bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
IsoSeq transcriptome assembly of C3 panicoid grasses provides tools to study evolutionary change in the Panicoideae
Authors: Carvalho Daniel S. , Nishimwe Aime V. , Schnable James C. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe number of plant species with genomic and transcriptomic data has been increasing rapidly. The grasses—Poaceae—have been well represented among species with published reference genomes. However, as a result the genomes of wild grasses are less frequently targeted by sequencing efforts. Sequence data from wild relatives of crop species in the grasses can aid the study of domestication, gene discovery for breeding and crop improvement, and improve our understanding of the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. Here, we used long‐read sequencing technology to characterize the transcriptomes of three C3 panicoid grass species: Dichanthelium oligosanthes, Chasmanthium laxum, and Hymenachne amplexicaulis. Based on alignments to the sorghum genome, we estimate that assembled consensus transcripts from each species capture between 54.2% and 65.7% of the conserved syntenic gene space in grasses. Genes co‐opted into C4 were also well represented in this dataset, despite concerns that because these genes might play roles unrelated to photosynthesis in the target species, they would be expressed at low levels and missed by transcript‐based sequencing. A combined analysis using syntenic orthologous genes from grasses with published reference genomes and consensus long‐read sequences from these wild species was consistent with previously published phylogenies. It is hoped that these data, targeting underrepresented classes of species within the PACMAD grasses—wild species and species utilizing C3 photosynthesis—will aid in future studies of domestication and C4 evolution by decreasing the evolutionary distance between C4 and C3 species within this clade, enabling more accurate comparisons associated with evolution of the C4 pathway.
The emotional impact of surveillance programs for pancreatic cancer on high‐risk individuals: A prospective analysis
Authors: Paiella Salvatore , Marinelli Veronica , Secchettin Erica , Mazzi Maria Angela , Ferretto Francesca , Casolino Raffaella , Bassi Claudio , Salvia Roberto 
Published: February 2020

AbstractObjectiveLiterature shows that emotional status can influence participation in screening/surveillance programs, and that screening/surveillance programs may alter the psychological well‐being of subjects examined. This study aims to assess if participating in a surveillance program for pancreatic cancer early detection is associated with abnormal levels of psychological distress in high‐risk individuals (HRIs), compared to the general population.MethodsFifty‐four HRIs participating in a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)‐based surveillance program completed several psychological assessment questionnaires, investigating global functioning, self‐efficacy, perceived stress, coping abilities, and social support. The questionnaires were administered by a clinical psychologist after the MRCP but before the subjects were informed about the results of the scans. The HRIs were subjects with strong familiarity of pancreatic cancer and/or carriers of known genetic mutations related to cancer susceptibility. The psychological assessment was made at the time of the first examination.ResultsThe population was characterized by an overall good psychological status. Scoring of our sample was comparable to the general population norms. The HRIs showed decent global functioning, high self‐efficacy levels, low perceived stress in the last month prior to examination, efficient emotion‐focused coping strategies, and an adequate social support system. The younger subjects' subpopulation only revealed higher levels of stress.ConclusionsFrom a psychological point of view, an MRCP‐based pancreatic cancer annual surveillance seemed not to influence the HRIs' psychological well‐being, unless in young people. Further studies are needed to better establish if there are any changes in distress levels over time and how emotional status influences participation in surveillance programs.
Understanding the relative performance of SCAN, SIM, PMRM and MRM methods for quantifying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil samples
Authors: Han Yuling , Yin Fang , John Gerald F. , Clement T. Prabhakar 
Published: February 2020

RationalePolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in oil spill samples are analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) using four different methods: (1) full scan (SCAN), (2) selected ion monitoring (SIM), (3) multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), and (4) pseudo multiple reaction monitoring (PMRM). This study quantifies the relative performance of these methods.MethodsNovel experiments were designed to measure the signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratios of all four methods. This was accomplished by spiking the crude oil with five deuterated PAHs (dPAHs) in two distinct ways: (1) varying the background noise by changing crude oil concentrations before spiking the samples with 1 ng/mL of dPAHs, and (2) varying the signal by spiking dPAHs concentrations of 0.5 and 5 ng/mL into a crude oil sample.ResultsThe MRM method is the most selective and sensitive of the four methods. It also provides the lowest limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ). MRM is the optimal approach for quantifying PAHs in complex petroleum samples containing high levels of background noise. Also, our data show that the PAHs in complex oil spill samples can be quantified by MRM without using any complicated sample preparation steps.ConclusionsBased on our experimental data, the relative performance of the four methods used for quantifying PAHs in crude oil samples can be ranked as MRM > PMRM > SIM > SCAN.
