bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of NR3C1/Glucocorticoid Receptor gene SNP with azoospermia in Japanese men
Authors: Chihara Makoto , Yoshihara Kosuke , Ishiguro Tatsuya , Adachi Sosuke , Okada Hiroyuki , Kashima Katsunori , Sato Takaaki , Tanaka Atsushi , Tanaka Kenichi , Enomoto Takayuki 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimThe molecular pathogenesis of non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is unclear. Our aim was to identify the genetic susceptibility for NOA in Japanese men by using a combination of transcriptome network analysis and SNP genotyping.Material and MethodsWe searched for candidate genes using RNA transcriptome network analysis of 2611 NOA‐related genes that we had previously reported. We analyzed candidate genes for disease linkage with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the genomes of 335 Japanese men with NOA and 410 healthy controls using SNP‐specific real‐time polymerase chain reaction TaqMan assays.ResultsThree candidate genes (NR3C1, YBX2, and BCL2) were identified by the transcriptome network analysis, each with three SNP. Allele frequency analysis of the nine SNP indicated a significantly higher frequency of the NR3C1 rs852977 G allele in NOA cases compared with controls (corrected P = 5.7e‐15; odds ratio = 3.20; 95% confidence interval, 2.40–4.26). The other eight candidate polymorphisms showed no significant association.ConclusionThe NR3C1 rs852977 polymorphism is a potential marker for genetic susceptibility to NOA in Japanese men. Further studies are necessary to clarify the association between the NR3C1 polymorphism and alterations of glucocorticoid signaling pathway leading to male infertility.
Prediction of impending preterm delivery based on sonographic cervical length and different cytokine levels in cervicovaginal fluid in preterm labor
Authors: Jung Eun Young , Park Jeong Woo , Ryu Aeli , Lee Sung Youn , Cho Soo‐hyun , Park Kyo Hoon 
Published: November 2015

AbstractAimsThe aim of this study was to determine whether cervicovaginal interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels, and cervical length, alone or in combination, could predict impending preterm delivery in women with preterm labor and intact membranes.Material and MethodsCervicovaginal swab samples for IL‐1β, IL‐6, and IL‐8 assays were taken from 136 consecutive women with preterm labor (23–34 weeks) before the transvaginal ultrasonography examination to measure cervical length. The primary outcome measurement was spontaneous preterm delivery within 7 days of sampling.ResultsSpontaneous preterm delivery within 7 days occurred in 28.6% (39/136) of patients. Receiver–operator characteristic (ROC) curves indicated that cervical length (P < 0.001), cervicovaginal IL‐6 (P < 0.001) and IL‐8 (P = 0.014), but not IL‐1β, could predict delivery within 7 days. According to the logistic regression analysis, high cervicovaginal IL‐8 (P = 0.008) and IL‐6 (P = 0.038) levels and short cervical length (P < 0.001) were significantly associated with delivery within 7 days, even after controlling for baseline variables. A combination of cervix length and cervicovaginal IL‐8 increased the specificity of detecting delivery within 7 days to 92.8%, which was superior to either test alone (P < 0.001), but the sensitivity was only 56.4%.ConclusionIn women with preterm labor, among the parameters assessed, cervicovaginal IL‐6 and IL‐8 and cervical length are the most important parameters in predicting impending preterm delivery. A combination of cervix length and cervicovaginal IL‐8 appeared to be the best for predicting impending preterm delivery, but the relatively low sensitivity of this test may limit its clinical usefulness.
Sugar‐feeding status alters biting midge photoattraction
Authors: SNYDER D. , CERNICCHIARO N. , COHNSTAEDT L. W. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe biting midge Culicoides sonorensis Wirth and Jones (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) transmits pathogens to both livestock and wildlife. Biting midge surveillance relies heavily on light traps for collection; however, little is known about the light spectra preferences of C. sonorensis midges. A light assay arena was constructed and light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) of various light spectra were used as light sources to evaluate midge photoattraction. A comparison of responses to light spectra indicated the highest proportions of C. sonorensis were attracted to ultraviolet (UV) light and that midges differentiated 10‐nm differences in wavelength. Stronger intensities of UV light resulted in greater attraction. Midges exhibited both sugar‐seeking and escape behaviours under different conditions of sugar supplementation before and during the experiment. These behaviours occurred with lights of 355 nm and 365 nm in wavelength. Based on the results of this study, the attraction of C. sonorensis to light traps can be improved through the use of bright LEDs at 355 nm or 365 nm.
Dispersal, dormancy and life‐history tradeoffs at the individual, population and species levels in southern African Asteraceae
Authors: de Waal Caroli , Anderson Bruce , Ellis Allan G. 
Published: November 2015

Summary

Dispersal and dormancy are important risk‐reducing strategies in unpredictable environments. Negative covariation between these strategies is theoretically expected, but empirical evidence is limited and inconsistent. Moreover, covariation may be affected by other life‐history traits and may vary across levels of biological organization.

We assessed dispersal (vertical fall time of fruits, a proxy for wind dispersal ability) and dormancy (germination fractions measured during germination trials) in populations of 15 annual and 12 perennial wind‐dispersed species in six Asteraceae genera from South Africa.

Dormancy was higher in annuals than in perennials, whereas fall time was largely determined by evolutionary history. Controlling for phylogeny, dispersal and dormancy was negatively associated across species and life‐history categories. Negative covariation between dispersal and dormancy was not evident at either the individual level (except for seed heteromorphic species) or the population level.

Our study provides rare empirical support for the theoretical expectation of tradeoffs between dormancy and the alternative risk‐reducing strategies, perenniality and dispersal, but refutes the expectation of increased dispersability in perennials. Although negative covariation between dispersal and dormancy at the species level appears not to be a simple consequence of upscaling individual‐level mechanistic tradeoffs, our findings suggest that selection for one strategy may constrain evolution of the other.
Justified Belief from Unjustified Belief
Authors: Murphy Peter 
Published: November 2015

AbstractUnder what conditions is a belief inferentially justified? A partial answer is found in Justification from Justification (JFJ): a belief is inferentially justified only if all of the beliefs from which it is essentially inferred are justified. After reviewing some important features of JFJ, I offer a counterexample to it. Then I outline a positive suggestion for how to think about inferentially justified beliefs while still retaining a basing condition. I end by concluding that epistemologists need a model of inferentially justified belief that is more permissive and more complex than JFJ.
Tolerability, Safety, and Quality of Life with Tapentadol Prolonged Release (PR) Compared with Oxycodone/Naloxone PR in Patients with Severe Chronic Low Back Pain with a Neuropathic Component: A Randomized, Controlled, Open‐label, Phase 3b/4 Trial
Authors: Baron Ralf , Jansen Jan‐Peter , Binder Andreas , Pombo‐Suarez Manuel , Kennes Lieven , Müller Matthias , Falke Dietmar , Steigerwald Ilona 
Published: November 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate tolerability, safety, and quality‐of‐life outcomes in non‐opioid‐pretreated patients with severe chronic low back pain with a neuropathic component receiving tapentadol PR vs. oxycodone/naloxone PR.MethodsEligible patients (average pain intensity [numerical rating scale] ≥ 6; painDETECT positive/unclear ratings) were randomized to twice‐daily tapentadol PR 50 mg or oxycodone/naloxone PR 10 mg/5 mg. After a 21‐day titration (maximum twice‐daily doses: tapentadol PR 250 mg, or oxycodone/naloxone PR 40 mg/20 mg plus oxycodone PR 10 mg), target doses were continued for 9 weeks. Change in the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC‐SYM) total score from baseline to final evaluation was a primary endpoint.ResultsFor the primary tolerability‐related endpoint, the 97.5% exact repeated confidence interval for tapentadol PR minus oxycodone/naloxone PR for the PAC‐SYM total score was [−0.259, 0.121], showing noninferiority (upper limit < 0.7). Incidences of constipation and vomiting were significantly lower with tapentadol PR than oxycodone/naloxone PR (P ≤ 0.045). Confirmatory superiority based on formal noninferiority was shown for the primary effectiveness endpoint (change from baseline to final evaluation in pain intensity) for tapentadol PR vs. oxycodone/naloxone PR (presented separately). Improvements in the Short Form‐12 physical component summary and EuroQol‐5 Dimension health status index and health state assessment were significantly greater with tapentadol PR vs. oxycodone/naloxone PR (P ≤ 0.024).ConclusionsTapentadol PR had a minimal impact on bowel function (noninferior to oxycodone/naloxone PR) and, along with superior effectiveness (presented separately), was associated with significantly lower incidences of constipation and vomiting and significant improvements in quality‐of‐life measures vs. oxycodone/naloxone PR.
Global Innovation Races, Offshoring and Wage Inequality
Authors: Impullitti Giammario 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn the 1970s and 1980s theUSposition as the global technological leader was increasingly challenged byJapan andEurope. In those years theUSskill premium and residual wage inequality increased substantially. This paper presents a two‐region, quality‐ladder growth model where the lagging economy progressively catches up with the leader. As the innovation gap closes, the advanced country experiences fiercer foreign technological competition that forces its firms to innovate more. Faster technical change increases the skill premium and residual inequality. Offshoring production and innovation plays a key role in shaping the link between international competition and inequality.
Early onset of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease contributes to the lethal outcome in lung transplant recipients: report of two cases and review of the literature
Authors: Jankovic Makek M. , Pavlisa G. , Jakopovic M. , Redzepi G. , Zmak L. , Vukic Dugac A. , Hecimovic A. , Mazuranic I. , Jaksch P. , Klepetko W. , Samarzija M. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractLung transplant (LuTx) recipients represent a population at risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM‐PD). Yet the risk factors, the timing of NTM‐PD after transplantation, and the association with allograft dysfunction all remain poorly defined. We report 2 cases of early‐onset NTM‐PD and review the literature, focusing on NTM‐PD in LuTx recipients not colonized with NTM prior to transplantation. In addition, we summarize the main characteristics and differences between early‐ and late‐onset disease.
Impacts of a new insurance benefit with capitated provider payment on healthcare utilization, expenditure and quality of medication prescribing in China
Authors: Sun Jing , Zhang Xiaotian , Zhang Zou , Wagner Anita K. , Ross‐Degnan Dennis , Hogerzeil Hans V. 
Published: November 2015

AbstractObjectivesTo assess a new Chinese insurance benefit with capitated provider payment for common diseases in outpatients.MethodsLongitudinal health insurance claims data, health administrative data and primary care facility data were used to assess trajectories in outpatient visits, inpatient admissions, expenditure per common disease outpatient (CD/OP) visit and prescribing indicators over time. We conducted segmented regression analyses of interrupted time series data to measure changes in level and trend overtime, and cross‐sectional comparisons against external standards.ResultsThe number of total outpatient visits at 46 primary care facilities (on the CD/OP benefit as of July 2012) increased by 46 895 visits/month (P = 0.004, 95% CI: 15 795–77 994); the average number of CD/OP visits reached 1.84/year/enrollee in 2012; monthly inpatient admissions dropped from 6.4 (2009) to 4.3 (2012) per 1000 enrollees; the median total expenditure per CD/OP visit dropped by CNY 15.40 (P = 0.16, 95% CI: −36.95~6.15); injectable use dropped by 7.38% (P = 0.03, 95% CI: −14.08%~−0.68%); antibiotic use was not improved.ConclusionsZhuhai's new CD/OP benefit with capitated provider payment has expanded access to primary care, which may have led to a reduction in expensive specialist inpatient services for CD/OP benefit enrollees. Cost awareness was likely raised, and rapidly growing expenditures were contained. Although having been partially improved, inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics and injectables was still prevalent. More explicit incentives and specific quality of care targets must be incorporated into the capitated provider payment to promote scientifically sound and cost‐effective care and treatment.
Rare transmission of hepatitis B virus by Dutch donors with occult infection
Authors: Lieshout‐Krikke Ryanne W. , van Kraaij Marian G.J. , Danovic Fikreta , Zaaijer Hans L. 
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUNDTo reduce the rate of transfusion‐transmitted hepatitis B virus (HBV), HBV DNA testing was introduced for all Dutch blood donations in 2008, in addition to the existing screening for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). This study describes the lookback results for repeat donors with an “HBV DNA‐only” test result (HBV DNA‐positive and HBsAg‐negative).STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSFrom November 2008 until June 2011, a total of 2.3 million blood donations were tested for HBV DNA and 22 donors showed the HBV DNA‐only profile. Four donors had early preseroconversion HBV infection, two showed suppressed infection after vaccination, and 16 donors had occult chronic HBV infection (OBI). Potentially infectious donations were traced back as far as 1992. If possible the recipients were tested for current and past HBV infection.RESULTSA total of 416 implicated donations could be traced in blood bank records, involving 448 issued blood products. For 170 (38%) of the recipients no information was obtained from the hospitals; 196 (44%) recipients had died, and 82 (18%) were tested for HBV. Six recipients tested positive for current (n = 4) or past (n = 2) HBV infection. For two recipients transfusion was ruled out as the source of infection. Three patients showed HBV DNA sequences matching with the HBV in one common OBI donor. Overall, in four of 82 tested recipients (5%) HBV transmission was likely.CONCLUSIONIn our lookback study HBV testing was possible in only a minority (18%) of potentially exposed recipients. A low transmission rate (5%) was observed in recipients of blood components from donors with OBI.
Investigation of imaging properties for submillimeter rectangular pinholes
Authors: Xia Dan , Moore Stephen C. , Park Mi‐Ae , Cervo Morgan , Metzler Scott D. 
Published: November 2015

Purpose:Recently, a multipinhole collimator with inserts that have both rectangular apertures and rectangular fields of view (FOVs) has been proposed for SPECT imaging since it can tile the projection onto the detector efficiently and the FOVs in transverse and axial directions become separable. The purpose of this study is to investigate the image properties of rectangular‐aperture pinholes with submillimeter apertures sizes.Methods:In this work, the authors have conducted sensitivity and FOV experiments for 18 replicates of a prototype insert fabricated in platinum/iridium (Pt/Ir) alloy with submillimeter square‐apertures. A sinqθ fit to the experimental sensitivity has been performed for these inserts. For the FOV measurement, the authors have proposed a new formula to calculate the projection intensity of a flood image on the detector, taking into account the penumbra effect. By fitting this formula to the measured projection data, the authors obtained the acceptance angles.Results:The mean (standard deviation) of fitted sensitivity exponents q and effective edge lengths we were, respectively, 10.8 (1.8) and 0.38 mm (0.02 mm), which were close to the values, 7.84 and 0.396 mm, obtained from Monte Carlo calculations using the parameters of the designed inserts. For the FOV measurement, the mean (standard deviation) of the transverse and axial acceptances were 35.0° (1.2°) and 30.5° (1.6°), which are in good agreement with the designed values (34.3° and 29.9°).Conclusions:These results showed that the physical properties of the fabricated inserts with submillimeter aperture size matched our design well.
The Effect of 2 Forms of Talocrural Joint Traction on Dorsiflexion Range of Motion and Postural Control in Those With Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: Powden Cameron J. , Hogan Kathleen K. , Wikstrom Erik A. , Hoch Matthew C. 
Published: November 2015

Context:Talocrural joint mobilizations are commonly used to address deficits associated with chronic ankle instability (CAI).Objective:Examine the immediate effects of talocrural joint traction in those with CAI.Design:Blinded, crossover.Setting:Laboratory.Participants:Twenty adults (14 females; age = 23.80 ± 4.02 y; height = 169.55 ± 12.38 cm; weight = 78.34 ± 16.32 kg) with self-reported CAI participated. Inclusion criteria consisted of a history of ≥1 ankle sprain, ≥2 episodes of giving way in the previous 3 mo, answering “yes” to ≥4 questions on the Ankle Instability Instrument, and ≤24 on the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool.Intervention:Subjects participated in 3 sessions in which they received a single treatment session of sustained traction (ST), oscillatory traction (OT), or a sham condition in a randomized order. Interventions consisted of four 30-s sets of traction with 1 min of rest between sets. During ST and OT, the talus was distracted distally from the ankle mortise to the end-range of accessory motion. ST consisted of continuous distraction and OT involved 1-s oscillations between the mid and end-range of accessory motion. The sham condition consisted of physical contact without force application. Preintervention and postintervention measurements of weight-bearing dorsiflexion, dynamic balance, and static single-limb balance were collected.Main Outcome Measures:The independent variable was treatment (ST, OT, sham). The dependent variables included pre-to-posttreatment change scores for the WBLT (cm), normalized SEBTAR (%), and time-to-boundary (TTB) variables(s). Separate 1-way ANOVAs examined differences between treatments for each dependent variable. Alpha was set a priori at P < .05.Results:No significant treatment effects were identified for any variables.Conclusion:A single intervention of ST or OT did not produce significant changes in weight-bearing dorsiflexion range of motion or postural control in individuals with CAI. Future research should investigate the effects of repeated talocrural traction treatments and the effects of this technique when combined with other manual therapies.
Joint Transcriptional Control of Virulence and Resistance to Antibiotic and Environmental Stress in Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Gebhardt Michael J. , Gallagher Larry A. , Jacobson Rachael K. , Usacheva Elena A. , Peterson Lance R. , Zurawski Daniel V. , Shuman Howard A. 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACT

The increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens represents a serious risk to human health and the entire health care system. Many currently circulating strains of
Acinetobacter baumannii
exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics. A key limitation in combating
A. baumannii
is that our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of
A. baumannii
is lacking. To identify potential virulence determinants of a contemporary multidrug-resistant isolate of
A. baumannii
, we used transposon insertion sequencing (TnSeq) of strain AB5075. A collection of 250,000
A. baumannii
transposon mutants was analyzed for growth within
Galleria mellonella
larvae, an insect-based infection model. The screen identified 300 genes that were specifically required for survival and/or growth of
A. baumannii
inside
G. mellonella
larvae. These genes encompass both known, established virulence factors and several novel genes. Among these were more than 30 transcription factors required for growth in
G. mellonella
. A subset of the transcription factors was also found to be required for resistance to antibiotics and environmental stress. This work thus establishes a novel connection between virulence and resistance to both antibiotics and environmental stress in
A. baumannii
.

IMPORTANCE
Acinetobacter baumannii
is rapidly emerging as a significant human pathogen, largely because of disinfectant and antibiotic resistance, causing lethal infection in fragile hosts. Despite the increasing prevalence of infections with multidrug-resistant
A. baumannii
strains, little is known regarding not only the molecular mechanisms that allow
A. baumannii
to resist environmental stresses (i.e., antibiotics and disinfectants) but also how these pathogens survive within an infected host to cause disease. We employed a large-scale genetic screen to identify genes required for
A. baumannii
to survive and grow in an insect disease model. While we identified many known virulence factors harbored by
A. baumannii
, we also discovered many novel genes that likely play key roles in
A. baumannii
survival of exposure to antibiotics and other stress-inducing chemicals. These results suggest that selection for increased resistance to antibiotics and environmental stress may inadvertently select for increased virulence in
A. baumannii
.