bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of P‐Wave Dispersion, Diastolic Function, and Atrial Electromechanical Conduction in Pediatric Patients with Subclinical Hypothyroidism
Authors: Irdem Ahmet , Aydın Sahin Derya , Kervancioglu Mehmet , Baspinar Osman , Sucu Murat , Keskin Mehmet , Kilinc Metin 
Published: May 2016

AimThis study aimed to evaluate ventricular diastolic dysfunction, inter‐ and intraatrial conduction delay, and P‐wave dispersion in pediatric patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.MethodsThe study comprised a total of 30 pediatric patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) (mean age 7.8 ± 3.2 years) and 30 healthy children (mean age 8.4 ± 3.6 years) as the control group. A SH diagnosis was made in the event of increased serum thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) and decreased serum free triiodothyronine (T3) and free thyroxine (T4) concentrations.ResultsConventional Doppler imaging (TDI) showed low mitral early diastolic E‐wave velocity and E/A ratio (P < 0.001) and significantly higher mitral late diastolic A‐wave velocity (P = 0.001) in hypothyroidism patients. Moreover, patients with hypothyroidism had significantly lower left ventricular (LV) septal Em velocity and Em/Am ratios compared with the control group (P < 0.001), whereas Am velocity was higher in hypothyroidism patients (P = 0.018). LV lateral Em velocity and Em/Am ratio were significantly lower in patients with hypothyroidism compared with the control group (P < 0.001). With regard to atrial electromechanical conduction, atrial electromechanical delay (PA) lateral, PA septum, PA tricuspid, and each of interatrial and intraatrial conduction delay were significantly prolonged in hypothyroidism patients as compared with the control group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.023, P = 0.002, and P = 0.003, respectively). P‐wave dispersion was significantly different in the pediatric patients with hypothyroidism (P < 0.001).ConclusionThis study demonstrated atrial electromechanical conduction delay, abnormal P‐wave dispersion, and ventricle diastolic dysfunction in pediatric patients with hypothyroidism.
Insight into the molecular pathophysiology of myelodysplastic syndromes: targets for novel therapy
Authors: Zahid Mohammad Faizan , Patnaik Mrinal M. , Gangat Naseema , Hashmi Shahrukh K. , Rizzieri David A. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders characterized by abnormal cellular differentiation and maturation with variable progression to acute leukemia. Over the last decade, scientific discoveries have unraveled specific pathways involved in the complex pathophysiology of MDS. Prominent examples include aberrations in cytokines and their signaling pathways (such as tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, interferon‐gamma, SMAD proteins), mutations in genes encoding the RNA splicing machinery (SF3B1, SRSF2, ZRSR2, and U2AF1 genes), mutations in genes disrupting the epigenetic machinery (TET2, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, EZH2, ASXL1). In addition, abnormalities in regulatory T‐cell dynamics and atypical interactions between the bone marrow microenvironment, stroma and progenitor cells, and abnormal maintenance of telomeres are also notable contributors to the complex pathogenesis of MDS. These pathways represent potential targets for novel therapies. Specific therapies include drugs targeting aberrant DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, modulating/activating the immune system to enhance tumor‐specific cellular immune responses and reduce anomalous cytokine signaling, and blocking abnormal interaction between hematopoietic progenitors and stromal cells.
When it rains, it pours: Peripartum cardiomyopathy with features of left‐ventricular noncompaction in a hemodialysis patient
Authors: Antlanger Marlies , Kammerlander Andreas A. , Ullrich Robert , Haidinger Michael , Bonderman Diana , Mascherbauer Julia , Säemann Marcus D. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractPregnancy and associated pre‐eclampsia carry a high maternal risk in hemodialysis patients, yet no guidelines on how to monitor these patients' cardiovascular function exist. A 34‐year‐old hemodialysis patient presented with peripartum cardiomyopathy after a late second trimester miscarriage. On cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic features of left ventricular noncompaction were apparent. Yet, histological and gene panel analyses remained negative. Upon stringent dry weight control and pharmacological heart failure therapy, the pathological changes showed complete regression. As pregnant hemodialysis patients have an excessively increased risk for pre‐eclampsia‐related cardiac disease, thorough screening appears valuable in these patients.
On the topology of the set of critical equilibria
Authors: Loi Andrea , Matta Stefano 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIn this study, we explore the connection between the dimension of a pure exchange smooth economy and the topology of the set of the critical equilibria. In particular, using the dual framework developed by Balasko, we show that the set of regular equilibria is path connected if two consumers (goods) and at least four goods (consumers) exist, or if the sum of the number of goods and consumers is even. This result depends mainly on the fact that a real projective space of dimension n, , which is embedded in , does not disconnect unless .
Multiscale imaging and characterization of the effect of mixing temperature on asphalt concrete containing recycled components
Authors: CAVALLI M.C. , GRIFFA M. , BRESSI S. , PARTL M.N. , TEBALDI G. , POULIKAKOS L.D. 
Published: May 2016

