bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is the +405 G/C single nucleotide polymorphism of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene associated with late‐onset vitiligo?
Authors: Almasi‐Nasrabadi Mina , Amoli Mahsa M. , Robati Reza M. , Rajabi Fateme , Parichehreh Dizaji Somayeh 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe increasing body of evidence for the relationship between the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphism and autoimmune disorders combined with the enhanced expression of this angiogenic factor in vitiligo makes VEGF a very interesting candidate gene to be investigated in vitiligo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible associations between the +405 G/C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the VEGF gene (rs2010963) and vitiligo. The independent case–control population sample of 152 patients with vitiligo and 152 matched controls was evaluated in this study. A questionnaire was completed for each vitiligo patient to document the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. All enrolled individuals had a venous blood sample collected. Genotype frequencies for +405 G/C VEGF gene polymorphism were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. There were no significant differences in genotype or allele distributions for this SNP between cases and controls. However, we observed a significant association between GG genotype and higher age at onset of vitiligo (p = 0.04). Moreover, patients stratification revealed a significant increase in the frequency of GG genotype compared to CC + CG genotypes in patients with the late onset (≥20 years) vitiligo (p = 0.05). Although these results are not conclusive, they could potentially lead to considering the angiogenic factors as a potential target for therapy in late‐onset vitiligo.
Determinants of Migrant Career Success: A Study of Recent Skilled Migrants in Australia
Authors: Rajendran Diana , Ng Eddy S. , Sears Greg , Ayub Nailah 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAustralia has been aggressively pursuing skilled migrants to sustain its population and foster economic growth. However, many skilled migrants experience a downward career move upon migration to Australia. Based on a survey of recent skilled migrants, this study investigates how individual (age, years of settlement, qualifications), national/societal (citizenship and settlement), and organization‐level (climate of inclusion) factors influence their career success. Overall, we found that: (1) age at migration matters more than length of settlement in predicting skilled migrant career success; (2) citizenship uptake and living in a neighbourhood with a greater number of families from the same country of origin facilitate post‐migration career success; and (3) perceptions of one's social/informal networks in the workplace – a dimension of perceived organizational climate of inclusion – also have a positive impact on migrant career outcomes.
Protein 4.1R negatively regulates CD8+ T‐cell activation by modulating phosphorylation of linker for activation of T cells
Authors: Fan Dandan , Li Jianhui , Li Yi , Guo Yaxin , Zhang Xiaolin , Wang Wen , Liu Xiaojie , Liu Jingjing , Dai Liping , Zhang Liguo , Kang Qiaozhen , Ji Zhenyu 
Published: May 2019

SummaryProtein 4.1R, an 80 000 MW membrane skeleton protein, is a vital component of the red blood cell membrane cytoskeleton that stabilizes the spectrin–actin network and regulates membrane properties of deformability and mechanical stability. It has been shown that 4.1R is expressed in T cells, including CD8+ T cells, but its role in CD8+ T cells remains unclear. Here, we have explored the role of 4.1R in CD8+ T cells using 4.1R−/− mice. Our results showed that cell activation, proliferation and secretion levels of interleukin‐2 and interferon‐γ were significantly increased in 4.1R−/− CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of linker for activation of T cells (LAT) and its downstream signaling molecule extracellular signal‐regulated kinase were enhanced in the absence of 4.1R. In vitro co‐immunoprecipitation experiments showed a direct interaction between 4.1R and LAT. Moreover, 4.1R−/− CD8+ T cells and mice exhibited an enhanced T‐cell‐dependent immune response. These data enabled the identification of a negative regulation function for 4.1R in CD8+ T cells by a direct association between 4.1R and LAT, possibly through inhibiting phosphorylation of LAT and then modulating intracellular signal transduction.
Unwarranted clinical variation in health care: Definitions and proposal of an analytic framework
Authors: Sutherland Kim , Levesque Jean‐Frederic 
Published: May 2019

