bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Deep Nasopharyngeal Swab Versus Nonendoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage for Isolation of Bacterial Pathogens from Preweaned Calves With Respiratory Disease
Authors: Van Driessche L. , Valgaeren B.R. , Gille L. , Boyen F. , Ducatelle R. , Haesebrouck F. , Deprez P. , Pardon B. 
Published: April 2017

BackgroundNonendoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a practical alternative for a deep nasopharyngeal swab (DNS) to sample the airways of a large number of calves in a short period of time. The extent of commensal overgrowth and agreement of BAL with DNS culture results in preweaned calves are unknown.ObjectivesTo compare commensal overgrowth and bacterial culture results between DNS and BAL samples.AnimalsA total of 183 preweaned calves (144 with bovine respiratory disease and 39 healthy animals).MethodsCross‐sectional study. Deep nasopharyngeal swab and BAL samples were taken from each calf and cultured to detect Pasteurellaceae and Mycoplasma bovis. Agreement and associations between culture results of DNS and BAL samples were determined by kappa statistics and logistic regression.ResultsBronchoalveolar lavage samples were less often polymicrobial, more frequently negative and yielded more pure cultures compared to DNS, leading to a clinically interpretable culture result in 79.2% of the cases compared to only in 31.2% of the DNS samples. Isolation rates were lower in healthy animals, but not different between DNS and BAL samples. Only Histophilus somni was more likely to be isolated from BAL samples. In clinical cases, a polymicrobial DNS culture result did not increase the probability of a polymicrobial BAL result by ≥30%, nor did it influence the probability of a negative culture. A significant herd effect was noted for all observed relationships.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceNonendoscopic BAL samples are far less overgrown by bacteria compared to DNS samples under the conditions of this study, facilitating clinical interpretation and resulting in a higher return on investment in bacteriologic culturing.
Continental Drift and Speciation of the Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii Species Complexes
Authors: Casadevall Arturo , Freij Joudeh B. , Hann-Soden Christopher , Taylor John 
Published: April 2017

ABSTRACT

Genomic analysis has placed the origins of two human-pathogenic fungi, the
Cryptococcus gattii
species complex and the
Cryptococcus neoformans
species complex, in South America and Africa, respectively. Molecular clock calculations suggest that the two species separated ~80 to 100 million years ago. This time closely approximates the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea, which gave rise to South America and Africa. On the basis of the geographic distribution of these two species complexes and the coincidence of the evolutionary divergence and Pangea breakup times, we propose that a spatial separation caused by continental drift resulted in the emergence of the
C. gattii
and
C. neoformans
species complexes from a Pangean ancestor. We note that, despite the spatial and temporal separation that occurred approximately 100 million years ago, these two species complexes are morphologically similar, share virulence factors, and cause very similar diseases. Continuation of these phenotypic characteristics despite ancient separation suggests the maintenance of similar selection pressures throughout geologic ages.
Structural, dielectric and impedance spectroscopic studies of Ni0.5Zn0.5−xLixFe2O4 nanocrystalline ferrites
Authors: Venkatesh Davuluri , Ramesh K. V. 
Published: April 2017

Nanocrystalline lithium substituted Ni–Zn ferrites with composition Ni[Formula: see text]Zn[Formula: see text]Li[Formula: see text]Fe2O4 ([Formula: see text] = 0.00–0.25 in steps of 0.05) were synthesized by the citrate gel auto-combustion method and were sintered at 1000[Formula: see text]C for 4 h in air atmosphere. The structural, dielectric, impedance spectroscopic and magnetic properties were studied by using X-ray diffraction, impedance analyzer and vibrating sample magnetometer respectively. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirm that all samples exhibit a single phase cubic spinel structure. Suitable cation distribution for all compositions has been proposed by using the X-ray diffraction line intensity calculations and the theoretical lattice parameter for each composition was observed in close agreement with the experimental ones and thereby supporting the proposed distribution. An increase in the saturation magnetization was observed up to [Formula: see text] = 0.10 level of Li[Formula: see text] substitution and thereafter magnetization reduced for higher concentrations to the highest level of Li[Formula: see text] substitution. The dielectric constant and the DC resistivity of Ni–Zn–Li ferrites were noticed to decrease with increase in the Li[Formula: see text] ion concentration. The impedance spectroscopic studies by using the Cole–Cole plots were studied in order to obtain the relaxation time, grain resistance and grain capacitance. AC conductivity initially remained almost independent of frequency for lower frequencies and thereafter for higher frequencies the AC conductivity increased with increase of Lithium concentration.
A 0.975 μW 10-bit 100 kS/s SAR ADC with an energy-efficient and area-efficient switching scheme
Authors: Hu Yunfeng , Xiong Chao , Li Bin 
Published: April 2017

