bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Echocardiographic assessment of ventricular contraction and synchrony in children with isolated complete atrioventricular block and epicardial pacing: Implications of interventricular mechanical delay
Authors: Hayashi Taiyu , Ono Hiroshi , Kaneko Yukihiro 
Published: May 2018

AimsTo assess the correlations between interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) and cardiac function in children with isolated complete atrioventricular block and epicardial pacing.Methods and ResultsWe enrolled 13 children (six boys) with an epicardial dual‐chamber pacemaker due to isolated complete or advanced atrioventricular block. The patients were 9.8 (range, 6.8–15.3) years old, and none had symptomatic heart failure at the follow‐up visit. Ventricular pacing sites, which remained the same for 7.2 (1.6–12.3) years, were the left ventricle (LV) in two patients, right ventricle (RV) in four patients, and both ventricles in seven patients. IVMD was ≤40 ms in six patients (short IVMD group) and >40 ms in seven patients (long IVMD group). Compared with the long IVMD group, the short IVMD group was associated with better LV longitudinal strain (–20% [–24% to –18%] vs –16% [–20% to –13%], P < .05). The short IVMD group had superior LV mechanical synchrony than the long IVMD group (septal to lateral delay of the time to peak longitudinal strain 15 [−16–78] ms vs 78 [13–93] ms, P < .05; standard deviation of the time to peak radial strain 13 [9–34] ms vs 35 [18–64] ms, P < .05).ConclusionIn children with epicardial pacing at LV, RV, or both ventricles, a left‐sided contraction delay was associated with poorer LV contraction and impaired LV synchrony. IVMD will help to stratify patients during follow‐up.
The effect of warmer winters on the demography of an outbreak insect is hidden by intraspecific competition
Authors: Goodsman Devin W. , Grosklos Guenchik , Aukema Brian H. , Whitehouse Caroline , Bleiker Katherine P. , McDowell Nate G. , Middleton Richard S. , Xu Chonggang 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWarmer climates are predicted to increase bark beetle outbreak frequency, severity, and range. Even in favorable climates, however, outbreaks can decelerate due to resource limitation, which necessitates the inclusion of competition for limited resources in analyses of climatic effects on populations. We evaluated several hypotheses of how climate impacts mountain pine beetle reproduction using an extensive 9‐year dataset, in which nearly 10,000 trees were sampled across a region of approximately 90,000 km2, that was recently invaded by the mountain pine beetle in Alberta, Canada. Our analysis supports the hypothesis of a positive effect of warmer winter temperatures on mountain pine beetle overwinter survival and provides evidence that the increasing trend in minimum winter temperatures over time in North America is an important driver of increased mountain pine beetle reproduction across the region. Although we demonstrate a consistent effect of warmer minimum winter temperatures on mountain pine beetle reproductive rates that is evident at the landscape and regional scales, this effect is overwhelmed by the effect of competition for resources within trees at the site level. Our results suggest that detection of the effects of a warming climate on bark beetle populations at small spatial scales may be difficult without accounting for negative density dependence due to competition for resources.
Effects of ultrasound treatment and concentration of ethanol on selectivity of phenolic extraction from apple pomace
Authors: Wang Lu , Boussetta Nadia , Lebovka Nikolai , Vorobiev Eugene 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThe extraction of polyphenols from apple pomace was studied using ultrasound, ethanol/water mixtures and moderate temperatures, 20–37 °C. The extraction kinetics and extraction yields of catechin and total phenolic content (TPC) were evaluated at different times of ultrasound treatment (tu) and concentrations of ethanol (Ce). The highest extraction efficiency of TPC was observed at tu = 30 min, Ce = 50% and total extraction time of te = 60 min. The high selectivity of catechin extraction was demonstrated by analysing the relative content of catechin (R = Cc/TPC) in dependence of applied extraction protocol. The initial portions of extracts at small levels of TPC (≤50 mg per 100 DM) were richer in catechin content (R ≈ 15%–31%), whereas the last portions of extracts with high level of TPS were more exhausted in catechin (R ≈ 2%).
