bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epicardial fat thickness is associated with aortic intima‐media thickness in patients without clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Authors: Acele Armağan , Baykan Ahmet O. , Yüksel Kalkan Gülhan , Çeliker Emel , Gür Mustafa 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundAlthough the relationship between epicardial fat thickness (EFTh) and coronary atherosclerosis is well established, this relation in the early periods of atherosclerosis has not been fully demonstrated. On the other hand, thoracic aortic intima‐media thickness (IMT) rather than carotid IMT was reported as an earlier marker of preclinical atherosclerosis.ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the relationship between thoracic aortic IMT and EFTh in patients undergoing transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination for different indications.MethodsWe included 104 patients (mean age 38±11.4 years), who underwent TEE for various indications. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median thoracic aortic IMT values (IMT normal group<10 mm and IMT abnormal group≥10 mm). EFTh was obtained using two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography on the right ventricular free wall during systole and diastole.ResultsThe highest EFTh values (3.3±0.96 mm vs. 4.51±0.66 mm, P<.001) were observed in the abnormal aortic IMT group. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that aortic IMT was independently correlate with EFTh (β=0.423, P<.001). Moreover, EFTh was found to be associated with history of transient ischemic attack (r=.403, P<.001) and abnormal IMT (r=.643, P<.001) in bivariate analysis.ConclusionEpicardial fat thickness is independently related to the extent of subclinical thoracic aortic atherosclerosis. Increase in EFTh may be crucial marker for initial atherosclerosis.
Communal pair spawning behaviour of vendace (Coregonus albula) in the dark
Authors: Karjalainen Juha , Marjomäki Timo J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMating in nature is rarely random, and most fish species have refined mating systems. The vendace (Coregonus albula) is a short‐lived, small‐sized, cold‐water‐adapted pelagic schooling species that is known to spawn in groups, but the actual mating system of this species, like many other group‐spawning fishes, has not been described in detail. Vendace typically spawn in the littoral or sublittoral zones of lakes in late autumn, and the hatching of larvae occurs close to icebreak in the following spring. In our large study lake, vendace larvae were caught in 93% of 1,149 random sampling locations lake‐wide. We examined the courtship and mating of vendace under experimental conditions by nonintrusive observation of the natural behaviour, to clarify whether spawning activity is associated with illumination and to assess the postspawning mortality of vendace. Here, we describe and document in detail for the first time the spawning behaviour of vendace: they spawn in the dark, and females release a small portion of their eggs (on average 1% of mean total individual fecundity) when the female and male, side by side, dart from near the bottom up towards the surface, that is perform a spawning rise. Males and females had several spawning rises (on average 1,200). Our results showed high postspawning mortality (56%). The spawning stress seems to be a potential component of mortality regulating the lifespan duration of vendace.
Modern local history in Spanish American historiography
Authors: Murillo Dana Velasco 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis article considers the role of modern local history on the Anglophone Spanish American scholarship (1492‐1825). Modern local history developed in the mid‐twentieth century as a type of historical inquiry focused on the study of specific peoples, institutions, or processes in a defined locality. This essay identifies the topics, methodologies, and sources, employed by scholars of Spanish America, highlighting some recent examples from the viceroyalty of New Spain, specifically contemporary Mexico and Guatemala. It analyzes the appeal of this approach to ethnohistorians, scholars of indigenous peoples, as a means to reveal indigenous responses to colonial rule obscured by other approaches. It argues that modern local histories of Spanish America are a particularly important genre of the field because they complement the current movement towards global and transnational studies as they illustrate the local variations on the ground that support or complicate regional, viceregal, and transatlantic trends.