A 10-bit successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with an energy-efficient and area-efficient switching scheme was presented. By using C-2C dummy capacitor and an extra reference [Formula: see text] for the last capacitor, the proposed switching scheme achieves 97.65% switching energy saving, 87.2% capacitor area reduction and 47.06% switches reduction, compare to conventional switching scheme. The ADC was implemented in a 180 nm CMOS technology 1.8 V power supply, at sampling rate of 100 kS/s, the ADC achieves an SNDR of 57.84 dB and consumes 0.975 [Formula: see text], resulting in a figure-of-merit (FOM) of 15.3 fJ/conversion-step.
Assessment of lithological, geochemical and structural controls on gold distribution in the Nalunaq gold deposit, South Greenland using three-dimensional implicit modelling
Authors: Bell Robin-Marie , Kolb Jochen , Waight Tod E. 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Field, drillcore and geochemical data are used to create a three-dimensional implicit model to assess the controls on gold mineralization at the Nalunaq orogenic gold deposit in South Greenland. Gold occurs in narrow quartz veins with variable dips averaging 34° SE that cut meta-basic rocks. The bulk of the mineralization is contained within a single gold–quartz vein, named the Main Vein. Within this vein, gold is concentrated into three ore shoots plunging 20–25° NE, corresponding to the South, Target and Mountain blocks of the Nalunaq gold mine. Gold anomalies in drillcores are identified updip and downdip from the current mine workings. Modelling reveals that structural controls have the greatest influence on the location of gold. Flexures in the Main Vein correspond to changes in the host rock lithology and the gold grade is highest where the quartz vein is steepest. Where late-stage faults intercept the Main Vein, gold grades are lower. The comprehensive gold assay data from the mine, which are integrated with structural observations in the implicit model, refine the structural interpretation of the Nalunaq gold deposit, highlighting the ore shoot geometry and delineating the minimum extents of mineralization beyond the currently mined areas.
GABA and primary motor cortex inhibition in young and older adults: a multimodal reliability study
Authors: Mooney Ronan A. , Cirillo John , Byblow Winston D. 
Published: April 2017

