bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic value of culprit site neutrophils in acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Distelmaier Klaus , Winter Max‐Paul , Dragschitz Florian , Redwan Bassam , Mangold Andreas , Gleiss Andreas , Perkmann Thomas , Maurer Gerald , Adlbrecht Christopher , Lang Irene M. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundRecent data suggest that acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are characterized by an inflammatory subset of thrombosis. We have previously described the accumulation of neutrophils at the coronary culprit lesion site. In this work, we assessed the prognostic value of culprit site (CS) neutrophil accumulation on long‐term mortality in patients with AMI.Materials and methodsIn this prospective study, 417 AMI patients were enrolled after thrombectomy during primary percutaneous coronary intervention. The optimal cut‐off for CS neutrophil accumulation for predicting 4‐year all‐cause mortality was calculated using time‐dependent receiver operator characteristic curve analyses.ResultsThe median follow‐up time was 39 months interquartile range (IQR 21·4–54·6 months) corresponding to 1217 patient years of follow‐up. The cut‐off for CS neutrophil accumulation (difference between culprit neutrophil counts and systemic neutrophil counts) was 0·25 Giga/l. CS neutrophil accumulation occurred in 195 patients (47%) and was independently associated with mortality (hazard ratio 1·88 (95%CI 1·02–3·41, P = 0·043)). In patients with CS neutrophil accumulation, 1‐year mortality (10·8% vs. 7·2%) and 4‐year mortality (19·8% vs. 10·4%) were markedly increased compared with patients without local neutrophil accumulation. Concordance index for CS neutrophil accumulation and mortality was 0·64 (95% CI 0·51–0·77; P = 0·035). Patients with CS neutrophil accumulation had significantly more often nonobstructive lesions compared with patients without neutrophil accumulation (32·6% vs. 22·4%; P = 0·024).Conclusions Neutrophil accumulation at the coronary culprit lesion site is a strong and independent predictor of mortality in patients with ACS/AMI.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria with copy number‐neutral 6pLOH in GPI (+) but not in GPI (−) granulocytes
Authors: Ueda Yasutaka , Nishimura Jun‐ichi , Murakami Yoshiko , Kajigaya Sachiko , Kinoshita Taroh , Kanakura Yuzuru , Young Neal S. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractParoxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired bone marrow disorder caused by expansion of a clone of hematopoietic cells lacking glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored membrane proteins. Multiple lines of evidence suggest immune attack on normal hematopoietic stem cells provides a selective growth advantage to PNH clones. Recently, frequent loss of HLA alleles associated with copy number‐neutral loss of heterozygosity in chromosome 6p (CN‐6pLOH) in aplastic anemia (AA) patients was reported, suggesting that AA hematopoiesis ‘escaped’ from immune attack by loss of HLA alleles. We report here the first case of CN‐6pLOH in a Japanese PNH patient only in GPI‐anchored protein positive (59%) granulocytes, but not in GPI‐anchored protein negative (41%) granulocytes. CN‐6pLOH resulted in loss of the alleles A*02:06‐DRB1*15:01‐DQB1*06:02, which have been reported to be dominant in Japanese PNH patients. Our patient had maintained nearly normal blood count for several years. Our case supports the hypothesis that a hostile immune environment drives selection of resistant hematopoietic cell clones and indicates that clonal evolution may occur also in normal phenotype (non‐PNH) cells in some cases.
Monilinia species identified on peach and nectarine in Croatia, with the first record of Monilinia fructicola
Authors: Ivić Dario , Fazinić Tina , Cole Jennifer , Novak Adrijana 
Published: December 2013

During 2012, an official survey was conducted for Monilinia species present on peach and nectarine in Croatia. In total, 169 Monilinia spp. isolates were collected from 24 commercial orchards and identified according to morphology in culture and PCR. Eighty of the isolates were identified as Monilinia laxa, 70 as M. fructigena and 19 as M. fructicola. M. fructicola was found only at one location in the Mediterranean part of the country, and this is the first record of this quarantine fungus in Croatia. PCR diagnostic tests using M. fructicola‐specific primer pair MO368‐5/MO368‐10R repeatedly gave false negatives for some isolates. PCR tests using primer pair ITS1‐Mfc1/ITS4‐Mfc1 amplified M. fructicola‐specific product in all isolates and was therefore shown to be more suitable for diagnostic purposes.
