bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio as a measure of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Chandrashekara S. , Mukhtar Ahmad Masoodi , Renuka Panchagnula , Anupama K. R. , Renuka K. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectivesThe neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is one of the well‐recognized sensitive measures of inflammation. This cross‐sectional observational study was aimed at characterizing the relationship ofNLRwith the inflammatory markers erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C‐reative protein (CRP), Disease Activity Score of 28 joints (DAS28)‐CRP(3), joint counts and quality measures of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Materials and MethodsPatients withRAwere recruited in two phases. The following were assessed for all patients: joint count, pain by visual analogue scale (VAS), complete blood count,ESR,CRPand quality index assessment using the Short Form health survey (SF‐36) questionnaire. A subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the association betweenNLRand cytokines.ResultsFour hundred and eighty‐nine subjects were recruited. Distribution ofNLRvalues corresponded withDAS28‐CRP(3) rather thanCRPandESR. A significant difference inVAS, swollen joint counts (SJC‐28), inflammatory parameters and general health outcome measures was observed among theNLRgroups. A weak correlation was observed betweenNLRandRAdisease measures. It had least bias at lower ranges withDAS28‐CRP(3) thanCRPandESR. TheNLRcut‐off value of 1.4 classified the patients in deep remission with 90% specificity, 24% sensitivity, likelihood ratio positive (LR+) 2.46 and likelihood ratio negative (LR−) 0.84.CRPwas a significant baseline predictor ofNLR. A significant influence of interleukin‐6 onCRPwas noted.ConclusionIn contrast to the traditional markers,NLRmay serve as a less expensive and effective measure of inflammation inRA. Its efficacy is comparable to that ofCRPand it is not impacted by the cytokines influencingCRPandESR.
Disease activity trajectories in early rheumatoid arthritis following intensive DMARD therapy over 3 years: association with persistence to therapy
Authors: Wabe Nasir , Wojciechowski Jessica , Wechalekar Mihir D. , Cleland Leslie G. , McWilliams Leah , Lee Anita , Proudman Susanna , Wiese Michael D. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo identify the disease activity trajectories during intensive triple disease modifying anti‐rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy over 3 years in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to evaluate the association with treatment persistence.MethodsDisease Activity Score in 28 joints, baseline risk factors and medication usage were obtained from a longitudinal observational cohort of early RA patients, most of whom were treated with combination DMARD therapy consisting of methotrexate, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine. Persistence of each DMARD was defined as the duration of time from initiation to cessation. A group‐based trajectory modelling technique was used to identify disease activity trajectories.ResultThree disease activity trajectories (good [43.8%], moderate [39.7%] and poor [16.5%]) were identified in a cohort of 297 patients. Most baseline risk factors, medication usage, the rate of treatment persistence and the effect of persistence on disease activity differed among patients in each of the three trajectories. Although the rate of persistence was higher in the trajectory with a good outcome, the association with persistence was more pronounced among patients who were in the poor outcome trajectory. Persistence with at least two or all three baseline DMARDs was associated with a decrease in disease activity to a broadly similar degree in all trajectories.ConclusionAfter correction for other baseline prognostic factors, persistence with initial DMARDs contributes to heterogeneity in disease activity trajectory and there was an association between persistence with initial DMARD therapy and lower long‐term disease activity.
Responses of aquatic food webs to the addition of structural complexity and basal resource diversity in degraded Neotropical streams
Authors: Ceneviva‐Bastos Mônica , Montaña Carmen G. , Schalk Christopher M. , Camargo Plínio B. , Casatti Lilian 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe loss of riparian forests can disrupt the structure and function of lotic ecosystems through increased habitat homogenization and decreased resource diversity. We conducted a field experiment and manipulated structural complexity and basal resource diversity to determine their effect on multiple aspects of community and food‐web structure of degraded tropical streams. In‐stream manipulations included the addition of woody debris (WD) and the addition of wood and leaf packs (WLP). The addition of structural complexity to degraded streams promoted detritus retention and had a positive effect on stream taxonomic richness, abundance and biomass. At the conclusion of the experiment, abundance and richness in the WD‐treated reaches increased by over 110% and 80%, respectively, while abundance and richness in the WLP‐treated reaches increased by over 280% and 170% respectively. Wood debris and leaves were consumed only by few taxa. Detritivorous taxa were the most abundant trophic guild at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. Food webs in treated reaches were relatively more complex in terms of links and species at the conclusion of the experiment, with highest maximum food chain length in the WD treatments and highest number of trophic species, links, link density, predators and prey at the WLP treatment. Despite differences observed in diet‐based food webs, there was little variation in isotopic niche space, likely due to the high degree of omnivory and trophic redundancy, which was attributed to the importance of fine detritus that supported a broad range of consumers. Even in these degraded streams, aquatic taxa responded to the addition of increased complexity suggesting that these efforts may be an effective first step to restoring the structure and function of these food webs.
Description of post‐implantation embryonic stages in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) after embryonic diapause
Authors: Beyes M. , Nause N. , Bleyer M. , Kaup F.‐J. , Neumann S. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryThe embryonic stage of development is defined as the period between fertilization and the establishment of most of the organ systems by the end of this period. Development in this stage is rapid. In many mammalian species, particularly in humans, the interval between fertilization and implantation is exactly determined and continuous without intermission. However, European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) embryos undergo a reversible retardation of development. This interesting reproduction strategy is called embryonic diapause (delayed implantation). After this period of embryonic arrest, development continues without further interruption. The aim of this study was to investigate embryonic development after diapause in European roe deer. Because of the embryonic diapause and the unknown date of fertilization, it was impossible to assign the embryos to a certain gestational age (days). This study describes normal stages of embryonic development mainly based on the external morphological traits of 56 well‐preserved post‐implantation roe deer embryos and attempts to assign the embryos to certain development stages. Carnegie stages of human embryos were used as an orientation for staging roe deer embryos. We observed a considerable range of variation of embryonic stages investigated until the end of January. We found post‐implantation stages of embryonic development already at the end of December and foetuses at the end of January. Moreover, assigning the embryos to a particular stage of development allows the comparison between pairs of twins and triplets. We showed that twins and triplets were always at the same development level, despite the discrepancy in inter‐twin and inter‐triplet size.
Heifers express G‐protein coupled receptor 153 in anterior pituitary gonadotrophs in stage‐dependent manner
Authors: Pandey Kiran , Kereilwe Onalenna , Kadokawa Hiroya 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe recently found that orphan G‐protein‐coupled receptor (GPR)153 is expressed in the anterior pituitary (AP) of heifers, leading us to speculate that GPR153 colocalizes with gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) in the plasma membrane of gonadotrophs and is expressed at specific times of the reproductive cycle. To test this hypothesis, we examined the coexpression of GnRHR, GPR153, and either luteinizing hormone or follicle‐stimulating hormone in AP tissue and cultured AP cells by immunofluorescence microscopy. GPR153 was detected in the gonadotrophs, and was colocalized with GnRHR in the plasma membrane. GPR153 was also detected in the cytoplasm of cultured gonadotrophs. Real‐time PCR and western blot analyses found that expression was lower (P < 0.05) in AP tissues during early luteal phase as compared to pre‐ovulation or late luteal phases. The 5′‐flanking region of the GPR153 gene contained a consensus response element sequence for estrogen, but not for progesterone. These data suggest that some, but not all GPR153 colocalizes with GnRHR in the plasma membrane of gonadotrophs, and its expression changes stage‐dependently in the bovine AP.
An online growth mindset intervention in a sample of rural adolescent girls
Authors: Burnette Jeni L. , Russell Michelle V. , Hoyt Crystal L. , Orvidas Kasey , Widman Laura 
Published: September 2017

