bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A transcription factor, MrMsn2, in the dimorphic fungus Metarhizium rileyi is essential for dimorphism transition, aggravated pigmentation, conidiation and microsclerotia formation
Authors: Song Zhangyong , Yang Jie , Xin Caiyan , Xing Xiaorui , Yuan Qing , Yin Youping , Wang Zhongkang 
Published: August 2018

SummaryMicrosclerotia (MS) are pseudoparenchymatous aggregations of hyphae of fungi that can be induced in liquid culture for biocontrol applications. Previously, we determined that the high‐osmolarity glycerol (HOG) signalling pathway was involved in regulating MS development in the dimorphic insect pathogen Metarhizium rileyi. To further investigate the mechanisms by which the signalling pathway is regulated, we characterized the transcriptional factor MrMsn2, a homologue of the yeast C2H2 transcriptional factor Msn2, which is predicted to function downstream of the HOG pathway in M. rileyi. Compared with wild‐type and complemented strains, disruption of MrMsn2 increased the yeast‐to‐hypha transition rate, enhanced conidiation capacity and aggravated pigmentation in M. rileyi. The ▵MrMsn2 mutants were sensitive to stress, produced morphologically abnormal clones and had significantly reduced MS formation and decreased virulence levels. Digital expression profiling revealed that genes involved in antioxidation, pigment biosynthesis and ion transport and storage were regulated by MrMsn2 during conidia and MS development. Taken together, our findings confirm that MrMsn2 controlled the yeast‐to‐hypha transition, conidia and MS formation, and virulence.
Comparison between computed tomography‐guided percutaneous microwave ablation and thoracoscopic lobectomy for stage I non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Yongzheng , Liu Bin , Cao Pikun , Wang Wujie , Wang Wei , Chang Haiyang , Li Dong , Li Xiao , Zhao Xiaogang , Li Yuliang 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundThe study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness and cost of computed tomography (CT)‐guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) and thoracoscopic lobectomy for stage I non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of 46 and 85 patients with stage I NSCLC treated with CT‐guided percutaneous MWA or thoracoscopic lobectomy, respectively, at our center from July 2013 to June 2015. Overall survival (OS), disease‐free survival (DFS), local control rate, hospital stay, and cost were evaluated. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log‐rank test.ResultsThe one and two‐year OS rates were 97.82% and 91.30% and 97.65% and 90.59% in the MWA and lobectomy groups, respectively. The one and two‐year DFS rates were 95.65% and 76.09% and 95.29% and 75.29%, respectively. No significant differences were observed in log‐rank analysis between the groups (P = 0.169). The hospital stays in the MWA and lobectomy groups were 6.62 ± 2.31 and 9.57 ± 3.19 days, respectively. The costs of MWA and lobectomy were US$3274.50 ± US$233.91 and US$4678.87 ± US$155.96, respectively. The differences were all significant (P = 0.003).ConclusionMWA and thoracoscopic lobectomy for stage I NSCLC demonstrate similar one and two‐year OS and DFS, with no significant differences between the two groups. MWA involved a shorter hospital stay and lower cost, thus should be considered a better option for patients with severe cardiopulmonary comorbidity and patients unwilling to undergo surgery.
Low skeletal muscle mass in stented esophageal cancer predicts poor survival: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Järvinen Tommi , Ilonen Ilkka , Kauppi Juha , Volmonen Kirsi , Salo Jarmo , Räsänen Jari 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundIn esophageal cancer, nutritional challenges are extremely common. Malignant obstruction resulting from esophageal cancer (EC) is often treated by the insertion of expandable stents, but little is known as to the role and evolution of sarcopenia in this patient population. The aim of this article was to determine the effects of body mass parameters on survival of advanced EC patients who received a stent for palliation of malignant obstruction.