End‐stage renal disease patients using angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may reduce the risk of mortality: a Taiwanese Nationwide cohort study
Authors: Lee Hsin‐Fu , See Lai‐Chu , Chan Yi‐Hsin , Yeh Yung‐Hsin , Wu Lung‐Sheng , Liu Jia‐Rou , Tu Hui‐Tzu , Wang Chun‐Li , Kuo Chi‐Tai , Chang Shang‐Hung 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe association between the use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and mortality in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients lacks sufficient evidence.AimTo investigate the efficacy of ACEI and ARB in ESRD patients.MethodsThis nationwide retrospective cohort study using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database enrolled ESRD patients from January 1997 to December 2011. Propensity score matching provided two study groups (ACEI/ARB users vs non‐users), balanced in sample size, with similar comorbidities and prescriptions. These patients were followed up from the first date of receiving dialysis until mortality, 5 years or 31 December 2013 (whichever came first). We analysed the association of the use of ACEI or ARB with cardiovascular (CV) death and all‐cause mortality in patients with ESRD using the Kaplan–Meier method and time‐dependent Cox models, with a robust sandwich variance method.ResultsAfter propensity score matching, all characteristics of the user of ACEI or ARB (n = 17 280) and non‐user (n = 17 280) groups were appropriately balanced (P > 0.05). In the Cox proportional hazards model, the user group exhibited lower CV death and all‐cause mortality with adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CI of 0.58 (0.55–0.62) and 0.47 (0.46–0.49) than the non‐user group did. Furthermore, the association of ACEI/ARB use with low mortality risk was observed in all examined subgroups.ConclusionIn this large‐scale, population‐based cohort study, ESRD patients using ACEI/ARB had a lower risk of CV death and all‐cause mortality than non‐users did.
Cold chain investment and pricing decisions in a fresh food supply chain
Authors: Wang Min , Zhao Lindu 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCold chains play an important role in reducing food spoilage, attracting food safety sensitive consumers, and guaranteeing food safety. Despite these advantages, the implementation of cold chains also calls for massive investment. Considering both costs and benefits of cold chains, our research established an optimization model for a fresh food supply chain to maximize its members' profits. Optimal investment levels of cold chain construction and advertisement, along with optimal pricing, were determined. The analysis shows that collaborative cold chain investment and collaborative pricing are superior strategies for the supply chain. Furthermore, we discuss the role of consumer food safety awareness and observe relatively high levels of cold chain investments and the mutually reinforcing effect of supply chain members' cold chain investments in a food safety sensitive market. Therefore, we suggest that governments should encourage improved food safety awareness among consumers to motivate cold chain investment and thus guarantee food safety.
Haemorrhage from varicose veins and varicose ulceration: A systematic review
Authors: Serra Raffaele , Ielapi Nicola , Bevacqua Egidio , Rizzuto Antonia , De Caridi Giovanni , Massara Mafalda , Casella Filomena , Di Mizio Giulio , de Franciscis Stefano 
Published: May 2018

Varicose veins (VVs) and varicose ulceration (VU) are usually considered non‐life‐threatening conditions, but in some cases they can lead to major complications such as fatal bleeding. The aim of this systematic review is to evidence the most updated information on bleeding from VV and VU. As evidence acquisition, we planned to include all the studies dealing with “Haemorrhage/Bleeding” and “VVs/VU”. We excluded all the studies, which did not properly fit our research question, and with insufficient data. As evidence synthesis, of the 172 records found, after removing of duplicates, and after records excluded in title and abstract, 85 matched our inclusion criteria. After reading the full‐text articles, we decided to exclude 68 articles because of the following reasons: (1) not responding properly to our research questions; (2) insufficient data; the final set included 17 articles. From literature searching, we identify the following main issues to be discussed in the review: epidemiology and predisposing factors, pathophysiology and forensic aspects, first aid.It has been estimated that deaths for bleeding due to peripheral venous problems account up to 0.01% of autopsy cases. From a pathological point of view, venous bleeding may arise from either acute or chronic perforation of an enlarged vein segment through the weakened skin. From a forensic point of view, in cases of fatal haemorrhage the death scene can even simulate non‐natural events, due to crime or suicide. In most cases, incorrect first aid led to fatal complications. Further investigation on epidemiology and prevention measures are needed.
