bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidence of BKV in the urine and blood samples of pediatric patients undergoing HSCT
Authors: Yazısız Hatice , Uygun Vedat , Çolak Dilek , Mutlu Derya , Hazar Volkan , Öğünç Dilara , Öngüt Gözde , Küpesiz Funda Tayfun 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe aims were to investigate the incidence of BKV infection and the presence of HC in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT. Twenty‐four children patients (M/F: 17/7) undergoing HSCT in a single center over a period of 1 year were included in the study. The presence of BKV DNA was determined by quantitative real‐time PCR in plasma and urine samples at the following times: before transplantation, twice a week until engraftment time, and weekly for + 100 days. The mean age of the patients was 7.79 ± 5.03 years, the mean follow‐up time was 95.6 ± 25.9 days, and the average number of samples per patient was 15.8 ± 3.2. BKV DNA was detected in at least one urine sample in 91.6% (n: 22) and at least one plasma sample in 75% (n:18) of the patients. The median time to the first BKV DNA positivity in urine and plasma samples was 11 (range: 1‐80) and 32 days (range: 2‐79), respectively. The median value of BKV DNA copies in urine and plasma were 1.7 × 106 (range: 2.8 × 101‐1.2 × 1014) and 1.9 × 103 copies/mL (range: 3‐2.1 × 106), respectively. Thirteen patients (54.2%) had hematuria with BKV viruria; 8 (33.3%) patients had viremia. The median value of the BKV DNA copies in urine and plasma was 4.4 × 107 (range: 65‐1 × 1011) and 2.9 × 103 (range: 7‐7.8 × 104) copies/mL in these patients. Two (15.4%) of the 13 patients with BKV viruria and hematuria were diagnosed with BKV‐related HC. BKV DNA viral load monitoring of urine and plasma in pediatric HSCT patients with a high risk for viral infections is valuable for understanding the development of BKV–related HC.
Tick salivary gland transcriptomics and proteomics
Authors: Martins Larissa Almeida , Bensaoud Chaima , Kotál Jan , Chmelař Jindřich , Kotsyfakis Michail 
Published: November 2020

Abstract‘Omics’ technologies have facilitated the identification of hundreds to thousands of tick molecules that mediate tick feeding and play a role in the transmission of tick‐borne diseases. Deep sequencing methodologies have played a key role in this knowledge accumulation, profoundly facilitating the study of the biology of disease vectors lacking reference genomes. For example, the nucleotide sequences of the entire set of tick salivary effectors, the so‐called tick ‘sialome’, now contain at least one order of magnitude more transcript sequences compared to similar projects based on Sanger sequencing. Tick feeding is a complex and dynamic process, and while the dynamic ‘sialome’ is thought to mediate tick feeding success, exactly how transcriptome dynamics relate to tick‐host‐pathogen interactions is still largely unknown. The identification and, importantly, the functional analysis of the tick ‘sialome’ is expected to shed light on this ‘black box’. This information will be crucial for developing strategies to block pathogen transmission, not only for anti‐tick vaccine development but also the discovery and development of new, pharmacologically active compounds for human diseases.
Coumarin improves tomato plant tolerance to salinity by enhancing antioxidant defence, glyoxalase system and ion homeostasis
Authors: Parvin K. , Hasanuzzaman M. , Mohsin S. M. , Nahar K. , Fujita M. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Salinity is a severe threat to crop growth, development and even to world food sustainability. Plant possess natural antioxidant defense tactics to mitigate salinity‐induced oxidative stress. Phenolic compounds are non‐enzymatic antioxidants with specific roles in protecting plant cells against stress‐mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Coumarin (COU) is one of these compounds, however, to date, little is known about antioxidative roles of exogenous COU in enhancing plant tolerance mechanisms under salt stress.

The involvement of COU in increasing tomato salt tolerance was examined in the present study using COU as a pre‐treatment at 20 or 30 µM for 2 days against salt stress (100 or 160 NaCl; 5 days). The COU‐mediated stimulation of plant antioxidant defence and glyoxalase systems to suppress salt‐induced ROS and methylglyoxal (MG) toxicity, respectively, were the main hypotheses examined in the present study.

Addition of COU suppressed salt‐induced excess accumulation of ROS and MG, and significantly reduced membrane damage, lipid peroxidation and Na+ toxicity. These results demonstrate COU‐improved plant growth, biomass content, photosynthetic pigment content, water retention and mineral homeostasis upon imposition of salinity.

Finally, this present study suggests that COU has potential roles as a phytoprotectant in stimulating plant antioxidative mechanisms and improving glyoxalase enzyme activity under salinity stress.
Revisit of AAA Excellence of Global Value Chains: Robustness, Resilience, and Realignment
Authors: Cohen Morris A. , Kouvelis Panos 
Published: November 2020

What are the attributes of the best‐performing supply chains? According to Lee (2004), the best supply chains are agile, adaptable, and ensure the interests of all participating companies stay aligned, that is, The Triple‐A framework. Fifteen years later, we find global supply chains exposed, with an increasing frequency and alarming severity, to low probability disruptive shocks. We revisit the question of the current attributes of best‐performing supply chains in a highly uncertain and risk fraught world. Using the lessons of the last 20 years, we propose a new framework, the “Triple A & R” framework, as the foundational concept for defining excellence capabilities in global supply chains. Supply chains have to enhance agility with robustness, for real‐time excellent performance across a wide‐range of risk scenarios. Adaptability has to go beyond adjustment to trends and requires the building of resilience to recover from current shocks and proactively mitigate future shocks. We need to rethink and pursue re‐alignment of incentives for a “new normal” with changing consumer preferences, new value propositions and innovative business models. We review relevant literature that supported the implementation of Triple‐A practices in the best chains, and highlight the challenges faced by them in the last 20 years. We offer an array of interesting research directions to flesh out “Triple A & R” concepts and develop practices for its effective implementation.
Identification of differentially expressed genes and pathways in isonuclear kenaf genotypes under salt stress
Authors: Munsif Fazal , Kong Xiangjun , Khan Aziz , Shah Tariq , Arif Muhammad , Jahangir Muhammad , Akhtar Kashif , Tang Danfeng , Zheng Jie , Liao Xiaofang , Faisal Shah , Ali Izhar , Iqbal Anas , Ahmad Parvaiz , Zhou Ruiyang 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSalinity is a potential abiotic stress and globally threatens crop productivity. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying salt stress tolerance with respect to cytoplasmic effect, gene expression, and metabolism pathway under salt stress have not yet been reported in isonuclear kenaf genotypes. To fill this knowledge gap, growth, physiological, biochemical, transcriptome, and cytoplasm changes in kenaf cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) line (P3A) and its iso‐nuclear maintainer line (P3B) under 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) stress and control conditions were analyzed. Salt stress significantly reduced leaf soluble protein, soluble sugars, proline, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzymatic activity, and induced oxidative damage in terms of higher MDA contents in both genotypes. The reduction of these parameters resulted in a reduced plant growth compared with control. However, P3A was relatively more tolerant to salt stress than P3B. This tolerance of P3A was further confirmed by improved physio‐biochemical traits under salt stress conditions. Transcriptome analysis showed that 4256 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two genotypes under salt stress were identified. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis indicated that photosynthesis, photosynthesis antenna‐protein, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways might be associated with the improved NaCl stress tolerance in P3A. Conclusively, P3A cytoplasmic male sterile could be a potential salt‐tolerant material for future breeding program of kenaf and can be used for phytoremediation of salt‐affected soils. These data provide a valuable resource on the cytoplasmic effect of salt‐responsive genes in kenaf and salt stress tolerance in kenaf.
Evaluation of the use of SYBR‐14 and propidium iodide stain in a fluorescent computer‐assisted spermatozoal quantification method in dogs
Authors: Watts John R. 
Published: November 2020

ContentsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the use of SYBR‐14/propidium iodide (PI) stain in a computer‐assisted spermatozoal quantification (CASQ) method of determining spermatozoal concentration in canine semen. In Experiment A, the spermatozoal concentration was measured (n = 52) with a haemocytometer and by CASQ under fluorescent illumination using green long‐pass (G‐LP) and red long‐pass filters at measurement concentrations of <25 million/ml. For the red filter, the limits of agreement between the haemocytometer and CASQ were −6.3% to 6.8% and −7.5% to 6.2% between the haemocytometer and CASQ for the G‐LP filter. For the red filter, the mean precision CVs were 2.21% ± 4.33% (mean ± 95% CI) for the haemocytometer, 2.19% ± 4.29% for CASQ and using the G‐LP filter 2.13% ± 4.18% for the haemocytometer and 2.66% ± 5.21% for CASQ. In Experiment B, spermatozoa were also examined with a green spectrum short‐pass (G‐SP) filter (n = 50) at measurement concentrations of <12.5 million/ml. The limits of agreement between the haemocytometer and CASQ were −5.4% to 7.8% using the red filter, −15.8% to 14.3% using the G‐LP filter and −13.1% to 11.3% using the G‐SP filter. The mean precision CVs for the haemocytometer and CASQ, respectively, were 2.68% ± 5.26% (mean ± 95% CI) and 1.93% ± 3.72% using the red filter and 2.01% ± 3.95% and 3.55% ± 6.95% using the G‐LP filter, and 3.96% ± 7.76% for CASQ using the G‐SP filter. Using the red filter, the agreement between the haemocytometer and CASQ and the precision of both haemocytometer methods and CASQ were better than when using green filters. The CASQ method performed using green filters produced acceptable results; however, CASQ using a red filter with PI staining alone was superior to that using green filters and SYBR‐14/PI staining.
Did you Conduct a Sensitivity Analysis? A New Weighting-Based Approach for Evaluations of the Average Treatment Effect for the Treated
Authors: Hong Guanglei , Yang Fan , Qin Xu 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn non-experimental research, a sensitivity analysis helps determine whether a causal conclusion could be easily reversed in the presence of hidden bias. A new approach to sensitivity analysis on the basis of weighting extends and supplements propensity score weighting methods for identifying the average treatment effect for the treated (ATT). In its essence, the discrepancy between a new weight that adjusts for the omitted confounders and an initial weight that omits them captures the role of the confounders. This strategy is appealing for a number of reasons including that, regardless of how complex the data generation functions are, the number of sensitivity parameters remains small and their forms never change. A graphical display of the sensitivity parameter values facilitates a holistic assessment of the dominant potential bias. An application to the well-known LaLonde data lays out the implementation procedure and illustrates its broad utility. The data offer a prototypical example of non-experimental evaluations of the average impact of job training programmes for the participant population.
Extension of platelet shelf life with an improved bacterial testing algorithm
Authors: Ramirez‐Arcos Sandra , Evans Stephanie , McIntyre Terri , Pang Christopher , Yi Qi‐Long , DiFranco Caesar , Goldman Mindy 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundAt Canadian Blood Services, platelet concentrate (PC) shelf life was extended to 7 days with a large‐volume, delayed‐sampling bacterial screening algorithm. We present the development study and postimplementation results.Study Design and MethodsIn the development study, PCs inoculated with five bacteria (various concentrations) were incubated for 7 days with daily sampling for BacT/ALERT cultures and bacterial quantification. After implementation, from August 2017 to December 2019, a total of 223 156 pools and 39 725 apheresis units and 5310 outdated PCs were screened. Since March 2018, cocomponents associated to false‐positive results have been released to inventory.ResultsIn the development study, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus aureus were detected at concentrations of at least 0.01 colony‐forming units (CFUs)/mL at 24 hours postinoculation. However, Staphylococcus epidermidis was detected at concentrations of less than 0.16 CFUs/mL only more than 48 hours postinoculation. After implementation, 776 (0.35%) and 303 (0.77%) initial‐positive results and 201 (0.09%) and 16 (0.04%) confirmed‐positive results were obtained for pools and apheresis units, respectively, predominantly with Cutibacterium acnes. Other organisms included staphylococci, streptococci, Klebsiella oxytoca and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. One nonfatal reaction involving a 7‐day pool contaminated with S. epidermidis occurred. Approximately, 1‐in‐1000 false‐negative screening results were obtained during testing of outdated PCs. Approximately 1000 cocomponents associated with false‐positive results were released into inventory. Combined PC outdating at Canadian Blood Services and hospitals was reduced from 18.9% to 13.1%.ConclusionScreening of 7‐day PCs increased bacterial detection mainly of anaerobes and reduced outdating. The incidence of septic transfusion events has decreased approximately threefold. A longer surveillance period is needed to evaluate the value of anaerobic cultures and residual safety risk.
Navigating wahine Kāi Tahu methodology
Authors: Cleaver Kerri 
Published: November 2020

