bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can the scaling of plant nitrogen to phosphorus be altered by global change? An empirical test
Authors: Long Min , Zhang Juanjuan , Liu Zhengyi , Zhou Luyao , Su Fanglong , Xiao Rui , Wang Yi , Guo Hui , Hu Shuijin 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Aims
Global change may cause unparalleled supplies of soil nutrients and further lead to stoichiometric imbalance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in terrestrial plants. While previous studies had reported the effects of global change factors on plant N, P contents and their ratios, few had examined whether or how these factors may influence the scaling of these two elements.

Methods
Taking advantage of a manipulative experiment with altered precipitation, warming and N addition, and using the general scaling function N = βPα, we examined how the scaling of plant N to P may respond to global change factors in a Loess grassland in northwestern China.

Important Findings
We found that precipitation reduction (PR) and warming decreased plant P concentrations, while N addition increased plant N concentrations, resulting in increased N:P ratios. The slopes of the linear regressions between plant N and P (i.e. log-transformed N versus P) did not change significantly, whereas the intercepts increased significantly under PR, warming and N addition. These results indicate that global change factors may not affect the synergistic variation of plant N and P, showing a closely coupled relationship between them. Our findings may help to better understand plant nutrient dynamics and element balance in a changing world.
Commitments
Authors: Koppenfels Ulrich von , Christ Flavien 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
This chapter addresses the procedure for adopting commitment decisions and discusses the legal effects of such decisions. Article 9 of Regulation 1/2003 empowers the European Commission to conclude antitrust cases by means of a decision rendering binding commitments offered by the undertakings concerned to remove the Commission’s competition concerns. Similar to a prohibition decision adopted pursuant to Article 7 of Regulation 1/2003, a commitment decision is an enforcement tool intended to ensure that the competition rules laid down in the TFEU are applied effectively. The key feature of Article 9 is that commitments proposed by the undertakings concerned are made binding on them through a directly enforceable Commission decision. In case of a breach of commitments, Article 9(2) provides that the Commission may reopen the proceedings with a view to adopting a decision under Article 7 of Regulation 1/2003.
Publication of Antitrust Decisions and Other Documents
Authors: Heegde Annemarie ter , Todorova-Milanova Kristina 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
This chapter describes the legal basis for and the scope of the publication of Commission antitrust decisions as well as the procedure for preparing a public version of a decision. Publishing the Commission’s antitrust decisions is particularly important. In addition to informing the public of the Commission’s work, it has the specific purpose of deterring antitrust violations by exposing the wrongdoing of the infringers to the public, informing economic operators of what type of behaviour may be considered violation of antitrust rules and enabling victims of antitrust infringements to seek compensation for the damages suffered. Regulation 1/2003 lists the antitrust decisions the main content of which the Commission is obliged to publish. Beyond this, however, and within the limits of the duty of professional secrecy, the Commission enjoys broad discretion to make available to the public as much information as possible. The preparation of a public version of a decision, similarly to preparing access to the file and to granting access to documents pursuant to Regulation 1049/2001, requires determination of what information is confidential.
Judicial Review of Commission Decisions and Judicial Protection
Authors: Kornezov Alexander 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
This chapter focuses on the judicial review of different types of Commission decisions. It considers the developments in case law reflecting the need to ensure compliance with the principle of effective judicial protection and give legitimacy to the EU antitrust procedure. The institutional design of EU antitrust law reveals a significant concentration of power in one institution: the European Commission. Such concentration of power in a quasi-criminal area of EU law may create a structural risk of a prosecutorial bias. It is therefore critical to ensure effective judicial protection through in-depth judicial oversight of the Commission’s actions and inactions. The chapter then considers the action for annulment, which is the main procedural vehicle for reviewing the legality of Commission decisions.
The Purposes of Recognition of Belligerency
Authors: McLaughlin Robert 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
This chapter explores the purposes of the doctrine on recognition of belligerency. Whilst these purposes range from the evidently humanitarian to the explicitly political, they were nevertheless primarily expressed via the language and application of law. The means by which humanity was to be encouraged, for example, was to invoke de jure application of the Law of War as to means and methods, treatment of prisoners of war, and conduct vis-à-vis neutral third states. The means by which political ends were served included the application of the law of neutrality to characterize maritime interactions between third states on the one hand, and the conflict state and belligerent non-state armed groups (NSAGs) on the other, and employing recognition of belligerency as a middle path between assuaging public agitation in support of insurgents and the counter-veiling diplomatic imperative to maintain the veneer of non-intervention against fellow states. However, the doctrine also evinced a level of legal novelty and progressive development in response to perceived needs, such as the limited status and attributes afforded a recognized belligerent NSAG in terms of raising funds, taxing activity, and taking responsibility for treatment of and consequences for third state nationals.
