bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of tumor‐specific cfDNA in response to therapy in multiple myeloma patients
Authors: Vrabel David , Sedlarikova Lenka , Besse Lenka , Rihova Lucie , Bezdekova Renata , Almasi Martina , Kubaczkova Veronika , Brožová Lucie , Jarkovsky Jiri , Plonkova Hana , Jelinek Tomas , Sandecka Viera , Stork Martin , Pour Ludek , Sevcikova Sabina , Hajek Roman 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectivesProgress in multiple myeloma treatment allows patients to achieve deeper responses, for which the assessment of minimal residual disease (MRD) is critical. Typically, bone marrow samples are used for this purpose; however, this approach is site‐limited. Liquid biopsy represents a minimally invasive and more comprehensive technique that is not site‐limited, but equally challenging.MethodsWhile majority of current data comes from short‐term studies, we present a long‐term study on blood‐based MRD monitoring using tumor‐specific cell‐free DNA detection by ASO‐qPCR. One hundred and twelve patients were enrolled into the study, but long‐term sampling and analysis were feasible only in 45 patients.ResultsWe found a significant correlation of quantity of tumor‐specific cell‐free DNA levels with clinically meaningful events [induction therapy (P = .004); ASCT (P = .012)]. Moreover, length of cfDNA fragments is associated with better treatment response of patients.ConclusionsThese results support the concept of tumor‐specific cell‐free DNA as a prognostic marker.
Human‐induced habitat fragmentation effects on connectivity, diversity, and population persistence of an endemic fish, Percilia irwini, in the Biobío River basin (Chile)
Authors: Valenzuela‐Aguayo Francisca , McCracken Gregory R. , Manosalva Aliro , Habit Evelyn , Ruzzante Daniel E. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAn understanding of how genetic variability is distributed in space is fundamental for the conservation and maintenance of diversity in spatially fragmented and vulnerable populations. While fragmentation can occur from natural barriers, it can also be exacerbated by anthropogenic activities such as hydroelectric power plant development. Whatever the source, fragmentation can have significant ecological effects, including disruptions of migratory processes and gene flow among populations. In Chile, the Biobío River basin exhibits a high degree of habitat fragmentation due to the numerous hydroelectric power plants in operation, the number of which is expected to increase following new renewable energy use strategies. Here, we assessed the effects of different kinds of barriers on the genetic structure of the endemic freshwater fish Percilia irwini, knowledge that is critically needed to inform conservation strategies in light of current and anticipated further fragmentation initiatives in the system. We identified eight genetic units throughout the entire Biobío system with high effective sizes. A reduced effective size estimate was, however, observed in a single population located between two impassable barriers. Both natural waterfalls and human‐made dams were important drivers of population differentiation in this system; however, dams affect genetic diversity differentially depending on their mode of operation. Evidence of population extirpation was found in two river stretches limited by upstream and downstream dams. Significant gene flow in both directions was found among populations not separated by natural or anthropogenic barriers. Our results suggest a significant vulnerability of P. irwini populations to future dam development and demonstrate the importance of studying basin‐wide data sets with genetic metrics to understand the strength and direction of anthropogenic impacts on fish populations.
Population dynamics of roundjaw bonefish Albula glossodonta at a remote coralline Atoll inform community‐based management in an artisanal fishery
Authors: Filous Alexander , Lennox Robert J. , Eveson Paige , Raveino Raphael , Clua Eric E. G. , Cooke Steven J. , Danylchuk Andy J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFisheries management requires knowledge on the population dynamics of exploited stocks. To that end, the present study used a mark–recapture approach to characterise the population demographics of roundjaw bonefish Albula glossodonta (Forsskål) and their interaction with a data‐limited fishery on Anaa Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. Over the course of the study, 2,509 bonefish were tagged and 12.3% were recaptured. The L∞ of bonefish was estimated at 71 cm fork length (FL) with a K of 0.17, based on changes in FL between capture events. Artisanal fish traps located in the migratory corridors of the atoll accounted for 94% of recaptures and these movements occurred during the waning moon. Fishing mortality increased as bonefish reach sexual maturity, recruiting to the trap fishery at age 4 with the onset of spawning behaviour. Bonefish abundance between ages 3 and 5 was estimated to be 29,079 individuals. This case study demonstrated the utility of mark–recapture in filling knowledge gaps that impede the management of data‐limited fisheries. Ultimately, these results supported the creation of an Educational Managed Marine Area and the resurgence of rahui (seasonal closure) to manage this fishery.
