bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of DNA Fragmentation Assay in Frozen‐Thawed Cat Epididymal Sperm
Authors: Kunkitti P , Sjödahl A , Bergqvist A‐S , Johannisson A , Axnér E 
Published: June 2016

ContentsDNA fragmentation of frozen‐thawed feline epididymal sperm from corpus and cauda regions was evaluated by three different techniques. The DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was compared between techniques: the sperm chromatin structural assay (SCSA®), acridine orange staining techniques (AOT) and the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD). There were significant differences in DFI among the techniques (p < 0.05) with no correlations. Only DFI values obtained from SCD revealed a significantly higher DFI in corpus compared with cauda spermatozoa (p < 0.05). The discrepancy between techniques might be due to the sensitivity of each technique, differences in severity of DNA damaged that can be detected. The difference in DFI between epididymal regions from SCD technique might indicate different maturational stages of spermatozoa, with less chromatin condensation of spermatozoa in corpus compared with cauda epididymis.
Need for intensive care in patients admitted for asthma: Red flags from the social history
Authors: Moghaddas Fiona , Smith Catherine , Pilcher David , O'Hehir Robyn , Hew Mark , Dabscheck Eli 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackground and objectiveAsthma deaths in Australia are associated with illicit substance abuse, mental health problems and social issues. However, a large proportion of these deaths occurs out of hospital and is difficult to avert by the time the individuals seek medical attention. We hypothesized that these characteristics may also increase the risk for a patient to require intensive care admission when they present to emergency departments.MethodsWe studied consecutive patients admitted to a tertiary metropolitan hospital with a primary diagnosis of asthma between January 2010 and January 2014. Clinical and demographical data were obtained from chart review. The patient's postcode was used as a surrogate for socioeconomic status.ResultsThere were 482 asthma patients admitted during the study period, of which 39 required intensive care. Ten patients admitted to intensive care (26%) used illicit drugs compared with 29 (7%) of those admitted to the ward (adjusted odds ratio: 3.6, P = 0.012). For illicit users, nonadherence to preventer therapy was associated with an even higher risk of intensive care unit admission. Socioeconomic index was lower in the group requiring intensive care admission. The frequency of psychiatric diagnoses was similar in both groups.ConclusionAmong patients admitted to hospital for asthma, illicit substance abuse is a strong independent risk factor for intensive care requirement. Preventer therapy nonadherence further increases this risk. Lower socioeconomic status is also associated with increased risk. These historical features should be actively sought on admission and may serve as useful ‘red flags’ to prompt consideration of intensive monitoring.
Development of a simple screening tool for opportunistic COPD case finding in primary care in Latin America: The PUMA study
Authors: López Varela Maria Victorina , Montes de Oca Maria , Rey Alejandra , Casas Alejandro , Stirbulov Roberto , Di Boscio Valentina ,   on behalf of the PUMA Team
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackground and objectiveOpportunistic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) case finding approaches for high‐risk individuals with or without symptoms is a feasible option for disease identification. PUMA is an opportunistic case finding study conducted in primary care setting of Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Uruguay. The objectives were to measure COPD prevalence in an at‐risk population visiting primary care for any reason, to assess the yield of this opportunistic approach and the accuracy of a score developed to detect COPD.MethodsSubjects attending routine primary care visits, ≥40 years of age, current or former smokers or exposed to biomass smoke, completed a questionnaire and performed spirometry. COPD was defined as post‐bronchodilator (post‐BD) forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.70 and the lower limit of normal of FEV1/FVC.ResultsA total of 1743 subjects completed the interview; 1540 performed acceptable spirometry. COPD prevalence was 20.1% (n = 309; ranging from 11.0% in Venezuela to 29.6% in Argentina) when defined using post‐BD FEV1/FVC < 0.70, and 14.7% (n = 226; ranging from 8.3% in Venezuela to 21.8% in Colombia) using the lower limit of normal. Logistic regression analysis for both definitions showed that the risk of COPD was significantly higher for persons >50 years, heavy smokers (>30 pack‐years), with dyspnoea, and having prior spirometry. A simple score and a weighted score constructed using the following predictive factors: gender, age, pack‐years smoking, dyspnoea, sputum, cough and spirometry, had a mean accuracy for detecting COPD (post‐BD FEV1/FVC < 0.70) of 76% and 79% for the simple and weighted scores, respectively.ConclusionThis simple seven‐item score is an accurate screening tool to select subjects for spirometry in primary care.
REDD+ as Result‐based Aid: General Lessons and Bilateral Agreements of Norway
Authors: Angelsen Arild 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe initiative known as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) officially became part of the international climate agenda in 2007. At that time, REDD+ was an idea regarding payment to countries (and possibly also projects) for reducing emission from forests, with funding primarily from carbon markets. The initiative has since become multi‐objective in nature; the policy focus has changed from a payments for environmental services (PES) approach to broader policies, and international funding primarily originates from development aid budgets. This “aidification” of REDD+ has made the program similar to previous efforts using conditional or results‐based aid (RBA). However, the experience of RBA in other sectors has scarcely been addressed in the REDD+ debate. The alleged advantages of RBA are poorly backed by empirical research. This paper reviews the primary challenges in designing and implementing a system of RBA, namely, donor spending pressure, performance criteria, reference levels, risk sharing, and funding credibility. It then reviews the four partially performance‐based, bilateral REDD+ agreements that Norway has entered with Tanzania, Brazil, Guyana, and Indonesia. These agreements and the aid experience provide valuable lessons for the design and implementation of future REDD+ mechanisms.
Progressive Lending in Microfinance—What about the Farmers?
Authors: Hering Imke , Musshoff Oliver 
Published: June 2016