Pulsar polarimetry with the Parkes ultra-wideband receiver
Authors: Oswald Lucy , Karastergiou Aris , Johnston Simon 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
Pulsar radio emission and its polarization are observed to evolve with frequency. This frequency dependence is key to the emission mechanism and the structure of the radio beam. With the new ultra-wideband receiver (UWL) on the Parkes radio telescope we are able, for the first time, to observe how pulsar profiles evolve over a broad continuous bandwidth of 700–4000 MHz. We describe here a technique for processing broad-band polarimetric observations to establish a meaningful alignment and visualize the data across the band. We apply this to observations of PSRs J1056–6258 and J1359–6038, chosen due to previously unresolved questions about the frequency evolution of their emission. Application of our technique reveals that it is possible to align the polarization position angle (PA) across a broad frequency range when constrained to applying only corrections for dispersion and Faraday rotation to do so. However, this does not correspond to aligned intensity profiles for these two sources. We find that it is possible to convert these misalignments into emission height range estimates that are consistent with published and simulated values, suggesting that they can be attributed to relativistic effects in the magnetosphere. We discuss this work in the context of the radio beam structure and prepare the ground for a wider study of pulsar emission using broad-band polarimetric data.
A NICER look at the state transitions of the black hole candidate MAXI J1535−571 during its reflares
Authors: Cúneo V A , Alabarta K , Zhang L , Altamirano D , Méndez M , Armas Padilla M , Remillard R , Homan J , Steiner J F , Combi J A , Muñoz-Darias T , Gendreau K C , Arzoumanian Z , Stevens A L , Loewenstein M , Tombesi F , Bult P , Fabian A C , Buisson D J K , Neilsen J , Basak A 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
The black hole candidate and X-ray binary MAXI J1535−571 was discovered in 2017 September. During the decay of its discovery outburst, and before returning to quiescence, the source underwent at least four reflaring events, with peak luminosities of ∼1035–36 erg s−1 (d/4.1 kpc)2. To investigate the nature of these flares, we analysed a sample of NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) observations taken with almost daily cadence. In this work, we present the detailed spectral and timing analysis of the evolution of the four reflares. The higher sensitivity of NICER at lower energies, in comparison with other X-ray detectors, allowed us to constrain the disc component of the spectrum at ∼0.5 keV. We found that during each reflare the source appears to trace out a q-shaped track in the hardness–intensity diagram similar to those observed in black hole binaries during full outbursts. MAXI J1535−571 transits between the hard state (valleys) and softer states (peaks) during these flares. Moreover, the Comptonized component is undetected at the peak of the first reflare, while the disc component is undetected during the valleys. Assuming the most likely distance of 4.1 kpc, we find that the hard-to-soft transitions take place at the lowest luminosities ever observed in a black hole transient, while the soft-to-hard transitions occur at some of the lowest luminosities ever reported for such systems.
Testing viscous disc theory using the balance between stellar accretion and external photoevaporation of protoplanetary discs
Authors: Winter Andrew J , Ansdell Megan , Haworth Thomas J , Kruijssen J M Diederik 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
The nature and rate of (viscous) angular momentum transport in protoplanetary discs (PPDs) have important consequences for the formation process of planetary systems. While accretion rates on to the central star yield constraints on such transport in the inner regions of a PPD, empirical constraints on viscous spreading in the outer regions remain challenging to obtain. Here, we demonstrate a novel method to probe the angular momentum transport at the outer edge of the disc. This method applies to PPDs that have lost a significant fraction of their mass due to thermal winds driven by UV irradiation from a neighbouring OB star. We demonstrate that this external photoevaporation can explain the observed depletion of discs in the 3–5 Myr old σ Orionis region, and use our model to make predictions motivating future empirical investigations of disc winds. For populations of intermediate-age PPDs, in viscous models we show that the mass flux outwards due to angular momentum redistribution is balanced by the mass-loss in the photoevaporative wind. A comparison between wind mass-loss and stellar accretion rates therefore offers an independent constraint on viscous models in the outer regions of PPDs.
SO025DCR2 ACCELERATES RENAL FIBROSIS AND TUBULAR CELL SENESCENCE BY PHOSPHORYLATING TYR 194 OF PRDX1 IN DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY
Authors: Chen Jia , He Yani 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Background and Aims
Cell senescence of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs), which is involved in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF), is a key event in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of decoy receptor 2 (DcR2) in TIF and cell senescence of RTECs.

