bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationships between individual‐tree mortality and water‐balance variables indicate positive trends in water stress‐induced tree mortality across North America
Authors: Hember Robbie A. , Kurz Werner A. , Coops Nicholas C. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAccounting for water stress‐induced tree mortality in forest productivity models remains a challenge due to uncertainty in stress tolerance of tree populations. In this study, logistic regression models were developed to assess species‐specific relationships between probability of mortality (Pm) and drought, drawing on 8.1 million observations of change in vital status (m) of individual trees across North America. Drought was defined by standardized (relative) values of soil water content (Ws,z) and reference evapotranspiration (ETr,z) at each field plot. The models additionally tested for interactions between the water‐balance variables, aridity class of the site (AC), and estimated tree height (h). Considering drought improved model performance in 95 (80) per cent of the 64 tested species during calibration (cross‐validation). On average, sensitivity to relative drought increased with siteAC(i.e. aridity). Interaction between water‐balance variables and estimated tree height indicated that drought sensitivity commonly decreased during early height development and increased during late height development, which may reflect expansion of the root system and decreasing whole‐plant, leaf‐specific hydraulic conductance, respectively. Across North America, predictions suggested that changes in the water balance caused mortality to increase from 1.1% yr−1in 1951 to 2.0% yr−1in 2014 (a net change of 0.9 ± 0.3% yr−1). Interannual variation in mortality also increased, driven by increasingly severe droughts in 1988, 1998, 2006, 2007 and 2012. With strong confidence, this study indicates that water stress is a common cause of tree mortality. With weak‐to‐moderate confidence, this study strengthens previous claims attributing positive trends in mortality to increasing levels of water stress. This ‘learn‐as‐we‐go’ approach – defined by sampling rare drought events as they continue to intensify – will help to constrain the hydraulic limits of dominant tree species and the viability of boreal and temperate forest biomes under continued climate change.
Reference curves for CD4 T‐cell count response to combination antiretroviral therapy in HIV‐1‐infected treatment‐naïve patients
Authors: Bouteloup V , Sabin C , Mocroft A , Gras L , Pantazis N , Le Moing V , d'Arminio Monforte A , Mary‐Krause M , Roca B , Miro JM , Battegay M , Brockmeyer N , Berenguer J , Morlat P , Obel N , De Wit S , Fätkenheuer G , Zangerle R , Ghosn J , Pérez‐Hoyos S , Campbell M , Prins M , Chêne G , Meyer L , Dorrucci M , Torti C , Thiébaut R ,   The Standard Reference Distribution of CD4 Response to HAART Project Team for the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE) in EuroCoord
Published: September 2016

ObjectivesThe aim of this work was to provide a reference for the CD4 T‐cell count response in the early months after the initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in HIV‐1‐infected patients.MethodsAll patients in the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE) cohort who were aged ≥ 18 years and started cART for the first time between 1 January 2005 and 1 January 2010 and who had at least one available measurement of CD4 count and a viral load ≤ 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL at 6 months (± 3 months) after cART initiation were included in the study. Unadjusted and adjusted references curves and predictions were obtained using quantile regressions.ResultsA total of 28 992 patients were included in the study. The median CD4 T‐cell count at treatment initiation was 249 [interquartile range (IQR) 150, 336] cells/μL. The median observed CD4 counts at 6, 9 and 12 months were 382 (IQR 256, 515), 402 (IQR 274, 543) and 420 (IQR 293, 565) cells/μL. The two main factors explaining the variation of CD4 count at 6 months were AIDS stage and CD4 count at cART initiation. A CD4 count increase of ≥ 100 cells/mL is generally required in order that patients stay ‘on track’ (i.e. with a CD4 count at the same percentile as when they started), with slightly higher gains required for those starting with CD4 counts in the higher percentiles. Individual predictions adjusted for factors influencing CD4 count were more precise.ConclusionsReference curves aid the evaluation of the immune response early after antiretroviral therapy initiation that leads to viral control.
