bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High density of Leishmania major and rarity of other mammals' Leishmania in zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci, Iran
Authors: Bordbar Ali , Parvizi Parviz 
Published: January 2014

AbstractObjectivesOnly Leishmania major is well known as a causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran. Our objective was to find Leishmania parasites circulating in reservoir hosts, sand flies and human simultaneously.MethodsSand flies, rodents and prepared smears of humans were sampled. DNA of Leishmania parasites was extracted, and two fragments of ITS‐rDNA gene amplified by PCR. RFLP and sequencing were employed to identify Leishmania parasites.ResultsLeishmania major and L. turanica were identified unequivocally by targeting and sequencing ITS‐rDNA from humans, rodents and sand flies. The new Leishmania species close to gerbilli (GenBank Accession Nos. EF413076; EF413087) was discovered only in sand flies.ConclusionBased on parasite detection of ITS‐rDNA in main and potential reservoir hosts and vectors and humans, we conclude that at least two Leishmania species are common in the Turkmen Sahra ZCL focus. Phylogenetic analysis proved that the new Leishmania is closely related to Leishmania mammal parasites (Leishmania major, Leishmania turanica, Leishmania gerbilli). Its role as a principal agent of ZCL is unknown because it was found only in sand flies. Our findings shed new light on the transmission cycles of several Leishmania parasites in sand flies, reservoir hosts and humans.
Altruism in Atomic Congestion Games
Authors: Hoefer Martin , Skopalik Alexander 
Published: January 2014

This article studies the effects of altruism, a phenomenon widely observed in practice, in the model of atomic congestion games. Altruistic behavior is modeled by a linear trade-off between selfish and social objectives. Our model can be embedded in the framework of congestion games with player-specific latency functions. Stable states are the pure Nash equilibria of these games, and we examine their existence and the convergence of sequential best-response dynamics. In general, pure Nash equilibria are often absent, and existence is NP-hard to decide. Perhaps surprisingly, if all delay functions are affine, the games remain potential games, even when agents are arbitrarily altruistic. The construction underlying this result can be extended to a class of general potential games and social cost functions, and we study a number of prominent examples. These results give important insights into the robustness of multi-agent systems with heterogeneous altruistic incentives. Furthermore, they yield a general technique to prove that stabilization is robust, even with partly altruistic agents, which is of independent interest.
In addition to these results for uncoordinated dynamics, we consider a scenario with a central altruistic institution that can set incentives for the agents. We provide constructive and hardness results for finding the minimum number of altruists to stabilize an optimal congestion profile and more general mechanisms to incentivize agents to adopt favorable behavior. These results are closely related to Stackelberg routing and answer open questions raised recently in the literature.
Community detection and visualization in social networks
Authors: Cruz Juan David , Bothorel Cécile , Poulet François 
Published: January 2014

Due to the explosion of social networking and the information sharing among their users, the interest in analyzing social networks has increased over the recent years. Two general interests in this kind of studies are community detection and visualization. In the first case, most of the classic algorithms for community detection use only the structural information to identify groups, that is, how clusters are formed according to the topology of the relationships. However, these methods do not take into account any semantic information which could guide the clustering process, and which may add elements to conduct further analyses. In the second case most of the layout algorithms for clustered graphs have been designed to differentiate the groups within the graph, but they are not designed to analyze the interactions between such groups. Identifying these interactions gives an insight into the way different communities exchange messages or information, and allows the social network researcher to identify key actors, roles, and paths from one community to another.
This article presents a novel model to use, in a conjoint way, the semantic information from the social network and its structural information to, first, find structurally and semantically related groups of nodes, and second, a layout algorithm for clustered graphs which divides the nodes into two types, one for nodes with edges connecting other communities and another with nodes connecting nodes only within their own community. With this division the visualization tool focuses on the connections between groups facilitating deep studies of augmented social networks.
Quantitative Assessment of the Effects of Therapeutic Hypothermia on Early Repolarization in Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation Survivors
Authors: Williams Steven E. , Sabir Ian , Nimmo Camus , Linton Nick , Sebag Frederic A. , Harrison James L. , Wright Matthew , Barrett Nicholas A. , Shankar-Hari Manu , O’Neill Mark D. 
Published: January 2014

Background—
The early repolarization (ER) pattern on ECG is associated with an increased risk of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (ID-VF). Hypothermia is known to result in similar electrocardiographic changes. In this retrospective cohort study, we examine the impact of therapeutic hypothermia on ER in survivors of cardiac arrest attributed to ID-VF and draw comparisons with a control group who experienced coronary artery disease–related VF (CAD-VF).

Methods and Results—

All patients who had cardiac arrest and were treated with therapeutic hypothermia over a 7-year period were considered for inclusion in the study. Forty-three patients were identified with ID-VF or CAD-VF arrest. ECGs were obtained during cooling and again after rewarming. ECGs were digitized and assessed for the presence of ER by 2 independent observers. Cooling significantly increased the prevalence (74% during cooling versus 51% at baseline temperature;
P
=0.044) and mean amplitude (0.78±0.10 mV during cooling versus 0.56±0.09 mV at baseline temperature;
P
=0.038) of ER in the overall cohort. During cooling, ER was more common among survivors of ID-VF than of CAD-VF (100% versus 67%;
P
=0.043). ER magnitude was significantly greater among ID-VF survivors than CAD-VF survivors both during cooling (1.16±0.18 versus 0.70±0.11 mV;
P
=0.044) and at baseline temperature (1.02±0.21 versus 0.42±0.09 mV;
P
=0.005).

Conclusions—
Hypothermia increases both the prevalence and magnitude of ER in cardiac arrest survivors. Despite the association of ER with ID-VF, therapeutic hypothermia only increases ER amplitude in CAD-VF survivors.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Catheter Ablation Versus Medical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure (The CAMTAF Trial)
Authors: Hunter Ross J. , Berriman Thomas J. , Diab Ihab , Kamdar Ravindu , Richmond Laura , Baker Victoria , Goromonzi Farai , Sawhney Vinit , Duncan Edward , Page Stephen P. , Ullah Waqas , Unsworth Beth , Mayet Jamil , Dhinoja Mehul , Earley Mark J. , Sporton Simon , Schilling Richard J. 
Published: January 2014

Background—
Restoring sinus rhythm in patients with heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) may improve left ventricular (LV) function and HF symptoms. We sought to compare the effect of a catheter ablation strategy with that of a medical rate control strategy in patients with persistent AF and HF.

Methods and Results—

Patients with persistent AF, symptomatic HF, and LV ejection fraction <50% were randomized to catheter ablation or medical rate control. The primary end-point was the difference between groups in LV ejection fraction at 6 months. Baseline LV ejection fraction was 32±8% in the ablation group and 34±12% in the medical group. Twenty-six patients underwent catheter ablation, and 24 patients were rate controlled. Freedom from AF was achieved in 21/26 (81%) at 6 months off antiarrhythmic drugs. LV ejection fraction at 6 months in the ablation group was 40±12% compared with 31±13% in the rate control group (
P
=0.015). Ablation was associated with better peak oxygen consumption (22±6 versus 18±6 mL/kg per minute;
P
=0.014) and Minnesota living with HF questionnaire score (24±22 versus 47±22;
P
=0.001) compared with rate control.

Conclusions—
Catheter ablation is effective in restoring sinus rhythm in selected patients with persistent AF and HF, and can improve LV function, functional capacity, and HF symptoms compared with rate control.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01411371
Novel Therapies Focused on the High-Density Lipoprotein Particle
Authors: van Capelleveen Julian C. , Brewer H. Bryan , Kastelein John J.P. , Hovingh G. Kees 
Published: January 2014