SummaryWhen producing asphalt concrete mixture with high amounts of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), the mixing temperature plays a significant role in the resulting spatial distribution of the components as well as on the quality of the resulting mixture, in terms of workability during mixing and compaction as well as in service mechanical properties. Asphalt concrete containing 50% RAP was investigated at mixing temperatures of 140, 160 and 180°C, using a multiscale approach. At the microscale, using energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy the RAP binder film thickness was visualized and measured. It was shown that at higher mixing temperatures this film thickness was reduced. The reduction in film thickness can be attributed to the loss of volatiles as well as the mixing of RAP binder with virgin binder at higher temperatures. X‐ray computer tomography was used to characterize statistically the distribution of the RAP and virgin aggregates geometric features: volume, width and shape anisotropy. In addition using X‐ray computer tomography, the packing and spatial distribution of the RAP and virgin aggregates was characterized using the nearest neighbour metric. It was shown that mixing temperature may have a positive effect on the spatial distribution of the aggregates but did not affect the packing. The study shows a tendency for the RAP aggregates to be more likely distributed in clusters at lower mixing temperatures. At higher temperatures, they were more homogeneously distributed. This indicates a higher degree of blending both at microscale (binder film) and macroscale (spatial distribution) between RAP and virgin aggregates as a result of increasing mixing temperatures and the ability to quantify this using various imaging techniques.
Virtual plaster cast: digital 3D modelling of lion paws and tracks using close‐range photogrammetry
Authors: Marchal A. F. J. , Lejeune P. , de Bruyn P. J. N. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe ecological monitoring of threatened species is vital for their survival as it provides the baselines for conservation, research and management strategies. Wildlife studies using tracks are controversial mainly due to unreliable recording techniques limited to two‐dimensions (2D). We assess close‐range photogrammetry as a low‐cost, rapid, practical and reliable field technique for the digital three‐dimensional (3D) modelling of lion Panthera leo paws and tracks. First, we tested three reconstruction parameters affecting the 3D model quality. We then compared direct measurements on the paws and tracks versus the same measurements on their digital 3D models. Finally, we assessed the minimum number of photographs required for the 3D reconstruction. Masking, auto‐calibration and optimization provided higher reconstruction quality. Paws masked semi‐automatically and tracks masked manually were characterized by a geometric deviation of 0.23 ± 0.18 cm and 0.50 ± 0.33 cm respectively. Unmasked tracks delineated by means of the contour lines had a geometric deviation of −0.06 ± 0.39 cm. The use of a correction factor reduced the geometric deviation to −0.03 ± 0.20 cm (pad‐masked paws), −0.04 ± 0.35 cm (pad‐masked tracks) and −0.01 ± 0.39 cm (unmasked tracks). Based on the predicted error, the minimum number of photographs required for an accurate reconstruction is seven (paws) or eight (tracks) photographs. This field technique, using only a digital camera and a ruler, takes less than one minute to sample a paw or track. The introduction of the 3D facet provides more realistic replications of paws and tracks that will enable a better understanding of their intrinsic properties and variation due to external factors. This advanced recording technique will permit a refinement of the current methods aiming at identifying species, age, sex and individual from tracks.
Order and control in the environment: Exploring the effects on undesired behaviour and the importance of locus of control
Authors: Jansen Anja M. , Giebels Ellen , van Rompay Thomas J. L. , Austrup Sebastian , Junger Marianne 
Published: May 2016

