bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost-Effectiveness of Noninvasive Central Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Diagnosis of Hypertension
Authors: Cheng Hao-Min , Pearson Alan , Sung Shih-Hsien , Yu Wen-Chung , Chen Chen-Huan , Karnon Jonathan 
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND
Central blood pressure (CBP) betters conventional clinical BP (cuff BP) in predicting cardiovascular outcomes. Noninvasive CBP monitoring has emerged as a new technology for management of hypertension. This study aimed to analyze the cost-effectiveness of noninvasive CBP compared to cuff BP monitoring for confirming a diagnosis of hypertension.

METHODS
Lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated for CBP and cuff BP monitoring using a cohort Markov model. We applied model calibration and probabilistic sensitivity analysis on populations representative of the general population, in 10-year age brackets, from age 35 years to over 75 years of age.

RESULTS
The CBP strategy was more cost-effective than cuff BP for men and women across all age subgroups, with mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratios ranging from £226 to £2,750 per QALY gained. The cost-effectiveness was mainly driven by improved patient outcomes, represented by the QALY gains (0.09–0.88), at an acceptable incremental cost (£116–£371). Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses demonstrated the consistency and robustness of the cost-effectiveness of the CBP strategy.

CONCLUSIONS
Early evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive CBP monitoring suggests significant improvements in the confirmation of suspected hypertension, compared to cuff BP. This paper suggests that the long-term benefits of improved diagnostic performance justify the supplementary purchase costs of new, noninvasive CBP monitors. The results highlight the potential value of CBP, and hence the value of further research to confirm the diagnostic and prognostic role of CBP for the management of hypertension.
The Expression of RAC1 and Mineralocorticoid Pathway-Dependent Genes are Associated With Different Responses to Salt Intake
Authors: Tapia-Castillo Alejandra , Carvajal Cristian A. , Campino Carmen , Hill Caroline , Allende Fidel , Vecchiola Andrea , Carrasco Carmen , Bancalari Rodrigo , Valdivia Carolina , Lagos Carlos , Martinez-Aguayo Alejandro , Garcia Hernan , Aglony Marlene , Baudrand Rene F. , Kalergis Alexis M. , Michea Luis F. , Riedel Claudia A. , Fardella Carlos E. 
Published: November 2014

BACKGROUND
Rac1 upregulation has been implicated in salt-sensitive hypertension as a modulator of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activity. Rac1 could affect the expression of oxidative stress markers, such as hemoxigenase-1 (HO-1) or nuclear factor-B (NF-κB), and the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a cytokine upregulated upon MR activation.

AIM
We evaluated RAC1 expression in relation of high salt intake and association with MR, NGAL, HO-1, and NF-κB expression, mineralo- and glucocorticoids levels, and inflammatory parameters.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS
We studied 147 adult subjects. A food survey identified the dietary sodium (Na) intake. RAC1 expression was considered high or low according to the value found in normotensive subjects with low salt intake. We determined the gene expression of RAC1, MR, NGAL, HO-1, NF-κB, and 18S, isolated from peripheral leukocytes. We measured aldosterone, cortisol, sodium, potassium excretion, metalloproteinase (MMP9 y MMP2), and C-reactive protein.

RESULTS
We identified 126 subjects with high Na-intake, 18 subjects had high, and 108 low-RAC1 expression. The subjects with high-RAC1 expression showed a significant increase in MR (P = 0.0002), NGAL (P &lt; 0.0001) HO-1 (P = 0.0004), and NF-κB (P &lt; 0.0001) gene expression. We demonstrated an association between RAC1 expression and MR (Rsp 0.64; P &lt; 0.0001), NGAL (Rsp 0.48; P &lt; 0.0001), HO-1 (Rsp 0.53; P &lt; 0.0001), and NF-κB (Rsp0.52; P &lt; 0.0001). We did not identify any association between RAC1 and clinical or biochemical variables.

CONCLUSIONS
RAC1 expression was associated with an increase in MR, NGAL, NF-κB, and HO-1 expression, suggesting that RAC1 could be a mediator of cardiovascular damage induced by sodium, and may also useful to identify subjects with different responses to salt intake.
MetaPSICOV: combining coevolution methods for accurate prediction of contacts and long range hydrogen bonding in proteins
Authors: Jones David T. , Singh Tanya , Kosciolek Tomasz , Tetchner Stuart 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Motivation: Recent developments of statistical techniques to infer direct evolutionary couplings between residue pairs have rendered covariation-based contact prediction a viable means for accurate 3D modelling of proteins, with no information other than the sequence required. To extend the usefulness of contact prediction, we have designed a new meta-predictor (MetaPSICOV) which combines three distinct approaches for inferring covariation signals from multiple sequence alignments, considers a broad range of other sequence-derived features and, uniquely, a range of metrics which describe both the local and global quality of the input multiple sequence alignment. Finally, we use a two-stage predictor, where the second stage filters the output of the first stage. This two-stage predictor is additionally evaluated on its ability to accurately predict the long range network of hydrogen bonds, including correctly assigning the donor and acceptor residues.
Results: Using the original PSICOV benchmark set of 150 protein families, MetaPSICOV achieves a mean precision of 0.54 for top-L predicted long range contacts—around 60% higher than PSICOV, and around 40% better than CCMpred. In de novo protein structure prediction using FRAGFOLD, MetaPSICOV is able to improve the TM-scores of models by a median of 0.05 compared with PSICOV. Lastly, for predicting long range hydrogen bonding, MetaPSICOV-HB achieves a precision of 0.69 for the top-L/10 hydrogen bonds compared with just 0.26 for the baseline MetaPSICOV.
Availability and implementation: MetaPSICOV is available as a freely available web server at http://bioinf.cs.ucl.ac.uk/MetaPSICOV. Raw data (predicted contact lists and 3D models) and source code can be downloaded from http://bioinf.cs.ucl.ac.uk/downloads/MetaPSICOV.
Contact: d.t.jones@ucl.ac.uk
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Observations of umbral dots and their physical models
Authors: Watanabe Hiroko 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
The Hinode satellite opens a new era in sunspot research, because of its high spatial resolution and temporal stability. Fine-scale structures in sunspots, called umbral dots (UDs), have become one of the hottest topics in terms of close observations of magnetoconvection. In this paper, a brief review of the observed properties of UDs is given based on recent literature. UDs born in the periphery of the umbra exhibit inward migration, and their speeds are positively correlated with the magnetic field inclination. Longer-lasting UDs tend to be larger and brighter, while the lifetimes of UDs show no relation to their background magnetic field strength. UDs tend to disappear, or stop their proper motion by colliding with a locally strong field region. The spatial distribution of UDs is not uniform over an umbra, but is rather located at the boundaries of cellular patterns. From our two-dimensional correlation analysis, we measured the characteristic width of the cell boundaries (≈ 0${^{\prime\prime}_{.}}$5) and the size of the cells (≈ 6″). We then performed a simplified analysis to obtain statistics of how the UD distribution is random or clustered using Hinode blue continuum images. We have found a hint that the UDs become less dense and more clustered for later-phase sunspots. These results may be related to the evolutional change of the subsurface structure of a sunspot. Based on these observational results, we discuss their physical models by means of numerical simulations of magnetoconvection.
Prevalence and genomic characterization of porcine parvoviruses detected in Chiangmai area of Thailand in 2011
Authors: Saekhow Prayuth , Ikeda Hidetoshi 
Published: November 2014

ABSTRACTPorcine parvovirus (PPV) causes reproductive failure in sows and has spread worldwide. Several new types of porcine parvoviruses have recently been identified in pig herds. The prevalence of five porcine parvoviruses in the Chiangmai area of Thailand was studied. The prevalence in 80 pigs was 53% for PPV (PPV‐Kr or ‐NADL2 being the new abbreviations), 83% for PPV2 (CnP‐PARV4), 73% for PPV3 (P‐PARV4), 44% for PPV4 (PPV4), and 18% for PBo‐likeV (PBoV7). Over 60% of the pigs carried more than three of the five porcine parvoviruses and occurrence together of the two pairs of viral genes, PPV1/PPV3 and PPV2/PBo‐likeV were observed. Phylogenetic analyses for PPV2 and PPV3 indicated the existence of only two major clades of PPV2 and one major clade of PPV3.
Interview‐based sighting histories can inform regional conservation prioritization for highly threatened cryptic species
Authors: Turvey Samuel T. , Trung Cao Tien , Quyet Vo Dai , Nhu Hoang Van , Thoai Do Van , Tuan Vo Cong Anh , Hoa Dang Thi , Kacha Kouvang , Sysomphone Thongsay , Wallate Sousakhone , Hai Chau Thi Thanh , Thanh Nguyen Van , Wilkinson Nicholas M. 
Published: November 2014