AbstractRationale, aims, and objectivesUnwarranted clinical variation is a topic of heightened interest in health care systems around the world. While there are many publications and reports on clinical variation, few studies are conceptually grounded in a theoretical model. This study describes the empirical foundations of the field and proposes an analytic framework.MethodStructured construct mapping of published empirical studies which explicitly address unwarranted clinical variation.ResultsA total of 190 studies were classified in terms of three key dimensions: perspective (assessing variation across geographical areas or across providers); criteria for assessment (measuring absolute variation against a standard, or relative variation within a comparator group); and object of analysis (using process, structure/resource, or outcome metrics).ConclusionConsideration of the results of the mapping exercise—together with a review of adjustment, explanatory and stratification variables, and the factors associated with residual variation—informed the development of an analytic framework. This framework highlights the role that agency and motivation, evidence and judgement, and personal and organizational capacity play in clinical decision making and reveals key facets that distinguish warranted from unwarranted clinical variation. From a measurement perspective, it underlines the need for careful consideration of attribution, aggregation, models of care, and temporality in any assessment.
Lifestyle in patients at increased risk of colorectal cancer
Authors: Anderson A. S. , Caswell S. , Mowat C. , Strachan J. A. , Steele R. J. C. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe present study aimed to assess modifiable risk factors in patients at high risk for colorectal cancer (CRC) and their experience of lifestyle advice.MethodsA questionnaire study was conducted in high‐risk CRC patients attending for surveillance colonoscopy. Current lifestyle behaviours [smoking, alcohol, diet (fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, red meat, processed meat), physical activity and bodyweight] related to CRC were ascertained, and experience on receiving, seeking and desire for advice was queried.ResultsIn total, 385 study invitations were sent and 208 (54%) questionnaires were returned. The majority of participants (72%) were estimated to have a body mass index beyond the healthy range, 89% achieved a fibre score indicative of a low plant‐based diet and 91% reported eating processed meat. Overall, 36% were achieving at least four recommendations and 2% were adhering to all recommendations examined. The main area in which participants reported receiving advice on was body weight (33%) and 31% reported that they had personally sought information on this topic, although the data suggest that 72% of people may benefit from such guidance. Fewer participants reported receiving (18–26%) and seeking (15–17%) dietary advice on fruits, vegetables and wholegrains. Many participants said they would find lifestyle information useful, notably in relation to body fatness (43%) and physical activity (38%).ConclusionsThe development of a process for supporting lifestyle change in this patient group, comprising individuals who are already engaging in positive health practices (regular colonoscopy surveillance), could usefully be identified and tested.
Serum TWEAK in acne vulgaris: An unknown soldier
Authors: El‐Taweel Abd El‐Aziz Ibrahim , Salem Rehab Mohammed , Abdelrahman Amira Mohamed Noureldin , Mohamed Basma Abd El‐Kafy 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundTWEAK is an inflammatory cytokine which is involved in the development of many inflammatory disorders.AimsThis study aimed to evaluate serum levels of TWEAK in patients with acne vulgaris.Subjects and MethodsThis case‐controlled study included 100 acne vulgaris patients divided into two groups. Group 1 included 25 patients with moderate acne and 25 patients with severe acne. Group 2 consisted of 50 acne‐free control subjects. Acne was graded by the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). Serum TWEAK was measured by ELISA kits.ResultsAcne patients had significant elevation in TWEAK serum levels when compared to the control subjects (P < 0.001). TWEAK serum levels did not show significant difference regarding disease grade, postacne scar, and hyperpigmentation (P value = 0.43, 0.37, 0.80, 0.67, respectively). TWEAK levels were not affected by any of the studied variables except for the significant negative correlation between its levels and the disease duration in severe acne group only (r = −0.42, P = 0.03).ConclusionTWEAK may be involved in acne vulgaris development, but more studies are needed to clarify its role.
A Verbal Fluency Task‐Based Brain Activation fMRI Study in Patients with Crohn's Disease in Remission
Authors: Nair Veena A. , Dodd Keith , Rajan Shruti , Santhanubosu Anu , Beniwal‐Patel Poonam , Saha Sumona , Prabhakaran Vivek 
Published: May 2019

