bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of Vagotomy and Decreased Risk of Subsequent Ischemic Stroke in Complicated Peptic Ulcer Patients: an Asian Population Study
Authors: Fang Chu‐Wen , Tseng Chun‐Hung , Wu Shih‐Chi , Chen William Tzu‐Liang , Muo Chih‐Hsin 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectivesThe primary management of peptic ulcers is medical treatment. Persistent exacerbation of a peptic ulcer may lead to complications (perforation and/or bleeding). There has been a trend toward the use of a less invasive surgical simple suture, simple local suture or non‐operative (endoscopic/angiography) hemostasis rather than acid‐reducing vagotomy (i.e., vagus nerve severance) for treating complicated peptic ulcers. Other studies have shown the relationship between high vagus nerve activity and survival in cancer patients via reduced levels of inflammation, indicating the essential role of the vagus nerve. We were interested in the role of the vagus nerve and attempted to assess the long‐term systemic effects after vagus nerve severance. Complicated peptic ulcer patients who underwent truncal vagotomy may represent an appropriate study population for investigating the association between vagus nerve severance and long‐term effects. Therefore, we assessed the risks of subsequent ischemic stroke using different treatment methods in complicated peptic ulcer patients who underwent simple suture/hemostasis or truncal vagotomy/pyloroplasty.MethodsWe selected 299,742 peptic ulcer patients without a history of stroke and Helicobacter pylori infection and an additional 299,742 matched controls without ulcer, stroke, and Helicobacter pylori infection from the National Health Insurance database. The controls were frequency matched for age, gender, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, hypertension, hyperlipidemia history, and index year. Then, we measured the incidence of overall ischemic stroke in the two cohorts. The hazard ratio (HR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by Cox proportional hazard regression.ResultsCompared to the controls, peptic ulcer patients had a 1.86‐fold higher risk of ischemic stroke. There were similar results in gender, age, CCI, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia stratified analyses. In complicated peptic ulcer patients, those who received truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty had a lower risk of ischemic stroke than patients who received simple suture/hemostasis (HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.60–0.81).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that patients with peptic ulcers have an elevated risk of subsequent ischemic stroke. Moreover, there were associations between vagotomy and a decreased risk of subsequent ischemic stroke in complicated peptic ulcer patients.
Corporate governance and firm value at dual class firms
Authors: Li Ting , Zaiats Nataliya 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis study explores whether corporate governance at dual class firms differs from that of their single class counterparts and whether firm value at dual class firms is associated with governance. Employing a sample of 1309 U.S. dual class firm‐year observations for the period 1996–2006, we show evidence that dual class firms are more likely to employ more shareholder rights provisions while exhibiting lower board and board committee independence than single class firms. The results also show that shareholder rights increase while board provisions decrease in wedge at dual class firms. Further findings underscore that firm value at dual class firms decreases in wedge, and increases in shareholder rights and in board‐related provisions, particularly in director independence. While strong board‐related governance at dual class firms is significantly positively related to firm value in a multivariate setting, shareholder rights are significantly associated with firm value only in instances of the weakest board provisions. Following unification, firms employ more antitakeover provisions while strengthening their board and board committee independence.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF LOCAL AND CONVENTIONAL FOOD SALES
Authors: ROSSI JAMES D. , JOHNSON THOMAS G. , HENDRICKSON MARY 
Published: July 2017

AbstractLocal food systems are frequently touted as economic development strategies for rural communities. In this study, we estimated the local economic impacts of local compared with conventionally produced and marketed food in two regions of Missouri and one region in Nebraska. We found that local food systems generated substantial increases in value added for their local economies.
Metabotyping and its application in targeted nutrition: an overview
Authors: Riedl Anna , Gieger Christian , Hauner Hans , Daniel Hannelore , Linseisen Jakob 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMetabolic diversity leads to differences in nutrient requirements and responses to diet and medication between individuals. Using the concept of metabotyping – that is, grouping metabolically similar individuals – tailored and more efficient recommendations may be achieved. The aim of this study was to review the current literature on metabotyping and to explore its potential for better targeted dietary intervention in subjects with and without metabolic diseases. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Google and Google Scholar to find relevant articles on metabotyping in humans including healthy individuals, population-based samples and patients with chronic metabolic diseases. A total of thirty-four research articles on human studies were identified, which established more homogeneous subgroups of individuals using statistical methods for analysing metabolic data. Differences between studies were found with respect to the samples/populations studied, the clustering variables used, the statistical methods applied and the metabotypes defined. According to the number and type of the selected clustering variables, the definitions of metabotypes differed substantially; they ranged between general fasting metabotypes, more specific fasting parameter subgroups like plasma lipoprotein or fatty acid clusters and response groups to defined meal challenges or dietary interventions. This demonstrates that the term ‘metabotype’ has a subjective usage, calling for a formalised definition. In conclusion, this literature review shows that metabotyping can help identify subgroups of individuals responding differently to defined nutritional interventions. Targeted recommendations may be given at such metabotype group levels. Future studies should develop and validate definitions of generally valid metabotypes by exploiting the increasingly available metabolomics data sets.