AbstractDynamic incentives have become a common measure in microfinance institutions (MFI) to counteract the risk of default and to strengthen the borrower's identification with his micro‐lender. This article focuses on progressive lending over the course of the bank–borrower relationship. As the agricultural sector is increasingly important for Azerbaijan's economy, this study differentiates between the lending policies faced by farmers and non‐farmers, and matches the findings with the repayment performances of both client groups. By means of a rich data set spanning from 2007 through 2012 provided by an MFI in Azerbaijan, it can be demonstrated that farmers face a higher degree of loan volume rationing that cannot be justified by our findings on repayment performances. Moreover, we find that repeated borrowing increases the default probabilities of both client groups. In conclusion, we deduce that the MFI and borrowers could benefit from reconsidering the current lending policies.
Networks for Welfare Provision: Getting a Grip on Processes of Social Exclusion by Evaluating Network Effectiveness
Authors: De Corte Joris , Verschuere Bram , De Bie Maria 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIt has been repeatedly stated that the topic of network effectiveness has often been neglected. This has led to a situation of ‘network euphoria’ amongst practitioners and policymakers with regard to the creation of networks as a means to (re‐)organize welfare provision. Starting from a case study of networks for welfare provision in two Belgian cities, this article focuses on the effectiveness of service delivering networks at the client level, which is understood as the contribution of the network in improving the conditions of life of those being served or targeted by the network. Therefore, we focused on the collective efforts via these networks (e.g. by creating a night shelter or by conducting case consultations) to look after a population of homeless people who face multiple problems and are not able yet to benefit from welfare provision. Our findings revealed that these networks were able to realize a ‘collaborative advantage’ by filling in service gaps and by overcoming fragmentation of care. Nevertheless, these networks equally maintained criteria that restricted the accessibility or usefulness of welfare services provided to homeless people. In the concluding section, we highlight some of the factors that could help us to explain our findings and highlight the tension between the effectiveness of networks at the client level and the effectiveness at the organizational level.
The LORE1 insertion mutant resource
Authors: Małolepszy Anna , Mun Terry , Sandal Niels , Gupta Vikas , Dubin Manu , Urbański Dorian , Shah Niraj , Bachmann Asger , Fukai Eigo , Hirakawa Hideki , Tabata Satoshi , Nadzieja Marcin , Markmann Katharina , Su Junyi , Umehara Yosuke , Soyano Takashi , Miyahara Akira , Sato Shusei , Hayashi Makoto , Stougaard Jens , Andersen Stig U. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryLong terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are closely related to retroviruses, and their activities shape eukaryotic genomes. Here, we present a complete Lotus japonicus insertion mutant collection generated by identification of 640 653 new insertion events following de novo activation of the LTR element Lotus retrotransposon 1 (LORE1) (http://lotus.au.dk). Insertion preferences are critical for effective gene targeting, and we exploit our large dataset to analyse LTR element characteristics in this context. We infer the mechanism that generates the consensus palindromes typical of retroviral and LTR retrotransposon insertion sites, identify a short relaxed insertion site motif, and demonstrate selective integration into CHG‐hypomethylated genes. These characteristics result in a steep increase in deleterious mutation rate following activation, and allow LORE1 active gene targeting to approach saturation within a population of 134 682 L. japonicus lines. We suggest that saturation mutagenesis using endogenous LTR retrotransposons with germinal activity can be used as a general and cost‐efficient strategy for generation of non‐transgenic mutant collections for unrestricted use in plant research.
14‐3‐3 protein mediates plant seed oil biosynthesis through interaction with AtWRI1
Authors: Ma Wei , Kong Que , Mantyla Jenny J. , Yang Yang , Ohlrogge John B. , Benning Christoph 
Published: June 2016

