bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantitative risk reduction through peanut immunotherapy: Safety benefits of an increased threshold in Europe
Authors: Remington Benjamin C. , Krone Tanja , Koppelman Stef J. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe clinical relevance of increasing an allergic individual's peanut sensitivity threshold by immunotherapy, that is, eliciting dose (ED) to 300 or 1000 mg peanut protein, has not been previously characterized in a European population. In this study, we quantify the clinical benefits of an increased threshold of reaction following immunotherapy for the peanut‐allergic individual.MethodsQuantitative risk assessments incorporated numerous inputs to predict the risk of an allergic reaction after exposure to residual peanut protein in packaged foods. The three primary inputs for the risk assessment were the peanut‐allergic individual's clinical threshold value, the amount of food consumed per eating occasion of selected packaged foods, and the concentration of peanut protein in the consumed product. Individual risk reductions were calculated for both children and adolescents‐adults.ResultsUsing available consumption and packaged food contamination data, children reaching an ED of 300 mg (if initial ED ≤ 100 mg) or 1000 mg (if initial ED 300 mg) achieved >99.99% risk reduction. Adolescents‐adults also achieved >99.99% risk reduction in all cases but one. Adolescents‐adults who reached an ED of 300 mg (if initial ED ≤ 100 mg) achieved 99.3%‐99.9% risk reduction when consuming ice cream.ConclusionsIt is concluded that an increase in threshold following immunotherapy which achieves an eliciting dose of 300 or 1000 mg peanut protein is clinically relevant for the European peanut‐allergic population. Benefits of an increased threshold include a significant reduction in risk due to traces of peanut protein.
Clinically diagnosed urticaria and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in children: A nationwide population‐based case‐control study
Authors: Lin Chien‐Hung , Hung Peir‐Haur , Hu Hsiao‐Yun , Chung Chi‐Jung , Chen Tsung‐Hsien , Hung Kuan‐Yu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundUrticaria is one of the most common diseases seen in clinical practice, whereas several reports have proposed that urticaria may have a link with autoimmune disorders. Few studies have examined the clinical association between urticaria with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). By conducting a nationwide population‐based case‐control study in Taiwan, we evaluated the risk of SLE in children with a prior clinical diagnosis of urticaria.MethodsUsing 2000‐2011 claims data from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 2105 SLE children during 2004‐2011 as the study group, along with randomly selected 8420 non‐SLE patients matched (1:4) for age, sex, and first diagnosis date as the control group. The correlation between urticaria and SLE risk was estimated using conditional logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe prevalence rates of clinically diagnosed acute and chronic urticaria in SLE patients were 22.09% and 18.24%, respectively. A significant association was found between clinically diagnosed urticaria and childhood SLE, with a stronger risk associated with more episodes of urticaria (≥3 visits, OR: 2.33, 95% CI 1.91‐2.84). The risk was higher with chronic urticaria (OR: 2.21, 95% CI 1.85‐2.64) than with acute urticaria (OR: 1.54, 95% CI 1.34‐1.76). Subgroup analysis stratified by sex or age indicated that the risk associated with SLE was significantly greater among female children and adolescents with urticaria.ConclusionsOur results suggest that children with urticaria have a significantly higher risk of SLE, with the risk increasing further among those with more episodes of urticaria or chronic urticaria.
Rural Conservatism or Anarchism? The Pro‐state, Stateless, and Anti‐state Positions
Authors: Ashwood Loka 
Published: July 2018

AbstractPopular discourse today so weds rurality and conservatism together in the United States that one does not seem quite at home without the other. But what is it really about the rural that beckons slapjack labels of conservatism? Scholars and practitioners, only a handful of them rural sociologists, have suggested a variety of explanations: antigovernmentalism, religion, lack of education, manual labor, poverty, primitivism, and a culture of poverty, among others. Each of these approaches, though, misses a sustained agent of rural dispossession and depopulation: the state. This article theorizes rural politics through pro‐state, stateless, and anti‐state positions. I bridge literature that documents the state as an agent of industrialization, extraction, exploitation, consolidation, and corporatization in rural America and literature on politics and the rural. In the process of my review, I suggest anarchism can help explain the significance and potential of the stateless and anti‐state positions in rural politics.
