bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Successful field performance in dry-warm environments of soybean expressing the sunflower transcription factor HaHB4
Authors: Ribichich KF , Chiozza M , Ávalos-Britez S , Cabello JV , Arce AL , Watson G , Arias C , Portapila M , Trucco F , Otegui ME , Chan RL 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSoybean yield is limited primarily by abiotic constraints. No transgenic soybean with improved abiotic-stress tolerance is available in the market. We transformed soybean plants with genetic constructs able to express the sunflower transcription factor HaHB4, which confers drought tolerance to Arabidopsis and wheat plants. One line (b10H) carrying the sunflower promoter was chosen among three independent lines because it exhibited the best performance in seed yield (SY). Such line was evaluated in the greenhouse and in twenty-seven field trials developed in different environments of Argentina. In greenhouse experiments, transgenic plants showed increased SY under stress conditions together with wider epycotyl diameter, enlarged xylem area and enhanced water use efficiency than controls. They also exhibited enhanced SY in warm-dry field conditions. This response was accompanied by the increased in seed number that was not compensated by the decreased in individual seed weight. The transcriptome analysis of plants from a field trial with maximum SY difference between genotypes indicated an induction of genes encoding redox and heat shock proteins in b10H. Collectively, our results indicate that soybeans transformed withHaHB4are expected to have reduced SY penalization when cropped in warm-dry conditions, which constitute the best target environments for this technology.HighlightSoybean transformed with the sunflower gene encoding the transcription factor HaHB4 was evaluated in greenhouse and field trials. Transgenic plants significantly outyielded controls in drought-warm environments due to, at least in part, increased seed number, xylem area, and water use efficiency as well as to the induction of genes encoding redox and heat shock proteins.
The adhesive PitA pilus protein from the early dental plaque colonizerStreptococcus oralis: expression, purification, crystallization and X-ray diffraction analysis
Authors: Kumari Yadav Rajnesh , Krishnan Vengadesan 
Published: December 2019

PitA is the putative tip adhesin of the pilus islet 2 (PI-2)-encoded sortase-dependent pilus in the Gram-positiveStreptococcus oralis, an opportunistic pathogen that often flourishes within the diseased human oral cavity. Early colonization byS. oralisand its interaction withActinomyces orisseeds the development of oral biofilm or dental plaque. Here, the PI-2 pilus plays a vital role in mediating adherence to host surfaces and other bacteria. A recombinant form of the PitA adhesin has now been produced and crystallized. Owing to the large size (∼100 kDa), flexibility and complicated folding of PitA, obtaining diffraction-quality crystals has been a challenge. However, by the use of limited proteolysis with α-chymotrypsin, the diffraction quality of the PitA crystals was considerably enhanced to 2.16 Å resolution. These crystals belonged to space groupP1, with unit-cell parametersa= 61.48,b= 70.87,c = 82.46 Å, α = 80.08, β = 87.02, γ = 87.70°. The anomalous signal from the terbium derivative of α-chymotrypsin-treated PitA crystals prepared with terbium crystallophore (Tb-Xo4) was sufficient to obtain an interpretable electron-density map via terbium SAD phasing.
When feature-based production capabilities challenge operations
Authors: De Giovanni Pietro 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence that competitors and supply chain (SC) partners have on firms’ feature-based production capabilities (FBPC). Also, it analyzes the consumers’ customization options, the operational challenges and the need for servitization as a service-operations strategy to bypass the product complexity created through features. The author assesses the impact of FBPC on performance and uses some moderators to explore the operational implications in depth.

Design/methodology/approach
The author tests research hypotheses through structural equation modeling using a sample of 172 manufacturing firms. The author analyzes the links existing among constructs and tests the influence of certain operational moderators within the network of relationships.

Findings
FBPC are highly dictated by competitors’ and SC partners’ decisions, while servitization is a vital prerequisite to guarantee a valuable customization option. Although operational performance is highly challenged by FBPC, only good consumer experiences with features enhance economic performance. The analysis of moderators reveals that advanced planning systems, vendor managed inventory and distribution requirement planning enable firms to better exploit their operations. Total quality management helps firms to offer higher levels of servitization while reverse logistics needs careful evaluation to balance the trade-offs between higher operational performance and supply structure changes.

