bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Counterintuitive effects of global warming‐induced wind patterns on primary production in the Northern Humboldt Current System
Authors: Mogollón Rodrigo , R. Calil Paulo H. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIt has been hypothesized that global warming will strengthen upwelling‐favorable winds in the Northern Humboldt Current System (NHCS) as a consequence of the increase of the land–sea thermal gradient along the Peruvian coast. The effect of strengthened winds in this region is assessed with the use of a coupled physical–biogeochemical model forced with projected and climatological winds. Strengthened winds induce an increase in primary production of 2% per latitudinal degree from 9.5°S to 5°S. In some important coastal upwelling sites primary production is reduced. This is due to a complex balance between nutrient availability, nutrient use efficiency, as well as eddy‐ and wind‐driven factors. Mesoscale activity induces a net offshore transport of inorganic nutrients, thus reducing primary production in the coastal upwelling region. Wind mixing, in general disadvantageous for primary producers, leads to shorter residence times in the southern and central coastal zones. Overall, instead of a proportional enhancement in primary production due to increased winds, the NHCS becomes only 5% more productive (+5 mol C m−2 year−1), 10% less limited by nutrients and 15% less efficient due to eddy‐driven effects. It is found that regions with a initial strong nutrient limitation are more efficient in terms of nutrient assimilation which makes them more resilient in face of the acceleration of the upwelling circulation.
Plant organic acids in fresh and ensiled forage plants
Authors: Udén P. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTimothy, red clover and white clover from two cuts and two stages of maturity and whole crops (WC) of barley, wheat and maize from three stages of maturity were analysed for individual plant organic acids (OAs) before and after ensiling in mini‐silos. Total OA levels, as previously reported, were generally lower in WC (14–70 g/kg dry matter) in comparison with leys (51–98 g/kg dry matter). Succinic, shikimic and fumaric acid levels were very low in all samples, while quinic, malonic, malic and citric acid constituted >90% of total OAs in all samples except maize. Maize had lower total OA levels than any other species but was the only one containing detectable levels of oxalic and aconitic acid. The sum of oxalic and aconitic acid decreased, however, from 89% to 35% of total OAs from early to late maturity, while there was a parallel increase in citric acid with increasing harvest date. Total OA level was unaffected in the ley crops by maturity, cut and species (p > .1), but among WC, wheat was higher than maize (p < .05) and also higher at early, than late maturity (p < .01). Silage total OA levels were lower than in parent crops (p < .001). Individual OA levels decreased by 38%–56% from ensiling, except for oxalic acid, which was unaffected, and succinic acid, which increased >7‐fold. Excluding succinic acid, which is also a fermentation product, average loss during ensiling was 44%.
Improved Method for Estimating Reaction Rates During Push‐Pull Tests
Authors: Paradis Charles J. , Dixon Emma R. , Lui Lauren M. , Arkin Adam P. , Parker Jack C. , Istok Jonathan D. , Perfect Edmund , McKay Larry D. , Hazen Terry C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe breakthrough curve obtained from a single‐well push‐pull test can be adjusted to account for dilution of the injection fluid in the aquifer fluid. The dilution‐adjusted breakthrough curve can be analyzed to estimate the reaction rate of a solute. The conventional dilution‐adjusted method assumes that the ratios of the concentrations of the nonreactive and reactive solutes in the injection fluid vs. the aquifer fluid are equal. If this assumption is invalid, the conventional method will generate inaccurate breakthrough curves and may lead to erroneous conclusions regarding the reactivity of a solute. In this study, a new method that generates a dilution‐adjusted breakthrough curve was theoretically developed to account for any possible combination of nonreactive and reactive solute concentrations in the injection and aquifer fluids. The newly developed method was applied to a field‐based data set and was shown to generate more accurate dilution‐adjusted breakthrough curves. The improved dilution‐adjusted method presented here is simple, makes no assumptions regarding the concentrations of the nonreactive and reactive solutes in the injection and aquifer fluids, and easily allows for estimating reaction rates during push‐pull tests.