miR‐21 promotes cardiac fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transformation and myocardial fibrosis by targeting Jagged1
Authors: Zhou Xue‐liang , Xu Hua , Liu Zhi‐bo , Wu Qi‐cai , Zhu Rong‐rong , Liu Ji‐chun 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMyocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of heart diseases. MI activates cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and promotes CF to myofibroblast transformation (CMT). This study aimed to investigate the role of miR‐21 in the regulation of CMT and myocardial fibrosis. Primary rat CFs were isolated from young SD rats and treated with TGF‐β1, miR‐21 sponge or Jagged1 siRNA. Cell proliferation, invasion and adhesion were detected. MI model was established in male SD rats using LAD ligation method and infected with recombinant adenovirus. The heart function and morphology was evaluated by ultrasonic and histological analysis. We found that TGF‐β1 induced the up‐regulation of miR‐21 and down‐regulation of Jagged1 in rat CFs. Luciferase assay showed that miR‐21 targeted 3′‐UTR of Jagged1 in rat CFs. miR‐21 sponge inhibited the transformation of rat CFs into myofibroblasts, and abolished the inhibition of Jagged1 mRNA and protein expression by TGF‐β1. Furthermore, these effects of miR‐21 sponge on rat CFS were reversed by siRNA mediated knockdown of Jagged1. In vivo, heart dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis in MI model rats were partly improved by miR‐21 sponge but were aggravated by Jagged1 knockdown. Taken together, these results suggest that miR‐21 promotes cardiac fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transformation and myocardial fibrosis by targeting Jagged1. miR‐21 and Jagged1 are potential therapeutic targets for myocardial fibrosis.
Parliamentary Diplomacy and Legislative‐Executive Relations in EU Foreign Policy: Studying the European Parliament's Mediation of the Macedonian Political Crisis (2015–17)
Authors: Fonck Daan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis article studies the co‐operation between parliamentary and executive diplomats in EU foreign policy. Building on transnational perspectives, the European Parliament is conceptualized as an actor capable of pursuing autonomous diplomatic behaviour through cross‐border agency over its elected representatives, its bureaucracy, as well as through European party federations. A novel framework is proposed, built around the hypothesis that parliamentary and executive actors co‐operate by exchanging institutional, information, legitimacy and access resources in order to reach their goals more effectively. To demonstrate the argument empirically, the article studies EU‐facilitated mediation talks in Macedonia (2015–17). Building on semi‐structured interviews with 27 key stakeholders, the analysis shows how during the different stages of the mediation, executive and parliamentary actors exchanged crucial diplomatic resources in order to effectively conclude and implement the so‐called Pržino‐agreements between the government and opposition parties.
Niche conservatism and phylogenetic clustering in a tribe of arid‐adapted marsupial mice, the Sminthopsini
Authors: García‐Navas Vicente , Westerman Michael 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe progressive expansion of the Australian arid zone during the last 20 Ma appears to have spurred the diversification of several families of plants, vertebrates and invertebrates, yet such taxonomic groups appear to show limited niche radiation. Here, we test whether speciation is associated with niche conservatism (constraints on ecological divergence) or niche divergence in a tribe of marsupial mice (Sminthopsini; 23 taxa) that includes the most speciose genus of living dasyurids, the sminthopsins. To that end, we integrated phylogenetic data with ecological niche modelling, to enable us to reconstruct the evolution of climatic suitability within Sminthopsini. Niche overlap among species was low‐moderate (but generally higher than expected given environmental background similarity), and the degree of phylogenetic clustering increased with aridity. Climatic niche reconstruction illustrates that there has been little apparent evolution of climatic tolerance within clades. Accordingly, climatic disparity tends to be accumulated among clades, suggesting considerable niche conservatism. Our results also indicate that evolution of climatic tolerances has been heterogeneous across different dimensions of climate (temperature vs. precipitation) and across phylogenetic clusters (Sminthopsis murina group vs. other groups). Although some results point to the existence of shifts in climatic niches during the speciation of sminthopsins, our study provides evidence for substantial phylogenetic niche conservatism in the group. We conclude that niche diversification had a low impact on the speciation of this tribe of small, but highly mobile marsupials.