Higher rates of triple‐class virological failure in perinatally HIV‐infected teenagers compared with heterosexually infected young adults in Europe
Authors: Judd A , Lodwick R , Noguera‐Julian A , Gibb DM , Butler K , Costagliola D , Sabin C , van Sighem A , Ledergerber B , Torti C , Mocroft A , Podzamczer D , Dorrucci M , De Wit S , Obel N , Dabis F , Cozzi‐Lepri A , García F , Brockmeyer NH , Warszawski J , Gonzalez‐Tome MI , Mussini C , Touloumi G , Zangerle R , Ghosn J , Castagna A , Fätkenheuer G , Stephan C , Meyer L , Campbell MA , Chene G , Phillips A ,   The Pursuing Later Treatment Options II (PLATO II) Project Team for the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE) in EuroCoord
Published: September 2016

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine the time to, and risk factors for, triple‐class virological failure (TCVF) across age groups for children and adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection and older adolescents and adults with heterosexually acquired HIV infection.MethodsWe analysed individual patient data from cohorts in the Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE). A total of 5972 participants starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) from 1998, aged < 20 years at the start of ART for those with perinatal infection and 15–29 years for those with heterosexual infection, with ART containing at least two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) or a boosted protease inhibitor (bPI), were followed from ART initiation until the most recent viral load (VL) measurement. Virological failure of a drug was defined as VL > 500 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL despite ≥ 4 months of use. TCVF was defined as cumulative failure of two NRTIs, an NNRTI and a bPI.ResultsThe median number of weeks between diagnosis and the start of ART was higher in participants with perinatal HIV infection compared with participants with heterosexually acquired HIV infection overall [17 (interquartile range (IQR) 4–111) vs. 8 (IQR 2–38) weeks, respectively], and highest in perinatally infected participants aged 10–14 years [49 (IQR 9–267) weeks]. The cumulative proportion with TCVF 5 years after starting ART was 9.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.0−12.3%] in participants with perinatally acquired infection and 4.7% (95% CI 3.9−5.5%) in participants with heterosexually acquired infection, and highest in perinatally infected participants aged 10–14 years when starting ART (27.7%; 95% CI 13.2−42.1%). Across all participants, significant predictors of TCVF were those with perinatal HIV aged 10–14 years, African origin, pre‐ART AIDS, NNRTI‐based initial regimens, higher pre‐ART viral load and lower pre‐ART CD4.ConclusionsThe results suggest a beneficial effect of starting ART before adolescence, and starting young people on boosted PIs, to maximize treatment response during this transitional stage of development.
Keratoconus, keratoglobus, keratotorus and pellucid marginal degeneration
Authors: Szentmary N. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryTopo‐ and tomographical characteristics of different entities such as keratoconus, keratoglobus, keratotorus and pellucid marginal degeneration are shown and discussed. The audience will be guided how to discriminate between those pathologies, and the spectrum of treatment options will be discussed controversely.
Retinal structure in Down's syndrome; potential markers of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Walpert M. , Normando E.M. , Cordeiro M.F. , Holland A. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryThe purpose of this study is to investigate degeneration and apoptosis of retinal cells in people with Down's syndrome (DS) and the relationship with aging. People with DS have a high risk of developing early‐onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) with an increasing age‐related prevalence.Spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT) was used to investigate the structure of the retina in 51 people with DS between the ages of 18 and 56. Thickness and volume of the retinal layers has been compared to that of age‐and‐sex‐matched healthy control participants. SD‐OCT has not been used in a large DS study previously and our results show significant differences between the DS and control retinal structures. We found that people with DS had significantly thicker RNFL in all quadrants (p < 0.001) apart from the nasal quadrant. DS group also had significantly greater retinal volume than the control group (p < 0.001).This finding is unexpected as research from the AD population shows thinning retinal layers and decreased retinal volume. Conclusions will be discussed and relationships with age and cognitive function explored. Future work will investigate the rate of apoptosing cells in the retinas of DS.
