bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical safety of a minor eye conditions scheme in England delivered by community optometrists
Authors: Konstantakopoulou Evgenia , Harper Robert A , Edgar David F , Larkin Genevieve , Janikoun Sarah , Lawrenson John G 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to monitor the activity and evaluate the clinical safety of a minor eye conditions scheme (MECS) conducted by accredited community optometrists in Lambeth and Lewisham, London.Methods and analysisOptometrists underwent an accredited training programme, including attendance at hospital eye services (HES) clinics. Patients who satisfied certain inclusion criteria were referred to accredited MECS optometrists by their general practitioners (GPs) or could self-refer. Data were extracted from clinical records. A sample of MECS clinical records was graded to assess the quality of the MECS optometrists’ clinical management decisions. Referrals to the HES were assessed by the collaborating ophthalmologists and feedback was provided.ResultsA total of 2123 patients (mean age 47 years) were seen over 12 months. Two-thirds of the patients (67.3%) were referred by their GP. The most common reasons for patients needing a MECS assessment were ‘red eye’ (36.7% of patients), ‘painful white eye’ (11.1%), ‘flashes and floaters’ (10.2%); 8.7% of patients had a follow-up appointment. Of the patients seen, 75.1% were retained in the community, 5.7% were referred to their GP and 18.9% were referred to the HES. Of the HES referrals, 49.1% were routine, 22.6% urgent and 28.3% emergency. Of the records reviewed, 94.5% were rated as appropriately managed; 89.2% of the HES referrals were considered appropriate.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that optometrists are in a good position to work very safely within the remits of the scheme and to assess risk.
Outcomes after surgical coronary artery revascularisation in children with congenital heart disease
Authors: Thammineni Kalpana , Vinocur Jeffrey M , Harvey Brian , Menk Jeremiah S , Kelleman Michael Scott , Korakiti Anna-Maria , Thomas Amanda S , Moller James H , St Louis James D , Kochilas Lazaros K 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveSurgical coronary revascularisation in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) is a rare event for which limited information is available. In this study, we review the indications and outcomes of surgical coronary revascularisation from the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium, a large US-based multicentre registry of interventions for CHD.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of children (<18 years old) with CHD who underwent surgical coronary revascularisation between 1982 and 2011. In-hospital mortality and graft patency data were obtained from the registry. Long-term transplant-free survival through 2014 was achieved for patients with adequate identifiers via linkage with the US National Death Index and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.ResultsCoronary revascularisation was accomplished by bypass grafting (n=72, median age 6.8 years, range 3 days–17.4 years) or other operations (n=65, median age 2.6 years, range 5 days–16.7 years) in 137 patients. Most revascularisations were related to the aortic root (61.3%) or coronary anomalies (27.7%), but 10.9% of them were unrelated to either of them. Twenty in-hospital deaths occurred, 70% of them after urgent ‘rescue’ revascularisation in association with another operation. Long-term outcomes were available by external linkage for 54 patients surviving to hospital discharge (median follow-up time 15.0 years, max follow-up 29.8 years) with a 15-year transplant-free survival of 91% (95% CI 83% to 99%).ConclusionsSurgical coronary revascularisation can be performed in children with CHD with acceptable immediate and long-term survival. Outcomes are dependent on indication, with the highest mortality in rescue procedures.
Coronary heart disease risk associated with the dyslipidaemia of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Lamprea-Montealegre Julio A , McClelland Robyn L , Grams Morgan , Ouyang Pamela , Szklo Moyses , de Boer Ian H 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveThis study sought to characterise the main dyslipidaemic phenotypes present in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their association with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk.MethodsAnalyses included 6612 individuals in the multiethnic study of atherosclerosis free of CHD at baseline. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 15 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (stages 3–4). Principal component analyses were used to characterise the main dyslipidaemic phenotypes of CKD accounting for the correlation among different lipoproteins and lipoprotein particles. CHD was defined as incident myocardial infarction, angina followed by revascularisation, resuscitated cardiac arrest or CHD death.ResultsCHD developed in 303 individuals (5%) with eGFR ≥60 and in 72 individuals (12%) with CKD (p for difference <0.001). A dyslipidaemic phenotype (principal component 1 (PC1)) consisting of elevations in triglycerides, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (VLDL particles), small LDL particles and reductions in HDL particles, was more common in those with CKD, compared with those without CKD (p for difference <0.001). This phenotype was also more strongly associated with CHD in those with CKD: adjusted HRs (95% CIs) per SD increase in PC1 1.13 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.27; P=0.05) and 1.51 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.94; P<0.001) in eGFR ≥60 and CKD, respectively (P for interaction=0.05).ConclusionIn individuals with mainly stage 3 CKD, a dominant lipid phenotype consisting of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and other closely correlated lipoproteins is strongly associated with CHD risk. Future studies should investigate whether modification of the components of this phenotype leads to a reduction in the CHD burden in individuals with CKD.
Detection by death: A rapid way to detect viable slow-growing microorganisms achieved using microchannel Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (m-EIS)
Authors: Kargupta Roli , Yang Yongqiang , Puttaswamy Sachidevi , Lee Aiden J. , Padilla Nicholas A. , Foutch Alec P. , Sengupta Shramik 
Published: February 2018

Based on the insight that only living organisms can be killed (and that killing can proceed much faster than cell-growth), we present an approach for the detection of viable microorganisms that is much faster than currently used culture-based methods. We do so by using microchannel Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (m-EIS) for real-time detection of cell-death on exposure to a killing-agent. m-EIS relies on the fact that when living-cells with non-zero membrane potentials are exposed to high-frequency AC-field, induced-charges accumulate at the membrane-interface. Cell-death is accompanied by a loss of membrane-potential, and hence charge-storage (capacitance). A proof-of-principle for a clinical-application (detection of living mycobacteria in sputum) is demonstrated. Mycobacterium smegmatis (doubling-time ∼3 hours) and Mycobacterium bovis BCG (doubling-time ∼20 hours) in artificial-sputum are both detected in [Formula: see text]3 hours when exposed to amikacin. Times-to-detection (TTDs) are ∼12 hours and ∼84 hours (3 1/2 days), respectively for culture-based detection using current technologies (BD-MGIT-960[Formula: see text]) for samples containing similar loads of M. smegmatis and M. bovis BCG
Metrics of lung tissue heterogeneity depend on BMI but not age
Authors: Subramaniam K. , Clark A. R. , Hoffman E. A. , Tawhai M. H. 
Published: February 2018

Altered parenchymal microstructure and complexity have been observed in older age. How to distinguish between healthy, expected changes and early signs of pathology remains poorly understood. An objective quantitative analysis of computed tomography imaging was conducted to compare mean lung density, tissue density distributions, and tissue heterogeneity in 16 subjects, 8 aged >60 yr who were gender and body mass index matched with 8 subjects aged <30 yr. Subjects had never been smokers, with no prior respiratory disease, and no radiologically identified abnormalities on computed tomography. Volume-controlled breath hold imaging acquired at 80% vital capacity (end inspiration) and 55% vital capacity (end expiration) were used for analysis. Mean lung density was not different between the age groups at end inspiration ( P = 0.806) but was larger in the younger group at end expiration (0.26 ± 0.033 vs. 0.22 ± 0.026, P = 0.008), as is expected due to increased air trapping in the older population. However, gravitational gradients of tissue density did not differ with age; the only difference in distribution of tissue density between the two age groups was a lower density in the apices of the older group at end expiration. The heterogeneity of the lung tissue assessed using two metrics showed significant differences between end inspiration and end expiration, no dependence on age, and a significant relationship with body mass index at both lung volumes when heterogeneity was calculated using quadtree decomposition but only at end expiration when using a fractal dimension. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Changes to lung tissue heterogeneity can be a normal part of aging but can also be an early indicator of disease. We use novel techniques, which have previously not been used on thoracic computed tomography imaging, to quantify lung tissue heterogeneity in young and old healthy subjects. Our results show no dependence on age but a significant correlation with body mass index.
Linalyl acetate restores endothelial dysfunction and hemodynamic alterations in diabetic rats exposed to chronic immobilization stress
Authors: Shin You Kyoung , Hsieh Yu Shan , Kwon Soonho , Lee Hui Su , Seol Geun Hee 
Published: February 2018

Although stress is one of the risk factors of diabetes, few studies have assessed the effects of stress on diabetic rats. This study, therefore, analyzed differences in cardiovascular-related factors among control, nonstressed diabetic, and stressed diabetic rats as well as assessed the effects of linalyl acetate (LA) on stressed diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to immobilization stress throughout the experimental period, and diabetes was induced on day 15 by a single injection of streptozotocin. After confirming the induction of diabetes, stressed diabetic rats were administered LA (10 or 100 mg/kg) or metformin (500 mg/kg) for the last 7 days. Compared with nonstressed diabetic rats, stressed diabetic rats had significantly lower body weight, body fat percentage, ACh-induced vasorelaxation, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and NF-κB expression as well as increased serum nitrite concentration. Although metformin increased serum insulin concentration significantly, 100 mg/kg LA showed only an increasing tendency. However, treatment with 100 mg/kg LA not only reduced serum glucose and NF-κB expression, but also restored ACh-induced vasorelaxation, SBP, DBP, HR, AMP-activated protein kinase expression, and serum nitrite almost to control levels. Importantly, 100 mg/kg LA was more effective than metformin in ameliorating serum glucose, endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression, HR, and serum nitrite. These findings suggest that chronic stress can aggravate endothelial dysfunction and hemodynamic alterations in diabetes and that LA may have potent therapeutic efficacy in diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease complications or chronic stress. NEW & NOTEWORTHY To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the effects of linalyl acetate (LA) on cardiovascular-related factors in diabetic rats exposed to chronic stress. Treatment with LA restored acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation, blood pressure, heart rate, and AMP-activated protein kinase and serum nitrite levels. The present results suggest that LA may have potent therapeutic efficacy in diabetic patients with complications of cardiovascular disease or chronic stress.
Cholesterol Depletion by TASIN-1 Induces Apoptotic Cell Death through the ER Stress/ROS/JNK Signaling in Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Zhang Lu , Kim Sang Bum , Luitel Krishna , Shay Jerry W. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Truncated APC selective inhibitor-1 (TASIN-1) is a recently identified small molecule that selectively kills colorectal cancer cells that express truncated adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) by reducing cellular cholesterol levels. However, the downstream mechanism responsible for its cytotoxicity is not well understood. In this study, we show that TASIN-1 leads to apoptotic cell death via inducing ER stress-dependent JNK activation in human truncated APC colon cancer cells, accompanied by production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, TASIN-1 inhibits AKT activity through a cholesterol-dependent manner. Human colon tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice also show the same TASIN-1 induced molecular mechanisms of tumor cell death as observed in vitro. Taken together, cholesterol depletion by TASIN-1 treatment induces apoptotic cell death through activating ER stress/ROS/JNK axis and inhibiting AKT pro-survival signaling in colon cancer cells with truncated APC both in vitro and in vivo. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(5); 943–51. ©2018 AACR.
Step Numbers and Hoehn-Yahr Stage after Six Years
Authors: Kataoka Hiroshi , Tanaka Noriyuki , Kiriyama Takao , Eura Nobuyuki , Ikeda Masanori , Izumi Tesseki , Furiya Yoshiko , Sugie Kazuma , Ueno Satoshi 
Published: February 2018

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Freezing of gait (FOG) has been linked to increased numbers of steps taken while walking. We tested the hypothesis that an increased number of steps associated with FOG might predict the exacerbation of the severity of Parkinson’s disease (PD). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We prospectively studied 26 patients. Clinical assessments were performed and balance was evaluated in 30 patients with Hoehn-Yahr stage III PD 6 years previously. Gait parameters were analyzed with the use of an originally designed, suddenly narrowed path. PD-related independent variables, balance investigation-related variables, and gait-independent-related variables were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The Hoehn-Yahr stage increased in 14 patients and was unchanged in 12 patients. The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey score (OR 1.079, <i>p</i> = 0.041, 95% CI 1.003–1.161) and the number of steps on the suddenly narrow path (OR 1.605, <i>p</i> = 0.047, 95% CI 1.006–2.56) were related to an increase in the Hoehn-Yahr stage. The number of steps was significantly higher on the suddenly narrowed path (11.3 ± 3.6) than on a straightly narrowed path (10.1 ± 3.2) at the time of final follow-up in the 26 patients (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> An increased number of steps associated with FOG, which was elicited by the suddenly narrowed path, might be one predictor of an upgrade of stage in patients with Hoehn-Yahr stage III PD.
RETRACTED: Meanwhile in China … Miao Ying and the Rise of Chinternet Ugly
Authors: Holmes Ros 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
This article examines a series of internet artworks by the artist Miao Ying (b. 1985). Contextualizing her digital collages in relation to China's online culture and media spheres, it situates the contemporary art world's engagement with internet art in relation to anti-aesthetics and the rise of what has been termed Internet ugly. Interrogating the assumption that internet art emerging from China can only belatedly repeat works of Euro-American precedent, it argues that Miao's work presents a dramatic reframing of online censorship, consumerism and the unique aspects of vernacular culture that have emerged within China's online realm. Demonstrating a distinctly self-conscious celebration of what has often disparagingly been labeled The Chinternet, Meanwhile in China can be seen to emerge out of the broader contradictions of internet art practices that parody the relationships between The Chinternet and the World Wide Web, global capitalism and Shanzhai [fake or pirated] aesthetics, online propaganda and media democracy, and the art market's relationship to the virtual economies of an art world online.
