bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Topical long‐term therapy of psoriasis with vitamin D3 analogues, corticosteroids and their two compound formulations: position paper on evidence and use in daily practice
Authors: Augustin Matthias , Mrowietz Ulrich , Bonnekoh Bernd , Rosenbach Thomas , Thaçi Diamant , Reusch Michael , Ardabili Michael , Reich Kristian 
Published: July 2014

SummaryBackgroundCurrent data from daily practice show that vitamin D3 analogues, corticosteroids and their fixed combination products are used heterogeneously for topical long‐term treatment of psoriasis.AimTo evaluate scientific evidence about topical long‐term therapy with vitamin D3 analogues, corticosteroids and their two‐compound‐products in psoriasis vulgaris and scalp psoriasis and to develop daily practice recommendations.MethodsSystematic literature review via PubMed® and Embase® and informal expert consensus.ResultsThe search strategy identified 21 relevant clinical trials. Best evidence regarding topical long term treatment was available for the two‐compound‐formulation containing calcipotriene and betamethasone. In a comparative trial in psoriasis vulgaris the two‐compound‐formulation showed superior tolerability and cost effectiveness compared to monotherapy. In scalp psoriasis the two‐compound‐gel was superior compared to calcipotriene monotherapy. Standardized and simplified treatment application modes resulted in a better clinical outcome comparing to on‐demand therapies.Daily practice recommendationsPatients should be proactively involved in the choice of treatment, formulation and mode of application. Besides long‐term treatment with the two‐compound‐formulation other treatment regimens including calcipotriene monotherapy can also be considered. Due to a favorable risk‐benefit ratio in maintenance trials and due to better cost‐effectiveness the application of two‐compound‐products once or twice a week after initial therapy is recommended.
Mechanism and effectiveness of safflower oil against female Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni
Authors: Hidayat Y. , Heather N. , Hassan E. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractQueensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), infests many horticultural fruit crops in the eastern part of Australia. Farmers usually apply synthetic insecticides to control this pest. Little is known on the use of plant products especially vegetable oils for fruit fly control although they are considered to be safer than synthetic insecticides. In this study, safflower oil was investigated for its mechanism and effectiveness against female B. tryoni. In a laboratory test, safflower oil treatments (2.5 and 5.0 ml l−1) reduced the number of fly punctures on treated artificial fruits, no matter whether pre‐punctures were present or absent. Safflower oil treatments also reduced the number of fly landings and eggs laid, but only when the treated artificial fruits were without pre‐punctures. These results confirmed that safflower oil is active against female B. tryoni mainly by preventing this fruit fly from making oviposition punctures, not by discouraging them from depositing eggs or by repelling them. The slippery nature of safflower oil is considered to be responsible for a reduction in the susceptibility of artificial fruit to fruit fly punctures. Further investigation using fruit‐bearing tomato plants (a no‐choice test) in a glasshouse situation revealed that safflower oil application at concentrations of 10 and 15 ml l−1 reduced the number of oviposition punctures but failed to reduce the number of eggs laid. To increase efficacy of safflower oil under field conditions, multiple tools may be needed to reduce fruit fly populations and oviposition behaviour, such as the addition of trap‐crops, provision of artificial oviposition sites, or mixing the insecticides with the oil.
Divergence in plant and microbial allocation strategies explains continental patterns in microbial allocation and biogeochemical fluxes
Authors: Averill Colin 
Published: July 2014

AbstractAllocation trade‐offs shape ecological and biogeochemical phenomena at local to global scale. Plant allocation strategies drive major changes in ecosystem carbon cycling. Microbial allocation to enzymes that decompose carbon vs. organic nutrients may similarly affect ecosystem carbon cycling. Current solutions to this allocation problem prioritise stoichiometric tradeoffs implemented in plant ecology. These solutions may not maximise microbial growth and fitness under all conditions, because organic nutrients are also a significant carbon resource for microbes. I created multiple allocation frameworks and simulated microbial growth using a microbial explicit biogeochemical model. I demonstrate that prioritising stoichiometric trade‐offs does not optimise microbial allocation, while exploiting organic nutrients as carbon resources does. Analysis of continental‐scale enzyme data supports the allocation patterns predicted by this framework, and modelling suggests large deviations in soil C loss based on which strategy is implemented. Therefore, understanding microbial allocation strategies will likely improve our understanding of carbon cycling and climate.
Unifying elemental stoichiometry and metabolic theory in predicting species abundances
Authors: Ott David , Digel Christoph , Rall Björn C. , Maraun Mark , Scheu Stefan , Brose Ulrich 
Published: July 2014