Method
Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN mice model and high glucose (HG)-induced cell senescent model were constructed. The expression of DcR2 were regulated by ultrasound-mediated gene transfer of DcR2-siRNA or DcR2-overexpression plasmid in vivo. The co-expression of DcR2 with senescent markers (p16, p21 and SA-β-gal) and fibrotic markers (FN, collagen I and α-SMA). The interaction of DcR2 and its ligand TRAIL and antagonistic receptor DR5 were detected by laser confocal and Co-IP. The DcR2-interaction proteins were screened in renal tissue of DN patients and HG-induced cells by Co-IP combining with LC-MS/MS. The interaction of DcR2 and PRDX1 was validated by Co-IP, pull down assay and immunofluorescence co-staining. Peroxidase activity of PRDX1 was assessed by the kits of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and specific 2-cys peroxidase activity. The level of PRDX1 phosphorylation was measured through WB and the phosphorylated site were studied by wild-type PRDX1 and mutant Tyr194 PRDX1.

Results
DcR2 was co-expressed with senescent markers and co-localization with fibrotic markers in DN patients and STZ-DN mice. Knockdown of DcR2 effectively decreased renal fibrosis and tubular cell senescence in STZ-induced DN mice. However, DcR2 overexpression showed the opposite effects. DcR2 didn’t interacted with TRAIL or DR5 in vivo and vitro. The following study indicated that PRDX1 is a novel DcR2-interacting protein using quantitative proteomics, which have peroxidase and antioxidant activity in cytoplasm. The interaction of DcR2-PRDX1 mediated RTEC senescence in vitro. Knockdown of DcR2 inhibited the level of ROS and promoted the peroxidase activity of PRDX1, resulting in oxidative stress and cell senescence, and DcR2 overexpression presented the contrary results. DcR2 regulated the level of PRDX1 phosphorylation by interacting Tyr194 of PRDX1, and the mutant Tyr194 of PRDX1 can’t be phosphorylated by DcR2.

Conclusion
DcR2 mediates renal fibrosis and RTEC senescence by phosphorylating with PRDX1, suggesting DcR2 could serve as a potential therapeutic target for the amelioration of DN progression.
SO028LONG-TERM OUTCOMES IN LIVE KIDNEY DONORS: PREVALENCE OF ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, CANCER AND CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE AFTER DONATION COMPARED TO HEALTHY CONTROLS
Authors: Haugen Anders , Dahle Dag Olav , Hallan Stein I , Midtvedt Karsten , Reisater Anna Varberg , Holdaas Hallvard , Mjøen Geir 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Background and Aims
During long-term follow-up kidney donors are at increased risk of hypertension and end-stage renal disease after donation. Hypertension is a known risk factor for development of cardiovascular disease, but it is unknown whether kidney donors are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
We evaluated a large Norwegian kidney donor cohort and assessed prevalence of ischemic heart disease after donation compared to healthy controls. Prevalence of cancer, diabetes and cerebrovascular disease was also calculated.

Method
Follow-up data were retrospectively retrieved from past kidney donors. Healthy non-donor controls from a general population screening study were selected. Controls were selected according to standard donation criteria, assessed in similar time periods as the living donors. Stratified logistic regression was used to estimate associations with various disease outcomes. The diagnoses at follow-up were self-reported for the controls and registered by a physician for the donors.
A total of 1029 donors and 16084 controls were included.

Results
Mean observation time was eleven years after donation. Forty-four per cent of donors were male and mean age at follow-up was 56 years. Among the controls, 39 % were male and mean age at follow-up was 53 years.
At the time of follow up, 3.5 % of donors vs 1.7 % of controls had been diagnosed with ischemic heart disease, 3.7 % vs 4.4 % cancer, 1.8 % vs 1.4 % cerebrovascular disease and 4.1 % vs 1.9 % diabetes.
After adjusting for gender, age at follow up, smoking at baseline, BMI at baseline, systolic blood pressure at baseline and time since donation (time since participation in general population survey for controls), odds ratio for ischemic heart disease was 1.64 (CI 1.10-2.43; P=0.01) in previous kidney donors compared with healthy controls. Other outcomes did not differ significantly between donors and controls.

Conclusion
During long-term follow-up of kidney donors we find an increased risk of ischemic heart disease compared to healthy controls. This information may be important in the follow-up and selection process of living kidney donors.
SO031ANGIOTENSIN II TYPE 1 RECEPTOR (AT1R) EXPRESSION IN RENAL TRANSPLANT BIOPSIES AND ANTI-AT1R ANTIBODIES IN SERUM AS AN INDICATOR OF THE RISK OF TRANSPLANT LOSS
Authors: Sas-Strózik Agnieszka , Donizy Piotr , Kościelska-Kasprzak Katarzyna , Kamińska Dorota , Gawlik Kamila , Mazanowska Oktawia , Madziarska Katarzyna , Zmonarski Sławomir , Hałoń Agnieszka , Magdalena Krajewska , Banasik Mirosław 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Background and Aims
The manifestation of anti-angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) antibodies is considered a risk factor for transplant injury, however, the occurrence of AT1-Receptor expression in renal transplant biopsy may be an additional feature which can help to predict transplant loss.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the expression of AT1R together with their antibodies and assess the risk of transplant loss in patients who had a renal transplant indication biopsy.

Method
AT1-Receptor immunoreactivity was analyzed in renal transplant biopsies. Additionally, we analyzed the presence of anti-AT1R antibodies in these patients using ELISA method. The result of more than 10 was assessed as positive.
Immunohistochemical evaluation of AT1-Receptor expression was performed on 4 μm-thick paraffin sections mounted on silanized slides. AT1-Receptor expression was analyzed in five compartments: 1.tubular epithelium, 2.glomeruli, 3.peritubular capillaries, 4.interstitium and 5.renal blood vessels (small and intermediate arteries) based on a 3-step scale.

Results
We checked 156 samples of biopsies for the immunoreactivity of the AT1-Receptor. In all these patients we were able to access the presence of anti-AT1R antibodies.
A group of 67 patients had positive AT1-Receptor expression (R+) and 16 patients had positive anti-AT1R antibodies (R+Ab+) results. A group of 89 patients had no expression of AT1-Receptor (R-), among which 51 had also no anti-AT1R (R-Ab-). One-year post-biopsy graft loss in the R+Ab+ patients was 37% (6/16) compared to 10% (7/69) in the R-Ab- patients (p = 0.006). Two-year and three-year graft loss was 43% vs. 17% (p=0.02) and 50% vs. 21% (p=0.02) respectively.
Moreover, six patients had positive staining of AT1-Receptors in microcirculation (glomeruli and peritubular capillaries), which was associated with antibody mediated rejection.

Conclusion
The presence of anti-AT1R antibodies in serum together with the expression of AT1-Receptor in transplant biopsy was associated with a significantly higher graft loss. The relevance of AT1-Receptor expression analyzed together with anti-AT1R antibodies should be considered for better transplant immunological risk assessment.
SO032THE DISCARD AND DECLINE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS POSITIVE DONOR KIDNEYS IN THE UNITED STATES
Authors: Alhamad Tarek , Lentine Krista , Axelrod David , Abdulnabi Sami , Schnitzler Mark , Chang Su-Hsin 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Background and Aims
With more transplant centers in the United States are accepting hepatitis C virus infected (HCV+) deceased donor kidneys (dHCV+), the trend of non-utilization and decline of these organs have not been re-examined.

Method
We used data from the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network on deceased donor kidneys between Jan 2000 and Dec 2018 in the United States. Kidney non-utilization for HCV+ was defined as a positive donor HCV status and positive hepatitis as the reason for non-utilization. dHCV+ kidney decline was defined as a donor HCV+ status among kidneys recovered for transplantation but not transplanted. We assessed associations of a dHCV+ status with kidney non-utilization or decline, adjusted for donor characteristics (age, race, sex, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, kidney donor profile index), using multivariable logistic regression.

Results
A total of 274,570 deceased donor kidneys procured for transplantation between 2000 and 2018 were identified. Among these kidneys, 4.1% were from dHCV+. Proportion of dHCV+ non-utilization among all non-utilized kidneys increased from 2000-2005 (3.9%) and then subsequently declined. This proportion increased slightly to 1.1% in 2014 and decreased to 0.5, 0.8, 0.4, 0.6% in 2015-2018, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for dHCV+ non-utilization and decline by year demonstrate consistently an increasing trend from 2000-2006 followed by a decreasing trend from 2006-2011 (Fig A-B). Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for dHCV+ (compared to dHCV-) non-utilization and decline increased to 6.56 (95% CI 5.30-8.12) and 6.66 (95% CI 5.39-8.24), respectively, in 2012, and decreased to 2.32 (95% CI 2.01-2.69) and 2.28 (95% CI 1.98-2.64), respectively, in 2018.

Conclusion
dHCV+ non-utilization and decline have decreased in the last few years, particularly after 2014. 2018 had a historic lowest odds ratio for non-utilization and decline of dHCV+ organs, which reflects the increased acceptability of transplant centers to these kidneys. Overall, since 2014, the odds ratios for dHCV+ non-utilization and decline decreased by half. Yet, there is more room for decreasing the non-utilization and decline for these potentially life-saving organs.
SO062TRENDS OF BASELINE-RISK OF MORTALITY AND OBSERVED 3-YEAR MORTALITY IN INCIDENT DIALYSIS PATIENTS IN GERMANY
Authors: Wagner Martin , Rascher Katherine , Cramer Heyke , Schaller Mathias , Bach Rolf Dieter , Von Gersdorff Gero 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Background and Aims
The risk of mortality varies considerably among end stage kidney disease patients. As the population ages, patients on renal replacement therapy are presenting with an increasing number of non-renal complications such as heart failure and, subsequently, an increased mortality risk. Thus, in recent years, patient care in dialysis units has become more complex. In this study we describe trends in baseline risk of mortality and 3-year mortality risk in a sample of incident dialysis patients in Germany.

Method
The QiN (Quality in Nephrology) dataset is a registry-based observational study in which &gt;90% of all patients treated in dialysis centers of the non-profit kidney care provider KfH are enrolled. In our analyses we included all adult patients beginning hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment between 2008 and 2014 who were enrolled in QiN within 6 months after inception of dialysis. Primary outcome was all-cause death within 3 years. Cox models were censored for transplantation and loss to follow-up. Baseline risk of mortality was assessed by the AROii score (Floege et al. 2015), a predictive model including patient characteristics, laboratory variables and dialysis parameters. In this score higher values indicate greater mortality risk.

Results
A total of n=20369 patients were analyzed, HD n=18255 (89.6%), PD n=2114 (10.4%). Baseline mortality risk increased over time: AROii score for the 2008/09 incidence cohort was median 8.1 (interquartile range 4.4; 11.9), for the 2010/11 cohort 8.8 (5.0; 12.0) and for the 2012-14 cohort 9.0 (5.0; 12.0), p&lt;0.001. The AROii score was highly predictive for observed 3-year mortality (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.196 [1.190; 1.203], p&lt;0.001; C-statistic 0.736). In spite of higher baseline mortality risk in patients starting dialysis in more recent years, mortality was lower as compared to the earlier cohorts (HR 0.976 [0.964; 0.988), p&lt;0.001). The results were mainly driven by HD patients. In PD patients baseline mortality risk increased, but no trend on mortality was observed.

Conclusion
Our results show that patients starting dialysis in Germany have become sicker over the last decade, as indicated by the AROii risk score. Simultaneously the observed risk of mortality decreased in recent years, indicating success of optimized medical treatment including dialysis therapy as well as non-nephrology medical care.