bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance of urine lipoarabinomannan assays for paediatric tuberculosis in Tanzania
Authors: Kroidl Inge , Clowes Petra , Reither Klaus , Mtafya Bariki , Rojas-Ponce Gabriel , Ntinginya Elias N. , Kalomo Mariam , Minja Lilian T. , Kowuor Dickens , Saathoff Elmar , Kroidl Arne , Heinrich Norbert , Maboko Leonard , Bates Matthew , O'Grady Justin , Zumla Alimuddin , Hoelscher Michael , Rachow Andrea 
Published: July 2015

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of two tests based on the release of lipoarabinomannan (LAM) into the urine, the MTB-LAM-ELISA assay and the Determine TB-LAM-strip assay, in children with suspected tuberculosis (TB) in a high TB/HIV-prevalence setting.In a prospective study, 132 children with suspected active TB were assigned to diagnostic subgroups. Urine samples were subjected to testing by both assays to ascertain sensitivity and specificity. Host factors associated with positive LAM results were investigated and LAM excretion monitored after antituberculous treatment initiation.18 (13.6%) children had culture-confirmed pulmonary TB. The assays' sensitivity was higher in HIV-positiveversusHIV-negative children: 70% (95% confidence interval 35–93%)versus13% (0–53%) for MTB-LAM-ELISA and 50% (19–81%)versus0% (0–37%) for Determine TB-LAM. In 35 (27%) children with excluded active TB, both assays showed a specificity of 97.1% (85–100%). Proteinuria and low body mass index were independently associated with LAM positivity. In most patients, LAM excretion declined to zero during or at conclusion of antituberculous treatment.HIV/TB co-infected children might benefit from LAM-based tests to aid early TB diagnosis and subsequent positive impact on morbidity and mortality. Using LAM as a rule-in and treatment-monitoring tool may also show further potential.
Linking clinical phenotypes of chronic lung allograft dysfunction to changes in lung structure
Authors: Verleden Stijn E. , Vasilescu Dragoş M. , McDonough John E. , Ruttens David , Vos Robin , Vandermeulen Elly , Bellon Hannelore , Geenens Rachel , Verbeken Erik K. , Verschakelen Johny , Van Raemdonck Dirk E. , Wuyts Wim A. , Sokolow Youri , Knoop Christiane , Cooper Joel D. , Hogg James C. , Verleden Geert M. , Vanaudenaerde Bart M. 
Published: July 2015

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) remains the major barrier to long-term success after lung transplantation. This report compares gross and microscopic features of lungs removed from patients receiving a redo-transplant as treatment for CLAD.Lungs donated by patients with either the bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) or restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS) phenotype of CLAD and appropriate control lungs (eight per group) were air-inflated, frozen solid and kept frozen while a multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) was obtained. The lung was then cut into 2-cm thick transverse slices and sampled for micro-CT and histopathology.The MDCT showed reduced lung volume with increased lung weight and density in RASversusBOS and control (p<0.05). Although pre-terminal bronchioles were obstructed in both phenotypes, RAS lungs showed a reduction of pre-terminal bronchioles (p<0.01). Micro-CT and matched histopathology showed that RAS was associated with reduced numbers of terminal bronchioles/lung compared to BOS and controls (p<0.01), with expansion of the interstitial compartment and obliteration of the alveolar airspaces by fibrous connective tissue.RAS is associated with greater destruction of both pre-terminal and terminal bronchioles. Additionally, the interstitial compartments are expanded and alveolar airspaces are obliterated by accumulation of fibrous connective tissue.
Biomarkers to identify sputum eosinophilia in different adult asthma phenotypes
Authors: Westerhof Guus A. , Korevaar Daniël A. , Amelink Marijke , de Nijs Selma B. , de Groot Jantina C. , Wang Junfeng , Weersink Els J. , ten Brinke Anneke , Bossuyt Patrick M. , Bel Elisabeth H. 
Published: July 2015

Several biomarkers have been used to assess sputum eosinophilia in asthma. It has been suggested that the diagnostic accuracy of these biomarkers might differ between asthma phenotypes. We investigated the accuracy of biomarkers in detecting sputum eosinophilia (≥3%) in different adult asthma phenotypes.Levels of eosinophils in blood and sputum, exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO) and total immunoglobulin (Ig)E from 336 adult patients, enrolled in three prospective observational clinical trials and recruited at five pulmonology outpatient departments, were analysed. Areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves (AUC) for detecting sputum eosinophilia were calculated and compared between severe and mild, obese and nonobese, atopic and nonatopic and (ex-)smoking and never-smoking asthma patients.Sputum eosinophilia was present in 116 patients (35%). In the total group the AUC was 0.83 (95% CI 0.78–0.87) for blood eosinophils, 0.82 (0.77–0.87) forFeNOand 0.69 (0.63–0.75) for total IgE. AUCs were similar for blood eosinophils andFeNObetween different phenotypes. Total IgE was less accurate in detecting sputum eosinophilia in atopic and obese patients than in nonatopic and nonobese patients.Blood eosinophils andFeNOhad comparable diagnostic accuracy (superior to total IgE) in identifying sputum eosinophilia in adult asthma patients, irrespective of asthma phenotype such as severe, nonatopic, obese and smoking-related asthma.
Chymase: a multifunctional player in pulmonary hypertension associated with lung fibrosis
Authors: Kosanovic Djuro , Luitel Himal , Dahal Bhola Kumar , Cornitescu Teodora , Janssen Wiebke , Danser A.H. Jan , Garrelds Ingrid M. , De Mey Jo G.R. , Fazzi Gregorio , Schiffers Paul , Iglarz Marc , Fischli Walter , Ghofrani Hossein Ardeschir , Weissmann Norbert , Grimminger Friedrich , Seeger Werner , Reiss Irwin , Schermuly Ralph Theo 
Published: July 2015

Limited literature sources implicate mast-cell mediator chymase in the pathologies of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis. However, there is no evidence on the contribution of chymase to the development of pulmonary hypertension associated with lung fibrosis, which is an important medical condition linked with increased mortality of patients who already suffer from a life-threatening interstitial lung disease.The aim of this study was to investigate the role of chymase in this particular pulmonary hypertension form, by using a bleomycin-induced pulmonary hypertension model.Chymase inhibition resulted in attenuation of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis, as evident from improved haemodynamics, decreased right ventricular remodelling/hypertrophy, pulmonary vascular remodelling and lung fibrosis. These beneficial effects were associated with a strong tendency of reduction in mast cell number and activity, and significantly diminished chymase expression levels. Mechanistically, chymase inhibition led to attenuation of transforming growth factor β1 and matrix-metalloproteinase-2 contents in the lungs. Furthermore, chymase inhibition prevented big endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction of the pulmonary arteries.Therefore, chymase plays a role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary fibrosis and may represent a promising therapeutic target. In addition, this study may provide valuable insights on the contribution of chymase in the pulmonary hypertension context, in general, regardless of the pulmonary hypertension form.
Disruption of pulmonary lipid homeostasis drives cigarette smoke-induced lung inflammation in mice
Authors: Morissette Mathieu C. , Shen Pamela , Thayaparan Danya , Stämpfli Martin R. 
Published: July 2015

Overwhelming evidence links inflammation to the pathogenesis of smoking-related pulmonary diseases, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite an increased understanding of the disease pathogenesis, mechanisms initiating smoking-induced inflammatory processes remain incompletely understood.To investigate the mechanisms that initiate and propagate smoke-induced inflammation, we used a well-characterised mouse model of cigarette smoke exposure, mice deficient for interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β and Toll-like receptor 4, and antibodies blocking granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Studies were also pursued using intranasal delivery of human oxidised low-density lipoprotein (hOxLDL), a source of oxidised lipids, to investigate the inflammatory processes associated with impaired lipid homeostasis.We found that cigarette smoke exposure rapidly led to lipid accumulation in pulmonary macrophages, a defining feature of foam cells, which in turn released high levels of IL-1α. In smoke-exposed IL-1α-deficient mice, phospholipids accumulated in the bronchoalveolar lavage, a phenomenon also observed when blocking GM-CSF. Intranasal administration of hOxLDL led to lipid accumulation in macrophages and initiated an inflammatory process that mirrored the characteristics of cigarette smoke-induced inflammation.These findings identify a link between lipid accumulation in macrophages, inflammation and damaged surfactant, suggesting that the response to damaged pulmonary surfactant is a central mechanism that drives cigarette smoke-induced inflammation. Further investigations are required to explore the role of distorted lipid homeostasis in the pathogenesis of COPD.
ERS task force statement: diagnosis and treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax
Authors: Tschopp Jean-Marie , Bintcliffe Oliver , Astoul Philippe , Canalis Emilio , Driesen Peter , Janssen Julius , Krasnik Marc , Maskell Nicholas , Van Schil Paul , Tonia Thomy , Waller David A. , Marquette Charles-Hugo , Cardillo Giuseppe 
Published: July 2015

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) affects young healthy people with a significant recurrence rate. Recent advances in treatment have been variably implemented in clinical practice. This statement reviews the latest developments and concepts to improve clinical management and stimulate further research.The European Respiratory Society's Scientific Committee established a multidisciplinary team of pulmonologists and surgeons to produce a comprehensive review of available scientific evidence.Smoking remains the main risk factor of PSP. Routine smoking cessation is advised. More prospective data are required to better define the PSP population and incidence of recurrence. In first episodes of PSP, treatment approach is driven by symptoms rather than PSP size. The role of bullae rupture as the cause of air leakage remains unclear, implying that any treatment of PSP recurrence includes pleurodesis. Talc poudrage pleurodesis by thoracoscopy is safe, provided calibrated talc is available. Video-assisted thoracic surgery is preferred to thoracotomy as a surgical approach.In first episodes of PSP, aspiration is required only in symptomatic patients. After a persistent or recurrent PSP, definitive treatment including pleurodesis is undertaken. Future randomised controlled trials comparing different strategies are required.
Bosentan added to sildenafil therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: McLaughlin Vallerie , Channick Richard N. , Ghofrani Hossein-Ardeschir , Lemarié Jean-Christophe , Naeije Robert , Packer Milton , Souza Rogério , Tapson Victor F. , Tolson Jonathan , Al Hiti Hikmet , Meyer Gisela , Hoeper Marius M. 
Published: July 2015

The safety and efficacy of adding bosentan to sildenafil in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients was investigated.In this prospective, double-blind, event-driven trial, symptomatic PAH patients receiving stable sildenafil (≥20 mg three times daily) for ≥3 months were randomised (1:1) to placebo or bosentan (125 mg twice daily). The composite primary end-point was the time to the first morbidity/mortality event, defined as all-cause death, hospitalisation for PAH worsening or intravenous prostanoid initiation, atrial septostomy, lung transplant, or PAH worsening. Secondary/exploratory end-points included change in 6-min walk distance and World Health Organization functional class at 16 weeks, change in N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) over time, and all-cause death.Overall, 334 PAH patients were randomised to placebo (n=175) or bosentan (n=159). A primary end-point event occurred in 51.4% of patients randomised to placebo and 42.8% to bosentan (hazard ratio 0.83, 97.31% CI 0.58–1.19; p=0.2508). The mean between-treatment difference in 6-min walk distance at 16 weeks was +21.8 m (95% CI +5.9–37.8 m; p=0.0106). Except for NT-proBNP, no difference was observed for any other end-point. The safety profile of bosentan added to sildenafil was consistent with the known bosentan safety profile.In COMPASS-2, adding bosentan to stable sildenafil therapy was not superior to sildenafil monotherapy in delaying the time to the first morbidity/mortality event.
Prospective participant selection and ranking to maximize actionable pharmacogenetic variants and discovery in the eMERGE Network
Authors: Crosslin David R. , Robertson Peggy D. , Carrell David S. , Gordon Adam S. , Hanna David S. , Burt Amber , Fullerton Stephanie M. , Scrol Aaron , Ralston James , Leppig Kathleen , Hartzler Andrea , Baldwin Eric , Andrade Mariza de , Kullo Iftikhar J. , Tromp Gerard , Doheny Kimberly F. , Ritchie Marylyn D. , Crane Paul K. , Nickerson Deborah A. , Larson Eric B. , Jarvik Gail P. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Background
In an effort to return actionable results from variant data to electronic health records (EHRs), participants in the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) Network are being sequenced with the targeted Pharmacogenomics Research Network sequence platform (PGRNseq). This cost-effective, highly-scalable, and highly-accurate platform was created to explore rare variation in 84 key pharmacogenetic genes with strong drug phenotype associations.