PurposeThis study aimed at gaining more insight into the combined influence of environmental factors and personal vulnerability to environmental cues on cheating behaviour in a task‐related indoor setting. We propose that a disorderly environment increases cheating as it implicitly signals that undesirable behaviours are common. Camera presence is expected to buffer these effects. We included locus of control (LOC) as a personality variable, as we expected individuals with an external LOC to be more susceptible by environmental cues.MethodsSeventy‐six students participated in a 2 (orderly vs. disorderly environment) × 2 (camera vs. no camera present) experiment with cheating as the main dependent variable. We established the individual participant's LOC (Rotter, 1966, Psychol. Monogr., 80, 1) in a separate session.ResultsFindings did indeed show that individuals with an external LOC cheated more in a disorderly rather than an orderly environment. We also found an interaction effect with LOC suggesting this effect was particularly present for participants having an external rather than internal LOC. Camera presence did not yield significant main or interaction effects.ConclusionThese findings confirm the importance of environmental design for behaviour regulation as well as the moderating influence of personality makeup.
Beyond clines: lineages and haplotype blocks in hybrid zones
Authors: Sedghifar Alisa , Brandvain Yaniv , Ralph Peter 
Published: May 2016

AbstractHybrid zones formed between recently diverged populations offer an opportunity to study the mechanisms underlying reproductive isolation and the process of speciation. Here, we use a combination of analytical theory and explicit forward simulations to describe how selection against hybrid genotypes impacts patterns of introgression across genomic and geographic space. By describing how lineages move across the hybrid zone, in a model without coalescence, we add to modern understanding of how clines form and how parental haplotypes are broken up during introgression. Working with lineages makes it easy to see that clines form in about 1/sgenerations, wheresis the strength of selection against hybrids, and linked clines persist over a genomic scale of 1/T, whereTis the age, in generations, of the hybrid zone. Locally disadvantageous alleles tend to exist as small families, whose lineages trace back to the side from which they originated at speeddispersal distances per generation. The lengths of continuous tracts of ancestry provide an additional source of information: blocks of ancestry surrounding incompatibilities can be substantially longer than the genomewide average block length at the same spatial location, an observation that might be used to identify candidate targets of selection.
Intracerebral hemorrhage due to cerebral amyloid angiopathy after head injury: Report of a case and review of the literature
Authors: Pittella José E. H. , da Silva Gusmão Sebastião N. 
Published: May 2016

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is an important cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in the elderly. A few case reports of CAA‐related intracerebral hemorrhage after head injury, usually following a fall, have been published. More rarely, it may occur in the setting of a traffic accident, with only four cases having been reported. We describe a case of CAA‐related intracerebral hemorrhage in an 88‐year‐old man injured in a road traffic accident. The patient died 14 h after the accident. Autopsy examination revealed a left frontoparietal hematoma and CAA of most of the small leptomeningeal and cortical arteries, as well as several capillaries, predominantly in the parietal and occipital lobes. Except for bruises in the frontal and zygomatic regions, elbow and forearm, to the left, there were no skull fractures or traumatic lesions in other parts of the body. We review the literature on CAA‐related intracerebral hemorrhage associated with head injury. CAA‐related intracerebral hemorrhage after head injury may occur due to a minor trauma, minor and severe falls, or in the setting of a traffic accident. However, even in this last condition, it seems to happen mostly in patients who had a mild to moderate head injury. These facts show that replacement of the contractile components of the arterial tunica media by amyloid renders the affected cerebral blood vessels more vulnerable to head injury associated with acceleration and deceleration, independently of the severity of the dynamic loading acting on the head.
Leaf water oxygen isotope measurement by direct equilibration
Authors: Song Xin , Barbour Margaret M. 
Published: May 2016

Summary

The oxygen isotope composition of leaf water imparts a signal to a range of molecules in the atmosphere and biosphere, but has been notoriously difficult to measure in studies requiring a large number of samples as a consequence of the labour‐intensive extraction step.