SummaryPlant 14‐3‐3 proteins are phosphopeptide‐binding proteins, belonging to a large family of proteins involved in numerous physiological processes including primary metabolism, although knowledge about the function of 14‐3‐3s in plant lipid metabolism is sparse. WRINKLED1 (WRI1) is a key transcription factor that governs plant oil biosynthesis. At present, AtWRI1‐interacting partners remain largely unknown. Here, we show that 14‐3‐3 proteins are able to interact with AtWRI1, both in yeast and plant cells. Transient co‐expression of 14‐3‐3‐ and AtWRI1‐encoding cDNAs led to increased oil biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Stable transgenic plants overproducing a 14‐3‐3 protein also displayed increased seed oil content. Co‐production of a 14‐3‐3 protein with AtWRI1 enhanced the transcriptional activity of AtWRI1. The 14‐3‐3 protein was found to increase the stability of AtWRI1. A possible 14‐3‐3 binding motif was identified in one of the two AP2 domains of AtWRI1, which was also found to be critical for the interaction of AtWRI1 with an E3 ligase linker protein. Thus, we hypothesize a regulatory mechanism by which the binding of 14‐3‐3 to AtWRI1 interferes with the interaction of AtWRI1 and the E3 ligase, thereby protecting AtWRI1 from degradation. Taken together, our studies identified AtWRI1 as a client of 14‐3‐3 proteins and provide insights into a role of 14‐3‐3 in mediating plant oil biosynthesis.
The influence of graft placement on clinical outcome in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Padua Roberto , Alviti Federica , Venosa Michele , Mazzola Carlo , Padua Luca 
Published: June 2016

Purpose: the aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of graft tunnel position on both clinical outcome and instrumental knee stability in patients submitted to arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) graft.
Methods: thirty patients (24 men and 6 women) who underwent ACL reconstruction performed using an autologous bone-patellar tendon-bone graft were studied at a mean follow-up of 18 months. Clinical outcome was assessed on the basis of the Lysholm score, Tegner activity level, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective form and the Short Form-36. Clinical outcomes were correlated with both femoral and tibial tunnel placement measured on standard anteroposterior and lateral knee radiographs, in accordance with established guidelines.
Results: tibial tunnel position on the lateral view correlated significantly with both the IKDC subjective form (r = -0.72; p<0.05) and the Lysholm score (r=-0.73; p<0.05). Tibial tunnel position on the lateral view also correlated with stability measured using a KT-1000 arthrometer at 30N of force (r=0.57; p<0.05). No correlation was found between α angle and anteroposterior (AP) laxity measured by KT-1000 arthrometer. No significant correlation was found between femoral tunnel position (on either view) and Lysholm score, IKDC score and Tegner activity level. Similarly, no correlation was found between AP laxity measured by KT-1000 arthrometer and femoral tunnel position.
Conclusions: these results suggest that the more anterior the placement of the tibial tunnel, the better the clinical outcome will be. On the basis of literature data and our findings, we discuss the hypothesis that there exists a “correct area” for tunnel placement, making it possible to obtain the best results.
Level of evidence: Level IV, case series.
Coracoid syndrome: a neglected cause of anterior shoulder pain
Authors: Gigante Antonio , Bottegoni Carlo , Barbadoro Pamela 
Published: June 2016