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study of 238 EC patients who had a stent inserted for palliation of malignant obstruction between 2005 and 2013. Skeletal muscle mass was calculated from abdominal computed tomography scans, and the patients were divided into sarcopenic and non‐sarcopenic groups. A follow‐up computed tomography scan was available in 118 patients. The primary outcome was survival, and complication rates and the need for an alternative enteral feeding route were secondary outcomes.ResultsSarcopenia occurred in 199 (85%) patients. Median survival was 146 (range: 76–226) days in the sarcopenia group and 152 (range: 71–249) days in the non‐sarcopenic group (P = 0.61). Complication rates between the groups were not significantly different (P = 0.85). In Cox regression analysis, the skeletal muscle index was inversely correlated with overall survival (hazard ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.97–0.99; P = 0.033).ConclusionsSarcopenia, defined by consensus thresholds, at the time of stent insertion cannot effectively predict poor survival in this patient cohort, but a lower skeletal muscle index correlates with poor prognosis as a continuous variable.
Nebulized Terbutaline and Ipratropium Bromide Versus Terbutaline Alone in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Requiring Noninvasive Ventilation: A Randomized Double‐blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Beltaief Kaouthar , Msolli Mohamed Amine , Zorgati Asma , Sekma Adel , Fakhfakh Marwen , Marzouk Maryem Ben , Boubaker Hamdi , Grissa Mohamed Habib , Methamem Mehdi , Boukef Riadh , Belguith Asma , Bouida Wahid , Nouira Semir 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackgroundShort‐acting β2‐agonists are the mainstay of treatment of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in the emergency department (ED). It is still unclear whether the addition of short‐acting anticholinergics is clinically more effective care compared to treatment with β2‐agonists alone in patients with hypercapnic AECOPD.ObjectiveThe objective was to evaluate whether combining ipratropium bromide (IB) to terbutaline reduces hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates compared to terbutaline alone in AECOPD hypercapnic patients.MethodsIn this double‐blind controlled trial, patients who were admitted to the ED for AECOPD requiring noninvasive ventilation (NIV) were randomized to receive either 5 mg of nebulized terbutaline combined to 0.5 mg of IB (terbutaline/IB group, n = 115) or 5 mg of terbutaline sulfate (terbutaline group, n = 117). Nebulization was repeated every 20 minutes for the first hour and every 4 hours within the first day. Primary outcomes were the rate of hospital admission and need for endotracheal intubation within the first 24 hours of the start of the experimental treatment. Secondary outcomes included changes from baseline of dyspnea, physiologic variables, length of hospital stay, ICU admission rate, and 7‐day mortality.ResultsThe two groups were similar regarding baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Hospital admission was observed in 70 patients (59.8%) in the terbutaline/IB group and in 75 patients (65.2%) in the terbutaline group (respiratory rate [RR] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.93 to 1.27, p = 0.39). ICU admission was required in 37 (32.2%) patients in the terbutaline/IB group and 30 patients (25.6%) in terbutaline group (RR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.54, p = 0.27). There were no significant differences in dyspnea score, blood gas parameters changes, vital signs improvement, and 7‐day death rate between both groups.ConclusionIn patients admitted to the ED for AECOPD requiring NIV, combination of nebulized IB and terbutaline did not reduce hospital admission and need to ICU care.
Determinants of seeking advice within defined contribution retirement savings schemes
Authors: Clark Gordon L. , Fiaschetti Maurizio , Gerrans Paul 
Published: August 2018

