bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RItA: The Italian severe/uncontrolled asthma registry
Authors: Maio S. , Baldacci S. , Bresciani M. , Simoni M. , Latorre M. , Murgia N. , Spinozzi F. , Braschi M. , Antonicelli L. , Brunetto B. , Iacovacci P. , Roazzi P. , Pini C. , Pata M. , La Grasta L. , Paggiaro P. , Viegi G. ,   the AGAVE group
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe Italian severe/uncontrolled asthma (SUA) web‐based registry encompasses demographic, clinical, functional, and inflammatory data; it aims to raise SUA awareness, identifying specific phenotypes and promoting optimal care.MethodsFour hundred and ninety three adult patients from 27 Italian centers (recruited in 2011‐2014) were analyzed.ResultsMean age was 53.8 years. SUA patients were more frequently female (60.6%), with allergic asthma (83.1%). About 30% showed late onset of asthma diagnosis/symptoms (>40 years); the mean age for asthma symptoms onset was 30.2 years and for asthma diagnosis 34.4 years. 97.1% used ICS (dose 2000 BDP), 93.6% LABA in association with ICS, 53.3% LTRAs, 64.1% anti‐IgE, 10.7% theophylline, and 16.0% oral corticosteroids. Mean FEV1% pred of 75.1%, median values of 300/mm3 of blood eosinophil count, 323 kU/L of serum total IgE, and 24 ppb of FENO were shown. Most common comorbidities were allergic rhinitis (62.4%), gastroesophageal reflux (42.1%), sinusitis (37.9%), nasal polyposis (30.2%), and allergic conjunctivitis (30.2%). 55.7% of SUA patients had exacerbations in the last 12 months, 9.7% emergency department visits, and 7.3% hospitalizations. Factors associated with exacerbation risk were obesity (OR, 95% CI 2.46, 1.11‐5.41), psychic disorders (2.87, 0.89‐9.30—borderline), nasal polyps (1.86, 0.88‐3.89—borderline), partial/poor asthma treatment adherence (2.54, 0.97‐6.67—borderline), and anti‐IgE use in a protective way (0.26, 0.12‐0.53). Comparisons to severe asthma multicenter studies and available registries showed data consistency across European and American populations.ConclusionsAn international effort in the implementation of SUA patients’ registries could help to better understand the clinical features and to manage severe asthma, representing a non‐negligible socioeconomic burden for health services.
Urinalysis of MMX‐mesalazine as a tool to monitor 5‐ASA adherence in daily IBD practice
Authors: Römkens Tessa E. H. , te Morsche Rene , Peters Wilbert , Burger David M. , Hoentjen Frank , Drenth Joost P. H. 
Published: October 2017

Adherence is pivotal but challenging in ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment. Many methods to assess adherence are subjective or have limitations. (Nac‐)5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) urinalysis by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) seems feasible and reproducible in healthy volunteers. We performed a prospective study in adult quiescent UC patients to evaluate the feasibility of spot (Nac‐)5‐ASA urinalysis by HPLC to assess adherence in daily inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care. Twenty‐nine patients (51.7% male, mean age 52 ± 11 years) were included (median FU 9 months) and weekly spot urine samples were collected. We found large variation in spot (Nac‐)5‐ASA urinary excretion that was unrelated to brand, dosing schedule or dosage of 5‐ASA. In conclusion, spot (Nac‐)5‐ASA urinalysis is not applicable to assess 5‐ASA adherence in daily IBD care.
Cox Regression Model with Doubly Truncated Data
Authors: Rennert Lior , Xie Sharon X. 
Published: October 2017