Human papillomavirus tumour status is not associated with a positive depression screen for patients with oropharyngeal cancer
Authors: Qualliotine J R , Califano J A , Li R J , Gold D , Messing B , Lee G , Ha P , Fakhry C 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackground:Several risk factors for depression in patients with oropharyngeal cancer have been determined. However, it is unknown whether human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer, which has a distinct clinico-demographic profile, modulates this risk.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients with oropharyngeal cancer. These patients had completed a 10-item depression screening questionnaire before receiving treatment for their disease from 2011 to 2014. Associations between patient or disease characteristics and depression screening questionnaire results were investigated.Results:The study comprised 69 patients, 31 (44.9 per cent) of whom screened positive for depression. There were no significant differences in distributions of clinico-demographic or histopathological characteristics, including human papillomavirus tumour status, by depression screen result.Conclusion:This population has a high risk for depression, but no obvious risk factors, including human papillomavirus tumour status, were associated with an elevated risk. This inability to risk-stratify patients by clinico-demographic or disease characteristics emphasises the importance of regular depression screening for all patients in this population.
The intimate lives of older adults living with HIV: a qualitative study of the challenges associated with the intersection of HIV and ageing
Authors: WALLACH ISABELLE , BROTMAN SHARI 
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACTOlder adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk of experiencing difficulties in their intimate lives due to the combined effects of HIV and ageing. To date, little research has focused on the lived experience of sexuality. This article seeks to fill in the gap by documenting the challenges faced by this population with respect to their intimate relationships and sexual lives. Based upon the results of a qualitative study conducted in Montreal (2010–2012) using semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of 38 people aged 50–73 and living with HIV, this study revealed several difficulties, including those related to their social location, whereby HIV and ageing intersect with other social determinants (including gender, sexual orientation and drug use). Difficulties that were identified include lower sexual desire linked to ageing, erectile changes, difficulty in using condoms, stigma related to HIV and/or ageism, changes in appearance caused by HIV and/or ageing, along with the impact of their lifecourse experiences. Our results shed light on the specific nature of the difficulties experienced by older adults living with HIV with regard to their intimate lives, as well as on the importance of using an analysis that combines the theoretical approaches of intersectionality and lifecourse to enhance our capacity for understanding complex and unique experiences.
Embedding regional actors in social and historical context: Australia-New Zealand integration and Asian-Pacific regionalism
Authors: Castle Matthew 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe regionalisation of the world economy is one of the most important developments in global governance in the past two decades. This process has seen ‘inter-regional’ economic agreements emerge between two or more regional groupings. Drawing mainly on the European Union’s external relations, observers accordingly point to the growing importance of regional actors, explaining their agency (or ‘actorness’) with regional attributes such as (supranational) institutional design, size, and member state cohesion. This article challenges this dominant explanation of regional agency. It argues that regional actors are socially, politically, and historically ‘embedded’. Agency reflects the contingency of regional integration processes, the motivations that underpin those processes, and the specific relationships between regions and third parties. This approach explains an important case of inter-regionalism from the Asia-Pacific: CER-ASEAN relations. Since the early 1990s, Australia and New Zealand have used their ‘Closer Economic Relations’ trade agreement for relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. This reflects the ambitions of Australasian officials to shape processes of Asian-Pacific regionalism, and the interests of ASEAN officials in consolidating their own process of transnational market-making. Here, regional agency owed to a transforming world economy and the reconceptualisation of regions within new networks of trade governance.
AIM1 is an actin-binding protein that suppresses cell migration and micrometastatic dissemination
Authors: Haffner Michael C. , Esopi David M. , Chaux Alcides , Gürel Meltem , Ghosh Susmita , Vaghasia Ajay M. , Tsai Harrison , Kim Kunhwa , Castagna Nicole , Lam Hong , Hicks Jessica , Wyhs Nicolas , Biswal Shinohara Debika , Hurley Paula J. , Simons Brian W. , Schaeffer Edward M. , Lotan Tamara L. , Isaacs William B. , Netto George J. , De Marzo Angelo M. , Nelson William G. , An Steven S. , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA defining hallmark of primary and metastatic cancers is the migration and invasion of malignant cells. These invasive properties involve altered dynamics of the cytoskeleton and one of its major structural components β-actin. Here we identify AIM1 (absent in melanoma 1) as an actin-binding protein that suppresses pro-invasive properties in benign prostate epithelium. Depletion of AIM1 in prostate epithelial cells increases cytoskeletal remodeling, intracellular traction forces, cell migration and invasion, and anchorage-independent growth. In addition, decreased AIM1 expression results in increased metastatic dissemination in vivo. AIM1 strongly associates with the actin cytoskeleton in prostate epithelial cells in normal tissues, but not in prostate cancers. In addition to a mislocalization of AIM1 from the actin cytoskeleton in invasive cancers, advanced prostate cancers often harbor AIM1 deletion and reduced expression. These findings implicate AIM1 as a key suppressor of invasive phenotypes that becomes dysregulated in primary and metastatic prostate cancer.