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEIn this pilot study, we investigated functional brain activation changes in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in remission compared to age and gender‐matched healthy controls (HCs).METHODSData from 20 patients with CD in remission (age range 19‐63 years) and 20 HCs (matched in age and gender) were analyzed. Task functional MRI (fMRI) data were collected while participants performed a cognitive (phonemic verbal fluency) task in the scanner. All participants also performed the same task outside the scanner.RESULTSTask fMRI results showed greater bi‐hemispheric activation in CD patients compared to controls. Because this pattern is commonly reported with normal aging, we performed further analyses to investigate fMRI responses in a subset of the younger CD patients (N = 12, age < = 35 years) compared to matched young HCs (age < = 35 years), and an older cohort of HCs (age > = 50 years). Results showed that task activation patterns were similar between young CD patients and older HCs, and that both groups differed significantly from younger HCs. Activation intensity in specific brain regions for patients was associated with disease duration.CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that CD patients in remission may show accelerated signs of aging in terms of brain responses to a typical cognitive task. Future work with larger sample size will need to replicate these results as well as investigate the influence of factors, such as chronicity of the disease and medication effects on task‐associated brain activation patterns in this patient population.
Development and validation of a commitment to organizational career scale: At the crossroads of individuals’ career aspirations and organizations’ needs
Authors: Lapointe Émilie , Vandenberghe Christian , Mignonac Karim , Panaccio Alexandra , Schwarz Gary , Richebé Nathalie , Roussel Patrice 
Published: May 2019

This paper introduces the construct of commitment to organizational career (COC). Conceptualized as a specific form of goal commitment, COC reflects an individual's commitment to the goal of pursuing a long and successful career in an organization. We developed a 5‐item measure of COC and examined its validity and reliability in four studies involving employees from diverse organizations and occupations (Ns = 312, 187, 199, 309). We explore COC's distinctiveness from related constructs, including organizational commitment components (i.e., affective, normative, and continuance subdimensions) and career commitment, as well as its ability to predict turnover intention and voluntary turnover. Finally, we examine COC's antecedents and specify boundary conditions to its relationship to turnover. Overall, results support the reliability and validity of the COC measure. We discuss how COC contributes to generate promising research avenues for the career and commitment literatures.Practitioner points

We introduce the commitment to organizational career (COC) construct.

Four studies provide reliability and validity evidence for a COC measure that can be used in future research.

COC adds to the career and commitment literatures and directs attention to organizational career goals as a common ground linking individuals’ and organizations’ interests.

This common ground may provide a basis for both parties to build mutually beneficial relationships.
Prevalence, geographic distribution and phylogenetic relationships among cryptic species of Plasmopara viticola in grape‐producing regions of Georgia and Florida, USA
Authors: Hong Cheng‐Fang , Brewer Marin T. , Brannen Phillip M. , Scherm Harald 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPrevious phylogenetic studies of the grape downy mildew pathogen, Plasmopara viticola, revealed five cryptic species in eastern North America that differed in their host range and geographic distribution. Preliminary comparative studies also documented differences in temperature responses during infection between certain cryptic species, indicating the biological relevance of knowing which cryptic species of the pathogen are present in a given region. However, limited information is available regarding the presence, prevalence and dynamics of cryptic species of P. viticola in the southeastern United States. Here, 301 P. viticola isolates obtained from cultivated grape species in five distinct grape‐growing regions of Georgia and Florida were subjected to cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence analysis and multilocus sequencing (internal transcribed spacer region of the rDNA, actin and β‐tubulin) to identify cryptic species and infer phylogenetic relationships. Three cryptic species, P. viticola clade aestivalis (Pva), clade vinifera (Pvv) and clade vulpina (Pvu), were identified in Georgia, whereas two, Pva and Pvv, were found in Florida; all three cryptic species are reported here for the first time in Georgia, whereas Pva is reported for the first time in Florida. Pva was the most prevalent cryptic species (72.1% of isolates) and was distributed widely from the North Georgia Mountains to Mid‐Florida, whereas Pvv (27.2%) and Pvu (0.7%) were found only in the Coastal Plain region of the two states. Interestingly, Pvu was obtained from French American hybrid Blanc du Bois and could be subcultured on Vitis vinifera Chardonnay, suggesting a broader host range than only the wild species Vitis vulpina reported previously.
Metabolic syndrome and liver steatosis occur at lower body mass index in US Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Clarke William T. , Miranda Janille , Neidich Eitan , Hudock Rebecca , Peters Marion G. , Kelly Erin M. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWe have previously shown that ultrasound identifies significant steatosis in patients with chronic HBV (CHB). However, the relationship between CHB, metabolic syndrome (MS) and steatosis is poorly understood. In this tertiary care, single‐centre retrospective cohort study of 617 CHB patients, we examined the prevalence of MS and steatosis in a predominantly Asian US cohort. Patients were predominantly male (57%) with a mean age of 53 years, Asian (88%), on HBV therapy (64%) and had undetectable DNA (65%). 21% had MS, of which hypertension (41%), dyslipidemia (41%) and obesity (32%) were most common. Patients with MS were more likely to be older (60 vs 52 [P < 0.001]), have steatosis (40% vs 17% [P < 0.001]) and have a higher ALT (29 vs 25 [P = 0.003]). Of the 22% of patients with steatosis by ultrasound, a higher prevalence of MS (38% vs 16% [P < 0.001]) and higher ALT (31 vs 24 [P < 0.001]) was observed. Asian patients had a lower BMI than non‐Asians (mean 24 vs 26 [P = 0.001]) but similar prevalence of MS risk factors and steatosis. Asian patients with a BMI between 25 and 30 and two other MS risk factors had steatosis at the same rate as patients with a BMI > 30 and at least two other MS risk factors. We found a strong association between MS, steatosis and elevated ALT in HBV patients. Asian HBV patients have lower BMI than non‐Asians yet have the same prevalence of steatosis and other MS risk factors, supporting guidelines for lower BMI targets in Asians.
Ten‐year efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Marcellin Patrick , Wong David K , Sievert William , Buggisch Peter , Petersen Jörg , Flisiak Robert , Manns Michael , Kaita Kelly , Krastev Zahari , Lee Samuel S , Cathcart Andrea L , Crans Gerald , Op den Brouw Marjoleine , Jump Belinda , Gaggar Anuj , Flaherty John , Buti Maria 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackground & AimsTenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a first‐line treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We aimed to describe the efficacy and safety profiles of TDF treatment for up to 10 years in a well‐described cohort of CHB patients.MethodsHepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative and HBeAg‐positive patients from two randomised, double‐blind trials (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00117676 and NCT00116805) completed 48 weeks of randomised treatment with TDF or adefovir dipivoxil. A subset of these patients was then eligible to receive open‐label TDF treatment for up to 10 years. At Year 10, patients were assessed for virological suppression, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalisation, serological response, safety and tolerability.ResultsOf 641 randomised and treated patients, 585 (91%) entered the open‐label extension phase with 203 (32%) patients