecostal —a la cual me refiero como “Geopolítica del Espíritu”— está tanto una temporalidad apocalíptica como una noción del campo de política que incorpora “lo sobrenatural”. El artículo utiliza la literatura sobre movimientos indígenas como un marco para describir las formas en que esta política pentecostal se entrecruza, sin reducirse, con el neoliberalismo y con las prácticas e imaginarios del estado‐nación laico, en particular en lo referido a la geopolítica de la Guerra Fría en los ochenta. [Honduras, Centroamérica, cristianismo, geografía, Guerra Fría, ontología]
Sparse‐coding denoising applied to reversible conformational switching of a porphyrin self‐assembled monolayer induced by scanning tunnelling microscopy
Authors: OLIVEIRA J. , BRAGANÇA A.M. , ALCÁCER L. , MORGADO J. , FIGUEIREDO M. , BIOUCAS‐DIAS J. , FERREIRA Q. 
Published: April 2018

SummaryScanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) was used to induce conformational molecular switching on a self‐assembled monolayer of zinc‐octaethylporphyrin on a graphite/tetradecane interface at room temperature. A reversible conformational change controlled by applying a tip voltage was observed. Consecutive STM images acquired at alternating tip voltages showed that at 0.4 V the porphyrin monolayer presents a molecular arrangement formed by alternate rows with two different types of structural conformations and when the potential is increased to 0.7 V the monolayer presents only one type of conformation. In this paper, we characterize these porphyrin conformational dynamics by analyzing the STM images, which were improved for better quality and interpretation by means of a denoising algorithm, adapted to process STM images from state of the art image processing and analysis methods.STM remains the best technique to ‘see’ and to manipulate the matter at atomic scale. A very sharp tip a few angstroms of the surface can provide images of molecules and atoms with a powerful resolution. However, these images are strongly affected by noise which is necessary to correct and eliminate. This paper is about new computational tools specifically developed to denoise the images acquired with STM. The new algorithms were tested in STM images, obtained at room temperature, of porphyrin monolayer which presents reversible conformational change in function of the tip bias voltage. Images with high resolution, acquired in real time, show that the porphyrins have different molecular arrangements whether the tip voltage is 0.4 V or 0.7 V.
Hemodynamic Changes May Indicate Vessel Wall Injury After Stent Retrieval Thrombectomy for Acute Stroke
Authors: Perren Fabienne , Kargiotis Odysseas , Pignat Jean‐Michel , Pereira Vitor Mendes 
Published: April 2018

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEStent retrievers have revolutionized endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Animal studies showed that mechanical thrombectomy (MT) may cause endothelial injury and intimal layer edema. Using transcranial color‐coded duplex‐sonography (TCCS) we observed postprocedural hemodynamic changes in the treated vessel.METHODSWe studied AIS patients with large intracranial artery occlusion in whom MT with stent retrievers was performed. Only those with complete recanalization (modified TICI‐2b or 3) as assessed by postprocedural digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and in whom early control TCCS was performed were retained. Patients treated with intra‐arterial thrombolysis or stenting were excluded.RESULTSIn 31 patients treated within a time period of 4 years (29 with middle cerebral artery [MCA] and 2 with basilar artery [BA] occlusion), postacute stroke brain‐DSA confirmed complete recanalization without residual stenosis or vasospasm. However, in 27 (17 men, mean age 66.3 years) of them TCCS (mean 3.4 days after MT) showed very segmental acceleration of blood flow velocities in the affected arteries (MCA maximum peak systolic velocity [PSVmax] at least >35% as compared to the contralateral side at the same depth; BA PSVmax >40% as compared to velocities at different depths of the same vessel). None showed clinical deterioration. TCCS follow‐up (mean 20 days) showed normalization in 14 of 16 cases.CONCLUSIONOur TCCS study provides preliminary evidence of focal acceleration of blood flow velocities after MT. Without residual stenosis or vasospasm, this may be a sign of endothelial layer disruption/intimal injury. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.