INTRODUCTION: Indigenous research is diverse and rich with multiple epistemological understandings. There is no one template for how we go about this. Shut out from the hallowed halls of academia for generations, Indigenous wa ̄hine have taken up the diversity of our perspectives and, in doing so, space has been created to compose from our own contexts.APPROACH: This article explores one way of engaging in research as an Indigenous social worker. It is the sharing of my own process of mapping out my legitimacy in an academic space and in a Ma ̄ori space as a colonised wahine Kāi Tahu caught in the dual complexities of decolonising and living in this time. Navigating wāhine Kāi Tahu methodology is about the journey to create from my own context, honouring the process and the voices and experiences of the wāhine Kāi Tahu who shared in my research. The process includes the melding of traditional Kāi Tahu stories into a methodological framework in Indigenous ethnography.
Mātauranga-ā-Whānau: Constructing a methodological approach centred on whānau pūrākau
Authors: Lipsham Marjorie 
Published: November 2020

INTRODUCTION: This article discusses the development of a distinctively Māori methodology that centres knowledge and practices that are embedded within whānau. Mātauranga-ā-whānau is a Kaupapa Māori approach that brings a focus upon Māori knowledge that is transmitted intergenerationally.APPROACH: The development of Mātauranga-ā-whānau as a methodological approach supports both the assertion by Graham Hingangaroa Smith (1997) that Kaupapa Māori must be committed to the validation and legitimation of Māori worldviews and the argument by Leonie Pihama (2001) that there are multiple ways of expressing Māori theories and methodologies. Pihama (2001) highlights that affirming whānau, hapū and iwi ways of being within the broader discussion of Kaupapa Māori is critical. While it is beyond the scope of this article to provide an in-depth discussion of both Kaupapa Māori theory and Mātauranga Māori, it is important to note that both cultural frameworks inform the way in which Mātauranga-ā-whānau is discussed.CONCLUSIONS: Drawing upon whānau knowledge, experiences and practices, through pūrākau, this article introduces how Māori can approach research applying culturally grounded methodologies.
<p class="Body"><strong>Description of <em>Aculops shalchii</em> sp. nov. and supplementary descriptions of <em>Eriophyes euphorbiae </em>and <em>Aceria rubiae </em>(Trombidiformes: Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) from Iran</strong></p><p> </p>
Authors: Lotfollahi Parisa , Chetverikov Philipp E. , Mehri-heyran Hosein , Saboori Alireza 
Published: November 2020

One new phyllocoptine species and two eriophyine species collected in Norther-West Iran are described and illustrated: Aculops shalchii Lotfollahi sp. nov. (Phyllocoptinae) from Sweet Clover, Melilotus indicus (L.) All. (Fabaceae), Eriophyes euphorbiae (Nalepa, 1891) from Euphorbia boissieriana (Woronow) Prokh. (Euphorbiaceae) and Aceria rubiae (Canestrini, 1897) from Rubia tinctorum L. (Rubiaceae). Our supplementary data on morphology of A. rubiae and E. euphorpbiae indicate that they both have a thin translucent supracapitular plate situated below the frontal lobe of the prodorsal shield. Data from literature suggest A. rubiae and E. euphorbiae to be gall-forming species, however no visible damages causing by these mites were found in Iran.
Paediatric prehospital emergencies and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study
Authors: Oulasvirta Jelena , Pirneskoski Jussi , Harve-Rytsälä Heini , Lääperi Mitja , Kuitunen Mikael , Kuisma Markku , Salmi Heli 
Published: November 2020

BackgroundChildren are less vulnerable to serious forms of the COVID-19 disease. However, concerns have been raised about children being the second victims of the pandemic and its control measures. Therefore, we wanted to study if the pandemic, the infection control measures and their consequences to the society projected to paediatric prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) contacts.MethodsWe conducted a population-based cohort study concerning all children aged 0–15 years with EMS contacts in the Helsinki University Hospital area during 1 March 2020–31 May 2020 (study period) and equivalent periods in 2017–2019 (control periods). We analysed the demographic characteristics, time of EMS contact, reason for EMS contact, priority of the dispatch, reason for transportation, priority of transportation, if any consultations were made or additional units required, any medication or oxygen or fluids given, if intubation was performed, and whether paramedics took precautions when COVID-19 infection was suspected.ResultsThe number of paediatric EMS contacts decreased by 30.4% from mean of 1794 contacts to 1369 (p=0.003). The EMS contacts were more often due to trauma (+23.7%, p<0.05), dispatched in the most urgent category (+139.9%, p=0.001), additional help and the mobile intensive care unit were more frequently requested (+43.3%, p=0.040 and+46.3%, p=0.049, respectively). However, EMS contacts resulted less often in ambulance transport (−21.1%, p<0.001). Alarmingly, there were four deaths during the study period compared with 0–2 during the control periods.ConclusionsThe number of EMS contacts decreased during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the children encountered by the EMS were more seriously ill than during the control periods.
Accuracy of a no-biopsy approach for the diagnosis of coeliac disease across different adult cohorts
Authors: Penny Hugo A , Raju Suneil A , Lau Michelle S , Marks Lauren JS , Baggus Elisabeth MR , Bai Julio C , Bassotti Gabrio , Bontkes Hetty J , Carroccio Antonio , Danciu Mihai , Derakhshan Mohammad H , Ensari Arzu , Ganji Azita , Green Peter H R , Johnson Matt W , Ishaq Sauid , Lebwohl Benjamin , Levene Adam , Maxim Roxana , Mohaghegh Shalmani Hamid , Rostami-Nejad Mohammad , Rowlands David , Spiridon Irene A , Srivastava Amitabh , Volta Umberto , Villanacci Vincenzo , Wild Graeme , Cross Simon S , Rostami Kamran , Sanders David S 
Published: November 2020

ObjectiveWe aimed to determine the predictive capacity and diagnostic yield of a 10-fold increase in serum IgA antitissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody levels for detecting small intestinal injury diagnostic of coeliac disease (CD) in adult patients.DesignThe study comprised three adult cohorts. Cohort 1: 740 patients assessed in the specialist CD clinic at a UK centre; cohort 2: 532 patients with low suspicion for CD referred for upper GI endoscopy at a UK centre; cohort 3: 145 patients with raised tTG titres from multiple international sites. Marsh 3 histology was used as a reference standard against which we determined the performance characteristics of an IgA tTG titre of ≥10×ULN for a diagnosis of CD.ResultsCohort 1: the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for IgA tTG levels of ≥10×ULN at identifying individuals with Marsh 3 lesions were 54.0%, 90.0%, 98.7% and 12.5%, respectively. Cohort 2: the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for IgA tTG levels of ≥10×ULN at identifying individuals with Marsh 3 lesions were 50.0%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 98.3%, respectively. Cohort 3: the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for IgA tTG levels of ≥10×ULN at identifying individuals with Marsh 3 lesions were 30.0%, 83.0%, 95.2% and 9.5%, respectively.ConclusionOur results show that IgA tTG titres of ≥10×ULN have a strong predictive value at identifying adults with intestinal changes diagnostic of CD. This study supports the use of a no-biopsy approach for the diagnosis of adult CD.