bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of persistence with bisphosphonates on health resource utilization and fracture risk in the UK: a study of patient records from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink
Authors: Ferguson Samara , Feudjo Tepie Maurille , Taylor Andrew , Roddam Andrew , Critchlow Cathy , Iqbal Mazhar , Spangler Leslie , Bayly Jonathan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractRationale, aims and objectivesClinical trial data suggest that patients who have received bisphosphonates continue to benefit from them after discontinuation. However, data from real‐world clinical practice are inconclusive. We assessed the impact of persistence and discontinuation on health resource utilization (HRU) and fracture rate in women who were prescribed oral bisphosphonates.MethodThe study used data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Women aged 50 years or older with a first prescription of oral bisphosphonate therapy between January 2000 and December 2007 were included. Multivariate modelling compared rate ratios for fracture and HRU between patients who had discontinued medication (shorter persistence group) and patients who took their medication for longer (longer persistence group). The interactions of elapsed time (measured as 6‐month intervals) with HRU and with fracture rate for all patients within paired groups were also assessed.ResultsOverall, 36 320 patients were included. Pairwise comparisons showed that HRU and fracture rates were lower in longer persistence groups than in shorter persistence groups. Analysis by 6‐month interval showed that, across all patients in persistence group pairs, HRU significantly increased for each additional 6 months elapsed; trends towards increased risk of fracture were also seen.ConclusionIn contrast to results from clinical trials, in this patient population the protective effect of oral bisphosphonates after discontinuation was not sufficient to reduce HRU and fracture rates to the levels that would be seen if patients had continued on therapy. Reducing the rate of treatment discontinuation may decrease the burden that osteoporosis places on both patients and health care systems.
Biocontrol of Shiga Toxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Turkish Raw Meatball by Bacteriophage
Authors: Gencay Yilmaz Emre , Ayaz Naim Deniz , Copuroglu Gizem , Erol Irfan 
Published: August 2015

AbstractWith an Escherichia coli O157:H7 virulent bacteriophage, M8AEC16, biocontrol efficiency of phages on a highly risky, ready‐to‐eat, traditional delicacy food called “raw meatball” under different storage conditions was investigated. Phage, belonging to the Myoviridae family, was isolated from the wastewater of a local slaughterhouse and showed a broad lytic activity toward many E. coli O157:H7 strains with high efficiency of plating and O157 specificity. Our experimental study provided favorable results, with 0.69–2.09 log colony‐forming unit (cfu)/g E. coli O157:H7 reductions in the first 5 h of the replica trials. Major reductions of viable E. coli O157:H7 counts were observed in the beginning of the storage period, reaching up to 1.85 log cfu/g. Although a significant reduction in E. coli O157:H7 was observed with increased phage concentration, storage conditions had minor effect on efficiency of phage biocontrol. This is the first study in Turkey that investigates applicability of phage biocontrol for a traditional food model.Practical ApplicationsPhage addition in preparation stage of a very complex food model, ready‐to‐eat Turkish raw meatball, is a promising application in decontamination of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Although investigation of its genomic characteristics along with its stability to different food matrices must be completed for further use of the model phage M8AEC16, findings of this work were encouraging, as phages are valuable in biocontrol of important foodborne in this ready‐to‐eat Turkish delicacy.
Classification of Streptococcus thermophilus Phages Originating from Turkey
Authors: Acar‐Soykut Esra , Tunail Nezihe 
Published: August 2015

