bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Eicosapentaenoic acid therapy is associated with decreased coronary plaque instability assessed using optical frequency domain imaging
Authors: Konishi Takao , Sunaga Daisuke , Funayama Naohiro , Yamamoto Tadashi , Murakami Hironori , Hotta Daisuke , Nojima Masanori , Tanaka Shinya 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe relationship between eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) therapy and coronary plaque stability assessed by optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) has not been thoroughly described.HypothesisEPA therapy is associated with decreased plaque instability in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using OFDI.MethodsData on coronary artery plaques from 121 patients who consecutively underwent PCI between October 2015 and July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Of these patients, 109 were untreated (no‐EPA group), whereas 12 were treated with EPA (EPA group). Each plaque's morphological characteristics were analyzed using OFDI.ResultsWe used 1:4 propensity score matching for patients who received or did not receive EPA therapy before PCI. Baseline characteristics were balanced between both groups (age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, smoking, previous PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting, previous myocardial infarction, prior statin use, acute coronary syndrome, hemoglobin A1c level, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, triglyceride concentration, and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration). OFDI data from 60 patients were analyzed in this study. The EPA group had significantly lower mean lipid index (818 ± 806 vs 1574 ± 891) and macrophage grade (13.5 ± 5.9 vs 19.3 ± 7.4) but higher mean minimum fibrous cap thickness (109.2 ± 55.7 vs 81.6 ± 36.4 μm) than the no‐EPA group (P = 0.010, 0.019, and 0.040, respectively). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that prior EPA use was independently associated with lower lipid index and macrophage grade (P = 0.043 and 0.024, respectively).ConclusionThis OFDI analysis suggests that EPA therapy is associated with decreased plaque instability in patients undergoing PCI.
Generation of ERK‐Independent Human and Non‐Human Primate Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: De Los Angeles Alejandro 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe production of human organs inside human‐animal interspecies chimeras might one day comprise a viable strategy for generating patient‐specific organs, but such experiments will require human chimera‐competent pluripotent stem (PS) cells. The stabilization of PS cell self‐renewal in serum‐free medium and ERK blockade might be critical for capturing primate chimera‐competent pluripotency. It has recently been shown that shielding primate cells from the activation of ERK, WNT, and PKC signaling is crucial for deriving African green monkey ERK‐independent PS cells. Here, I show that this principle is generalizable to human cells. In this chapter, methods are provided to reset conventional human PS cells to ERK‐independence using histone deacetylase inhibitors and PGCX media comprised of N2B27 medium supplemented with LIF, PD0325901, Go6983, CHIR99021, and XAV939. The novel stem cells exhibit higher levels of KLF4 and manifest increased mitochondrial membrane depolarization. However, the author observed that not all PS cell lines are amenable to small molecule‐mediated resetting. The ERK‐independent PS cells described herein will provide a useful resource for testing interspecies organogenesis strategies. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Integration of Pharmacometrics and Pharmacoeconomics to Quantify the Value of Improved Forgiveness to Nonadherence: A Case Study of Novel Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors for Gout
Authors: Hill‐McManus Daniel , Marshall Scott , Soto Elena , Hughes Dyfrig A. 
Published: April 2019

Linked pharmacometric and pharmacoeconomic models provide a structured approach for assessing the value of candidate drugs in development. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of such an approach for identifying the properties of xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOi) providing improved forgiveness to nonadherence and estimate the maximum reimbursement price. The pharmacometric and pharmacoeconomic models were used to simulate the time course of serum uric acid concentrations and estimate quality‐adjusted life years and costs for the XOi febuxostat and a range of hypothetical analogues. Compounds with reduced clearance or increased potency were more forgiving to missed doses, however, even following relatively large changes in these properties the predicted maximum reimbursement prices represented an increase of only 19% above febuxostat 80 mg. Linked pharmacometric and pharmacoeconomic modeling methods have the potential to inform early drug development by providing an indication of pricing options that may permit reimbursement.
Extended artificial immune system–based optimized access control for big data on a cloud environment
Authors: Muneeshwari P. , Athisha G. 
Published: April 2019