The effects of healthy aging on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) within primary motor cortex (M1) remain poorly understood. Studies have reported contrasting results, potentially due to limitations with the common assessment technique. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of healthy aging on M1 GABA concentration and neurotransmission using a multimodal approach. Fifteen young and sixteen older adults participated in this study. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to measure M1 GABA concentration. Single-pulse and threshold-tracking paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols were used to examine cortical silent period duration, short- and long-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI and LICI), and late cortical disinhibition (LCD). The reliability of TMS measures was examined with intraclass correlation coefficient analyses. SICI at 1 ms was reduced in older adults (15.13 ± 2.59%) compared with young (25.66 ± 1.44%; P = 0.002). However, there was no age-related effect for cortical silent period duration, SICI at 3 ms, LICI, or LCD (all P > 0.66). The intersession reliability of threshold-tracking measures was good to excellent for both young (range 0.75–0.96) and older adults (range 0.88–0.93). Our findings indicate that extrasynaptic inhibition may be reduced with advancing age, whereas GABA concentration and synaptic inhibition are maintained. Furthermore, MRS and threshold-tracking TMS provide valid and reliable assessment of M1 GABA concentration and neurotransmission, respectively, in young and older adults. NEW & NOTEWORTHY γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) in primary motor cortex was assessed in young and older adults using magnetic resonance spectroscopy and threshold-tracking paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Older adults exhibited reduced extrasynaptic inhibition (short-interval intracortical inhibition at 1 ms) compared with young, whereas GABA concentration and synaptic inhibition were similar between age groups. We demonstrate that magnetic resonance spectroscopy and threshold-tracking provide valid and reliable assessments of primary motor cortex GABA concentration and neurotransmission, respectively.
Global Protease Activity Profiling Provides Differential Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cysts
Authors: Ivry Sam L. , Sharib Jeremy M. , Dominguez Dana A. , Roy Nilotpal , Hatcher Stacy E. , Yip-Schneider Michele T. , Schmidt C. Max , Brand Randall E. , Park Walter G. , Hebrok Matthias , Kim Grace E. , O'Donoghue Anthony J. , Kirkwood Kimberly S. , Craik Charles S. 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Purpose: Pancreatic cysts are estimated to be present in 2%–3% of the adult population. Unfortunately, current diagnostics do not accurately distinguish benign cysts from those that can progress into invasive cancer. Misregulated pericellular proteolysis is a hallmark of malignancy, and therefore, we used a global approach to discover protease activities that differentiate benign nonmucinous cysts from premalignant mucinous cysts.
Experimental Design: We employed an unbiased and global protease profiling approach to discover protease activities in 23 cyst fluid samples. The distinguishing activities of select proteases was confirmed in 110 samples using specific fluorogenic substrates and required less than 5 μL of cyst fluid.
Results: We determined that the activities of the aspartyl proteases gastricsin and cathepsin E are highly increased in fluid from mucinous cysts. IHC analysis revealed that gastricsin expression was associated with regions of low-grade dysplasia, whereas cathepsin E expression was independent of dysplasia grade. Gastricsin activity differentiated mucinous from nonmucinous cysts with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 93%, whereas cathepsin E activity was 92% specific and 70% sensitive. Gastricsin significantly outperformed the most widely used molecular biomarker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which demonstrated 94% specificity and 65% sensitivity. Combined analysis of gastricsin and CEA resulted in a near perfect classifier with 100% specificity and 98% sensitivity.
Conclusions: Quantitation of gastricsin and cathepsin E activities accurately distinguished mucinous from nonmucinous pancreatic cysts and has the potential to replace current diagnostics for analysis of these highly prevalent lesions. Clin Cancer Res; 23(16); 4865–74. ©2017 AACR.
Microparticles during long-term follow-up after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Christersson Christina , Thulin Åsa , Siegbahn Agneta 
Published: April 2017

SummaryMicroparticles (MPs) are formed from platelets (PMPs), endothelial cells (EMPs) and monocytes (MMPs), and in acute myocardial infarction (MI), there is an increase of MPs in the culprit artery. In this study MPs were evaluated in whole blood in 105 patients with MI at five time-points during a two-year follow-up (FU). Patients with non-ST-elevated MI had higher concentrations of CD41+MPs compared to ST-elevated MI patients (p=0.024). The concentrations of PMPs in whole blood increased during the time period (p<0.001), but no significant change over time was found for EMPs and MMPs. CD62P+MP counts were higher in MI patients with diabetes (p=0.020), and patients with hypertension had increased levels of CD14+MPs (p=0.004). The amount of CD62P+TF+MPs increased significantly during FU (p<0.001). Patients with atherosclerosis in three arterial beds, i. e. coronary, carotid and peripheral arteries, had lower concentrations of CD62P+TF+MPs (p=0.035) and CD144+TF+MPs (p=0.004) compared to patients with atherosclerosis in one or two arterial beds. Higher concentrations of CD62P+MPs early after MI were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events during FU, hazard ratio 3.32 (95%CI1.20–9.31). Only small variations in PMP, EMP and MMP concentrations were found during long-term FU after MI and their levels seem to reflect the underlying cardiovascular disease rather than the acute MI. PMPs expressing P-selectin might be a promising biomarker for predicting future cardiovascular events, but further studies are needed to confirm these results.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Low-Dose Paclitaxel–Coated Versus Uncoated Percutaneous Transluminal Balloon Angioplasty for Femoropopliteal Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Schroeder Henrik , Werner Martin , Meyer Dirk-Roelfs , Reimer Peter , Krüger Karsten , Jaff Michael R. , Brodmann Marianne 
Published: April 2017

