bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Layer‐specific strain in dipyridamole stress echo: A new tool for the diagnosis of microvascular angina
Authors: Mandoli Giulia Elena , Cameli Matteo , Minardi Simona , Crudele Felice , Lunghetti Stefano , Mondillo Sergio 
Published: November 2018

BackgroundDipyridamole stress echocardiography (DSE) represents a fundamental test in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). The diagnosis of microvascular disease is still challenging. We aimed to determine the diagnostic value of left ventricular (LV) layer‐specific longitudinal (LS) and circumferential strain (CS) by Speckle Tracking in detecting CAD during DSE and to study if they can help in discriminate between a negative echo and a suspected microvascular angina.Methods and resultsWe enrolled 66 patients with known or suspected CAD. All underwent standard DSE. We identified 3 groups according to the result of DSE (36 negative DSE, 19 positive DSE, 11 indicatives for microvascular disease). Wall motion score index, global LV LS and CS (global longitudinal strain [GLS] and global circumferential strain [GCS]), and layer‐specific LV LS and CS were measured at rest and peak stress. The Delta between rest and peak stress values was calculated. GLS increased after injection in negative DSE and microvascular disease while reducing in positive DSE. Endocardial GCS and transmural GCS values were stable in microvascular disease while increasing significantly in negative DSE, helping in the diagnosis. The specific analysis of endocardial LS showed the most powerful difference between healthy and macrovascular CAD patients, both for LS and CS.ConclusionsGlobal circumferential strain can be a new valuable added tool in the echocardiographic diagnosis of microvascular disease. Endocardial GLS is the best indicator of an altered wall deformation in the presence of macrovascular ischemia.
Cryptic niche differentiation in West African savannah termites as indicated by stable isotopes
Authors: Schyra Janine , Scheu Stefan , Korb Judith 
Published: November 2018

1. Termites consume a wide range of plant material at different stages of decomposition and, accordingly, have been classified into ‘feeding groups’. African savannah ecosystems harbour many termite species, yet most belong to Termitidae. Especially striking is the co‐occurrence of up to eight Macrotermitinae and five Trinervitermes species, each having apparently identical trophic niches, i.e. fungus‐growers and grass‐feeders, respectively.2. This study examined stable isotope signatures of 15N and 13C of West African savannah termites to test the validity of existing feeding group concepts and whether there is fine‐scaled niche differentiation of species within feeding groups. Despite a phylogenetic signal that species from the same subfamily and congenerics have correlated isotope signatures, evidence of niche differentiation was found.3. Interestingly, species with similar δ15N values generally differed in δ13C values, and vice versa. The dominant mound‐building fungus‐grower Macrotermes bellicosus had the lowest δ15N values among all fungus‐growers, indicating that it occupies a different trophic niche.4. This fine‐scaled differentiation along the trophic niche axis can help to explain the coexistence of so many apparently identical termite species.
Rain, predators and vegetation lushness may structure web‐building spider communities along precipitation gradients
Authors: Robertson Mark , Avilés Leticia 
Published: November 2018

1. Web building spider communities represent a vehicle for addressing how abiotic and biotic factors interact to structure natural communities.2. The present study investigates how intense rainfall and potential predation by ants affect the proportion of three‐dimensional (3D) versus two‐dimensional (2D) spider webs along precipitation gradients.3. Besides capturing prey, 3D webs may provide protection against predators, but they require a much greater material investment to be built than 2D webs. If costs take precedence over predator protection benefits, the proportion of 3D webs would decrease as precipitation increases (the ‘rain intensity’ hypothesis). Alternatively, if predator protection benefits take precedence, and the abundance of ants and other predators increases with precipitation, the proportion of 3D webs would increase with precipitation (the ‘predation risk’ hypothesis).4. Seven sites were selected along a rain gradient of relatively uniform elevation and latitude in western Ecuador. Rain intensity, ant abundance and vegetation lushness (leaf area, canopy cover, tree diameter) were all observed to increase along the gradient, as did vegetation cover immediately above each web.5. Relative to 2D webs, 3D webs increased in frequency with annual rainfall, consistent with the predation risk hypothesis but counter to the rain intensity hypothesis.6. In areas of greater precipitation, however, lusher vegetation provided greater immediate vegetation cover to webs. Microhabitat factors may thus mitigate the destructive power of intense rainfall, thus allowing the predator protection benefits of 3D webs to be realised despite the occurrence of strong rains.