SummaryTruncation is a well-known phenomenon that may be present in observational studies of time-to-event data. While many methods exist to adjust for either left or right truncation, there are very few methods that adjust for simultaneous left and right truncation, also known as double truncation. We propose a Cox regression model to adjust for this double truncation using a weighted estimating equation approach, where the weights are estimated from the data both parametrically and nonparametrically, and are inversely proportional to the probability that a subject is observed. The resulting weighted estimators of the hazard ratio are consistent. The parametric weighted estimator is asymptotically normal and a consistent estimator of the asymptotic variance is provided. For the nonparametric weighted estimator, we apply the bootstrap technique to estimate the variance and confidence intervals. We demonstrate through extensive simulations that the proposed estimators greatly reduce the bias compared to the unweighted Cox regression estimator which ignores truncation. We illustrate our approach in an analysis of autopsy-confirmed Alzheimer's disease patients to assess the effect of education on survival.
The Political Effects of Accounting Normalization on Trade Unions: An Analysis of Financial Transparency Reform in France
Authors: Bourguignon Rémi , Yon Karel 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe law of 20 August 2008 reformed the representativeness of French unions by imposing an obligation for ‘financial transparency’. Building on exploratory research, we address the question of the organizational and political effects of the new regulation, which point to a traditional debate in union democracy studies: how do administrative and representative rationalities combine within trade union organizations? Drawing on interviews with union leaders and finance officers at various levels in three major labour confederations (CGT, CFDT and CGT‐FO), we describe the different ways unionists have received the new accounting requirements and translated them into organizational practices and norms. Going beyond the traditional theses of compatibility and colonization, we make use of the body of work in critical legal and management studies to develop an endogenous approach of the relationships between trade unions and accounting management.
Use of long‐term data to evaluate loss and endangerment status of Natura 2000 habitats and effects of protected areas
Authors: Biró Marianna , Bölöni János , Molnár Zsolt 
Published: October 2017

AbstractHabitat loss is a key driver of biodiversity loss. However, hardly any long‐term time series analyses of habitat loss are available above the local scale for finer‐level habitat categories. We analysed, from a long‐term perspective, the habitat specificity of habitat‐area loss, the change in trends in habitat loss since 1989 (dissolution of the communist state), and the impact of protected areas on habitat loss in Hungary. We studied 20 seminatural habitat types in 5000 randomly selected localities over 7 periods from 1783 to 2013 based on historical maps, archival and recent aerial photos and satellite imagery, botanical descriptions, and field data. We developed a method for estimating habitat types based on information transfer between historical sources (i.e., information from a source was used to interpret or enrich information from another source). Trends in habitat loss over time were habitat specific. We identified 7 types of habitat loss over time regarding functional form: linear, exponential, linear and exponential, delayed, minimum, maximum, and disappearance. Most habitats had continuous loss from period to period. After 1986 the average annual rates of habitat loss increased, but the trend reversed after 2002. Nature conservation measures significantly affected habitat loss; net loss was halted, albeit only inside protected areas. When calculating the degree of endangerment based on short‐term data (52 years), we classified only 1 habitat as critically endangered, but based on long‐term data (230 years), this increased to 7 (including habitat that no longer existed). Hungary will probably reach the global Convention on Biological Diversity Target 5 but will probably not achieve the EU Biodiversity Strategy target of halting habitat loss by 2020. Long‐term trend data were highly useful when we examined recent habitat‐loss data in a wider context. Our method could be applied effectively in other countries to augment shorter‐term data sets on trends in habitat area.
Determining significance of input neurons for probabilistic neural network by sensitivity analysis procedure
Authors: Kowalski Piotr A. , Kusy Maciej 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn classical feedforward neural networks such as multilayer perceptron, radial basis function network, or counter‐propagation network, the neurons in the input layer correspond to features of the training patterns. The number of these features may be large, and their meaningfulness can be various. Therefore, the selection of appropriate input neurons should be regarded. The aim of this paper is to present a complete step‐by‐step algorithm for determining the significance of particular input neurons of the probabilistic neural network (PNN). It is based on the sensitivity analysis procedure applied to a trained PNN. The proposed algorithm is utilized in the task of reduction of the input layer of the considered network, which is achieved by removing appropriately indicated features from the data set. For comparison purposes, the PNN's input neuron significance is established by using the ReliefF and variable importance procedures that provide the relevance of the input features in the data set. The performance of the reduced PNN is verified against a full structure network in classification problems using real benchmark data sets from an available machine learning repository. The achieved results are also referred to the ones attained by entropy‐based algorithms. The prediction ability expressed in terms of misclassifications is obtained by means of a 10‐fold cross‐validation procedure. Received outcomes point out interesting properties of the proposed algorithm. It is shown that the efficiency determined by all tested reduction methods is comparable.
Top‐down contextual knowledge guides visual attention in infancy
Authors: Tummeltshammer Kristen , Amso Dima 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe visual context in which an object or face resides can provide useful top‐down information for guiding attention orienting, object recognition, and visual search. Although infants have demonstrated sensitivity to covariation in spatial arrays, it is presently unclear whether they can use rapidly acquired contextual knowledge to guide attention during visual search. In this eye‐tracking experiment, 6‐ and 10‐month‐old infants searched for a target face hidden among colorful distracter shapes. Targets appeared in Old or New visual contexts, depending on whether the visual search arrays (defined by the spatial configuration, shape and color of component items in the search display) were repeated or newly generated throughout the experiment. Targets in Old contexts appeared in the same location within the same configuration, such that context covaried with target location. Both 6‐ and 10‐month‐olds successfully distinguished between Old and New contexts, exhibiting faster search times, fewer looks at distracters, and more anticipation of targets when contexts repeated. This initial demonstration of contextual cueing effects in infants indicates that they can use top‐down information to facilitate orienting during memory‐guided visual search.
Coaptation Triangle and Golden Proportion in mitral valve anatomy. Does nature play with geometry?
Authors: Deorsola Luca , Bellone Alessandra 
Published: October 2017

IntroductionThe Coaptation Triangle, or Tenting Area, can be identified on long‐axis 2D images. Its assessment is a routine practice during echocardiographic mitral evaluation. The Golden Proportion is a particular geometric ratio between two segments. Its value is an irrational number, commonly rounded to 0.618 and showing unique geometrical/mathematical properties. Interestingly, its presence has been documented in an extremely variable number of natural settings. Hypothesizing the presence of the Golden Proportion in normal mitral anatomy, we examined the Coaptation Triangle of healthy valves to investigate such a theory.Methods and ResultsA total of 41 healthy adults, with normal mitral valves, underwent 2D echocardiography. Adequate images were chosen and loaded into custom software. Firstly, the Coaptation Triangle was manually drawn by the operator. Then, a second Coaptation Triangle, with the same base, but based on Golden Proportion, was automatically built by the software. Eventually, the two triangles were analyzed and compared. All retrieved measurements were investigated for differences and correlations. Ratios close to the Golden Proportion were found in several locations of the manually drawn Coaptation Triangle. On the other hand, comparing the manually drawn Coaptation Triangle with the automatically built one, no significant differences were revealed, and very strong correlations were demonstrated.ConclusionThe Golden Proportion appears present in the geometry of normal mitral valves. Studying such an aspect and identifying disruption in anatomical proportions could improve early diagnosis of mitral alterations, and allows a more standardized follow‐up and help surgeons to plan a repair strategy, particularly quantifying the needed surgical modifications.
Hemodynamic assessment of Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis by dobutamine stress echocardiography
Authors: Rubino Antonino S. , Biancari Fausto , Caruso Vincenzo , Lavanco Vincenzo , Privitera Fiorella , Rinaldi Ivana , Sanfilippo Maria , Millan Giovanni , D'Urso Lucia V. , Castorina Sergio , Mignosa Carmelo 
Published: October 2017

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic performance of a sutureless bioprosthesis under high workload at mid‐term follow‐up.MethodsThirty‐two patients who underwent isolated aortic valve replacement with a Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis with a minimum follow‐up of 1 year were enrolled in this study. S size prosthesis was deployed in 10 patients (31.3%), M size in 9 (28.1%), L size in 8 (25%) and XL size in 5 (15.6%). Effective orifice area (EOA), EOA index (EOAi), and transvalvular gradients were assessed at rest and during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) a median of 19.5 months after surgery.ResultsDobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) significantly increased heart rate, stroke volume, ejection fraction, and transvalvular gradients (peak gradient, 24.0 ± 7.6 vs 38.7 ± 13.6 mm Hg, P < .001; mean gradient, 12.6 ± 4.2 vs 19.8 ± 8.3, P < .001). When compared to baseline, estimated valve areas significantly increased at follow‐up (EOA, 1.48 ± 0.46 vs 2.06 ± 0.67, P < .001; EOAi, 0.84 ± 0.26 vs 1.17 ± 0.37, P < .001). Mean percentage increase in EOAi was 40.3% ± 28.0%. S size prostheses had the highest increase in EOA1, but the difference was not significant (S 46.0% ± 27.5% vs M 45.4% ± 34.5% vs L 32.7% ± 26.4% vs XL 32.1% ± 20.5%, P = .66). Severe patient‐prosthesis mismatch (EOAi ≤ 0.65 cm2/m2) was present at rest in 8 patients (25%), but only in one patient (3.1%) during DSE.ConclusionsThe Perceval sutureless bioprosthesis demonstrated good hemodynamics at rest and under high workload. The significant increase in EOAi during DSE suggests the potential advantages of Perceval sutureless bioprostheses in case of small aortic annulus or when patient‐prosthesis mismatch is anticipated.
Spontaneous embolization of an atrial septal defect occluder device into the left ventricular outflow tract in a patient with pulmonary stenosis
Authors: Agca Mustafa , Naser Abdulrahman , Guner Ahmet , Kılıcgedik Alev , Celik Mehmet , Akgun Taylan , Alpay Emine , Yanartas Mehmet , Kahveci Gokhan 
Published: October 2017