AbstractIn this study, 26 Streptococcus thermophilus phages were classified according to their structural protein patterns and DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism. Furthermore, sensitivities of natural and commercial S. thermophilus strains to S. thermophilus phages were investigated. All the natural strains were found to be resistant to the phages. The electrophoretic profiles of the structural proteins of S. thermophilus phages were identified according to the two common major bands at 30.6 and 27.3 kDa. Various restriction endonucleases were used to digest S. thermophilus phages that were differentiated into eight subgroups depending on the length of EcoRV digestion. A phylogenetic tree was designed using fragments of EcoRV digestion. The results showed that all phages derived from a common ancestor and some of them were differentiated from each other over time.Practical ApplicationsLike other microorganisms, it is necessary to identify and classify the phages in order to follow their evolutionary development. Besides, the characterization of these phages is also important for determining the rotation program of the culture in dairy factory. In this study, the phages isolated from different dairy products were identified and classified according to their properties.
Self‐Reported Memory Failures: Associations with Future Dementia in a Population‐Based Study with Long‐Term Follow‐Up
Authors: Rönnlund Michael , Sundström Anna , Adolfsson Rolf , Nilsson Lars‐Göran 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo examine the association between self‐reported memory failures and incident dementia in individuals aged 60 and older.DesignLongitudinal, community based.SettingBetula Prospective Cohort Study, a population‐based study in Umeå, Sweden.ParticipantsIndividuals with a mean age of 71.5 ± 8.8 (range 60–90) (N = 1,547).MeasurementsParticipants rated the frequency of everyday memory failures using the 16‐item Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) and underwent objective memory testing at baseline. Participant self‐reports of complaints of poor memory by family and friends were evaluated. Dementia status was followed‐up for 10 to 12 years.ResultsOver the study period, 225 participants developed dementia (132 with Alzheimer′s disease (AD)). In Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for demographic factors, PRMQz‐scores predicted incident dementia (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.21 for all‐cause dementia; HR = 1.25 for AD, Ps < .01). The significant associations remained when depressive symptoms and objective memory performance were adjusted for, when low performers on objective memory (≥1 standard deviations below the age group mean) were excluded, and in analyses with delayed entry (survival time ≥ 5 years). Similar patterns were observed for the prospective and retrospective subscales, although including how often participants self‐reported that others complained about their poor memory eliminated the association between PRMQ scores and dementia and itself emerged as a significant predictor.ConclusionSelf‐reported memory failure predicted future dementia or AD independent of objective memory performance. Subjective reports of complaints by family and friends appear to be an even more‐important indicator of preclinical impairments, and physicians should not ignore them, even in the absence of objective memory deficits.
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet and New and Recurrent Root Caries Events in Men
Authors: Kaye Elizabeth K. , Heaton Brenda , Sohn Woosung , Rich Sharron E. , Spiro Avron , Garcia Raul I. 
Published: August 2015

ObjectivesTo examine the effect of overall dietary quality on number of teeth with new or recurrent root caries events during follow‐up (root caries increment).DesignProspective study with dental examinations approximately every 3 years over 20 years.SettingVeterans Affairs Dental Longitudinal Study in greater Boston, Massachusetts, area.ParticipantsMen aged 47 to 90 (N = 533).MeasurementsA single calibrated examiner assessed root caries and restorations, calculus, probing pocket depth, and attachment loss on each tooth at each examination. The adjusted root caries increment (root‐ADJCI) was computed from new and recurrent root caries events on teeth with recession of 2 mm or more. Dietary information was obtained from food frequency questionnaires. An adherence score was computed by comparing consumption frequency of 10 food groups (fruits, vegetables, total dairy, low‐fat dairy, meat, total grains, high‐fiber grains, legumes, fats, sweets) from the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet guidelines. Mean root‐ADJCIs were compared according to DASH adherence score quartile using generalized linear negative binomial regression models, controlling for age, number of teeth at risk of root caries, time at risk of root caries, calculus, presence of removable denture, history of dental prophylaxis, body mass index, and smoking status.ResultsMen with DASH adherence scores in the highest quartile had a 30% lower mean root‐ADJCI (1.86 teeth) than those in the lowest quartile (2.68 teeth) (P = .03). Root‐ADJCI was lower with greater adherence to recommendations for vegetables and total grains and greater with greater sugar‐sweetened carbonated beverage consumption. Root caries incidence rate did not vary significantly between quartiles.ConclusionA higher‐quality diet may reduce root caries risk in older men.
Modelling mesoporous alumina microstructure with 3D random models of platelets
Authors: WANG H. , PIETRASANTA A. , JEULIN D. , WILLOT F. , FAESSEL M. , SORBIER L. , MOREAUD M. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThis work focuses on a mesoporous material made up of nanometric alumina ‘platelets’ of unknown shape. We develope a 3D random microstructure to model the porous material, based on 2D transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, without prior knowledge on the spatial distribution of alumina inside the material. The TEM images, acquired on samples with thickness 300 nm, a scale much larger than the platelets's size, are too blurry and noisy to allow one to distinguish platelets or platelets aggregates individually. In a first step, the TEM images correlation function and integral range are estimated. The presence of long‐range fluctuations, due to the TEM inhomogeneous detection, is detected and corrected by filtering. The corrected correlation function is used as a morphological descriptor for the model. After testing a Boolean model of platelets, a two‐scale model of microstructure is introduced to replicate the statistical dispersion of platelets observed on TEM images. Accordingly, a set of two‐scale Boolean models with varying physically admissible platelets shapes is proposed. Upon optimization, the model takes into account the dispersion of platelets in the microstructure as observed on TEM images. Comparing it to X‐ray diffraction and nitrogen porosimetry data, the model is found to be in good agreement with the material in terms of specific surface area.
Three‐dimensional image analytical detection of intussusceptive pillars in murine lung
Authors: FÖHST S. , WAGNER W. , ACKERMANN M. , REDENBACH C. , SCHLADITZ K. , WIRJADI O. , YSASI A.B. , MENTZER S.J. , KONERDING M.A. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryA variety of diseases can lead to loss of lung tissue. Currently, this can be treated only symptomatically. In mice, a complete compensatory lung growth within 21 days after resection of the left lung can be observed. Understanding and transferring this concept of compensatory lung growth to humans would greatly improve therapeutic options. Lung growth is always accompanied by a process called angiogenesis forming new capillary blood vessels from preexisting ones. Among the processes during lung growth, the formation of transluminal tissue pillars within the capillary vessels (intussusceptive pillars) is observed. Therefore, pillars can be understood as an indicator for active angiogenesis and microvascular remodelling. Thus, their detection is very valuable when aiming at characterization of compensatory lung growth. In a vascular corrosion cast, these pillars appear as small holes that pierce the vessels. So far, pillars were detected visually only based on 2D images. Our approach relies on high‐resolution synchrotron microcomputed tomographic images. With a voxel size of 370 nm we exploit the spatial information provided by this imaging technique and present the first algorithm to semiautomatically detect intussusceptive pillars. An at least semiautomatic detection is essential in lung research, as manual pillar detection is not feasible due to the complexity and size of the 3D structure. Using our algorithm, several thousands of pillars can be detected and subsequently analysed, e.g. regarding their spatial arrangement, size and shape with an acceptable amount of human interaction. In this paper, we apply our novel pillar detection algorithm to compute pillar densities of different specimens. These are prepared such that they show different growing states. Comparing the corresponding pillar densities allows to investigate lung growth over time.
Automatic quantification of mitochondrial fragmentation from two‐photon microscope images of mouse brain tissue
Authors: LIHAVAINEN E. , KISLIN M. , TOPTUNOV D. , KHIROUG L. , RIBEIRO A.S. 
Published: August 2015