We tested a method of direct equilibration of water in fresh leaf samples with CO2, and subsequent oxygen isotope analysis on an optical spectrometer.

The oxygen isotope composition of leaf water measured by the direct equilibration technique was strongly linearly related to that of cryogenically extracted leaf water in paired samples for a wide range of species with differing anatomy, with an R2 of 0.95.

The somewhat more enriched values produced by the direct equilibration method may reflect lack of full equilibration with unenriched water in the vascular bundles, but the strong relationship across a wide range of species suggests that this difference can be adequately corrected for using a simple linear relationship.
The relationship between dioptric power and magnification in progressive addition lenses
Authors: Barbero Sergio , Portilla Javier 
Published: May 2016

AbstractPurposeNon‐uniform magnification (distortion) and dioptric blur are two major undesired optical defects affecting vision when looking through progressive addition lenses (PALs) and studying them is potentially very valuable for PAL design. The major purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between dioptric power and magnification and, additionally, to evaluate the expected values of distortion and dioptric blur typically present in PALs. This has not been carefully and rigorously analysed to date.MethodsWe computed the local dioptric and magnification matrices (using a two‐ray differential method) for different gaze directions in an archetypical model of a PAL. We used four different maps: scalar magnification and anamorphic distortion, to describe magnification, and mean power and astigmatism, to describe dioptric power.ResultsThere is a good correlation between scalar magnification and mean power on the one hand, and anamorphic distortion and astigmatism on the other hand. Changes of 1 D in mean power are associated with variations in scalar magnification of around 3%. Also, 3% of anamorphic distortion is associated with increasing astigmatism up to 1 D. The directions of maximal power and maximal magnification are quite similar, though not equal (differences up to ± 1.5°). These directions strongly change from close to isotropic at the intermediate corridor to around 45° of oblique inclination for a few degrees of horizontal eye rotation. In typical PALs the level of distortion, which is unavoidably present when dioptric blurring appears, is small for usable vision zones (below 1 D of astigmatism).ConclusionThe combined analysis of dioptric power and magnification in PALs helps to understand their limitations as a visual aid. On the one hand, the potentials of including distortion magnitude as a target in the metric function being optimised in the PAL design are reduced; on the other hand, it seems worthwhile to explore adding the degradation orientation as an additional target.
The effects of altered expression of the Keap1/CncC pathway on the secretion of fluid and salicylate by Malpighian tubules of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Kaas Marten , Campos Ana R. , O'Donnell Michael J. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe Keap1‐Nrf2 pathway is a major upstream regulator of xenobiotic detoxification. In Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, targeted expression of Keap1 and CncC (the latter the orthologue of human Nrf2) in the Malpighian (renal) tubules is known to confer resistance to lethal doses of the pesticide malathion, which is metabolized into organic anions. Dietary exposure to organic anions such as salicylate (10 mm) causes increases in the fluid secretion rate and salicylate flux across Malpighian tubules. In the present study, salicylate‐selective microelectrodes and Ramsay assays are used to determine the role of Keap1/Nrf2 in regulating these responses. Genetic manipulations designed to increase Nrf2 activity (by knockdown of the repressor Keap1 or overexpression of the Nrf2 coactivator MafS) or to decrease Nrf2 activity (by overexpression of Keap1) are also studied. Although the results of the Keap1 manipulations are inconclusive, there is no increase in the fluid secretion rate or salicylate flux in tubules isolated from flies in which MafS expression is increased.
Effects of Anti‐CD45RB Monoclonal Antibody for T Lymphocyte Subsets in Mice Heart Transplantation Model
Authors: Deng C.‐Y. , Wang X.‐F. , Qi H. , Li F.‐R. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractAnti‐CD45RB monoclonal antibody (anti‐CD45RBmAb), as a new immune tolerance inducer, may inhibit T cell proliferation and induce immune tolerance through competitive combination with CD45RB on the T cell surface, which blocks the conduction of activation signals. However, how anti‐CD45RBmAb plays its role on T lymphocyte subsets during immunosuppression remains unclear. In this work, we investigate the effects of anti‐CD45RBmAb on CD3+ T lymphocyte both in vitro and in allogeneic heart transplant model in vivo. Interestingly, anti‐CD45RBmAb could inhibit the proliferation of T cells, promote the transformation of T lymphocyte to Treg and Th2 cells, suppress the transformation to Th17 and Th1 cells, increase the number of Ts cells, decrease the number of Tm cells and thus play a role in immune inhibition and induction of immune tolerance.
Informality and Long‐Run Growth
Authors: Docquier Frédéric , Müller Tobias , Naval Joaquín 
Published: May 2016