SummaryIntegrating parallel computing and distributed computing together can be obtained by cloud computing (CC). One of the major problems faced by public CC is security regarding data access control. CC permits people to share data, documents, videos, and other types of data. Generally, the cloud data are considered as big data, because the volume of the data is huge and it has a greater number of varieties. In recent days, attribute‐based data sharing applied only for selected data is a crucial problem. One of the existing approaches encrypts data using various kinds of keys based on several types of cryptosystems. However, those kinds of methods have some weaknesses such as inability to handle the attributes effectively, storage of more unwanted copies of the same data, and policy changes. It needs a high amount of computational cost and reduces the efficiency of memory utilization and the computational speed. This paper motivated to design and implement an efficient approach for optimized access control (OAC) for data stored in the cloud to overcome these kinds of issues. The efficiency of the proposed method is proved through a simulation‐based experiment in Cloud Simulator.
Investigation of the distortion factor for Bussgang noise cancellation iterative receivers
Authors: Bibi Nargis , Muhammad Nazeer , Cheetham Barry 
Published: April 2019

SummaryOrthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM) is considered an efficient modulation approach in the field of wireless systems. However, the significant high peak to average power ratios (PAPR) are one of the prominant shortcomings of the OFDM systems leading to severe signal distortions and acute power inefficiency. Iterative receivers, which use Bussgang algorithm approach along with clipping at the transmitter, have been presented in the literature. This methodology is majorly receiver based in order to compensate the effects of the clipping noise that was added at the transmitter. These receivers are used to analyse the distortions of clipping noise directly subtracting from the signals that are received in order to get the original signal. We demonstrate in this study a detailed and technical investigation of the Bussgang noise cancellation (BNC) receiver along with some significant results. Simulation results are presented to show that the BNC iterative receiver does not estimate the accurate clipping noise, and the performance may be improved if at the receiver end, it is somehow capable to analyze the precise clipping noise for each OFDM signal.
The role of sensory innervation in cornea‐lens regeneration
Authors: Perry Kimberly J. , Hamilton Paul W. , Sonam Surabhi , Singh Ratnakar , Henry Jonathan J. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundNumerous sensory nerves in the cornea contribute to normal tissue homeostasis. Interestingly, cells within the basal corneal epithelium can regenerate new lenses in the frog, Xenopus. In this study, we investigated whether cornea sensory nerves or their neuropeptides are important for supporting cornea‐lens regeneration.ResultsAttempts to sever the trigeminal nerve trunk, which provides sensory nerve branches to the cornea, did not inhibit lens regeneration. However, using this approach we found that it was not possible to completely disrupt sensory innervation, as these nerves are able to quickly regenerate back to the cornea. On the other hand, attenuation of neuropeptide levels with capsaicin was found to significantly inhibit lens regeneration, as visualized by a reduction of Substance P. These treatments also led to a reduction of cornea sensory innervation. Interestingly, inhibition of the Substance P‐preferred receptor NK‐1 with Spantide II did not affect lens‐regeneration rates.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that cornea nerves support cornea‐lens regeneration, which could occur through the release of various neurotrophic factors. Substance P, however, does not appear to be the critical component of this signaling pathway. Further studies are needed to investigate what role other known neurotrophic factors may play in this process.
North‐facing slopes and elevation shape asymmetric genetic structure in the range‐restricted salamander Plethodon shenandoah
Authors: Mulder Kevin P. , Cortes‐Rodriguez Nandadevi , Campbell Grant Evan H. , Brand Adrianne , Fleischer Robert C. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSpecies with narrow environmental tolerances are often distributed within fragmented patches of suitable habitat, and dispersal among these subpopulations can be difficult to directly observe. Genetic data can help quantify gene flow between localities, which is especially important for vulnerable species with a disjunct range. The Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah) is a federally endangered species known only from three mountaintops in Virginia, USA. To reconstruct the evolutionary history and population connectivity of this species, we generated both mitochondrial and nuclear data using sequence capture from individuals collected across all three mountaintops. Applying population and landscape genetic methods, we found strong population structure that was independent of geographic distance. Both the nuclear markers and mitochondrial genomes indicated a deep split between the most southern population and the genetically similar central and northern populations. Although there was some mitochondrial haplotype‐splitting between the central and northern populations, there was admixture in nuclear markers. This is indicative of either a recent split or current male‐biased dispersal among mountain isolates. Models of landscape resistance found that dispersal across north‐facing slopes at mid‐elevation levels best explain the observed genetic structure among populations. These unexpected results highlight the importance of incorporating landscape features in understanding and predicting the movement and fragmentation of this range‐restricted salamander species across space.
Breeding latitude predicts timing but not rate of spring migration in a widespread migratory bird in South America
Authors: Jahn Alex E. , Cereghetti Joaquín , Cueto Víctor R. , Hallworth Michael T. , Levey Douglas J. , Marini Miguel Â. , Masson Diego , Pizo Marco A. , Sarasola José Hernán , Tuero Diego T. 
Published: April 2019