Investigating Impacts of Climate Change on Irrigation Water Demands and Its Resulting Consequences on Groundwater Using CMIP5 Models
Authors: Goodarzi Mustafa , Abedi‐Koupai Jahangir , Heidarpour Manouchehr 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this study, the impacts of climate change on crop water requirements and irrigation water requirements on the regional cropping pattern were evaluated using two climate change scenarios and combinations of 20 GCM models. Different models including CROPWAT, MODFLOW, and statistical models were used to evaluate the climate change impacts. The results showed that in the future period (2017 to 2046) the temperature in all months of the year will increase at all stations. The average annual precipitation decline in Isfahan, Tiran, Flavarjan, and Lenj stations for RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios are 18.6 and 27.6%, 15.2 and 18%, 22.5 and 31.5%, and 10.5 and 12.1%, respectively. The average increase in the evapotranspiration for RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 scenarios are about 2.5 and 4.1%, respectively. The irrigation water demands increases considerably and for some crops, on average 18%. Among the existing crops in the cropping pattern, barley, cumin, onion, wheat, and forage crops are more sensitive and their water demand will increase significantly. Results indicate that climate change could have a significant impact on water resources consumption. By considering irrigation efficiency in the region, climate change impacts will result in about 35 to 50 million m3/year, over‐extraction from the aquifer. This additional exploitation causes an extra drop of 0.4 to 0.8 m in groundwater table per year in the aquifer. Therefore, with regard to the critical condition of the aquifer, management and preventive measures to deal with climate change in the future is absolutely necessary.
Recurrent F8 and F9 gene variants result from a founder effect in two large French haemophilia cohorts
Authors: Lassalle F. , Marmontel O. , Zawadzki C. , Fretigny M. , Bouvagnet P. , Vinciguerra C. 
Published: April 2018

IntroductionHaemophilia A (HA) and haemophilia B (HB) are X‐linked recessive diseases, caused by a large number of pathogenic variants in the F8 and F9 genes. With the exception of introns 22 and 1 inversions which are frequent in severe HA cases, about 2000 unique variants in F8 and 1000 in F9 have been described in databases and their recurrence remains limited.Aim and methodsDuring routine analysis, we identified two recurrent missense variants, the F8 gene c.1244C>T, p.Ala415Val variant in 27 HA patients and the F9 gene c.835G>A, p.Ala279Thr variant in 34 HB patients, in two groups of haemophiliac patients from two different regions of France. We aimed to identify whether these variants result from a founder effect. We performed haplotype reconstruction after analysis of extragenic and intragenic polymorphic markers. The ESTIAGE programme was used to estimate the age of the variant.ResultsWe identified a common ancestral haplotype HA1, in all the HA patients sharing the p.Ala415Val variant, and HB1 for 22 of 34 HB patients sharing the p.Ala279Thr variant. The estimated time of occurrence of the founder variant was between the 13th and 17th century (95% CI: 16 to 29 generations) for the F8 variant and between the 3rd and the 11th century for the F9 variant (95% CI: 44 to 72 generations).ConclusionThis study supports a founder effect for these two variants in the two largest reported cohorts of haemophilia patients with an identical variant. These pathogenic variants are among the three most early reported variants in haemophilia.