An In Vitro Evaluation of the Effect of Various Adhesives and Surface Treatments on Bond Strength of Resin Cement to Polyetheretherketone
Authors: Caglar Ipek , Ates Sabit Melih , Yesil Duymus Zeynep 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPurposeTo investigate the effect of various surface pretreatments and adhesive systems on bond strength of resin cement to polyetheretherketone (PEEK).Materials and Methods360 PEEK specimens were divided into 4 groups to receive the following pretreatments (n = 90): no pretreatment, sandblasting, silica coating and Er:YAG laser. Surface roughness (SR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluations were conducted after mechanical pretreatments for topographical surface evaluations. After the pretreatments, each group was divided into 3 subgroups (n = 30) according to the adhesive system used: no adhesive system, Visio.link, and Signum PEEK Bond. Resin cement was applied, and specimens underwent 5000 thermocycles (5‐55°C) before shear bond strength (SBS) test. One‐way ANOVA and Tukey test were used to analyze the SR data; 2‐way ANOVA and Fisher's LSD test were used to analyze the SBS data at the confidence interval of 95% (α = 0.05).ResultsThe sandblasting group demonstrated the highest SR values (p < 0.05). No significant differences in SR values were identified among silica coating, laser, and control groups (p ˃ 0.05). Conditioning with Visio.link after sandblasting group exhibited the highest SBS values (p < 0.05). No significant differences in SBS values were found between laser and control group (p ˃ 0.05). Conditioned groups presented higher SBS values than unconditioned groups (p < 0.05). Between the two adhesive systems, Visio.link demonstrated statistically significant higher SBS values than Signum PEEK Bond (p < 0.05).ConclusionSilica coating and sandblasting were shown to provide superior pretreatment of PEEK surface. Laser pretreatments showed no effectiveness on bond strength of resin cement to PEEK. Adhesive systems improved the resin bonding to PEEK.
Management of fever and neutropenia in children with cancer: A survey of Australian and New Zealand practice
Authors: Haeusler Gabrielle M , Slavin Monica A , Bryant Penelope A , Babl Franz E , Mechinaud Francoise , Thursky Karin A 
Published: April 2018

AimVariation in the management of fever and neutropenia (FN) in children is well described. The aim of this study was to explore the current management of FN across Australia and New Zealand and highlight areas for improvement.MethodsA practice survey was administered to paediatric health‐care providers via four clinical and research networks. Using three clinical case vignettes, we explored risk stratification, empiric antibiotics, initial investigations, intravenous–oral switch, ambulatory management and antibiotic duration in children with cancer and FN.ResultsA response was received from 104 participants from 16 different hospitals. FN guideline compliance was rated as moderate or poor by 24% of respondents, and seven different fever definitions were described. There was little variation in the selected empiric monotherapy and dual‐therapy regimens, and almost all respondents recommended first‐dose antibiotics within 1 h. However, 27 different empiric antibiotic combinations were selected for beta‐lactam allergy. An incorrect risk status was assigned to the low‐risk case by 27% of respondents and to the high‐risk case by 41%. Compared to current practice, significantly more respondents would manage the low‐risk case in the ambulatory setting provided adequate resources were in place (43 vs. 85%, P < 0.0001). There was variation in the use of empiric glycopeptides as well as use of aminoglycosides beyond 48 h.ConclusionAlthough the antibiotics selected for empiric management of FN are appropriate and consistent, variation and inaccuracies exist in risk stratification, the selection of monotherapy over dual therapy, empiric antibiotics chosen for beta‐lactam allergy, use of glycopeptides and duration of aminoglycosides.
Efficacy and safety of human chorionic gonadotropin for treatment of cryptorchidism: A meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials
Authors: Wei Yi , Wang Yangcai , Tang Xiangliang , Liu Bin , Shen Lanju , Long Chunlan , Lin Tao , He Dawei , Wu Shengde , Wei Guanghui 
Published: April 2018

AimAlthough human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has long been employed in the management of cryptorchidism, its safety and efficacy is still controversial. Hence, in the present study, we conducted a meta‐analysis of the treatment of cryptorchidism using hCG.MethodsWe searched the Medline, Embase, CINAHL, EBSCO, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and WanFang databases. Data were extracted by two reviewers using the designed extraction form. Data up to July 2015 were obtained using the terms ‘cryptorchidism’, ‘chorionic gonadotropin’ and ‘randomised controlled trials’. All the publications were downloaded, and the respective authors were contacted for any further details and clarifications, if deemed necessary. The data analysis included randomised controlled trials that compared hCG with other hormone treatments offered to prepubescent males presenting with cryptorchidism. Testicular descent rate was used as the final positive outcome of the treatments offered. The software Review Manager (RevMan 5.3, The Cochrane Collaboration, London, UK) was used to review the management and data analysis. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled with a fixed effect model if no heterogeneity was present.ResultsA total of seven trials satisfied the selection criteria. The overall quality of the studies downloaded from various databases was low. Data from these seven studies were divided into three subgroups depending on the design of the trials: Two studies compared hCG with a placebo, and three studies compared hCG with gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) in unilateral cryptorchidism, whereas two other studies compared hCG with GnRH in bilateral cryptorchidism. Analysis of these trials revealed no significant differences between the effectiveness of hCG treatment and GnRH treatment in bilateral (RR 0.05, 95% CI (−0.29–0.40), two trials, n = 104, P = 0.76) as well as unilateral cryptorchidism (RR 0.04, 95% CI (−0.12, 0.21), three trials, n = 81, P = 0.61). A meta‐analysis of these studies showed that hCG treatment is not superior to placebo (RR 7.74, 95% CI (0.14–425.72), two trials, n = 31, P = 0.32).ConclusionA meta‐analysis of the seven studies led us to conclude that hCG treatment is no more effective than placebo, and there were no significant differences in the effectiveness of hCG versus GnRH treatment.