Eyes Wide Shut: the impact of dim‐light vision on neural investment in marine teleosts
Authors: Iglesias Teresa L. , Dornburg Alex , Warren Dan L. , Wainwright Peter C. , Schmitz Lars , Economo Evan P. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractUnderstanding how organismal design evolves in response to environmental challenges is a central goal of evolutionary biology. In particular, assessing the extent to which environmental requirements drive general design features among distantly related groups is a major research question. The visual system is a critical sensory apparatus that evolves in response to changing light regimes. In vertebrates, the optic tectum is the primary visual processing centre of the brain and yet it is unclear how or whether this structure evolves while lineages adapt to changes in photic environment. On one hand, dim‐light adaptation is associated with larger eyes and enhanced light‐gathering power that could require larger information processing capacity. On the other hand, dim‐light vision may evolve to maximize light sensitivity at the cost of acuity and colour sensitivity, which could require less processing power. Here, we use X‐ray microtomography and phylogenetic comparative methods to examine the relationships between diel activity pattern, optic morphology, trophic guild and investment in the optic tectum across the largest radiation of vertebrates—teleost fishes. We find that despite driving the evolution of larger eyes, enhancement of the capacity for dim‐light vision generally is accompanied by a decrease in investment in the optic tectum. These findings underscore the importance of considering diel activity patterns in comparative studies and demonstrate how vision plays a role in brain evolution, illuminating common design principles of the vertebrate visual system.
Explaining the Boom–Bust Cycle in the U.S. Housing Market: A Reverse‐Engineering Approach
Authors: GELAIN PAOLO , LANSING KEVIN J. , NATVIK GISLE J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe use a quantitative asset pricing model to “reverse‐engineer” the sequences of shocks to housing demand and lending standards needed to replicate the boom–bust patterns in U.S. housing value and mortgage debt from 1993 to 2015. Conditional on the observed paths for U.S. real consumption growth, the real mortgage interest rate, and the supply of residential fixed assets, a specification with random walk expectations outperforms one with rational expectations in plausibly matching the patterns in the data. Counterfactual simulations show that shocks to housing demand, housing supply, and lending standards were important, but movements in the mortgage interest rate were not.
Synaptic protein changes after a chronic period of sensorimotor perturbation in adult rats: a potential role of phosphorylation/O‐GlcNAcylation interplay
Authors: Fourneau Julie , Canu Marie‐Hélène , Cieniewski‐Bernard Caroline , Bastide Bruno , Dupont Erwan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn human, a chronic sensorimotor perturbation (SMP) through prolonged body immobilization alters motor task performance through a combination of peripheral and central factors. Studies performed on a rat model of SMP have shown biomolecular changes and a reorganization of sensorimotor cortex through events such as morphological modifications of dendritic spines (number, length, functionality). However, underlying mechanisms are still unclear. It is well known that phosphorylation regulates a wide field of synaptic activity leading to neuroplasticity. Another post‐translational modification that interplays with phosphorylation is O‐GlcNAcylation. This atypical glycosylation, reversible, and dynamic, is involved in essential cellular and physiological processes such as synaptic activity, neuronal morphogenesis, learning, and memory. We examined potential roles of phosphorylation/O‐GlcNAcylation interplay in synaptic plasticity within rat sensorimotor cortex after a SMP period. For this purpose, sensorimotor cortex synaptosomes were separated by sucrose gradient, in order to isolate a subcellular compartment enriched in proteins involved in synaptic functions. A period of SMP induced plastic changes at the pre‐ and post‐synaptic levels, characterized by a reduction in phosphorylation (synapsin1, α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazoleproprionic acid receptors (AMPAR) GluA2) and expression (synaptophysin, PSD‐95, AMPAR GluA2) of synaptic proteins, as well as a decrease in MAPK/ERK42 activation. Expression levels of O‐GlcNAc transferase/O‐GlcNAcase enzymes was unchanged but we observed a specific reduction of synapsin1 O‐GlcNAcylation in sensorimotor cortex synaptosomes. The synergistic regulation of synapsin1 phosphorylation/O‐GlcNAcylation could affect pre‐synaptic neurotransmitter release. Associated with other pre‐ and post‐synaptic changes, synaptic efficacy could be impaired in somatosensory cortex of SMP rat. Thus, phosphorylation/O‐GlcNAcylation interplay appears to be involved in synaptic plasticity by finely regulating neural activity.