The key role of positive parenting and children’s temperament in post‐institutionalized children’s socio‐emotional adjustment after adoption placement. A RCT study
Authors: Barone Lavinia , Ozturk Yagmur , Lionetti Francesca 
Published: July 2018

AbstractParenting interventions represent a means for experimentally inquiring socio‐emotional change of post‐institutionalized children after adoption. We used this approach in a three time point RCT study involving 83 post‐institutionalized children (Mage = 33.5 months, SD = 17.1) and their adoptive mothers (Mage = 42.6, SD = 3.9), attending either the Video‐Feedback Intervention to promote Positive Parenting in adoption and foster care or a dummy intervention. Controlling for gender and age at adoption, children showed a significant change in their socio‐emotional adjustment in the specific variables inquired—that is, emotional availability‐EA, and behavioral problems—after intervention attendance. Mediation and moderated mediation models showed that maternal EA was a main factor affecting children’s EA and externalizing behavioral problems, with a key moderating role played by children’s temperament; children with high scores on temperamental negative affect benefitted most from their mothers’ increase in EA.
Generating a high‐confidence reference genome map of the Greater Duckweed by integration of cytogenomic, optical mapping, and Oxford Nanopore technologies
Authors: Hoang Phuong N.T. , Michael Todd P. , Gilbert Sarah , Chu Philomena , Motley S. Timothy , Appenroth Klaus J. , Schubert Ingo , Lam Eric 
Published: July 2018

SummaryDuckweeds are the fastest growing angiosperms and have the potential to become a new generation of sustainable crops. Although a seed plant, Spirodela polyrhiza clones rarely flower and multiply mainly through vegetative propagation. Whole‐genome sequencing using different approaches and clones yielded two reference maps. One for clone 9509, supported in its assembly by optical mapping of single DNA molecules, and one for clone 7498, supported by cytogenetic assignment of 96 fingerprinted bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) to its 20 chromosomes. However, these maps differ in the composition of several individual chromosome models. We validated both maps further to resolve these differences and addressed whether they could be due to chromosome rearrangements in different clones. For this purpose, we applied sequential multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (mcFISH) to seven S. polyrhiza clones, using 106 BACs that were mapped onto the 39 pseudomolecules for clone 7498. Furthermore we integrated high‐depth Oxford Nanopore (ON) sequence data for clone 9509 to validate and revise the previously assembled chromosome models. We found no major structural rearrangements between these seven clones, identified seven chimeric pseudomolecules and Illumina assembly errors in the previous maps, respectively. A new S. polyrhiza genome map with high contiguity was produced with the ON sequence data and genome‐wide synteny analysis supported the occurrence of two Whole Genome Duplication events during its evolution. This work generated a high confidence genome map for S. polyrhiza at the chromosome scale, and illustrates the complementarity of independent approaches to produce whole‐genome assemblies in the absence of a genetic map.
R2R3‐MYB transcription factor MdMYB23 is involved in the cold tolerance and proanthocyanidin accumulation in apple
Authors: An Jian‐Ping , Li Rui , Qu Feng‐Jia , You Chun‐Xiang , Wang Xiao‐Fei , Hao Yu‐Jin 
Published: July 2018

SummaryCold stress severely affects plant growth and yield. C‐repeat binding factors (CBFs) play important roles in the response to cold stress. In the present study, we identified an R2R3‐MYB transcription factor (TF) MdMYB23 from apple (Malus × domestic) using transcriptome analyses, which was notably induced in response to cold stress. Transgenic apple calli and Arabidopsis with overexpression of MdMYB23 exhibited increased cold tolerance. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and transient expression assays indicated that MdMYB23 directly bound to the promoters of MdCBF1 and MdCBF2 and activated their expression. MdMYB23 interacted with the promoter of MdANR, a key modulator of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis, and activated its expression to promote proanthocyanidin accumulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. MdBT2 was identified as an MdMYB23‐interacting protein using yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H), pull‐down, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assays. MdBT2 repressed cold tolerance and proanthocyanidin accumulation by promoting the degradation of MdMYB23 protein. Our findings shed light on the functions of MYB TFs and underlying mechanism in the modulation of plant cold tolerance.