Purpose: the present prospective open-label study was designed to gain further insights into a condition thought to constitute a neglected but not uncommon syndrome characterized by anterior shoulder pain and tenderness to palpation over the apex of the coracoid process, not related to rotator cuff or pectoralis minor tendinopathy, long head of the biceps tendon disorders, or instability. The aim was to clarify its prevalence, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis and response to corticosteroid injections.
Methods: patients with primary anterior shoulder pain precisely reproduced by deep pressure on the apex of the coracoid process were recruited. Patients with clinical or instrumental signs of other shoulder disorders were excluded. Patients were given an injection of triamcinolone acetonide 40 mg/ml 1 ml at the coracoid trigger point. They were evaluated after 15, 30 and 60 days and at 2 years using Equal Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) and the italian version of the Simple Shoulder Test (SST).
Results: between January 1 and December 31 2010, we treated 15 patients aged 26-66 years. The majority were women (86.67%). At 15 days, 6 (40%) patients reported complete resolution of their symptoms, while 9 (60%) complained of residual symptoms and received another injection. At 30 days, 14 (93.33%) patients were pain-free and very satisfied. At 2 years, the 14 patients who had been asymptomatic at 30 days reported that they had experienced no further pain or impaired shoulder function. The analysis of variance for repeated measures showed a significant effect of time on EQ-VAS and SST scores.
Conclusions: the present study documents the existence, and characteristics, of a “coracoid syndrome” characterized by anterior shoulder pain and tenderness to palpation over the apex of the coracoid process and showed that the pain is usually amenable to steroid treatment. This syndrome should be clearly distinguished from anterior shoulder pain due to other causes, in order to avoid inappropriate conservative or surgical treatment.
Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic case series.
Stabilization of a Rigid Body Payload With Multiple Cooperative Quadrotors
Authors: Goodarzi Farhad A. , Lee Taeyoung 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThis paper presents the full dynamics and control of arbitrary number of quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) transporting a rigid body. The rigid body is connected to the quadrotors via flexible cables where each flexible cable is modeled as a system of arbitrary number of serially connected links. It is shown that a coordinate-free form of equations of motion can be derived for the complete model without any simplicity assumptions that commonly appear in other literature, according to Lagrangian mechanics on a manifold. A geometric nonlinear controller is presented to transport the rigid body to a fixed desired position while aligning all of the links along the vertical direction. A rigorous mathematical stability proof is given and the desirable features of the proposed controller are illustrated by numerical examples and experimental results.
Effect of pulse sequence parameter selection on signal strength in positive‐contrast MRI markers for MRI‐based prostate postimplant assessment
Authors: Lim Tze Yee , Kudchadker Rajat J. , Wang Jihong , Stafford R. Jason , MacLellan Christopher , Rao Arvind , Ibbott Geoffrey S. , Frank Steven J. 
Published: June 2016