Abstract

Identifying the processes that determine avian migratory strategies in different environmental contexts is imperative to understanding the constraints to survival and reproduction faced by migratory birds across the planet.

We compared the spring migration strategies of Fork‐tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus s. savana) that breed at south‐temperate latitudes (i.e., austral migrants) vs. tropical latitudes (i.e., intratropical migrants) in South America. We hypothesized that austral migrant flycatchers are more time‐selected than intratropical migrants during spring migration. As such, we predicted that austral migrants, which migrate further than intratropical migrants, will migrate at a faster rate and that the rate of migration for austral migrants will be positively correlated with the onset of spring migration.

We attached light‐level geolocators to Fork‐tailed Flycatchers at two tropical breeding sites in Brazil and at two south‐temperate breeding sites in Argentina and tracked their movements until the following breeding season.

Of 286 geolocators that were deployed, 37 were recovered ~1 year later, of which 28 provided useable data. Rate of spring migration did not differ significantly between the two groups, and only at one site was there a significantly positive relationship between date of initiation of spring migration and arrival date.

This represents the first comparison of individual migratory strategies among conspecific passerines breeding at tropical vs. temperate latitudes and suggests that austral migrant Fork‐tailed Flycatchers in South America are not more time‐selected on spring migration than intratropical migrant conspecifics. Low sample sizes could have diminished our power to detect differences (e.g., between sexes), such that further research into the mechanisms underpinning migratory strategies in this poorly understood system is necessary.
Genetic turnovers and northern survival during the last glacial maximum in European brown bears
Authors: Ersmark Erik , Baryshnikov Gennady , Higham Thomas , Argant Alain , Castaños Pedro , Döppes Doris , Gasparik Mihaly , Germonpré Mietje , Lidén Kerstin , Lipecki Grzegorz , Marciszak Adrian , Miller Rebecca , Moreno‐García Marta , Pacher Martina , Robu Marius , Rodriguez‐Varela Ricardo , Rojo Guerra Manuel , Sabol Martin , Spassov Nikolai , Storå Jan , Valdiosera Christina , Villaluenga Aritza , Stewart John R. , Dalén Love 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe current phylogeographic pattern of European brown bears (Ursus arctos) has commonly been explained by postglacial recolonization out of geographically distinct refugia in southern Europe, a pattern well in accordance with the expansion/contraction model. Studies of ancient DNA from brown bear remains have questioned this pattern, but have failed to explain the glacial distribution of mitochondrial brown bear clades and their subsequent expansion across the European continent. We here present 136 new mitochondrial sequences generated from 346 remains from Europe, ranging in age between the Late Pleistocene and historical times. The genetic data show a high Late Pleistocene diversity across the continent and challenge the strict confinement of bears to traditional southern refugia during the last glacial maximum (LGM). The mitochondrial data further suggest a genetic turnover just before this time, as well as a steep demographic decline starting in the mid‐Holocene. Levels of stable nitrogen isotopes from the remains confirm a previously proposed shift toward increasing herbivory around the LGM in Europe. Overall, these results suggest that in addition to climate, anthropogenic impact and inter‐specific competition may have had more important effects on the brown bear's ecology, demography, and genetic structure than previously thought.