How much heterogeneity? Flow versus area from a big data perspective
Authors: Kulkarni Poonam R. , Godwin Whitney R. , Long Justin A. , Newell Ryan C. , Newell Charles J. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractOver the past 10 years, there has been an increased recognition that matrix diffusion processes are a significant factor controlling the success of groundwater remediation. New field techniques and modeling tools have, consequently, been developed to understand how contaminants diffuse into and then out of low‐permeability (“low‐k”) zones and assess the resulting impact on groundwater quality. Matrix diffusion, in turn, is driven by one key factor: geologic heterogeneity. The importance of heterogeneity is being emphasized in the groundwater field by general rules of thumb such as “90% of the mass flux occurs in 10%‐20% of the cross‐sectional area” and conceptual models that show most of the groundwater flow occurs through the aquifer's “mobile porosity” which just a small fraction of commonly used effective porosity values (between 0.02 and 0.10 for mobile porosity vs. 0.25 for effective porosity). For this study, 141 boring logs from 43 groundwater remediation sites were evaluated to develop an empirically based estimate of the groundwater flow versus aquifer cross‐sectional area to confirm or reject the general flow versus area rules of thumb. This study indicated that at these 43 sites, an average of 30% of the cross‐sectional area carried 90% of the groundwater flow. Our flow‐only analysis does provide moderate (but not confirmatory) support for the “mobile porosity” concept with an estimated representative mobile porosity value of about 0.11 at the 43 sites.
Engineering 2D Mesoporous Silica@MXene‐Integrated 3D‐Printing Scaffolds for Combinatory Osteosarcoma Therapy and NO‐Augmented Bone Regeneration
Authors: Yang Qianhao , Yin Haohao , Xu Tianming , Zhu Daoyu , Yin Junhui , Chen Yixuan , Yu Xiaowei , Gao Junjie , Zhang Changqing , Chen Yu , Gao Youshui 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe rising concerns of the recurrence and bone deficiency in surgical treatment of malignant bone tumors have raised an urgent need of the advance of multifunctional therapeutic platforms for efficient tumor therapy and bone regeneration. Herein, the construction of a multifunctional biomaterial system is reported by the integration of 2D Nb2C MXene wrapped with S‐nitrosothiol (RSNO)‐grafted mesoporous silica with 3D‐printing bioactive glass (BG) scaffolds (MBS). The near infrared (NIR)‐triggered photonic hyperthermia of MXene in the NIR‐II biowindow and precisely controlled nitric oxide (NO) release are coordinated for multitarget ablation of bone tumors to enhance localized osteosarcoma treatment. The in situ formed phosphorus and calcium components degraded from BG scaffold promote bone‐regeneration bioactivity, augmented by sufficient blood supply triggered by on‐demand NO release. The tunable NO generation plays a crucial role in sequential adjuvant tumor ablation, combinatory promotion of coupled vascularization, and bone regeneration. This study demonstrates a combinatory osteosarcoma ablation and a full osseous regeneration as enabled by the implantation of MBS. The design of multifunctional scaffolds with the specific features of controllable NO release, highly efficient photothermal conversion, and stimulatory bone regeneration provides an intriguing biomaterial platform for the diversified treatment of bone tumors.