Inherent variations in the cellular events at the site of amputation orchestrate scar‐free wound healing in the tail and scarred wound healing in the limb of lizardHemidactylus flaviviridis
Authors: Ranadive Isha , Patel Sonam , Buch Pranav , Uggini Gowrikumari , Desai Isha , Balakrishnan Suresh 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTLizards are unique in having both—regeneration competent (tail) as well as non‐regenerating appendages (limbs) in adults. They therefore present an appropriate model for comparing processes underlying regenerative repair and nonregenerative healing after amputation. In the current study, we use northern house geckoHemidactylus flaviviridisto compare major cellular and molecular events following amputation of the limb and of the tail. Although the early response to injury in both cases comprises apoptosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis, the temporal distribution of these processes in each remained obscure. In this regard, observations were made on the anatomy and gene expression levels of key regulators of these processes during the healing phase of the tail and limb separately. It was revealed that cell proliferation markers like fibroblast growth factors were upregulated early in the healing tail, coinciding with the growing epithelium. The amputated limb, in contrast, showed weak expression of proliferation markers, limited only to fibroblasts in the later stage of healing. Additionally, apoptotic activity in the tail was limited to the very early phase of healing, as opposed to that in the limb, wherein high expression of caspase‐3 was observed throughout the healing process. Early rise in VEGF‐α expression reflected an early onset of angiogenesis in the tail, while it was seen to occur at a later stage in case of the limb. Moreover, the expression pattern of transforming growth factor beta members points toward a pro‐fibrotic response being induced very early in the amputated limb. Collectively, these results explain why regenerating appendages are able to heal without scars and if we are to induce scar‐free healing in nonregenerating limbs, what interventions can be envisaged. This is crucial to the field of regenerative medicine since it is the initial stages of repair following amputation, which decide whether the appendage will be restored or only covered with a scab.
Vascularization of PLGA‐based bio‐artificial beds by hypoxia‐preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells for subcutaneous xenogeneic islet transplantation
Authors: Kim Jung‐Sik , Jung Youngmee , Kim Su Hee , Shin Jun‐Seop , Kim Soo Hyun , Park Chung‐Gyu 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundSubcutaneous tissue is an attractive extra‐hepatic heterotopic site for islet transplantation; however, poor oxygen tension and blood supply during early engraftment of implanted islets have limited the use of this site in clinical applications.MethodsThis study investigated the vascularization potential of hypoxia‐preconditioned mesenchymal stem cells (3% O2; hypo‐MSCs) in PLGA‐based bio‐artificial beds for subsequent subcutaneous islet transplantation. Sheet‐typed polymeric PLGA scaffolds coated with hypo‐MSCs or normo‐MSCs (MSCs cultured under normoxia conditions, 21% O2) were implanted subcutaneously in mice.ResultsCompared to normo‐MSCs, hypo‐MSCs significantly enhanced vasculogenesis, both on the interior and exterior surfaces of the implanted PLGA devices, which peaked 4 weeks after implantation. Further, infusion of porcine islets inside the prevascularized PLGA bed restored normal glycemic control in 6 of 6 STZ‐induced diabetic mice. The mass of the marginal islet was approximately 2000 IEQs, which is comparable to that required for the renal subcapsular space, a highly vascularized site.ConclusionsTherefore, PLGA‐based bio‐artificial devices prevascularized with hypo‐MSCs could be a useful modality for successful subcutaneous islet transplantation, which is of high clinical relevance.
A model for determining an effective in vivo dose of transplanted islets based on in vitro insulin secretion
Authors: Holdcraft Robert W. , Dumpala Pradeep R. , Smith Barry H. , Gazda Lawrence S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundAllogeneic islet transplantation for the treatment of type 1 diabetes often requires multiple implant procedures, from as many as several human pancreas donors, to achieve lasting clinical benefit. Given the limited availability of human pancreases for islet isolation, porcine islets have long been considered a potential option for clinical use. Agarose‐encapsulated porcine islets (macrobeads) permit long‐term culture and thus a thorough evaluation of microbiological safety and daily insulin secretory capacity, prior to implantation. The goal of this study was the development of a method for determining an effective dose of encapsulated islets based on their measured in vitro insulin secretion in a preclinical model of type 1 diabetes.MethodsSpontaneously diabetic BioBreeding diabetes‐prone rats were implanted with osmotic insulin pumps in combination with continuous glucose monitoring to establish the daily insulin dose required to achieve continuous euglycaemia in individual animals. Rats were then implanted with a 1×, 2× or 3× dose (defined as the ratio of macrobead in vitro insulin secretion per 24 hours to the recipient animal's total daily insulin requirement) of porcine islet macrobeads, in the absence of immunosuppression. In vivo macrobead function was assessed by recipient non‐fasted morning blood glucose values, continuous glucose monitoring and the presence of peritoneal porcine C‐peptide. At the end of the study, the implanted macrobeads were removed and returned to in vitro culture for the evaluation of insulin secretion.ResultsDiabetic rats receiving a 2× macrobead implant exhibited significantly improved blood glucose regulation compared to that of rats receiving a 1× dose during a 30‐day pilot study. In a 3‐month follow‐up study, 2× and 3× macrobead doses initially controlled blood glucose levels equally well, although several animals receiving a 3× dose maintained euglycaemia throughout the study, compared to none of the 2× animals. The presence of porcine C‐peptide in rat peritoneal fluid 3 months post‐implant and the recurrence of hyperglycaemia following macrobead removal, along with the finding of persistent in vitro insulin secretion from retrieved macrobeads, confirmed long‐term graft function.ConclusionsIncreasing dosages of islet macrobeads transplanted into diabetic rats, based on multiples of in vitro insulin secretion matched to the recipient's exogenous insulin requirements, correlated with improved blood glucose regulation and increased duration of graft function. These results demonstrate the usefulness of a standardized model for the evaluation of the functional effectiveness of islets intended for transplantation, in this case using intraperitoneally implanted agarose macrobeads, in diabetic rats. The results suggest that some features of this islet‐dosing methodology may be applicable, and indeed necessary, to clinical allogeneic and xenogeneic islet transplantation.
Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation within the philippinensis group (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae)
Authors: Zhang Lin , Sun Keping , Liu Tong , Zhao Hanbo , Csorba Gábor , Jin Longru , Thong Vu Dinh , Feng Jiang 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRhinolophids (horseshoe bats) are a widespread and diverse family. Their high level of morphological convergence has made taxonomic identification and estimation of species diversity problematic. The Rhinolophus philippinensis group, which is characterized with huge ears and low echolocation frequency relative to body size, is a specific group among all the rhinolophid groups, but the phylogeny of this group is poorly understood. In this study, we performed integrated analyses of the morphology, acoustic and genetic data and constructed the first multilocus phylogeny for the philippinensis group using four mitochondrial genes, four autosomal introns and one Y‐linked intron in 95 specimens representing nine taxa. Phylogenies were constructed based on concatenated phylogenetic methods and a multilocus coalescence approach. The estimated phylogenies revealed the polyphyly of the philippinensis group. Except for R. philippinensis, all the other species in this group formed a monophyletic cluster, named herewith as “R. macrotis” species group. Phylogenies, genetic and phenotypic divergence, and species delimitation analyses supported the revised status of R. paradoxolophus as a subspecies of R. rex, R. cf. macrotis as a subspecies of R. macrotis, and R. huananus and R. cf. siamensis as junior synonyms of R. siamensis. Significant discordances were found between the mitochondrial and nuclear gene trees, suggesting incomplete lineage sorting or ancient introgression events within the philippinensis group. The macrotis group appeared to have undergone a rapid radiation approximately 2.57 million years ago during the early Pleistocene period due to palaeoclimatic oscillations. Reconstruction of the ancestral ranges suggested a wide distribution of the common ancestor for the philippinensis and macrotis groups.
Ultrastructural basis of strong unitary inhibition in a binaural neuron
Authors: Gjoni Enida , Aguet Clémentine , Sahlender Daniela A. , Knott Graham , Schneggenburger Ralf 
Published: July 2018

Key points
Neurons of the lateral superior olive (LSO) in the brainstem receive powerful glycinergic inhibition that originates from the contralateral ear, and that plays an important role in sound localization.
We investigated the ultrastructural basis for strong inhibition of LSO neurons using serial block face scanning electron microscopy.
The soma and the proximal dendrite of an LSO neuron are surrounded by a high density of inhibitory axons, whereas excitatory axons are much sparser.
A given inhibitory axon establishes contacts via several large axonal thickenings, called varicosities, which typically elaborate several active zones (range 1–11). The number of active zones across inhibitory axon segments is variable.
These data thus provide an ultrastructural correlate for the strong and multiquantal, but overall variable, unitary IPSC amplitude observed for inhibitory inputs to LSO neuron.
AbstractBinaural neurons in the lateral superior olive (LSO) integrate sound information arriving from each ear, and powerful glycinergic inhibition of these neurons plays an important role in this process. In the present study, we investigated the ultrastructural basis for strong inhibitory inputs onto LSO neurons using serial block face scanning electron microscopy. We reconstructed axon segments that make contact with the partially reconstructed soma and proximal dendrite of a mouse LSO neuron at postnatal day 18. Using functional measurements and the Sr2+ method, we find a constant quantal size but a variable quantal content between ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ unitary IPSCs. A 3‐D reconstruction of a LSO neuron and its somatic synaptic afferents reveals how a large number of inhibitory axons intermingle in a complex fashion on the soma and proximal dendrite of an LSO neuron; a smaller number of excitatory axons was also observed. A given inhibitory axon typically contacts an LSO neuron via several large varicosities (average diameter 3.7 μm), which contain several active zones (range 1–11). The number of active zones across individual axon segments was highly variable. These data suggest that the variable unitary IPSC amplitude is caused by a variable number of active zones between inhibitory axons that innervate a given LSO neuron. The results of the present study show that relatively large multi‐active zone varicosities, which can be repeated many times in a given presynaptic axon, provide the ultrastructural basis for the strong multiquantal inhibition received by LSO neurons.