Methods
To return Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) results to our participants at the Group Health Cooperative, we sequenced the DNA of 900 participants (61 % female) with non-CLIA biobanked samples. We then selected 450 of those to be re-consented, to redraw blood, and ultimately to validate CLIA variants in anticipation of returning the results to the participant and EHR. These 450 were selected using an algorithm we designed to harness data from self-reported race, diagnosis and procedure codes, medical notes, laboratory results, and variant-level bioinformatics to ensure selection of an informative sample. We annotated the multi-sample variant call format by a combination of SeattleSeq and SnpEff tools, with additional custom variables including evidence from ClinVar, OMIM, HGMD, and prior clinical associations.

Results
We focused our analyses on 27 actionable genes, largely driven by the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium. We derived a ranking system based on the total number of coding variants per participant (75.2±14.7), and the number of coding variants with high or moderate impact (11.5±3.9). Notably, we identified 11 stop-gained (1 %) and 519 missense (20 %) variants out of a total of 1785 in these 27 genes. Finally, we prioritized variants to be returned to the EHR with prior clinical evidence of pathogenicity or annotated as stop-gain for the following genes: CACNA1S and RYR1 (malignant hyperthermia); SCN5A, KCNH2, and RYR2 (arrhythmia); and LDLR (high cholesterol).

Conclusions
The incorporation of genetics into the EHR for clinical decision support is a complex undertaking for many reasons including lack of prior consent for return of results, lack of biospecimens collected in a CLIA environment, and EHR integration. Our study design accounts for these hurdles and is an example of a pilot system that can be utilized before expanding to an entire health system.
The geography of hybrid speciation in plants
Authors: Kadereit Joachim W. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBoth homoploid and polyploid hybrid speciation are commonly considered straightforward examples of sympatric speciation. Based on 28 studies of homoploid and 34 studies of polyploid hybrid species I conclude that lati‐ / longitudinal and/or altitudinal ecogeographical displacement of hybrid lineages from parental lineages has been observed in the majority of cases examined, although more commonly in homoploid than in polyploid hybrid species. This ecogeographical displacement is interpreted as the result of evolutionary novelty in hybrid lineages. As the geographical scale of ecogeographical displacement in relation to gene flow distances may not be large enough to prevent gene flow at the time of initial hybrid formation, I hypothesize that climate‐induced changes of distribution ranges may have played a large role in hybrid species formation. In particular, I hypothesize that hybrid lineages initially remain in the secondary contact area of their parental lineages, whereas the parental lineages, responding to climate change, track their niches and withdraw from this contact area. This results in geographical isolation. I conclude that assessment of hybrid speciation as sympatric may be inappropriate in many cases, and that instead a phase of geographical displacement of hybrid and parental lineages into para‐ / allopatry may often be required.
Professional and Personal Growth of Teachers in Institutions of General Education
Authors: Чекмарева  , Chekmareva T. , Шарай  , Sharay N. , Романова  , Romanova T. 
Published: July 2015

The article presents organizational and pedagogical conditions of professional and personal development of teachers in the process of clusterization
(creation of educational complexes) of educational institutions.
The accent is made on the diagnostics of teachers’ professional and personal development and following managerial decisions that providelearnercentered
approach in the system of adults’ education.
Teacher Training in EDC/HRE: How to Develop Students’ Ability to Assess Information from Media and Social Networks
Authors: Прутченков  , Prutchenkov A. , Болотина  , Bolotina Tatyana , Павлова  , Pavlova S. 
Published: July 2015