Originality/value
This research empirically tests the influence of both competitors and suppliers when firms acquire FBPC. The author investigates consumers’ requests for features and the benefits that servitization can supply when goods become too complex. The author tests how FBPC affect operations as well as the implications for economic performance. Finally, the author searches for moderators to assess the overall economic benefits of FBPC and better appreciate the operational implications.
Experimental evaluation study of collection efficiency of cavity receivers
Authors: Bopche Santosh , Lamba Sandeep 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to present experimental work examining the effect of opening size on the collection efficiency of cavity-type receiver geometries, e.g. modified cavity and spherical cavity with single- as well as dual-stage water heating. The correlations, obtained using the experimentally obtained data, are helpful in designing of cavity receivers (modified and spherical geometry type) to be used in solar-power harnessing assignments/projects, for yielding better system performance.

Design/methodology/approach
The parameters of study encompass receiver opening or aperture ratios (d/D, ratio of diameter of opening to the maximum diameter of spherical cavity) of 0.4, 0.47, 0.533 and 0.6; flow Reynolds numbers of 938, 1,175, 1,525 and 1,880 with water as a coolant; and receiver inclination angles of 90, 60, 45 and 30° (with 90° as receiver-opening facing downward and 30° as receiver-aperture facing closer to sideway). A modified cavity receiver was examined for opening ratios of 0.46, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.93. The glass covers, with thickness 2, 4 and 6 mm, were positioned at the opening of cavity to mitigate the energy losses.

Findings
The experiments have been conducted at a lesser incoming radiative heat flux, for receiver cavity wall surface temperatures ranging from 90°C to 180°C. The collection efficiency values of both the receivers, modified cavity and spherical cavity types, are seen increasing with coolant flow rate and receiver tilt (inclination) angles, i.e. 30° → 90°. The collection efficiency exhibits maxima at an opening ratio of 0.533 in case of both single- and double-stage spherical cavity receiver. This value was observed as 0.6 for modified cavity receiver. The mathematical correlations developed for obtaining the collection efficiency values of modified cavity-type receiver, spherical cavity receiver with single stage and spherical cavity receiver with dual-stage water heating are given as

ɳ=0.4667 Re0.0798dD0.1651 δ0.0281θ̇−0.011,

ɳ=0.2317 Re0.124 dD1.265δ0.0192θ̇0.2914 and

ɳ=0.1137 Re0.1715dD0.8702θ̇0.2757, respectively.

Social implications
The findings of the paper may be helpful in erecting concentrating solar collector systems for household water heating, concentrating solar-based power generation as well as for various agricultural applications.

Originality/value
The experimental investigations are fewer in the literature examining the combined geometrical influence on the efficiency of cavity receivers with single- and double-stage water heating provisions.
The association between morphological and ecological characters across a global passerine radiation
Authors: Kennedy Jonathan D. , Marki Petter Z. , Fjeldså Jon , Rahbek Carsten 
Published: December 2019

AbstractStrong relationships between morphological and ecological characters are commonly predicted to reflect the association between form and function, with this hypothesis being well supported in restricted taxonomic and geographical contexts. Conversely, among broader sets of species, ecological variables have been shown to have limited power to explain morphological variation.To understand these apparent discrepancies, for a large and globally distributed passerine radiation, we test whether (a) the character states of four ecological variables (foraging mode, diet, strata and habitat) have different morphological optima, (b) ecological variables explain substantial variance in morphology and (c) ecological character states can be accurately predicted from morphology.We collected 10 linear morphological measurements for 782 species of corvoid passerines, and assessed (a) the fit of models of continuous trait evolution with different morphological optima for each ecological character state, (b) variation in morphological traits among ecological character states using phylogenetically corrected regressions and (c) the accuracy of morphological traits in predicting species‐level membership of ecological character states using linear discriminant analysis (LDA).Models of morphological evolution with different ecological optima were well supported across numerous morphological axes, corresponding with significant differences in trait distributions among ecological character states. LDA also showed that membership of the ecological categories can be predicted with relatively high accuracy by morphology. In contrast to these findings, ecological variables explain limited amounts of variation in morphological traits.For a global radiation of passerine birds, we confirm that the generation of morphological variation is generally consistent with ecological selection pressures, but that ecological characters are of limited utility in explaining morphological differences among species. Although selection towards different optima means that membership of ecological character states tend to be well predicted by morphology, the overall morphospace of individual ecological character states tend to be broad, implying that morphology can evolve in multiple ways in response to similar selection pressures. Extensive variation in morphological adaptations among similar ecological strategies is likely to be a widespread phenomenon across the tree of life.
Development and use of an adjusted nurse staffing metric in the neonatal intensive care unit
Authors: Tawfik Daniel S. , Profit Jochen , Lake Eileen T. , Liu Jessica B. , Sanders Lee M. , Phibbs Ciaran S. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo develop a nurse staffing prediction model and evaluate deviation from predicted nurse staffing as a contributor to patient outcomes.Data sourcesSecondary data collection conducted 2017‐2018, using the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development and the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative databases. We included 276 054 infants born 2008‐2016 and cared for in 99 California neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).Study designRepeated‐measures observational study. We developed a nurse staffing prediction model using machine learning and hierarchical linear regression and then quantified deviation from predicted nurse staffing in relation to health care‐associated infections, length of stay, and mortality using hierarchical logistic and linear regression.Data collection methodsWe linked NICU‐level nurse staffing and organizational data to patient‐level risk factors and outcomes using unique identifiers for NICUs and patients.Principal findingsAn 11‐factor prediction model explained 35 percent of the nurse staffing variation among NICUs. Higher‐than‐predicted nurse staffing was associated with decreased risk‐adjusted odds of health care‐associated infection (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63‐0.98), but not with length of stay or mortality.ConclusionsOrganizational and patient factors explain much of the variation in nurse staffing. Higher‐than‐predicted nurse staffing was associated with fewer infections. Prospective studies are needed to determine causality and to quantify the impact of staffing reforms on health outcomes.
Salt stress induces physiochemical alterations in rice grain composition and quality
Authors: Razzaq Abdul , Ali Arfan , Safdar Luqman Bin , Zafar Muhammad Mubashar , Rui Yang , Shakeel Amir , Shaukat Abbad , Ashraf Muhammad , Gong Wankui , Yuan Youlu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSalinity has drastic effects on plant growth and productivity and is one of the major factors responsible for crop yield losses throughout the agricultural soils of the world. The mechanisms of salinity tolerance in plants are regulated by a set of inherent multigenes and prevalent environmental factors, which bring about a myriad of metabolic changes in each plant part. The stress‐induced metabolic changes in the rice plant have been intensively studied, but extensively in plant parts such as stem, leaf, and root. However, little information exists in the literature about such stress‐induced architectural and physiological changes in rice grain, a premier staple food of a large proportion of human population. Thus, the current review comprehensively describes the effects of salinity stress on rice grain composition including changes in carbohydrate, protein, fat, and mineral contents. Elucidation of salinity induced changes in rice grain composition would help to understand whether or not a nutritious and healthy staple food is available to human population from rice grown under saline environments.
Obstructive sleep apnea and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and dose‐response meta‐analysis of cohort studies
Authors: Qie Ranran , Zhang Dongdong , Liu Leilei , Ren Yongcheng , Zhao Yang , Liu Dechen , Liu Feiyan , Chen Xu , Cheng Cheng , Guo Chunmei , Li Quanman , Zhou Qionggui , Tian Gang , Han Minghui , Huang Shengbing , Wu Xiaoyan , Qin Pei , Li Jianxin , Cao Jie , Zhang Ming , Huang Jianfeng , Lu Jie , Li Honghui , Wang Jian , Cheng Ruirong , Hu Dongsheng 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundThis meta‐analysis was performed to quantitatively evaluate the dose‐response association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsPubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched up to 12 December 2018 for articles that assessed the OSA‐T2DM association. Random effects models were used to analyze the quantitative association between OSA and risk of T2DM. Restricted cubic splines were used to model the dose‐response association between apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI), used to assess the severity of OSA according to events/h, and risk of T2DM.ResultsWe included 16 cohort studies in our meta‐analysis. During a median follow‐up of 10.5 years (range: 3.0‐22.0), 19 355 T2DM cases were reported among 338 912 study participants. The pooled relative risk of T2DM was 1.40 (95% CI, 1.32‐1.48) for OSA in the binary meta‐analysis and 1.08 (1.01‐1.14) for each 5‐event/h increase in AHI value. We found a positive linear association between OSA and T2DM risk.ConclusionsOur dose‐response meta‐analysis revealed a linear association between OSA and T2DM.
FSH treatment of male idiopathic infertility: Time for a paradigm change
Authors: Simoni Manuela , Santi Daniele 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFollicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) has been used in inconclusive clinical trials for male idiopathic infertility in the past. FSH is sometimes prescribed empirically for male idiopathic infertility, showing some improvement in sperm parameters in about half of the patients. In this opinion article, we briefly analyze the pathophysiological evidences in favor of a more aggressive approach in planning future studies on pharmacological FSH use in male infertility, in analogy with the FSH use for multiple follicular growth in women undergoing ovarian stimulation for assisted reproduction. There is sufficient evidence that spermatogenesis does not run at its top in the primate and that some extra FSH can stimulate spermatogenesis over its baseline. Existing data suggest that the pharmacological regimens applied so far were insufficient, both in dosage and in duration, to elicit this response in about half of the patients. A paradigm change is needed now: We should move away from the classical, endocrinological approach, which simply applied the substitutive, therapeutic regimen used in hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, toward testing a ‘testicular hyperstimulation’ scheme for a time sufficient to cover more than only one spermatogenic cycle, a concept to be verified in an appropriately controlled, prospective, randomized clinical trial.
Use of follicle‐stimulating hormone for the male partner of idiopathic infertile couples in Italy: Results from a multicentre, observational, clinical practice survey
Authors: Santi Daniele , De Vincentis Sara , Alfano Patrizia , Balercia Giancarlo , Calogero Aldo E. , Cargnelutti Francesco , Coccia Maria Elisabetta , Condorelli Rosita A. , Dal Lago Alessandro , de Angelis Cristina , Gallo Mariagrazia , Iannantuoni Nicola , Lombardo Francesco , Marino Angelo , Mazzella Marco , Pallotti Francesco , Paoli Donatella , Pivonello Rosario , Rago Rocco , Rampini Mariarita , Salvio Gianmaria , Simoni Manuela 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe management of male idiopathic infertility is heterogeneous. Although meta‐analyses reported the effectiveness on pregnancy rate, the real clinical impact of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) was not evaluated so far. In Italy, FSH is approved by the National Medicines Agency (AIFA) for idiopathic infertile patients with FSH < 8 IU/L, independently of semen parameters.AimPrimary endpoint was to record the therapeutic approach to the male partner of infertile couples. Secondary aim was to assess changes of semen parameters during FSH treatment.MethodsA multicentre, prospective, observational, clinical practice survey was carried out, enrolling the male partner of infertile couples attending ten Italian participating centres. Inclusion criteria were as follows: couple infertility, age >18 years and FSH serum levels <8 IU/L. Thus, all men in which AIFA allowed the FSH prescription were enrolled. Primary endpoint was the number of infertile patients treated with FSH. Secondary outcomes were semen parameters. The treating physician decided whether to offer FSH therapy and whether to re‐evaluate the male partner.ResultsA total of 718 infertile couples were enrolled, and 241 patients were re‐evaluated (median follow‐up: 4.5 months). In 64.9% (466 patients), a treatment was prescribed. FSH was prescribed in 397 patients (85.2% of treated men). Sperm concentration (P = .002) and normal form percentage (P < .001) significantly improved during FSH administration. No correlation was found between these parameters and FSH duration (P = .545 and P = .627, respectively) or dosage (P = .455 and P = .533, respectively). Among patients treated with FSH, the incidence of oligozoospermia decreased from 73.0% to 56.0% (P < .001) and teratozoospermia from 43.6% to 27.7% (P < .001).DiscussionThis first nation‐wide survey reveals a FSH prescription rate of 55% in patients qualifying for treatment according to AIFA. Although the study was not designed to highlight FSH efficacy in male infertility, a slight increase in semen parameters was demonstrated in about half of the treated men without adverse events.
Lower 68Ga‐DOTATOC uptake in nonfunctioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours compared to normal pituitary gland—A proof‐of‐concept study
Authors: Tjörnstrand Axel , Casar‐Borota Olivera , Heurling Kerstin , Schöll Michael , Gjertsson Peter , Himmelman Jakob , Itsenko Oleksiy , Ragnarsson Oskar , Filipsson Nyström Helena 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectives68 Ga‐DOTATOC PET targets somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and is well established for the detection of SSTR‐expressing tumors, such as gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. Pituitary adenomas, recently designated as pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs), also express SSTRs, but there has been no previous evaluations of 68 Ga‐DOTATOC PET in PitNET patients. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the diagnostic properties of 68 Ga‐DOTATOC PET in the most common PitNET, ie non‐functioning (NF)‐PitNET.Design/PatientsNF‐PitNET patients (n = 9) and controls (n = 13) were examined preoperatively with 68 Ga‐DOTATOC PET for 45 min after tracer injection in dynamic list mode. Tumor specimens were collected during surgery in patients. MRI and PET images were co‐registered using PMOD software. The maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) was analyzed in manually outlined regions of interest (ROI) around the tumor in patients and around the pituitary gland in controls. Immunohistochemical analyses were conducted on tumor specimens for assessment of tumor cell type and SSTR expression.ResultsMedian SUVmax (IQR) was lower in patients than in controls (3.9 [3.4‐8.5] vs 14.1 [12.5‐15.9]; P < .01]. In ROC analysis, the area under the curve was 0.87 (P < .01) for SUVmax, with 78% sensitivity and 92% specificity. Immunohistochemical analysis showed NF‐PitNETs were of gonadotroph (n = 7) and corticotroph (n = 2) origin. SSTR expression was high for SSTR3, low‐to‐moderate for SSTR2, and low for SSTR1 and SSTR5.ConclusionsThis proof‐of‐concept study shows that 68Ga‐DOTATOC PET can be used to differentiate between normal pituitary tissue and NF‐PitNET.
The effect of DAFNE education, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, or both in a population with type 1 diabetes in Scotland
Authors: McKnight J. A. , Ochs A. , Mair C. , McKnight O. , Wright R. , Gibb F. W. , Cunningham S. G. , Strachan M. , Ritchie S. , McGurnaghan S. J. , Colhoun H. M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimTo investigate the effect of DAFNE and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in clinical practice.MethodsWithin NHS Lothian, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion started in 2004 and DAFNE education began in 2006. We extracted anonymized data from the national database for all those aged > 18 years with type 1 diabetes having a Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating course or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion start date (n = 4617).ResultsIn total, 956 persons received DAFNE education, and 505 had received an insulin pump, 208 of whom had DAFNE education followed by insulin pump. Mean (SD) HbA1c before DAFNE education was 68 (15) mmol/mol (8.4% [1.4%]) and 66 (13) mmol/mol (8.2% [1.2%]) before continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. In the year following DAFNE education, the mean fall in within‐person HbA1c was 3.8 mmol/mol (95% CI 4.0 to 3.4; 0.3% [0.4% to 0.3%]). Those with the poorest control (HbA1c ≥ 85 mmol/mol [9.9%]) experienced the largest decline (15.7 mmol/mol [1.4%]). Those in the lowest HbA1c band at initiation (< 53 mmol/mmol [7.0%]) experienced a rise.In the year following continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion initiation there was a mean fall in within‐person HbA1c of 6.6 mmol/mol (6.8 to 6.4; 0.6% [0.6% to 0.6%]). In those with the poorest control (HbA1c ≥ 85 mmol/mol [9.9%]), the mean fall in HbA1c was 22.2 mmol/mol (23 to 21; 2.0% [2.1% to 1.9%]). Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion effectiveness was not different with or without DAFNE education. The effects of both interventions were sustained over 5 years.ConclusionsBoth DAFNE education and insulin pump therapy had the greatest effect on HbA1c in those with higher baseline values. There was little difference to attained HbA1c when Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating education was introduced before insulin pump therapy.