bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beneficial effects of home‐based cardiac rehabilitation on metabolic profiles in coronary heart‐disease patients
Authors: Chen Jing‐Ting , Lin Tsung‐Hsien , Voon Wen‐Chol , Lai Wen‐Ter , Huang Mao‐Hsiung , Sheu Sheng‐Hsiung , Chen Chun‐Kai 
Published: May 2016

AbstractCoronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk of CHD. Cardiac rehabilitation is considered an effective intervention and a Class I indication in patients with CHD. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of home‐based, integrated cardiac rehabilitation (HBICR) of patients with CHD in modifiable risk‐factor control and exercise capacity. Sixty‐four patients with CHD were investigated and randomized into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received a HBICR containing medication use, exercise program, smoking‐cessation counseling, and education regarding risk factors, nutrition, and the necessity of continuing the program, whereas the control group received traditional care. Baseline and follow‐up assessments at 3 months and 12 months, including body composition, metabolic syndrome risk score, and biochemical tests were performed in all patients. Additionally, cardiopulmonary function tests were also performed at baseline and 3‐month follow‐up assessments. There was a significant between‐group, within‐group, and interaction effect found in the MetS Z scores. Significant within‐group effects were also observed in modified Adult Treatment Panel III score, waist circumference, high‐density lipoprotein, and low‐density lipoprotein. However, several cardiopulmonary parameters did not differ significantly at 3‐month follow‐up between the two groups, including peak V̇O2, peak heart rate, peak respiratory exchange ratio, anaerobic threshold V̇O2, heart‐rate reserve, and heart‐rate recovery after 1 min and after 2 min. Our results showed that HBICR exhibited significant positive effects on modifiable risk‐factor control in CHD patients.
Methotrexate treatment in progressive tubal ectopic pregnancies and hCG‐related clinicosurgical implications
Authors: Dogan Askin , Gulhan Ibrahim , Uyar Ibrahim , Ekin Atalay , Gezer Cenk , Bilgin Muzaffer , Taner Cüneyt E. , Ertas Ibrahim E. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractOur aim was to evaluate the relationship between the success of methotrexate treatment and β‐hCG levels in progressive tubal ectopic pregnancies. We defined a retrospective cohort of 394 progressive tubal ectopic pregnancy patients treated with methotrexate. A single‐dose methotrexate protocol using 50 mg/m2 was administered to patients with progressive tubal ectopic pregnancy. Surgery was performed in patients who exhibited signs of acute abdomen due to tubal rupture. Of 394 patients that received methotrexate treatment, 335 (84.6%) responded to medical treatment, while the remaining 59 (15.36%) underwent surgery due to treatment failure. β‐hCG levels in the failure group were significantly higher as compared with the success group at Day 1, Day 4, and Day 7 (2116 ± 3157 vs. 4178 ± 3422, 2062 ± 3551 vs. 4935 ± 4103, and 1532 ± 3007 vs. 3900 ± 4783, respectively). The receiver operating characteristics curve for β‐hCG levels at Day 1 was 0.738, with a cutoff value of 1418 mIU/mL, while sensitivity and specificity values reached the optimum for treatment success (83.1% and 59.4%, respectively). Medical treatment with methotrexate achieved an 85.02% success rate for the treatment of progressive tubal ectopic pregnancy, while success rates for medical treatment decreased significantly when initial β‐hCG levels were >1418 mIU/mL.
THE NOT-SO-SIMPLE ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION QUOTA BUYOUTS
Authors: SCHMITZ ANDREW , HAYNES DWAYNE , SCHMITZ TROY G. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThis article updates and expands the literature on the impact of production quotas. Unlike many of the early studies, our focus is largely on the removal of production quota programs. We study cases wherein production quota programs have been eliminated and quota owners were compensated for their losses. Specifically, we examine (1) production quotas in both the absence and presence of trade, (2) production quota buyouts (three case studies), (3) sources of funding, and (4) general equilibrium considerations. A fifth section briefly discusses externalities, the interpretation of consumer surplus measures, and the nature of conducting economic analyses of addictive goods.
A Comparative Analysis of the Protection of Trade Names Under the English Tort of Passing Off and Section 18 of Thailand’s Civil and Commercial Code
Authors: REEKIE Surutchada , REEKIE Adam 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe English common law tort of passing off came into the spotlight in 2015 with the UK Supreme Court case ofStarbucks (HK) Ltd v British Sky Broadcasting Groupsettling the current position regarding the question of the territorial scope of goodwill. This article undertakes a comparative study of the tort with Section 18 of theThai Civil and Commercial Codewhich, it argues, has been interpreted by the Thai Supreme Court to offer a materially similar remedy to the English tort in two important conceptual aspects: the requirement for misrepresentation and the so-called “hard line” approach to the territorial scope of goodwill, as affirmed byStarbucks. The analysis carries important implications for comparative lawyers and legislators in both the UK and Thailand, and challenges assumptions based on a simplistic categorization of Thailand as a civil law jurisdiction.
Genome research in pre-dementia stages of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Moreno-Grau Sonia , Ruiz Agustín 
Published: May 2016

Genetic characterization of individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), i.e. people having amyloid deposits in the brain without symptoms, people suffering from subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), has spurred the interests of researchers. However, their pre-dementia genetic profile remains mostly unexplored. In this study, we reviewed the loci related to phenotypes of AD, MCI and SCD from literature and performed the first meta-analyses evaluating the role of apolipoprotein E (APOE) in the risk of conversion from a healthy status to MCI and SCD. For AD dementia risk, an increased number of loci have been identified; to date, 28 genes have been associated with Late Onset AD. In MCI syndrome,APOEis confirmed as a pheno-conversion factor leading from MCI to AD, and clusterin is a promising candidate. Additionally, our meta-analyses revealedAPOEas genetic risk factor to convert from a healthy status to MCI [OR = 1.849 (1.587–2.153);P = 2.80 × 10−15] and to a lesser extent from healthy status to SCD [OR = 1.151 (1.015–1.304);P = 0.028]. Thus, we believe that genetic studies in longitudinal SCD and MCI series may provide new therapeutic targets and improve the existing knowledge of AD. This type of studies must be completed on healthy subjects to better understand the natural disease resistance to brain insults and neurodegeneration.
Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 inhibits adipose tissue inflammation and intestinal permeability in mice fed a high-fat diet
Authors: Kawano Michio , Miyoshi Masaya , Ogawa Akihiro , Sakai Fumihiko , Kadooka Yukio 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055) has anti-obesity effects. Obesity is closely correlated with inflammation in adipose tissue, and maintaining adipose tissue in a less-inflamed state requires intestinal integrity or a barrier function to protect the intestine from the disruption that can be caused by a high-fat diet (HFD). Here, we examined the anti-inflammatory and intestinal barrier-protecting effects of LG2055 in C57BL/6 mice fed a normal-fat diet (NFD), HFD, or the HFD containing LG2055 (HFD-LG) for 21 weeks. HFD-LG intake significantly prevented HFD-induced increases in body weight, visceral fat mass, and the ratio of inflammatory-type macrophages to anti-inflammatory ones in adipose tissue. Mice fed the HFD showed higher intestinal permeability to a fluorescent dextran administered by oral administration and an elevated concentration of antibodies specific to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the blood compared with those fed the NFD, suggesting an increased penetration of the gut contents into the systemic circulation. These elevations of intestinal permeability and anti-LPS antibody levels were significantly suppressed in mice fed the HFD-LG. Moreover, treatment with LG2055 cells suppressed an increase in the cytokine-induced permeability of Caco-2 cell monolayers. These results suggest that LG2055 improves the intestinal integrity, reducing the entry of inflammatory substances like LPS from the intestine, which may lead to decreased inflammation in adipose tissue.
Observations and modeling of fjord sedimentation during the 30 year retreat of Columbia Glacier, AK
Authors: BOLDT LOVE KATHERINE , HALLET BERNARD , PRATT THOMAS L. , O'NEEL SHAD 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTTo explore links between glacier dynamics, sediment yields and the accumulation of glacial sediments in a temperate setting, we use extensive glaciological observations for Columbia Glacier, Alaska, and new oceanographic data from the fjord exposed during its retreat. High-resolution seismic data indicate that 3.2 × 108m3of sediment has accumulated in Columbia Fjord over the past three decades, which corresponds to ~5 mm a−1of erosion averaged over the glaciated area. We develop a general model to infer the sediment-flux history from the glacier that is compatible with the observed retreat history, and the thickness and architecture of the fjord sediment deposits. Results reveal a fivefold increase in sediment flux from 1997 to 2000, which is not correlated with concurrent changes in ice flux or retreat rate. We suggest the flux increase resulted from an increase in the sediment transport capacity of the subglacial hydraulic system due to the retreat-related steepening of the glacier surface over a known subglacial deep basin. Because variations in subglacial sediment storage can impact glacial sediment flux, in addition to changes in climate, erosion rate and glacier dynamics, the interpretation of climatic changes based on the sediment record is more complex than generally assumed.
Occurrence and genetic diversity of piroplasms and other apicomplexa in wild carnivores
Authors: BARANDIKA J. F. , ESPÍ A. , OPORTO B. , DEL CERRO A. , BARRAL M. , POVEDANO I. , GARCÍA-PÉREZ A. L. , HURTADO A. 
Published: May 2016

SUMMARYTick-borne apicomplexan haemoparasites infect wild and domestic animals, but studies on their distribution among free-living animals are comparatively fewer. Tissues from 241 wild carnivores of eight Mustelidae, two Canidae, one Viverridae and one Felidae species were collected in Northern Spain, and analysed by real-time PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene and sequencing.Babesia vulpes(formerly known asTheileria annae) was the only piroplasm detected in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Badgers (Meles meles) were shown to harbour two novelBabesiasp. sequence types (A and B) that only shared 96.7% homology between them and were closely related (ca. 97–98%) to, but distinct fromB. vulpesand other babesia from carnivores. Analysis of PCR-derived sequences also revealed the presence ofCystoisosporasp. andHepatozoonsp. in badgers and showed that wild cats (Felis silvestris catus) were infected withCytauxzoonsp. Forty-two per cent of the animals subjected to a detailed external examination were parasitized by ixodid ticks, beingIxodes hexagonusandIxodes ricinusthe most abundant species. This study provided novel data on the different haemoparasites that can infect European wild carnivores and showed that they can be hosts for a range of haemoparasites and pose a potential risk for transmission to domestic animals.
Practices and outcomes of self-treatment with helminths based on physicians' observations
Authors: Liu J. , Morey R.A. , Wilson J.K. , Parker W. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe successful use of helminths as therapeutic agents to resolve inflammatory disease was first recorded 40 years ago. Subsequent work in animal models and in humans has demonstrated that the organisms might effectively treat a wide range of inflammatory diseases, including allergies, autoimmune disorders and inflammation-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. However, available information regarding the therapeutic uses and effects of helminths in humans is limited. This study probes the practices and experiences of individuals ‘self-treating’ with helminths through the eyes of their physicians. Five physicians monitoring more than 700 self-treating patients were interviewed. The results strongly support previous indications that helminth therapy can effectively treat a wide range of allergies, autoimmune conditions and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as major depression and anxiety disorders. Approximately 57% of the self-treating patients observed by physicians in the study had autism. Physicians reported that the majority of patients with autism and inflammation-associated co-morbidities responded favourably to therapy with either of the two most popular organisms currently used by self-treaters, Hymenolepis diminuta and Trichuris suis. However, approximately 1% of paediatric patients experienced severe gastrointestinal pains with the use of H. diminuta, although the symptoms were resolved with an anti-helminthic drug. Further, exposure to helminths apparently did not affect the impaired comprehension of social situations that is the hallmark of autism. These observations point toward potential starting points for clinical trials, and provide further support for the importance of such trials and for concerted efforts aimed at probing the potential of helminths, and perhaps other biologicals, for therapeutic use.
H1–semistability for projective groups
Authors: BISWAS INDRANIL , MJ MAHAN 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe initiate the study of the asymptotic topology of groups that can be realised as fundamental groups of smooth complex projective varieties with holomorphically convex universal covers (these are called here as holomorphically convex groups). We prove the H1-semistability conjecture of Geoghegan for holomorphically convex groups. In view of a theorem of Eyssidieux, Katzarkov, Pantev and Ramachandran [EKPR], this implies that linear projective groups satisfy the H1-semistability conjecture.
Multiple micronutrients in powder delivered through primary health care reduce iron and vitamin A deficiencies in young Amazonian children
Authors: Oliveira Cristieli SM , Sampaio Patrícia , Muniz Pascoal T , Cardoso Marly A ,   for the ENFAC Working Group
Published: May 2016

AbstractObjectiveWe evaluated the effect of home fortification with multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) on anaemia and micronutrient status of young Amazonian children.DesignA pragmatic controlled trial was performed. A control group (CG) of children aged 11–14 months was recruited in the routine of primary health-care centres for assessing anaemia and micronutrient status. At the same time, an intervention group (IG) of infants aged 6–8 months was recruited in the same health centres to receive MNP daily in complementary feeding for 2 months. The IG children were assessed 4–6 months after enrolment (n112) when they had reached the age of the CG participants (n128) for comparisons.SettingPrimary health centres in Rio Branco city, Brazilian Amazon.SubjectsA total of 240 children aged<2 years.ResultsIn the CG, the prevalence of anaemia (Hb<110 g/l), iron deficiency (ID; plasma ferritin <12 μg/l or soluble transferrin receptor >8·3 mg/l) and vitamin A deficiency (VAD; serum retinol <0·70 μmol/l) was 20·3 %, 72·4 % and 18·6 %, respectively. Among the IG participants (aged 11–14 months), the prevalence of anaemia, ID and VAD was 15·2 %, 25·2 % and 4·7 %, respectively. The IG had a lower likelihood of ID (prevalence ratio (95 % CI): 0·34 (0·24, 0·49)) and VAD (0·25 (0·09, 0·64)).ConclusionsHome fortification of complementary feeding delivered through primary health care was effective in reducing iron and vitamin A deficiencies among young Amazonian children.
Between- and within-breed morphological variability in Moroccan sheep breeds
Authors: Boujenane I. , Petit D. 
Published: May 2016

SummaryThe objective of this study was a morphological characterization of five Moroccan sheep breeds (Béni Guil, Boujaâd, D'man, Sardi and Timahdite) to assess between- and within-breed variability using multivariate analyses. Fourteen morphological measurements were collected on 876 adult animals of both sexes in 98 different flocks located in 22 geographic localities of five breeds. The multiple analysis of variance revealed that significant morphological differences existed between breeds. The overall proportion of total variance due to between-breed component was 28.3 percent. The factor analysis revealed three factors accounting for 50.1, 11.8 and 7.54 percent of total variance. The first factor had high loadings for variables relating to body size, whilst the second factor had high association with traits reflecting tail length and ear size. The third factor had high loadings for wool trait. The squared Mahalanobis distance between the five sheep breeds were highly significant (P&lt; 0.001). The largest morphological divergence was shown between Béni Guil and Sardi breeds (23.5) and the smallest one was between Boujaâd and Sardi breeds (3.54). The discriminant functions clearly discriminated and assigned 94.4 percent of Béni Guil, 79.7 of Boujaâd, 88.5 percent of D'man, 86.7 of Sardi and 80.1 percent of Timahdite sheep into their breed of origin. Overall morphological differences observed within-breeds were due for 18.1 percent to geographic locality and for 20.7 percent to flock management. It was concluded that the information reported in this study will be the basis for the establishment of characterization and selection strategies for Moroccan sheep.
Impfstatus bei Pflegepersonal
Authors: Voigt Karen , Rühle Frank , Bergmann Antje , Schübel Jeannine , Hirsch Kathleen , Riemenschneider Henna 
Published: May 2016

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Krankenpflegepersonal kann aufgrund des Patientenkontaktes Multiplikator für Infektionserkrankungen sein. In Deutschland besteht keine Impfpflicht, für medizinisches Personal liegen spezifische Empfehlungen vor. Ein bundesweiter Überblick zum Impfstatus medizinischen Personals existiert nicht. Fragestellung/Ziel: Impfstatus hinsichtlich Diphtherie, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis A (HA) und Hepatitis B (HB) des Krankenhauspflegepersonals sowie Zusammenhänge zwischen Alter, Dauer der Betriebszugehörigkeit, Impfakzeptanz und -status wurden untersucht. Methode: In einer anonymen Befragung von Krankenhausmitarbeitern zu Gesundheitsbelastung/-verhalten wurden Fragen zu Impfstatus/-akzeptanz gestellt. Die statistische Analyse (SPSS) umfasste deskriptive Verfahren, Verteilungsunterschiede wurden per Chi2-Anpassungstest geprüft. Ergebnisse: 99 % des Krankenpflegepersonals bewerteten unabhängig von Alter oder Beschäftigungsdauer Impfen für mind. «teilweise notwendig». Der Anteil der Befragten mit berichtetem vollständigen Impfstatus war für Tetanus (82 %) und HB (70 %) am höchsten. Für Diphtherie (52 %), Poliomyelitis (49 %), HA (43 %) und Pertussis (42 %) war er geringer. Der Anteil der Befragten, die ihren Impfstatus nicht kannten, war teils > 20 %. Schlussfolgerungen: Trotz hoher Impfakzeptanz waren die berichteten Impfquoten beim Krankenpflegepersonal nicht zufriedenstellend. Die Implementation von Impfmaßnahmen beim Pflegepersonal sollte forciert werden, um höhere Durchimpfungsraten zur Prävention von Infektionskrankheiten bei Personal und Patienten im Krankenhaus zu erreichen.
Microwave a.c. conductivity of domain walls in ferroelectric thin films
Authors: Tselev Alexander , Yu Pu , Cao Ye , Dedon Liv R. , Martin Lane W. , Kalinin Sergei V. , Maksymovych Petro 
Published: May 2016

AbstractFerroelectric domain walls are of great interest as elementary building blocks for future electronic devices due to their intrinsic few-nanometre width, multifunctional properties and field-controlled topology. To realize the electronic functions, domain walls are required to be electrically conducting and addressable non-destructively. However, these properties have been elusive because conducting walls have to be electrically charged, which makes them unstable and uncommon in ferroelectric materials. Here we reveal that spontaneous and recorded domain walls in thin films of lead zirconate and bismuth ferrite exhibit large conductance at microwave frequencies despite being insulating at d.c. We explain this effect by morphological roughening of the walls and local charges induced by disorder with the overall charge neutrality. a.c. conduction is immune to large contact resistance enabling completely non-destructive walls read-out. This demonstrates a technological potential for harnessing a.c. conduction for oxide electronics and other materials with poor d.c. conduction, particularly at the nanoscale.
Dirac cone protected by non-symmorphic symmetry and three-dimensional Dirac line node in ZrSiS
Authors: Schoop Leslie M. , Ali Mazhar N. , Straßer Carola , Topp Andreas , Varykhalov Andrei , Marchenko Dmitry , Duppel Viola , Parkin Stuart S. P. , Lotsch Bettina V. , Ast Christian R. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractMaterials harbouring exotic quasiparticles, such as massless Dirac and Weyl fermions, have garnered much attention from physics and material science communities due to their exceptional physical properties such as ultra-high mobility and extremely large magnetoresistances. Here, we show that the highly stable, non-toxic and earth-abundant material, ZrSiS, has an electronic band structure that hosts several Dirac cones that form a Fermi surface with a diamond-shaped line of Dirac nodes. We also show that the square Si lattice in ZrSiS is an excellent template for realizing new types of two-dimensional Dirac cones recently predicted by Young and Kane. Finally, we find that the energy range of the linearly dispersed bands is as high as 2 eV above and below the Fermi level; much larger than of other known Dirac materials. This makes ZrSiS a very promising candidate to study Dirac electrons, as well as the properties of lines of Dirac nodes.
Wolbachia infections in natural Anopheles populations affect egg laying and negatively correlate with Plasmodium development
Authors: Shaw W. Robert , Marcenac Perrine , Childs Lauren M. , Buckee Caroline O. , Baldini Francesco , Sawadogo Simon P. , Dabiré Roch K. , Diabaté Abdoulaye , Catteruccia Flaminia 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe maternally inherited alpha-proteobacterium Wolbachia has been proposed as a tool to block transmission of devastating mosquito-borne infectious diseases like dengue and malaria. Here we study the reproductive manipulations induced by a recently identified Wolbachia strain that stably infects natural mosquito populations of a major malaria vector, Anopheles coluzzii, in Burkina Faso. We determine that these infections significantly accelerate egg laying but do not induce cytoplasmic incompatibility or sex-ratio distortion, two parasitic reproductive phenotypes that facilitate the spread of other Wolbachia strains within insect hosts. Analysis of 221 blood-fed A. coluzzii females collected from houses shows a negative correlation between the presence of Plasmodium parasites and Wolbachia infection. A mathematical model incorporating these results predicts that infection with these endosymbionts may reduce malaria prevalence in human populations. These data suggest that Wolbachia may be an important player in malaria transmission dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa.