bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What Is the Effect of Metabolic Syndrome without Hypertension on Left Ventricular Hypertrophy?
Authors: Al‐Daydamony Mohammad M. , El‐Tahlawi Mohammad 
Published: April 2016

BackgroundLeft ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. There is a strong association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and LVH in hypertensive patients. However, the relation between LVH and MetS in the absence of hypertension has not been studied.Aim of the WorkTo study the impact of MetS on LV mass in patients without hypertension.Subjects and MethodsFifty MetS patients without hypertension and 50 healthy control subjects were enrolled. Twelve‐lead electrocardiography, laboratory testing, and echocardiography were done with assessment of the left ventricular diastolic (LVEDD) and systolic dimensions (LVESD), fraction of shortening (FS), ejection fraction (EF), Doppler‐derived mitral valve flow velocity waves (E‐wave, A‐wave, E/A ratio), left ventricular mass and mass index (LVMI).ResultsThere was no significant difference between the two groups regarding LVEDD, LVESD, FS, EF, E‐wave velocity, A‐wave velocity, or E/A ratio. However, mean posterior wall thickness, IVST, LV mass, LVMI, and incidence of LVH were significantly higher in MetS patients. There was a significant positive correlation between LVMI and blood glucose level (r = 0.528, P < 0.00001), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (r = 0.416, P < 0.0001), triglycerides level (r = 0.535, P < 0.00001), and obesity (r = 0.307, p = 0.0019). There was a significant negative correlation between LVMI and HDL‐C level (r = −0.377, P < 0.0001). The same parameters were predictors for LVH in a logistic regression analysis.ConclusionEven in the absence of hypertension, MetS patients had significantly higher LV wall thickness, LV mass and LVMI, and incidence of LVH than control subjects.
Right Ventricle before and after Atrial Septal Defect Device Closure
Authors: Akula Vidya Sagar , Durgaprasad Rajasekhar , Velam Vanajakshamma , Kasala Latheef , Rodda Madhavi , Erathi Harsha Vardhan 
Published: April 2016

BackgroundPercutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) device closure is a safe and effective means of reducing or eliminating interatrial shunting. The response of the right heart to device closure is incompletely understood.AimTo evaluate the effects of transcatheter closure of secundum ASD on right ventricle size and function, that is, both systolic and diastolic by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) over a 6‐month period.MethodsSeventy‐three patients had 73 device implantations. The patients were assessed with echocardiography before and at 1 and 6 months after procedure.ResultsMean age was 26 ± 17 years. Mean ASD size indexed to body surface area (BSA) was 19.1 ± 8.6 mm/m2. The device size ranged from 12 to 42 mm. One month after closure, there were statistically significant decreases in right ventricular (RV) basal diameter (3.5 ± 0.7 cm vs. 4.2 ± 0.8 cm), RV/LV end‐diastolic diameter ratio (0.9 ± 0.1 vs. 1.2 ± 0.2), left ventricular eccentricity index (LVEI) (1.0 ± 0.1 vs. 1.2 ± 0.2), right atrial (RA) major dimension (4.4 ± 0.8 cm vs. 4.8 ± 1.0 cm), RA end‐systolic area (13.2 ± 4.6 cm2 vs. 18.5 ± 6.7 cm2), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (2.2 ± 1.8 cm vs. 2.8 ± 0.5 cm), tricuspid annular systolic velocity (TASV or S′) (13.1 ± 3.0 cm/sec vs. 16.0 ± 2.8 cm/sec), E/A (1.4 ± 0.3 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5), and E/e′ (5.9 ± 5.0 vs. 7.2 ± 2.0) in comparison with baseline. Six months after closure, there were statistically significant decreases in RV major dimension (5.9 ± 1.1 cm vs. 6.3 ± 1.0 cm), RV/LV end‐diastolic diameter ratio (0.8 ± 0.1 vs. 0.9 ± 0.1), RA major dimension (4.1 ± 0.8 cm vs. 4.4 ± 0.8 cm), and RA end‐systolic area (11.4 ± 3.8 cm2 vs. 13.2 ± 4.6 cm2) in comparison with 1 month post–device closure. After 6 months, there was a statistically insignificant increase in both TASV (13.7 ± 2.8 cm/sec vs. 13.1 ± 3.0 cm/sec) and TAPSE (2.5 ± 1.6 cm/sec vs. 2.2 ± 1.8 cm/sec). There was no significant change in tissue Doppler MPI at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months after closure (0.38 ± 0.19 vs. 0.35 ± 0.15 vs. 0.38 ± 0.13). There was significant decrease in E/e′ from baseline to 1 month and 1 month to 6 months after closure (7.2 ± 2.0 vs. 5.9 ± 5.0 vs. 4.7 ± 1.5).ConclusionRV volumes decreased significantly in the first month after ASD device closure and continued up to 6 months. There was no change in global right ventricular systolic function but a high basal RV systolic function decreased after closure. Some patients had impaired diastolic function before closure of defect, which reversed to normal within 6 months after closure. Diastolic dysfunction in older age‐group may be a cause for long duration taken by right heart chambers to regress and deserves further investigation.
Negative density dependence is stronger in resource‐rich environments and diversifies communities when stronger for common but not rare species
Authors: LaManna Joseph A. , Walton Maranda L. , Turner Benjamin L. , Myers Jonathan A. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractConspecific negative density dependence is thought to maintain diversity by limiting abundances of common species. Yet the extent to which this mechanism can explain patterns of species diversity across environmental gradients is largely unknown. We examined density‐dependent recruitment of seedlings and saplings and changes in local species diversity across a soil‐resource gradient for 38 woody‐plant species in a temperate forest. At both life stages, the strength of negative density dependence increased with resource availability, becoming relatively stronger for rare species during seedling recruitment, but stronger for common species during sapling recruitment. Moreover, negative density dependence appeared to reduce diversity when stronger for rare than common species, but increase diversity when stronger for common species. Our results suggest that negative density dependence is stronger in resource‐rich environments and can either decrease or maintain diversity depending on its relative strength among common and rare species.
Measuring Unobserved Expected Inflation
Authors: Melnick Rafi 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe aim of this study is to develop an eclectic but robust model that allows for a better measure of expected inflation and facilitates testing for all sorts of biases. Improving the measure of expected inflation is of critical importance for conducting monetary policy. In many circumstances, indicators of expected inflation move in opposite directions, and this divergence may be critical for the setting of the interest rate. I estimate the model for a special set of Israeli data via the Kalman filter methodology and then test for systematic biases, a better normalization of the model, liquidity problems and inflation risk – which could all be present in current measures of expected inflation.
Monetary Policy and Asset Price Booms: A Step Towards a Synthesis
Authors: Fujiki Hiroshi , Kaihatsu Sohei , Kurebayashi Takaaki , Kurozumi Takushi 
Published: April 2016