Long‐term domestication to Mn stresses alleviates the inhibition on anammox process
Authors: Tang Chong‐Jian , Zhang Lin , Feng Fan , Xiong Lei , Mahmood Qaisar , Zeng Weizhi , Chai Xilin , Wang Yunyan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHeavy metals such as Mn2+ are common contaminants in ammonium‐rich wastewater. The information of Mn2+ effect on anammox process needs further investigation. The short‐ and long‐term effects of Mn2+ on anammox were explored by anammox granular sludge. Batch tests showed that the half inhibition value (IC50) of Mn2+ was 4.83 mg/L. The anammox activity was severely inhibited in 0.5 hr under 15 mg/L Mn2+. However, after long‐term domestication by increasing the concentration of Mn2+, both the low‐load reactor (R1) and the high‐load reactor (R2) performed well, achieving volumetric nitrogen removal rate of 6.36 kg/(m3·d) and 13.99 kg/(m3·d), respectively. The average ammonium and nitrite removal efficiency of both reactors under 200 mg/L Mn still maintained above 90%. The results from long‐term reactors’ operation showed that the serious inhibition effect indicated by the batch test was significantly exaggerated. The granules became dispersed after long‐term operation in the high‐load reactor (R2) which might be correlated to the high osmotic pressure caused by high Mn2+ load, and the mechanism needs to be investigated further.Practitioner Points

The half inhibition value of Mn2+ on anammox sludge was 4.83 mg/L in batch experiment.

200 mg/L Mn2+ did not cause any inhibition on anammox process during long‐term operation.

Granular sludge is finer under high nitrogen loads with 200 mg/L Mn stress.
Same-Sex Parents Negotiating the Law in Italy: Between Claims of Recognition and Practices of Exclusion
Authors: Franchi Marina , Selmi Giulia 
Published: February 2020

AbstractItaly represents a particular case in the panorama of Southern Europe; it is going through a very crucial moment when issues of sexual politics are at the forefront of the political and societal debate. Against the backdrop of the plurality of ways in which individuals arrange their intimate lives, the increased visibility in the public and political sphere of LGBT issues, and the de-traditionalisation of gendered relations, we are witnessing a strong, at times violent heterosexist/conservative backlash. Against this background LGB individuals organise their intimate lives, make reproductive choices and develop strategies to protect themselves and their most vulnerable next of kin. Drawing on qualitative interviews with gay and lesbian couples in Italy this chapter aims to investigate the intersection between the context and the ways in which individuals in same-sex relationships organise their intimate lives. It highlights the impact of the law and the socio-cultural context on the intimate choices of individuals, but also contribute to the growing body of literature that complicates the assimilation/disruption dyad and caution against the translatability of notions of heteronormativity and homonormativity.
Cyprus
Authors: Mavrikiou Petroula M. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe demographic challenge of an ageing population and the increasing diversity of working life call for a greater focus and deeper analysis of the opportunities and less favourable consequences of extended working lifepolicies. The 15th principle of The European Pillar of Social Rights (2017) emphasises that everyone in old age has the right to resources that ensure living in dignity. However, currently these rights are not ensured properly, as there are big differences concerning gender, health, and employment among older adults in many countries. This chapter discusses the gender and healthimplications of the extension of working life in Cyprus.
France
Authors: Rochut Julie , Ogg Jim 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFrance is characterised by a low labour force participationrate after of the age of 60. Recent and current reforms aim to increase the working life: raising the legal retirement age and increasing the duration of insurance contributions to obtain a full pension. Women have more career breaks, higher rates of part-time work and therefore lower pensions than men. Workers in hazardous jobs or with long careers can under certain conditions retire earlier than the legal age of 62 years. The gender inequalities observed in early years of employment are exacerbated in the latter part of the working life.
Greece
Authors: Lyberaki Antigone , Georgiadis Thomas 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe simultaneous experience of rapid population ageing, deep recession and a conservative social protection system was behind the dramatic social adjustments during the Greekbailout 2010–2018, affecting diverse categories of citizens whose later life wellbeing was undermined. Older women are especially vulnerable, as they were disproportionately affected by reforms. Women who retire after 2016 face abrupt and dramatic retirement age hikes, while those who managed to retire early have already faced repeated cuts in pensions in their incomes. Their predicament is exacerbated by new obstacles and disincentives which discourageolder workers. To make a dire employment situation even worse, unemployment among older workers (especially women) is especially hard to tackle. Long term careservices provided by social protection are insufficient to cover demand, implying the need for continued informalcare on the part of older women to fill gaps. Consequently, older women have had to shoulder a large part of adjustments, but will also be called to make up for retrenchment in key areas, such as caring for grandchildren and for elderly relatives- whilst being denied meaningful support to help their them respond. As long term developments unfold over the next decade, these gaps will deepen and the social predicament of older Greek women will be more pressing.