A 24‐year‐old man was admitted to our outpatient clinic for his routine checkup of consecutively percutaneously treated atrial septal defect (ASD) and pulmonary valvular stenosis 45 days ago. A 24 mm ASD occluder device was implanted under transthoracic echocardiographic guidance and 80 mm Hg peak‐to‐peak pulmonary valvular gradient decreased to 20 mm Hg gradient after pulmonary valve dilatation with 23 mm NUMED II transluminal valvuloplasty catheter balloon. Atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is now routinely performed using a percutaneous approach under echocardiographic guidance especially transthoracic echocardiography (TEE). Centrally located, ostium secundum type and less than 3.5 cm in size are considered ideal for device closure. Although there is considerable variation in size and location of the defects, TEE guidance is quite important for this proportion of ASDs. The selection of patients for percutaneous transcatheter closure of a secundum ASD requires accurate information regarding the anatomy of the defect such as its maximal diameter and the amount of circumferential tissue rims.
Evolution of the optimal reproductive schedule in the antCamponotus (Colobopsis) nipponicus(wheeler): a demographic approach
Authors: HASEGAWA EISUKE , WATANABE SAORI , MURAKAMI YUUKA 
Published: October 2017

1. Traits are hypothesised to optimise via natural selection. The schedule of reproduction is an important adaptive trait, but its evolution is difficult to study, as measuring parameters is usually difficult. However, the sufficient amounts of demographic data enable us to estimate these parameters.2. Here, it is shown that the reproductive schedule of the antCamponotus (Colobopsis) nipponicusis tuned to maximise the lifetime production of alates.3. A colony started its reproduction 4 years after the colony founding, at which time they were far smaller than well‐developed colonies. This contradicts the prediction of the bang‐bang strategy theory. The size distribution of colonies in the study area showed that the mortality of small colonies is much higher than that of large colonies.4. A simulation analysis suggests that the colonies that are smaller than the threshold can still achieve significant improvement in colny survival to the following year by investing all resources in colony growth instead of reproduction. A sensitivity analysis for the starting year of reproduction showed that the observed schedule maximises lifetime alate production. The demographic data suggest a stable population, which is required for optimisation through this maximisation.5. The observed reproductive schedule must be optimised, and the breakdown of the bang‐bang theory is due to higher mortalities during the incipient stage of colonies. This study demonstrates that having enough demographic data creates a useful tool for studying the evolution of life‐history characteristics.
Rediscovery of the “extinct” blind ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae)
Authors: Sugaya Kazuki , Ogawa Ryo , Hara Yusuke 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe blind ground beetle Ishikawatrechus intermedius (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae), called Kadota‐mekurachibigomimushi in Japanese, was first found in 1952 in the cave Ôchi‐dô, Kôchi Prefecture, Japan. However, this cave and a large part of the surrounding hill were destroyed by limestone mining in the 1970s. Because most species of blind ground beetles are restricted to specific caves or cave systems, I. intermedius has been considered endemic to very narrow areas of the cave Ôchi‐dô and the upper hypogean zone around the cave. Therefore, I. intermedius was considered to have become extinct. In this study, during 2011–2015, we collected ten individuals of a blind ground beetle, which appeared to be I. intermedius, from the upper hypogean zone, approximately 0.3–1.0 m below ground, in the southern part of the type locality. A comparison with type specimens indicated that the individuals were indeed I. intermedius. Therefore, we conclude that I. intermedius survives in the upper hypogean zone near the type locality. The results of this study will be useful for quickly establishing conservation measures for threatened or vulnerable species of Trechinae beetles.
Aggressiveness of ants attracted to the extrafloral nectary‐bearing plant, Mallotus japonicus, and temporal fluctuations in their abundance
Authors: Yamawo Akira , Hada Yoshio , Tagawa Jun 
Published: October 2017