Layer‐by‐layer coated nanoparticles for glaucoma therapy: Focusing on the transport and cellular uptake in the trabecular meshwork
Authors: Breunig M. , Guter M. , Babl S. , Liebl R. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryPrimary open angle glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. The major risk factor is an elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), which leads to irreversible damage of the optical nerve head. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is thought to be one of the major mediators of these pathological effects. Topical eye drops are the first‐line medication for controlling an abnormally high IOP, but they have a long list of drawbacks. Consequently, there is a strong need for new therapeutic concepts to prevent vision loss.We hypothesize that a reduction of CTGF would achieve a more permanent and causative effect in regulating the IOP compared to available standard treatment regimes. To follow up this goal we developed biodegradable layer‐by‐layer coated nanoparticles of well‐defined physicochemical properties that carry therapeutic doses of small interfering RNA for CTGF silencing. The nanoparticles had a size of about 200 nm as determined by laser light scattering and a zeta potential of about – 18 mV. We tested the CTGF silencing efficacy of the nanoparticles in primary trabecular meshwork cells. In addition, we determined the diffusion of nanoparticles in collagen I as a model for the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the trabecular meshwork by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. An important result was that hyaluronan is favorable material for nanoparticle assembly because it allows for receptor‐mediated uptake of the nanoparticles into trabecular meshwork cells on the one hand, and may provide for good nanoparticle mobility in the ECM on the other hand.
Sexual orientation and its impact on sexual behaviour of young people aged 15‐29: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Romero‐Estudillo Esperanza , García‐García Inmaculada , Luna‐del Castillo Juan de Dios , Mesa‐Franco María C. , González‐Jiménez Emilio 
Published: September 2016

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to determine whether there was a direct relation between sexual orientation and sexual practices involving penetration; to analyse whether condom use in the first sexual relation was conditioned by sexual orientation; to verify whether consistent condom use in sexual relations was determined by sexual orientation.BackgroundRecent research suggests that sexual orientation (i.e. heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality) is a determining factor in high‐risk sexual behaviour.DesignA cross‐sectional study with purposive sampling.MethodsData were collected between March 2013–April 2014 from 900 participants (524 males and 376 females). All participants were 15‐29 years of age. Their mean age was 20·93 years. The participants were given a socio‐demographic survey as well as a psychometric test on high‐risk sexual behaviour, which had been used in previous studies.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in relation to sexual orientation and sexual practices involving penetration either in the general model for both sexes or in the models for men and women. It was also found that sexual orientation did not significantly affect condom use in the first sexual relation. Furthermore, consistent condom use had a protector effect in the general model for homosexuals and bisexuals. In the model for men, this was also true for homosexuals and in the model for women, this was the case for bisexuals.ConclusionCondom use in the first sexual relation was similar in all sexual orientations. However, the sexual orientation of the subject was found to be a determining factor in consistent condom use.
Treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea patients in community dental care: knowledge and attitudes among general dental practitioners and specialist dentists
Authors: Vuorjoki‐Ranta T.‐R. , Lobbezoo F. , Vehkalahti M. , Tuomilehto H. , Ahlberg J. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an increasing problem worldwide. Yet, a large number of patients may remain undiagnosed. Dentists could suspect OSA, but little is known about their knowledge and attitudes towards the topic. An email questionnaire was sent to dentists working in Helsinki Health Centre, Helsinki, Finland (n = 226). It consisted of demographic data, items on dentists' overall knowledge of OSA and factors associated with it, and their possibilities and willingness to take part in the recognition and treatment of OSA patients. Altogether, 70·9% (n = 134) of dentists eligible for the study completed the questionnaire. Of them, 79·1% (n = 106) were general practitioners and 20·9% (n = 28) dentists with specialty training. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) (99·3%) and weight control (99·3%) were both generally acknowledged as effective methods to treat OSA. Regarding the efficacy of other treatment modalities, significant differences were found between general practitioners' and specialists' opinions. For example, mandibular advancement devices (MAD) were less often reported by general practitioners (69·8%) than specialists (89·3%) (P < 0·05). The possible risk factors, signs and symptoms, and consequences of OSA were overall well recognised regardless the years in dental profession, but specialists saw more often that nocturnal sweating (P < 0·01) and snoring (P < 0·05) may signify OSA. Dentists could play an important role in suspecting OSA, but they may need more education to cope with that.