Portugal
Authors: Albuquerque Paula , Falcão Casaca Sara , Perista Heloísa , Perista Pedro 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis chapter addresses the topic of extended working life from a gender-sensitive perspective, through a discussion of employment and working patterns, care arrangements, health issues, the pension system, employment policiesand other relevant public policies in Portugal. Concerning employment patterns, Portugal is similar to the ‘Nordicuniversal breadwinner model’, as both women and men tend to work on a full-time and continuous basis throughout their lifecourse. From 2002 onwards, the legislated pensionable age has been rising and early retirement was increasingly penalised until the mid-2010s. Active labour market policies, such as the transition to more flexible forms of work, the possibility to accumulate pensions and wages, incentives to the hiring ofolder workers, or promotion of lifelong learning are examples of current policies, although they seem to have been insufficient or largely ineffective so far. In Portugal, as elsewhere in Europe, women live longer than men but have higher rates of morbidity and functional limitations in old age. This implies that it is more difficult for women, on average, to keep working until a later age. Equity in promoting good health is explicitly assumed as an objective of national health programmes.
Policy Toolkits on Employment and Ageing: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Duvvury Nata , Radl Jonas , Sarter E. K. , Scherger Simone , Spijker Jeroen 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPolicy toolkits provide useful information and can be drawn upon as guidance in different stages of the policy-making process. This chapter reviews existing policy toolkits on employment and ageing, aiming to distil a conceptual categorisation intended to inform research uptake strategies. As a basis, we develop a clear definition of policy toolkits and propose a typology of policy tools that consists of four types: (1) good practice, (2) social indicators, (3) programme evaluation and (4) forecasts, projections and simulations. We also describe the underlying relationship between research and policy-making, and provide a synthetic overview of toolkits available for ageing-related issues in the area of employment and pensions. We conclude with the observation that effective policy toolkits hinge on the prior formulation of clear policy goals and that different policy goals may not always be congruent with each other or be simultaneously achieved.
Perspective for Part II
Authors: Nakanishi Toshio 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPulmonary blood flow increases gradually during fetal life, and dramatic changes in the pulmonary circulation occur from the fetus to newborn, including decrease in pulmonary arterial resistance, increase in pulmonary blood flow, and closure of ductus arteriosus. Upon initiation of breathing after birth, pulmonary circulation is important for gas exchange between the alveoli and capillary vessels. Presence of congenital heart disease modifies development of the lung and pulmonary vessels, even before birth. For example, enlarged right atrium due to severe Ebstein’s anomaly compresses the fetal lung and compromises lung development. Decreases in pulmonary blood flow during fetal life and especially after birth, for example, due to pulmonary stenosis or outflow stenosis may compromise the development of pulmonary arteries. In the research of morphogenesis of congenital heart disease, it is important to understand normal and abnormal lung and pulmonary vessel developments.
Relationship Between Mutations in ENG and ALK1 Genes and the Affected Organs in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Authors: Iwasa Toru , Yamada Osamu , Morisaki Hiroko , Morisaki Takayuki , Kurosaki Ken-ichi , Shiraishi Isao 
Published: February 2020

AbstractHereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a hereditary disorder that causes refractory nasal bleeding, arteriovenous malformations in the lung (pulmonary arteriovenous fistula: PAVF), central nervous system (CNS-AVF), and liver (hepatic AVF). HHT is caused by genetic abnormalities in endoglin (ENG), ACVRL1 (ALK1), and other rare genes (e.g., SMAD4). The relationship between these gene mutations and the affected organs remains unclear.
