bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Case-management protocol for bloody diarrhea as a model to reduce the clinical impact of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections. Experience from Southern Italy
Authors:   Bloody Diarrhea Apulia Working Group, Loconsole Daniela , Giordano Mario , Laforgia Nicola , Torres Diletta , Santangelo Luisa , Carbone Vincenza , Parisi Antonio , Quarto Michele , Scavia Gaia , Chironna Maria 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTo describe an operating protocol for bloody diarrhea (BD) in a pediatric population as a rapid response to a public health threat represented by an excess of pediatric HUS cases in the Apulia region (Southern Italy) starting from 2013. The protocol was set up with the goal of correct clinical management of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections, reductions in subsequent cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and improved short- and long-term disease outcomes. The protocol consisted of rapid hospitalization of children with bloody diarrhea (BD), hematochemical laboratory tests every 12–24 hours, and prompt laboratory diagnosis of STEC. No antibiotics were recommended until diagnosis. Children positive for STEC infections underwent early vigorous volume expansion. In June–December 2018, 438 children with BD were hospitalized, of which 53 (12.1%) had a STEC infection. The most common serogroups were O26 (36.1%), O111 (23.0%), and O157 (14.8%). Thirty-one samples carried the stx2 gene. Four cases evolved into HUS (7.5%), all with favorable outcome despite neurological involvement in two cases. Prompt and accurate laboratory diagnosis of STEC infections is of the utmost importance in patients with BD for correct clinical management. The strict adherence to the protocol could reduce the progression rate of STEC infections to HUS and prevents complications. Enhanced BD surveillance may help reduce cases of pediatric HUS in Southern Italy.
Indicators to measure the climate change adaptation outcomes of ecosystem-based adaptation
Authors: Donatti Camila I. , Harvey Celia A. , Hole David , Panfil Steven N. , Schurman Hanna 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of a strategy to help people adapt to climate change. Despite the potential of EbA to provide adaptation benefits, there is a lack of consensus on how to measure the success of this approach. This paper reviews the intended adaptation outcomes and indicators used by ongoing and completed EbA projects and addresses the following questions: (a) where have EbA projects been implemented? (b) what activities have been conducted by EbA projects? (c) what adaptation outcomes are EbA projects seeking to achieve? (d) how have the impacts of EbA projects been measured and evaluated? and (e) what is the set of indicators that can capture the diversity of adaptation outcomes achieved by EbA? To identify the adaptation outcomes provided by EbA and the indicators that could be used to measure such outcomes, we reviewed 58 EbA projects implemented globally, and obtained recommendations from experts on what indicators should be measured. We identified 13 adaptation outcomes that could be achieved through EbA, such as reducing the loss of assets of coastal communities due to extreme events. We identified seven indicators to monitor the success of EbA in achieving adaptation outcomes. Our review suggests that there is a strong need to better articulate the adaptation outcomes that EbA projects seek to achieve, to use a common set of specific indicators to track these outcomes, and to fund the monitoring of long-term EbA projects.
An empirical catalog of code smells for the presentation layer of Android apps
Authors: Carvalho Suelen Goularte , Aniche Maurício , Veríssimo Júlio , Durelli Rafael S. , Gerosa Marco Aurélio 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSoftware developers, including those of the Android mobile platform, constantly seek to improve their applications’ maintainability and evolvability. Code smells are commonly used for this purpose, as they indicate symptoms of design problems. However, although the literature presents a variety of code smells, such as God Class and Long Method, characteristics that are specific to the underlying technologies are not taken into account. The presentation layer of an Android app, for example, implements specific architectural decisions from the Android platform itself (such as the use of Activities, Fragments, and Listeners) as well as deal with and integrate different types of resources (such as layouts and images). Through a three-step study involving 246 Android developers, we investigated code smells that developers perceive for this part of Android apps. We devised 20 specific code smells and collected the developers’ perceptions of their frequency and importance. We also implemented a tool that identifies the proposed code smells and studied their prevalence in 619 open-source Android apps. Our findings suggest that: 1) developers perceive smells specific to the presentation layer of Android apps; 2) developers consider these smells to be of high importance and frequency; and 3) the proposed smells occur in real-world Android apps. Our domain-specific smells can be leveraged by developers, researchers, and tool developers for searching potentially problematic pieces of code.
Salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria enhanced salinity tolerance of salt-tolerant alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars at high salinity
Authors: Ansari Mohammad , Shekari Farid , Mohammadi Mohammad Hossein , Juhos Katalin , Végvári György , Biró Borbála 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAlfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) plant growth decreases when cultivated under salinity or irrigated with salty water. Inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is a method for mitigating the harmful effects of salinity on plants growth. To investigate salt-tolerant PGPB with salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive alfalfa cultivar interactions under salinity, some physiological and agronomical aspects were investigated. The inoculated plants of alfalfa cultivars withHartmannibacter. diazotrophicus and Pseudomonassp. bacteria were compared with non-inoculated plants. Plants were grown in growth room and irrigated with tap water until 6–7 weeks, and then, salinity stress imposed by irrigating with tap water (control), 10 dS m−1and 20 dS m−1NaCl. Salinity reduced relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), K+, photosynthesis rate (Pn) and stomatal conductance (gs), leaf number, height, and dry weight, and increased sodium in all cultivars. Inoculation of cultivars with both PGPB mitigated the negative effects of salinity on plants growth by increasing the root length and weight, nodule number, chlorophyll pigments, RWC, MSI, Pn, and gs. Chlorophyll pigments, plant height and leaf number, Na+, K+/Na+, and nodule number improved more pronounced through inoculating withPseudomonassp., whereas K+, carotenoids, and RWC improved more pronounced throughH. diazotrophicusunder salinity. The results showed inoculation with two bacteria improved growth performance in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive cultivars under 10 dS m−1, but at high salinity (20 dS m−1), inoculation was successful only in salt-tolerant alfalfa cultivars.
Robust estimation and inference for general varying coefficient models with missing observations
Authors: Bravo Francesco 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper considers estimation and inference for a class of varying coefficient models in which some of the responses and some of the covariates are missing at random and outliers are present. The paper proposes two general estimators—and a computationally attractive and asymptotically equivalent one-step version of them—that combine inverse probability weighting and robust local linear estimation. The paper also considers inference for the unknown infinite-dimensional parameter and proposes two Wald statistics that are shown to have power under a sequence of local Pitman drifts and are consistent as the drifts diverge. The results of the paper are illustrated with three examples: robust local generalized estimating equations, robust local quasi-likelihood and robust local nonlinear least squares estimation. A simulation study shows that the proposed estimators and test statistics have competitive finite sample properties, whereas two empirical examples illustrate the applicability of the proposed estimation and testing methods.
HPV-associated cancers
Authors: Minichsdorfer Christoph 
Published: November 2019

SummaryHuman papilloma virus (HPV) is a DNA virus consisting of approximately 8000 base pairs. HPV represents the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Around 200 different genotypes exist. They are distinguished into low- and high-risk genotypes, depending on the risk of such HPV-associated lesions undergoing malignant transformation. The high-risk genotypes include HPV 16 and 18, which are responsible for a variety of human cancers. The most common malignancies that are associated with HPV infection are cervical cancer, oropharyngeal cancer and anal cancer. Screening for HPV precursor lesions in women has led to a drastic reduction in cervical cancer morbidity and mortality in the last 30 years. Unfortunately no such screening tests are available for other HPV-associated malignancies. With the advent of HPV vaccination programs a marked decrease in the prevalence of HPV was reached in vaccinated individuals. However, since these programs were initiated around 2009 the full effect on the incidence of HPV-associated cancers cannot be fully estimated yet.