Transcriptome Analysis of Canine Cutaneous Melanoma and Melanocytoma Reveals a Modulation of Genes Regulating Extracellular Matrix Metabolism and Cell Cycle
Authors: Brachelente Chiara , Cappelli Katia , Capomaccio Stefano , Porcellato Ilaria , Silvestri Serenella , Bongiovanni Laura , De Maria Raffaella , Verini Supplizi Andrea , Mechelli Luca , Sforna Monica 
Published: July 2017

AbstractInteractions between tumor cells and tumor microenvironment are considered critical in carcinogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. To examine transcriptome changes and to explore the relationship with tumor microenvironment in canine cutaneous melanocytoma and melanoma, we extracted RNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens and analyzed them by means of RNA-seq for transcriptional analysis. Melanocytoma and melanoma samples were compared to detect differential gene expressions and significant enriched pathways were explored to reveal functional relations between differentially expressed genes. The study demonstrated a differential expression of 60 genes in melanomas compared to melanocytomas. The differentially expressed genes cluster in the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, protein digestion and absorption, focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B) signaling pathways. Genes encoding for several collagen proteins were more commonly differentially expressed. Results of the RNA-seq were validated by qRT-PCR and protein expression of some target molecules was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry. We hypothesize that the developing melanoma actively promotes collagen metabolism and extracellular matrix remodeling as well as enhancing cell proliferation and survival contributing to disease progression and metastasis. In this study, we also detected unidentified genes in human melanoma expression studies and uncover new candidate drug targets for further testing in canine melanoma.
Four dimensional material movies: High speed phase-contrast tomography by backprojection along dynamically curved paths
Authors: Ruhlandt A. , Töpperwien M. , Krenkel M. , Mokso R. , Salditt T. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe present an approach towards four dimensional (4d) movies of materials, showing dynamic processes within the entire 3d structure. The method is based on tomographic reconstruction on dynamically curved paths using a motion model estimated by optical flow techniques, considerably reducing the typical motion artefacts of dynamic tomography. At the same time we exploit x-ray phase contrast based on free propagation to enhance the signal from micron scale structure recorded with illumination times down to a millisecond (ms). The concept is demonstrated by observing the burning process of a match stick in 4d, using high speed synchrotron phase contrast x-ray tomography recordings. The resulting movies reveal the structural changes of the wood cells during the combustion.
Rapid evolution of a Batesian mimicry trait in a butterfly responding to arrival of a new model
Authors: Katoh Mitsuho , Tatsuta Haruki , Tsuji Kazuki 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBatesian mimicry, a phenomenon in which harmless organisms resemble harmful or unpalatable species, has been extensively studied in evolutionary biology. Model species may differ from population to population of a single mimetic species, so different predation pressures might have driven micro-evolution towards better mimicry among regions. However, there is scant direct evidence of micro-evolutionary change over time in mimicry traits. Papilio polytes shows female-limited Batesian mimicry. On Okinawa, one mimicry model is Pachliopta aristolochiae, which was not present on the island until 1993. In P. polytes, the size of the hind-wing white spot, a mimetic trait, is maternally heritable. Among specimens collected between 1961 and 2016, the average white spot size was unchanged before the model’s arrival but has rapidly increased since then. However, white spot size showed greater variance after the model’s establishment than before. This suggests that before 1993, white spot size in this population was not selectively neutral but was an adaptive trait for mimicking an unpalatable native, Byasa alcinous, which looks like P. aristolochiae apart from the latter’s hind-wing white spot. Thus, some females switched their model to the new one after its arrival.
Human amniotic membrane as newly identified source of amniotic fluid pulmonary surfactant
Authors: Lemke Angela , Castillo-Sánchez José Carlos , Prodinger Florian , Ceranic Asja , Hennerbichler-Lugscheider Simone , Pérez-Gil Jesús , Redl Heinz , Wolbank Susanne 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPulmonary surfactant (PS) reduces surface tension at the air-liquid interface in the alveolar epithelium of the lung, which is required for breathing and for the pulmonary maturity of the developing foetus. However, the origin of PS had never been thoroughly investigated, although it was assumed to be secreted from the foetal developing lung. Human amniotic membrane (hAM), particularly its epithelial cell layer, composes the amniotic sac enclosing the amniotic fluid. In this study, we therefore aimed to investigate a potential contribution of the cellular components of the hAM to pulmonary surfactant found in amniotic fluid. We identified that cells within the native membrane contain lamellar bodies and express all four surfactant proteins as well as ABCA3. Lipidomic profiling by nanoESI – MS/MS revealed the presence of the essential lipid species as found in PS. Also, the biophysical activity of conditioned cell culture supernatant obtained from hAM was tested with captive bubble surfactometry. hAM supernatant showed the ability to reduce surface tension, similar to human PS obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage. This means that hAM produces the essential PS-associated components and can therefore contribute as second potential source of PS in amniotic fluid aside from the foetal lung.