AbstractShould a monetary policy maker following a Taylor‐type rule set a higher policy rate than the level suggested by the rule because of a possibility of an asset price bust in the near future? Our answer to this question for monetary policy makers who have two scenarios of ‘boom–bust cycle’ and ‘stable growth’ is yes if the following two conditions are satisfied. First, early warning indicators based on credit and residential investment data show a high probability of a boom–bust cycle occurring. Second, the policy rate path that minimizes the boom–bust probability‐based expected value of a social loss associated with inflation and the output gap over the two scenarios is higher than the rate path by the Taylor‐type rule. Our counterfactual analysis shows that the Fed should have raised the federal funds rate by a small amount over and above the level suggested by a Taylor‐type rule in the early 2000s.
Can Anyone Stop the President? Power Asymmetries and Term Limits in Latin America, 1984–2016
Authors: Corrales Javier 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSince the late twentieth century, numerous Latin American nations have launched efforts to relax presidential term limits, often successfully. This article discusses the conditions under which countries succeed in relaxing term limits. Drawing from bargaining models and reviewing 36 cases, it makes three arguments. First, actors' preferences are fairly predictable on the basis of officeholding: presidents are the most prominent actors pushing for expansion of term limits; opposition parties lead the resistance. Second, power asymmetry, measured by presidential approval ratings, is the best predictor of success, better than ideology or share of seats in Congress. Third, the only hope for stopping popular presidents rests with ruling parties and the courts, but only when the latter are sufficiently independent.
Informal Sector Work and Evaluations of the Incumbent: The Electoral Effect of Vulnerability on Economic Voting
Authors: Singer Matthew M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractEconomically vulnerable voters are expected to hold politicians accountable for their management of the economy because these voters are more likely to be personally affected by economic shocks and less able to cope with the resulting dislocation. Evidence from the informal sector in Argentina, where the lack of formal registration increases income volatility and denies unemployment benefits, is consistent with this hypothesis. Data from Argentina from 2005 to 2006 show that the association between evaluations of the economy and evaluations of President Néstor Kirchner was stronger among those working without formal employment guarantees. The implication is that the electoral support of Latin America's many informal workers may very well be fickle and dependent on economic performance.
Diagnostic accuracy of reflectance confocal microscopy for lesions typified by dermoscopic island
Authors: Figueroa‐Silva O. , Cinotti E. , de Almeida Silva T. , Moscarella E. , Lallas A. , Ciardo S. , Argenziano G. , Pellacani G. , Piana S. , Longo C. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIntroductionDermoscopic island (DI) is a dermoscopic clue for the diagnosis of thin melanoma (MM). However, its positive predictive value is about 50% and several naevi with DI are unnecessarily excised. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a second level non‐invasive imaging tool that increases diagnostic accuracy for MM.ObjectiveTo evaluate diagnostic RCM features of pigmented lesions typified by the presence of DI and calculate RCM diagnostic accuracy for MM diagnosis.MethodsAll lesions with DI were retrieved from a database of 1964 cases. RCM diagnoses were given without being aware of the histopathological diagnoses. The number of MMs among lesions presenting with DI and the sensitivity and specificity of RCM for MM were assessed. The frequencies of dermoscopic and RCM features were calculated to evaluate significant differences in naevi and MMs showing DI (Chi‐square test). Independently significant RCM criteria for MM were identified by discriminant analysis.ResultsSixty‐three (3.2%) out of 1964 lesions presented DI. Among them, 30.2% were in situ MMs and 12.7% invasive MMs. Sensitivity and specificity of RCM for the diagnosis of MM in case of DI was 88.9%. Pagetoid cells (Wilks' lambda .804, P < 0.001) and atypical cells at dermo‐epidermal junction (Wilks' lambda .762, P < 0.001) were identified to differentiate MM from naevi.ConclusionOur study confirmed that DI could be a sign of early MMs and underlined that RCM could be a good tool to discriminate MMs and naevi in the presence of DI because it can identify the presence of cytological atypia.
Effects of fish species composition on Diphyllobothrium spp. infections in brown trout – is three‐spined stickleback a key species?
Authors: Kuhn J A , Frainer A , Knudsen R , Kristoffersen R , Amundsen P‐A 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSubarctic populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta) are often heavily infected with cestodes of the genus Diphyllobothrium, assumedly because of their piscivorous behaviour. This study explores possible associations between availability of fish prey and Diphyllobothrium spp. infections in lacustrine trout populations. Trout in (i) allopatry (group T); (ii) sympatry with Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) (group TC); and (iii) sympatry with charr and three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) (group TCS) were contrasted. Mean abundance and intensity of Diphyllobothrium spp. were higher in group TCS compared to groups TC and T. Prevalence, however, was similarly higher in groups TCS and TC compared to group T. Zero‐altered negative binomial modelling identified the lowest probability of infection in group T and similar probabilities of infection in groups TC and TCS, whereas the highest intensity was predicted in group TCS. The most infected trout were from the group co‐occurring with stickleback (TCS), possibly due to a higher availability of fish prey. In conclusion, our study demonstrates elevated Diphyllobothrium spp. infections in lacustrine trout populations where fish prey are available and suggests that highly available and easily caught stickleback prey may play a key role in the transmission of Diphyllobothrium spp. parasite larvae.
Literature review of post‐traumatic stress disorder in the critical care population
Authors: Morrissey Matthew , Collier Elizabeth 
Published: April 2016