Background:

Numerous studies have reported favorable outcomes using drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for treatment of symptomatic peripheral artery disease of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries. However, the treatment effect compared with an uncoated balloon has differed greatly among the randomized trials, with better outcomes observed with higher-dose DCBs. This European trial was designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of a next-generation low-dose (2-µg/mm
2
surface dose of paclitaxel) DCB.

Methods:
This was a prospective, randomized, multicenter, single-blinded trial. Patients were randomized (3:1) to treatment with a low-dose DCB or an uncoated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon. The primary safety end point was a composite of freedom from device- and procedure-related death through 30 days after the procedure and freedom from target limb major amputation and clinically driven target lesion revascularization through 12 months after the procedure. The primary effectiveness end point was primary patency at 12 months.

Results:

Patients were randomized to treatment with a DCB (222 patients, 254 lesions) or uncoated PTA balloon (72 patients, 79 lesions) after successful predilatation. Mean lesion length was 7.2 and 7.1 cm, and 19.2% and 19.0% of lesions represented total occlusions, respectively. The primary safety end point was met, and superiority was demonstrated; freedom from a primary safety event was 94.1% (193 of 205) with DCB and 83.3% (50 of 60) with PTA, for a difference of 10.8% (95% confidence interval, 0.9%–23.0%). The primary effectiveness end point was met, and superiority of DCB over PTA was achieved (83.9% [188 of 224] versus 60.6% [40 of 66];
P
<0.001). Outcomes with DCB were also superior to PTA per the Kaplan-Meier estimate for primary patency (89.0% versus 65.0% at 365 days; log-rank
P
<0.001) and for rates of clinically driven target lesion revascularization (5.9% versus 16.7%;
P
=0.014).

Conclusions:
Superiority with a low-dose DCB for femoropopliteal interventions was demonstrated over PTA for both the safety and effectiveness end points.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01858363.
Atmospheric Responses and Feedback to the Meridional Ocean Heat Transport in the North Pacific
Authors: Tatebe Hiroaki , Kurogi Masao , Hasumi Hiroyasu 
Published: April 2017

AbstractAtmospheric responses and feedback to meridional ocean heat transport (OHT) have been investigated using a global climate model that is interactively connected with a high-resolution regional ocean model embedded in the western North Pacific. Compared with a global climate model without the regional model, the net heat supply into the Kuroshio–Oyashio Extension (KOE) region is increased as a result of the increase of the mean northward ocean heat transport (OHT) by the western boundary currents and mesoscale eddies. Resultant sea surface temperature (SST) rise sharpens the meridional SST gradient and reinforces the cross-frontal difference of the surface heat flux and thereby enhances lower-tropospheric baroclinicity. These changes cause northward deflection and strengthening of the wintertime storm track over the North Pacific, which leads to the Pacific–North American (PNA)-like pattern anticyclonic response of the mean westerly jet. The increase of the eddy northward atmospheric heat flux (AHF) associated with the enhanced storm-track activity is compensated by the decrease of the mean northward AHF. The changes of the atmospheric circulations reduce the mean northward OHT in the eastern North Pacific that compensates the increase of the mean northward OHT in the KOE region. The atmospheric responses, which have once been excited by the SST fronts in the KOE region, stabilize the trans–North Pacific OHT. The modeling results herein suggest that basinwide Bjerknes-like compensation works in air–sea coupled processes for the formation of the climatic mean state in the North Pacific.
Evidence for a Strong Association of Short-Duration Intense Rainfall with Urbanization in the Beijing Urban Area
Authors: Yang Ping , Ren Guoyu , Yan Pengcheng 
Published: April 2017