Long‐term population dynamics of dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and D. rostriformis): a cross‐system analysis
Authors: Strayer David L. , Adamovich Boris V. , Adrian Rita , Aldridge David C. , Balogh Csilla , Burlakova Lyubov E. , Fried‐Petersen Hannah B. , G.‐Tóth László , Hetherington Amy L. , Jones Thomas S. , Karatayev Alexander Y. , Madill Jacqueline B. , Makarevich Oleg A. , Marsden J. Ellen , Martel André L. , Minchin Dan , Nalepa Thomas F. , Noordhuis Ruurd , Robinson Timothy J. , Rudstam Lars G. , Schwalb Astrid N. , Smith David R. , Steinman Alan D. , Jeschke Jonathan M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractDreissenid mussels (including the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha and the quagga mussel D. rostriformis) are among the world's most notorious invasive species, with large and widespread ecological and economic effects. However, their long‐term population dynamics are poorly known, even though these dynamics are critical to determining impacts and effective management. We gathered and analyzed 67 long‐term (>10 yr) data sets on dreissenid populations from lakes and rivers across Europe and North America. We addressed five questions: (1) How do Dreissena populations change through time? (2) Specifically, do Dreissena populations decline substantially after an initial outbreak phase? (3) Do different measures of population performance (biomass or density of settled animals, veliger density, recruitment of young) follow the same patterns through time? (4) How do the numbers or biomass of zebra mussels or of both species combined change after the quagga mussel arrives? (5) How does body size change over time? We also considered whether current data on long‐term dynamics of Dreissena populations are adequate for science and management. Individual Dreissena populations showed a wide range of temporal dynamics, but we could detect only two general patterns that applied across many populations: (1) Populations of both species increased rapidly in the first 1–2 yr after appearance, and (2) quagga mussels appeared later than zebra mussels and usually quickly caused large declines in zebra mussel populations. We found little evidence that combined Dreissena populations declined over the long term. Different measures of population performance were not congruent; the temporal dynamics of one life stage or population attribute cannot generally be accurately inferred from the dynamics of another. We found no consistent patterns in the long‐term dynamics of body size. The long‐term dynamics of Dreissena populations probably are driven by the ecological characteristics (e.g., predation, nutrient inputs, water temperature) and their temporal changes at individual sites rather than following a generalized time course that applies across many sites. Existing long‐term data sets on dreissenid populations, although clearly valuable, are inadequate to meet research and management needs. Data sets could be improved by standardizing sampling designs and methods, routinely collecting more variables, and increasing support.
Mathematical modeling and sensitivity analysis of xylene removal in a scoria‐compost biofilter
Authors: Heidari Mohsen , Rahimi Amir , Amin Mohammad M. , Bina Bijan , Sami Samaneh , Nourmoradi Heshmatollah , Mohammadi‐moghadam Fazel , Norouzi Samira 
Published: April 2019