SummaryThe morphology of mitochondria can inform about their functional state and, thus, about cell vitality. For example, fragmentation of the mitochondrial network is associated with many diseases. Recent advances in neuronal imaging have enabled the observation of mitochondria in live brains for long periods of time, enabling the study of their dynamics in animal models of diseases. To aid these studies, we developed an automatic method, based on supervised learning, for quantifying the degree of mitochondrial fragmentation in tissue images acquired via two‐photon microscopy from transgenic mice, which exclusively express Enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) under Thy1 promoter, targeted to the mitochondrial matrix in subpopulations of neurons. We tested the method on images prior to and after cardiac arrest, and found it to be sensitive to significant changes in mitochondrial morphology because of the arrest. We conclude that the method is useful in detecting morphological abnormalities in mitochondria and, likely, in other subcellular structures as well.
Enlarged Optic Nerve Sheath in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage despite Normal Intracranial Pressure
Authors: Bäuerle Jochen , Niesen Wolf‐Dirk , Egger Karl , Buttler Klaus‐Jürgen , Reinhard Matthias 
Published: August 2015

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONThis study investigates the diagnostic value of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) assessed by transorbital sonography for estimation of intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).METHODSSimultaneous measurements of the ONSD and ICP in 27 patients suffering from SAH and acute hydrocephalus after placement of an extraventricular drain.RESULTSDespite normal mean ICP values ONSD was significantly higher in patients with SAH compared with healthy volunteers and no relevant decline of ONSD over time could be identified. In addition, no correlation between ONSD and ICP was observed.CONCLUSIONSIn patients with SAH and acute hydrocephalus after aneurysm rupture, the ONSD remains expanded after normalization of ICP. This is most likely due to an impaired retraction capability of the optic nerve sheath. This finding should be considered when using transorbital sonography in the neuromonitoring of aneurysmal SAH.
The predictable narwhal: satellite tracking shows behavioural similarities between isolated subpopulations
Authors: Heide‐Jørgensen M. P. , Nielsen N. H. , Hansen R. G. , Schmidt H. C. , Blackwell S. B. , Jørgensen O. A. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractComparison of behavioural similarities between subpopulations of species that have been isolated for a long time is important for understanding the general ecology of species that are under pressure from large‐scale changes in habitats. Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) east and west ofGreenland are examples of separated populations that, in different ocean parts, will be coping with similar anthropogenic and climate‐driven habitat alterations. To study this, 28 narwhals from theScoresbySound fjord system were tracked by satellite in 2010–2013. The average duration of contact with the whales was 124 days with one tag lasting 305 days and one whale recaptured <1 km from its tagging site 366 days later. All whales exhibited the same migratory pattern. The whales departed from the summering grounds inScoresbySound inSeptember and arrived at the edge of the continental shelf byNovember. Here, they stayed throughMay–June and conducted daily dives to the mesopelagic zone at ∼1000 m depth. Despite the isolation by the landmass ofGreenland and the genetic differentiation from other narwhal populations, there is still a remarkable similarity not just in behavioural traits like phenology of migrations and movements in relation to sea ice formation, but also in site fidelity, diving behaviour, feeding ecology, habitat selection, daily travel speed and even potential conflicts with fisheries forGreenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides).Greenland halibut are likely target prey during the deep dives in winter but capelin (Mallotus villosus) may, with ocean warming, become of increasing importance. The ocean‐wide predictability in culturally inherited migration patterns, size of wintering grounds and habitat selection among narwhal populations is certainly different from otherArctic cetaceans and renders narwhals more vulnerable to large‐scale changes in their restricted and specialized habitats.
Captured in ‘continental archipelago’: phylogenetic and environmental framework of cranial variation in the European snow vole