AbstractCorrelations of the urban heat island intensity (UHII) and key surface variables with the short-duration intense rainfall (SDIR) events are examined for the Beijing urban areas by applying hourly data of a high-density automatic weather station (AWS) network. Higher frequencies (amounts) of the SDIR events are found in or near the central urban area, and most of the SDIR events begin to appear in late evening and nighttime, but tend to end in late night and early morning. Correlations of the UHII with the SDIR frequency (amount) are all highly significant for more than 3 h ahead of the beginning of the SDIR events. Although the UHII at immediate hours (<3 h) before the SDIR occurrence is more indicative of SDIR events, their occurrence more depends on the magnitude of the UHII at earlier hours. The UHII before the beginning of the SDIR events also shows high-value centers in the central urban area, which is generally consistent with the distribution of the SDIR events. The spatial and temporal patterns of regional SDIR events exhibit similar characteristics to the site-based SDIR events and also show a good relationship with the UHII in the urban areas. In addition to the UHII over the urban areas, surface air temperature, surface air pressure, relative humidity, and near-surface wind directions at the Beijing station experience large changes before and after the beginning time of regional SDIR events, and have the potential to indicate the occurrence of SDIR events in the studied area.
Recourse to Human Rights Treaty Bodies for Monitoring of the Refugee Convention
Authors: Takahashi Saul 
Published: April 2017

Nearly all human rights conventions adopt the treaty body model to monitor states parties' implementation of their treaty obligations. This monitoring mechanism provides for a quasi judicial committee, far detached from sites of many of the human rights violations it reviews. On the other hand, there is no such treaty body for the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Rather, there is the UNHCR; a large operational agency with offices all over the world, including in sites of refugee emergencies. Effective monitoring of human rights conventions would seem to require a number of factors, including independence and transparency. Legitimate monitoring would have to be strong, and would have to be seen to be strong. Criticism raised in recent years of UNHCR's monitoring methods are largely based on frustration with these points. This paper will examine these issues, and also examine whether recourse to the treaty bodies really provides an adequate remedy for refugee rights. The argument of this paper is that while the UNHCR's monitoring of the Refugee Convention is problematic in many respects, the monitoring of refugee issues by the treaty bodies is in many ways incomplete and inconsistent, and that the treaty body model does not provide refugee advocates with a comprehensive solution.
Family Law Issues in a Multicultural Setting: Abolishing or Reaffirming Sex as a Legally Relevant Category? A Human Rights Approach
Authors: Loenen Titia 
Published: April 2017

In the Netherlands, and more generally in Western Europe, the influx of large immigrant groups brings along all kinds of multicultural challenges. In this contribution I will address the question how to deal with the divergent norms and values new groups bring along. Should newcomers be required to assimilate or should society, on the contrary, leave ample space for their divergent norms and values? And if the latter, how far should we go in this respect, especially in those situations where the imported norms and values clash with those prevalent in the host-society? This paper will focus on one of the areas where this problem is most keenly felt as problematic, the area of family law issues. Here, especially Islamic norms and values potentially clash with the fundamental right to equal treatment without discrimination on the basis of sex. The discussion how far we should go in accommodating and incorporating Islamic norms and values in our legal system is most of the time conducted in political/philosophical terms. Though this discussion is highly interesting and important, this contribution chooses a different, legal perspective, and more specifically, the perspective of human rights. The reason to do so lies in the fact that in the European legal setting human rights norms increasingly seem to set the framework for and provide the limits within which choices of accommodation or assimilation will have to be made. After presenting in more detail some of the problems and dilemmas involved in developing a more multicultural family law, the paper explores where international and European human rights law as it stands so far takes us in answering the question how far we should go in accommodating and/or incorporating Islamic norms and values. To conclude it will relate the conclusions to be drawn from this legal investigation to the political/philosophical discussions on the limits of multicultural approaches to law and society.