Introduction to Carlos Mérida's “The True Meaning of
the Work of Saturnino Herrán”
Authors: Montgomery Harper 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
The introductory essay places “The True Meaning of the Work of Saturnino Herrán: The False Critics” (1920), a piece of early criticism written by the Guatemalan artist Carlos Mérida during the first year he lived in Mexico City, within the contexts of the cosmopolitan milieu of post-Revolutionary Mexico and the artist's own trajectory. It suggests that the text both demonstrates intellectuals’ interest in questions of form and national art and Mérida's desire to provide a critical framework for his own paintings of indigenous Guatemalan and Mexican women. In “The True Meaning of the Work of Saturnino Herrán: The False Critics,” Mérida lashed out at Mexican critics for praising Herrán as the best and most Mexican painter of the time, arguing, instead that the realism and sentimentalism of Herrán's paintings dishonored national themes by presenting them as picturesque stereotypes. Published in the widely-read magazine El Universal Ilustrado, the text attacks Herrán's paintings and the critics who praise them while also arguing that the predominance of the artist is symptomatic of the predominant problem of the literary nature of Mexican artists’ engagement with autochthonous art and culture.
Christian Cultural Defeatism in the Arts
Authors: Shannon Nathan D. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
The goal of this article is to explore the theology of cultural engagement with focus on the fine arts, and to redress a common misunderstanding, certainly in practice if not in theory as well. Looking at Cornelius Van Til’s engagement with Abraham Kuyper on the noetic effects of the fall and regeneration, I diagnose the cultural problem as one of imbalance: the subjective supervenes on the objective, so to speak, so that cultural spheres themselves succumb to the soteric status of regenerate or unregenerate image bearers. Hans Rookmaaker corroborates this account and helps clarify several ways in which this framework translates aesthetically and undermines Christian witness in the arts, cultural disadvantages caught by William Edgar as well. Borrowing from Rookmaaker, Kuyper, and Edgar, I then propose a repaired theology of culture and the artistic sphere.
Effects of density on sex organ development and female sexual maturity in laboratory-bred Microtus fortis
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Zhang Meiwen , Han Qunhua , Guo Cong , Zhou Xunjun , Li Bo , Wang Yong 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Density dependence plays a key role in determining the population sizes of rodents. To explore density-dependent effects on sexual development, we documented and analyzed the development of the sex organs and hormone concentrations in both sexes, and the time to maturity in females of the reed vole in response to different population densities under laboratory conditions. Weaned voles were put into either same-sex or mixed-sex groups. Upon maturity, organ coefficients were calculated for sex organs as the length or weight of the sex organ divided by the length or weight of the body, respectively. The results demonstrate that, for individuals in same-sex groups, the coefficients for uterine length and short diameter of the testis decreased as population density increased. Population density had a highly significant effect on hormone concentrations as well as time to maturity in females. Population density in mixed-sex groups affects hormone concentrations, and increases the organ coefficients for ovarian weight, uterine weight, and uterine length; however, population density had no significant effect on the time to maturity of female voles in mixed-sex groups. These experiments showed that the effect of density dependence on the development of the vole differed between same-sex and mixed-sex conditions, the effects of increased density being greater in same-sex groups. We conclude that the effect of promoting sexual development between individuals might be greater than the effect of inhibition between individuals in mixed-sex groups.
Larval description and habitat utilization of an amphidromous goby, Redigobius bikolanus (Gobiidae)
Authors: Tran Thanh Trung , Tran Hau Duc , Nguyen Huan Xuan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractRedigobius bikolanus(Gobiidae), which is distributed widely in the tropical regions of the West Pacific, is categorized as an amphidromous fish. Such fish reproduce in fresh water and newly hatched larvae immediately drift downstream to the estuary and sea where they spend a pelagic stage before returning upstream as juveniles. The morphology of larvalR. bikolanushas been reported mainly from Japan, whereas little is known about the early stages of this species on the Asian continent. To understand larval growth of this goby, monthly and bimonthly collections with ichthyoplankton nets were made in the Tien Yen estuary in northern Vietnam, from October 2014 to September 2015. A total of 282 larvae (preflexion to postflexion stages, 2.3-5.4 mm body length) ofR. bikolanuswere collected from the center of the current in May, but none were captured in the waters near the banks. The larvae were similar in general morphology to those of common gobies, but could be distinguished from other gobiid genera by two very large stellate melanophores on the ventral surface of the trunk and tail. Descriptions ofR. bikolanuslarvae based on a series of wild specimens are provided. The fishes occurred in low salinities (0.2-2.3 PSU) within 1 m from the surface layer. Together with the wide range of size and developmental stages, this suggests that larvae ofR. bikolanusutilize the center of the current of the Tien Yen estuary as their nursery area. This habitat has not been recorded in Japan.