Effect of body surface area and gender on wall thickness thresholds in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Huurman R. , Schinkel A. F. L , van der Velde N. , Bowen D. J. , Menting M. E. , van den Bosch A. E. , van Slegtenhorst M. , Hirsch A. , Michels M. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
Family screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is based on genetic testing and clinical evaluation (maximal left ventricular wall thickness (MWT) ≥15 mm, or ≥13 mm in first-degree relatives of HCM patients). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of gender and body size on diagnosis of HCM and prediction of clinical outcome.

Methods
This study includes 199 genotype-positive subjects (age 44 ± 15 years, 50% men) referred for cardiac screening. Gender-specific reference values for MWT indexed by body surface area (BSA), height and weight were derived from 147 healthy controls. Predictive accuracy of each method for HCM-related events was assessed by comparing areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC).

Results
Men had a higher absolute, but similar BSA- and weight-indexed MWT compared with women (14.0 ± 3.9 mm vs 11.5 ± 3.8 mm, p < 0.05; 6.8 ± 2.1 mm/m2 vs 6.6 ± 2.4 mm/m2; 0.17 ± 0.06 mm/kg vs 0.17 ± 0.06 mm/kg, both p > 0.05). Applying BSA- and weight-indexed cut-off values decreased HCM diagnoses in the study group (48% vs 42%; 48% vs 39%, both p < 0.05), reclassified subjects in the largest, lightest and heaviest tertiles (≥2.03 m2: 58% vs 45%; ≤70 kg: 37% vs 46%; ≥85 kg: 53% vs 25%, all p < 0.05) and improved predictive accuracy (AUC 0.76 [95% CI 0.69–0.82] vs 0.78 [0.72–0.85]; and vs 0.80 [0.74–0.87]; both p < 0.05).

Conclusions
In genotype-positive subjects referred for family screening, differences in MWT across gender are mitigated after indexation by BSA or weight. Indexation decreases the prevalence of HCM, particularly in larger men, and improves the predictive accuracy for HCM-related events.
C60 Fullerenes Suppress Reactive Oxygen Species Toxicity Damage in Boar Sperm
Authors: Li Xinhong , Wang Lirui , Liu Huan , Fu Jieli , Zhen Linqing , Li Yuhua , Zhang Yaozhong , Zhang Yafei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe report the carboxylated C60improved the survival and quality of boar sperm during liquid storage at 4 °C and thus propose the use of carboxylated C60as a novel antioxidant semen extender supplement. Our results demonstrated that the sperm treated with 2 μg mL−1carboxylated C60had higher motility than the control group (58.6% and 35.4%, respectively;P ˂ 0.05). Moreover, after incubation with carboxylated C60for 10 days, acrosome integrity and mitochondrial activity of sperm increased by 18.1% and 34%, respectively, compared with that in the control group. Similarly, the antioxidation abilities and adenosine triphosphate levels in boar sperm treated with carboxylated C60significantly increased (P ˂ 0.05) compared with those in the control group. The presence of carboxylated C60in semen extender increases sperm motility probably by suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) toxicity damage. Interestingly, carboxylated C60could protect boar sperm from oxidative stress and energy deficiency by inhibiting the ROS-induced protein dephosphorylation via the cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. In addition, the safety of carboxylated C60as an alternative antioxidant was also comprehensively evaluated by assessing the mean litter size and number of live offspring in the carboxylated C60treatment group. Our findings confirm carboxylated C60as a novel antioxidant agent and suggest its use as a semen extender supplement for assisted reproductive technology in domestic animals.
Children's online use of word order and morphosyntactic markers in Tagalog thematic role assignment: an eye-tracking study
Authors: GARCIA Rowena , ROESER Jens , HÖHLE Barbara 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe investigated whether Tagalog-speaking children incrementally interpret the first noun as the agent, even if verbal and nominal markers for assigning thematic roles are given early in Tagalog sentences. We asked five- and seven-year-old children and adult controls to select which of two pictures of reversible actions matched the sentence they heard, while their looks to the pictures were tracked. Accuracy and eye-tracking data showed that agent-initial sentences were easier to comprehend than patient-initial sentences, but the effect of word order was modulated by voice. Moreover, our eye-tracking data provided evidence that, by the first noun phrase, seven-year-old children looked more to the target in the agent-initial compared to the patient-initial conditions, but this word order advantage was no longer observed by the second noun phrase. The findings support language processing and acquisition models which emphasize the role of frequency in developing heuristic strategies (e.g., Chang, Dell, & Bock, 2006).
Left ventricle segmental function in childhood cancer survivors using speckle-tracking echocardiography
Authors: Akam-Venkata Jyothsna , Kadiu Gilda , Galas James , Lipshultz Steven E. , Aggarwal Sanjeev 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAim:Anthracycline-associated cardiotoxicity in childhood cancer survivors may relate to global or segmental left ventricular abnormalities from associated thromboembolic events and myocardial microinfarcts. We characterized left ventricular segmental changes by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography in anthracycline-treated asymptomatic childhood cancer survivors.Methods and Results:Childhood cancer survivors’ echocardiograms with normal left ventricular fractional shortening >1 year after anthracycline chemotherapy were studied. Cancer-free control children had normal echocardiograms. Apical two-, three-, and four-chamber peak systolic left ventricular longitudinal and global longitudinal strain, and peak systolic left ventricular radial and circumferential strain at papillary muscle levels were analyzed. The mean (standard deviation) age was 12.7 (3.8) years in 41 childhood cancer survivors. The median (interquartile range) follow-up after anthracycline chemotherapy was 4.73 (2.15–8) years. The median (range) cumulative anthracycline dose was 160.2 (60–396.9) mg/m2. In childhood cancer survivors, the mean (standard deviation) left ventricular longitudinal strain was lower in two- (−18.6 [3.2] versus −21.3 [2.5], p < 0.001), three- (−16.3 [6.0] versus −21.7 [3.0], p < 0.001), and four- (−17.6 [2.7] versus −20.8 [2.0], p < 0.001) chamber views compared to controls. The left ventricular global longitudinal strain (−17.6 [2.7] versus −21.3 [2.0]) and circumferential strain (−20.8 [4.3] versus −23.5 [2.6], p < 0.001) were lower in childhood cancer survivors. Among childhood cancer survivors, 12 out of 16 left ventricular segments had significantly lower longitudinal strain than controls.Conclusions:Asymptomatic anthracycline-treated childhood cancer survivors with normal left ventricular fractional shortening had lower global longitudinal and circumferential strain. The left ventricular longitudinal strain was lower in majority of the segments, suggesting that anthracycline cardiotoxicity is more global than regional.
Demographic change and climate change
Authors: Rauscher Michael 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper uses a continuous-time overlapping-generations model with endogenous growth and pollution accumulation over time to study the link between longevity and global warming. It is seen that increasing longevity accelerates climate change in a business-as-usual scenario without climate policy. If a binding emission target is set exogenously and implemented via a cap-and-trade system, the price of emission permits is increasing in longevity. Longevity has no effect on the optimal solution of the climate problem if perfect intergenerational transfers are feasible. If these transfers are absent, the impact of longevity is ambiguous.
Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the End-of-Life Professional Caregiver Survey
Authors: Garcia Ana Cláudia Mesquita , Damasceno Spineli Vivian Marina Calixto , Eduardo Aline Helena Appoloni , Meireles Everson , Moreira de Barros Guilherme Antonio , Lazenby Mark 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically evaluate the Brazilian version of the “End-of-Life Professional Caregiver Survey” (BR-EPCS).MethodThis is an observational cross-sectional study. The sample was composed of 285 Brazilian healthcare professionals who work or worked in the palliative care area. A minimum number of 280 participants were established, following the recommendation of 10 subjects for each instrument item. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer — Quality of Life Group Translation Procedure protocol was used for the translation and the cultural adaptation. For the precise/reliable evaluation of factors measured by the BR-EPCS, Cronbach's alpha (α) and composite reliability coefficients were used. The factorial analyses were made by means of the exploratory structural equation modeling methods and confirmatory factor analysis. We have conducted a multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate the sociodemographic variables' capabilities in the result prediction measured by BR-EPCS factors.ResultsThe factorial analysis showed the relevance of two factors: Factor 1 — “Given care effectiveness” (18 items; Cronbach's α = 0.94; Composite Reliability = 0.95) and Factor 2 — “Mourning and ethical and cultural values” (10 items; Cronbach's α = 0.89; Composite Reliability = 0.88). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the working time, sex, palliative care training, and its own advance directives are predictors of the constructs assessed by the BR-EPCS.Significance of resultsThe BR-EPCS is a reliable, valid, and culturally appropriate tool to identify the educational needs of healthcare professionals who work with palliative care. This instrument can be used for educational and research reasons.
BATF3 is sufficient for the induction of Il9 expression and can compensate for BATF during Th9 cell differentiation
Authors: Lee Woo Ho , Jang Sung Woong , Kim Hyeong Su , Kim So Hee , Heo Jung In , Kim Ga Eul , Lee Gap Ryol 
Published: November 2019

AbstractTh9 cells preferentially produce IL-9 and participate in allergic responses and asthma. Differentiation of Th9 cells is induced by IL-4 and TGF-β, and then the cells are amplified by OX40 signals. The transcription factors PU.1, IRF4, and BATF are required for Th9 differentiation. BATF3 is an AP-1 family transcription factor that is highly homologous to BATF; however, its role in Th9 cells is poorly defined. Here, we show that OX40 signaling induced the expression ofBatf3and that its overexpression in the presence or absence of OX40 signaling increased the expression of IL-9 in Th9 cells. BATF3 physically interacted with IRF4 and was bound to theIl9locus. A transient reporter assay revealed that the BATF3–IRF4 complex inducedIl9promoter activity. BATF3 rescuedIl9expression and restored the capacity to induce the airway inflammation inBatfKO Th9 cells. Thus, BATF3 itself is sufficient for the induction of Th9 cell differentiation and can substitute for BATF during Th9 cell differentiation.
The iron load of lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) defines its pro-tumour function in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Rehwald Claudia , Schnetz Matthias , Urbschat Anja , Mertens Christina , Meier Julia K. , Bauer Rebekka , Baer Patrick , Winslow Sofia , Roos Frederik C. , Zwicker Klaus , Huard Arnaud , Weigert Andreas , Brüne Bernhard , Jung Michaela 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background
We aimed at clarifying the role of lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Since LCN-2 was recently identified as a novel iron transporter, we explored its iron load as a decisive factor in conferring its biological function.

Methods
LCN-2 expression was analysed at the mRNA and protein level by using immunohistochemistry, RNAscope® and qRT-PCR in patients diagnosed with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma compared with adjacent healthy tissue. We measured LCN-2-bound iron by atomic absorption spectrometry from patient-derived samples and applied functional assays by using ccRCC cell lines, primary cells, and 3D tumour spheroids to verify the role of the LCN-2 iron load in tumour progression.

Results
LCN-2 was associated with poor patient survival and LCN-2 mRNA clustered in high- and low-expressing ccRCC patients. LCN-2 protein was found overexpressed in tumour compared with adjacent healthy tissue, whereby LCN-2 was iron loaded. In vitro, the iron load determines the biological function of LCN-2. Iron-loaded LCN-2 showed pro-tumour functions, whereas iron-free LCN-2 produced adverse effects.

Conclusions
We provide new insights into the pro-tumour function of LCN-2. LCN-2 donates iron to cells to promote migration and matrix adhesion. Since the iron load of LCN-2 determines its pro-tumour characteristics, targeting either its iron load or its receptor interaction might represent new therapeutic options.