AbstractWhile metabolic theory predicts variance in population density within communities depending on population average body masses, the ecological stoichiometry concept relates density variation across communities to varying resource stoichiometry. Using a data set including biomass densities of 4959 populations of soil invertebrates across 48 forest sites we combined these two frameworks. We analyzed how the scaling of biomass densities with population‐averaged body masses systematically interacts with stoichiometric variables. Simplified analyses employing either only body masses or only resource stoichiometry are highly context sensitive and yield variable and often misleading results. Our findings provide strong evidence that analyses of ecological state variables should integrate allometric and stoichiometric variables to explain deviations from predicted allometric scaling and avoid erroneous conclusions. In consequence, our study provides an important step towards unifying two prominent ecological theories, metabolic theory and ecological stoichiometry.
The impact of oxaliplatin‐based chemotherapy for colorectal cancer on the autonomous nervous system
Authors: Dermitzakis E. V. , Kimiskidis V. K. , Eleftheraki A. , Lazaridis G. , Konstantis A. , Basdanis G. , Tsiptsios I. , Georgiadis G. , Fountzilas G. 
Published: July 2014

BackgroundThe oxaliplatin (ΟΧΑ)‐based regimens FOLFOX and XELOX can cause peripheral neuropathy. It is unknown if ΟΧΑ, alone or in combination regimens, affects the Autonomous Nervous System (ANS). Accordingly, we evaluated the impact of ΟΧΑ‐based chemotherapy on the ANS.MethodsWe enrolled 36 patients with colorectal cancer, treated with adjuvant mFOLFOX6 or XELOX chemotherapy, and 22 healthy volunteers. For the assessment of ANS function, participants completed a questionnaire and underwent neurophysiological examination at three time points (baseline, 3–4 months and 6–8 months after the first chemotherapy cycle). ANS testing included assessment of the adrenergic cardiovascular function (orthostatic hypotension‐OH), parasympathetic heart innervation (ratio 30/15) and Sympathetic Skin Response (SSR).ResultsThe values of the 30/15 ratio were significantly reduced at the two time point assessments compared to baseline (Wilcoxon signed ranks test, both P < 0.001), while patients had more often diastolic OH at the 6–8 month evaluation compared to baseline (P = 0.039). In contrast, SSR was not affected. The incidence of positive responses in the questionnaire assessing the subjective impact of symptoms attributable to ANS dysfunction was higher at the two time points compared to baseline (P = 0.036 and P = 0.020).ConclusionsOxaliplatin‐based chemotherapy is associated with significant effects on the adrenergic cardiovascular reaction and the parasympathetic heart innervation, whereas SSR remains untouched.
Somatosensory system hyperexcitability in alternating hemiplegia of childhood
Authors: Vollono C. , Rinalduzzi S. , Miliucci R. , Vigevano F. , Valeriani M. 
Published: July 2014

Background and purposeAlternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) is a rare neurological disease characterized by recurrent paroxysmal attacks of hemiplegia. The aim of the study was to assess the recovery cycle of the somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in a group of AHC patients.MethodsSeven AHC patients and 10 control age‐matched subjects (CS) were recruited. Right and left median nerve SEPs were recorded. The somatosensory system excitability was assessed by calculating the SEP changes after paired electrical stimuli. All patients were studied during the interictal phase, whilst four patients were studied also during the ictal phase.ResultsIn AHC patients during the interictal phase, the amplitudes of the cervical N13 and of the cortical N20, P24 and N30 responses showed a faster recovery than in CS. In AHC patients during the ictal phase, the cortical N20 recovery cycle was prolonged compared with the interictal phase.ConclusionsA shortened SEP recovery cycle in AHC during the interictal phase suggests multilevel somatosensory system hyperexcitability in AHC. A partial recovery of this phenomenon during the ictal phase possibly reflects a functional reset of the somatosensory system. Overall, there is a disinhibition of the somatosensory system in AHC, a functional change of brain function associated with a possible involvement of the Na+/K+ channels. This abnormality and its partial recovery during the attacks might be linked to the pathophysiological and genetic mechanisms of the disease.
Multiple sclerosis clinical course and cardiovascular disease risk – Swedish cohort study
Authors: Roshanisefat H. , Bahmanyar S. , Hillert J. , Olsson T. , Montgomery S. 
Published: July 2014

Background and purposeCardiovascular disease (CVD) risk amongst multiple sclerosis (MS) patients appears raised, but few studies have examined CVD risk amongst an unselected MS patient group. MS course may be relevant for CVD risk. Our aim was to assess CVD risk and variation by course in MS patients.MethodsThe Multiple Sclerosis Register identified 7667 patients who received an MS diagnosis between 1964 and 2005. They were matched by age, period, region and sex with 76 045 members of the general population without MS using Swedish registers. Poisson regression compared the two cohorts to estimate the relative risk for CVD, overall, as well as grouped and individual CVD diagnoses.ResultsMS patients had an increased adjusted relative risk (with 95% confidence intervals; number of MS cohort events) for CVD of 1.31 (1.22–1.41; n = 847), with some variation by course: relapsing−remitting 1.38 (1.17–1.62; n = 168); secondary progressive 1.30 (1.18–1.53; n = 405) and primary progressive 1.15 (0.93–1.41; n = 108). The association for the relapsing−remitting course was not significant after excluding the first year of follow‐up. Overall incidence rates per 1000 person‐years for CVD are 11.8 (11.06–12.66) for the MS cohort and 8.8 (8.60–9.05) for the non‐MS cohort. The most pronounced association was for deep vein thrombosis: relapsing−remitting 2.16 (1.21–3.87; n = 14), secondary progressive 3.41 (2.45–4.75; n = 52) and primary progressive 3.57 (1.95–6.56; n = 15). MS was associated with ischaemic stroke but largely during the first year of follow‐up. MS was associated with a decreased relative risk for angina pectoris and atrial fibrillation.ConclusionsThere is a significantly increased relative risk for CVD in MS, particularly for venous thromboembolic disorders in progressive MS, suggesting immobility as a possible factor. An increased frequency of ischaemic stroke in MS is most probably due to surveillance bias resulting from diagnostic investigations for MS. There is no increased relative risk for ischaemic heart disease in MS and atrial fibrillation appears to be less common than amongst the general population.
The Dynamic Relations between Market Returns and Two Types of Risk with Business Cycles
Authors: Jiang Xiaoquan , Lee Bong‐Soo 
Published: July 2014

AbstractWe examine the dynamic relations among market returns, market (MV), and idiosyncratic (IV) around business cycles. Compared to the conventional view, which treats MV and IV separately, we first find that excess return on the market anticipates negative MV and IV, suggesting market return's role as an economic indicator, with the relation stronger in recessions. Second, IV helps predict positive MV, mainly in early part of recessions, suggesting a dynamic evolution from IV to MV. Third, MV helps predict negative IV, suggesting MV may substitute IV to some extent.
What Drives ETF Flows?
Authors: Clifford Christopher P. , Fulkerson Jon A. , Jordan Bradford D. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe value of exchange traded fund (ETF) assets has increased from $66 billion in 2000 to almost a trillion dollars in 2010. We use this massive expansion in ETF assets to study what drives ETF flows. Using a data set of over 500 ETFs from 2001 to 2010, we show that ETF investors chase returns in the same way as mutual fund investors. While there is an active debate about whether return chasing by mutual fund investors represents the pursuit of superior talent, the existence of return chasing in this passively managed environment should not represent a search for skilled managers. We also show that ETF flows increase following high volume, small spreads, and high price/net asset value ratios. Finally, we find little evidence of superior market timing in ETF flows. Our results suggest that return chasing in both mutual funds and ETFs is more likely the result of naïve extrapolation bias on the part of investors that has contributed to the growth of the ETF industry.
Exit, Survival, and Competitive Equilibrium in Dealer Markets
Authors: Chung Kee H. , Chuwonganant Chairat 
Published: July 2014

AbstractIn this study we analyze dealer exit, survival, and competitive equilibrium in the NASDAQ Stock Market using data from a unique period that entails major changes in regulatory and competitive environments. We decompose the forces that affect dealer survival into market factors and dealer attributes. Market factors encompass those variables that affect the demand for and profitability of dealer services as a whole. Variation in survival probability across dealers results mainly from their competitive advantages in business strategies, information, quote aggressiveness, access to order flow, and economies of scale. On the whole, our results suggest that dealer markets exhibit a Darwinian survival of the fittest.
Retracing the evolutionary history of Nothofagus in its geo‐climatic context: new developments in the emerging field of phylogeology
Authors: Acosta M. C. , Mathiasen P. , Premoli A. C. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractPhylogeographic studies have made a significant contribution to the interpretation of genetic lineage distribution in response to climate changes, such as during glaciation events of the Neogene. However, the effects of ancient landscapes associated with global sea level rises, tectonic processes, and climatology driving lineage evolution have been largely overlooked. These effects can be tested in widespread lineages of cold‐tolerant species that have endured cooling, and thus, phylogeographic patterns may reflect large‐scale processes that were not reset by the ice ages. We hereby combine geological evidence from marine sedimentary basins, Andean orogeny, and climatology with molecular dating and statistical phylogeography to infer how geological and climatic processes affected the distribution of lineages in cold‐tolerant Nothofagus species during the Cenozoic. A total of 239 populations along the entire range of all species within the genus Nothofagus (N. antarctica, N. betuloides, N. dombeyi, N. nitida, and N. pumilio) were sampled and analyzed by sequencing three non‐coding regions of the chloroplast. We found 30 chloroplast DNA haplotypes that were geographically structured. Molecular dating calibrated with fossils revealed that ancestral lineages appeared in Eocene/Oligocene, whereas most divergences took place during the Miocene; in turn, Bayesian skyline plots showed that population expansion occurred in the Early Pleistocene (1.5–1 million years ago). Lineage divergence from all wide‐ranging Nothofagus was spatially and temporally concordant with episodic marine transgressions and warmer times in Patagonia during Eocene/Miocene Epochs. Long‐lasting stable raised areas preserved haplotype diversity throughout Patagonia, from where cold‐tolerant taxa expanded their ranges during pre‐Quaternary times. The detailed study of such ancient divergences is novel and allows us to infer the effects of geological processes on distribution patterns of ancient lineages, that is, phylogeology.
Incidence and risk factors for inhibitor development in previously untreated severe haemophilia A patients born between 2005 and 2010
Authors: Vézina C. , Carcao M. , Infante‐Rivard C. , Lillicrap D. , Stain A. M. , Paradis E. , Teitel J. , Rivard G. E. ,   the Association of Hemophilia Clinic Directors of Canada and of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Hemophilia Care
Published: July 2014

SummaryThe objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitor development (ID) in previously untreated patients (PUPs) with severe haemophilia A (FVIII ≤ 0.01 IU mL−1). All Canadian Haemophilia Treatment Centres completed a questionnaire on patients born between September 2005 and August 2010 and followed for up to 7 years. Eligible patients had at least 20 exposure days (ED) or had developed an inhibitor. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for risk factors to develop an inhibitor were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. A total of 99 haemophilia A PUPs were studied. Thirty‐four (34%) developed an inhibitor (24/34 of high titre). Inhibitors developed in 25/63 (40%) patients with a high‐risk mutation. ID was most frequent in Aboriginals (86%). Dose intensity (IU kg−1 day−1 X number of ED) at first exposure to factor VIII (FVIII) was associated with a crude OR increase of 1.10 (95% CI: 0.99–1.23) with each increase of 100 dose‐intensity units. Haemarthrosis and intracranial bleeding as the indication for first exposure to FVIII concentrate were associated with a crude OR for ID of 7.63 (95% CI: 2.14–27.17) and 5.08 (95% CI: 1.11–23.31) respectively. ID according to FVIII concentrate used was: Advate ® 18/50 (36%), Kogenate FS® or Helixate FS® 15/36 (42%), Wilate® 0/11 and Xyntha® 1/2. In multivariate analysis, Aboriginal ethnicity (OR = 11.69; 95% CI: 1.11–122.86) and haemarthrosis (OR = 4.49; 95% CI: 1.08–18.61) were statistically significant. The cumulative incidence of ID in severe haemophilia A PUPs was 34% and varied according to ethnicity, type of bleeding at first ED, type of FVIII product and dose intensity at first exposure.
Microencapsulation of Turmeric Oleoresin by Spray Drying and In Vitro Release Studies of Microcapsules
Authors: Aniesrani Delfiya D.S. , Thangavel K. , Natarajan N. , Kasthuri R. , Kailappan R. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractThe present work reports on the microencapsulation of turmeric oleoresin by spray drying using different ratios of maltodextrin and gum arabic (100:0–0:100) as wall material. Solvent‐extracted and commercial oleoresin microcapsules prepared using gum arabic alone as wall material and spray dried at the inlet air temperature of 175C showed higher encapsulation efficiency of 71.74 and 73.67%, maximum curcumin of 3.41 and 3.39 g/100 g and oleoresin content of 7.16 and 7.29 g/100 g, respectively. Stability of microcapsules against light, oxygen and heat was higher than the nonencapsulated oleoresin. In vitro release study showed initial burst release followed by a controlled release of curcumin from microcapsules over a period of 1 week.Practical ApplicationsTurmeric oleoresin is an approved natural colorant that is prepared by solvent extraction of turmeric powder. It is a mixture of curcumin, volatile oil, nonvolatile fatty and resinous material, and other active ingredients. Curcumin has a number of potentially beneficial biological activities such as antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory properties. But it is readily decomposed when exposed to bright light, high temperature or oxidative conditions. Microencapsulation of turmeric oleoresin protects it against destructive changes, converts it into a free‐flowing powder and controls the release of curcumin. Because the prepared turmeric oleoresin microcapsules are in the powder form, it can be used easily as a natural colorant in foods. Also oleoresin microcapsule provides longtime retention of curcumin in the stomach, thus helping in better and complete absorption of curcumin. Hence, these microcapsules can be used as a therapeutic agent.
Prediction of the Growth Behavior of Aeromonas hydrophila Using a Novel Modeling Approach: Support Vector Machine
Authors: Liu Jing , Guan Xiao , Schaffner Donald W. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractA new technique called support vector machine (SVM), which is used to predict the microbial growth, is presented in this paper. Experimental data on temperature, pH and NaCl from a previously published paper were modeled as inputs, and the kinetic growth parameters, including generation time (GT) and lag phase duration (LPD), were used as outputs of the SVM model. The results derived from SVM model, published artificial neural network (ANN) model and a traditional statistical model were compared using several evaluation criteria: accuracy factor (Af), bias factor (Bf), mean relative percentage residual, mean absolute relative residual, root mean square residual, internal validation (Q2) and external validation (Q2ext). Graphical plots were also used for model comparison. The results show that SVM outperforms ANN and statistical model on predicting microbial GT and LPD, especially when predicting data not used for model development. Sensitivity analyses of the three environmental factors show that the most influential on LPD of Aeromonas hydrophila is temperature, followed by pH and NaCl, and the most influential on GT is pH, followed by temperature and then NaCl.Practical ApplicationsAeromonas hydrophila is a foodborne microorganism, which has been isolated from seafood, red meat, poultry, vegetables and water. Predictive microbiology describes microbial behavior using mathematical models to predict the microbiological safety and quality of a food. A nonlinear modeling technique, termed support vector machine (SVM), is proposed to predict lag phase duration and generation time of A. hydrophila. Statistical criteria show that SVM has a better predictive performance for the generation time and lag phase duration than neural network and traditional statistical models. Sensitivity analyses of the SVM can reveal which condition is the most influential factor on the lag phase duration and generation time, respectively. Therefore, SVM could become an alternative to other modeling approaches, all of which are faster than traditional microbiological experiments.