completing Year 10 of the study. At Year 10, 118/118 (100%) of HBeAg‐negative patients and 78/80 (98%) of HBeAg‐positive patients with available data achieved hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA < 69 IU/mL, while 88/106 (83%) and 60/77 (78%) patients achieved ALT normalisation, respectively. Of the 23 patients with HBeAg status available at Year 10, 12 (52%) and six (27%) experienced HBeAg loss and seroconversion, respectively. No resistance to TDF was documented up to Year 10. In the period between Year 8 and Year 10, the safety profile of TDF was similar to previous reports, with few patients experiencing renal‐ or bone‐related adverse events.ConclusionsOver 10 years, TDF had a favourable safety profile, was well tolerated, and resulted in continued maintenance of virological suppression with no documented resistance.
Pregnancy rate and biomarker validations from the blubber of eastern North Pacific blue whales
Authors: Atkinson Shannon , Gendron Diane , Branch Trevor A. , Mashburn Kendall L. , Melica Valentina , Enriquez‐Paredes Luis E. , Brownell Robert L. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractHormonal biomarkers are useful indicators of mammalian reproductive and metabolic states. The present study validated and applied the use of progesterone and cortisol blubber assays for studies of blue whales from the Gulf of California, Mexico. In a validation study for pregnancy detection, blubber progesterone concentrations were correlated with pregnancy status for four female blue whales: three resighted with a calf the year following sampling and the fourth stranded with a fetus. The progesterone concentrations were significantly higher than those measured in juvenile whales (n = 3). In the application study, blubber samples from blue whales (51 noncalf females, 2 female calves, 48 noncalf males, and 1 male calf) with known sighting histories were analyzed. Putative pregnant females had elevated progesterone concentrations. Cortisol concentrations did not differ between male and female blue whales, or among females in different reproductive classes. After correcting for uncertain ages, hence maturity status, the pregnancy rate of noncalf females was 33.4% (95% CI 32.2%–34.3%). Although interpretation of hormone biomarkers must consider all physiological states that may influence progesterone concentrations, these results demonstrate the utility of pairing hormone biomarkers with sighting histories to help assess environmental or anthropogenic impacts on reproduction in blue whales.
Volatiles from Merino fleece evoke antennal and behavioural responses in the Australian sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprina
Authors: Yan G. , Liu S. , Schlink A. C. , Flematti G. R. , Brodie B. S. , Bohman B. , Greeff J. C. , Vercoe P. E. , Hu J. , Martin G. B. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractTo identify flystrike‐related volatile compounds in wool from Merino sheep, the attractiveness of wool to Lucilia cuprina Wiedmann (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was examined. First, a selection of wool samples guided by previous knowledge of sheep lines, predicted to be more susceptible or more resistant to flystrike, was tested. The attractiveness of the 10 samples selected was not associated with field susceptibility: two samples from the more resistant line were identified as most attractive and two samples from the more susceptible line were identified as least attractive, based on the behavioural assays with gravid flies. Comparison of the headspace volatiles of these samples, using solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry‐electroantennographic detection, revealed octanal and nonanal to be present in the attractive wool samples that elicited responses from the fly antenna. Furthermore, the two compounds were not present in wool that was least attractive to L. cuprina. In laboratory bioassays, octanal and nonanal evoked antennal and behavioural responses in gravid L. cuprina, thus confirming their potential role as semiochemicals responsible for attracting L. cuprina to Merino sheep.
Rapid evolution in plant–microbe interactions – a molecular genomics perspective
Authors: Frantzeskakis Lamprinos , Di Pietro Antonio , Rep Martijn , Schirawski Jan , Wu Chih‐Hang , Panstruga Ralph 
Published: May 2019

SummaryRapid (co‐)evolution at multiple timescales is a hallmark of plant–microbe interactions. The mechanistic basis for the rapid evolution largely rests on the features of the genomes of the interacting partners involved. Here, we review recent insights into genomic characteristics and mechanisms that enable rapid evolution of both plants and phytopathogens. These comprise fresh insights in allelic series of matching pairs of resistance and avirulence genes, the generation of novel pathogen effectors, the recently recognised small RNA warfare, and genomic aspects of secondary metabolite biosynthesis. In addition, we discuss the putative contributions of permissive host environments, transcriptional plasticity and the role of ploidy on the interactions. We conclude that the means underlying the rapid evolution of plant–microbe interactions are multifaceted and depend on the particular nature of each interaction.