AbstractWe report results from a study of superannuation member advice‐seeking within their plan, explaining observed patterns by member age, gender, issue salience and size‐of‐bet effect. Inquiry mode, frequency and volume of contact with the advice‐provider, and sensitivity of members to legislative change and macroeconomic events are considered. Results show that gender (female more likely than male), age (older rather than younger), balance (larger rather than smaller) and experience (longer rather than shorter) are the strongest advice‐seeking predictors, consistent over time. Findings suggest member engagement around retirement planning may be more effective when considering the factors affecting advice‐seeking behaviour in general.
Substance use disorders and their effect on the psychiatric and justice systems
Authors: Schmidt Kristen A. , Lamoureux Ian C. , Schak Kathryn M. , Lachner Christian , Burton Mary Caroline , Larrabee Beth R. , Rummans Teresa A. 
Published: August 2018

Background and ObjectivesA high proportion of persons in institutionalized settings such as the criminal justice system and psychiatric hospitals have substance use disorders (SUDs). We explored the association between substance use, demographics, and criminal justice involvement in a population of patients placed on involuntary 72‐h holds in a psychiatric facility.MethodsWe retrospectively identified patients aged 18 through 57 years who had been placed on 72‐h holds during an acute psychiatric hospitalization during a 1‐year period. Data were analyzed with standard descriptive statistics, and data collection was reviewed by 2 randomly assigned psychiatrists.ResultsWe identified 336 patients placed on 72‐h holds during an acute psychiatric stay. Of these, more than two‐thirds (68.5%; n = 230) had an SUD. Compared with patients not using substances, those with SUDs were significantly more likely to be younger (p = .003), male (p = .005), and unmarried (p < .001) and to have criminal justice involvement before (p < .001) and after hospitalization (p < .001). The rate of unemployment was similarly high in both users (67.4%) and nonusers (69.2%).Discussion and ConclusionsMost patients on involuntary psychiatric holds have comorbid SUDs. These patients are more likely to have interacted with the criminal justice system and less likely to have social support in the form of marriage. Unemployment was common among all patients.Scientific SignificanceWhen SUDs are not treated by the criminal justice or mental health system, rehospitalization and criminal recidivism may result. (Am J Addict 2018;27:574–577)
Cooperative Autocracies: Leader Survival, Creditworthiness, and Bilateral Investment Treaties*
Authors: Arias Eric , Hollyer James R. , Rosendorff B. Peter 
Published: August 2018

AbstractCapital accumulation is essential for economic development, but investors face risk when putting their capital to productive use. Bilateral investment treaties (BITs) commit leaders to limiting their takings of foreign assets and the revenues they generate. We offer theory and evidence that BITs enhance leader survival more in autocracies than democracies. BITs improve the “investment climate” in signatory states, and they do so by more in autocratic polities. Hazard models offer supporting evidence of improved autocratic leader survival. The improvement in the investment climate is evidenced by improvement of creditworthiness scores and higher sovereign bond prices, again with greater effect in autocratic states. Autocratic leaders have the most to gain from importing property rights–enhancing institutions.
Outcomes following emergency laparotomy in Australian public hospitals
Authors: Burmas Melinda , Aitken R. James , Broughton Katherine J. 
Published: August 2018

BackgroundInternational studies reporting outcomes following emergency laparotomies have consistently demonstrated wide inter‐hospital variation and a 30‐day mortality in excess of 10%. The UK then prioritized the funding of the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit. In a prospective Western Australian audit there was minimal inter‐hospital variation and a 6.6% 30‐day mortality. In the absence of any multi‐hospital Australian data the aim of the present study was to compare national administrative data with that previously reported.MethodsData on emergency laparotomies performed in Australian public hospitals during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 were extracted from admitted patient activity and costing data sets collated by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority. The data sets, containing episode‐level data relating to admitted acute and sub‐acute care patients, included administrative, demographic and clinical information such as patient age, cost, length of stay, in‐hospital mortality, diagnosis and surgical procedure details.ResultsNinety‐nine public hospitals undertaking at least 50 emergency laparotomies performed 20 388 procedures over the 2 years. The overall in‐hospital mortality was 5.2%. There was a wide interstate and inter‐hospital variation in risk‐adjusted in‐hospital mortality (4.8–6.6% and 0–9.3%, respectively), length of stay (12.5–16.8 days and 5.8–18.9 days, respectively) and intensive care unit admissions (24.5–40.2% and 0–75.7%, respectively).ConclusionThis data suggest the wide variation in outcomes and care process observed overseas exist in Australia. However, administrative data has considerable limitations and is not a substitute for high quality prospective data. Minimizing variations through prospective quality improvement processes will improve patient outcomes.
Hybrid pairwise‐likelihood estimation methods for incomplete longitudinal binary data
Authors: Li Haocheng , Zhang Yukun 
Published: August 2018