This article shows the main benefits of information and communication technologies (ICT)and introduces draft ICT classes developed during the pilot
project of the Council of Europe “Training teachers to develop students’ ability to evaluate information in the media and social networks” within the
program “Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights”.
Método para análise de níveis de serviço em praças de pedágio
Authors: Obelheiro Marta Rodrigues , Cybis Helena Beatriz Bettella , De Oliveira Marcelo Leismann , Ribeiro José Luis Duarte 
Published: July 2015

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Este trabalho propõe um método para análise de níveis de serviço em praças de pedágio. O método foi elaborado a partir de dados representativos de condições operacionais características de rodovias e praças de pedágio brasileiras. O método proposto é baseado na percepção de usuários de praças de pedágio acerca da qualidade de serviço nas praças. A percepção dos usuários foi captada através de pesquisa qualitativa, que envolveu o uso de cenários microssimulados representativos de situações de tráfego em praças. A partir dos resultados da pesquisa qualitativa, foi realizada modelagem e obtida equação que relaciona a qualidade percebida pelos usuários com os fatores intervenientes: porcentagem de caminhões no fluxo, tamanho de fila e número de cabines de atendimento. Os resultados indicaram que o comprimento de filas nas cabines exerce forte influência sobre a qualidade percebida nas praças. Além da equação, é proposta uma escala de níveis de serviço relacionada com a qualidade percebida pelos usuários em praças de pedágio.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />Palavras-chave: praças de pedágio, nível de serviço, pesquisa qualitativa, simulação.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Abstract: This paper proposes a method for analyzing level of service at toll plazas. The method was built from data representing spe-cific operational conditions of Brazilian highways and toll plazas, and it is based on toll plaza quality service as perceived by users. Us-ers’ perception was captured by qualitative research, which involved the use of microsimulated scenarios representing traffic situations at toll plazas. The outcome of the qualitative research was a model relating service quality as perceived by users with the influence fac-tors: trucks percentage, queue length and number of toll booths. The results suggest that queue length at toll booths has a strong influ-ence on perceived quality at toll plazas. This paper also proposes a hierarchy for the level of service related to service quality perceived by users at toll plazas.<br />Keywords: toll plaza, level of service, qualitative research, simulation.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"> </p>
TOWARDS AN ECO-EFFICIENCY MODEL FOR EXTENDED SUPPLY CHAIN – BRAZILIAN FOOD INDUSTRY
Authors: Pimenta Handson Claudio Dias , Gouvinhas Reidson Pereira , Evans Stephen 
Published: July 2015

Designers make decisions that ultimately impact on both the economic and environmental performance of the products, and many of these costs and impacts occur across the supply chain. This paper proposes an eco-efficiency model for product life cycle management within the extended supply chain (ESC) for food industry. Eco-efficiency (EE) has the potential to incorporate both environmental and economic improvement by companies of ESC, and we explore the use of EE in the design process. It is noteworthy that it is an imperative in the current competitive market that companies must be able to manage their entire production chain taking into account environmental issues as an important factor in their decision-making processes. Therefore, it is believed that EE can integrate and strengthen a company’s functions and assist its decision-making processes as well as implement improvements within its ESC. In this context, it is expected that the proposed model will be able to deliver a validation process based on EE strategies as well as map environmental aspects and its impacts. In addition, the proposed model aims to consider economic aspects along the product ESC and to present elements which can help companies to promote improvements within its supply chain by considering a more environmentally friendly perspective.
Quasi-simple Lie groups as multiplication groups of topological loops
Authors: Figula Ágota 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
We prove that among the quasi-simple Lie groups only the group SL4(ℝ) occurs as the multiplication group of 3-dimensional connected topological loops L. These loops L are homeomorphic to the sphere S3. Moreover, there does not exist any connected topological loop having an at most 8-dimensional quasi-simple Lie groups as its multiplication group.
Tight Embeddability of Proper and Stable Metric Spaces
Authors: Baudier F. , Lancien G. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
We introduce the notions of almost Lipschitz embeddability and nearly isometric embeddability.
We prove that for p ∈ [1,∞], every proper subset of Lp is almost Lipschitzly embeddable into a Banach space
X if and only if X contains uniformly the ℓp
n’s. We also sharpen a result of N. Kalton by showing that every
stable metric space is nearly isometrically embeddable in the class of reflexive Banach spaces.