Differentiation and adaptation of natural killer cells for anti‐malarial immunity
Authors: Goodier Martin R. , Wolf Asia‐Sophia , Riley Eleanor M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNatural killer cells employ a diverse arsenal of effector mechanisms to target intracellular pathogens. Differentiation of natural killer (NK) cell activation pathways occurs along a continuum from reliance on innate pro‐inflammatory cytokines and stress‐induced host ligands through to interaction with signals derived from acquired immune responses. Importantly, the degree of functional differentiation of the NK cell lineage influences the magnitude and specificity of interactions with host cells infected with viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Individual humans possess a vast diversity of distinct NK cell clones, each with the capacity to vary along this functional differentiation pathway, which ‐ when combined ‐ results in unique individual responses to different infections. Here we summarize these NK cell differentiation events, review evidence for direct interaction of malaria‐infected host cells with NK cells and assess how innate inflammatory signals induced by malaria parasite‐associated molecular patterns influence the indirect activation and function of NK cells. Finally, we discuss evidence that anti‐malarial immunity develops in parallel with advancing NK differentiation, coincident with a loss of reliance on inflammatory signals, and a refined capacity of NK cells to target malaria parasites more precisely, particularly through antibody‐dependent mechanisms.
Bacterial contamination and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in raw fruits and vegetables sold in Delhi, India
Authors: Saksena Rushika , Malik Manika , Gaind Rajni 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFresh fruits and vegetables contaminated with microbial pathogens can cause outbreaks of food poisoning and other enteric diseases if consumed raw. The objective of the present study was to determine the bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance in fresh produce sold in Delhi, India. One hundred fifty samples of fruits and vegetables generally consumed raw were collected from retail and wholesale vendors of Delhi‐NCR, India. Microbial contamination was studied by culturing 25 g of each sample. Antimicrobial resistance testing was performed for isolated pathogens and resistance phenotypes determined. Overall, 97.3% of fruit and vegetables sampled were contaminated with pathogens. In over 75% of samples, coliforms were detected with Escherichia coli in 17.4%. Majority of vegetables were contaminated with coliforms particularly ginger (100%), cabbage (80%), cucumber (75%), and tomato (75%). Extended spectrum beta‐lactamases (ESBL) was detected in eight (5.7%) isolates, carbapenem resistance in four with three metallo‐β‐lactamases producers. E. coli was isolated at a significantly higher rate from retail shops viz‐a‐viz wholesale markets (p value = .04). As high level of contamination with potential human pathogens is present in fruits and vegetables sold in wholesale markets and retail shops in Delhi‐NCR, the study underlines the need for stricter regulations and implementation of standards.Practical applicationsThe present study highlights the high level of contamination with potential human pathogens including coliforms present in fruits and vegetables sold in wholesale markets, self‐service retail shops and road side push carts in Delhi‐NCR, India. Presence of extended spectrum beta‐lactamases and metallo beta‐lactamases producing organisms in fruits and vegetables is a concerning food safety issue. Therefore, the study underlines the need for periodic monitoring of produce at various levels of production and sale are required to achieve satisfactory levels of microbial load.
An explicit test of Pleistocene survival in peripheral versus nunatak refugia in two high mountain plant species
Authors: Pan Da , Hülber Karl , Willner Wolfgang , Schneeweiss Gerald M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPleistocene climate fluctuations had profound influence on the biogeographical history of many biota. As large areas in high mountain ranges were covered by glaciers, biota were forced either to peripheral refugia (and possibly beyond to lowland refugia) or to interior refugia (nunataks). However, nunatak survival remains controversial as it relies solely on correlative genetic evidence. Here, we test hypotheses of glacial survival using two high alpine plant species (the insect‐pollinated Pedicularis asplenifolia and wind‐pollinated Carex fuliginosa) in the European Alps. Employing the iDDC (integrative Distributional, Demographic and Coalescent) approach, which couples species distribution modelling, spatial and temporal demographic simulation and Approximate Bayesian Computation, we explicitly test three hypotheses of glacial survival: (a) peripheral survival only, (b) nunatak survival only and (c) peripheral plus nunatak survival. In P. asplenifolia the peripheral plus nunatak survival hypothesis was supported by Bayes factors (BF> 100), whereas in C. fuliginosa the peripheral survival only hypothesis, although best supported, could not be unambiguously distinguished from the peripheral plus nunatak survival hypothesis (BF = 5.58). These results are consistent with current habitat preferences (P. asplenifolia extends to higher elevations) and the potential for genetic swamping (i.e., replacement of local genotypes via hybridization with immigrating genotypes [expected to be higher in the wind‐pollinated C. fuliginosa]). Although the persistence of plants on nunataks during glacial periods has been debated and studied over decades, this is one of the first studies to explicitly test the hypothesis instead of solely using correlative evidence.
The Global and the Local: Tracing the Trajectory of the Largest Biometric Identity Program
Authors: Rawat Pragati , Morris John C. 