AbstractMany plants that bear extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) attract various ant species that can exclude herbivores. The aggressiveness of the attracted ants and their temporal activity patterns are important factors that can affect the efficiency of herbivore exclusion from the plant. However, the characteristics of this mutualistic relationship between EFN‐bearing plants and ants have not been sufficiently elucidated. We investigated the aggressiveness of six ant species against the common armyworm, Spodoptera litura Fabr., and temporal fluctuations in the abundance of four aggressive ant species on an EFN‐bearing plant, Mallotus japonicus (L.f.) Müll. Arg. Workers of Crematogaster teranishii Santschi, Pheidole noda Smith, Pristomyrmex punctatus Smith and Formica japonica Motschoulsky were observed to be highly aggressive. In contrast, workers of Camponotus vitiosus Smith showed low aggressiveness. Paratrechina flavipes Smith workers did not attack the herbivore. The activity patterns of the four aggressive ant species greatly differed. Crematogaster teranishii and Ph. noda workers were constantly active throughout the day and night. In contrast, F. japonica was diurnal. Pristomyrmex punctatus was principally nocturnal. Formica japonica workers foraged solitarily, whereas workers of the other three species foraged in a group or recruited nestmates. Our results suggest that the efficacy of the indirect defense in M. japonicus depends principally on the attracted ant species.
Molecular phylogeny of the tribe Erotini with description of a new genus from China (Coleoptera: Lycidae)
Authors: Li Yun , Pang Hong , Bocak Ladislav 
Published: October 2017

AbstractErotini is a small tribe of net‐winged beetles known from the northern temperate zone. We investigated relationships and limits of tribes and genera using a molecular phylogeny inferred fromrrnL,cox1andnad5mtDNA fragments.LopherosLeconte, 1881 andPseudaplatopterusKleine, 1940 were inferred in current molecular analyses as terminal lineages within Erotini. Therefore, we consider Lopherotini Kazantsev, 2012 and Pseudaplatopterina Kazantsev, 2012 as junior synonyms of Erotini Leconte, 1881. ThePlatycisgenus group comprises 19 species representing several genus‐group taxa previously placed inPlatyciss. l.KonoplatycisNakane, 1969 was recovered as a deeply rooted lineage of Erotini and we inferred another independent lineage for which we propose a new genusSinoplatycisgen. nov.Additionally, we studied the diversity ofPlatyciss. l. in Asia, found their highest diversity in the temperate forest habitats of Eastern Asia and inferred the paraphyletic character of the subgenusErotidess. str. Five new species are described from China:Sinoplatycis cardinalissp. nov.,S. zhanisp. nov.(type species ofSinoplatycisgen. nov.),Erotides brunnescenssp. nov.,E. pusillussp. nov.andE. slipinskiisp. nov.The molecular phylogeny shows deep splits of Japanese species with respect to the continental Eurasian fauna and the role of shallow seas and mountain systems in the diversification of thePlatycisgenus group.
Two new myrmecophilous species of the genus Scutacarus (Acari: Prostigmata: Scutacaridae) with world keys to related species groups
Authors: Sobhi Mohammad , Hajiqanbar Hamidreza , Mortazavi Azim 
Published: October 2017

AbstractIn a survey on heterostigmatic mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Heterostigmata) associated with insects including ants in northwestern Iran, two new species of myrmecophilous mites of the genus Scutacarus (Acari: Scutacaridae) were found. They are S. shajariani sp. nov. phoretic on Tetramorium sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and S. ebermanni sp. nov. phoretic on Messor sp. The mentioned new species belong to groups of species with reduced setae e and h2, and no setae 4b, respectively. These two new species are described and illustrated, and world keys are provided for respective species groups.