Predator‐induced morphological defences in two invasive dreissenid mussels: implications for species replacement
Authors: Naddafi Rahmat , Rudstam Lars G. 
Published: December 2013

Summary

Induced morphological defences as a response to chemical cues from predators are common in aquatic systems. We evaluated predator‐induced defences and the costs of these responses measured as growth rate reductions in two invasive mussel species.

One mussel species (quagga mussel, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) often dominates the other (zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha) in lakes where they co‐occur. We exposed both species to cues from three important North American predators: round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), which is native in the ancestral range of the mussels, and pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) and rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) that are native in North America.

Both mussel species responded to risk cues by increasing shell thickness and decreasing growth rates. The response to round goby was smaller than the response to the two new predators.

The strength of the induced response was negatively correlated with growth in both mussel species and both the strength of the induced defence and the decrease in growth were larger for zebra mussels than for quagga mussels. Survival was higher in zebra mussels than in quagga mussels, but there was no significant difference in survival among different risk cue treatments.

The lower response and correlated faster growth of quagga mussels than zebra mussels in response to risk cues may be an additional reason for the replacement of zebra mussels by quagga mussels in North America, at least as long as native predators are not a major source of mortality. If true, we predict that both mussel species will co‐occur after the exotic round goby becomes a dominant mussel predator in North America.
The Returns to Migration: The Influence of Education and Migration Type
Authors: Knapp Thomas A. , White Nancy E. , Wolaver Amy M. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractWe show the impact of migration type on real wages over time. We create a migration and earnings history from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth over the period 1979–2002. We estimate the effects of primary, onward, and two types of return migration on real wages using a panel data model with individual, location, and time fixed effects. Panel data are well suited for the study of the returns to U.S. internal migration because the influence of migration on wages has been found to occur years after the event. We differentiate return migration into two types: return to a location with ties that form a geographical anchor (“home”) and return to a prior place of work. We find that real wage growth varies by migration type. Education attainment is a significant factor in real wage growth. Our results show that onward migration is an important channel by which the monetary rewards to a college education are manifested.
Does Sprawl Induce Affordable Housing?
Authors: Aurand Andrew 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe costs of sprawl are well documented, but there are fewer studies of its potential benefits. One such benefit is argued to be the facilitation of the filtering process, resulting in a greater quantity of affordable and available housing for low‐income households. While metropolitan area data indicate a positive correlation between sprawl and the supply of affordable housing for very low‐income households, regression analysis does not provide evidence for this hypothesis, after controlling for other metropolitan characteristics. The results put into question the argument that sprawl expands housing opportunities for households of all incomes, specifically those who are the poorest.
Impaired immune defense in hemodialysis patients: Role of α‐defensins?
Authors: Grupp Clemens , Troche‐Polzien Ilka , Noeding Christian , Mueller Claudia A. , Mueller Gerhard A. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe mechanisms underlying the impaired immune response in hemodialysis (HD) patients are not completely understood. The α‐defensins human neutrophil peptides‐1, 2, and 3 are low molecular weight peptides with antimicrobial activity and important effector molecules of innate immune responses. We now examined the expression of these peptides in HD patients. Seventy‐six patients on chronic HD treatment (mean time on HD 5.8 years; mean age 70 years) were studied and compared with 38 healthy volunteers and 20 patients with infections and normal renal function. Expression of α‐defensins was analyzed semiquantitatively in leukocytes on the messenger RNA (mRNA) level by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; the α‐defensin protein levels in serum were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. α‐Defensin concentrations (140 ± 10.5 ng/mL; mean ± standard error of the mean) as well as mRNA levels in leukocytes (82.9 ± 7.9 arbitrary units [a.u.]) in HD patients were not significantly different from those in healthy volunteers (156 ± 15.2 ng/mL; 81.4 ± 11.3 a.u.). Defensin levels were independent of the time of the patient on HD and their age. During infection periods (mean increase of the C‐reactive protein to 161 ± 17.3 mg/L), defensin serum levels increased to 321 ± 65 ng/mL (P < 0.005) and mRNA expression in leukocytes to 159 ± 19.2 a.u. (P < 0.05). These increases were not significantly different from those in patients with normal renal function (298 ± 46.8 ng/mL and 128 ± 9.1 a.u., respectively) suffering from infections (C‐reactive protein 222 ± 26.6 mg/L). Our results suggest that the impaired immune defense in dialysis patients is not due to a deficiency in α‐defensins in these patients as neither basal levels nor expression during infections were reduced compared with subjects with normal renal function.