Authors: Kryštufek B. , Klenovšek T. , Amori G. , Janžekovič F. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractFragmented landscapes entail important consequences for the evolution of the species confined to them. Isolation of population fragments accelerates selection for narrow local conditions and facilitates morphological divergence. Throughout its range, the European snow vole Chionomys nivalis is restricted to fractured, rocky substrate in mountain regions, which is naturally fragmented into ‘continental archipelagos’. Consequently, its extensive morphological and genetic diversity was categorized into about 20 traditional subspecies and at least eight allopatric phylogenetic lineages. In this study, we aimed toward an integrative understanding of cranial variation throughout the European snow vole range. We analyzed seven linear cranial variables on 326 adult skulls from 27 populations belonging to eight phylogenetic lineages. We confirmed significant variation among the fragmented populations but retrieved little meaningful patterning in morphometric variability. Phenetic distances among populations were not related to the phylogenetic architecture of the species, and traditional subspecies were at odds with morphologically diagnosable populations. The lack of an association between morphometric and geographic distances argued against isolation by distance. Furthermore, mean size did not correlate with climatic variables. Morphological principal components 2 and 3 (loaded by the interorbital width and length of neurocranium, respectively) correlated significantly with geographic coordinates and climatic variables. Shape variables discriminated between the abulensis and nivalis phylogroups, and the European and Asiatic populations, but the largest phylogroups (nivalis and malyi) showed high interpopulation heterogeneity and classification accuracy was low. We suggest that cranial shape or size do not incorporate a signal that is strong enough to be of reliable use for subspecific taxonomy. Skull is seemingly prone to vary according to narrow local conditions, which distorts the underlying phylogenetic signal. A small‐scale approach, with detailed knowledge of environmental parameters within each habitat fragment, might be more appropriate for a species whose range is actually a continental archipelago.
Owl pellets: a wise DNA source for small mammal genetics
Authors: Guimaraes S. , Fernandez‐Jalvo Y. , Stoetzel E. , Gorgé O. , Bennett E. A. , Denys C. , Grange T. , Geigl E.‐M. 
Published: August 2015

AbstractPellets of raptors are an important source for the study of the taxonomy, phylogeography and ecological diversity of small vertebrates. Since birds of prey are efficient collecting agents for both rare species and those reluctant to enter traps, they offer an important complement to traditional trapping efforts in the field. The possibility of using bones and teeth recovered from pellets as a convenient alternative DNA source for genetic studies requires a more complete understanding of the DNA preservation of these partially digested remains. It is not yet clear, for example, to which degree DNA is preserved and how heterogeneous DNA preservation is in the different skeletal remains found in pellets since systematic quantitative analyses are missing. Here, we attempt to improve this knowledge by quantifying the degradation of DNA during the digestion process of raptors using 62 individual rodent bones and teeth from different pellets. We show a very high variability in DNA preservation between bones. Interestingly, variability between bones within the same pellet is much higher than that found between pellets, which has major consequences for genetic studies as it implies that bones from the same pellet that could belong to different individuals/species should be tested individually when multiple markers are analyzed. We find that neither the identity of the skeletal part nor microscopic observation of the degree of digestion are useful proxies for DNA preservation, and we thus recommend the use of screening strategies to identify the most suitable bones to include in analyses. We conclude that pellets of owls, whether freshly collected or from natural history collections, can be a practical noninvasive source for genetic studies of small vertebrates provided the design of the study takes into account the short DNA molecule length, the low quantity of DNA preserved and the heterogeneity in DNA preservation.
The Differential Earnings and Income Effects of Involuntary Job Loss on Workers with Disabilities — Evidence from Sweden
Authors: Angelov Nikolay , Eliason Marcus 
Published: August 2015

AbstractPeople with disabilities are consistently found to face considerable difficulties in the labour market. In this study we investigated whether their earnings and income trajectories are more adversely affected in case of involuntary job loss. Earnings of those with and without disabilities began to diverge already several years prior to job loss because of larger incidence of sickness. Following job loss much more job losers with disabilities became disability retirees resulting in a considerable and seemingly permanent earnings differential. However, larger uptake of public social insurances among job losers with disabilities resulted in a much smaller income differential.