bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gambling and Delay Discounting in Japanese Students
Authors: Hiraoka Kyoichi 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe present study examined the relationship between gambling behavior and delay discounting with Japanese residents. Japanese university students were selected into pathological gambler and non‐gambling control groups using a Japanese version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen. In a discounting task, participants chose individually between a large delayed reward and a smaller immediate reward with varied delays. The discounting rate (k‐value) and the area under the curve were significantly higher and smaller, respectively, for the gambler group than for the control group. These findings show that Japanese gamblers discount delayed rewards more steeply than non‐gambling controls, as has been found in U.S. residents.
Nanda‐bangshochchhed and Hariraj: Re‐configuring Politics and the Private Mind in Two Bengali Adaptations of Hamlet
Authors: Sarkar Abhishek 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMy essay will examine how two nineteenth‐century Bengali adaptations of Hamlet negotiate the Shakespearean text and try to re‐configure its approach towards politics and the private mind. The two Bengali plays in question are (i) Nanda‐bangshochchhed (“The Destruction of the Nanda Dynasty”; published 1873) by Lakshminarayan Chakraborty, a text that was sparingly staged and is yet to gain adequate recognition as a case of Shakespearean appropriation; and (ii) Hariraj by Nagendranath Chaudhury (first staged in 1897), commercially the most successful adaptation of any Shakespeare play in the nineteenth‐century Bengali theatre. The major point of departure for the first play is the question of political intrigue – which is to a large extent upstaged in the Shakespearean original by the focus on Hamlet's subjectivity. The first play curiously amalgamates the mythos of Hamlet with suggestions of a semi‐legendary past, especially as derivable from the classical Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa (4th–8th century CE). Accordingly, the Fortinbras‐equivalent of the play is Nanda's half‐brother Chandragupta (identifiable as the historical Chandragupta Maurya, 340–298 BCE), and it has references to the historical figures of Rakshasa, Chanakya and even Alexander the Great. Similarly, the second play, which is set in a pseudo‐historical Hindu state, greatly emphasizes elements of political and sexual conspiracy. It shows the Gertrude‐equivalent as a Lady Macbeth‐like figure who conspires with her lover to kill her husband, later plans against her son Hariraj, and commits suicide when the monstrosity of the crime dawns on her. Thus, the plays revise the dominant reading of Hamlet as a tragedy of deeply interiorized suffering, and alert one to the political catastrophe attendant upon the extinction of Hamlet's family line. These two Bengali adaptations choose to show the Hamlet‐figure as subject to the contingencies of a communal existence, which are not always filtered through his consciousness. However, these two plays, which incidentally embody early attempts in Bengali at adapting the tragic to the received aesthetic repertoire of India, also evoke at key moments Hamlet's celebrated contemplativeness and engage on indigenous terms with a Western model of staging interiority.
A case of bilateral internal carotid artery dissection in young adult with cranial nerve IX and X palsies
Authors: Sasaki Ryo , Yamashita Toru , Takahashi Yoshiaki , Shang Jingwei , Sato Kota , Takemoto Mami , Hishikawa Nozomi , Ohta Yasuyuki , Abe Koji 
Published: March 2018