Published: November 2019

How did the largest national biometric identity program chart a successful trajectory for itself? We employ the actor‐network theory in a novel case of unprecedented scale to trace the trajectory of a complex government program in India. The program created a huge local network of human actors and technical artifacts and their resultant actions shaped the interests of the global network positively, thus managing the political support and flow of funds for the project. Modern strategies of minimalist design, open application program interfaces, and the fast pace of implementation strengthened the position of the program as the obligatory passage point.Related ArticlesChao, Chia‐An, and Nathan Myers. 2018. “State Biotechnology and Genomic Development: Critical Resources and Barriers.” Politics & Policy 46 (6): 985‐1016. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12279Harvey, Olivia. 2009. “Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research in the United States: Some Policy Options for Industry Development.” Politics & Policy 37 (1): 51‐71. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2008.00161.xMontes de Oca Barrera, Laura Beatriz. 2019. “Persistent Exclusion in Mexico: Regulatory Governance as an Imperfect Project of Political Modernization.” Politics & Policy 47 (1): 127‐151. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12291Related Media“International Seminar on Network Theory Keynote ‐ Bruno Latour.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj7EDMRJrbU“S1: Aadhaar has Made India a World Leader in Digital Payments Security.” 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jfn19qry5s“Davos 2019 ‐ Identity in a Digital World.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1CNG4pYOPs
Using Hidden Information and Performance Level Boundaries to Study Student–Teacher Assignments: Implications for Estimating Teacher Causal Effects
Authors: Lockwood J. R. , McCaffrey D. 
Published: November 2019

SummaryA common problem in educational evaluation is estimating causal effects of interventions from non-experimental data on students. Scores from standardized achievement tests often are used to adjust for differences in background characteristics of students in different non-experimental groups. An open question is whether, and how, these adjustments should account for the errors in test scores as measures of latent achievement. The answer depends on what information was used to assign students to non-experimental groups. Using a case-study of estimating teacher effects on student achievement, we develop two novel empirical tests about what information is used to assign students to teachers. We demonstrate that assignments are influenced by both information that is unobserved by the researcher, and error prone test scores. We develop a model that is appropriate for this complex selection mechanism and compare its results with common simpler estimators. We discuss implications for the broader problem of causal modelling with error prone confounders.
Perceptions of Past Parenting and Adult Attachment as Vulnerability Factors for Suicidal Ideation in the Context of the Integrated Motivational–Volitional Model of Suicidal Behavior
Authors: Zortea Tiago C. , Gray Cindy M. , O’Connor Rory C. 
Published: November 2019

ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate whether perceptions of past parenting and current attachment orientations are associated with key components of the Integrated Motivational–Volitional (IMV) Model of Suicidal Behavior. We investigated the relationship between perceptions of past parenting, attachment, suicide ideation, defeat, entrapment, coping, and resilience.MethodA total of 730 adult participants responded to an online questionnaire comprised of psychological measures. An initial regression analysis indicated that memories of past parenting and attachment were associated with suicide ideation. Four mediation models were tested based on the IMV model, all controlling for depressive symptoms.ResultsIn the first model, attachment orientations mediated the relationships between perceptions of past parenting dimensions and defeat. In the second, defeat mediated the relationships between attachment orientations and entrapment. In the third, entrapment mediated the relationship between defeat and suicidal ideation, but coping did not moderate the defeat–entrapment relationship. In the final model, entrapment mediated the relationship between defeat and suicide ideation, with resilience moderating this relationship.ConclusionsThe findings are novel and congruent with the core principles of the IMV model. Clinical implications suggest the protective effect of resilience and strengthening of self‐compassion attitudes to reduce the effect of insecure attachment strategies.
Moving beyond categorization to understand affective influences on real world health decisions
Authors: Ferrer Rebecca A. , Ellis Erin M. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper provides an overview of affect and health decision‐making research, with a focus on identifying gaps, opportunities, and challenges to guide future research. We begin by defining common categorical distinctions of affective processes that influence health decisions: integral (i.e., related to the decision) and incidental (i.e., normatively unrelated to the decision) influences, and current (experienced in the moment) and anticipated (“cognitive representations” of future affect) affect. We then summarize key discoveries within the most common categories of affective influences on health decision making: current integral affect, current incidental affect, and anticipated integral affect. Finally, we highlight research gaps, challenges, and opportunities for future directions for research aimed at translating affective and decision science theory to improve our understanding of, and ability to intervene upon, health decision making.
Digitaria sanguinalis seed dormancy release and seedling emergence are affected by crop canopy and stubble
Authors: Oreja F H , Batlla D , de la Fuente E B 
Published: November 2019

SummaryDigitaria sanguinalis is a troublesome annual weed that causes important yield losses in different crops. Despite this, there is scarce information about different aspects of its biology under field conditions. New knowledge about the establishment process of this species will be of paramount importance in order to maximise the effectiveness of weed management. The aims of this paper were to evaluate the effect of stubble found on the surface on seed dormancy levels through the season, the effects of stubble and soyabean crop canopy on seedling emergence and to determine the field emergence pattern as a consequence of seed dormancy level at dispersal time. Seeds on the soil surface, which showed a high dormancy level at the beginning of autumn, were released from dormancy by low winter temperatures and germinated during spring as temperatures rose, showing a transient surface seedbank. Seeds covered by stubbles had delayed the emergence in the field due to lower alternating temperatures perceived by the surface seedbank. On the other hand, the presence of a soyabean crop and stubble together reduced the number of seedlings. Seeds with a high dormancy level at dispersal time showed a delayed emergence in the next season when compared with seeds with a lower dormancy level. However, the final number of seedlings was similar. Both stubble on surface and crop canopy are useful factors to lessen and delay the seedling emergence allowing the design of weed management strategies in order to diminish the population levels of this species.
Ensuring the Future of Nuclear Power
Authors: Duffey Romney , Pioro Igor 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
In the early 2000s, the talk was of a so-called Nuclear Renaissance with hundreds of new nuclear plants to be ordered. We should be seeing the fruits of that now, but we are not. There have been several factors that have led to the stagnation of nuclear power industry. To revive the sector, it is important to evaluate the current status of the nuclear power industry, examine the requirements that all new power technologies in open and competitive markets must meet, and determine whether present and future nuclear-power technologies look to be capable of achieving those goals.
A Method to Determine Material Length Scale Parameters in Elastic Strain Gradient Theory
Authors: Song Jingru , Wei Yueguang 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
With specimen size decrease for advanced structural materials, the measured mechanics behaviors display the strong size effects. In order to characterize the size effects, several higher-order theories have been presented in the past several decades, such as the strain gradient theories and the micro-polar theories, etc. However, in each higher-order theory, there are several length scale parameters included, which are usually taken as the material parameters and are determined by using the corresponding theoretical predictions to fit experimental results. Since such kind of experimental approaches needs high techniques, it is very difficult to be performed; therefore, the obtained experimental results are very few until now; in addition, the physical meanings of the parameters still need to be investigated. In the present research, an equivalent linkage method is used to simply determine the elastic length parameters appeared in the elastic strain gradient theory for a series of typical metal materials. We use both the elastic strain gradient theory and the higher-order Cauchy-Born rule to model the materials mechanics behaviors by means of a spherical expanding model and then make a linkage for both kinds of results according to the equivalence of strain energy densities. The values of the materials length parameters are obtained for a series of typical metal systems, such as the face-centered cubic (FCC), body-centered cubic (BCC), and hexagonal close-packed (HCP) metals.
A Simulation Data-Driven Design Approach for Rapid Product Optimization
Authors: Shao Yanli , Zhu Huawei , Wang Rui , Liu Ying , Liu Yusheng 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Traditional design optimization is an iterative process of design, simulation, and redesign, which requires extensive calculations and analysis. The designer needs to adjust and evaluate the design parameters manually and continually based on the simulation results until a satisfactory design is obtained. However, the expensive computational costs and large resource consumption of complex products hinder the wide application of simulation in industry. It is not an easy task to search the optimal design solution intelligently and efficiently. Therefore, a simulation data-driven design approach which combines dynamic simulation data mining and design optimization is proposed to achieve this purpose in this study. The dynamic simulation data mining algorithm—on-line sequential extreme learning machine with adaptive weights (WadaptiveOS-ELM)—is adopted to train the dynamic prediction model to effectively evaluate the merits of new design solutions in the optimization process. Meanwhile, the prediction model is updated incrementally by combining new “good” data set to reduce the modeling cost and improve the prediction accuracy. Furthermore, the improved heuristic optimization algorithm—adaptive and weighted center particle swarm optimization (AWCPSO)—is introduced to guide the design change direction intelligently to improve the search efficiency. In this way, the optimal design solution can be searched automatically with less actual simulation iterations and higher optimization efficiency, and thus supporting the rapid product optimization effectively. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
CFD Analysis of Premixed Combustion in a Two Stroke Polygon Engine
Authors: Anderson Kevin R. , Mendez Christian 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The numerical modeling of the premixed combustion occurring in the chamber of a polygon engine is presented in this paper. This research is being carried out to support the analysis and design of a lightweight, two-stroke, six-sided, in-plane, polygon engine. Results for average combustion chamber temperature, turbulent flame speed, progress variable, and Damkohler number versus piston position are presented for methane (CH4), diesel (C10H22), and ethanol (C2H50H) fuels, respectively.