AimTo determine which factors relate to the development of post‐traumatic stress disorder, in adult patients who are admitted to critical care units.BackgroundPatient survival rates from critical care areas are improving each year and this has led to interest in the long‐term outcomes for patients who have been discharged from such environments. Patients typically require invasive and extensive treatment, which places a stress on physical and mental health. Prevalence estimates of post‐traumatic stress disorder in the critical care discharge population vary from 5–63%, yet it remains unclear what the predisposing factors are.DesignA systematised review.MethodSubject heading and keyword searches were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and ScienceDirect, with 23 articles identified that examined the relationship between critical care and the development of post‐traumatic stress disorder.ResultsThree main themes were identified; Critical Care Factors, Patient Factors and Experience Factors. Eight key and three potential causative factors were found: younger age, female, previous psychiatric history, length of ICU stay, benzodiazepine sedation, use of stress hormones, delusional memory and traumatic memory, delirium, GCS score of ≤9 on admission & use of mechanical restraint.ConclusionsPost‐traumatic stress reactions can be strongly related to the development and presence of traumatic and delusional memories. Younger patients may exclude themselves from research to avoid their traumatic thoughts. The role of prior psychiatric illness is unknown. Distinction between ‘factual’ and ‘false’ or delusional memory as occurs in the literature maybe unhelpful in understanding trauma reactions.Relevance to clinical practiceThere are around 38,000 occupied critical care beds each year in England. The scale of the issue is therefore substantial. Risk factors can be isolated from available evidence and provide a rudimentary risk assessment tool to inform practice development in this area.
New Insights in the Functional Zonation of the Canine Adrenal Cortex
Authors: Sanders K. , Mol J.A. , Kooistra H.S. , Slob A. , Galac S. 
Published: April 2016

BackgroundCurrent understanding of adrenal steroidogenesis is that the production of aldosterone or cortisol depends on the expression of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and 11β‐hydroxylase cytochrome P450 (CYP11B1), respectively. However, this has never been studied in dogs, and in some species, a single CYP11B catalyzes both cortisol and aldosterone formation. Analysis of the canine genome provides data of a single CYP11B gene which is called CYP11B2, and a large sequence gap exists near the so‐called CYP11B2 gene.ObjectivesTo investigate the zonal expression of steroidogenic enzymes in the canine adrenal cortex and to determine whether dogs have 1 or multiple CYP11B genes.AnimalsNormal adrenal glands from 10 healthy dogs.MethodsZona fasciculata (zF) and zona glomerulosa (zG) tissue was isolated by laser microdissection. The mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes and their major regulators was studied with RT‐qPCR. Southern blot was performed to determine whether the sequence gap contains a CYP11B gene copy. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for 17α‐hydroxylase/17,20‐lyase (CYP17).ResultsEqual expression (P = .62) of the so‐called CYP11B2 gene was found in the zG and zF. Southern blot revealed a single gene. CYP17 expression (P = .05) was significantly higher in the zF compared with the zG, which was confirmed with IHC.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceWe conclude that there is only 1 CYP11B gene in canine adrenals. The zone‐specific production of aldosterone and cortisol is probably due to zone‐specific CYP17 expression, which makes it an attractive target for selective inhibition of cortisol synthesis without affecting mineralocorticoid production in the zG.
Accuracy of a Mouse Bioassay for the Diagnosis of Botulism in Horses
Authors: Johnson A.L. , McAdams‐Gallagher S.C. , Aceto H. 
Published: April 2016