BackgroundStudents living in rural areas of the United States exhibit lower levels of educational attainment than their suburban counterparts. Innovative interventions are needed to close this educational achievement gap.AimsWe investigated whether an online growth mindset intervention could be leveraged to promote academic outcomes.SampleWe tested the mindset intervention in a sample of 222 10th‐grade adolescent girls (M age = 15.2; 38% White, 25% Black, 29% Hispanic) from four rural, low‐income high schools in the Southeastern United States.MethodsWe conducted a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of the growth mindset intervention, relative to a sexual health programme. We used random sampling and allocation procedures to assign girls to either the mindset intervention (n = 115) or an attention‐matched control programme (n = 107). We assessed participants at pre‐test, immediate post‐test, and 4‐month follow‐up.ResultsRelative to the control condition, students assigned to the mindset intervention reported stronger growth mindsets at immediate post‐test and 4‐month follow‐up. Although the intervention did not have a total effect on academic attitudes or grades, it indirectly increased motivation to learn, learning efficacy and grades via the shifts in growth mindsets.ConclusionsResults indicate that this intervention is a promising method to encourage growth mindsets in rural adolescent girls.
Self‐management support in routine primary care by nurses
Authors: Westland Heleen , Schröder Carin D. , de Wit Jessica , Frings Judith , Trappenburg Jaap C. A. , Schuurmans Marieke J. 
Published: September 2017