AbstractOne of the most salient features of developing economies is the existence of a large informal sector. In this paper, we use quantitative theory to study the dynamic implications of informality on wage inequality, human capital accumulation, child labor, and long‐run growth. Our model can generate transitory informality equilibria or informality‐induced poverty traps. Its calibration reveals that the case for the poverty‐trap hypothesis arises: although informality serves to protect low‐skilled workers from extreme poverty in the short run, it prevents income convergence between developed and developing nations in the long run. Then we examine the effectiveness of different development policies to exit the poverty trap. Our numerical experiments show that using means‐tested education subsidies is the most cost‐effective single policy option. However, for longer time horizons, or as the economy gets closer to the poverty trap threshold, combining means‐tested education and wage subsidies is even more effective.
Epistemological Classifiers And Concealed Questions In Acehnese
Authors: Xie Zhiguo 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThere is a morpheme tu ‘know’ in Acehnese (Malayo‐Polynesian) that always needs to combine with so‐called epistemological classifiers specifying conceptual categories of knowledge. On the empirical side, this paper reports first‐hand data involving tu combined with epistemological classifiers. The primary purpose is to demonstrate what epistemological classifiers combine with tu, when tu takes a declarative clause, an overt wh‐clause, or a DP that receives an interrogative reading (“concealed questions”). When tu takes a declarative clause, the epistemological classifier combined with it invariably is peue ‘what.’ When tu takes an overt wh‐clause, the epistemological classifier is either the default peue ‘what’ or the same as the (surface highest) epistemological classifier in the wh‐clause. When tu embeds a concealed question DP, the epistemological classifier is morphologically sensitive to what question the DP is intended to express. The theoretical component of this paper mainly focuses on tu embedding concealed question DPs. I argue that Acehnese concealed questions are best analyzed as wh‐questions in disguise, from which the wh‐word is ellipticized at the PF level. Researchers have previously argued that the question‐in‐disguise analysis of concealed questions does not work for concealed questions in such languages as English and Spanish. Hence, the discussion of concealed questions in Acehnese suggests that the interpretation of concealed questions may show interesting and important crosslinguistic variability.
Laboratory Diagnosis of Congenital Toxoplasmosis
Authors: Pomares Christelle , Montoya Jose G. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACT

Recent studies have demonstrated that screening and treatment for toxoplasmosis during gestation result in a decrease of vertical transmission and clinical sequelae. Early treatment was associated with improved outcomes. Thus, laboratory methods should aim for early identification of infants with congenital toxoplasmosis (CT). Diagnostic approaches should include, at least, detection of
Toxoplasma
IgG, IgM, and IgA and a comprehensive review of maternal history, including the gestational age at which the mother was infected and treatment. Here, we review laboratory methods for the diagnosis of CT, with emphasis on serological tools. A diagnostic algorithm that takes into account maternal history is presented.