Development of a risk‐prediction model for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in dialysis patients
Authors: Ahmed Anwar E. , Alshukairi Abeer N. , Al‐Jahdali Hamdan , Alaqeel Mody , Siddiq Salma S. , Alsaab Hanan A. , Sakr Ezzeldin A. , Alyahya Hamed A. , Alandonisi Munzir M. , Subedar Alaa T. , Aloudah Nouf M. , Baharoon Salim , Alsalamah Majid A. , Al Johani Sameera , Alghamdi Mohammed G. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroduction The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) infection can cause transmission clusters and high mortality in hemodialysis facilities. We attempted to develop a risk‐prediction model to assess the early risk of MERS‐CoV infection in dialysis patients.Methods This two‐center retrospective cohort study included 104 dialysis patients who were suspected of MERS‐CoV infection and diagnosed with rRT‐PCR between September 2012 and June 2016 at King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah and King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. We retrieved data on demographic, clinical, and radiological findings, and laboratory indices of each patient.Findings A risk‐prediction model to assess early risk for MERS‐CoV in dialysis patients has been developed. Independent predictors of MERS‐CoV infection were identified, including chest pain (OR = 24.194; P = 0.011), leukopenia (OR = 6.080; P = 0.049), and elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (OR = 11.179; P = 0.013). The adequacy of this prediction model was good (P = 0.728), with a high predictive utility (area under curve [AUC] = 76.99%; 95% CI: 67.05% to 86.38%). The prediction of the model had optimism‐corrected bootstrap resampling AUC of 71.79%. The Youden index yielded a value of 0.439 or greater as the best cut‐off for high risk of MERS infection.Discussion This risk‐prediction model in dialysis patients appears to depend markedly on chest pain, leukopenia, and elevated AST. The model accurately predicts the high risk of MERS‐CoV infection in dialysis patients. This could be clinically useful in applying timely intervention and control measures to prevent clusters of infections in dialysis facilities or other health care settings. The predictive utility of the model warrants further validation in external samples and prospective studies.
Long‐term efficacy and safety of sucroferric oxyhydroxide in African American dialysis patients
Authors: Sprague Stuart M. , Ketteler Markus , Covic Adrian C. , Floege Jürgen , Rakov Viatcheslav , Walpen Sebastian , Rastogi Anjay 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroduction: Sucroferric oxyhydroxide (SFOH) is a non‐calcium, iron‐based phosphate binder that demonstrated sustained serum phosphorus (sP) control, good tolerability, and lower pill burden, vs. sevelamer carbonate (“sevelamer”), in a Phase 3 study conducted in dialysis patients with hyperphosphatemia. This analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of SFOH and sevelamer among African American (AA) patients participating in the trial.Methods: Post hoc analysis of a 24‐week, Phase 3, open‐label trial (NCT01324128) and its 28‐week extension study (NCT01464190). Patients were randomized 2:1 to SFOH (1.0–3.0 g/day) or sevelamer (2.4−14.4 g/day) for up to 52 weeks.Findings: Of 549 patients who completed the Phase 3 study and extension, 100 (18.2%) AA patients were eligible for efficacy analysis (SFOH, n = 48; sevelamer, n = 52). sP concentrations decreased rapidly and comparably with both treatments by Week 8 (mean ± standard deviation change from baseline: −1.9 ± 1.9 mg/dL for SFOH and −2.2 ± 1.8 mg/dL for sevelamer). These reductions were maintained for 52 weeks (−2.1 ± 2.6 and −2.1 ± 1.6 mg/dL) and achieved with a lower mean pill burden (3.4 ± 1.4 vs. 7.6 ± 2.9 tablets/day) with SFOH vs. sevelamer. Treatment adherence rates (adherence within 70%–120% of expected medication intake) were 79.2% with SFOH and 59.6% with sevelamer. The proportion of patients reporting serious adverse events (AEs) was 27.7% with SFOH and 30.7% with sevelamer. More patients withdrew due to treatment‐emergent AEs with SFOH vs. sevelamer (18.5% vs. 8.0%). The most common AEs with both treatments were gastrointestinal‐related: diarrhea and discolored feces with SFOH, and nausea, vomiting, and constipation with sevelamer.Discussion: SFOH is an efficacious and well‐tolerated treatment for hyperphosphatemia in AA dialysis patients, with a lower pill burden and an improved adherence rate vs. sevelamer. These findings were consistent with the wider US patient population and the overall study population.