Purpose:For postimplant dosimetric assessment, computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to identify prostate brachytherapy seeds, at the expense of accurate anatomical contouring. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to CT for anatomical delineation, but identification of the negative‐contrast seeds is challenging. Positive‐contrast MRI markers were proposed to replace spacers to assist seed localization on MRI images. Visualization of these markers under varying scan parameters was investigated.Methods:To simulate a clinical scenario, a prostate phantom was implanted with 66 markers and 86 seeds, and imaged on a 3.0T MRI scanner using a 3D fast radiofrequency‐spoiled gradient recalled echo acquisition with various combinations of scan parameters. Scan parameters, including flip angle, number of excitations, bandwidth, field‐of‐view, slice thickness, and encoding steps were systematically varied to study their effects on signal, noise, scan time, image resolution, and artifacts.Results:The effects of pulse sequence parameter selection on the marker signal strength and image noise were characterized. The authors also examined the tradeoff between signal‐to‐noise ratio, scan time, and image artifacts, such as the wraparound artifact, susceptibility artifact, chemical shift artifact, and partial volume averaging artifact. Given reasonable scan time and managable artifacts, the authors recommended scan parameter combinations that can provide robust visualization of the MRI markers.Conclusions:The recommended MRI pulse sequence protocol allows for consistent visualization of the markers to assist seed localization, potentially enabling MRI‐only prostate postimplant dosimetry.
Subdominant left–right scalar dark matter as origin of the 750 GeV di-photon excess at LHC
Authors: Borah Debasish , Patra Sudhanwa , Sahoo Shibananda 
Published: June 2016

We study the possibility of explaining the recently reported 750 GeV di-photon excess at LHC within the framework of a left–right symmetric model. The 750 GeV neutral scalar in the model is dominantly an admixture of neutral components of scalar bidoublets with a tiny fraction of neutral scalar triplet. Incorporating [Formula: see text] septuplet scalar pairs into the model, we enhance the partial decay width of the 750 GeV neutral scalar into di-photons through charged septuplet components in loop while keeping the neutral septuplet components as subdominant dark matter candidates. The model also predicts the decay width of the 750 GeV scalar to be around 36 GeV to be either confirmed or ruled out by future LHC data. The requirement of producing the correct di-photon signal automatically keeps the septuplet dark matter abundance subdominant in agreement with bounds from direct and indirect detection experiments. We then briefly discuss different possibilities to account for the remaining dark matter component of the Universe in terms of other particle candidates whose stability arises either due to remnant discrete symmetry after spontaneous breaking of [Formula: see text] or due to high [Formula: see text]-dimension forbidding their decay into lighter particles.
Production of massless bottom jets in pp̄ and pp collisions at next-to-leading order of QCD
Authors: Bierenbaum Isabella , Kramer Gustav 
Published: June 2016

We present predictions for the inclusive production of bottom jets in proton–antiproton collisions at 1.96 TeV and proton–proton collisions at 7 TeV. The bottom quark is considered massless. In this scheme, we find that at small transverse momentum [Formula: see text] the ratio of the next-to-leading order to the leading-order cross-section ([Formula: see text] factor) is smaller than one. It increases with increasing [Formula: see text] and approaches one at larger [Formula: see text] at a value depending essentially on the choice of the renormalization scale. Adding nonperturbative corrections obtained from PYTHIA Monte Carlo calculations leads to reasonable agreement with experimental [Formula: see text]-jet cross-sections obtained by the CDF and the CMS collaborations.
Is Irreducible Normativity Impossibly Queer?
Authors: Toppinen Teemu 
Published: June 2016

I argue that Jonas Olson’s argument from irreducible normativity is not a secure basis for an argument for error theory (section 1) and that a better basis is provided by the argument from supervenience, which has more bite against non-naturalist moral realism than Olson is willing to allow (section 2). I suggest there may be a view which can allow for the existence of irreducibly normative facts while remaining unaffected by the kinds of arguments that work against non-naturalist realism. This view is expressivism. Interestingly, James Dreier has recently suggested that expressivism may not escape these arguments. I very briefly outline (but do not pursue) possible response strategies for expressivists (section 3). I close by discussing Olson’s argument against expressivism. Olson suggests, somewhat surprisingly, that expressivism is a bad fit with a plausible evolutionary explanation of our moral thought. I argue that Olson’s argument does not succeed (section 4).