Melatonin disturbs SUMOylation‐mediated crosstalk between c‐Myc and nestin via MT1 activation and promotes the sensitivity of paclitaxel in brain cancer stem cells
Authors: Lee Hyemin , Lee Hyo‐Jung , Jung Ji Hoon , Shin Eun Ah , Kim Sung‐Hoon 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHere the underlying antitumor mechanism of melatonin and its potency as a sensitizer of paclitaxel was investigated in X02 cancer stem cells. Melatonin suppressed sphere formation and induced G2/M arrest in X02 cells expressing nestin, CD133, CXCR4, and SOX‐2 as biomarkers of stemness. Furthermore, melatonin reduced the expression of CDK2, CDK4, cyclin D1, cyclin E, and c‐Myc and upregulated cyclin B1 in X02 cells. Notably, genes of c‐Myc related mRNAs were differentially expressed in melatonin‐treated X02 cells by microarray analysis. Consistently, melatonin reduced the expression of c‐Myc at mRNA and protein levels, which was blocked by MG132. Of note, overexpression of c‐Myc increased the expression of nestin, while overexpression of nestin enhanced c‐Myc through crosstalk despite different locations, nucleus, and cytoplasm. Interestingly, melatonin attenuated small ubiquitin‐related modifier‐1 (SUMO‐1) more than SUMO‐2 or SUMO‐3 and disturbed nuclear translocation of nestin for direct binding to c‐Myc by SUMOylation of SUMO‐1 protein by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation. Also, melatonin reduced trimethylated histone H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 more than dimethylation in X02 cells by Western blotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Notably, melatonin upregulated MT1, not MT2, in X02 cells and melatonin receptor inhibitor luzindole blocked the ability of melatonin to decrease the expression of nestin, p‐c‐Myc(S62), and c‐Myc. Furthermore, melatonin promoted cytotoxicity, sub‐G1 accumulation, and apoptotic body formation by Paclitaxcel in X02 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that melatonin inhibits stemness via suppression of c‐Myc, nestin, and histone methylation via MT1 activation and promotes anticancer effect of Paclitaxcel in brain cancer stem cells.
Melatonin protects prepuberal testis from deleterious effects of bisphenol A or diethylhexyl phthalate by preserving H3K9 methylation
Authors: Zhang Teng , Zhou Yang , Li Lan , Zhao Yong , De Felici Massimo , Reiter Russel J. , Shen Wei 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA growing number of couples experience fertility issues with almost half being due to malefactors. The exposure to toxic environmental contaminants, such as endocrine disruptors (EDs), has been shown to negatively affect male fertility.EDs are present in the environment, and exposure to these toxins results in the failure of spermatogenesis. The deleterious effects ofEDs on spermatogenesis have been well documented, whereas improvement of infertility associated with spermatogenesis defects remains a great challenge. Herein, we report that in vitro exposure of prepuberal mouse testes to two well‐known endocrine disruptors (EDs), bisphenol A (BPA) or diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), impairs spermatogenesis with perturbing self‐renewal, spermatogonia activity, and meiosis. Evidence indicates that such effects are likely due, at least in part, to decreased G9a‐dependent H3K9 di‐methylation. Of note, we found that melatonin (MLT) protected the testis from the negativeEDimpacts with preserving spermatogonia stem and meiotic cells, along with maintaining normal H3K9 di‐methylation in these cells. Taken together, this work documents thatBPAandEDHPadversely affect prepuberal spermatogenesis and perturb crucial epigenetic activities in male germ cells and highlight the protective ability ofMLT.