bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
State‐mediated Brokerage System in China's Self‐funded Study Abroad Market
Authors: Lan Shanshan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe thriving of China's self‐funded study abroad market is marked by the tremendous increase of students who use the services of educational intermediaries to facilitate their transnational journeys. This is largely due to the marketization of China's higher educational system and the liberalization of state policy towards commercialized brokerage services. Based on multi‐sited fieldwork in China and Italy, this paper examines the intersections between the regulatory, the commercial, and the social dimensions of the educational migration infrastructure in China. It identifies a tension between the neoliberal ideas of individual autonomy and freedom, which are promoted by the state and private intermediaries, and the self‐perpetuating nature of the educational migration infrastructure, which facilitates and constrains different groups of parents' and students' desire for international education.
Mothers’ Work Status and 17‐Month‐Olds’ Productive Vocabulary
Authors: Laing Catherine , Bergelson Elika 
Published: September 2018

Literature examining the effects of mothers’ work status on infant language development is mixed, with little focus on varying work schedules and early vocabulary. We use naturalistic data to analyze the productive vocabulary of 44 17‐month‐olds in relation to mothers’ work status (full time, part time, stay at home) at 6 and 18 months. Infants who experienced a combination of care from mothers and other caretakers had larger productive vocabularies than infants in solely full‐time maternal or solely other‐caretaker care. Our results draw from naturalistic data to suggest that this care combination may be particularly beneficial for early lexical development.
The Co‐Movement of Credit Default Swap Spreads, Equity Returns and Volatility: Evidence from Asia‐Pacific Markets
Authors: Da Fonseca José , Gottschalk Katrin 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWe provide a comprehensive analysis of the co‐movement of credit default swap (CDS), equity, and volatility markets in four Asia‐Pacific countries at firm and index level during the period 2007–2010. First, we examine lead–lag relationships between CDS spread changes, equity returns, and changes in volatility using a vector autoregressive model. At the firm level equity returns lead changes in CDS spreads and realized volatility. However, at the index level the intertemporal linkages between the three markets are less clear‐cut. Second, we apply the measures proposed by Diebold and Yilmaz (2014) to an analysis of volatility spillovers among the CDS, equities, and volatility asset classes. The results suggest that realized volatility (at firm level) and implied volatility (at index level) are the main transmitters of cross‐market volatility spillovers. Third, we analyze the impact of various structural factors and confirm the importance of realized volatility of equity returns as a determinant of CDS spreads.
Alendronate improves fasting plasma glucose and insulin sensitivity, and decreases insulin resistance in prediabetic osteopenic postmenopausal women: A randomized triple‐blind clinical trial
Authors: Karimi Fard Maryam , Aminorroaya Ashraf , Kachuei Ali , Salamat Mohammad Reza , Hadi Alijanvand Moluk , Aminorroaya Yamini Sima , Karimifar Mansoor , Feizi Awat , Amini Massoud 
Published: September 2018

