bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hospitalized heart failure patients with preserved vs. reduced ejection fraction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: a prospective study
Authors: Saheb Sharif‐Askari Narjes , Syed Sulaiman Syed Azhar , Saheb Sharif‐Askari Fatemeh , Al Sayed Hussain Ali , Tabatabai Sadeq , Abdullatif Al‐Mulla Arif 
Published: January 2014

AimsTo compare the baseline characteristics, pharmacological treatment, and in‐hospital outcomes across hospitalized heart failure (HF) patients with preserved LVEF (HF‐PEF) and those with reduced LVEF (HF‐REF).Method and resultsThis was a prospective analysis of consecutive patients admitted with decompensated HF at two government hospitals in the United Arab Emirates, from 1 December 2011 to 30 November 2012. Multivariate factors of HF‐PEF vs. HF‐REF included elevated systolic blood pressure [odds ratio (OR) 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.03], heart rate (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.97–0.99), age (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01–1.04), female sex (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.41–4.03), angina or myocardial infarction (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.25–0.71), AF (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.05–3.15), COPD or asthma (OR 2.80; 95% CI 1.47–5.35), Charlson Comorbidity Index score (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.64–0.88), and anaemia (OR 2.97; 95% CI 1.64–5.38). In‐hospital outcomes were similar between the two groups. However, patients with HF‐PEF were less likely to be prescribed HF medication, and used more anticoagulants and fewer antiplatelet medications.ConclusionThese results suggest that patients with HF‐PEF are older, more often female, and have higher prevalence of respiratory diseases and AF. Compared with developed countries, hospitalized HF patients in the Middle East are 10 years younger and have a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and the majority have HF‐REF.
Comparative study of the performance of an anaerobic rotating biological contactor and its potential to enrich hydrogenotrophic methanogens
Authors: Abubakkar Shabana , Kundu Kankana , Sreekrishnan Trichur Ramaswamy 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDProcess upset due to volatile fatty acid accumulation is one of the major drawbacks of anaerobic treatment of wastewater. The performance of an anaerobic rotating biological contactor (AnRBC) was studied under normal operating conditions as well as shock loadings of propionic acid, for its ability to enhance the conversion of hydrogen to methane. These results were compared with those of a reactor lacking the enhanced gas‐liquid hydrogen transfer mechanism, a conventional anaerobic digester.RESULTThe AnRBC exhibited lower concentrations of hydrogen in the headspace (300–600 ppm) under both normal and shock loading conditions, and also showed more hydrogenotrophic methanogens on the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profile of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, both in terms of intensity and band numbers (4 in the AnRBC and 2 in the anaerobic digester).CONCLUSIONThis study showed that the AnRBC is able to maintain lower hydrogen partial pressure at both normal operating and shock loading conditions due to the abundance of hydrogenotrophic methanogens and good gas–liquid hydrogen transfer efficiency. This finding should encourage the commercial exploitation of AnRBC for the treatment of wastewaters, especially that containing easily acidifiable organic compounds, which causes instability in operation through souring. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Thermoresponsive behavior and rheology of SiO2–hyaluronic acid/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (NaHA/PNIPAm) core–shell structured microparticles
Authors: Li Xiangye , Chen Ruting , Xu Shouhong , Liu Honglai , Hu Ying 
Published: January 2014

AbstractBACKGROUNDInjectable polymer gels for tissue engineering offer specific advantages over preformed scaffolds. They can transform from a sol to a block gel as a response to an external stimulus. One effective strategy for improving the mechanical strength of a gel is to introduce an inorganic material.RESULTSMicroparticles composed of a hard SiO2 core covered with a thermoresponsive hybrid gel (sodium hyaluronate/poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide); NaHA/PNIPAm) were synthesized. The microparticles were characterized by dynamic light‐scattering and transmission electron microscopy; rheological measurements were also performed. The microparticles were perfectly spherical and had a core–shell structure. They can perform a sol–gel transformation, that is, they shrank and assembled to form a macroscopic hydrogel through physical cross‐linking at the gelation temperature (Tgel), which was determined by rheological measurements. The Tgel was adjusted by changing the concentration of microparticles or Ca2+ ions.CONCLUSIONThe introduction of NaHA and SiO2 improved the mechanical properties of the macroscopic gels. The rigidity and stability of the macroscopic gel were controlled by the molecular weight of NaHA and the amount of PNIPAm. Such injectable hydrogels might have potential as scaffold biomaterials, and are expected to be the ‘ink’ for three‐dimensional bioprinters. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Accounting for soil biotic effects on soil health and crop productivity in the design of crop rotations