A Genetic Analysis for Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Yoshida Yu , Uchida Keiko , Kodo Kazuki , Furutani Yoshiyuki , Nakanishi Toshio , Yamagishi Hiroyuki 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a lethal disease [1]. Although mutations in BMPR2 and other genes have been reported, the genetic causes in large numbers of patients, especially with sporadic PAH, remain unknown. In 2013, Kerstjens-Frederikse et al. first reported TBX4 mutations in patients with PAH [2]. TBX4 is an essential transcription factor for the development of the hindlimbs and lungs [3]. In European countries, the frequency of TBX4 mutation was reported as 2.4–4.1% in adult-onset PAH [2, 4] and as 7.5–30% in child-onset PAH [2, 5] (Fig. 27.1). However, its frequency in Asian patients with PAH has yet to be studied.
Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Postoperative Tetralogy of Fallot
Authors: Yasuhara Jun , Yamagishi Hiroyuki 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPulmonary hypertension (PH) is a frequent complication in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), before or after cardiac surgery. According to the recent clinical classification, PH associated with CHD is categorized into subclasses depending on the pathogenesis: (1) Eisenmenger syndrome, (2) left-to-right shunts, (3) PH with coincidental CHD, and (4) postoperative PH [1]. Postoperative PH means that CHD was repaired, but PH either persists immediately after surgery or recurs/develops months or years after surgery, in the absence of significant postoperative hemodynamic lesions. The anatomical features are varied and the clinical phenotype is often aggressive [2–4].
Transcriptional Profiles in the Chicken Ductus Arteriosus During Hatching
Authors: Shinjo Satoko , Akaike Toru , Ohmori Eriko , Kajimura Ichige , Goda Nobuhito , Minamisawa Susumu 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe ductus arteriosus (DA) of oviparous animals differs from mammals’ in the embryonic gas exchange system and its anatomy. We performed transcriptional analysis of chicken DA, attempting to elucidate the similarity and diversity in the mechanism of DA closure among species.
Quantification of Contractility in Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Brockmeier Konrad , Haustein Moritz , Khalil Markus , Hannes Tobias 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMurine embryonic stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (mESC-CMs) and murine induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (miPS-CMs) were differentiated and co-cultured with irreversibly injured myocardial tissue slices. When beating clusters had integrated morphologically into the damaged tissue, isometric force measurements were performed. Effects of Ca(2+), nifedipine, and beta-adrenergic modulation were studied during loaded contractions and compared with the contractile behavior of native murine myocardial slices. Both CM variants conferred force to the myocardial tissue. Contraction increased with higher concentrations of Ca(2+) and Isoproterenol, and decreased with nifedipine in all slice variants. Differences between mESC-CMs and miPS-CMs were non-significant, however, significantly different (P < 0.05), when compared to native myocardial slices.
A Temporo-Spatial Regulation of Sema3c Is Essential for Interaction of Progenitor Cells during Cardiac Outflow Tract Development
Authors: Kodo Kazuki , Shibata Shinsuke , Miyagawa-Tomita Sachiko , Ong Sang-Ging , Takahashi Hiroshi , Kume Tsutomu , Okano Hideyuki , Matsuoka Rumiko , Yamagishi Hiroyuki 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe two cardiac progenitor cell lineages, cardiac neural crest cells (cNCCs) and the second heart field (SHF), play key roles in the development of the cardiac outflow tract (OFT). Both cardiac progenitor cells interact with each other and contribute to OFT formation cooperatively. The neurovascular guiding molecule, semaphorin 3c (Sema3c), is thought to serve as a key attractant for the migration of cNCCs. A previous study reported that Tbx1 null mice showed a significant reduction in Sema3c expression in the OFT region [1]. However, the regulatory effect of Tbx1 on Sema3c was unclear. Here, we show that Sema3c plays key roles in cNCCs-SHF interactions through the regulation by Tbx1 and other molecules during OFT development [2].
Significance of Transcription Factors in the Mechanisms of Great Artery Malformations
Authors: Watanabe Yusuke , Nakagawa Osamu 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMembers of the Hey transcriptional factor family are Notch target genes [1], and they have unique and redundant functions in cardiovascular development. Among them, we recently reported that Hey1 had an indispensable role for the great artery formation (Fig. 60.1) [2].