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major burden for morbidity and mortality in the general population, despite current efficacious low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol–lowering therapies. Consequently, novel therapies are required to reduce this residual risk. Prospective epidemiological studies have shown that high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are inversely correlated with cardiovascular disease risk, and this initiated the quest for HDL-C–increasing therapies. Consequently, several different targets in HDL metabolism have been identified.
Initial studies addressing the effect of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibition on cardiovascular disease outcome have been discontinued for reasons of futility or increased mortality. As of yet, 2 cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors are still in phase III studies. Other HDL-based interventions, such as apolipoprotein A1–based compounds, ABC-transporter upregulators, selective peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor modulators and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase–based therapy, hold great promise for the future. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of HDL-targeted pharmaceutical strategies in humans, both in early development as well as in late stage clinical trials.
A 1-year randomized controlled trial of deferasirox vs deferoxamine for myocardial iron removal in β-thalassemia major (CORDELIA)
Authors: Pennell Dudley J. , Porter John B. , Piga Antonio , Lai Yongrong , El-Beshlawy Amal , Belhoul Khawla M. , Elalfy Mohsen , Yesilipek Akif , Kilinç Yurdanur , Lawniczek Tomasz , Habr Dany , Weisskopf Marianne , Zhang Yiyun , Aydinok Yesim 
Published: January 2014

Key Points
In β-thalassemia major patients with severe iron burden, deferasirox was noninferior to deferoxamine for myocardial iron removal. The ejection fraction was stable during treatment for both deferasirox and deferoxamine.
Some new sharp limit Hardy-type inequalities via convexity
Authors: Barza Sorina , Persson Lars-Erik , Samko Natasha 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Some new limit cases of Hardy-type inequalities are proved, discussed and compared. In particular, some new refinements of Bennett’s inequalities are proved. Each of these refined inequalities contain two constants, and both constants are in fact sharp. The technique in the proofs is new and based on some convexity arguments of independent interest.

MSC:26D15.
Laboratory divergence of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 through unintended domestication and past selection for antibiotic resistance
Authors: Carroll Sean Michael , Xue Katherine S , Marx Christopher J 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background
A common assumption of microorganisms is that laboratory stocks will remain genetically and phenotypically constant over time, and across laboratories. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that mutations can ruin strain integrity and drive the divergence or “domestication” of stocks. Since its discovery in 1960, a stock of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 (“AM1”) has remained in the lab, propagated across numerous growth and storage conditions, researchers, and facilities. To explore the extent to which this lineage has diverged, we compared our own “Modern” stock of AM1 to a sample archived at a culture stock center shortly after the strain’s discovery. Stored as a lyophilized sample, we hypothesized that this Archival strain would better reflect the first-ever isolate of AM1 and reveal ways in which our Modern stock has changed through laboratory domestication or other means.

Results
Using whole-genome re-sequencing, we identified some 29 mutations – including single nucleotide polymorphisms, small indels, the insertion of mobile elements, and the loss of roughly 36 kb of DNA - that arose in the laboratory-maintained Modern lineage. Contrary to our expectations, Modern was both slower and less fit than Archival across a variety of growth substrates, and showed no improvement during long-term growth and storage. Modern did, however, outperform Archival during growth on nutrient broth, and in resistance to rifamycin, which was selected for by researchers in the 1980s. Recapitulating selection for rifamycin resistance in replicate Archival populations showed that mutations to RNA polymerase B (rpoB) substantially decrease growth in the absence of antibiotic, offering an explanation for slower growth in Modern stocks. Given the large number of genomic changes arising from domestication (28), it is somewhat surprising that the single other mutation attributed to purposeful laboratory selection accounts for much of the phenotypic divergence between strains.

Conclusions
These results highlight the surprising degree to which AM1 has diverged through a combination of unintended laboratory domestication and purposeful selection for rifamycin resistance. Instances of strain divergence are important, not only to ensure consistency of experimental results, but also to explore how microbes in the lab diverge from one another and from their wild counterparts.
Improvement of marker-based predictability of Apparent Amylose Content in japonica rice through GBSSI allele mining
Authors: Biselli Chiara , Cavalluzzo Daniela , Perrini Rosaria , Gianinetti Alberto , Bagnaresi Paolo , Urso Simona , Orasen Gabriele , Desiderio Francesca , Lupotto Elisabetta , Cattivelli Luigi , Valè Giampiero 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background
Apparent Amylose Content (AAC), regulated by the Waxy gene, represents the key determinant of rice cooking properties. In occidental countries high AAC rice represents the most requested market class but the availability of molecular markers allowing specific selection of high AAC varieties is limited.