Helicobacter pylori infection‐induced H3Ser10 phosphorylation in stepwise gastric carcinogenesis and its clinical implications
Authors: Yang Tao‐Tao , Cao Na , Zhang Hai‐Hui , Wei Jian‐Bo , Song Xiao‐Xia , Yi Dong‐Min , Chao Shuai‐Heng , Zhang Li‐Da , Kong Ling‐Fei , Han Shuang‐Yin , Yang Yu‐Xiu , Ding Song‐Ze 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundOur previous works have demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection can alter histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation status in gastric epithelial cells. However, whether Helicobacter pylori‐induced histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation participates in gastric carcinogenesis is unknown. We investigate the expression of histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation in various stages of gastric disease and explore its clinical implication.Materials and MethodsStomach biopsy samples from 129 patients were collected and stained with histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation, Ki67, and Helicobacter pylori by immunohistochemistry staining, expressed as labeling index. They were categorized into nonatrophic gastritis, chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, low‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia, high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia, and intestinal‐type gastric cancer groups. Helicobacter pylori infection was determined by either 13C‐urea breath test or immunohistochemistry staining.ResultsIn Helicobacter pylori‐negative patients, labeling index of histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation was gradually increased in nonatrophic gastritis, chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia groups, peaked at low‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia, and declined in high‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia and gastric cancer groups. In Helicobacter pylori‐infected patients, labeling index of histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation followed the similar pattern as above, with increased expression over the corresponding Helicobacter pylori‐negative controls except in nonatrophic gastritis patient whose labeling index was decreased when compared with Helicobacter pylori‐negative control. Labeling index of Ki67 in Helicobacter pylori‐negative groups was higher in gastric cancer than chronic atrophic gastritis and low‐grade intraepithelial neoplasia groups, and higher in intestinal metaplasia group compared with chronic atrophic gastritis group. In Helicobacter pylori‐positive groups, Ki67 labeling index was increased stepwise from nonatrophic gastritis to gastric cancer except slightly decrease in chronic atrophic gastritis group. In addition, we noted that histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation staining is accompanied with its location changes from gastric gland bottom expanded to whole gland as disease stage progress.ConclusionsThese results indicate that stepwise gastric carcinogenesis is associated with altered histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation, Helicobacter pylori infection enhances histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation expression in these processes; it is also accompanied with histone H3 serine 10 phosphorylation location change from gland bottom staining expand to whole gland expression. The results suggest that epigenetic dysregulation may play important roles in Helicobacter pylori‐induced gastric cancer.
Neuropathic pain: A patient‐centred approach to measuring outcomes
Authors: Hwang Steve , van Nooten Floortje , Wells Ted , Ryan Aisling , Crawford Bruce , Evans Christopher , English Marci 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundNeuropathic pain (NP) is a complex, chronic pain state initiated by a primary lesion or dysfunction of the nervous system and presents as a variety of symptoms across multiple disease states.ObjectiveTo develop a patient‐centred conceptual model of symptoms and impacts in subjects with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) or post‐herpetic neuralgia (PHN) that can inform the measurement strategy in clinical trials.MethodThirty subjects with DPN or PHN participated in in‐person interviews which were performed until saturation was achieved. Transcripts were analysed in ATLAS.ti.ResultsInterviews were completed with DPN subjects (United States, n = 10; Japan, n = 10) and PHN subjects (United States, n = 5; Japan, n = 5). Numbness and tingling were frequently reported symptoms in the DPN population while itchiness and hypersensitivity were predominant in PHN. Both populations experienced burning and ache/soreness with similar frequency. DPN subjects experienced pain primarily in their lower extremity (eg feet, ankles), while PHN subjects experienced pain primarily in the chest and back. Impacts reported by DPN subjects included difficulty walking, sleep disturbance and climbing stairs. Impacts in PHN subjects included sleep disturbance, avoidance of physical contact, being angry/frustrated and being sad/depressed. Overall, concepts in Japan were not qualitatively different from the United States. Conceptual models of NP were generated based on the concepts elicited.ConclusionsThis research highlights core concepts to measure from the patient's perspective. Moreover, it enables the assessment of existing measures, the possible modification of these measures, or if a new NP measure with improved sensitivity and responsiveness is merited.