AbstractInternal carotid artery (ICA) dissection is a major cause of cerebral infarction in young adult and usually presents cervical pain and headache, but rarely presents cranial nerve palsy. Here, we report a case of rare bilateral ICA dissections in young adult with cranial nerve IX and X palsies as initial symptom. He presented dysarthria and nasal voice at an early stage, followed by a small brain infarction. The cranial nerve palsy was improved in parallel with the improvement of ICA stenosis and dilatation. It is important to know that cranial nerve palsy can be one of the symptoms of ICA dissection for appropriate treatment.
Association between interleukin 8‐receptor gene (CXCR1 and CXCR2) polymorphisms and urinary tract infection: Evidence from 4097 subjects
Authors: Han Shi‐Sheng , Lu Yan , Chen Min , Xu Yan‐Qiu , Wang Yi 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTAimThe aim of this study was to determine whether a correlation exists between interleukin‐8 receptor polymorphisms and urinary tract infection (UTI) susceptibility.MethodsWe systematically searched electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Web of Science up to 5 November 2017 to select appropriate studies that focused on C‐X‐C chemokine receptor type 1 and/or 2 (CXCR1, CXCR2) polymorphisms with susceptibility to UTI. Eight case‐control studies including 2085 patients with UTI and 2012 controls were enrolled in this study. Seven studies of CXCR1 rs2234671 and two studies of rs3138086 were included in the meta‐analyses. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were synthesized using fixed‐effects or random‐effects model according to heterogeneity.ResultsNo significant correlations were found between CXCR1 rs2234671 and rs3138086 polymorphisms and UTI susceptibility. However, subgroup analysis showed that rs2234671 was associated with an increased risk of UTI under allelic comparisons (C vs. G, OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.07–3.55), heterozygous model (GC vs. GG, OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.06–3.50), and dominant model (GC + CC vs. GG, OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.07–3.69) in children, especially in paediatric patients with acute pyelonephritis (allelic, OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.28–4.60; heterozygous, OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.24–4.62; dominant, OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.26–4.88). Furthermore, these results remained the same after eliminating paediatric patients with vesicoureteral reflux.ConclusionCXCR1 rs2234671 polymorphism might be associated with an increased risk of UTI in children.
Successful treatment with steroid and cyclosporine A in a patient with immunoglobulin A–proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits
Authors: Sato Keisuke , Makabe Shiho , Iwabuchi Yuko , Kojima Kaori , Sato Masayo , Kataoka Hiroshi , Moriyama Takahito , Taneda Sekiko , Tsuchiya Ken , Nitta Kosaku , Mochizuki Toshio 
Published: March 2018

AbstractWe report a case of glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) A deposits as a form of monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) caused by monoclonal immunoglobulins without blood disorders in a 41‐year‐old woman. She developed lower leg oedema and was hospitalized because of nephrotic syndrome. Serum and urine were negative for M protein, and the free light chain κ/λ ratio was within the normal range. Renal histopathological findings included mesangial proliferation, endocapillary cell proliferation, and a double‐contour appearance of the capillary walls. Immunofluorescent staining indicated IgA and C3 deposits on the mesangium and capillary walls. Only λ chain and IgA1 deposits were noted. Fine granular sub‐endothelial deposits with no specific structure were observed under electron microscopy. The patient was diagnosed with IgA–proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits (IgA‐PGNMID). The patient had decreased urine protein and sediment erythrocytes after she underwent two rounds of steroid pulse therapy and oral steroid therapy, but proteinuria and haematuria still remained. Four months later, the patient was administered 50 mg/day cyclosporine (CsA), and proteinuria and haematuria dramatically decreased. Only a few case reports have been published on IgA‐PGNMID. This case is rare in that the patient achieved successful treatment using a combination of steroids and CsA.
Key questions and challenges in angiosperm macroevolution
Authors: Sauquet Hervé , Magallón Susana 
Published: March 2018

Contents

Summary
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I.
Introduction
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II.
Six key questions
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III.
Three key challenges
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IV.
Conclusions
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Acknowledgements
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References
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SummaryThe origin and rapid diversification of angiosperms (flowering plants) represent one of the most intriguing topics in evolutionary biology. Despite considerable progress made in complementary fields over the last two decades (paleobotany, phylogenetics, ecology, evo‐devo, genomics), many important questions remain. For instance, what has been the impact of mass extinctions on angiosperm diversification? Are the angiosperms an adaptive radiation? Has morphological evolution in angiosperms been gradual or pulsed? We propose that the recent and ongoing revolution in macroevolutionary methods provides an unprecedented opportunity to explore long‐standing questions that probably hold important clues to understand present‐day biodiversity. We present six key questions that explore the origin and diversification of angiosperms. We also identify three key challenges to address these questions: (1) the development of new integrative models that include diversification, multiple intrinsic and environmental traits, biogeography and the fossil record all at once, whilst accounting for sampling bias and heterogeneity of macroevolutionary processes through time and among lineages; (2) the need for large and standardized synthetic databases of morphological variation; and (3) continuous effort on sampling the fossil record, but with a revolution in current paleobotanical practice.
The RecQ‐like helicase HRQ1 is involved in DNA crosslink repair in Arabidopsis in a common pathway with the Fanconi anemia‐associated nuclease FAN1 and the postreplicative repair ATPase RAD5A
Authors: Röhrig Sarah , Dorn Annika , Enderle Janina , Schindele Angelina , Herrmann Natalie J. , Knoll Alexander , Puchta Holger 
Published: March 2018

Summary

RecQ helicases are important caretakers of genome stability and occur in varying copy numbers in different eukaryotes. Subsets of RecQ paralogs are involved in DNA crosslink (CL) repair. The orthologs of AtRECQ2, AtRECQ3 and AtHRQ1, HsWRN, DmRECQ5 and ScHRQ1 participate in CL repair in their respective organisms, and we aimed to define the function of these helicases for plants.

We obtained Arabidopsis mutants of the three RecQ helicases and determined their sensitivity against CL agents in single‐ and double‐mutant analyses.

Only Athrq1, but not Atrecq2 and Atrecq3, mutants proved to be sensitive to intra‐ and interstrand crosslinking agents. AtHRQ1 is specifically involved in the repair of replicative damage induced by CL agents. It shares pathways with the Fanconi anemia‐related endonuclease FAN1 but not with the endonuclease MUS81. Most surprisingly, AtHRQ1 is epistatic to the ATPase RAD5A for intra‐ as well as interstrand CL repair.

We conclude that, as in fungi, AtHRQ1 has a conserved function in DNA excision repair. Additionally, HRQ1 not only shares pathways with the Fanconi anemia repair factors, but in contrast to fungi also seems to act in a common pathway with postreplicative DNA repair.
Self‐reported skin concerns: An epidemiological study of community‐dwelling older people
Authors: Cowdell Fiona , Dyson Judith , Long Judith , Macleod Una 
Published: March 2018

AimTo identify the frequency and impact of self‐reported skin concerns in community‐dwelling older people.BackgroundGlobally, the population is getting older and it is essential to develop effective interventions to promote healthy ageing. Skin change with age is inevitable and renders this often neglected organ more vulnerable to damage and breakdown; this can be costly to individuals and society. Maintenance of skin health in older people presents a health challenge that has yet to be fully understood or addressed.MethodsCross‐sectional, self‐reported questionnaire survey in England. Patients registered with participating general practices (n = 3), aged ≥70 years, living in their own homes and able to give informed consent (n = 3,359) were sent a letter of invitation to a free health and care assessment, and 1116 responded.ResultsWhen asked “do you have any concerns about your skin?”, 16.5% (n = 183) said yes. Of this group, the most common concerns were dry skin 80.7% (n = 146), itching 56.9% (n = 103) and aged appearance 61% (n = 113). Itch, dry skin and inflammation were rated as most bothersome. There was a significant association between the dry skin and itch χ2(1) = 6.9, p < .05.ConclusionMany community‐dwelling older people suffer from skin concerns predominantly dry skin and itching that is often bothersome.Implications for practiceSkin health assessment is often absent in routine consultations with community‐dwelling older people. Dry, itchy skin is prevalent and can be simply managed with low‐cost interventions. This has the potential to reduce suffering and maintain or improve skin barrier function. Nurses and other health professionals should therefore routinely assess and advise on skin health care for this population.
Frailty as a predictor of negative outcomes after cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Mlynarska Agnieszka , Mlynarski Rafal , Golba Krzysztof S. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimTo assess the prevalence of frailty among patients who had cardiac resynchronization as well as the influence of frailty on the main endpoints during follow‐up.MethodsThe study included 156 patients (aged 74.33 ± 6.75; 27 W) with diagnosed heart failure who were hospitalized for the implantation of a cardiac resynchronization device. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator questionnaire was used to evaluate frailty syndrome.ResultsFrailty syndrome was diagnosed in 75.64% of patients who were included. The average value of frailty for the whole group was 6.21 ± 1.94, for the physical domain 4.29 ± 1.32, for the psychological domain 1.40 ± 1.04, and for the social domain 0.51 ± 0.57. During the follow‐up period, 5.7% of the patients died, and the mortality rate was not statistically higher (P = 0.5795) among patients who were diagnosed with frailty syndrome (6.78%) compared to robust patients (2.63%). Analysis of the complications and first electrical storm episodes demonstrated that these events did not occur in patients with no identifiable frailty syndrome. These occurred at a rate of 4.24% (complications) and 2.54% (electric storm) in patients with frailty syndrome.ConclusionsFrailty syndrome can be an important predictor of negative outcomes in patients with heart failure who undergo cardiac resynchronizations.
Safety and efficacy of apixaban versus warfarin in patients with end‐stage renal disease: Meta‐analysis
Authors: Chokesuwattanaskul Ronpichai , Thongprayoon Charat , Tanawuttiwat Tanyanan , Kaewput Wisit , Pachariyanon Pavida , Cheungpasitporn Wisit 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundAt the present, apixaban is the only nonvitamin K oral anticoagulant approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use with patients with creatinine clearance <15 mL/min or end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the recommendations are based on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data and there was lack of clinical trial evidence. We aimed to assess safety and efficacy of apixaban in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) or ESRD.MethodsDatabases were searched through November 2017. Studies that reported incidence or odd ratios of bleeding complications or thromboembolic events in the use of apixaban in patients with CKD stage 4–5 or ESRD on dialysis were included. Effect estimates from the individual study were extracted and combined using random‐effect, generic inverse variance method of DerSimonian and Laird.ResultsFive studies were included into the analysis consisting of 43,850 patients in observational cohort studies. The majority of patients (87%) used apixaban for atrial fibrillation. The pooled estimated incidence of any bleeding complications on apixaban was 17.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.0%–23.0%). Compared to warfarin, apixaban was significantly associated with reduced risk of major bleeding (pooled odds ratio [OR], 0.42; 95% CI, 0.28–0.61). In studies in ESRD patients on dialysis, the pooled OR of major bleeding was 0.27 (95% CI, 0.07–0.95). There was no significant difference in risk of thromboembolic events in advanced CKD or ESRD patients on apixaban versus vitamin K antagonists (pooled OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.23–1.39).ConclusionsAmong patients with advanced CKD and ESRD, the use of apixaban was associated with lower risk of major bleeding compared to warfarin, and was found to be relatively effective with no excess risk of thromboembolic events.
Long‐term follow‐up of Chagas heart disease patients receiving an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator for secondary prevention
Authors: Pavão Maria Licia Ribeiro Cury , Arfelli Elerson , Scorzoni‐Filho Adilson , Rassi Anis , Pazin‐Filho Antônio , Pavão Rafael Brolio , Marin‐Neto J. Antonio , Schmidt André 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundChagas heart disease (CHD) is a dilated cardiomyopathy characterized by malignant ventricular arrhythmias and increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Much controversy exists concerning the efficacy of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICDs) in CHD because of mixed results observed. We report our long‐term experience with ICDs for secondary prevention in CHD, with the specific aim of assessing the results in groups with preserved or depressed global left ventricular function.Methods111 patients (75 males; 60 ± 12 years) were followed for 1,948 ± 1,275 days after ICD. Time to death was the primary outcome; LVEF ≤ 45% the exposure; and age, gender, and ICD therapy delivery the potential confounders. We used time‐to‐event methods and Cox proportional models for analysis, censoring observations at time of death or at 5‐year follow‐up in survivors.ResultsSeventy‐two percent of the patients presented at least one sustained ventricular arrhythmia requiring appropriate therapy, and only three patients received inappropriate therapy. Death occurred in 50 (45%) patients, with an annual mortality rate of 8.4%, mostly due to refractory heart failure or noncardiac causes. Unadjusted survival rates were significantly distinct between patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 45% (26 deaths), 50.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 36.2%–63.2%) when compared to patients with LVEF > 45% (10 deaths), 77.6% (95% CI: 62.3%–87.3%, P < 0.01). After adjusting for confounders, low LVEF (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.2, 95% CI: 2.3–11.6), age (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07), and female gender (HR: 3.97, 95% CI: 1.85–8.54) were independently associated with the outcome.ConclusionsICDs successfully aborted life‐threatening arrhythmias in CHD patients. Impaired left ventricular function predicted higher mortality in CHD patients with an ICD for secondary prevention of SCD.
An exceptionally preserved Jurassic skink suggests lizard diversification preceded fragmentation of Pangaea
Authors: Tałanda Mateusz 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe present distribution of lizards is usually explained as a result of relatively recent global events, i.e. faunal turnovers or exchanges within and between particular continents mostly connected with glaciations and land‐bridges. However, today's disjunct distribution of the North American Xantusiidae and African Cordyliformes (close relatives of skinks) does not fit generally accepted biogeographical patterns. A new, exquisitely preserved specimen of the Late Jurassic lizard Ardeosaurus brevipes from the Solnhofen area, Germany sheds some light on the problem. A posterior projection of its parietal is known only in the Dibamidae, Gekkota and Scincoidea, taxa representing first branches on the molecular tree of lizards. The projection of the parietal is proposed to be an apomorphy of the Squamata that was lost in the common ancestor of Lacertoidea and Toxicofera (snakes, anguimorphs and iguanians). This implies a basalmost position of A. brevipes on the Squamata tree. The location of the supratemporal such as in A. brevipes characterizes all the Scincoidea and some geckos, but most geckos lack osteoderms, which are common in Scincoidea. This makes A. brevipes the oldest known crown‐member of this lineage. Moreover, this indicates that the main groups of modern lizards were already present in the Jurassic. Ancestors of Cordyliformes migrated to Gondwana in the Late Jurassic together with dinosaurs, prior to the Cretaceous separation of this ancient continent.
Transgenic expression of plastidic glutamine synthetase increases nitrogen uptake and yield in wheat
Authors: Hu Mengyun , Zhao Xueqiang , Liu Qian , Hong Xia , Zhang Wei , Zhang Yingjun , Sun Lijing , Li Hui , Tong Yiping 
Published: March 2018

SummaryThe plastidic glutamine synthetase isoform (GS2) plays a key role in nitrogen (N) assimilation. We introduced TaGS2‐2Abpro::TaGS2‐2Ab, the favourable allele of TaGS2‐2A in the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) variety Ji5265. Transgenic expression of TaGS2‐2Ab significantly increased GS2 abundance and GS activity in leaves. Two consecutive field experiments showed the transgenic lines had higher grain yield, spike number, grain number per spike and 1000‐grain weight than did the wild type under both low N and high N conditions. Analysis of N use‐related traits showed that transgenic expression of TaGS2‐2Ab increased root ability to acquire N, N uptake before and after flowering, remobilization of N to grains and N harvest index. Measurement of chlorophyll content and net photosynthesis rate in flag leaves during grain filling stage revealed that the transgenic lines had prolonged leaf functional duration as compared with the wild type. These results suggest that TaGS2 plays important role in N use, and the favourable allele TaGS2‐2Ab is valuable in engineering wheat with improved N use efficiency and grain yield.
Further analysis of barley MORC1 using a highly efficient RNA‐guided Cas9 gene‐editing system
Authors: Kumar Neelendra , Galli Matteo , Ordon Jana , Stuttmann Johannes , Kogel Karl‐Heinz , Imani Jafargholi 
Published: March 2018

SummaryMicrorchidia (MORC) proteins comprise a family of proteins that have been identified in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. They are defined by two hallmark domains: a GHKL‐type ATPase and an S5‐fold. In plants, MORC proteins were first discovered in a genetic screen for Arabidopsis thaliana mutants compromised for resistance to a viral pathogen. Subsequent studies expanded their role in plant immunity and revealed their involvement in gene silencing and genome stabilization. Little is known about the role of MORC proteins of cereals, especially because knockout (KO) mutants were not available and assessment of loss of function relied only on RNAi strategies, which were arguable, given that MORC proteins in itself are influencing gene silencing. Here, we used a Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9)‐mediated KO strategy to functionally study HvMORC1, one of the current seven MORC members of barley. Using a novel barley RNA Pol III‐dependent U3 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) promoter to drive expression of the synthetic single guide RNA (sgRNA), we achieved a very high mutation frequency in HvMORC1. High frequencies of mutations were detectable by target sequencing in the callus, the T0 generation (77%) and T1 generation (70%–100%), which constitutes an important improvement of the gene‐editing technology in cereals. Corroborating and extending earlier findings, SpCas9‐edited hvmorc1‐KO barley, in clear contrast to Arabidopsis atmorc1 mutants, had a distinct phenotype of increased disease resistance to fungal pathogens, while morc1 mutants of either plant showed de‐repressed expression of transposable elements (TEs), substantiating that plant MORC proteins contribute to genome stabilization in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants.