bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
GPCR-controlled membrane recruitment of negative regulator C2GAP1 locally inhibits Ras signaling for adaptation and long-range chemotaxis
Authors: Xu Xuehua , Wen Xi , Veltman Douwe M. , Keizer-Gunnink Ineke , Pots Henderikus , Kortholt Arjan , Jin Tian 
Published: November 2017

Significance
Eukaryotic cells migrate through a gradient with a huge concentration range of chemoattractant stimuli by employing “adaptation,” in which cells no longer respond to the present stimuli, but remain sensitive to stronger stimuli. Many models agree on the “temporal adaptation”: a rapid “excitation” that triggers cellular responses and a temporally delayed “inhibition” that terminates the responses to reach adaptation. The inhibitory mechanism largely remains elusive, although many molecules of the excitatory signaling pathway have been identified. In the present study, we showed that GPCR-activated Ras negative regulator C2GAP1 locally inhibits Ras signaling for adaptation and long-range chemotaxis.
Scale-dependent climatic drivers of human epidemics in ancient China
Authors: Tian Huidong , Yan Chuan , Xu Lei , Büntgen Ulf , Stenseth Nils C. , Zhang Zhibin 
Published: November 2017

Significance
The lack of available data, including written historical sources and natural proxy archives, has constrained us when disentangling the effects of climate change on the prevalence of infectious diseases. We first reconstructed human epidemics in China over the last two millennia and analyzed the impacts of climate change on the prevalence of human epidemics at various time scales. We show that long-term trends of cold and dry conditions indirectly facilitated the prevalence of epidemics through locusts and famines. Nevertheless, temperature showed unstable associations with epidemics on a small time scale. Our study highlights the urgent need to investigate scale-dependent impacts of climate change on the prevalence of diseases.
Blockade of activin type II receptors with a dual anti-ActRIIA/IIB antibody is critical to promote maximal skeletal muscle hypertrophy
Authors: Morvan Frederic , Rondeau Jean-Michel , Zou Chao , Minetti Giulia , Scheufler Clemens , Scharenberg Meike , Jacobi Carsten , Brebbia Pascale , Ritter Veronique , Toussaint Gauthier , Koelbing Claudia , Leber Xavier , Schilb Alain , Witte Florian , Lehmann Sylvie , Koch Elke , Geisse Sabine , Glass David J. , Lach-Trifilieff Estelle 
Published: November 2017

Significance
We recently reported that activin type II receptors (ActRIIs) blockade using bimagrumab could positively impact muscle wasting in mice and humans. However, the specific role of each individual ActRII at regulating adult muscle mass had not been clarified. Here, we highlight the importance of concomitant neutralization of both ActRIIs in controlling muscle mass. Through comparison with single specificity antibodies, we uncover unique features related to bimagrumab and its neutralizing interactions with both ActRIIA and ActRIIB at the structural and cellular levels and in vivo in adult mice. The need for simultaneous engagement and neutralization of both ActRIIs to generate a strong skeletal muscle response confers unique therapeutic potential to bimagrumab, in the context of muscle wasting conditions.
Measuring emotional intelligence in Moroccan Arabic: the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale / Medidas de la inteligencia emocional en árabe marroquí: la escala de inteligencia emocional de Wong y Law
Authors: El Ghoudani Karima , Pulido-Martos Manuel , Lopez-Zafra Esther 
Published: November 2017

Emotional intelligence is a widespread concept that has been analysed in different countries. However, it has been barely measured in African-Arab societies’ cultures due to their scarce tradition in validating instruments. In Morocco, the mere translation of instruments is a common practice that should be avoided to incorporate cultural and linguistic singularities. Thus, the aim of our study was to culturally adapt the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale to Morocco. This version could be widely used in other Arab North African countries and among immigrants in hosting countries. Two hundred and seventy-three Arab undergraduates (178 women and 95 men; age M = 22.17, SD = 4.09) from Morocco completed a questionnaire adapted to their culture following the back translation method. To determine construct validity, data were analysed by means of confirmatory factor analysis. The final scale resulted in a second-order factorial model with four first-order factors compounded by 16 items. This structure supports the original for Moroccan Arabic and other countries in which Arabic is spoken. Likewise, the results confirm an adequate criterion validity of the instrument.
Land Resilience and Tail Dependence among Crop Yield Distributions
Authors: Du Xiaodong , Hennessy David A. , Feng Hongli , Arora Gaurav 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe propose and empirically test a simple model to shed light on the nature of interactions between weather, land quality, and yield. The conceptual model posits substitution relations between water stress metrics and soil quality, as well as a soil‐conditioned threshold water stress level beyond which soil cannot buffer crop yields. The model implies that yield‐yield dependence should vary as growing conditions vary. In comparison with intermediate growing conditions, yield‐yield dependence should strengthen when growing conditions are either very good or very poor. County yield data strongly support substitution between soil and benign water availability levels, but complementarity between soil and beneficial heat variables. Our estimated model provides qualified support for the hypothesis that better land is more resilient to water stress. We estimate a pseudo‐copula that nests the Gaussian copula, finding strong evidence of left tail dependence among yields. Our formal model and empirical findings corroborate others’ concerns about the appropriateness of current USDA rate‐setting methodologies, which posit constant state‐conditional rank correlations, implicitly assumed by use of the Gaussian copula. An application to aggregate crop yield rate setting suggests that current methods underprice area yield and whole farm premiums. Applying our empirical model to medium‐range weather projections under a climate change scenario for the Northern Great Plains, we infer that systemic yield correlations will increase in future years.
Canonical Heights and Preperiodic Points for Certain Weighted Homogeneous Families of Polynomials
Authors: Ingram Patrick 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
A family f of polynomials over a number field K will be called weighted homogeneous if and only if ft(z) = F(ze, t) for some binary homogeneous form F(X, Y) and some integer e ≥ 2. For example, the family zd + t is weighted homogeneous. We prove a lower bound on the canonical height, of the form \begin{align*} \hat{h}_{f_{t}}(z)\geq \varepsilon \max\!\left\{h_{\mathsf{M}_{d}}(f_{t}), \log|\operatorname{Norm}\mathfrak{R}_{f_{t}}|\right\},\end{align*} for values z ∈ K which are not preperiodic for ft. Here ε depends only on the number field K, the family f, and the number of places at which ft has bad reduction. For suitably generic morphisms $\varphi :\mathbb {P}^{1}\to \mathbb {P}^{1}$, we also prove an absolute bound of this form for t in the image of φ over K (assuming the abc Conjecture), as well as uniform bounds on the number of preperiodic points (unconditionally).
Extended Screening Costs Associated With Selecting Donors for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome-Associated Diseases
Authors: Craven Laura J , Nair Parvathy Seema , Tat-Ko Justin , Burton Jeremy P , Silverman Michael S 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Background
Knowledge of the impact of the gut microbiome on conditions other than Clostridium difficile infection has been rapidly increasing, and the potential usefulness of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in these indications is being explored. The need to exclude donors with an increased risk of these diseases has left uncertainties regarding the cost and feasibility of donor screening. The aim of this study was to compare our experience to other donor-screening programs and report the costs associated with establishing a donor-screening program, for the treatment of metabolic syndrome-related conditions.

Methods
Forty-six potential donors (PDs) had their medical histories and physical examinations undertaken by a physician. Blood, stool, and urine were screened for 31 viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoan agents in addition to biochemical characteristics. The price of advertising, doctor’s visits and diagnostic tests were calculated to determine the cost of finding a donor.

Results
Of the PDs screened, 5 of 46 passed the history, examination, blood, stool, and urine tests. The most common reasons for exclusion included a body mass index &gt;25 or the detection of Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, or Helicobacter pylori. Four of five eligible donors had subsequent travel or illness that contraindicated donation, so only 1 of 46 PDs was suitable. The total cost for finding a single suitable donor was $15190 US dollars. This screening was performed in Canada, and costs in the United States would be substantially higher.

Conclusions
New potential therapeutic uses for FMT have created a demand for stricter exclusion criteria for donors. This study illustrates that screening many individuals to find a donor and the subsequent associated costs may make central processing and shipment a more reasonable alternative.
Survival Outcomes Following the Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Rescue Technology in Critically Ill Patients: Results From Pennsylvania 2007–2015
Authors: Huesch Marco D. , Foy Andrew , Brehm Christoph 
Published: November 2017

Objective:
To examine real-world outcomes of survival, length of stay, and discharge destination, among all adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation admissions in one state over nearly a decade.

Design:
Retrospective analysis of administrative discharge data.

Setting:
State-wide administrative discharge data from Pennsylvania between 2007 and 2015.

Patients:
All 2,948 consecutive patients billed under a Diagnosis-Related Grouper 3 grouper and in whom a procedural code for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was present, admitted between the beginning of 2007 and the end of 2015 to hospitals regulated by the state of Pennsylvania. Admitting diagnoses were coded as respiratory, cardiac, cardiac arrest, or uncategorized based on administrative data.

Measurements and Main Results:
Unadjusted in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and discharge destination. Summary statistics and tests of differences by age 65 years or older and by admitting diagnosis were performed. Outcomes by age were plotted using running-mean smoothed graphs. Over the 9-year period, the average observed death rate was 51.7%. Among all survivors, 14.6% went home to self-care and a further 15.2% to home health care. Of all survivors, 43.8% were readmitted within 1 month, and 60.6% within 1 year. Among elderly survivors, readmission rates were 52.3% and 65.5% within 1 month and 1 year, respectively. The likelihood of dying in-hospital increased with age that of being discharged home or to postacute care decreased.

Conclusions:
In a “usual clinical practice” setting, short-term outcomes are similar to those observed in clinical trials such as Conventional Ventilation or ECMO for Severe Adult Respiratory Failure, in registries such as extracorporeal life support organization, and in smaller single-site studies. More data on longer term follow-up are needed to allow clinicians to better inform patient selection and care.
Predictors, Prevalence, and Outcomes of Early Crystalloid Responsiveness Among Initially Hypotensive Patients With Sepsis and Septic Shock*
Authors: Leisman Daniel E. , Doerfler Martin E. , Schneider Sandra M. , Masick Kevin D. , D’Amore Jason A. , D’Angelo John K. 
Published: November 2017

Objectives:
The prevalence of responsiveness to initial fluid challenge among hypotensive sepsis patients is unclear. To avoid fluid overload, and unnecessary treatment, it is important to differentiate these phenotypes. We aimed to 1) determine the proportion of hypotensive sepsis patients sustaining favorable hemodynamic response after initial fluid challenge, 2) determine demographic and clinical risk factors that predicted refractory hypotension, and 3) assess the association between timeliness of fluid resuscitation and refractoriness.

Design:
Secondary analysis of a prospective, multisite, observational, consecutive-sample cohort.

Setting:
Nine tertiary and community hospitals over 1.5 years.

Patients:
Inclusion criteria 1) suspected or confirmed infection, 2) greater than or equal to two systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria, 3) systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg, greater than 40% decrease from baseline, or mean arterial pressure less than 65 mm Hg.

Measurements and Main Results:
Sex, age, heart failure, renal failure, immunocompromise, source of infection, initial lactate, coagulopathy, temperature, altered mentation, altered gas exchange, and acute kidney injury were used to generate a risk score. The primary outcome was sustained normotension after fluid challenge without vasopressor titration. Among 3,686 patients, 2,350 (64%) were fluid responsive. Six candidate risk factors significantly predicted refractoriness in multivariable analysis: heart failure (odds ratio, 1.43; CI, 1.20–1.72), hypothermia (odds ratio, 1.37; 1.10–1.69), altered gas exchange (odds ratio, 1.33; 1.12–1.57), initial lactate greater than or equal to 4.0 mmol/L (odds ratio, 1.28; 1.08–1.52), immunocompromise (odds ratio, 1.23; 1.03–1.47), and coagulopathy (odds ratio, 1.23; 1.03–1.48). High-risk patients (≥ three risk factors) had 70% higher (CI, 48–96%) refractory risk (19% higher absolute risk; CI, 14–25%) versus low-risk (zero risk factors) patients. Initiating fluids in greater than 2 hours also predicted refractoriness (odds ratio, 1.96; CI, 1.49–2.58). Mortality was 15% higher (CI, 10-18%) for refractory patients.

Conclusions:
Two in three hypotensive sepsis patients were responsive to initial fluid resuscitation. Heart failure, hypothermia, immunocompromise, hyperlactemia, and coagulopathy were associated with the refractory phenotype. Fluid resuscitation initiated after the initial 2 hours more strongly predicted refractoriness than any patient factor tested.
Evaluation of the Accuracy of Polymer Gels for Determining Electron Dose Distributions in the Presence of Small Heterogeneities
Authors: Asl R. Ghahraman , Nedaie H.A. , Banaee N. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the application and accuracy of polymer gels for determining electron dose distributions in the presence of small heterogeneities made of bone and air. Different cylindrical phantoms containing MAGIC (Methacrylic and Ascorbic acid in Gelatin Initiated by Copper) normoxic polymer gel were used under the slab phantoms during irradiation. MR images of the irradiated gel phantoms were obtained to determine their R2 (spin-spin) relaxation maps for conversion to absorbed dose. One- and 2-dimensional lateral dose profiles were acquired at depths of 1 and 4 cm for 8 and 15 MeV electron beams. The results were compared with the doses measured by a diode detector at the same positions. In addition, the dose distribution in the axial orientation was measured by the gel dosimeter. The slope and intercept for the R2 versus dose curve were 0.509 ± 0.002 Gy−1 s−1 and 4.581 ± 0.005 s−1, respectively. No significant variation in dose-R2 response was seen for the two electron energies within the applied dose ranges. The mean dose difference between the measured gel dose profiles was smaller than 3% compared to those measured by the diode detector. These results provide further demonstration that electron dose distributions are significantly altered in the presence of tissue inhomogeneities such as bone and air cavity and that MAGIC gel is a useful tool for 3-dimensional dose visualization and qualitative assessment of tissue inhomogeneity effects in electron beam dosimetry.
TLR4 deficiency abrogated widespread tactile allodynia, but not widespread thermal hyperalgesia and trigeminal neuropathic pain after partial infraorbital nerve transection
Authors: Hu Ting-Ting , Wang Ran-Ran , Tang Ying-Ying , Wu Yu-Xing , Yu Jie , Hou Wei-Wei , Lou Guo-Dong , Zhou Yu-Dong , Zhang Shi-Hong , Chen Zhong 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
Pain sensitization after partial infraorbital nerve transection (p-IONX) in mice not only presents in orofacial region, but also spreads to distant body parts. The roles of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in orofacial pain and the spreading process are still unclear. Here, we found that mice with deficient TLR4 because of Tr4 gene point mutation (C3H/HeJ) or spontaneous deletion (C57BL/10ScNJ) developed tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in the vibrissal pad in a parallel way to their respective wild types (C3HeB/FeJ or C57BL/6J) after p-IONX. However, allodynia in the hind paw was absent in mice with TLR4 deficiency. Pharmacological antagonism of TLR4 with LPS-RS, administered either intracisternally or intrathecally, abrogated allodynia in the hind paw without affecting the hypersensitivity in the vibrissal pad and hyperalgesia in the hind paw. Although TNF-α expression was upregulated in both the medulla and lumbar cord, the expression of TLR4 downstream molecule MyD88 increased only in the lumbar cord after p-IONX in wild types. By contrast, hind paw hypersensitivity after partial sciatic nerve ligation was significantly attenuated by TLR4 deletion. The hypersensitivity, which did not spread to the vibrissal pad, was accompanied with upregulation of MyD88 in the lumbar cord rather than in the medulla. These results suggest that TLR4 participates in the spread of allodynia component of orofacial pain to distant body sites, but not trigeminal neuropathic pain or the spread of its hyperalgesia component. This study suggests that TLR4 may serve as a potential target for the management of widespread allodynia associated with orofacial pain.
Compassion Practices, Nurse Well-Being, and Ambulatory Patient Experience Ratings
Authors: McClelland Laura E. , Gabriel Allison S. , DePuccio Matthew J. 
Published: November 2017

Background:
Compassion practices both recognize and reward compassion in the workplace as well as provide compassionate support to health care employees. However, these practices represent an underexplored organizational tool that may aid clinician well-being and positively impact patient ambulatory care experiences.

Objective:
To examine the relationship between compassion practices and nursing staff well-being and clinic-level patients’ experience ratings in the ambulatory clinic setting.

Research Design:
Surveys were collected from ambulatory nurses in January and February of 2015 in 30 ambulatory clinics affiliated with an academic medical center. Patient experience ratings were collected April to June of 2015.

Subjects:
One hundred seventy-seven ambulatory nurses (Registered Nurses, LPNs, medical assistants), as well as 3525 adult patients from the ambulatory clinics.

Measures:
Ambulatory nurses assessed compassion practices, emotional exhaustion, and psychological vitality. Patient experience ratings were patient perceptions of courtesy and caring shown by nurses and patients’ ratings of the outpatient services.

Results:
Compassion practices are significantly and negatively associated with nurse emotional exhaustion and positively associated with nurse psychological vitality. At the clinic-level, compassion practices are significantly and positively associated with patient perceptions of caring shown by nurses and overall patient ratings of the outpatient clinic. Supplemental analyses provide preliminary evidence that nurse well-being mediates the relationship between compassion practices and patient ratings of their care experience.

Conclusions:
Our findings illustrate that compassion practices are positively associated with nurse well-being and patient perceptions of the care experience in outpatient clinics.
The Impact of Adverse Events on Clinicians: What's in a Name?
Authors: Wu Albert W. , Shapiro Jo , Harrison Reema , Scott Susan D. , Connors Cheryl , Kenney Linda , Vanhaecht Kris 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
Unanticipated patient adverse events can also have a serious negative impact on clinicians. The term second victim was coined to highlight the experience of health professionals with these events and the need to effectively support them. However, there is some controversy over use of the term second victim. This article explores terminology used to describe the professionals involved in adverse events and services to support them. There is a concern that use of the term victim may connote passivity or stigmatize involved clinicians. Some patient advocates are also offended by the term, believing that it deemphasizes the experience of patients and families. Despite this, the term is now coming into widespread use by clinicians and health care managers as well as policy makers. As the importance of emotional support for clinicians continues to gain visibility, the terminology surrounding it will undoubtedly change and evolve. At this time, it may be most appropriate to label this important phenomenon in a way that local leaders are comfortable with—in a way that promotes its recognition and adoption of solutions. For example, for policy makers and health care managers, the term second victim may have value because it is memorable and connotes urgency. For support programs that appeal directly to health care workers, different language may attract more users. Debate concerning the benefits and drawbacks to this terminology will enhance and further drive its evolution, while helping retain our industry's focus on the importance of developing and evaluating programs to support clinicians in need.
Nursing Home Patient Safety Culture Perceptions Among US and Immigrant Nurses
Authors: Wagner Laura M. , Brush Barbara L. , Castle Nicholas G. , Engberg John B. , Capezuti Elizabeth A. 
Published: November 2017

Patient safety is a global concern, yet little is known about how and whether perceptions of patient safety culture (PSC) vary by nurses’ countries of origin and preparation. This is particularly important in American nursing homes (NHs), which are increasingly hiring non-US born and prepared nurses to fill staffing needs.

Objectives
This study compared the PSC perceptions of foreign and domestic born and trained nurses working in urban NHs in 5 states to analyze how nurses’ PSC perceptions corresponded to their personal and professional characteristics.

Methods
We distributed 3539 surveys to registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses employed in 98 urban NHs across 5 states with higher percentages of internationally prepared nurse workers. Respondents’ perceptions of their workplace safety culture were measured with the NH Survey on PSC survey from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and examined 12 dimensions of PSC. A total of 1629 returned surveys indicated a 46% returned rate.

Results
Results from 1133 analyzed surveys indicated that nurses born and educated abroad exhibited more favorable PSC perceptions in their workplaces, followed by nurses born abroad and educated in the United States. Nurses born and educated in the United States demonstrated the lowest perceptions of workplace PSC overall (P < 0.001).

Conclusions
Although foreign born and trained nurses report higher PSC perceptions than domestically born and educated nurses, further research is needed to understand why these differences occur.