Summary

The use of robust ecological data to make evidence‐based management decisions is frequently prevented by limited data quantity or quality, and local ecological knowledge (LEK) is increasingly seen as an important source of information for conservation. However, there has been little assessment of LEK's usefulness for informing prioritization and management of landscapes for threatened species, or assessing comparative species status across landscapes.

A large‐scale interview survey in the Annamite Mountains (Vietnam and Lao PDR) compiled the first systematic LEK data set for saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, one of the world's rarest mammals, and eight other ungulates. Saola conservation is hindered by uncertainty over continued presence across much of its proposed distribution. We analysed comparative LEK‐based last‐sighting data across three landscapes to determine whether regional sighting histories support previous suggestions of landscape importance for saola conservation (Hue‐Quang Nam: top‐priority Vietnamese landscape; Pu Mat: lower priority Vietnamese landscape; Viengthong: high‐priority Lao landscape) and whether they constitute an effective spatial prioritization tool for cryptic species management.

Wild pig and red muntjac may be the only Annamite ungulates with stable populations; the regional status of all other species appears to be worse. Saola have declined more severely and/or are significantly rarer than most other ungulates and have been seen by relatively few respondents. Saola were also frequently considered locally rarest or declining, and never as species that had not declined.

In contrast to other species, there are no regional differences in saola sighting histories, with continued persistence in all landscapes challenging suggestions that regional status differs greatly. Remnant populations persist in Vietnam despite heavy hunting, but even remote landscapes in Lao may be under intense pressure.

Synthesis and applications. Our local ecological knowledge data suggest that intact saola populations probably no longer exist, but individuals persist in all three landscapes, making management activities to reduce hunting pressure on ungulates in each landscape a conservation priority. Analysis of last‐sighting histories can constitute an important conservation tool when robust data are otherwise unavailable, and collection of last‐sighting records should be incorporated more widely into field studies and management of other highly threatened, cryptic species.
Photographic Analyses Using Skin Detail of the Hand: A Methodology and Evaluation,
Authors: Malone Christina A. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractSkin features have been employed by law enforcement agencies for suspect and victim identification. Comparisons of hand have arisen in casework where images have been submitted where a face was not present but a hand was visible. This research utilizes a collection of 128 hands from employees of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory to examine the frequency and distribution of skin detail on the dorsal surface of the hand. To assess the location of features, the hand was segmented into 14 regions using readily discernible anatomical landmarks. Overall, 2618 pigmented lesions and 92 scars or injuries were documented. When comparing the regions with one another, Regions 1–10 had fewer pigmented lesions than Regions 11–14. There was no pattern to the distribution of scars throughout the regions. The findings presented a foundation for one possible method that may differentiate hands based on the frequency and distribution of such features.
Exposures to Conducted Electrical Weapons (IncludingTASER®Devices): How Many and for How Long are Acceptable?
Authors: Jauchem James R. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractTASER®conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) are an important law‐enforcement tool. The purposes of this study are a) to review recent literature regarding potential pathophysiological responses to applications ofCEWs, and other related issues and b) to evaluate whether enough data exist to determine the acceptability of longer‐duration (or repeated) exposures. This is a narrative review, using a multidisciplinary approach of analyzing reports from physiological, legal‐medical, and police‐strategy literature sources. In general, short‐duration exposures toCEWs result in limited effects. Longer‐duration or repeated exposures may be utilized with caution, although there are currently not enough data to determine the acceptability of all types of exposures. Data examined in the literature have inherent limitations. Appropriateness of specific types ofCEWusage may be determined by individual police agencies, applying risk/benefit analyses unique to each organization. While more research is recommended, initial concepts of potential future long‐duration or repeatedCEWapplications are presented.
A legal geography of property, tenure, exclusion, and rights in Cambodia: exposing an incongruous property narrative for non‐Western settings
Authors: Gillespie Josephine 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe scholarship of legal geography provides an alternative way of conceptualising human–environmental relationships. While laws determine access to and regulate use of land through practices of bounding and excluding, geographical studies provide insights into the way that both physical and social processes create places. The meeting of these perspectives is invaluable. Legal geography perspectives are coming of age in an era when transdisciplinary perspectives on human/nonhuman–landscape interactions are of core concern to wider land use policy considerations. This paper draws on legal geography scholarship about property framed around three key concepts (1) tenure security, (2) exclusion, and (3) rights to reveal the social complexity surrounding these issues. This complexity is magnified in non‐Western settings, and in this paper, the legal geography perspective of analysis is extended to a developing country context. Using Cambodia as the primary setting, this paper challenges the unquestioning exportation of a dominant ‘Western’ property model into non‐Western contexts.
Microstructure Features of Proventriculus and Ultrastructure of the Gastric Gland Cells in Chinese Taihe Black‐bone Silky Fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson)
Authors: Zhang H. , Ge T. , Peng S. , Zhong S. , Zhou Z. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryTo investigate microstructure of proventriculus and ultrastructure of the gastric gland cells from Chinese Taihe black‐bone silky fowl (BSF), the proventriculus of 4‐week‐old BSF was sampled. Conventional histological and transmission electron microscope (TEM) methods were used in this study. The wall of the Taihe BSF proventriculus was consisted of four layers, the mucous, submucosa, muscularis externa and the serosa as others birds. The muscularis externa of the birds' proventriculus contained three layers. Much of the melanin was present in loose connective tissue of lamina propria, submucosa, and muscularis externa unlike others. In addition, the ultrastructure of the gastric gland cells was observed by TEM. There was only one kind of gland cell, for example oxynticopeptic cell in proventriculus of Taihe BSF. The oxynticopeptic cells contained numerous mitochondria, cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (CRER), intracellular canaliculi (IC) that secrete hydrochloric acid and small amounts of pepsinogen granules. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) was irregular cisternae with ribosomes and surrounded tightly the mitochondria along their configuration. The electron‐dense pepsinogen granules were round with various sizes. The neighbouring oxynticopeptic cells were closed up with tight junction and gap junction. The inter‐space between the neighbouring oxynticopeptic cells was stenosis or was filled with electron‐dense extracellular substance. In conclusion, the gastric gland cells of Chinese Taihe BSF proventriculus were only oxynticopeptic cells that secrete hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen, but no parietal cells and chief cells of mammal. The gastric gland cells of proventriculus were underdeveloped compared with those of mammals.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: prompt endoscopy as the initial management strategy for uninvestigated dyspepsia in Asia
Authors: Chen S. L. , Gwee K. A. , Lee J. S. , Miwa H. , Suzuki H. , Guo P. , Hao Y. T. , Chen M. H. 
Published: November 2014

SummaryBackgroundPrompt endoscopy should be considered as an initial strategy for uninvestigated dyspepsia in the background of high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and malignancy. However, with changes of disease patterns and dyspepsia definition, the prevalence of organic lesions at endoscopy in dyspepsia patients and the predictive values of alarm features and age for in malignancy remain unclear in Asian population.AimsTo evaluate the appropriateness of prompt endoscopy as an initial dyspepsia management strategy, we investigated the organic lesion detection rates in Asian dyspepsia patients as well as the diagnostic accuracies of alarm features and age thresholds for malignancy.MethodsLiterature was retrieved from MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and CINAHL Plus. The prevalence rates of organic lesions and young cancer patients among dyspeptic patients and the sensitivities, specificities, likelihood ratios and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of alarm features and ages were estimated. The summary receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) calculated. Subgroup, sensitivity and meta‐regression analyses were performed.ResultsOf the 18 included studies, 15 reported organic lesion detection rates, and six and five analysed the predictive values of alarm features and ages respectively. The overall malignancy detection rate was 1.3% (95% CI: 0.80–2.10). Among cancer patients, 17.8% (95% CI: 10.90–29.00) were younger than 45 years and 3.0% (95% CI: 2.50–3.50) were younger than 35 years. The diagnostic accuracy of alarm features for predicting malignancy was moderate (DOR: 4.87, 95% CI: 2.72–8.71; AUC = 0.74). The diagnostic accuracy at age >35 years (DOR: 9.41, 95% CI: 7.89–11.21; AUC = 0.82) was better than that at age >45 years (DOR: 3.50, 95% CI: 2.32–5.27; AUC = 0.70).ConclusionsThe malignancy detection rate and proportion of young cancer patients were high among Asian dyspepsia patients. Alarm features and age were of limited value for predicting malignancy, and prompt endoscopy should be considered as the initial strategy for dyspepsia in Asian populations. The optimal age threshold for endoscopy screening in Asia might be 35 years.
NASH resolution is associated with improvements in HDL and triglyceride levels but not improvement in LDL or non‐HDL‐C levels
Authors: Corey K. E. , Vuppalanchi R. , Wilson L. A. , Cummings O. W. , Chalasani N. ,   the NASH CRN
Published: November 2014

SummaryBackgroundNonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD).AimTo determine the relationship between resolution of NASH and dyslipidemia.MethodsIndividuals in the Pioglitazone vs. Vitamin E vs. Placebo for the Treatment of Nondiabetic Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (PIVENS) trial with paired liver biopsies and fasting lipid levels were included (N = 222). In the PIVENS trial individuals were randomised to pioglitazone 30 mg, vitamin E 800 IU or placebo for 96 weeks. Change in lipid levels at 96 weeks was compared between those with and without NASH resolution.ResultsDyslipidemia at baseline was frequent, with low high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) (<40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women) in 63%, hypertriglyceridaemia (≥150 mg/dL) in 46%, hypercholesterolaemia (≥200 mg/dL) in 47% and triglycerides (TG)/HDL >5.0 in 25%. Low‐density lipoprotein (LD) ≥160 mg/dL was found in 16% and elevated non‐HDL cholesterol (non‐HDL‐C) (≥130 mg/dL) in 73%. HDL increased with NASH resolution but decreased in those without resolution (2.9 mg/dL vs. −2.5 mg/dL, P < 0.001). NASH resolution was associated with significant decreases in TG and TG/HDL ratio compared to those without resolution (TG: −21.1 vs. −2.3 mg/dL, P = 0.03 and TG/HDL: −0.7 vs. 0.1, P = 0.003). Non‐HDL‐C, LDL and cholesterol decreased over 96 weeks in both groups, but there was no significant difference between groups. Treatment group did not impact lipids.ConclusionsNASH resolution is associated with improvements in TG and HDL but not in other cardiovascular disease risk factors including LDL and non‐HDL‐C levels. Individuals with resolution of NASH may still be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00063622.
Growth trajectories of mathematics achievement: Longitudinal tracking of student academic progress
Authors: Mok Magdalena M. C. , McInerney Dennis M. , Zhu Jinxin , Or Anthony 
Published: November 2014

BackgroundA number of methods to investigate growth have been reported in the literature, including hierarchical linear modelling (HLM), latent growth modelling (LGM), and multidimensional scaling applied to longitudinal profile analysis (LPAMS).AimsThis study aimed at modelling the mathematics growth of students over a span of 6 years from Grade 3 to Grade 9.SampleThe sample comprised secondary longitudinal data collected in three waves from n = 866 Hong Kong students when they were in Grade 3, Grade 6, and Grade 9.MethodMathematics achievement was measured thrice on a vertical scale linked with anchor items. Linear and nonlinear latent growth models were used to assess students' growth. Gender differences were also examined.ResultsA nonlinear latent growth curve with a decelerated rate had a good fit to the data. Initial achievement and growth rate were negatively correlated. No gender difference was found.ConclusionMathematics growth from Grade 6 to Grade 9 was slower than that from Grade 3 to Grade 6. Students with lower initial achievement improved at a faster rate than those who started at a higher level. Gender did not affect growth rate.