ObjectivesTo examine how and to what extent self‐management support, including behaviour change support, is provided by primary care nurses in routine consultations with chronically ill patients.DesignObservational study design.MethodsRoutine consultations of primary care nurses in the Netherlands with chronically ill patients were audio‐taped and analysed. The analysis identified health topics addressed according to health care standards, self‐management topics addressed using a validated set of topics, and behaviour change techniques (BCTs) using the Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy v1.ResultsSeventy‐eight routine consultations of 17 primary care nurses with chronically ill patients were included in the analysis. Nurses addressed both health topics and self‐management topics in brief, fragmented, and often inconsistent manners. Dietary intake and physical activity were the most frequently addressed topics. Nurses applied 21 BCTs to target behaviour change, but the use of these techniques was mainly inconsistent and implicit. The most consistently used BCTs were review behaviour goal(s) (56.4%) and feedback on behaviour (51.3%).ConclusionsNurses addressed both health topics and self‐management topics in their routine consultations. The duration, frequency, and number of addressed topics differed throughout the consultations. Nurses tended to prioritize the monitoring and optimization of patients’ medical treatment and provided limited self‐management support. Nurses seldom deepened their focus on behaviour change and infrequently used effective techniques to support this change. Adoption of self‐management in primary care, including behaviour change, might be enhanced if nurses consistently and explicitly use effective BCTs in their consultations.
Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Primary care nurses play a pivotal role in self‐management support for patients with a chronic condition.

Adequate self‐management support requires nurses to activate patients and enhance behaviour change.

Little is known regarding to what extent nurses provide self‐management support in routine primary care.

What does this study add?

Self‐management support is brief, fragmented, and inconsistently provided by nurses.

Nurses tend to prioritize medical treatment optimization and seldom focus on behavioural change.

Nurses’ use of effective behaviour change techniques is low and should be enhanced.
Lipid remodelling in neuroendocrine secretion
Authors: Gasman Stéphane , Vitale Nicolas 
Published: September 2017

AbstractNeuroendocrine cells secrete hormones and polypeptides through a complex membrane trafficking process that involves the transport of specific organelles, called large dense core secretory granules, from the Golgi apparatus to specialised sites at the plasma membrane where these vesicles are successively exocytosed and recaptured by endocytosis through tightly coupled reactions. The minimal machinery required for exocytosis has been defined as SNARE proteins associated with few accessory proteins. On the other side, clathrin and dynamin constitute major components of some of the most important endocytotic pathways. Although many protein contributors of both exocytosis and endocytosis are now identified, their actual interplay is not well resolved. Furthermore, the necessary tight coupling of exocytosis and compensatory endocytosis to maintain membrane homeostasis in neuroendocrine cells is far from being understood. In this review, we focus on the more recently identified role of lipids in these important processes that are above all membrane remodelling events.
Old‐age Poverty in Indonesia: Measurement Issues and Living Arrangements
Authors: Priebe Jan 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTDrawing on several rounds of nationally representative household survey data for Indonesia, this article shows that poverty rates among the elderly are substantially higher than those of the rest of the population. Using sensitivity checks on adult equivalence scales and economies of scale, the author demonstrates that the gap in poverty rates between the elderly and non‐elderly population would increase even further if moderate changes to the per‐consumption expenditure assumption were made. Additional panel data evidence reveals that about one‐third of the elderly population is currently vulnerable to poverty. While the findings do not show gender differences in old‐age poverty rates, they do highlight important differences in living arrangements across gender, with the majority of elderly women being widows while the majority of men are still married at all ages.
Organizing against Land Grabbing in Cambodia: Exploring Missing Links
Authors: Verkoren Willemijn , Ngin Chanrith 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTUsing a case study of Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) in Cambodia, this article adds to emerging literature on local responses to land grabbing. While much of this literature has focused on political opportunity structures, this article looks at the agency of local groups organizing in response to land grabbing. Noting that organization and connections have been ‘missing links’ in the literature, the authors draw on thinking on collective action and social networking. Their findings highlight the importance of identity politics in the development of movements responding to land grabbing. Transnational discourses and external support also play a significant role in local responses to land grabbing in general, and in the modest success achieved by the PLCN in particular. All this complicates the traditional understanding of political opportunity structures and calls for a more dynamic approach.
Probing the depth of infants’ theory of mind: disunity in performance across paradigms
Authors: Poulin‐Dubois Diane , Yott Jessica 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThere is currently a hot debate in the literature regarding whether or not infants have a true theory of mind (ToM) understanding. According to the mentalistic view, infants possess the same false belief understanding that older children have but their competence is masked by task demands. On the other hand, others have proposed that preverbal infants are incapable of mental state attribution and simply respond to superficial features of the events in spontaneous‐responses tasks. In the current study, we aimed to clarify the nature of infants’ performance in tasks designed to assess implicit theory of mind (ToM) by adopting a within‐subject design that involved testing 18‐month‐old infants on two batteries of tasks measuring the same four ToM constructs (intention, desire, true belief, and false belief). One battery included tasks based on the violation‐of‐ expectation (VOE) procedure, whereas the other set of tasks was based on the interactive, helping procedure. Replication of the original findings varied across tasks, due to methodological changes and the use of a within‐subject design. Convergent validity was examined by comparing performance on VOE and interactive tasks that are considered to be measures of the same theory of mind concept. The results revealed no significant relations between performance on the pairs of tasks for any of the four ToM constructs measured. This pattern of results is discussed in terms of current conflicting accounts of infants’ performance on implicit ToM tasks. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3vqfe_zdhA&feature=youtu.be
Remission of encephalopathy with status epilepticus (ESES) during sleep renormalizes regulation of slow wave sleep
Authors: Bölsterli Bigna K. , Gardella Elena , Pavlidis Elena , Wehrle Flavia M. , Tassinari Carlo A. , Huber Reto , Rubboli Guido 
Published: September 2017

SummaryObjectiveIn previous studies, we showed an altered overnight decrease of non–rapid‐eye‐movement (NREM) sleep slow waves in children with encephalopathy related to status epilepticus during sleep (ESES). Here, we test the hypothesis that these alterations renormalize after remission of ESES. Because overnight decrease of slow waves has been linked to brain recovery and cognition, we investigate whether cognitive outcome is related to overnight changes of slow waves.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of longitudinal overnight electroencephalography (EEG) in 10 patients with idiopathic ESES. Automated slow wave detection and calculation of slope of slow waves during the first and last hour of NREM sleep were employed. Intraindividual comparisons were undertaken of the slope during active phase and after remission of ESES, and between patients after remission of ESES and healthy controls. Explorative analysis of the relationship between slow wave slope and cognitive outcome was performed.ResultsThe slope of slow waves did not decrease significantly across the night during active ESES, particularly at the spike focus. After remission of ESES, the slope decreased significantly overnight. Compared to controls, there was no difference in overnight slope decrease. Association between slope and neuropsychological outcome showed best cognitive outcome after remission in those children (n = 3) who showed some degree of slope decline during active ESES.SignificanceThis study provides evidence that alterations of overnight changes of NREM‐sleep slow waves during active ESES are reversible when ESES resolves, and that the severity of neuropsychological compromise might be related to the extent of slow wave impairment during ESES. Our findings suggest that analysis of slow waves might serve as a prognostic factor regarding cognitive outcome. ESES may serve as disease model of pathologic slow wave sleep and our results might be expanded to epilepsies with spike wave activation in slow wave sleep not only in children but also in adults.
Standardization procedure for plasma biomarker analysis in rat models of epileptogenesis: Focus on circulating microRNAs
Authors: van Vliet Erwin A. , Puhakka Noora , Mills James D. , Srivastava Prashant K. , Johnson Michael R. , Roncon Paolo , Das Gupta Shalini , Karttunen Jenni , Simonato Michele , Lukasiuk Katarzyna , Gorter Jan A. , Aronica Eleonora , Pitkänen Asla 
Published: September 2017

SummaryThe World Health Organization estimates that globally 2.4 million people are diagnosed with epilepsy each year. In nearly 30% of these cases, epilepsy cannot be properly controlled by antiepileptic drugs. More importantly, treatments to prevent or modify epileptogenesis do not exist. Therefore, novel therapies are urgently needed. In this respect, it is important to identify which patients will develop epilepsy and which individually tailored treatment is needed. However, currently, we have no tools to identify the patients at risk, and diagnosis of epileptogenesis remains as a major unmet medical need, which relates to lack of diagnostic biomarkers for epileptogenesis. As the epileptogenic process in humans is typically slow, the use of animal models is justified to speed up biomarker discovery. We aim to summarize recommendations for molecular biomarker research and propose a standardized procedure for biomarker discovery in rat models of epileptogenesis. The potential of many phylogenetically conserved circulating noncoding small RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), as biomarkers has been explored in various brain diseases, including epilepsy. Recent studies show the feasibility of detecting miRNAs in blood in both experimental models and human epilepsy. However, the analysis of circulating miRNAs in rodent models is challenging, which relates both to the lack of standardized sampling protocols and to analysis of miRNAs. We will discuss the issues critical for preclinical plasma biomarker discovery, such as documentation, blood and brain tissue sampling and collection, plasma separation and storage, RNA extraction, quality control, and RNA detection. We propose a protocol for standardization of procedures for discovery of circulating miRNA biomarkers in rat models of epileptogenesis. Ultimately, we hope that the preclinical standardization will facilitate clinical biomarker discovery for epileptogenesis in man.
Stock market integration, cost of equity capital, and corporate investment: Evidence from Brazil
Authors: Hillier David , Loncan Tiago 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe study the effect of stock market integration on the cost of capital and investment, using Brazil as a case study. We show that integration, as proxied by foreign ownership, has a positive impact on the financing side by reducing cost of capital. On the output side, we find that integration increases corporate investment, but only for well‐governed firms. We contribute to the debate on the pros and cons of financial globalization, particularly by providing evidence of important linkages between financial integration and real economic activity.