AbstractAims/IntroductionPostmenopausal women receive bisphosphonates for osteoporosis treatment. The effect of these medications on developing diabetes mellitus in prediabetic patients is yet to be investigated. We aimed to determine the effect of alendronate on plasma glucose, insulin indices of postmenopausal women with prediabetes and osteopenia.Materials and MethodsThe present triple‐blind randomized controlled clinical trial included 60 postmenopausal women, aged 45–60 years. All patients were vitamin D sufficient. They were randomly enrolled in intervention (70 mg/week alendronate for 12 weeks) and control (placebo tablet per week for 12 weeks) groups. The morning 8‐h fasting blood samples were collected at the baseline and follow‐up visits to measure the fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL), insulin and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Plasma glucose and insulin concentration were measured 30, 60 and 120 min after the glucose tolerance test. The Matsuda Index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, homeostasis model assessment of β‐cell function and the area under the curves of glucose and insulin were calculated.ResultsThe mean (standard deviation) fasting plasma glucose (102.43 [1.46] mg/dL vs 94.23 [1.17] mg/dL, P = 0.001), 120‐min insulin concentration (101.86 [15.70] mU/L vs 72.60 [11.36] mU/L, P = 0.026), HbA1c (5.60 [0.06]% vs 5.40 [0.05]%, P = 0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (3.57 [0.45] vs 2.62 [0.24], P = 0.021) and Matsuda Index (7.7 [0.41] vs 9.2 [0.4], P = 0.001) significantly improved in the alendronate‐treated group. There were more statistically significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose (−8.2 [8.63] mg/dL vs −2.5 [14.26] mg/dL, P = 0.002) and HbA1c (−0.2 [0.23]% vs −0.09 [0.26]%, P = 0.015) observed in the alendronate‐treated group than the placebo group during the study course, respectively.ConclusionsAdministration of 70 mg/week alendronate improves fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and insulin indices in postmenopausal women.
Sequence, structure and evolutionary analysis of cold shock domain proteins, a member of OB fold family
Authors: Amir Mohd. , Kumar Vijay , Dohare Ravins , Islam Asimul , Ahmad Faizan , Hassan Md. Imtaiyaz 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe cold shock domain (CSD) belongs to the oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide‐binding fold superfamily which is highly conserved from prokaryotes to higher eukaryotes, and appears to function as RNA chaperones. CSD is involved in diverse cellular processes, including adaptation to low temperatures, nutrient stress, cellular growth and developmental processes. Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database broadly classifies OB fold proteins into 18 different superfamilies, including nucleic acid‐binding superfamily (NAB). The NAB is further divided into 17 families together with cold shock DNA‐binding protein family (CSDB). The CSDB have more than 240 000 sequences in UniProt database consisting of 32 domains including CSD. Among these domains, CSD is the second largest sequence contributor (> 40 398 sequences). Herein, we have systematically analysed the relative abundance and distribution of CSD proteins based on sequences, structures, repeats and gene ontology (GO) molecular functions in all domains of life. Analysis of sequence distribution suggesting that CSDs are largely found in bacteria (83–94%) with single CSD repeat. However, repeat distribution in eukaryota varies from 1 to 5 in combination with other auxiliary domain that makes CSD proteins functionally more diverse compared to the bacterial counterparts. Further, analysis of repeats distributions on evolutionary scale suggest that existence of CSD in multiple repeats is mainly driven through speciation, gene shuffling and gene duplication events.
Phenotypic and molecular consequences of stepwise temperature increase across generations in a coral reef fish
Authors: Bernal Moisés A. , Donelson Jennifer M. , Veilleux Heather D. , Ryu Taewoo , Munday Philip L. , Ravasi Timothy 
Published: September 2018

AbstractGlobal warming will have far‐reaching consequences for marine species over coming decades, yet the magnitude of these effects may depend on the rate of warming across generations. Recent experiments show coral reef fishes can compensate the metabolic challenges of elevated temperature when warm conditions are maintained across generations. However, the effects of a gradual temperature increase across generations remain unknown. In the present study, we analysed metabolic and molecular traits in the damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus that were exposed to +1.5°C in the first generation and +3.0°C in the second (Step +3.0°C). This treatment of stepwise warming was compared to fish reared at current‐day temperatures (Control), second‐generation fish of control parents reared at +3.0°C (Developmental +3.0°C) and fish exposed to elevated temperatures for two generations (Transgenerational +1.5°C and Transgenerational +3.0°C). Hepatosomatic index, oxygen consumption and liver gene expression were compared in second‐generation fish of the multiple treatments. Hepatosomatic index increased in fish that developed at +3.0°C, regardless of the parental temperature. Routine oxygen consumption of Step +3.0°C fish was significantly higher than Control; however, their aerobic scope recovered to the same level as Control fish. Step +3.0°C fish exhibited significant upregulation of genes related to mitochondrial activity and energy production, which could be associated with their increased metabolic rates. These results indicate that restoration of aerobic scope is possible when fish experience gradual thermal increase across multiple generations, but the metabolic and molecular responses are different from fish reared at the same elevated thermal conditions in successive generations.
Micafungin may be safely administered as outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Otu Akaninyene A. , Bongomin Felix , Bazaz Rohit , Harris Chris , Denning David W. , Kosmidis Chris 
Published: September 2018