The use of funnel plots with regression as a tool to visually compare HIV treatment outcomes between centres adjusting for patient characteristics and size: a UK Collaborative HIV Cohort study
Authors: Gompels M , Michael S , Jose S , Hill T , Trevelion R , Sabin CA , May MT 
Published: April 2018

ObjectivesA measure used for assessing the effectiveness of HIV care and comparing clinical centres is the proportion of people starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) with viral suppression (VS) after 1 year. We propose a method that adjusts for patients’ demographic characteristics, and visually compares this measure between different sites accounting for centre size.MethodsWe analysed viral load measurements for UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (UK CHIC) patients starting ART between 2006 and 2013. We used logistic regression to estimate the proportion with VS after 1 year of ART adjusted for patient mix (in terms of age and a combined gender/ethnicity/acquisition mode variable) and calendar year. We compared outcomes between centres using funnel plots which account for centre size.ResultsThe overall proportion of the cohort with VS 1 year after starting ART was 90% and increased from 83% to 93% between 2006 and 2013. VS was lower in younger individuals. White men who have sex with men (MSM) had the highest (94%), and black African (81%) and white (82%) heterosexual women the lowest proportions achieving VS. Comparing the unadjusted funnel plot with the adjusted, there were movements of some centres from outside to inside the 95% contour limits, which was largely explained by the patient mix of these centres.ConclusionsVS 1 year after ART start was associated with demographic characteristics and centre size; therefore, to compare the performances of centres, adjustment for these factors is required. Adjusted funnel plot is an effective tool which accounts for both the demographic characteristics and the centre size. Social factors, rather than treatment decisions within the control of the centres, may drive differences in outcomes.
Evaluation of high‐fat high‐fructose diet treatment in factor VIII (coagulation factor)‐deficient mouse model
Authors: Mishra Alaknanda , Arindkar Shailendra , Sahay Preeti , Kumar Jerald Mahesh , Upadhyay Pramod K. , Majumdar Subeer S. , Nagarajan Perumal 
Published: April 2018

SummaryNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)‐like conditions enhance the production and action of clotting factors in humans. However, studies examining the effect of NAFLD due to high‐fat high‐fructose (HFHF) diet in factor VIII‐deficient (haemophilia A) animals or patients have not been reported previously. In this study, we investigated the individual role of factor VIII in the progression of diet‐induced NAFLD in the factor 8−/− (F8−/−) mouse model system and its consequences on the haemophilic status of the mice. The F8−/− mice were fed with HFHF diet for 14 weeks. Physiological, biochemical, haematological, molecular, pathological, and immune histochemical analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of this diet. The F8−/− mice developed hepatic steatosis after 14 weeks HFHF diet and displayed lower energy metabolism, higher myeloid cell infiltration in the liver, decreased platelet count, upregulated de novo fatty acid synthesis, lipid accumulation, and collagen deposition. This study helps to understand the role of factor VIII in NAFLD pathogenesis and to analyse the severity and consequences of steatosis in haemophilic patients as compared to normal population. This study suggests that haemophilic animals (F8−/− mice) are highly prone to hepatic steatosis and thrombocytopenia.
Major venom proteins of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta: insights into possible pheromone‐binding function from mass spectrometric analysis
Authors: Das T. , Alabi I. , Colley M. , Yan F. , Griffith W. , Bach S. , Weintraub S. T. , Renthal R. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractProteins in the venom of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta have been suggested to function in pheromone binding. Venom from queens and workers contains different isoforms of these proteins, consistent with the differing pheromones they secrete, but questions remain about the venom protein composition and glandular source. We found that the queen venom contains a previously uncharacterized pheromone‐binding protein paralogue known as Sol i 2X1. Using imaging mass spectrometry, we located the main venom proteins in the poison sac, implying that pheromones might have to compete with venom alkaloids for binding. Using the known structure of the worker venom protein Sol i 2w, we generated three‐dimensional homology models of the worker venom protein Sol i 4.02, and of the two main venom proteins in queens and female alates, Sol i 2q and Sol i 2X1. Surprisingly, the models show that the proteins have relatively small internal hydrophobic binding pockets that are blocked by about 10 amino acids of the C‐terminal region. For these proteins to function as carriers of hydrophobic ligands, a conformational change would be required to displace the C‐terminal region, somewhat like the mechanism known to occur in the silk moth pheromone‐binding protein.