BackgroundThe laboratory diagnosis of botulism in horses traditionally has relied upon the mouse bioassay (MBA). The accuracy of this test for the diagnosis of botulism in horses is unknown.Hypothesis/ObjectivesOur goal was to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of theMBAon laboratory‐processed fecal and gastrointestinal samples for foals and adult horses.AnimalsCases included all horses with a final clinical diagnosis of botulism that were admitted between 1986 and 2011 and hadMBAtesting performed. Controls included horses without botulism that were admitted during the same time period and hadMBAtesting performed.MethodsRetrospective study. Horses suspected of having botulism had fecal or (less commonly) gastrointestinal content samples tested usingMBA. For every hospitalized botulism suspect, control samples were obtained from ≥1 additional hospitalized horses not suspected to have botulism.ResultsOne hundred and twenty‐nine adult horses and 253 adult controls were identified. Overall sensitivity of theMBAwas only 32% but specificity was 97%. Forty‐three foal cases and 21 foal controls were evaluated; sensitivity of theMBAwas 53% and specificity was 100%. Positive predictive value was substantially higher (100% for foals and 89% for adults) than negative predictive value (51% for foals and 67% for adults).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceMouse bioassay has low sensitivity but high specificity for the diagnosis of botulism in horses. Positive results are highly suggestive of botulism but negative results do not exclude the diagnosis. Unaffected horses and foals rarely shedC. botulinumin their feces.
Development and Evaluation of an Ultrasound Imaging Reproductive Index Based on the Ovarian Cycle of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus
Authors: Novelo Noel D. , Tiersch Terrence R. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractCommercial production of hybrid catfish (female channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus × male blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus) is reliant on interdependent biological, environmental, and technical procedures. This study addresses one of these critical components – the evaluation of channel catfish ovarian development based on sonographic analysis. The objectives were to: (1) develop a channel catfish ovarian ultrasonography index, (2) test the effect of the spawning trials on fertilization estimates of fish assessed using the ultrasonography index, and (3) evaluate the expected (hypothesized) and observed outcome of the ultrasonography assessments. Seven ovarian morphology classifications were developed based on ultrasonography of 915 channel catfish (N = 915 images), and 210 females were selected for spawning. The predictions based on the classifications prior to hormone injection showed a significant effect (P < 0.002) on the observed outcomes (viable or nonviable eggs). The probability of correct classification was 0.86–0.89 for Categories 3 (developing), 4 (advanced), and 5 (mature), and 0.93–1.0 for Categories 1 (undeveloped), 2 (underdeveloped), 6 (spawned), and 7 (atretic). The ultrasonography index covered the full range of ovarian dynamics (i.e., recrudescence through spawning). It provided an unobtrusive, direct method of ovarian assessment to work toward improving the efficiency of broodstock selection.
Sticklebacks show consistent prey share hierarchies within but not between patchy and sequential prey distributions
Authors: Taylor D. E. F. , Cownden D. , Webster M. M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWhen animals compete, hierarchies can emerge. If the outcome of competition under different conditions is dependent upon different sets of attributes, then we may expect to see hierarchies that are domain‐specific, rather than domain general. We tested this idea by comparing prey share hierarchies within shoals of sticklebacksGasterosteus aculeatusas they foraged for patchily distributed or for drifting prey. We found that prey share was correlated across pairs of patch‐ and pairs of drift‐foraging trials, but not between the two conditions, suggesting that separate repeatable but independent prey share hierarchies arise for each type of prey distribution. We discuss possible underlying mechanisms and ecological implications of this finding.
Inventory of metal complexes circulating in plant fluids: a reliable method based on HPLC coupled with dual elemental and high‐resolution molecular mass spectrometric detection
Authors: Flis Paulina , Ouerdane Laurent , Grillet Louis , Curie Catherine , Mari Stéphane , Lobinski Ryszard 
Published: April 2016

Summary

Description of metal species in plant fluids such as xylem, phloem or related saps remains a complex challenge usually addressed either by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, X‐ray analysis or computational prediction. To date, none of these techniques has achieved a complete and true picture of metal‐containing species in plant fluids, especially for the least concentrated complexes. Here, we present a generic analytical methodology for a large‐scale (> 10 metals, > 50 metal complexes) detection, identification and semiquantitative determination of metal complexes in the xylem and embryo sac liquid of the green pea, Pisum sativum.

The procedure is based on direct injection using hydrophilic interaction chromatography with dual detection by elemental (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and molecular (high‐resolution electrospray mass spectrometry) mass spectrometric detection.

Numerous and novel complexes of iron(II), iron(III), copper(II), zinc, manganese, cobalt(II), cobalt(III), magnesium, calcium, nickel and molybdenum(IV) with several ligands including nicotianamine, citrate, malate, histidine, glutamine, aspartic acid, asparagine, phenylalanine and others are observed in pea fluids and discussed.

This methodology provides a large inventory of various types of metal complexes, which is a significant asset for future biochemical and genetic studies into metal transport/homeostasis.