SummaryBackgroundIntravenous micafungin has been reported as a treatment alternative in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) where long‐term oral triazole therapy is unfeasible.ObjectivesWe evaluated the safety and efficacy of micafungin administered via the outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) service for the treatment of CPA.MethodsWe included all CPA patients who received micafungin via OPAT between April 2016 and March 2018. Data on adverse events and line‐related complications, and Quality of Life (QoL) scores at the start of micafungin course and 3 months later were extracted. Improvements in QoL were defined as an improvement of ≥4 points in at least one modality (symptom, impact, activity, total) in the St George's QoL score. A stable QoL score was defined as a change in score of <4 points in either direction whilst deterioration was defined as an increase of ≥4 points.ResultsThere were 20 OPAT episodes involving 18 patients with a median duration of micafungin therapy of 21 (range: 4‐248) days. Improvement or stability in the symptoms, activity, impact and total score was seen in 14 (78%), 12 (67%), 9 (50%) and 9 (50%) of the patients, respectively. However, half of the patients reported deterioration in the impact domain and total scores. By self‐assessment, patients who categorised themselves as “poor” were comparable at the start of OPAT and at 3 months (43% vs 50%, McNemar's P = 0.7). Adverse events attributable to micafungin were recorded in 3 (14.3%) episodes.ConclusionsMicafungin may be safely administered via an OPAT service. Micafungin therapy was associated with an improvement or stability in QoL scores in at least 50% of the patients across the four domains.
Multiple mechanisms explain how reduced KRP expression increases leaf size of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sizani Bulelani L. , Kalve Shweta , Markakis Marios N. , Domagalska Malgorzata A. , Stelmaszewska Joanna , AbdElgawad Hamada , Zhao Xin'ai , De Veylder Lieven , De Vos Dirk , Broeckhove Jan , Schnittger Arp , Beemster Gerrit T. S. 
Published: September 2018

Summary

Although cell number generally correlates with organ size, the role of cell cycle control in growth regulation is still largely unsolved. We studied kip related protein (krp) 4, 6 and 7 single, double and triple mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana to understand the role of cell cycle inhibitory proteins in leaf development.

We performed leaf growth and seed size analysis, kinematic analysis, flow cytometery, transcriptome analysis and mathematical modeling of G1/S and G2/M checkpoint progression of the mitotic and endoreplication cycle.

Double and triple mutants progressively increased mature leaf size, because of elevated expression of cell cycle and DNA replication genes stimulating progression through the division and endoreplication cycle. However, cell number was also already increased before leaf emergence, as a result of an increased cell number in the embryo. We show that increased embryo and seed size in krp4/6/7 results from seed abortion, presumably reducing resource competition, and that seed size differences contribute to the phenotype of several large‐leaf mutants.

Our results provide a new mechanistic understanding of the role of cell cycle regulation in leaf development and highlight the contribution of the embryo to the development of leaves after germination in general.
Opioid Induced Hyperalgesia with Intrathecal Infusion of High‐Dose Fentanyl
Authors: Kalaydjian Antranig , Farah Fadi , Cheng Yuen , Acquadro Martin A. , Gerges Frederic J. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractIntroductionDespite being reported since 1943 as well as being the subject of a large body of literature since that time, no consensus has been reached regarding the etiology of opioid induced hyperalgesia (OIH). It is often described as a paradoxical increased pain response to noxious stimuli due to increased sensitization or an acute tolerance to opioids.CaseWe report the case of a 60 year old patient on chronic Intrathecal combined fentanyl and Bupivacaine who had worsening pain with increasing doses and improved after weaning off intrathecal opioids.ConclusionOIH has been described in various settings including patients on methadone maintenance therapy, perioperative opioid administration, cancer patients on opioids, and healthy volunteers who are acutely exposed to opioids, including high dose intrathecal opioids such as Morphine and Sufentanil. To our knowledge, no cases of opioid induced hyperalgesia was previously reported in the case of intrathecal Fentanyl.
Simultaneous regulation of F5H in COMT‐RNAi transgenic switchgrass alters effects of COMT suppression on syringyl lignin biosynthesis
Authors: Wu Zhenying , Wang Nengfei , Hisano Hiroshi , Cao Yingping , Wu Fengyan , Liu Wenwen , Bao Yan , Wang Zeng‐Yu , Fu Chunxiang 
Published: September 2018