SummaryIn longitudinal data, missing observations occur commonly with incomplete responses and covariates. Missing data can have a ‘missing not at random’ mechanism, a non‐monotone missing pattern, and moreover response and covariates can be missing not simultaneously. To avoid complexities in both modelling and computation, a two‐stage estimation method and a pairwise‐likelihood method are proposed. The two‐stage estimation method enjoys simplicities in computation, but incurs more severe efficiency loss. On the other hand, the pairwise approach leads to estimators with better efficiency, but can be cumbersome in computation. In this paper, we develop a compromise method using a hybrid pairwise‐likelihood framework. Our proposed approach has better efficiency than the two‐stage method, but its computational cost is still reasonable compared to the pairwise approach. The performance of the methods is evaluated empirically by means of simulation studies. Our methods are used to analyse longitudinal data obtained from the National Population Health Study.
Healing of autologous conjunctival grafts in pterygium surgery
Authors: Ghoz Noha , Elalfy Mohamed , Said Dalia , Dua Harminder 
Published: August 2018

AbstractPurposeTo temporally study the healing of conjunctival autografts in consecutive patients following pterygium surgery.MethodsA case‐cohort observational study. Thirty‐two eyes of 28 patients who underwent pterygium surgery were included. All eyes had pterygium excision with conjunctival autografts. Twenty‐seven eyes of 24 patients underwent excision of primary pterygium while five eyes of four patients had surgery for recurrent pterygium. All grafts were attached using fibrin glue. Mitomycin‐C 0.04% was used intraoperatively in 25 eyes. All eyes were followed up at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. Photographs were taken at each visit to monitor graft vessels, re‐perfusion and healing. Main outcome measures were graft loss; re‐perfusion of grafts and appearance and resolution of oedema, transudation and haemorrhage; approximation of graft edges to host bed and changes at donor site.ResultsNo graft tissue was lost. In all eyes, healing of autografts started with graft swelling due to oedema and transudation followed by re‐perfusion injury, which manifested as swelling, variable vessels calibre, patchy or diffuse haemorrhage occurring within first week and resolving by fourth postoperative week. Graft vessels anastomose with vessels in surrounding conjunctiva and underlying episclera to re‐establish blood circulation. Retraction of graft edges from surrounding conjunctiva was uncommon with rapid epithelialization of exposed (epi)sclera.ConclusionConjunctival autografts in pterygium surgery follow a consistent healing pattern dominated by re‐perfusion injury in early postoperative days. This produces dramatic changes in the autograft for which patients should be counselled before surgery. Conjunctival autografts are not at risk of falling off, losing epithelial cover or undergoing necrosis.
FINANCE, DISTRIBUTION AND THE ECONOMIC OBJECTIVE OF FINANCIAL COOPERATIVE INSTITUTIONS
Authors: KHAFAGY Amr 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTThis paper proposes a model where the structure rather than the size of the financial sector explains its influence on income distribution. Because of information asymmetries, a financial sector dominated solely by profit‐maximizing financial intermediaries will increase income and wealth inequality as it gives preferential access to credit for high‐income agents, whereas a diversified inclusive financial sector with alternative models of finance, like cooperatives, will reduce the inequality gap. No full convergence in income distribution can be realized through finance only and there is still a need for redistribution policies. Accordingly, an objective function for cooperative financial institutions should define a desired pricing behaviour that can increase the income of members at a rate higher than the average growth rate of the economy.
COMPARATIVE EFFICIENCY OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES AND CONVENTIONAL FIRMS IN A SAMPLE OF QUASI‐TWIN COMPANIES
Authors: BRANDANO Maria Giovanna , DETOTTO Claudio , VANNINI Marco 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTThe resilience of cooperatives and their positive contribution to employment in times of crisis is well established. However, their overall economic performance relative to conventional firms is still controversial, casting doubt on the ability of this alternative organizational form to govern the fundamental drivers of productivity. To shed new light on the issue, we study the comparative technical efficiency of agricultural cooperatives (ACs) and conventional firms (CFs), drawing on a unique data set comprising all wine‐producing companies in Sardinia (Italy) from 2004 to 2009. Due to the similarity of the habitats in which the firms operate and the careful measurement of several key inputs, the observed units are ‘twins’ in all non‐organizational respects, providing an ideal setting for comparison. Having generated efficiency scores through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), we regressed the scores on external covariates and ownership type using a pooled truncated maximum likelihood formulation. Our findings, which survive correction for spatial correlations, indicate that cooperatives are less technically efficient than their capitalist counterparts and struggle more to adapt to extreme weather fluctuations. Both results are particularly worrying in light of the main challenges facing the wine industry in the near future: liberalization of EU planting rights and climate change.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR STATE‐OWNED ENTERPRISES AS A MEANS TO MITIGATE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF TWO SWISS STATE‐OWNED ENTERPRISES
Authors: LIECHTI Fabian , FINGER Matthias 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTWhen governments act as owners of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs), they are both principal and agent at the same time. The literature on steering SOEs has mainly focused on the government as the principal that must control SOEs. However, the government is also an agent, vis‐à‐vis the parliament, because democratic constitutions stipulate some form of parliamentary oversight of the government. This oversight includes checks on how the government steers SOEs. However, this oversight function gives the parliament the power and opportunity to interfere into steering SOEs, which may lead to parliamentary interventions that are not coherent with governmental steering. We draw on principal–agent literature and public‐accountability literature to show that arbitrary and hands‐on parliamentary interference pose problems for steering SOEs. We analyze whether strategic objectives for SOEs, as recommended by public corporate governance guidelines, are appropriate to minimize parliamentary interference. We hypothesize that the Swiss government avoids or mitigates parliamentary interference by mid‐term strategic objectives for SOEs, which counteract short‐term parliamentary requests. We find that the Swiss government uses mid‐term strategic objectives, particularly financial ones, to reject parliamentary demands for more intervention into SOE activities.
CREDIT UNION MEMBER GROUP DOMINATION UNDER HIGH INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: MERCER Antonio Carlos , PÓVOA Angela , PICCOLI Pedro 
Published: August 2018