Authors: Dias Teresa , Dukes Angela , Antunes Pedro M 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThere is an urgent need for novel agronomic improvements capable of boosting crop yields while alleviating environmental impacts. One such approach is the use of optimized crop rotations. However, a set of measurements that can serve as guiding principles for the design of crop rotations is lacking. Crop rotations take advantage of niche complementarity, enabling the optimization of nutrient use and the reduction of pests and specialist pathogen loads. However, despite the recognized importance of plant–soil microbial interactions and feedbacks for crop yield and soil health, this is ignored in the selection and management of crops for rotation systems. We review the literature and propose criteria for the design of crop rotations focusing on the roles of soil biota and feedback on crop productivity and soil health. We consider that identifying specific key organisms or consortia capable of influencing plant productivity is more important as a predictor of soil health and crop productivity than assessing the overall soil microbial diversity per se. As such, we propose that setting up soil feedback studies and applying genetic sequencing tools towards the development of soil biotic community databases has a strong potential to enable the establishment of improved soil health indicators for optimized crop rotations. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
Predictors of cognitive impairment in an early stage Parkinson's disease cohort
Authors: Hu Michele T. M. , Szewczyk‐Królikowski Konrad , Tomlinson Paul , Nithi Kannan , Rolinski Michal , Murray Clara , Talbot Kevin , Ebmeier Klaus P. , Mackay Clare E. , Ben‐Shlomo Yoav 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTThe impact of Parkinson's disease (PD) dementia is substantial and has major functional and socioeconomic consequences. Early prediction of future cognitive impairment would help target future interventions. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), and fluency tests were administered to 486 patients with PD within 3.5 years of diagnosis, and the results were compared with those from 141 controls correcting for age, sex, and educational years. Eighteen‐month longitudinal assessments were performed in 155 patients with PD. The proportion of patients classified with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia varied considerably, depending on the MoCA and MMSE thresholds used. With the MoCA total score at screening threshold, 47.7%, 40.5%, and 11.7% of patients with PD were classified with normal cognition, MCI, and dementia, respectively; by comparison, 78.7% and 21.3% of controls had normal cognition and MCI, respectively. Cognitive impairment was predicted by lower education, increased age, male sex, and quantitative motor and non‐motor (smell, depression, and anxiety) measures. Longitudinal data from 155 patients with PD over 18 months showed significant reductions in MoCA scores, but not in MMSE scores, with 21.3% of patients moving from normal cognition to MCI and 4.5% moving from MCI to dementia, although 13.5% moved from MCI to normal; however, none of the patients with dementia changed their classification. The MoCA may be more sensitive than the MMSE in detecting early baseline and longitudinal cognitive impairment in PD, because it identified 25.8% of those who experienced significant cognitive decline over 18 months. Cognitive decline was associated with worse motor and non‐motor features, suggesting that this reflects a faster progressive phenotype. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Loop‐loop interactions govern multiple steps in indole‐3‐glycerol phosphate synthase catalysis