A Hybrid Branch‐and‐Bound and Benders Decomposition Algorithm for the Network Design Problem
Authors: Bagloee Saeed Asadi , Sarvi Majid , Patriksson Michael 
Published: September 2016

AbstractGiven a set of candidate road projects associated with costs, finding the best subset with respect to a limited budget is known as the network design problem (NDP). The NDP is often cast in a bilevel programming problem which is known to be NP‐hard. In this study, we tackle a special case of the NDP where the decision variables are integers. A variety of exact solutions has been proposed for the discrete NDP, but due to the combinatorial complexity, the literature has yet to address the problem for large‐size networks, and accounting for the multimodal and multiclass traffic flows. To this end, the bilevel problem is solved by branch‐and‐bound. At each node of the search tree, a valid lower bound based on system optimal (SO) traffic flow is calculated. The SO traffic flow is formulated as a mixed integer, non‐linear programming (MINLP) problem for which the Benders decomposition method is used. The algorithm is coded on a hybrid and synchronized platform consisting of MATLAB (optimization engine), EMME 3 (transport planning module), MS Access (database), and MS Excel (user interface). The proposed methodology is applied to three examples including Gao's network, the Sioux‐Falls network, and a real size network representing the city of Winnipeg, Canada. Numerical tests on the network of Winnipeg at various budget levels have shown promising results.
A functional link between hyphal maintenance and quorum sensing in Candida albicans
Authors: Polke Melanie , Sprenger Marcel , Scherlach Kirstin , Albán‐Proaño María Cristina , Martin Ronny , Hertweck Christian , Hube Bernhard , Jacobsen Ilse D. 
Published: September 2016

SummaryMorphogenesis in Candida albicans requires hyphal initiation and maintenance, and both processes are regulated by the fungal quorum sensing molecule (QSM) farnesol. We show that deletion of C. albicans EED1, which is crucial for hyphal extension and maintenance, led to a dramatically increased sensitivity to farnesol, and thus identified the first mutant hypersensitive to farnesol. Furthermore, farnesol decreased the transient filamentation of an eed1Δ strain without inducing cell death, indicating that two separate mechanisms mediate quorum sensing and cell lysis by farnesol. To analyze the cause of farnesol hypersensitivity we constructed either hyperactive or deletion mutants of factors involved in farnesol signaling, by introducing the hyperactive RAS1G13V or pADH1‐CYR1CAT allele, or deleting CZF1 or NRG1 respectively. Neither of the constructs nor the exogenous addition of dB‐cAMP was able to rescue the farnesol hypersensitivity, highlighting that farnesol mediates its effects not only via the cAMP pathway. Interestingly, the eed1Δ strain also displayed increased farnesol production. When eed1Δ was grown under continuous medium flow conditions, to remove accumulating QSMs from the supernatant, maintenance of eed1Δ filamentation, although not restored, was significantly prolonged, indicating a link between farnesol sensitivity, production, and the hyphal maintenance‐defect in the eed1Δ mutant strain.
Characteristics, incidence and outcome of patients admitted to intensive care because of pulmonary embolism
Authors: Winterton Dario , Bailey Michael , Pilcher David , Landoni Giovanni , Bellomo Rinaldo 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTBackground and objectiveDespite the clinical significance of major pulmonary embolism (PE), little is known about patients with a presentation severe enough to lead to intensive care unit (ICU) admission and nothing is known about PE requiring mechanical ventilation (MV). We aimed to examine the characteristics, incidence and outcome of patients with PE as their reason for ICU admission.MethodsWe performed a retrospective, cross‐sectional study of patients admitted to Australia's and New Zealand's ICUs because of PE from 2005 to 2013. We compared survivors with non‐survivors and mechanically ventilated with non‐ventilated patients. We analysed variations in incidence and mortality over time.ResultsWe studied 2797 patients. PE accounted for 0.3% of all ICU admissions and had a population incidence of 11 cases/million people/year, which increased significantly during the study period (P < 0.0001). Co‐morbidities were common (24.1%) and the emergency department was the most common admission source (49.1%). However, patients who died were more commonly admitted from the wards (P < 0.0001). Overall mortality was 14.1% but reached 41.0% in patients requiring MV (P < 0.0001). Illness severity‐adjusted mortality rate did not change during the study period.ConclusionThe incidence of PE requiring admission to ICU has increased over time; its mortality rate remains high, especially in mechanically ventilated patients, and its prognosis has not improved over time. Our findings imply the need for focused research in this high‐risk patient group.
Transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 and Smad signalling pathways: A likely key to EMT‐associated COPD pathogenesis
Authors: Mahmood Malik Q. , Reid David , Ward Chris , Muller Hans K. , Knight Darryl A. , Sohal Sukhwinder S. , Walters Eugene H. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT
Background and objective
COPD is characterized by poorly reversible airflow obstruction usually due to cigarette smoking. Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD, and in particular a process called epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), which may well be an intermediatory between smoking and both airway fibrosis and lung cancer. The downstream classical or ‘canonical’ TGF‐β1 pathway is via the phosphorylated (p) Smad transcription factor system.MethodsWe have investigated TGF‐β1 expression and its ‘pSmad fingerprint’ in bronchoscopic airway biopsies from patients with COPD, and in smoking and non‐smoking controls. A cross‐sectional immunohistochemical study compared TGF‐β1 and pSmad 2, 3 (excitatory) and 7 (inhibitory) expression in cells and blood vessels of three compartments of large airways: epithelium (especially the basal region), reticular basement membrane (Rbm) and underlying lamina propria (LP).Results
TGF‐β1 expression was generally higher in COPD subjects throughout the airway wall (P < 0.01), while pSmad 2/3 expression was associated with smoking especially in current smoking COPD (P < 0.05). Expression of inhibitory pSmad 7 was also prominently reduced in patients with COPD in contrast to smokers and controls (P < 0.01). In addition, pSmad, but not TGF‐β1 expression, was related to airflow obstruction and a canonical EMT biomarker (S100 A4) expression.ConclusionActivation of the Smad pathway in the airways is linked to EMT activity and loss of lung function. The disconnection between TGF‐β1 and pSmad in terms of relationships to EMT activity and lung function suggests that factors other than or in addition to TGF‐β1 are driving the process.
Prognostic and pathophysiological marker for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Usefulness of diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide at diagnosis
Authors: Suda Rika , Tanabe Nobuhiro , Ishida Keiichi , Kato Fumiaki , Urushibara Takashi , Sekine Ayumi , Nishimura Rintaro , Jujo Takayuki , Sugiura Toshihiko , Shigeta Ayako , Sakao Seiichiro , Tatsumi Koichiro 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT
Background and objectiveChronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive disease in some patients, despite improved treatments. Microvasculopathy has been implicated in the poor outcomes of patients with CTEPH. A reduction in the diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO
) was previously suggested to indicate microvasculopathy in CTEPH patients; therefore, we assessed DLCO
/alveolar ventilation (DLCO
/VA
) as a prognostic and pathophysiological marker in CTEPH.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of 214 CTEPH patients consecutively diagnosed between 1986 and 2011. After exclusion of 24 patients because of missing DLCO
data or severe obstructive impairment, the mortality rates of medically treated patients classified with normal or decreased DLCO
values were compared, and prognostic factors were determined. The relationship between long‐term surgical outcomes and DLCO
/VA
was also investigated.ResultsNinety‐one inoperable patients were treated medically, two of whom underwent balloon pulmonary angioplasty. Ninety‐nine underwent pulmonary endarterectomy. The 5‐year survival rate of medically treated patients was significantly lower in patients with decreased DLCO
/VA
than in those with normal values (61.4% vs 90.4%, P = 0.017). Decreased preoperative DLCO
/VA
was associated with a smaller percent decrease in post‐operative pulmonary vascular resistance, but not with the extent of proximal thrombi; these results may support our hypothesis that DLCO
reflects microvascular involvement.ConclusionDecreased DLCO/VA was associated with poor outcomes of medically treated CTEPH patients; and may be useful for identifying high‐risk patients, potentially leading to earlier and more appropriate interventions.