ABSTRACTTheoretical models for credit unions advocate that such organizations should pursue a neutral orientation in order to accommodate the conflicting interests of borrower members, who seek lower interest rates, and saver members, who look for higher returns on their savings. However, there is a lack of empirical support for such neutrality in high interest rate environments. This is because under such conditions, credit unions could accomplish their social mission by providing microcredit at a lower interest rate to local communities, thus becoming more borrower‐dominated. This paper investigates the member group domination of credit unions in Brazil, a country known for its high interest rates, and finds that the majority of credit unions (78.34%) are borrower‐dominated. This behavior becomes more pronounced when local interest rates rise, contradicting the predictions of neutrality‐seeking models. A percentage increase in the interest rate, increases about 5 times the likelihood of a CU becoming extreme borrower‐dominated. Besides interest rates, age, lower size, capital and lower efficiency of the credit unions are the main determinants of borrower domination.
Primary and secondary mucosal melanoma of the small intestine – a clinical, pathological, and genetic nationwide survey of Danish patients between 1980 and 2014
Authors: Tingsgaard Jakob Koefoed , Henriksen Amalie , Mikkelsen Lauge Hjorth , Behrendt Nille , Melchior Linea Cecilie , Svendsen Lars Bo , Heegaard Steffen 
Published: August 2018

The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology, symptomatology, pathology, genetics, and treatment of primary and metastatic small intestine melanoma in a national Danish cohort. All Danish patients diagnosed with small intestinal melanoma during the period 1980–2014 were included. For each patient, clinical data along with available pathology report and tissue was registered. Targeted next‐generation sequencing (NGS) of known hotspots in 50 oncogenic genes was performed. Twenty patients with small intestinal melanoma were retrieved. Eight of these were primary melanomas. The median age was 66 years for primary melanoma patients and 58 years for secondary melanoma patients. The male/female ratio (M/F) was 3:1 for primary melanoma and 1:1 for secondary melanoma. The median time of survival was 3.5 months and 9 months for primary and secondary melanoma patients, respectively. NGS of primary tumours showed polymorphisms in the HRAS, PI3KCA, and JAK3 genes. Primary mucosal melanoma of the small intestines is a very rare disease, with an incidence of 0.04 cases/million/year in Denmark. Patients aged 59–70 years with abdominal symptoms should make the clinician consider a small bowel melanoma as a differential diagnosis. The prognosis ranged from less than a month to 183.6 months.