Authors: Zaccardi Margot J. , O'Rourke Kathleen F. , Yezdimer Eric M. , Loggia Laura J. , Woldt Svenja , Boehr David D. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractSubstrate binding, product release, and likely chemical catalysis in the tryptophan biosynthetic enzyme indole‐3‐glycerol phosphate synthase (IGPS) are dependent on the structural dynamics of the β1α1 active‐site loop. Statistical coupling analysis and molecular dynamic simulations had previously indicated that covarying residues in the β1α1 and β2α2 loops, corresponding to Arg54 and Asn90, respectively, in the Sulfolobus sulfataricus enzyme (ssIGPS), are likely important for coordinating functional motions of these loops. To test this hypothesis, we characterized site mutants at these positions for changes in catalytic function, protein stability and structural dynamics for the thermophilic ssIGPS enzyme. Although there were only modest changes in the overall steady‐state kinetic parameters, solvent viscosity and solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects indicated that these amino acid substitutions change the identity of the rate‐determining step across multiple temperatures. Surprisingly, the N90A substitution had a dramatic effect on the general acid/base catalysis of the dehydration step, as indicated by the loss of the descending limb in the pH rate profile, which we had previously assigned to Lys53 on the β1α1 loop. These changes in enzyme function are accompanied with a quenching of ps‐ns and µs‐ms timescale motions in the β1α1 loop as measured by nuclear magnetic resonance studies. Altogether, our studies provide structural, dynamic and functional rationales for the coevolution of residues on the β1α1 and β2α2 loops, and highlight the multiple roles that the β1α1 loop plays in IGPS catalysis. Thus, substitution of covarying residues in the active‐site β1α1 and β2α2 loops of indole‐3‐glycerol phosphate synthase results in functional, structural, and dynamic changes, highlighting the multiple roles that the β1α1 loop plays in enzyme catalysis and the importance of regulating the structural dynamics of this loop through noncovalent interactions with nearby structural elements.
Umbilical and fetal middle cerebral artery Doppler reference ranges in a twin population followed longitudinally from 24 to 38 weeks' gestation
Authors: Mulcahy C. , McAuliffe F. M. , Breathnach F. , Geary M. , Daly S. , Higgins J. , Hunter A. , Morrison J. , Burke G. , Higgins S. , Dicker P. , Mahony R. , Tully E. , Malone F. 
Published: January 2014

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo construct monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) and dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twin reference ranges for umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI), UA resistance index (RI), fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) PI and peak systolic velocity (PSV) and cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) from 24 weeks' to 38 weeks' gestation and compare these with published normal values for singleton pregnancies.MethodsThis prospective multicenter cohort study included 1028 unselected twin pairs recruited over a 2‐year period. Participants with dichorionic twins underwent fortnightly ultrasound surveillance from 24 weeks' gestation, with monochorionic twins being followed every 2 weeks from 16 weeks until delivery. A total of 7536 fetal Doppler examinations in 618 twin pregnancies were included in the analysis, with reference ranges for MCDA and DCDA pregnancies constructed for each of the Doppler indices using multilevel modeling.ResultsUA‐PI and UA‐RI appear to be higher in twins than in singletons, and MCA‐PI and MCA‐PSV appear to be lower. The CPR also appears to be lower in twins than in singletons. Similar MCA indices were observed in MCDA and DCDA twins.ConclusionWe have established longitudinal reference ranges for UA‐PI and UA‐RI, MCA‐PI and MCA‐PSV and CPR in twin pregnancies, which appear to differ from those in singleton pregnancies. The derived twin‐specific reference ranges may be more appropriate in the surveillance of these high‐risk pregnancies. Applying the singleton CPR cut‐off of ≤ 1.0 may lead to a large number of false‐positive diagnoses of cerebral redistribution in twin fetuses. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Polysiloxane‐Based Block Copolymers as Structure‐Directing Agents in the Synthesis of Hierarchically Organized Silica Monoliths
Authors: Hartmann Sarah , Elsaesser Michael S. , Hüsing Nicola 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn this work the successful application of commercially available, linear PEO‐PDMS‐PEO block copolymers in the synthesis of hierarchically organized silica monoliths comprising a periodic arrangement of mesopores as well as a well‐defined macroporous morphology is presented. All silica monoliths were synthesized via the sol‐gel approach with an ethylene glycol‐modified silane (EGMS) as precursor. Beyond their use as structure‐directing agents, these siloxane surfactants can also be employed as agents to tailor the surface polarity by controlled thermal decomposition of the hydrophilic PEO blocks resulting in a hydrophobic organosiloxane‐covered surface.
The Largely Unknown Class of Microporous Hybrid Materials: Clays Pillared by Molecules
Authors: Herling Markus M. , Breu Josef 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe review summarizes recent progress in the field of synthetic clay minerals pillared with organic or metal complex cations (PILCs). We briefly introduce the field of such PILCs and discuss the weaknesses of the state of the art characterization chart of PILCs. When PILCs are made from nanoscopic host materials like natural clay minerals, charge heterogeneity accompanied by interstratification, the turbostratic disorder in the stacking and the influence of the large external surface weaken essential analytical results. Turning to coarse‐grained, well ordered clay minerals synthesized from the melt at temperatures above 1000 K removes all these obstacles and allows to present consistent data underlining the validity of the appealing pillaring concept: Refinement of PILC structures gives information on the pillar‐host interaction and the orientation of pillars in the interlayer space. Two‐dimensional superstructure reflections give direct evidence of the well‐ordered lateral arrangement of pillars. And most importantly, analysis of chemical composition and physisorption isotherms are not corrupted by contributions of large external surfaces and this allows for predicting micropore volume and widths from pillar/host ratios in combination with pillar size/shape. Moreover, recent progress allows fine‐tuning the charge density of the host lattice post‐synthesis. Such deliberate and fine‐graded alteration of the pillar density in turn permits adjusting the pore size in steps as small as 0.1 Å to a given adsorbate and thus will pave the way to maximize adsorption enthalpies and to improve selectivity. This feature is unique to PILCs and is not available to MOFs whose porosity can be adjusted only in steps no smaller than the order of chemical bond lengths. Rational design of microporous hybrid materials with full control over size, shape, and chemical nature of micropores certainly represents the strength and great potential of the pillaring approach.
Translation and Cultural Adaptation of the Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire to Brazilian Portuguese Language
Authors: Fernandes Carlos Henrique , Neto Jorge Raduan , Meirelles Lia Miyamoto , Pereira Carina Nascimento Mastrocinque , Santos João Baptista Gomes dos , Faloppa Flavio 
Published: January 2014

Purpose The use of patient-reported outcome questionnaires is recommended in orthopedic studies. However, validated tools are necessary to ensure the comparability of results across different studies, centers, and countries. The Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire (BMHQ) can be used for outcome measures in self-evaluation after carpal tunnel release. This study aimed to translate the BMHQ to Portuguese to permit cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilians patients. Methods We translated the Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire from the original version (English) to Brazilian Portuguese. The translation and cultural adaptation of the content of this tool consisted of six stages, according to the methodology proposed by medical literature: (1) initial translation of the questionnaire by two independent translators; (2) synthesis of translations and reconciliation; (3) back-translation to English of the reconciled version; (4) verification of the cultural equivalence process by an expert committee; (5) pre-testing in a sample of patients to verify understanding of the items; and (6) development of a final version of the BMHQ. Results The pre-final version of the tool was applied to 43 patients to verify its understanding. Pre-testing showed that the questions and options were satisfactorily understood. The number of items from the original English version was maintained in the Brazilian Portuguese version of BMHQ. Discussion The Brazilian Portuguese version of the BMHQ is easily understood by patients and will be useful to clinicians and researchers.
New pyrenocarpous lichens from NE Argentina
Authors: APTROOT André , FERRARO Lidia Itatí , CÁCERES Marcela Eugenia da Silva 
Published: January 2014

AbstractFive new species of corticolous pyrenocarpous lichens are described from tropical and subtropical forests in the Chaco and Misiones provinces in NE Argentina:Aspidothelium submuriformewith globose, grey ascomata and ascospores mostly 7-septate with 0–2 oblique longitudinal septa, 25–28×8–10 µm;Pyrenula inspersoleucotrypa, characterized by a thallus without pseudocyphellae, aggregated ascomata, an inspersed hamathecium, and ascospores of 17–20×6·5–8·0 µm with diamond-shaped lumina;Pyrenula punctoleucotrypa, which has a thallus with pseudocyphellae, aggregated ascomata in a conical pseudostroma, with fused ostioles, not inspersed hamathecium, and ascospores of 10–12×4–5 µm with rounded lumina;Strigula muriconidiata, containing immersed pycnidia with hyaline, densely muriform, ellipsoid conidia, 90–103×32–35 µm;Trypethelium globolucidum,forming sessile pseudostromata with black and whitish parts, an inspersed hamathecium, ascospores 13–19-septate, (65–)83–97×11·5–14·5 µm, lumina rounded to lentiform and containing lichexanthone.
Phylogenetic position of the crustose Stereocaulon species
Authors: HÖGNABBA Filip , PINO-BODAS Raquel , NORDIN Anders , MYLLYS Leena , STENROOS Soili 
Published: January 2014

AbstractPhylogenetic relationships of Stereocaulon with emphasis on the crustose taxa were studied based on nuclear ribosomal ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 and partial beta-tubulin sequences. The placement of four of the six crustose species currently included in the genus has previously been confirmed based on molecular data. It has, however, remained unresolved whether the crustose growth form is a plesiomorphic or apomorphic feature within Stereocaulon, due to contradictory placements of the crustose species in earlier studies. The aim of this study was to clarify the position of the crustose species by including additional data, especially of S. nivale and S. plicatile, which have not been included in previous analyses. The inclusion of S. plicatile in the genus is of particular interest as it is the only species in the genus with submurifrom to muriform ascospores. Altogether 37 specimens representing 31 species of the ingroup, including all the crustose Stereocaulon species, were incorporated in the analyses. Conventional, as well as direct optimization parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses were performed. The results show that the crustose species do not form a monophyletic entity and that the crustose growth form is a plesiomorphic feature within Stereocaulon. The crustose S. nivale and S. plicatile are nested within the genus and their inclusion in Stereocaulon is thereby confirmed. The nested position of S. plicatile indicates that the submuriform to muriform spore type has been gained independently within the genus. Here, S. plicatile is also reported for the first time from Scandinavia.
Rain, dew, and humid air as drivers of morphology, function and spatial distribution in epiphytic lichens
Authors: GAUSLAA Yngvar 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThis review is a first attempt to combine and compare spatial distribution of the three main water sources, rain, dew and humid air, with water-related traits of mainly epiphytic macrolichens in a conceptual and functional model. By comparing climatic and lichenological knowledge, various effects of dewfall, rainfall and humid air on epiphytic lichen morphology and function are analyzed to search for traits and patterns. Although dew, rain and humid air cause lichen hydration and activate photosynthesis, these atmospheric hydration sources influence and shape lichens differently. In order to visualize hydration patterns, dew, rain and humid air are shown as corners in a triangle exhibiting the various combinations of these hydration sources. The sources of hydration vary on temporal scales, and on the spatial scales: regional, landscape, stand and tree. Lichen growth form, photobiont type, water-holding capacity (WHC) and suprasaturation depression show clear patterns within the hydration triangle. For most lichen species, one average pre-dawn dewfall approximately fills their average internal WHC. This suggests that lichens are optimally designed to utilize dew rather than rain, consistent with literature emphasizing dew as a driver for annual C-assimilation in chlorolichens. However, rain is needed to fill their external WHC and to fully hydrate most cyanolichens. Including the sources of hydration and internal lichen variables, such as water-holding capacity, will improve modelling of local and global future scenarios on lichen distribution and biomass production.