Do community pharmacists actively engage elderly patients in the dialogue? Results from pharmaceutical care consultations
Authors: Pelicano‐Romano João , Neves Mariana R. , Amado Ana , Cavaco Afonso M. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about community pharmacist–patient interaction within a consultation room, particularly in terms of patient activation and engagement.ObjectiveTo explore pharmacists' communication and attitudes while providing advanced medication‐related services.MethodsA cross‐sectional descriptive study, using the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) framework, to analyse a sample of audio‐recorded pharmaceutical care consultations with elderly patients.ResultsAround 15.0 per cent of pharmacists' utterances and 3.6 per cent of patients' were related to engagement with the latter during the exchange. To improve health outcomes, such as adherence to a therapeutic regime, pharmacists should augment patients' participation in the dialogue, facilitating concerns and disclosure of doubts, thus improving correct medication use behaviour.
Prescribing for comorbid disease in a palliative population: focus on the use of lipid‐lowering medications
Authors: Russell B. J. , Rowett D. , Abernethy A. P. , Currow D. C. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe balance of benefit versus burden of ongoing treatments for comorbid disease in palliative populations as death approaches needs careful consideration given their particular susceptibility to adverse drug effects.AimTo provide descriptive data regarding the medications being prescribed to patients who have a life‐limiting illness at the time of referral to a palliative care service in regional Australia, with particular focus on lipid‐lowering medications.MethodsA prospective case note review of 203 patients reporting the number of medications prescribed and, for lipid‐lowering medications, the indication and level of prevention sought (primary, secondary, tertiary). Rates were compared by performance status, disease phase and comorbidity burden.ResultsMean number of regular medications prescribed was 7.2, with higher rates observed in those patients with a non‐malignant primary diagnosis (rate ratio 1.28, confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.50) or poorer performance status (rate ratio 1.37, CI 1.11–1.69) and lower rates for those in the terminal phase of disease (rate ratio 0.48, CI 0.30–0.76). Over one fifth of patients were prescribed a lipid‐lowering medication, and two fifths of these prescriptions were for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Patients in the highest quartile of Charlson Comorbidity Index score were 4.6 (CI 2.06–10.09) times more likely to be prescribed a lipid‐lowering medication than those in the lowest quartile.ConclusionsPolypharmacy is prevalent for this group of patients, placing them at high risk of drug‐drug and drug‐host interactions. Prescribing may be driven by risk factors and disease guidelines rather than a rational, patient‐centred approach.
Empleo informal en economías desarrolladas y en desarrollo. Perspectivas y políticas aplicadas
Authors: WILLIAMS Colin C. , LANSKY Mark A. 
Published: December 2013

ResumenEn esta introducción se ofrece un breve análisis crítico de las definiciones y métodos de medición del empleo informal, se destacan algunos hallazgos importantes acerca de su frecuencia y su carácter, y se presentan las principales perspectivas en cuanto a su función en las economías contemporáneas y a las políticas aplicadas para afrontarlo. Con ello se establece un marco conceptual que permite comprender tanto la ingente literatura sobre el tema como lo que aportan a dicha literatura los demás artículos que componen el presente número monográfico.