Dilution of whisky – the molecular perspective
Authors: Karlsson Björn C. G. , Friedman Ran 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWhisky is distilled to around 70% alcohol by volume (vol-%) then diluted to about 40 vol-%, and often drunk after further slight dilution to enhance its taste. The taste of whisky is primarily associated with amphipathic molecules, such as guaiacol, but why and how dilution enhances the taste is not well understood. We carried out computer simulations of water-ethanol mixtures in the presence of guaiacol, providing atomistic details on the structure of the liquid mixture. We found that guaiacol is preferentially associated with ethanol, and, therefore, primarily found at the liquid-air interface in mixtures that contain up to 45 vol-% of ethanol. At ethanol concentrations of 59 vol-% or higher, guaiacol is increasingly surrounded by ethanol molecules and is driven to the bulk. This indicates that the taste of guaiacol in the whisky would be enhanced upon dilution prior to bottling. Our findings may apply to other flavour-giving amphipathic molecules and could contribute to optimising the production of spirits for desired tastes. Furthermore, it sheds light on the molecular structure of water-alcohol mixtures that contain small solutes, and reveals that interactions with the water may be negligible already at 89 vol-% of ethanol.
Lithium Sensitive ORAI1 Expression, Store Operated Ca2+ Entry and Suicidal Death of Neurons in Chorea-Acanthocytosis
Authors: Pelzl Lisann , Hauser Stefan , Elsir Bhaeldin , Sukkar Basma , Sahu Itishri , Singh Yogesh , Höflinger Philip , Bissinger Rosi , Jemaà Mohamed , Stournaras Christos , Schöls Ludger , Lang Florian 
Published: July 2017

AbstractChorea-Acanthocytosis (ChAc), a neurodegenerative disorder, results from loss-of-function-mutations of chorein-encoding gene VPS13A. In tumour cells chorein up-regulates ORAI1, a Ca2+-channel accomplishing store operated Ca2+-entry (SOCE) upon stimulation by STIM1. Furthermore SOCE could be up-regulated by lithium. The present study explored whether SOCE impacts on neuron apoptosis. Cortical neurons were differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells generated from fibroblasts of ChAc patients and healthy volunteers. ORAI1 and STIM1 transcript levels and protein abundance were estimated from qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively, cytosolic Ca2+-activity ([Ca2+]i) from Fura-2-fluorescence, as well as apoptosis from annexin-V-binding and propidium-iodide uptake determined by flow cytometry. As a result, ORAI1 and STIM1 transcript levels and protein abundance and SOCE were significantly smaller and the percentage apoptotic cells significantly higher in ChAc neurons than in control neurons. Lithium treatment (2 mM, 24 hours) increased significantly ORAI1 and STIM1 transcript levels and protein abundance, an effect reversed by inhibition of Serum & Glucocorticoid inducible Kinase 1. ORAI1 blocker 2-APB (50 µM, 24 hours) significantly decreased SOCE, markedly increased apoptosis and abrogated the anti-apoptotic effect of lithium. In conclusion, enhanced neuronal apoptosis in ChAc at least partially results from decreased ORAI1 expression and SOCE, which could be reversed by lithium treatment.
Multiview three-dimensional reconstruction by millimetre-wave portable camera
Authors: Laviada Jaime , Arboleya-Arboleya Ana , Álvarez Yuri , González-Valdés Borja , Las-Heras Fernando 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMillimetre-wave imaging is a powerful non-destructive inspection technique which has become widely used in areas such as through-the-wall imaging or concealed weapon detection. Nevertheless, current systems are usually limited to either a single view point providing a limited 3D millimeter-wave model or a multiview relying on the accurate movement of a robot arm through precise positions resulting in very bulky systems. In this paper, we present a set of techniques to achieve a multiview millimetre-wave scanner. The aperture of the scanner is kept below 16 cm so it can be portable and, consequently, multiview can be achieved by simple hand movements. In addition, optical images are also acquired with a two-fold purpose: i) building a complementary 3D-model by employing Structure from Movement (SfM) techniques; ii) estimating the scanner position and poses. The proposed technology is illustrated for people screening, proving the capacity of the system to detect hidden weapons.