SummaryFerulate 5‐hydroxylase (F5H) catalyses the hydroxylation of coniferyl alcohol and coniferaldehyde for the biosynthesis of syringyl (S) lignin in angiosperms. However, the coordinated effects of F5H with caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase (COMT) on the metabolic flux towards S units are largely unknown. We concomitantly regulated F5H expression in COMT‐down‐regulated transgenic switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) lines and studied the coordination of F5H and COMT in lignin biosynthesis. Down‐regulation of F5H in COMT‐RNAi transgenic switchgrass plants further impeded S lignin biosynthesis and, consequently, increased guaiacyl (G) units and reduced 5‐OH G units. Conversely, overexpression of F5H in COMT‐RNAi transgenic plants reduced G units and increased 5‐OH units, whereas the deficiency of S lignin biosynthesis was partially compensated or fully restored, depending on the extent of COMT down‐regulation in switchgrass. Moreover, simultaneous regulation of F5H and COMT expression had different effects on cell wall digestibility of switchgrass without biomass loss. Our results indicate that up‐regulation and down‐regulation of F5H expression, respectively, have antagonistic and synergistic effects on the reduction in S lignin resulting from COMT suppression. The coordinated effects between lignin genes should be taken into account in future studies aimed at cell wall bioengineering.
The impact of positive antinuclear antibody on narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy in patients with vitiligo: A retrospective chart review
Authors: Nahhas Amanda F. , Nartker Nathan T. , Braunberger Taylor L. , Jacobsen Gordon , Hamzavi Iltefat H. 
Published: September 2018

SummaryBackground/PurposeScreening antinuclear antibody (ANA) is not recommended prior to initiating narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy in vitiligo patients, unless concern for photosensitivity exists. Guidelines on prescribing NBUVB phototherapy in vitiligo patients with positive ANA are unavailable, prompting this study to uncover trends.MethodsThis retrospective chart review investigated patients 12 years of age or older with a diagnosis of vitiligo between January 2015 and September 2017, positive serum ANA, and NBUVB phototherapy. Demographic information, vitiligo type, ANA titer/pattern, starting dose, peak dose without phototoxicity, phototherapy frequency, total number of phototoxic events and treatments, coexisting photosensitizing disorders, and concomitant photosensitizing medications were collected.ResultsSeven (two males, five females) of 1485 charts met inclusion criteria. One Caucasian, two African‐Americans, one Asian, and three Hispanic/Latinos patients were represented. Six of seven patients had generalized vitiligo and one had focal vitiligo. ANA titer/patterns and phototherapy frequencies were evaluated. Peak doses of NBUVB without phototoxic event were available in six of seven patients: 274, 290, 532, 618, 700, and 734 mJ/cm2. Total number of phototoxic events varied: 1 (n = 1), 2 (n = 1), 4 (n = 1), 6 (n = 2), or 8 (n = 1). Total NBUVB treatments ranged between 6 and 132. Coexisting photosensitizing disorders were not identified. One patient had phototoxic events in association with photosensitizing medications.ConclusionWith regard to phototoxicity, meaningful trends were not identified that may guide prescription of phototherapy in vitiligo patients with positive ANA, suggesting ANA may not be exclusionary criteria when prescribing NBUVB.
Evaluation of a bovine visual pregnancy test for the detection of pregnancy‐associated glycoproteins in sheep
Authors: Steckeler Patricia , Weber Frank , Zerbe Holm , Rieger Anna , Voigt Katja 
Published: September 2018