Genetic Analysis of Grain Yield and Other Traits of Early‐Maturing Maize Inbreds under Drought and Well‐Watered Conditions
Authors: Oyekunle M. , Badu‐Apraku B. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractMaize (Zea mays L.) is an important staple food crop in West and Central Africa (WCA). However, its production is constrained by drought. Knowledge and understanding of the genetics of hybrid performance under drought is invaluable in designing breeding strategies for improving maize yield. One hundred and fifty hybrids obtained by crossing 30 inbreds in sets using the North Carolina Design II plus six checks were evaluated under drought and well‐watered conditions for 2 years at three locations in Nigeria. The objectives of the studies were to (i) determine the mode of gene action controlling grain yield and other important agronomic traits of selected early inbred lines, (ii) examine the relationship between per se performance of inbreds and their hybrids and (iii) identify appropriate testers for maize breeding programmes in WCA. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were significant (P < 0.01) for grain yield and other traits under the research environments. The GCA accounted for 64.5 % and 62.3 % of the total variation for grain yield under drought and well‐watered conditions, indicating that additive gene action largely controlled the inheritance of grain yield of the hybrids. Narrow‐sense heritability was 67 % for grain yield under drought and 49 % under well‐watered conditions. The correlations between traits of early‐maturing parental lines and their hybrids were significant (P < 0.01) under drought, well‐watered and across environments. Mid‐parent and better‐parent heterosis for grain yield were 45.3 % and 18.4 % under drought stress and 111.9 % and 102.6 % under well‐watered conditions. Inbreds TZEI 31, TZEI 17, TZEI 129 and TZEI 157 were identified as the best testers. Drought‐tolerant hybrids with superior performance under stress and non‐stress conditions could be obtained through the accumulation of favourable alleles for drought tolerance in both parental lines.
Long‐Term Chemical Fertilization Along with Farmyard Manure Enhances Resistance and Resilience of Soil Microbial Activity against Heat Stress
Authors: Kumar S. , Patra A. K. , Singh D. , Purakayastha T. J. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe effect of fertilization on resistance and resilience of soil microbial activity against heat stress in the tropical soils is largely unknown. We investigated the impact of long‐term (36 years) application of chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) on substrate‐induced respiration (SIR) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and their resistance and resilience against heat stress in a sandy clay loam soil (Typic Haplustept). Surface soils from five selected treatments (Control, N, NP, NPK, NPK + FYM) under maize (Zea mays) crop were assessed immediately after sampling (0 Day) and at 1, 14, 28 and 56 day(s) after heat stress (48 °C for 24 h). The heat stress significantly decreased soil respiration and dehydrogenase activity by 20–80 %. Recovery after stress was up to 100 % within 56 days. The combined application of NPK (balanced) and FYM was most effective in enhancing resistance and resilience (stability) of soil microbial activity against heat stress. Correlation between resistance of dehydrogenase activity and substrate‐induced respiration revealed a significant relationship (R2 = 0.85). However, after stress, this correlation was initially weak but subsequently improved with time (R2 = 0.38–57), indicating different time lags to restore the normalcy of these parameters.
Adaptive Responses of Beta Vulgaris L. and Cichorium Intybus L. Root and Leaf Forms to Drought Stress
Authors: Hoffmann C. M. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractPlants respond to drought with a restriction of leaf and root growth. The study aimed at analysing the morphological and functional adaptation mechanisms of Beta and Cichorium storage root and leaf forms to limited water supply. Two pot experiments were conducted: (i) with sugar beet, swiss chard, root and leaf chicory at 100 %, 50 % and 30 % water supply, (ii) with sugar beet, fodder beet and swiss chard at 100 % and 30 % water supply. The results indicate that there is no general response mechanism of root and leaf forms to better sustain drought stress. Sugar beet adapted to limited water supply with a marked decrease in the storage root to leaf ratio, indicating in particular a restriction of the predominant sink, while maintaining a very low transpiration coefficient. In contrast, swiss chard, root and leaf chicory kept their storage root to leaf ratio almost constant while adapting the transpiration coefficient. Sucrose storage was inversely related to the accumulation of solutes in the storage root of sugar beet and fodder beet. There is some evidence that the formation of a storage root in sugar beet and root chicory is inhibited by the inability of the plants to establish new sink capacities under drought conditions.
Are Individual Investors Influenced by the Optimism and Credibility of Stock Spam Recommendations?
Authors: Nelson Karen K. , Price Richard A. , Rountree Brian R. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis study examines attention‐driven investment decisions using a sample of firms essentially unknown to investors prior to becoming the target of a stock spam campaign. We show that the market reaction to spam varies predictably with the content of the spam message. Spam date returns and volume are significantly higher for stocks targeted by spam emails containing optimistic target price projections bundled with ostensibly credible information quoted from a previously issued company press release. There is also some evidence that disclaimers in spam messages reduce, but do not eliminate, the market response. Attention effects also contribute to spammers’ selection of stocks to target and to spam‐related enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Miocene rivers and taxon cycles clarify the comparative biogeography ofNorthAmerican highland fishes
Authors: Hoagstrom Christopher W. , Ung Visotheary , Taylor Kathie 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimOur aims were: (1) to use recently published phylogenies of six widely distributed clades of highland‐type fishes in a comparative analysis that investigates relationships among North American highlands; (2) to construct a map of relevant (pre‐historic) river geography; and (3) to apply ecological paradigms to interpret patterns of highland‐fish cladogenesis. Our principal questions were: (1) does highland endemism correspond to pre‐historic river drainages; and (2) do patterns of speciation conform to any relevant paradigm?LocationTwenty‐two North American highlands, east to west from Appalachia to the Basin and Range, north to south from the Canadian Shield to the Mesa Central.MethodsWe used three‐item analysis to find shared highland‐area relationships, and we used dated phylogenies and geological literature to construct a map of relevant, pre‐historic river drainages. We applied the taxon‐cycle concept to interpret results.ResultsThree‐item analysis identified 375 most‐parsimonious trees with a retention index of 80.4%. An intersection tree reconstructed from shared three‐area statements had a completeness index of 80.3%. Nodes on the tree identified seven major branches of one to eight highland areas each that were congruent with late Miocene river drainage patterns. Sister‐area relationships within nodes were congruent with Plio‐Pleistocene events. Older taxa have restricted distributions and some younger members of each clade are broadly distributed, consistent with predictions of the taxon cycle.Main conclusionsProgenitors of highland endemics were widespread across an aggraded, alluvial landscape by the early Miocene. Middle Miocene drainage rearrangements facilitated further range expansion. Accelerated erosion in the middle Miocene, caused by tectonic uplift and climate change, created highland‐type (sediment‐starved) habitats. Parallel colonization and adaptation to these habitats and geographical isolation in the late Miocene and early Pliocene led to speciation of highland endemics. Plio‐Pleistocene drainage rearrangements allowed populations of tolerant (derivative) taxa to expand again and colonize highland areas, including emerging ones.
Cancer‐related genes in the transcription signature of facioscapulohumeral dystrophy myoblasts and myotubes
Authors: Dmitriev Petr , Kairov Ulykbek , Robert Thomas , Barat Ana , Lazar Vladimir , Carnac Gilles , Laoudj‐Chenivesse Dalila , Vassetzky Yegor S. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractMuscular dystrophy is a condition potentially predisposing for cancer; however, currently, only Myotonic dystrophy patients are known to have a higher risk of cancer. Here, we have searched for a link between facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD) and cancer by comparing published transcriptome signatures of FSHD and various malignant tumours and have found a significant enrichment of cancer‐related genes among the genes differentially expressed in FSHD. The analysis has shown that gene expression profiles of FSHD myoblasts and myotubes resemble that of Ewing's sarcoma more than that of other cancer types tested. This is the first study demonstrating a similarity between FSHD and cancer cell expression profiles, a finding that might indicate the existence of a common step in the pathogenesis of these two diseases.