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Rural‐Urban Differences in Human Papillomavirus‐associated Cancer Trends and Rates
Authors: Zahnd Whitney E. , Rodriguez Christofer , Jenkins Wiley D. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPurposeHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease and a known cause of many cancers. Previous research explored HPV‐associated (HPVa) cancer differences by gender or race, but rural‐urban differences in rates and trends have received little attention. This study examined rural‐urban differences in rates and temporal trends for individual HPVa cancers.MethodsThe North American Association of Central Cancer Registries public use data set, representing approximately 93% of the US population, was used to calculate age‐adjusted incidence rates and rate ratios (RR; 2009‐2013) and overall and annual percentage changes (APC; 1995‐2013) for HPVa cancers, including cervical carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, rectum, and oropharynx. Rural‐Urban Continuum Codes were dichotomized into urban (levels 1‐3) and rural (4‐9). RRs and APC analyses were stratified by cancer site, rurality, gender, and race/ethnicity.FindingsCombined HPVa cancers were elevated in rural populations compared to urban (RR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.06‐1.09). Rural females had significantly higher rates of cervical, vaginal, vulvar, oropharyngeal, and anal cancer compared to their urban peers, while rural males had higher rates of penile cancer. Many disparities remained after racial/ethnic stratification (eg, white and black rural females were at increased risk of cervical carcinoma). Regarding trends, rural females and males experienced greater rate increases, or smaller rate decreases, overall and by APC, for nearly every cancer site.ConclusionsRural populations experience consistent disparities in HPVa cancers. Further research should examine contributing behavioral and epidemiological risk factors and interventions to improve HPV vaccination.
Caffeine dosing strategies to optimize alertness during sleep loss
Authors: Vital‐Lopez Francisco G. , Ramakrishnan Sridhar , Doty Tracy J. , Balkin Thomas J. , Reifman Jaques 
Published: May 2018

SummarySleep loss, which affects about one‐third of the US population, can severely impair physical and neurobehavioural performance. Although caffeine, the most widely used stimulant in the world, can mitigate these effects, currently there are no tools to guide the timing and amount of caffeine consumption to optimize its benefits. In this work, we provide an optimization algorithm, suited for mobile computing platforms, to determine when and how much caffeine to consume, so as to safely maximize neurobehavioural performance at the desired time of the day, under any sleep‐loss condition. The algorithm is based on our previously validated Unified Model of Performance, which predicts the effect of caffeine consumption on a psychomotor vigilance task. We assessed the algorithm by comparing the caffeine‐dosing strategies (timing and amount) it identified with the dosing strategies used in four experimental studies, involving total and partial sleep loss. Through computer simulations, we showed that the algorithm yielded caffeine‐dosing strategies that enhanced performance of the predicted psychomotor vigilance task by up to 64% while using the same total amount of caffeine as in the original studies. In addition, the algorithm identified strategies that resulted in equivalent performance to that in the experimental studies while reducing caffeine consumption by up to 65%. Our work provides the first quantitative caffeine optimization tool for designing effective strategies to maximize neurobehavioural performance and to avoid excessive caffeine consumption during any arbitrary sleep‐loss condition.
A neutron tomography study of the Seymchan pallasite
Authors: Kichanov S. E. , Kozlenko D. P. , Lukin E. V. , Rutkauskas A. V. , Krasavin E. A. , Rozanov A. Y. , Savenko B. N. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe internal structure of an olivine‐rich fragment of the Seymchan meteorite was studied using neutron tomography. The differences in the neutron attenuation coefficients of constituent elements of the studied pallasite and the application of modern mathematical algorithms for a three‐dimensional (3‐D) imaging data analysis allow us to obtain a spatial distribution of different meteorite components. The heterogeneous distribution of the nickel in the metal phase was observed. In addition to the resulting 3‐D model of the Seymchan meteorite, the distributions of the volumes, average sizes, and shape‐related parameters of the FeNi metal component and olivine grains were obtained.