Robust soil mapping at the farm scale with vis–NIR spectroscopy
Authors: Ramirez‐Lopez L. , Wadoux A. M. J.‐C. , Franceschini M. H. D. , Terra F. S. , Marques K. P. P. , Sayão V. M. , Demattê J. A. M. 
Published: November 2018

SummarySustainable agriculture practices are often hampered by the prohibitive costs associated with the generation of fine‐resolution soil maps. Recently, several papers have been published highlighting how visible and near infrared (vis–NIR) reflectance spectroscopy may offer an alternative to address this problem by increasing the density of soil sampling and by reducing the number of conventional laboratory analyses needed. However, for farm‐scale soil mapping, previous studies rarely focused on sample optimization for the calibration of vis–NIR models or on robust modelling of the spatial variation of soil properties predicted by vis–NIR spectroscopy. In the present study, we used soil vis–NIR spectroscopy models optimized in terms of both number of calibration samples and accuracy for high‐resolution robust farm‐scale soil mapping and addressed some of the most common pitfalls identified in previous research. We collected 910 samples from 458 locations at two depths (A, 0–0.20 m; B, 0.80–1.0 m) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. All soil samples were analysed by conventional methods and scanned in the vis–NIR spectral range. With the vis–NIR spectra only, we inferred statistically the optimal set size and the best samples with which to calibrate vis–NIR models. The calibrated vis–NIR models were validated and used to predict soil properties for the rest of the samples. The prediction error of the spectroscopic model was propagated through the spatial analysis, in which robust block kriging was used to predict particle‐size fractions and exchangeable calcium content for each depth. The results indicated that statistical selection of the calibration samples based on vis–NIR spectra considerably decreased the need for conventional chemical analysis for a given level of mapping accuracy. The methods tested in this research were developed and implemented using open‐source software. All codes and data are provided for reproducible research purposes.HighlightsVis–NIR spectroscopy enables an increase in sampling density with little additional cost.Guided selection of vis–NIR calibration samples reduced the need for conventional soil analysis.Error of spectroscopic model prediction was propagated by spatial analysis.Maps from the vis–NIR augmented dataset were almost as accurate as those from conventional soil analysis.
Paving the road to ‘legal revolution’: The Dutch origins of the first preliminary references in European law (1957–1963)
Authors: van Leeuwen Karin 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis article reconsiders the driving forces behind the active role of Dutch courts in the early development of European law by analysing the histories of the 1962 Bosch and 1963 Van Gend en Loos preliminary references. The legal context of these path‐breaking references and their crucial impact on the development of a constitutional doctrine in European law are evident. Yet for understanding the emergence of the cases, their political and economic contexts need to be added to the well‐known favourable constitutional settlement from which they arose. Adding contingency to the narrative of the Netherlands as the proverbial ‘good European’, this article reports how the pavement for the ‘road to Luxembourg’ was made up of materials as diverse as an open stance towards international law, a black market in electronic equipment, and a dispute on the definition of Harnstoffharz.
Heterogeneous impacts of provincial governance on household welfare in Vietnam
Authors: Tran Tuyen Quang , Doan Tinh Thanh , Van Vu Huong , Nguyen Hien Thi 
Published: November 2018

This study investigated the role of provincial governance in the growth of per capita income of Vietnamese households, using a balanced panel data set for the period 2012–2014. Although we found no evidence for the influence of provincial governance when a linear fixed‐effect regression estimator was used, the results from a fixed‐effect quantile regression estimator revealed that provincial governance has a positive effect on all groups (but not the poorest) and that the effect tends to be greater for better‐off households. In addition, we found that wage employment plays a larger role in the income growth of poorer households, whereas returns on education are greater for richer households. The findings suggest that a mean regression approach that looks only a t the role of explanatory variables on mean household welfare, and does not consider differences in the distribution of household welfare, may miss some heterogeneity that is of interest to policymakers.Key Practitioner Message:• Using a quantile regression approach has allowed the current study to provide new insight into the role of household‐related factors in household welfare. • Finding shows that good governance tends to provide greater benefits to richer households than to other groups in the population.
Infant Electroencephalogram Coherence and Toddler Inhibition are Associated with Social Responsiveness at Age 4
Authors: Broomell Alleyne P. R. , Savla Jyoti , Bell Martha Ann 
Published: November 2018

Previous work has suggested that individual differences in infant functional neuroconnectivity are a potential biomarker for later cognitive and social outcomes, but the mechanisms are unclear. This study investigated a longitudinal model of infant frontotemporal electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence predicting toddler inhibition, which then predicted childhood social responsiveness. A structural equation model showed good fit, with increased right hemisphere frontotemporal EEG coherence predicting less inhibition at age 2, which in turn predicted less social responsiveness at age 4. These findings support the hypothesis that infant frontotemporal connectivity is indirectly associated with later social behavior, with toddler inhibition as a potential mechanism.
Cyprus as an ancient hub for house mice and humans
Authors: García‐Rodríguez Oxala , Andreou Demetra , Herman Jeremy S. , Mitsainas George P. , Searle Jeremy B. , Bonhomme François , Hadjisterkotis Eleftherios , Schutkowski Holger , Stafford Richard , Stewart John R. , Hardouin Emilie A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAimThe distribution of the western house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) around the world has been strongly influenced by the movement of humans. The close association between the house mouse and human phylogeography has been primarily studied in the peripheral distribution of the species. Here, we inferred the complex colonization history of Cyprus, situated close to the centre of the house mouse distribution and one of the first European islands to be colonized by the species. We investigated the resulting complexity of house mouse population genetics as well as considering the value of the house mouse as a bioproxy for studying modern human movement.LocationThe study was carried out on Cyprus.MethodsThe analysis was performed using 221 new mitochondrial D‐loop sequences and assessed the fine‐scale population genetic structure using 18 autosomal microsatellite loci from 191 modern house mice specimens.ResultsWe found a high genetic variability in the island that is illustrated by the presence of individuals from 9 of the 11 previously identified house mouse haplogroups for the D‐loop, reflecting the hub‐like nature of the island to mice. Two main waves of mouse introductions were tentatively identified based on coalescent and mismatch analysis. The first is apparently related to the Bronze Age expansion and the second one to more recent human movements. Cyprus represents an island with high complexity due to different introductions related to human transport and activity.Main conclusionsThe dispersal of mice along with humans has left a complex footprint on the island with two main waves of introductions suggested. The phylogeography of the house mouse on Cyprus is in concordance with the complex human colonization history of the island and validates the use of the house mouse as a proxy to study human migration.
Diallyl disulfide down‐regulates calreticulin and promotes C/EBPα expression in differentiation of human leukaemia cells
Authors: Sun Jing , Mu Hongxiang , Yu Jia , Li Linwei , Yan Hongxia , Li Guoqing , Tan Hui , Yang Nanyang , Yang Xiaoyan , Yi Lan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractDiallyl disulfide (DADS), the main active component of the cancer fighting allyl sulfides found in garlic, has shown potential as a therapeutic agent in various cancers. Previous studies showed DADS induction of HL‐60 cell differentiation involves down‐regulation of calreticulin (CRT). Here, we investigated the mechanism of DADS‐induced differentiation of human leukaemia cells and the potential involvement of CRT and CCAAT enhancer binding protein‐α (C/EBPα). We explored the expression of CRT and C/EBPα in clinical samples (20 healthy people and 19 acute myeloid leukaemia patients) and found that CRT and C/EBPα expressions were inversely correlated. DADS induction of differentiation of HL‐60 cells resulted in down‐regulated CRT expression and elevated C/EBPα expression. In severe combined immunodeficiency mice injected with HL‐60 cells, DADS inhibited the growth of tumour tissue and decreased CRT levels and increased C/EBPα in vivo. We also found that DADS‐mediated down‐regulation of CRT and up‐regulation of C/EBPα involved enhancement of reactive oxidative species. RNA immunoprecipitation revealed that CRT bound C/EBPα mRNA, indicating its regulation of C/EBPα mRNA degradation by binding the UG‐rich element in the 3′ untranslated region of C/EBPα. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the C/EBPα expression was correlated with CRT expression in vitro and in vivo and the molecular mechanism of DADS‐induced leukaemic cell differentiation.
Rates of antibiotic resistance/sensitivity in bacterial cultures of hidradenitis suppurativa patients
Authors: Bettoli V. , Manfredini M. , Massoli L. , Carillo C. , Barozzi A. , Amendolagine G. , Ruina G. , Musmeci D. , Libanore M. , Curtolo A. , Mantovani L. , Contini C. , Pellacani G. , Corazza M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundAntibiotic (AB) treatment is one of the first steps in the management of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Bacteria, in HS patients, may play a double role, as triggering factors of inflammatory reactions and/or agents of infection.ObjectivesThe aims of this study are as follows: (i) to assess prevalence and AB resistance of bacterial growths in HS patients (ii) assessment of the clinical relevance of obtained data in guiding the selection of the most effective AB therapy.MethodsPurulent material from 137 skin lesions of HS patients was collected with swabs. Bacterial flora and AB sensitivity were determined using microbiological cultures for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.ResultsA total of 114 samples resulted positive for bacteria. Sample was collected from the axillae, groin and perianal areas. A total of 163 single bacterial growths were observed; 55% were Gram‐positive and 44% were Gram‐negative. Among them, 18.4% were anaerobic. The most frequent bacterial families included enterobacteriaceae (30.7%), Staphylococcus (25.2%) and Streptococcus (14.1%). The most frequent genus or species were proteus spp. (13.5%) and Escherichia coli (9.8%). The prevalence of AB resistance observed was clindamycin 65.7%, rifampicin 69.3%, penicillin 70.0%, ciprofloxacin 74%, tetracycline 84.7% and erythromycin 89.0%. A limitation of the study is represented the short culture period adopted which may have impaired the isolation of anaerobes.ConclusionsBacterial growth in HS patients has shown a high level of resistance to ABs, including rifampicin, clindamycin and tetracyclines, cited as an empiric choice in HS therapeutic guidelines. A targeted and specific AB therapy, driven by microbiological evaluations with prolonged culture periods, seems more appropriate than empiric, generic, non‐specific, therapeutic approaches. Current knowledge regarding HS bacterial AB resistance should be considered in the update of current therapeutic guidelines for HS.
Liver stiffness measurements in chronic hepatitis C: Treatment evaluation and risk assessment
Authors: Nakagomi Ryo , Tateishi Ryosuke , Masuzaki Ryota , Soroida Yoko , Iwai Tomomi , Kondo Mayuko , Fujiwara Naoto , Sato Masaya , Minami Tatsuya , Uchino Koji , Enooku Kenichiro , Nakagawa Hayato , Asaoka Yoshinari , Kondo Yuji , Tanaka Yasuo , Otsuka Motoyuki , Kato Naoya , Moriya Kyoji , Ikeda Hitoshi , Koike Kazuhiko 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackground and AimLiver stiffness (LS), measured by transient elastography, has been validated as a non‐invasive surrogate for liver fibrosis.MethodsWe investigated the long‐term predictive ability of LS for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and overall survival in 1146 patients with chronic hepatitis C by using LS value at enrollment. We also investigated chronological changes in LS based on antiviral therapy and its outcome in 752 patients.ResultsDuring the mean follow‐up period of 6.6 years, 190 patients developed HCC. Cumulative HCC incidence rates at 5 years were clearly stratified as 1.7% in the ≤ 5 kPa, 3.3% in 5.1–10 kPa, 16.7% in 10.1–15 kPa, 24.4% in 15.1–20 kPa, 36.3% in 20.1–25 kPa, and 43.7% in > 25 kPa subgroups (P < 0.001). Overall survival was also stratified: 10‐year survival rates were 99.3% in the ≤ 5 kPa, 95.4% in 5.1–10 kPa, 81.4% in 10.1–15 kPa, 79.5% in 15.1–20 kPa, 66.1% in 20.1–25 kPa, and 49.1% in > 25 kPa subgroups (P < 0.001). LS decreased at a rate of 8.1% per year in those who achieved sustained virological responses, but increased at 0.1% per year in those who could not achieve sustained virological response instead of antiviral therapy, and increased at 3.7% per year in those who did not undergo antiviral therapy.ConclusionsLiver stiffness measurements can be useful in the prediction of HCC development and overall survival and in the evaluation of chronological changes in liver fibrosis grade during and after antiviral therapy.
Risk of skin cancers in thiopurines‐treated and thiopurines‐untreated patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang Shao‐Zhuo , Liu Zhi‐Cheng , Liao Wei‐Xin , Wei Jun‐Xiao , Huang Xiao‐Wen , Yang Chen , Xia Yu‐Han , Li Lu , Ye Chao , Dai Shi‐Xue 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackground and AimThe thiopurines are effective in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the association between thiopurines use and the risk of skin cancer (including nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC] and melanoma skin cancer) has already been sufficiently reported. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent, and thus, the objective of our analysis was to explore whether thiopurines can lead to an excess risk of skin cancer in IBD patients.MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched to identify relevant studies that evaluated the risk of skin cancer in IBD patients treated with thiopurines. A random effects meta‐analysis was conducted to calculate the pooled incidence rate ratios as well as risk ratios (RRs). Subgroup analysis was performed to explore the potential source of heterogeneity.ResultsThirteen studies comprising 149 198 participants were included. The result suggested that thiopurines significantly increased the risk of overall skin cancer in IBD patients (random effects: RR = 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–2.87, P = 0.013), among which NMSC showed an excess risk associated with thiopurines use (random effects: RR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.48–2.38, P < 0.001) while no increased risk was observed with respect to melanoma skin cancer (random effects: RR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.90–1.65, P = 0.206). Subgroup analysis regarding sample size and geographic distribution in skin cancer and follow‐up duration in NMSC reached statistical significance, while other subgroups showed no significance.ConclusionExposition of thiopurines in patients with IBD is associated with a higher risk of skin cancer. Routine skin screening and daily skin protective practice are recommended for these patients.
Peer Victimization and Sexual Risk Taking Among Adolescents
Authors: Holt Melissa , Espelage Dorothy , Van Ryzin Mark , Bowman Chelsey 
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUNDResearch indicates that victimization exposures are associated with sexual risk‐taking behaviors, but there is a relative lack of research on the relation between peer victimization and sexual risk taking among adolescents. This study fills this gap through examining how bullying, cyberbullying, and dating violence victimization at baseline are related to sexual risk‐taking behaviors 1 year later.METHODSParticipants were a convenience sample of 220 sexually active high school students who were drawn from a larger sample of 2205 adolescents attending 6 high schools in Illinois. Adolescents completed Wave 1 surveys in Spring 2015 and Wave 2 surveys in Spring 2016.RESULTSLatent difference score models indicated that bullying victimization was not related to sexual risk‐taking behaviors. Baseline levels of cyberbullying and verbal teen dating violence, however, were both associated with more sex under the influence of alcohol at Wave 2. Further, findings revealed that changes over time in verbal teen dating violence victimization were associated with changes over time in sex under the influence of alcohol.CONCLUSIONSGiven links between peer victimization exposures and sexual risk‐taking behaviors, school‐based prevention and intervention efforts should address these in concert with one another.