bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Haemovigilance data on the use of methylene blue virally inactivated fresh frozen plasma with the Theraflex MB‐Plasma System in comparison to quarantine plasma: 11 years' experience
Authors: Politis C. , Kavallierou L. , Hantziara S. , Parara M. , Zervou E. , Katsarou O. , Hatzitaki M. , Fountouli P. , Gioka A. , Tzioura K. , Koumarianos S. , Asariotou M. , Richardson C. 
Published: September 2014

SUMMARYObjectives/BackgroundHaemovigilance is an effective tool for identifying adverse effects of blood components. We analyse cumulative haemovigilance data in order to compare the two secured therapeutic plasmas that have been in use for more than 11 years in Greece – methylene blue‐treated fresh frozen plasma (MB‐FFP) and quarantine fresh frozen plasma (Q‐FFP) – regarding safety and adverse events.Methods/MaterialsData from the centralised active haemovigilance system of Greece for the period 2001–2011 were used to examine the association between FFP types and adverse events. Post‐transfusion information on infectious and non‐infectious adverse events was analysed. Events were examined by reaction type, severity and imputability to transfusion.ResultsThe incidence of adverse events was higher with Q‐FFP (1:3620) than MB‐FFP (1 : 24 593) by a factor of 6·79 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2·52–27·8]. Allergic adverse events were also commoner with Q‐FFP (1 : 7489) than with MB‐FFP (1:24 593), by a factor of 3·28 (95% CI 1·17–13·7). All adverse reactions experienced by the MB plasma recipients were considered to be mild.ConclusionHaemovigilance over 11 years has demonstrated the long‐term safety of MB‐FFP in comparison to untreated quarantine FFP. In addition to lowering the adverse event rate, implementing the system on a national scale in at‐risk countries would presumably reduce the transmission of severe viral infections including emerging infectious diseases by transfusion.
Global Warming–Induced Changes in El Niño Teleconnections over the North Pacific and North America
Authors: Zhou Zhen-Qiang , Xie Shang-Ping , Zheng Xiao-Tong , Liu Qinyu , Wang Hai 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) induces climate anomalies around the globe. Atmospheric general circulation model simulations are used to investigate how ENSO-induced teleconnection patterns during boreal winter might change in response to global warming in the Pacific–North American sector. As models disagree on changes in the amplitude and spatial pattern of ENSO in response to global warming, for simplicity the same sea surface temperature (SST) pattern of ENSO is prescribed before and after the climate warming. In a warmer climate, precipitation anomalies intensify and move eastward over the equatorial Pacific during El Niño because the enhanced mean SST warming reduces the barrier to deep convection in the eastern basin. Associated with the eastward shift of tropical convective anomalies, the ENSO-forced Pacific–North American (PNA) teleconnection pattern moves eastward and intensifies under the climate warming. By contrast, the PNA mode of atmospheric internal variability remains largely unchanged in pattern, suggesting the importance of tropical convection in shifting atmospheric teleconnections. As the ENSO-induced PNA pattern shifts eastward, rainfall anomalies are expected to intensify on the west coast of North America, and the El Niño–induced surface warming to expand eastward and occupy all of northern North America. The spatial pattern of the mean SST warming affects changes in ENSO teleconnections. The teleconnection changes are larger with patterned mean warming than in an idealized case where the spatially uniform warming is prescribed in the mean state. The results herein suggest that the eastward-shifted PNA pattern is a robust change to be expected in the future, independent of the uncertainty in changes of ENSO itself.
A Pulse Compression Waveform for Improved-Sensitivity Weather Radar Observations
Authors: Kurdzo James M. , Cheong Boon Leng , Palmer Robert D. , Zhang Guifu , Meier John B. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe progression of phased array weather observations, research, and planning over the past decade has led to significant advances in development efforts for future weather radar technologies. However, numerous challenges still remain for large-scale deployment. The eventual goal for phased array weather radar technology includes the use of active arrays, where each element would have its own transmit/receive module. This would lead to significant advantages; however, such a design must be capable of utilizing low-power, solid-state transmitters at each element in order to keep costs down. To provide acceptable sensitivity, as well as the range resolution needed for weather observations, pulse compression strategies are required. Pulse compression has been used for decades in military applications, but it has yet to be applied on a broad scale to weather radar, partly because of concerns regarding sensitivity loss caused by pulse windowing. A robust optimization technique for pulse compression waveforms with minimalistic windowing using a genetic algorithm is presented. A continuous nonlinear frequency-modulated waveform that takes into account transmitter distortion is shown, both in theory and in practical use scenarios. Measured pulses and weather observations from the Advanced Radar Research Center’s dual-polarized PX-1000 transportable radar, which utilizes dual 100-W solid-state transmitters, are presented. Both stratiform and convective scenarios, as well as dual-polarization observations, are shown, demonstrating significant improvement in sensitivity over previous pulse compression methods.
Detection of Television Frequency Interference with Satellite Microwave Imager Observations over Oceans
Authors: Zou Xiaolei , Tian Xiaoxu , Weng Fuzhong 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe geostationary satellite television (TV) signals that are broadcasted over various continents can be reflected back to space when they reach ocean surfaces. If the reflected signals are intercepted by the antenna of the microwave imager on board polar-orbiting satellites, they are mixed with the thermal emission from the earth and result in direct contamination of the satellite microwave imager measurements. This contamination is referred to as television frequency interference (TFI) and can result in erroneous retrievals of oceanic environmental parameters (e.g., sea surface temperature and sea surface wind speed) from microwave imager measurements. In this study, a principal component analysis (PCA)-based method is applied for detecting the TFI signals over oceans from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for the Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) Aqua satellite. It is found that the third principal component of the data matrix of the AMSR-E spectral difference indices from each AMSR-E swath captures the TFI contamination. The TFI-contaminated data on the AMSR-E descending node at both 10.65- and 18.7-GHz frequencies can be separated from uncontaminated data over oceanic areas near the coasts of Europe and the United States based on the intensity of the data projection onto the third principal component (PC). Compared to the earlier methods, the proposed PCA-based algorithm works well on the observations without a priori information and is thus applicable for broader user applications.
Retirement intentions in the presence of technological change: theory and evidence from France
Authors: Messe Pierre-Jean , Moreno-Galbis Eva , Wolff Francois-Charles 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
This paper investigates the role of productivity as a determinant of the worker’s retirement intentions. Using an overlapping generation framework, we analyze the retirement decision of a cohort of workers being ability heterogeneous. The labor market is endogenously segmented between workers having the required ability level to occupy jobs where the productivity is indexed to the technological state via on-the-job training (complex jobs) and the rest of workers, who are employed in positions where productivity is relatively deteriorated in case of technological change due to the absence of on-the-job training (simple jobs). In case of technological change, workers in complex jobs delay their retirement date, whereas workers in simple positions will not modify their retirement decision unless taxes change. Using data from France, we find that after a technological change, older workers who benefit from a skill upgrading training program have a higher intended retirement age.

JEL

J14; J22; J24; J26
Female labour market participation in Europe: novel evidence on trends and shaping factors
Authors: Cipollone Angela , Patacchini Eleonora , Vallanti Giovanna 
Published: September 2014

AbstractWe investigate the changes in women’s participation patterns across 15 EU countries over the last 20 years using individual data from ECHP and EUSILC databases. Our findings show that the observed trends in female participation differ substantially both across countries and across different groups of women. We explore such heterogeneity in trends by looking at the effects of policies and labour market institutional factors on the participation of women with different family and individual characteristics. Our estimates reveal a role of policies and institutions that is stronger than what has so far been assessed. Labour market institutions and family-oriented policies explain almost 25% of the actual increase in labour force participation for young women, and more than 30% for highly educated women. Surprisingly, changes in the institutional and policy settings contribute less in explaining the participation of low-skilled women. We also find that reforming the institutional framework towards a model of “flexicure” labour market is effective in enhancing women labour supply only when deregulation is accompanied by sufficient social compensation.JEL ClassificationJ11, J21, J2
Platelet aggregation and clot formation in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest treated with induced hypothermia and dual platelet inhibition with aspirin and ticagrelor; a prospective observational study
Authors: Kander Thomas , Dankiewicz Josef , Friberg Hans , Schött Ulf 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Introduction
We conducted a prospective observational study in cardiac arrest survivors treated with mild induced hypothermia, evaluating different platelet function tests at hypo- and normothermia. We also investigated the relation between gastric emptying and vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP).

Methods
Comatose survivors of out of hospital cardiac arrest were included and divided into two groups, depending on whether dual platelet inhibition with peroral ticagrelor and aspirin was given or not. The first blood samples (T1) were collected 12–24 hours after reaching target temperature (33°C) and were compared to blood samples collected 12–28 hours after reaching normothermia (37°C) (T2) within each group. All samples were analysed by Sonoclot viscoelasticity, flow cytometry based VASP and with multiple electrode aggregometry, Multiplate®; adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen (COL), thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP) and arachidonic acid (ASPI). Sonoclot and Multiplate® instruments were set on in vivo temperatures. Gastric secretion from the nasogastric tube was measured to assess absorption of per orally administered antiplatelet drugs. Differences between T1 and T2 within each group were calculated using Wilcoxon matched pairs signed test. Significance levels were set at P <0.01.

Results
In total, 23 patients were included. In patients with dual platelet inhibition (n =14) Multiplate®-analyses showed no changes in ADP stimulated platelets. COL, TRAP and ASPI aggregations were higher at T2 compared to T1. Sonoclot-analyses showed that activated clotting time (ACT) was unchanged but both clot rate (CR) and platelet function (PF) were higher at T2 compared to T1. VASP decreased from 53 ± 28(T1) to 24 ± 22(T2), (P <0.001). The average volume of gastric secretion aspirated before T1 correlated well with VASP (T1), r =0.81 (P <0.001). In patients with no platelet inhibition, (n =9) similar changes between T1 and T2 were seen as in patients with dual platelet inhibition while VASP was unchanged.

Conclusions
We have demonstrated increased platelet aggregation and strengthened clot formation over time in out of hospital cardiac arrest patients treated with hypothermia. In patients on oral dual platelet inhibition, the effect of ticagrelor was delayed, probably due to slow gastric emptying.
Trefoil factor 3 promotes metastatic seeding and predicts poor survival outcome of patients with mammary carcinoma
Authors: Pandey Vijay , Wu Zheng-Sheng , Zhang Min , Li Rui , Zhang Jian , Zhu Tao , Lobie Peter E 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Recurrence or early metastasis remains the predominant cause of mortality in patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) mammary carcinoma (MC). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the initial progression of ER+ MC to metastasis remains poorly understood. Trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) is an estrogen-responsive oncogene in MC. Herein, we provide evidence for a functional role of TFF3 in metastatic progression of ER+ MC.

Methods
The association of TFF3 expression with clinicopathological parameters and survival outcome in a cohort of MC patients was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The expression of TFF3 in MCF7 and T47D cells was modulated by forced expression or siRNA-mediated depletion of TFF3. mRNA and protein levels were determined using qPCR and western blot. The functional effect of modulation of TFF3 expression in MC cells was determined in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic analyses were performed using reporter constructs, modulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression, and pharmacological inhibitors against c-SRC and STAT3 activity.

Results
TFF3 protein expression was positively associated with larger tumour size, lymph node metastasis, higher stage, and poor survival outcome. Forced expression of TFF3 in ER+ MC cells stimulated colony scattering, cell adhesion to a Collagen I-coated matrix, colony formation on a Collagen I- or Matrigel-coated matrix, endothelial cell adhesion, and transmigration through an endothelial cell barrier. In vivo, forced expression of TFF3 in MCF7 cells stimulated the formation of metastatic nodules in animal lungs. TFF3 regulation of the mRNA levels of epithelial, mesenchymal, and metastatic-related genes in ER+ MC cells were consistent with the altered cell behaviour. Forced expression of TFF3 in ER+ MC cells stimulated phosphorylation of c-SRC that subsequently increased STAT3 activity, which lead to the downregulation of E-cadherin. siRNA-mediated depletion of TFF3 reduced the invasiveness of ER+ MC cells.

Conclusions
TFF3 expression predicts metastasis and poor survival outcome of patients with MC and functionally stimulates cellular invasion and metastasis of ER+ MC cells. Adjuvant functional inhibition of TFF3 may therefore be considered to ameliorate outcome of ER+ MC patients.
Fish consumption and risk of rheumatoid arthritis: a dose-response meta-analysis
Authors: Di Giuseppe Daniela , Crippa Alessio , Orsini Nicola , Wolk Alicja 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Introduction
The association between fish consumption and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is unclear. The aim of this paper was to summarize the available evidence on the association between fish consumption and risk of RA using a dose-response meta-analysis.

Methods
Relevant studies were identified by a search of MEDLINE and EMBASE through December 2013, with no restrictions. A random-effects dose-response meta-analysis was conducted to combine study specific relative risks. Potential non-linear relation was investigated using restricted cubic splines. A stratified analysis was conducted by study design.

Results
Seven studies (four case-controls and three prospective cohorts) involving a total of 174 701 participants and 3346 cases were included in the meta-analysis. For each one serving per week increment in fish consumption, the relative risk (RR) of RA was 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91 to 1.01). Results did not change when stratifying by study design. No heterogeneity or publication bias was observed. When fish consumption was modeled using restricted cubic splines, the risk of RA was 20 to 24% lower for 1 up to 3 servings per week of fish (RR =0.76, 95% CI: 0.57 to 1.02) as compared to never consumption.

Conclusions
Results from this dose-response meta-analysis showed a non-statistically significant inverse association between fish consumption and RA.
Targeted exon sequencing fails to identify rare coding variants with large effect in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Bang So-Young , Na Young-Ji , Kim Kwangwoo , Joo Young Bin , Park Youngho , Lee Jaemoon , Lee Sun-Young , Ansari Adnan A , Jung Junghee , Rhee Hwanseok , Lee Jong-Young , Han Bok-Ghee , Ahn Sung-Min , Won Sungho , Lee Hye-Soon , Bae Sang-Cheol 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Although it has been suggested that rare coding variants could explain the substantial missing heritability, very few sequencing studies have been performed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to identify novel functional variants with rare to low frequency using targeted exon sequencing of RA in Korea.

Methods
We analyzed targeted exon sequencing data of 398 genes selected from a multifaceted approach in Korean RA patients (n = 1,217) and controls (n = 717). We conducted a single-marker association test and a gene-based analysis of rare variants. For meta-analysis or enrichment tests, we also used ethnically matched independent samples of Korean genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (n = 4,799) or immunochip data (n = 4,722).

Results
After stringent quality control, we analyzed 10,588 variants of 398 genes from 1,934 Korean RA case controls. We identified 13 nonsynonymous variants with nominal association in single-variant association tests. In a meta-analysis, we did not find any novel variant with genome-wide significance for RA risk. Using a gene-based approach, we identified 17 genes with nominal burden signals. Among them, VSTM1 showed the greatest association with RA (P = 7.80 × 10-4). In the enrichment test using Korean GWAS, although the significant signal appeared to be driven by total genic variants, we found no evidence for enriched association of coding variants only with RA.

Conclusions
We were unable to identify rare coding variants with large effect to explain the missing heritability for RA in the current targeted resequencing study. Our study raises skepticism about exon sequencing of targeted genes for complex diseases like RA.
The risk of cancer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis taking tumor necrosis factor antagonists: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Wu Chun-Ying , Chen Der-Yuan , Shen Jui-Lung , Ho Hsiu J , Chen Chih-Chiang , Kuo Ken N , Liu Han-Nan , Chang Yun-Ting , Chen Yi-Ju 
Published: September 2014

Abstract
Introduction
The association between cancer and use of biologic therapy among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients remains controversial. We aimed to compare the relative risk of cancer development between RA patients taking tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) antagonists and those taking nonbiologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (nbDMARDs).

Methods
We conducted a nationwide cohort study between 1997 and 2011 using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The risk of newly diagnosed cancer was compared between patients starting TNF-α antagonists (biologics cohort) and matched subjects taking nbDMARDs only (nbDMARDs cohort). Cumulative incidences and hazard ratios (HR) were calculated after adjusting for competing mortality. Standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated for cancer risk. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards model.

Results
We compared 4426 new users of TNF-α antagonists and 17704 users of nbDMARDs with similar baseline covariate characteristics. The incidence rates of cancer among biologics and nbDMARDs cohorts were 5.35 (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.23 to 6.46) and 7.41 (95% CI 6.75 to 8.07) per 1000 person-years, respectively. On modified Cox proportional hazards analysis, the risk of cancer was significantly reduced in subjects in biologics cohort (adjusted HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.80, P < .001), after adjusting for age, gender, disease duration, major co-morbidities, and prior use of DMARDs and corticosteroids. However, there was an increased risk for hematologic cancers in biologics cohort, yet without statistical significance. The effect of biologics was consistent across all multivariate stratified analyses and the association between biologics use and cancer risk was independent of dosage of concomitant nbDMARDs.

Conclusion
These findings suggested that RA patients taking TNF-α antagonist are associated with a lower risk of cancer, but not for hematologic cancers, than RA patients taking nbDMARDs alone.
Biodegradation of variable-chain-length n-alkanes in Rhodococcus opacus R7 and the involvement of an alkane hydroxylase system in the metabolism
Authors: Zampolli Jessica , Collina Elena , Lasagni Marina , Di Gennaro Patrizia 
Published: September 2014

Abstract

Rhodococcus opacus R7 is a Gram-positive bacterium isolated from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminated soil for its versatile metabolism; indeed the strain is able to grow on naphthalene, o-xylene, and several long- and medium-chain n-alkanes. In this work we determined the degradation of n-alkanes in Rhodococcus opacus R7 in presence of n- dodecane (C12), n- hexadecane (C16), n- eicosane (C20), n- tetracosane (C24) and the metabolic pathway in presence of C12. The consumption rate of C12 was 88%, of C16 was 69%, of C20 was 51% and of C24 it was 78%. The decrement of the degradation rate seems to be correlated to the length of the aliphatic chain of these hydrocarbons. On the basis of the metabolic intermediates determined by the R7 growth on C12, our data indicated that R. opacus R7 metabolizes medium-chain n-alkanes by the primary alcohol formation. This represents a difference in comparison with other Rhodococcus strains, in which a mixture of the two alcohols was observed. By GC-MSD analysis we also identified the monocarboxylic acid, confirming the terminal oxidation.
Moreover, the alkB gene cluster from R. opacus R7 was isolated and its involvement in the n-alkane degradation system was investigated by the cloning of this genomic region into a shuttle-vector E. coli-Rhodococcus to evaluate the alkane hydroxylase activity. Our results showed an increased biodegradation of C12 in the recombinant strain R. erythropolis AP (pTipQT1-alk R7) in comparison with the wild type strain R. erythropolis AP. These data supported the involvement of the alkB gene cluster in the n-alkane degradation in the R7 strain.