bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detecting selected haplotype blocks in evolve and resequence experiments
Authors: Otte Kathrin A. , Schlötterer Christian 
Published: August 2020

AbstractShifting from the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms to the reconstruction of selected haplotypes greatly facilitates the interpretation of evolve and resequence (E&R) experiments. Merging highly correlated hitchhiker SNPs into haplotype blocks reduces thousands of candidates to few selected regions. Current methods of haplotype reconstruction from Pool‐seq data need a variety of data‐specific parameters that are typically defined ad hoc and require haplotype sequences for validation. Here, we introduce haplovalidate, a tool which detects selected haplotypes in Pool‐seq time series data without the need for sequenced haplotypes. Haplovalidate makes data‐driven choices of two key parameters for the clustering procedure, the minimum correlation between SNPs constituting a cluster and the window size. Applying haplovalidate to simulated E&R data reliably detects selected haplotype blocks with low false discovery rates. Importantly, our analyses identified a restriction of the haplotype block‐based approach to describe the genomic architecture of adaptation. We detected a substantial fraction of haplotypes containing multiple selection targets. These blocks were considered as one region of selection and therefore led to underestimation of the number of selection targets. We demonstrate that the separate analysis of earlier time points can significantly increase the separation of selection targets into individual haplotype blocks. We conclude that the analysis of selected haplotype blocks has great potential for the characterization of the adaptive architecture with E&R experiments.
Current status of PSMA PET imaging in prostate cancer
Authors: Ho Chi Lai , Wu Kwan Kit , Chen Sirong 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe past decade has witnessed the rising popularity and acceptance of molecular definitions on disease management. Prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA), in light of its molecular nature and cytokinetic properties, has rapidly become the target for development of a variety of functional tracers for PET/CT evaluation of prostate cancer. The most commonly used PSMA‐binding analog is 68Ga‐labeled PSMA‐11, which is now widely applied in both research and clinical settings. Literature data in the recent years have been enriched by a number of meta‐analyses and systemic reviews on the evolving role of PSMA PET in primary diagnosis, staging, detection of biochemical recurrence after primary cancer treatment, identification, and significance of oligometastasis, as well as in restaging and treatment monitoring. Being a highly sensitive and reasonably specific molecular tracer, PSMA‐binding analogs have a high potential to possess the majority of imaging characteristics required for a variety of management decisions in prostate malignancy.
The evolution of IgE‐mediated type I hypersensitivity and its immunological value
Authors: Pritchard David I. , Falcone Franco H. , Mitchell Piers D. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe allergic phenotype manifests itself in a spectrum of troublesome to life‐threatening diseases, from seasonal hay fever, through the food allergies, atopic eczema, asthma, to anaphylaxis. Allergy, that is an overreaction to allergen in hypersensitive individuals, results from the production of IgE, mast cell and basophil sensitisation and degranulation, requiring a range of medications to manage the conditions. Yet it is highly likely that allergy evolved for a purpose and that allergic diseases are accidental consequences of an insufficiently regulated immune response. This article presents a viewpoint from which to restore the immunological reputation of the allergic phenotype. We consider the evolutionary origins of potential allergens, toxins and parasites, and how they might have influenced early‐mammal species in existence when IgE first developed. We conclude that the allergic phenotype has likely saved the lives of many more mammals than have ever died from allergy, so justifying the positive role of IgE in our evolution.
Repeating noninvasive risk stratification improves prediction of outcome in ICD patients
Authors: Vandenberk Bert , Floré Vincent , Röver Christian , Vos Mark A. , Dunnink Albert , Leftheriotis Dionyssios , Friede Tim , Flevari Panagiota , Zabel Markus , Willems Rik 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBackgroundNoninvasive risk stratification aims to detect abnormalities in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ventricular arrhythmias. We studied the predictive value of repeating risk stratification in patients with an implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD).MethodsThe EUTrigTreat clinical study was a prospective multicenter trial including ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies and arrhythmogenic heart disease. Left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% (LVEF), premature ventricular complexes >400/24 hr (PVC), non‐negative microvolt T‐wave alternans (MTWA), and abnormal heart rate turbulence (HRT) were considered high risk. Tests were repeated within 12 months after inclusion. Adjusted Cox regression analysis was performed for mortality and appropriate ICD shocks.ResultsIn total, 635 patients had analyzable baseline data with a median follow‐up of 4.4 years. Worsening of LVEF was associated with increased mortality (HR 3.59, 95% CI 1.17–11.04), as was consistent abnormal HRT (HR 8.34, 95%CI 1.06–65.54). HRT improvement was associated with improved survival when compared to consistent abnormal HRT (HR 0.10, 95%CI 0.01–0.82). For appropriate ICD shocks, a non‐negative MTWA test or high PVC count at any moment was associated with increased arrhythmic risk independent of the evolution of test results (worsening: HR 3.76 (95%CI 1.43–9.88) and HR 2.50 (95%CI 1.15–5.46); improvement: HR 2.80 (95%CI 1.03–7.61) and HR 2.45 (95%CI 1.07–5.62); consistent: HR 2.47 (95%CI 0.95–6.45) and HR 2.40 (95%CI 1.33–4.33), respectively). LVEF improvement was associated with a lower arrhythmic risk (HR 0.34, 95%CI 0.12–0.94).ConclusionsRepeating LVEF and HRT improved the prediction of mortality, whereas stratification of ventricular arrhythmias may be improved by repeating LVEF measurements, MTWA and ECG Holter monitoring.
Risk of anal sphincter injury in trial of labor post cesarean section
Authors: Levin Gabriel , Tsur Abraham , Shai Daniel , Alcalay Menachem , Ram Edward , Meyer Raanan 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIntroductionWe wanted to evaluate whether secundiparas who achieved vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) were at an increased risk for obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) compared to primiparas who delivered vaginally, with a stratification by the mode of delivery—spontaneous or operative vaginal delivery.Material and methodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of primiparous women who delivered by vacuum‐assisted delivery between March 2011 and June 2019. Primiparas delivering vaginally and secundiparas undergoing VBAC were compared. The cohort was further stratified into two categories: spontaneous vaginal delivery and operative vaginal delivery.ResultsOverall, 23 822 primiparas who delivered vaginally and 1596 secundiparas who underwent VBAC were analyzed. Operative vaginal delivery was performed in 4561 deliveries. OASI rate did not differ between the VBAC and primipara groups (1.3% vs 1.8%,P = .142). A total of 20 857 women delivered by spontaneous vaginal delivery, among them 1180 (5.7%) women were secundiparas and 19 677 (94.3%) were primiparas. OASI rate was comparable between the secundiparas undergoing VBAC and primiparas delivering vaginally (17 [1.4%] vs 338 [1.7%],P = .436). A total of 4561 women delivered by operative vaginal delivery, among them 416 (9.1%) were secundiparas and 4145 (90.9%) were primiparas. The rate of operative vaginal deliveries was higher among the VBAC group compared with the primipara group (6.1% vs 17.4%,P < .001). However, women undergoing successful VBAC had lower rates of OASI compared with primiparas (3 [0.7%] vs 96 [2.3%]; odds ratio [OR] 0.30, 95% CI 0.09‐0.97,P = .032). After multivariate logistic regression including all statistically significant factors, OASI was not associated with VBAC in spontaneous or operative vaginal deliveries (adjusted OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.51‐1.40 and 0.39, 95% CI 0.12‐1.28, respectively).ConclusionsSecundiparas undergoing VBAC were not at a higher risk of OASI when compared with primiparas delivering vaginally, either in spontaneous or operative vaginal deliveries. This information might aid when counseling women contemplating a trial of labor after cesarean––to address their concerns regarding the risks and benefits of VBAC.
Long‐term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery in elderly patients with colorectal cancer: A single institutional matched case‐control study
Authors: Miguchi Masashi , Yoshimitsu Masanori , Shimomura Manabu , Kohashi Toshihiko , Egi Hiroyuki , Ohdan Hideki , Hirabayashi Naoki 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIntroductionThe number of elderly patients with colorectal cancer has gradually increased. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is widely used to approach colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate long‐term outcomes in octogenarians who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery for colorectal cancer.MethodsThis study included 158 patients aged 80 or over who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer between 2010 and 2015. We compared long‐term outcomes of a laparoscopic colorectal surgery group with those of an open colorectal surgery group by propensity score matching equalizing factors that could affect prognosis such as prognostic nutritional index and Charlson comorbidity index score.ResultsForty‐eight pairs were selected after propensity score matching. The cancer‐specific 5‐year survival rate was 97.1% in the laparoscopic colorectal surgery group and 87.6% in the open colorectal surgery group (P = .17). The overall 5‐year survival rate was 77.3% in the laparoscopic colorectal surgery group and 73.9% in the open colorectal surgery group (P = .32). The 5‐year recurrence‐free survival rate was 95.1% in the laparoscopic colorectal surgery group and 85.4% in the open colorectal surgery group (P = .14).ConclusionLaparoscopic colorectal surgery for octogenarians with colorectal cancer achieves similar oncological outcomes to open colorectal surgery and should be considered as a treatment option.
Disease surveillance of the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Bower Deborah S. , Jennings Charlotte K. , Webb Rebecca J. , Amepou Yolarnie , Schwarzkopf Lin , Berger Lee , Alford Ross A. , Georges Arthur , McKnight Donald T. , Carr Leah , Nason Dillian , Clulow Simon 
Published: August 2020

AbstractEmerging infectious diseases threaten the persistence of biodiversity globally. The amphibian chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, is one of the most widespread and damaging pathogens to biodiversity. New Guinea hosts 6% of the world's frogs and is the largest landmass where B. dendrobatidis remains undetected despite being largely climatically suitable for its persistence. We surveyed for B. dendrobatidis in Papua New Guinea, by swabbing live frogs in the Gulf Province and Eastern Highlands Province and by examining museum specimens from a range of sites and elevations. Here, we show that over a large geographical range, all 442 samples were negative for B. dendrobatidis. The spread of B. dendrobatidis to Papua New Guinea may have been thus far prevented by the remoteness of New Guinea and the hotter climate in its lowlands, which surrounds a more climatically suitable zone for B. dendrobatidis in the highlands. Alternatively, B. dendrobatidis may be present in isolated patches or at low levels and remain undetected, to date. Papua New Guinea remains at risk and would benefit from a national disease surveillance program for chytrid fungi and pre‐emptive actions, designed to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. Measures should include improved biosecurity protocols for trade and travel and continued disease surveillance in areas of probable entry and spread.
Novel therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease targeting brain cholesterol homeostasis
Authors: Samant Nikita Patil , Gupta Girdhari Lal 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia. Aβ plaques and tauopathy are two major concerns associated with AD. Moreover, excessive Aβ accumulation can lead to other nonspecific metabolic brain abnormalities. There are various genetic, environmental, and other risk factors associated with AD. Identification of risk factors and its mechanisms by which these factors impart role in AD pathology would be helpful for the prevention of AD progression. Altered cholesterol homeostasis could be considered as a risk factor for AD progression. Brain cholesterol dysmetabolism is recognized as one of the crucial attributes for AD that affect major hallmarks of AD including neurodegeneration. To fill the gap between altered cholesterol levels in the brain and AD, the researchers started focusing on statins as re‐purposing drugs for AD treatment. The various other hypothesis has been suggested due to a lack of beneficial results of statins in clinical trials, such as reduced brain cholesterol could underlie poor cognition. Unfortunately, it is still unclear, whether an increase or decrease in brain cholesterol levels responsible for Alzheimer's disease or not. Presently, scientists believed that managing the level of cholesterol in the brain may help as an alternative treatment strategy for AD. In this review, we focused on the therapeutic strategies for AD by targeting brain cholesterol levels.
Familial Influences on Treatment and Substance Use Among Mothers Engaged in Prostitution
Authors: Murnan Aaron , Ferber Megan Ferriby 
Published: August 2020

ObjectivesThis study explores how the family system, which includes family members, romantic partners, and children, influences substance use treatment decisions and behaviors among women engaged in street‐level prostitution.BackgroundWomen engaged in street‐level prostitution can be involved in and benefit from substance use treatment; however, these women report worse treatment outcomes compared with other treatment‐seeking women. Little is known about systemic influences on women's substance use treatment, which may contribute to poor treatment outcomes.MethodsWomen (n = 15) between the ages of 20 and 53 years participated in qualitative interviews exploring their perceptions of how their family system influenced substance use treatment decisions and behaviors. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze data and identify themes within participant responses.ResultsWomen reported on multiple shared experiences of how family members, romantic partners, and children directly and indirectly influenced their substance use treatment decisions and behaviors.ConclusionsIntervention efforts that engage supportive family members and children in women's treatment or support women's positive interactions with family are likely to provide unique advantages compared with individual treatment.ImplicationsProviders serving these uniquely vulnerable women should consider their family systems' influence when conceptualizing and intervening, in an effort to promote better long‐term treatment outcomes.
Citizen political knowledge and accountability: Survey evidence on devolution in Kenya
Authors: Opalo Ken Ochieng' 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDevolution complicates citizens’ ability to assign responsibility for the provision of public goods and services to different tiers of government. Misattribution of responsibility limits the effectiveness of electoral accountability in the nested principal–agent relationships comprising voters, politicians, and bureaucrats. This raises two important questions. First, how do citizens learn about the functions of different tiers of government under devolution? Second, how do levels of political knowledge condition citizens’ evaluations of subnational governments? Using cross‐sectional and panel survey data from Kenya (2014–2018), this article shows that voters accumulate knowledge through exposure to government services, and that gender and partisanship mediate knowledge accumulation. In addition, exposed citizens are more likely to give positive evaluations of subnational politicians, despite the fact that such exposure may reveal subnational governments’ low capacity, ineffectiveness, and governance gaps. These findings advance our understanding of the dynamics of political accountability under devolution.
Net primary productivity‐based factors of China's carbon intensity: A regional perspective
Authors: Chen Jiandong , Xu Chong , Xie Qianjiao , Song Malin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractReducing carbon intensity (CI) is one of the core steps of climate change mitigation. This study emphasized the roles of ecological services and regional heterogeneity in determining CI. We considered heterogeneities based on geography and income and explored the roles of net primary productivity (NPP)‐based carbon footprint and CI in the changes in China's CI over 2001−2015 using an extended production‐theoretical decomposition analysis and matching the socio‐economic data sets with NPP data from a remote sensing satellite. We found that group technological change, reflecting the effect of shrinkage or expansion of the group best practice frontier, and the potential NPP‐based carbon footprint, reflecting the impact of energy‐related CO2 emissions on ecological carbon absorption, are the most significant factors accounting for the increase and decrease in CI, respectively, while NPP‐based CI generally accounts for the decline in CI. We further showed that the technology gap change exhibited by an invert U‐shaped curve contributed to the increase in CI under geography‐based heterogeneity. We advise that China's policies should be more focused on ecological factors and regional heterogeneity in regions with abundant NPP (e.g., Yunnan and Sichuan) to further reduce CI.
Effects and mechanisms of rural E‐commerce clusters on households' entrepreneurship behavior in China
Authors: Mei Yan , Mao Danling , Lu Yuhui , Chu Wei 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe vigorous development of rural E‐commerce reveals a powerful pattern of economic clustering. Recently, many Taobao Villages have formed in more than 80% of the provinces in rural China, and increasingly households are using E‐commerce for entrepreneurial innovation in Taobao Villages. However, the effect and mechanism of the Taobao Village model on households' entrepreneurship behavior remain unclear. Using survey data and structural equation modeling, we analyzed the factors of households' entrepreneurship behavior and investigated the mechanism of rural E‐commerce clustering on the households' entrepreneurship behavior in Taobao Villages. The results show that: (1) rural E‐commerce clusters stimulated entrepreneurial enthusiasm and increased entrepreneurial behavior; (2) local resource endowment, entrepreneurial atmosphere and culture, threshold for entrepreneurship, and demonstrative leadership had significant positive effects on households' entrepreneurship behavior; (3) external environmental support, including government, and external business environment support had significant positive effects on E‐commerce development. All these results indicate that rural E‐commerce clusters promote households' entrepreneurship behavior.
A method to obtain reproducible Ki‐67 indices in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Okudela Koji , Woo Tetsukan , Saigusa Yusuke , Arai Hiromasa , Matsumura Mai , Mitsui Hideaki , Sugiyama Misaki , Sekiya Motoki , Ishikawa Yoshihiro , Oshiro Hisashi , Kameda Yoichi , Ohashi Kenichi 
Published: August 2020

AimsProliferative activity, evaluated from the Ki‐67 index, is a strong prognostic factor in lung adenocarcinoma (LADC). Here, we optimised a procedure to measure the Ki‐67 index and establish the best cut‐off value.Methods and resultsWe examined 342 stage I LADCs for the immunohistochemical expression of Ki‐67 using different antibodies, MIB1 and SP6. The results revealed the superior specificity of SP6; therefore, SP6 was used in subsequent analyses. Slides were scanned with a virtual slide system. Using software, tumour cells were counted in a whole tumour. Thereafter, the tumour was evenly subdivided into 0.25‐mm2 tiles. The frequency of positive cells was counted in each tile of an invasive area or the whole tumour. We calculated the number of tumour cells required to produce a 95% confidence interval (CI) <0.05. Additionally, we calculated coverage probabilities (CP) using two different methods, counting any number or 200 cells per tile. The results showed that we could meet our goal by counting 2000 cells from 10 random tiles (200 cells each) in invasive areas.ConclusionsWe successfully developed an optimal procedure for determination of the Ki‐67 labelling index using an SP6 antibody, which provided CP > 70% and CI of <0.05 in more than 90% of cases. Furthermore, we identified an optimal cut‐off value of 0.12 with an alternative of 0.15, based on disease recurrence. This procedure and the cut‐off values may be used in the routine pathological diagnosis of LADC.
Structural, optical, and magnetic properties of KBiFe2O5 synthesized by a sol‐gel method using PVP as additive
Authors: Melo Guilherme H. F. , Gualdi Alexandre J. , Bretas Rosario E. S. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractKBiFe2O5 (KBFO) is a perovskite‐like inorganic material that has great potential as an absorber material for active layers of photovoltaic devices; however, the synthesis conditions reported until now (pressure and temperature) are inappropriate for its direct deposition on the usual substrates of solar cells. Being able to synthesize these materials directly on the substrate avoids a second stage of deposition of this material, besides improving joining properties and consequently improving energy conversion efficiency. To decrease the synthesis temperature of KBFO, the sol‐gel method was used at different times and temperatures with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as an accelerating agent for the kinetics of formation of the phase. Thus, the formation of the KBFO phase as powder at temperatures below 550°C and atmospheric pressure with the use of PVP as a synthesis additive is reported for the first time; however, the phase was obtained with impurities and the lower the synthesis temperature the greater the presence of impurities, but the smaller the crystallite size. Two band gaps were found for the samples: one around 2.41 and 2.07 eV and the other one around 1.76 eV. Samples synthesized at higher temperatures had a paramagnetic behavior, while samples synthesized at lower temperatures had weak ferromagnetic behavior.