ContentsAs sheep produce similar pregnancy‐associated glycoproteins (PAGs) to cattle, a commercially available bovine visual pregnancy test based on the detection of PAGs (visual‐PAG‐test) was evaluated in sheep. The test was performed with whole blood (WhB), plasma (P) and serum (S) of 163 pregnant and 153 non‐pregnant ewes. Additionally, 11 pregnant ewes were tested weekly from day 14 to 49 of gestation and monthly from day 60 to day 149. Ten ewes were sampled weekly from the date of lambing until day 63 post‐partum (p.p.). The sensitivity in mid‐pregnancy (n = 163) was 98.16% (WhB), 99.39% (P) and 99.39% (S) compared to transabdominal ultrasonography as the gold standard while the specificity (n = 153) was 94.12% (WhB), 76.47% (P) and 93.46% (S), respectively. During early pregnancy, all 11 ewes were correctly identified as pregnant on day 42 (100%); however, the test sensitivity decreased to 54.6% (WhB) and 63.6% (S and P, respectively) at day 49. The ewes were again consistently identified as pregnant on day 63 (P) or on day 119 (S, WhB). The test was consistently negative from day 42 p.p. onwards in eight out of ten ewes. Two ewes remained consistently positive until the last sample on day 63 p.p. In conclusion, the test could be used to accurately select pregnant ewes at day 42 with a drop in sensitivity at day 49. The sensitivity of the visual‐PAG‐test was good in mid to late pregnancy, and early detection of pregnancy was possible in individual animals. In some ewes, the PAGs were however detectable for more than 63 days p.p.—the previous breeding history should therefore always be taken into account for correct interpretation of the test results.
Why has Income Inequality in Germany Increased From 2002 to 2011? A Behavioral Microsimulation Decomposition
Authors: Jessen Robin 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis paper proposes a method to decompose changes in income inequality into the contributions of policy changes, wage rate changes, and population changes while considering labor supply reactions. Using data from the Socio‐Economic Panel (SOEP), this method is applied to decompose the increase in income inequality in Germany from 2002 to 2011, a period that saw tax reductions and a controversial overhaul of the transfer system. The simulations show that tax and transfer reforms have had an inequality‐reducing effect as measured by the mean log deviation and the Gini coefficient. For the Gini, these effects are offset by labor supply reactions. In contrast, policy changes explain part of the increase in the ratio between the 90th and the 50th income percentiles. Changes in wage rates have led to a decrease in income inequality. Thus, the increase in inequality was due to changes in the population.
Carbon stocks in biomass and soils of woody species fodder banks in the dry tropics of Mexico
Authors: Casanova‐Lugo F. , Petit‐Aldana J. , Solorio‐Sánchez F. , Ramírez‐Avilés L. , Ward S. E. , Villanueva‐López G. , Aryal D. R. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractUnderstanding carbon (C) dynamics of the silvopastoral systems can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the C concentration and storage in above‐ and belowground tree biomass as well as in the soils of fodder banks of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, Guazuma ulmifolia (Lam.) or a combination of the both species. The above‐ and belowground biomass was quantified by the destructive sampling. We also obtained samples from soil pits, 20‐cm deep, and determined bulk density and organic carbon concentration. The mixed species banks produced more foliage dry matter (DM) (6.3 t DM/ha) than the pure fodder banks. The total living biomass stocks ranged from 31.5 to 33.5 t DM/ha and did not differ between fodder bank types. The tissue C concentration was greater in stems (45.1%) and roots (44.9%) compared to the foliage component (43.4%). Total soil carbon (TSC) in the 5–10 cm layer was greater in the fodder banks with legumes alone than in mixed species banks (35.7 vs. 30.8 t C/ha). TSC storage in the 15–20 cm layer was greater in the nonlegume fodder bank than in the legume fodder bank (39.8 vs. 34.5 t C/ha). However, to the 0–20 cm layer, TSC was similar for all fodder banks. Thus, the three types of fodder banks had similar total C storage in plant biomass and soil, but the production of foliage biomass was higher in the mixed species banks.