Micro‐CT assessment of the shaping ability of four root canal instrumentation systems in oval‐shaped canals
Authors: Zuolo M. L. , Zaia A. A. , Belladonna F. G. , Silva E. J. N. L. , Souza E. M. , Versiani M. A. , Lopes R. T. , De‐Deus G. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAimTo compare the shaping ability of four root canal instrumentation systems in oval‐shaped canals using micro‐computed tomographic analysis.MethodologyForty anatomically matched mandibular incisors were scanned and assigned to four groups (n = 10), according to the canal preparation protocol: BioRace, Reciproc, Self‐Adjusting File (SAF) and TRUShape systems. After canal instrumentation, the specimens were rescanned, and the registered pre‐ and postoperative datasets were examined to evaluate the percentages of accumulated hard‐tissue debris, untouched canal walls and dentine removed. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U‐tests with Bonferroni correction were used to compare the variables in the groups (α = 5%).ResultsThe preparation techniques did not affect the percentage of accumulated hard‐tissue debris (P = 0.126). The percentage of untouched canal areas was significantly higher for BioRace (32.38%)compared to Reciproc (18.95%) and SAF (16.08%) systems (P < 0.05). Reciproc removed significantly more dentine (4.18%) than BioRace (2.21%) and SAF (2.56%) (P < 0.05). The TRUShape system had intermediate results for both untouched canal walls (19.20%) and dentine removed (3.77%), with no significant difference compared to BioRace, Reciproc and SAF systems.ConclusionsThe preparation techniques resulted in the same level of accumulated hard‐tissue debris. Compared to the other tested systems, BioRace was associated with more untouched canal walls and Reciproc produced the greatest amount of removed dentine. Although it touched more of the root canal walls, the SAF system removed less dentine, whereas TRUShape had intermediate results for these same parameters. None of the systems tested were able to provide optimal shaping ability in oval‐shaped canals.
Controlling phase separation of TaxHf1−xC solid solution nanopowders during carbothermal reduction synthesis
Authors: Foroughi Paniz , Zhang Cheng , Agarwal Arvind , Cheng Zhe 
Published: July 2017

AbstractSynthesis of single‐phase tantalum hafnium carbide (TaxHf1−xC, 0<x<1) solid solution nanopowders via carbothermal reduction (CTR) reaction is complicated due to the difference in reactivity of parent oxides with carbon and presence of a miscibility gap in TaC‐HfC phase diagram below ~887°C. These can lead to phase separation, ie, formation of two distinct carbides instead of a single‐phase solid solution. In this study, nanocrystalline TaxHf1−xC powders were synthesized via CTR of finely mixed amorphous tantalum‐hafnium oxide(s) and carbon obtained from a low‐cost aqueous solution processing of tantalum pentachloride, hafnium tetrachloride, and sucrose. Particular emphasis was given to investigate the influences of starting compositions and processing conditions on phase separation during the formation of carbide phase(s). It was found that due to the immiscibility of Ta‐Hf oxides and relatively fast CTR reaction, individual nano‐HfC and TaC phases form quickly (within minutes at 1600°C), then go through interdiffusion forming carbide solid solution phase. Moreover, the presence of excess carbon in the CTR product slows down the interdiffusion of Ta and Hf dramatically and delays the solid solution formation, whereas DC electrical field (applied through the use of a spark plasma sintering system) accelerates interdiffusion significantly but leads to more grain growth.
Sudden cardiac death in nonischemic cardiomyopathy: Refining risk assessment
Authors: Zipse Matthew M. , Tzou Wendy S. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractSudden cardiac death (SCD) risk assessment among patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) has been has been less straightforward than for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. The common surrogate that has been associated with highest SCD risk for all cardiomyopathies, and which has been universally used to guide implantation of primary‐prevention implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs), is left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%. However, this practice has been called into question, especially in light of recent trials suggesting that ICD treatment may not be of additional survival benefit among those with NICM treated with optimal medical therapy. This Clinical Review attempts to offer refinements to the current practice of SCD risk assessment among patients with NICM, with specific focus on importance of NICM etiology and efforts to identify myocardial scarring and arrhythmogenic substrate, both of which may provide greater information about SCD risk than the LVEF alone. These concepts are illustrated further as they apply to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and cardiac sarcoidosis, all of which are increasingly recognized NICM substrates associated with SCD and for which refinements for assessing risk are lacking in conventional guidelines.
Gingival bleeding, a possible “serious” adverse drug reaction: An observational study in the French PharmacoVigilance Database
Authors: Bondon‐Guitton Emmanuelle , Mourgues Thibaut , Rousseau Vanessa , Cousty Sarah , Cottin Judith , Drablier Guillaume , Micallef Joëlle , Montastruc Jean‐Louis 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroductionAntithrombotic drugs are known to increase the risk of gingival bleeding because they affect coagulation. However, other drugs could also be involved in gingival bleeding.AimWe performed a pharmacoepidemiological study to identify the drugs most frequently “suspected” in the occurrence of gingival bleeding.Material and methodsWe selected reports of “gingival bleeding” from 1 January 1985 to 30 September 2014 in the French PharmacoVigilance Database.ResultsAmong 523,808 reports of adverse drug reactions, we identified 454 reports of gingival bleeding (0.09%). Most of them were “serious” (58.4%) and occurred in females (54.6%). The frequency of gingival bleeding increased with age. The most frequently “suspected” drugs were antithrombotics (67.8%), particularly fluindione. Other drugs frequently involved were furosemide followed by paracetamol, amiodarone, amoxicillin, paroxetine, ketoprofen, zolpidem, enalapril and ramipril. Thirty‐nine reports involved a drug–drug interaction with antithrombotics, mainly with anti‐infectives.ConclusionGingival bleeding can be an adverse drug reaction, often “serious” and rarely fatal. Patients older than 50 years and women are particularly at risk. Among drugs known to increase the risk of gingival bleeding, the most frequently involved were fluindione, furosemide, paracetamol, amiodarone, amoxicillin, paroxetine or ketoprofen. We also identified signal for drugs not usually known to be involved in bleeding, like zolpidem, enalapril or ramipril.
Translocator protein (18 kDa): an update on its function in steroidogenesis
Authors: Papadopoulos V. , Fan J. , Zirkin B. 
Published: July 2017

Translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) is a ubiquitous mitochondrial protein. Studies of its responses to drug and endogenous ligands have shown TSPO to be involved either directly or indirectly in numerous biological functions, including mitochondrial cholesterol transport and steroid hormone biosynthesis, porphyrin transport and heme synthesis, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and anion transport. Localised to the outer mitochondrial membrane of steroidogenic cells, TSPO has been shown to associate with cytosolic and mitochondrial proteins as part of a large multiprotein complex involved in mitochondrial cholesterol transport, the rate‐limiting step in steroidogenesis. There is general agreement as to the structure and pharmacology of TSPO. Stimulation of TSPO has been shown to have therapeutic use as anxiolytics by inducing allopregnanolone production in the brain, and also potentially for re‐establishing androgen levels in hypogonadal ageing animals. Until recently, there has been general agreement regarding the role of TSPO in steroidogenesis. However, recent studies involving genetic depletion of TSPO in mice have created controversy about the role of this protein in steroid and heme synthesis. We review the data on the structure and function of TSPO, as well as the recent results obtained using various genetic animal models. Taken together, these studies suggest that TSPO is a unique mitochondrial pharmacological target for diseases that involve increased mitochondrial activity, including steroidogenesis. Although there is no known mammalian species that lacks TSPO, it is likely that, because of the importance of this ancient protein in evolution and mitochondrial function, redundant mechanisms may exist to replace it under circumstances when it is removed.
Comparison between imported versus domestic drug‐eluting stents in China: A large single‐center data
Authors: Liu Ru , Gao Zhan , Chen Jue , Gao Lijian , Song Lei , Qiao Shubin , Yang Yuejin , Gao Runlin , Xu Bo , Yuan Jinqing 
Published: July 2017

BackgroundIn recent years, most drug‐eluting stents (DESs) were domestically produced in China, but how domestic DESs perform compared to imported DESs was still unknown.MethodsA total of 9011 consecutive cases with DESs implantation in a single center throughout 2013 were prospectively collected. Two‐year clinical outcomes were evaluated between patients implanted with imported and domestic DESs.ResultsDuring 2‐year follow‐up, the rates of all‐cause death, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and stent thrombosis were not significantly different between two groups. However, the rate of revascularization was significantly higher in domestic DES group, shown as higher rates of overall revascularization, target vessel revascularization (TVR), and target lesion revascularization (TLR) (9.7% vs 6.4%,P < 0.001; 5.6% vs 3.2%,P < 0.001; 4.5% vs 2.2%,P < 0.001, respectively). Accordingly, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate was significantly higher in domestic DES group (12.1% vs 8.5%,P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis indicated that domestic DES was an independent risk factor of MACE (HR [95%CI]: 1.22 [1.05‐1.41]), overall revascularization (HR [95%CI]: 1.29 [1.09‐1.53]), TVR (HR [95%CI]: 1.54 [1.22‐1.94]), and TLR (HR [95%CI]: 1.85 [1.41‐2.42]). After propensity score matching, the rates of overall revascularization, TVR, and TLR were still significantly higher in domestic DES group, and domestic DES was still predictive of overall revascularization, TVR, and TLR in multivariate Cox regression analysis.ConclusionsDomestic DESs showed the same safety as imported DESs in this real‐world cohort. But, patients implanted with domestic DESs had a higher risk of revascularization than imported DESs.
Tooth fracture within the African carnivore guild: the influence of intraguild competition and resource availability
Authors: Mann S. A. , Van Valkenburgh B. , Hayward M. W. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAlthough tooth fracture may have severe energetic and behavioural implications for carnivores, it occurs commonly, perhaps as a result of a high risk diet and lifestyle. To investigate the influence of intraguild competition and resource availability, tooth fracture was quantified in 10 African carnivores (N = 851), which occur sympatrically across several aridity zones (i.e., a resource gradient). Tooth fracture incidence was compared across principal components representing temperature and precipitation, as well as the number of carnivores >21 kg present and factors previously considered influential. Multimodel inference was used to determine the relative influence of factors. Ecomorphological factors (e.g., degree of carnivory) and tooth wear (a product of age and diet) were considered most influential, whilst tooth fracture incidence did not vary between sexes. Precipitation, which is known to affect primary production and herbivore biomass, was more influential than temperature, with fewer tooth fractures in wild dogs and leopards where precipitation availability was higher. Competition was the most influential factor for wild dogs, with higher tooth fracture incidence where more carnivores were present, corresponding with a previous study that shows relative predator abundance to be more influential than prey numbers for carcass consumption – the likely cause of tooth fracture. However, leopards and black‐backed jackals exhibited lower tooth fracture incidence where more carnivores were present, perhaps because of a positive association between competition and precipitation, or changes in prey preferences where carnivore abundance is high. Relative prey and predator biomass may provide better proxies for resource availability and intraguild competition in future studies and long‐term studies of predation may provide insight into factors affecting carcass consumption. An understanding of the influences of guild richness and resource availability is important for modern systems that are currently undergoing changes in competitive dynamics, where carnivores occupy the vulnerable position of apex predators.
Gene flow and selection interact to promote adaptive divergence in regions of low recombination
Authors: Samuk Kieran , Owens Gregory L. , Delmore Kira E. , Miller Sara E. , Rennison Diana J. , Schluter Dolph 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAdaptation to new environments often occurs in the face of gene flow. Under these conditions, gene flow and recombination can impede adaptation by breaking down linkage disequilibrium between locally adapted alleles. Theory predicts that this decay can be halted or slowed if adaptive alleles are tightly linked in regions of low recombination, potentially favouring divergence and adaptive evolution in these regions over others. Here, we compiled a global genomic data set of over 1,300 individual threespine stickleback from 52 populations and compared the tendency for adaptive alleles to occur in regions of low recombination between populations that diverged with or without gene flow. In support of theory, we found that putatively adaptive alleles (FST and dXY outliers) tend to occur more often in regions of low recombination in populations where divergent selection and gene flow have jointly occurred. This result remained significant when we employed different genomic window sizes, controlled for the effects of mutation rate and gene density, controlled for overall genetic differentiation, varied the genetic map used to estimate recombination and used a continuous (rather than discrete) measure of geographic distance as proxy for gene flow/shared ancestry. We argue that our study provides the first statistical evidence that the interaction of gene flow and selection biases divergence toward regions of low recombination.
Resistance to RHD virus in wild Australian rabbits: Comparison of susceptible and resistant individuals using a genomewide approach
Authors: Schwensow Nina I. , Detering Harald , Pederson Stephen , Mazzoni Camila , Sinclair Ron , Peacock David , Kovaliski John , Cooke Brian , Fickel Jörns , Sommer Simone 
Published: July 2017

AbstractDeciphering the genes involved in disease resistance is essential if we are to understand host–pathogen coevolutionary processes. The rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was imported into Australia in 1995 as a biocontrol agent to manage one of the most successful and devastating invasive species, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). During the first outbreaks of the disease, RHDV caused mortality rates of up to 97%. Recently, however, increased genetic resistance to RHDV has been reported. Here, we have aimed to identify genomic differences between rabbits that survived a natural infection with RHDV and those that died in the field using a genomewide next‐generation sequencing (NGS) approach. We detected 72 SNPs corresponding to 133 genes associated with survival of a RHD infection. Most of the identified genes have known functions in virus infections and replication, immune responses or apoptosis, or have previously been found to be regulated during RHD. Some of the genes identified in experimental studies, however, did not seem to play a role under natural selection regimes, highlighting the importance of field studies to complement the genomic background of wildlife diseases. Our study provides a set of candidate markers as a tool for the future scanning of wild rabbits for their resistance to RHDV. This is important both for wild rabbit populations in southern Europe where RHD is regarded as a serious problem decimating the prey of endangered predator species and for assessing the success of currently planned RHDV variant biocontrol releases in Australia.
The identification of new candidate genes Triticum aestivumFLOWERING LOCUS T3‐B1 (TaFT3‐B1) and TARGET OF EAT1 (TaTOE1‐B1) controlling the short‐day photoperiod response in bread wheat
Authors: Zikhali Meluleki , Wingen Luzie U. , Leverington‐Waite Michelle , Specel Sebastien , Griffiths Simon 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPerception of photoperiod changes enables plants to flower under optimum conditions for survival. We used doubled haploid populations of crosses among Avalon × Cadenza, Charger × Badger and Spark × Rialto and identified short‐day flowering time response quantitative trait loci (QTL) on wheat chromosomes 1BS and 1BL. We used synteny between Brachypodium distachyon and wheat to identify potential candidates for both QTL. The 1BL QTL peak coincided with TaFT3‐B1, a homologue of the barley gene HvFT3, the most likely candidate gene. The 1BS QTL peak coincided with homologues of Arabidopsis thaliana SENSITIVITY TO RED LIGHT REDUCED 1, WUSCHEL‐like and RAP2.7, which is also known as Zea mays TARGET OF EAT1, named TaSRR1‐B1, TaWUSCHELL‐B1 and TaTOE1‐B1, respectively. Gene expression assays suggest that TaTOE1‐B1 and TaFT3‐B1 are expressed more during short days. We identified four alleles of TaFT3‐B1 and three alleles of TaTOE1‐B1. We studied the effect of these alleles in the Watkins and GEDIFLUX diversity panels by using 936 and 431 accessions, respectively. Loss of TaFT3‐B1 by deletion was associated with late flowering. Increased TaFT3‐B1 copy number was associated with early flowering, suggesting that TaFT3‐B1 promotes flowering. Significant association was observed in the GEDIFLUX collection for TaTOE1‐B1, a putative flowering repressor.