AbstractMathematical modeling of biofiltration systems improves our understanding and design of such complex systems. This study focused on the theoretical and technical aspects of the modeling of xylene biofiltration in the absence and presence of a nonionic surfactant. In this regard, a mathematical model was developed based on mass balance principles in gas and biofilm phases. The developed model was calibrated and validated using the experimental data obtained from a lab‐scale scoria‐compost biofilter, which operated for 151 days in the absence and presence of Tween‐20, a nonionic surfactant. First, the model was calibrated using the experimental data obtained at empty bed retention time (EBRT) of 90 s and then validated with the data obtained at two other EBRTs. The biofilter provided maximum elimination capacities (ECmax) of 97.5 and 93.6 g m−3 hr−1, respectively, in the absence and presence of the surfactant at EBRT of 90 s. The corresponding predicted ECmax values were 99.9 and 95.7 g m−3 hr−1, respectively. Both model output and experimental data revealed that the nonionic surfactant improved the performance of the biofilter at moderate inlet loading rates. Various statistical measures, including fractional bias, average absolute relative error, and coefficient of determination (R2), showed good agreement between experimental data and estimated model predictions. Sensitivity analysis of the model showed that the specific surface area and bioreactor length affected strongly the results of the model. In general, the results of this study would in turn form the design basis for engineering purposes.
Evaluation of elastic property changes in Karamay oil sand reservoir during thermal stimulation
Authors: Pang Huiwen , Jin Yan , Gao Yanfang 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTo obtain a good evaluation of oil sand reservoir deformation and its induced ground subsidence during thermal simulation, elastic property changes with reservoir temperature are desired. The Karamay oil sand was viewed as a composite geomaterial consisting of bitumen as matrix and grains as inclusion. The elastic properties of bitumen were expressed as a function of temperature and time, and the Eshelby, Mori–Tanaka, and differential methods were used to write the elastic properties of oil sand as a function of temperature and time. An equivalent static time was proposed to eliminate the effect of time. A temperature transform was established according to experimental data. The relation of elastic properties and temperature was applied on a field practice of steam circulation. The elastic properties in any reservoir position were given at varying circulation time and concluded that the elastic modulus drops from 663 to 360 MPa, and the Poisson ratio increases from 0.3 to 0.415 during circulation. The elastic deformation mechanisms for Karamay sand‐in‐bitumen and Canadian bitumen‐in‐sand oil sands were analyzed according to experimental data. Three possible deformation modes for sand‐in‐bitumen oil sands were exhibited, considering whether the intergranular bitumen is squeezed out and the grains are crushed.
Comprehensive analysis of isolated der(1;7)(q10;p10) in a large international homogenous cohort of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Ganster Christina , Müller‐Thomas Catharina , Haferlach Claudia , Strupp Corinna , Ogata Kiyoyuki , Germing Ulrich , Hildebrandt Barbara , Mallo Mar , Lübbert Michael , Müller Christel , Solé Francesc , Götze Katharina S. , Vandenberghe Peter , Göhring Gudrun , Steinmetz Tilman , Kröger Nicolaus , Platzbecker Uwe , Söling Ulrike , Raynaud Sophie , Shirneshan Katayoon , Schanz Julie , Haase Detlef 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe karyotype is a strong independent prognostic factor in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Since the implementation of the new comprehensive cytogenetic scoring system for MDS, chromosome 7 anomalies are no longer generally assigned to poor risk features but are thoroughly separated. However, der(1;7)(q10;p10), hereinafter der(1;7), is merged into the group labeled “any other single” and belongs to the intermediate risk group, just by definition due to lack of adequate clinical data. The aim of our international collaborative was to clarify the “real” prognostic impact of der(1;7) on a homogenous and well‐documented data base. We performed detailed analysis of 63 MDS patients with isolated der(1;7) constituting the largest cohort hitherto reported. Furthermore, clinical data are compared with those of patients with isolated del(7q) and isolated monosomy 7. Median overall survival (OS) of patients with der(1;7) is 26 months (hazard ratio (HR) 0.91 for del(7q) vs der(1;7) and 2.53 for monosomy 7 vs der(1;7)). The der(1;7) is associated with profound thrombocytopenia most probably causing the reduced OS which is in striking contrast to the low risk for AML transformation (HR 3.89 for del(7q) vs der(1;7) and 5.88 for monosomy 7 vs der(1;7)). Molecular karyotyping indicates that der(1;7) is generated in a single step during mitosis and that a chromosomal imbalance rather than a single disrupted gene accounts for malignancy. Thus, the current cytogenetic scoring system assigning isolated der(1;7) to the intermediate risk group is now confirmed by a sufficient data set.