Results
In this study, the effectiveness of available molecular markers in predicting AAC was evaluated in a collection of 127 rice accessions (125 japonica ssp. and 2 indica ssp.) characterized by AAC values from glutinous to 26%. The analyses highlighted the presence of several different allelic patterns identifiable by a few molecular markers, and two of them, i.e., the SNPs at intron1 and exon 6, were able to explain a maximum of 79.5% of AAC variation. However, the available molecular markers haplotypes did not provide tools for predicting accessions with AAC higher than 24.5%. To identify additional polymorphisms, the re-sequencing of the Waxy gene and 1kbp of the putative upstream regulatory region was performed in 21 genotypes representing all the AAC classes identified. Several previously un-characterized SNPs were identified and four of them were used to develop dCAPS markers.

Conclusions
The addition of the SNPs newly identified slightly increased the AAC explained variation and allowed the identification of a haplotype almost unequivocally associated to AAC higher than 24.5%. Haplotypes at the waxy locus were also associated to grain length and length/width (L/W) ratio. In particular, the SNP at the first intron, which identifies the Wx

a
and Wx

b
alleles, was associated with differences in the width of the grain, the L/W ratio and the length of the kernel, most likely as a result of human selection.
The effect of vaginal closure technique on early post-operative pain following vaginal prolapse surgery: a feasibility pilot study and qualitative assessment
Authors: Maguire Turlough , Mayne Christopher , Willars Janet , Tincello Douglas 
Published: January 2014

Abstract

Background
Surgery for pelvic organ prolapse is a common surgical procedure. There is little research studying post-operative pain, contrasting with extensive literature on pain after childbirth trauma which shows that suture method has a significant effect on pain. We designed a protocol for a trial comparing suture techniques and post-operative pain, and conducted a pre-protocol pilot to inform our trial design.

Methods
Routine surgical data, post-operative pain scores (from 10 cm Visual Analogue Scales, VAS) and analgesic requirements were obtained from the notes of a cohort of women undergoing vaginal prolapse surgery. Median VAS scores at 4, 12 and 24 hours were compared by suture material used and method of closure (single continuous suture or interrupted sutures). The women whose data were obtained were invited to attend focus groups of up to six people in the twelve weeks following surgery. A semi structured question guide was used, and interviews were recorded, transcribed anonymously and analysed using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. Ethical approval was not sought because formal pre-protocol work is exempt for UK ethical requirements, but formal written consent on standard forms was obtained for publishing outcomes and anonymised comments from participants.

Results
Complete VAS data and operative details were available from 41 women. Surgery was completed using absorbable polyglactin sutures with continuous suturing (17 women) or interrupted sutures (24 women). Pain scores at 4 and 12 hours were similar; pain at 24 hours was greater in the women with interrupted sutures (median VAS 3 (range 0–8) versus 1.5 (0–8) (p = 0.0513). Analgesic needs were similar.
Two focus groups (nine participants) revealed that women regarded post-operative pain as insignificant and not a topic worthy of formal research. It was apparent that the use, and especially removal of, vaginal packs was a practice associated with pain which women remembered as a significant part of their post-operative experience.

Conclusions
Formal pre-protocol work is informative; we found a moderate difference in our proposed outcomes, suggesting a trial was feasible but women themselves were unconvinced of the need for formal research into pain following vaginal surgery.
Complete resolution of steroid-resistant organizing pneumonia associated with myelodysplastic syndrome following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Asano Takeru , Fujii Nobuharu , Niiya Daigo , Nishimori Hisakazu , Fujii Keiko , Matsuoka Ken-ichi , Ichimura Koichi , Hamada Toshihisa , Kondo Eisei , Maeda Yoshinobu , Tanimoto Yasushi , Shinagawa Katsuji , Tanimoto Mitsune 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Pulmonary complications in patients with hematological malignancies are often caused by infection but are sometimes associated with an underlying disease such as organizing pneumonia (OP). Here, we report a case of life-threatening steroid-resistant OP associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and successfully performed allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT). A 33-year-old female with refractory anemia with excess blasts-1 that had progressed from refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and concomitant Sweet’s syndrome was admitted. Multiple pulmonary infiltrates were revealed on a chest computed tomography scan, which progressively worsened even after chemotherapy and corticosteroid therapy. No evidence of infection was observed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. A histological examination of a transbronchial lung biopsy specimen showed lymphocyte invasion with fibrosis, indicating that the pulmonary infiltrates were OP associated with MDS. Before transplantation, she suffered from respiratory failure and required oxygen supplementation. She developed idiopathic pneumonitis syndrome on day 61 that responded well to corticosteroid therapy, and the OP pulmonary infiltrates improved gradually after HSCT, She was discharged on day 104 and is well without recurrence of OP or MDS 2 years after HSCT.
Accuracy analysis of software for the estimation and planning of photovoltaic installations
Authors: Axaopoulos Petros J , Fylladitakis Emmanouil D , Gkarakis Konstantinos 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
As the use of photovoltaics expands, with more and more commercial and residential users investing on solar energy systems around the globe, there is substantial demand for relatively simple, easy-to-use software packages for the planning and performance estimation of photovoltaic installations by installers and architects. In this paper, the calculative accuracy of TRNSYS, Archelios, Polysun, PVSyst, PV*SOL and PVGIS is being examined in comparison to the real electrical energy generated by a grid-connected 19.8kWp photovoltaic installation. The assessment has been performed by using the climatic data which have been recorded at the site of the real photovoltaics (PV) park over the same calendar year. Our results displayed that the software packages tend to overestimate the global irradiation received by the PV modules but still significantly underestimate the electrical energy generated by the installation.
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: aetiology, diagnosis and management
Authors: Oto Maria , Reuber Markus 
Published: January 2014

SummaryPsychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) have a significant impact on most patients in terms of distress, disability, loss of income and iatrogenic harm. Three-quarters of patients with PNES are initially misdiagnosed and treated for epilepsy. Misdiagnosis exposes patients to multiple iatrogenic harms and prevents them from accessing psychological treatment. In most cases, the patient's history (and witness accounts) should alert clinicians to the likely diagnosis of PNES. Since this diagnosis may be resisted by patients and may involve ‘un-diagnosing’ epilepsy, video-electroencephalogram recording of typical seizures is often helpful. The underlying causes of PNES are diverse: a model combining predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors is a useful way of conceptualising their aetiology. The initial step of treatment should be to limit iatrogenic harm. There is some evidence for the effectiveness of psychotherapy.
Genetics and psychosis
Authors: Cardno Alastair G. 
Published: January 2014

SummaryGenetic research into psychotic disorders is advancing rapidly. On the basis of general evidence for genetic influences from family, twin and adoption studies, molecular genetic studies, particularly genome-wide association studies (GWAS), are identifying a range of common genetic risk factors that each have a small effect on risk, while certain chromosomal copy number variants (CNVs) are rarer, but have a larger effect on risk. There is also evidence for partial overlap of genetic influences among psychotic disorders and with non-psychotic disorders. This brief article summarises the main themes, current findings and potential future directions.
Film Reviews
Authors: Parati Graziella , Cristiano Anthony 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Solo andata/One Way: A Tuareg Journey, directed by Fabio Caramaschi (2010) Edited by Silvia Caracciolo, Produced by Facion Film with contributions from the Fondo Regionale per l’audiovisivo, Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Il limite/Sea Boundary (2012) by Rossella Schillaci, Italy, HDCAM, Duration: 55’